The Letter from 1945

EPISODE 4: The Family Secret

Eleanor called her mother.

"Mom, did Grandpa ever mention Thomas Bennett?"

There was silence.

"Why are you asking?"

Eleanor felt her stomach tighten.

"You know who he was."

Her mother sighed.

"I thought that story was buried."

"What story?"

"The story of the soldier."

Eleanor sat down.

"What happened?"

Her mother refused to answer.

"Mom."

"I don't know everything."

"But you know something."

Another silence.

Finally, her mother said:

"Your grandfather received a letter in 1945."

"What did it say?"

"I don't know."

"Where is it?"

"I think your grandmother destroyed it."

Eleanor looked at the old letters scattered across the table.

"Why?"

Her mother whispered:

"Because Thomas wasn't supposed to come home."

Eleanor returned to the attic.

Behind an old wooden chest, she discovered a small envelope.

Inside was a train ticket.

November 3, 1945.

Destination:

Willow Hill.

Passenger:

Thomas Bennett.

He had definitely returned.

Eleanor searched further.

Behind the ticket was a newspaper clipping.

The article described Thomas as a hero.

But someone had crossed out the final paragraph.

Eleanor held the clipping beneath the lamp.

Under the ink, she could barely make out the words:

Bennett was expected to marry Clara Whitmore upon his return.

Then someone had written beneath it:

He never reached her.

Eleanor's heart sank.

Someone had intercepted Thomas before he could find Clara.