A Light in the Dark Part Six: The Trail of the Letters

Standing in the local postal office, Matty’s mother had sent him a box. Hovering by the counter, Matty kept staring at his wedding band. Taking the box to his car, he opened it up with intense excitement. His face fell at the pile of letters, confusion dawning on his face. A letter fluttered onto his lap, his mother’s cursive danced across the page. Clearing his throat, an unimpressed expression dimmed his features. 

“Dear Newlyweds, I have an adventure for you. I want you to use my grandmother’s letter to find a prize. She lived in Little Falls, Massachusetts. Congratulations on your marriage and have fun.” He groaned bitterly, passing me the box. Taking the letters, it was the love letters between her grandmother and grandfather. Barely visible marks dotted the important ones, my slender fingers pulling out the three letters. If I knew how her mind worked, each of the letters contained clues to three different places in Fall River. Opening up the first letter it was a photocopied version of the original. Pulling a pen from his door, it was a short one. 

“Dear Love, I am writing from the library to tell you of the bravery of war torn men. My clue on where to meet me is the shadow of what remains. She is new and looking for visitors. I-” I began, reddening at the inappropriate parts as I pulled up the attractions in the area. “We need to go to Battleship Cove. She is talking about a new ship and the only one that would have been there would be the USS Massachusetts.” Typing in the address, he began to drive off. Zoning out, I had no idea what we were looking for. Playing with the black pearls hanging around my neck, his mother insisted on me keeping them. Wondering if I looked okay, my onyx summer dress showed off my bump and emphasized my swollen breasts. The lace bell sleeves protected my arms from the sun, Matty looking handsome in his ripped t-shirt and black khaki short. His hand touching my bump snapped me back to reality, his crooked grin doing little to ease my growing anxiety. Pulling up to Battleship Cove, he twisted his hair into a bun. Noting my depressed expression, he clutched me close to his chest. Kissing the top of my head, a random panic attack began to torture my lungs and heart. His words faded in and out, violent sobs beginning to wrack my body. 

“Do you want to hear something stupid?”  He uttered with a nervous grin, my wet eyes struggling to meet his loving gaze. “I think that ghosts are real.” His statement broke the panic attack, a sad smile twitching to life on my lips. Lifting up my chin with his finger, his lips pressed against mine hungrily. Leaving me in a daze, his hands cupped mine.   

“You tend to be in your head way too much.” He gushed sweetly, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “Remember that I will always be there to hold you.” Snuggling my head into his chest, his embrace felt warm. A throat clearing ruined the moment, a stern woman gave us two tickets and a single. Dusting off her dull gray suit, she let us onto the USS Massachusetts. Metallic walls greeted us, his jaw dropping to the floor. Reading the first clue, it said something about where the bun was in the oven. Well, that clue was a little on the nose. Exploring the ship until we found the kitchen, my fingers curled around the oven. Pulling it down, confusion dawned on my face at the bird’s nest. Spinning it in my hand, it didn’t make sense. Finishing up with exploring the ship, we ended up with a bunch of pictures. Walking back to the car, he danced around with me for a bit. I was happy but I struggled to show it. Wondering why I couldn’t show it, his lips brushed against the top of my head. Climbing into the car, his hands grabbed mine. Surprise rounded my eyes, a deep concern having dimmed his eyes.

“Are you happy?” He queried, rubbing the back of my hands. Clearing my throat, he needed to know that I was happy about it all. I wouldn’t have married him if I didn’t want to. My lips parted to speak several times, his face falling each time. 

“I am. It doesn’t look like it but I am a little scared of how well my life is going, considering how it usually goes.” I stammered nervously, hoping he knew that I was happy with him. “I love you more than the world.” Pressing his lips against mine softly, time stopped for the millionth time. Releasing me from his spell, both of us remembered to breathe. Turning the car on, the next letter read as such. 

