Thanks for reading,
Tracy (tis*me!)
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One month after Sue changed her mind about going to New York…
Sue was rummaging through the "junk drawer" in the kitchen of her and Lucy's apartment, looking for a spare key, when she came across an envelope addressed to her. Puzzled, not remembering ever having seen it before, she decided to ask Lucy about it.
"Hey Luce!" Sue exclaimed.
"Yeah, Sue?" Lucy said, after having moved into Sue's line of vision.
"Do you know what this is and where it came from?" Sue questioned.
"It looks like a piece of mail. I'm not sure where it came from." Lucy said.
"It's addressed to me, just my name though, no address, no return name or address, and no stamp. It looks like Jack's handwriting." Sue said, confused.
"Ohhhhhh, I think I know what it is!" Lucy said, realization dawning.
"Mind sharing with me?" asked Sue.
"The morning that we thought was going to be your last day with the team, when you were set to take the job in New York, I ran into Jack in the parking lot before work. He gave me this and asked that I give it to you right before you got on the plane for New York. I, of course, already knew that you had changed your mind, but I didn't tell Jack, because I was hoping that he would reveal his true feelings for you, if he thought you were still leaving. With all the excitement of you staying and the 'Welcome Back' party, I completely forgot about it! I'm not sure how it got in the drawer. I put it in my purse, and then, I guess, when I went to clean out my purse, I just dumped it in there with some other stuff." Lucy explained.
"I wonder what it is..." Sue said curiously.
"Well, I know one sure way to find out!" said Lucy.
"Huh?" questioned Sue.
"READ IT, SILLY!!!" said Lucy.
Sue went to her room and sat down on her bed before opening the letter and reading it.
Dear Sue,
First, let me say that I hope that you are able to read my handwriting. I thought about typing this letter. It probably would have been easier to read, but it just seemed too impersonal.
I'm going to give this letter to Lucy tomorrow so that she can give it to you right before you get on the plane for New York (Once again, I'm so sorry that I can't see you off at the airport, but I have plans that just can't be changed!). I hope to be able to tell you this in person, but just in case I end up "chickening out" (Uh oh, I just opened myself up again for more of those chicken jokes, didn't I? LOL), I can't let you go without telling you this...
I've been tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep, thinking about you, Sue. Thinking about how much I'm going to miss you! Thinking about how much I'm going to miss our lunches, our dinners, our walks with Levi, our talks, etc.
You'll never know how much of a difference you've made in my life, Sue. You've made me a far better person than I was before I met you! I thank God everyday that you barged into the bullpen that day, thinking it was personnel! I know at the time that you were embarrassed about it, but I truly believe it was God's will...and that's just one of the ways you've made my life better, Sue.
You restored my faith, in God, most importantly, but also in people. You are the most loving, caring, compassionate, intelligent, beautiful woman I have ever met, and I can't imagine my life without you! I love you, Sue! I'm madly, deeply, head over heels in love with you! I have been for a long time, but I was afraid to admit it! I was afraid of breaking the rules! I was afraid of ruining our friendship, which I treasure! I was afraid you didn't feel the same! Quite frankly, I was just plain afraid!
As much as I'll miss you, and as much as I love you, and yes, I did say that I love you, I know that I can't stand in the way of your success. This is a wonderful opportunity you've been given, Sue, and I'm so proud of you for having accomplished so much. But then again, it doesn't surprise me!
I know you'll be a huge asset to any team that's lucky, make that blessed, enough to have you. Because of you each and every member of our team is a better individual than they were before you came! Our team is a better team because of you!
I can't imagine coming to work and not seeing your beautiful smile! On the upside, because we'll no longer be in the same unit, the "no inter-unit dating" policy would no longer apply! If you feel the same for me as I do for you, and if you're interested, we could give long-distance dating a try?!
Please know, that no matter what, I'm only a phone call or an email away. Don't hesitate to contact me, day or night! If you need me to come to New York, for any reason, let me know and I'll hop on the first available plane. I would do anything for you, Sue! I'll miss you desperately!
Love,
Jack
P.S. I love you! I love you! I love you! (Just in case I didn't make it clear enough before!)
Tears of joy streaming down her face, Sue carefully put the letter back in the envelope. She rushed to get ready and head over to Jack's apartment, as quickly as possible.
Jack was already expecting her for dinner; they'd made plans to have pizza and watch a movie at seven o'clock, but she couldn't wait that long to see him now. It was only five o'clock -- two hours would seem like an eternity to her, after reading his declaration of love for her.
Rushing out of her bedroom and into the living room, she reached for her keys and told Lucy "I'm going to go ahead and go over to Jack's!"
"I thought dinner was at seven o'clock?" Lucy questioned.
"It is, but I need to go early!" Sue said.
"Why?" Lucy asked, a Cheshire grin forming on her face. "What did that letter say? Are you going to share?"
"Not now, Luce!" Sue said, as she quickly headed out the door with Levi, ensuring that she had the letter in her possession.
Arriving at Jack's place a short time later, Sue nervously knocked on the door.
Jack opened the door relatively quickly, a look of surprise on his face. "Hey, Sue! You're early...is something wrong?" he said with concern.
"No...umm...umm..." Sue began.
"What is it, Sue? You're starting to worry me!"
Taking a deep breath, and summoning up all the courage she could muster, Sue drew closer to Jack and lovingly placed a hand on each side of his face and drawing his face closer to her's, she kissed him passionately.
"WOW! What was THAT for?" Jack asked in surprise, once he was actually able to speak again. "Not that I'm complaining, mind you!" he said, with a huge smile on his face.
"I love you! I love you! I love you, too!" Sue said, handing Jack the letter in her hand.
"I love you, too! But...what..." he started, as he began scanning the letter. "Oh, my goodness, this is the letter I wrote you when I thought you were going to New York!!!" Jack said in surprise.
"Yeah! I found it today, just a little while ago! And I'm so glad I did! It's such a beautiful letter, Jack! I love it! And I love you for writing it!" Sue said.
"I totally forgot about it, and I guess Lucy did, too!" Jack said.
"Well, I'm glad you DID forget about it, because if you'd remembered you probably would have found a way to get it back from Lucy! And then I would have never seen it!"
"You're probably right!" Jack said slightly embarrassed.
"I'm definitely right, Jack! Is that what you were going to tell me before Myles interrupted and revealed that I was staying?" Sue asked.
"It's what I wanted to tell you before Myles interrupted. Who knows if I would have had the nerve to do it?" Jack answered honestly. "By the way, Sue, I did mean every single word of it! I love you!"
"Jack, I just want you to know that I love you too, and I have for a very long time! I don't know what I'd do without you in my life either! That's the main reason I decided not to go to New York! If I have to transfer to another unit so that we can date, I will! I love my job, and I love our team, but I love you more, Jack!" Sue said, with tears in her eyes.
"Well, let's worry about that later! Right now, I think we've done enough talking!" he said with a huge smile and a wink. Lovingly embracing her, he kissed her passionately, while she willingly and eagerly responded.
"You have absolutely no idea how thankful I am that I wrote that letter!" Jack managed to say, in between kisses.
"Me too, Jack, me too!" Sue said, as she leaned in for another kiss.
THE END