“Dear Pet, I am asking that we meet in the place of final rest. I have a present behind the grave of the one who gave the forty whacks. You are my one and only love. Hell, we will be kicked out of Heaven for being too rambunctious.” Matty read with intense curiosity, his face reddening at what was probably indecent to read out loud. “Time to visit a grave. Shall we, Lil?”  A deep scarlet painted my cheeks at his high school nickname, my real smile illuminating my features. Chuckling softly to himself, I averted my gaze away from him. Saying nothing, my only thought was how this would have been a dream trip for us in high school. Driving to Oak Grove Cemetery, he parked in a makeshift parking lot. Helping me out, we had to find Lizzie’s grave. Wandering up and down the rows, he kept talking to me about how much he was having. Struggling to feel the fun, he had to know that it wasn’t his fault. Glancing over at me, he placed me on his back. Lacking the energy to protest, the only thought running marathons in my mind was I didn’t deserve any of this. Bowing my head in shame, my very presence was a burden to him. Stopping in front of her grave, a dark energy swirled around it. Shuddering from the darkness, a shadowy figure pointed to a box taped to the back. Jumping off of his back, the fact that I had seen something unsettled me. Taking off the box, a quiet breath had us walking away rather quickly but discreetly. Matty didn’t have to know that I could see ghosts and spirits. Stopping at his car, we set the medium sized box on top of the roof. Opening it cautiously, several ghosts floated around us. Laughing nervously, he pulled out a couple of black towels. A strained huh escaped his lips, bewilderment dawning on his face at me already in the car. Keeping my head down to avoid eye contact, this needed to stop. Unable to read the next letter, my body trembled as the lost spirits pressed their faces to the glass.

“Dear Love, my clue for you today is the second home of a killer who got away with murder. She spent the rest of her life there. Join me for a private tour and search forever more for the key to my heart.” He read in a distracted manner, constantly staring out the window. “Do you see them?" Nodding my head with pressed lips, he peeled out of the cemetery. One by one they disappeared, both of us sighing in relief. Typing in an address without saying a word, both of us were too terrified to speak. Pulling up to Lizzie’s second home in her life, the Maplecroft Manor loomed over us. The current owner waved at us, a clue fluttering in his hand. Dressed smartly, we must have looked like poor people to him. Getting out, we took in the mansion with a large shape. Walking up to the owner, he dropped the clue into our palms. Standing by the front door, he let us be. Picking up the paper, this last clue felt so wrong. 

“Check in to where she lay for her final days.” I sighed with exhaustion, Lizzie floating behind us with a stern gaze. Nodding in agreement, I was happy that he could see her as well. Running up the stairs, detailed wallpaper rushed past us. Skidding into her room, Lizzie's dark energy bathed the room. Lifting up items gingerly, her stern face popping up inches from me made me jump into the air. Pointing to the pillows on her bed, I mouthed a silent thanks. Lifting up the pillow, an envelope waited for us. Draping her hands over my shoulder, a loud get out sent chills up my spine. Leaping into the air, her message was heard loud and clear. 

“Yes ma’am!” I shouted as I ran out of the room. Brushing past the owner, Matty apologized profusely on the way out. Getting into the car, Lizzie wouldn’t let up her death glare from the window in her room. Looking where I was, he shrank back with a nervous laugh. Starting the car without a word, we drove back to our infamous bed and breakfast. Opening up the envelope, tears welled up in his eyes. Covering his mouth, no words could come to him. Taking what he was holding, wild sobs wracked my body. His family had brought us a house instead of getting gifts, everything made sense now. I had a home. It was the one I always wanted, the black house a good ten minutes outside of town.

“I love your family.” I wept brokenly, knowing that I didn’t deserve it. Resting my head on his shoulders, this level of kindness was foreign to me. Why did they care so much? Glancing into the mirror, my parents smiled at me. Clutching my hands to my chest, they nodded in approval of my marriage. Struggling not to lose  my composure further, Matty looked right back at them. Mouthing thank you, two butterflies floated around the outside of the car before fluttering away. Unable to move, life was going too well for this to be normal. Getting out of the car, he helped me out. Yanking me into a warm embrace, he let me soak his shoulders with my emotions. The tears never seemed to stop, my fingers gripping his shirt. Trembling in his embrace, my parents had appeared to me for the first time ever in one piece. Their light was so warm, I wish that I could feel it again. Letting out frustrated screams into his chest, years of pent up anger released itself. Collapsing into his arms, my emotions had weakened me. Carrying me upstairs to our room, he tucked me in. Kicking off his shoes, he climbed in behind me. Holding me tight, his wet gaze met mine the moment I rolled over. 

“I saw them too. They approved of us. They had the energy of angels which meant that they went to Heaven.” He comforted me while wiping away my tears. Gripping his shirt, he was ignoring the elephant in the room. 

“Does your family have a habit of such big gifts?” I teased dejectedly, a fit of laughter bursting from his lips. Pressing his forehead to mine, his hand slid down to my bump. A crooked grin illuminated his face, his eyes rolling.

“They do that for everybody in our family that gets married. It’s a family tradition. It allows us all to live near each other.” He admitted sheepishly, rubbing the smooth surface. “Don’t worry about it. The cost was split between two hundred people.” Kissing him passionately, the desire to show him that I loved him dominated me. Melting into my kiss, a satisfied sigh left our lips the moment our kiss ended. 

“Okay. It would be rude to refuse.” I caved with my real smile, feeling a bit better that everyone chipped in. “Your family is super weird. Gothic decor or is that too much?” Both of us burst into fits of laughter, the afternoon sun bathing his handsome features. Seeing him smile freely only made my smile brighter. Wishing this moment would never end, he had to know the truth. 

“You know I have money, right? I only work to not use it. I can start using it for us if you want.” I offered sincerely, hoping he wouldn’t be mad. Snorting in my ear, a wheeze escaped his lips. Flashing him an odd expression, he sat up. Resting his hands on his knees, he stared calmly out the window. Cocking his head to the left, a knowing gaze fell on me. 

“I already knew that. You save your money to help out people instead of spending it on yourself. Why wouldn’t I notice that?” He commented with a crooked grin, my heart fluttering. “You think of others before yourself. I never understood why the town hated you. You have something that I have always admired. You amaze me. I wish you could see what I see.” The bed groaned as I sat up, my hand taking his. 

“I have no problem with that. I will make food that will blow their minds.” I chirped cheerfully, meaning it for once. “I might even invite the girls and their mother over. That is if you don’t mind.” Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, he slid his finger to my chin. My breath hitched at this tender moment, all of it feeling too real but in a good way.   Yanking me into one of his bear hugs, another wave of fiery love melting down the final wall between us. Unleashing another flood of tears, these ones were filled with joy and stupid hormones. Wiping away my tears, his phone rang. Leaving me to talk to his mother, he thanked them profusely. Promising that we would work on thank you cards once we got home, he passed the phone to me. Fretting over me, her words of happiness and concern melted my heart. This family was where I belonged, her last question making my smile a bit brighter. 

“How is my daughter actually doing? I want to know the truth. You can’t lie to your mother.” She asked with a firm tone. “Can you do one thing for me and go to therapy?” Mulling over her request, it was worth a shot. Every cell in me wanted the nightmares to stop, Matty not getting enough sleep because of them now. 

“I promise to go.” I assured her with a quiet smile, watching Matty go into the bathroom. “I need to stop waking him up at night. I am trying to get better but I clearly need some help. I bet you can’t wait to be a grandmother.” Going off on another gush of excitement, the only thing I could do was to listen. Nausea wracked my body, my trembling hand passing him the phone as vomit flew up my throat. Holding my hair while hanging up on his mother, he held my hair back. Rubbing my back, he let out his bun to tie my hair into a neat ponytail. Another bout burned its way up my throat, his strong arms picking me up after it was all over. Tucking me in, he excused himself to go get some ginger ale and saltines. Locking the door behind him, a familiar touch made me turn over. My parents sat next to me, their forms swallowing me into an ice cold embrace. Tucking a loose piece of hair behind my ear, my father ruffling the top of my head. Silent tears stained my cheeks, my gift providing me the one thing that I had always wanted. My pale face went to a ghostly shade, my mother speaking up first. 

“You shouldn’t feel guilty about our death. We got hit by a drunk driver, sweetie.” She comforted me in her gentle voice, the corner of my lips quivering. Kissing my forehead, a dome of protection glowed to life. Turning towards my father, he held my bump. His loving gaze flitted between my bump and me, his real smile matching mine. 

“Look at that little nugget growing in there. I am happy we got to talk one last time. I know this little boy is going to have the best life a child could have.” He chimed jovially, my eyes unable to leave them. “Oops, I gave that away. Sorry.” Unable to find my words, my lips kept parting. It felt like a frog was in my throat, my trembling arms refusing to let them go.  

“I miss you everyday.” I blubbered uncontrollably, both of them smiling warmly at me. "I love you so freaking much. I am so fucking sorry.” Crying into their chilly shoulders, their forms began to glitch. Shaking my head, they let me go. Kissing me on the forehead one more time, they took a step back. 

“We love you.” They chimed lovingly in my direction, waving goodbye as they faded away. Leaving me to bury my face into my palms, two white feathers remained where they once were. The door opened, Matty rushing to my side. Setting the cold ginger ale on the side table, he clutched me close to my chest. Tears of joy flowed freely from my eyes, my real smile illuminating my face. I heard the words I needed to hear. Asking if I was okay over and over again, I covered his mouth with my hands.  

“My parents came to say that they loved me.” I sniffled blissfully, my smile not leaving my face. “They even left something behind.” Showing him the two feathers, he spun them in his palms. Laying them down gingerly on the nightstand, he kissed the top of my head. This felt so right, his lips kissing my bump. Maybe there was a light in the dark after all.