Amor

The Letter

Ever since they first met when they were still five-year-old kids, I already rooted for my son and his new friend. As I watched them through the years, I saw that they were getting closer to each other, and I knew that they were perfect together. They were around nine when My son, Jamie first asked me about love.

"Daddy, what is love? Do you think I will love someone someday?" Jamie asked.

"Hmmm, how do I explain this?" I say as I put down my morning newspaper. "Why are you asking anyway?"

"I don't know, I get this little fluttery feeling when I'm with Belle and I like it but at the same time I don't. When I asked mom she said maybe it was love." He told me.

"Oh, your mom is probably... right. But don't think of that stuff too much, you're still too young." I said.

"But daddy, you still did not answer my question!" He pleaded, jumping on my lap and almost spilling my coffee.

"Easy, easy, kid. You're gonna spill my coffee on yourself." I said. "Alright, so how do I properly explain this? Love is when you care about someone so much, and you will do anything for them."

"Like you and mom?" Jamie questioned.

"Yes, like me and mom. Now, tell you what. Let's go and get mom so we can watch a movie or something." I answered.

I'm still amused whenever I think about that day. We didn't talk about it much, but him having feelings for Belle was already one of the indicators. I knew that they're really good together.

A few years later, when they were around 14, I was called to the school for something that Jamie did. The teacher told me that he got into a fight and that the other boy was sent to the hospital. Jamie was unharmed. After a brief talk with the teacher and the other parent, we got into an agreement that I'll just have to pay for the kid's expenses in the hospital and we'll be fine. On the way home, I talked to Jamie.

"If you're going to ground me or something, just say it now," he grumbled.

"Now, now, that isn't the attitude of someone who just won a fight! I heard his face is full of bruises, and his nose is broken. Of course, you're still going to be grounded..." I paused for dramatic effect.

"I'm sensing a but," he interjected.

"But I want to know first, why? What made you so mad you got into a fight like this? I know you, Jamie, you're not like this." I said. He slumped in his seat.

"Because of Belle."

"Belle told you to punch him?"

"No! I mean, he at first he was insulting me and doing stuff like that, and I thought I'd just tell a teacher or something, but during lunch, I saw him bullying her," Jamie answered. My stomach fluttered. I knew where this was going. "He was calling her mean things and throwing food at her and staining her clothes. She was already crying."

He looked down, and I could tell he was still thinking of what happened, and maybe his punishment.

"Okay, I'm glad that you did what you did. I know you're a good kid, Jamie, and what you did for Belle? That's good, just don't get into more fights. You're grounded for a week," I said. His mother agreed though that one week of being grounded was actually more of a few days.

The first time they were actually together was when Jamie was 17 and Belle was 16. He probably thought he was first introducing her as his girlfriend at that time. I knew they were together. Hell, I predicted that they're perfect for each other! Belle stayed for dinner on that day, and we had an interesting talk.

"So, Belle, tell me how and why you two officially got together." I coaxed her.

"Um, well, he brought me flower one day, told me he liked me and asked me to be his girlfriend," She answered sheepishly.

"There's no need to be shy Belle, you know us. Your dad's a great friend. Tell me, how is the old man?" I shifted the topic. Seeing that the conversation wasn't about her anymore, she straightened a little bit and answered with a little more confidence.

"Now, now that they're married," I say to the mic, looking at the crowd and wiping a tear. "I know his mom's really proud of him, watching over us all right now. I've seen the two of them from the beginning when they were five-year-olds playing at the playground, and I've been rooting for them since then. His mom, Jenny, she-she told me to give this to you, when you get married. We both knew she would- she wouldn't make it. Come here, read it. She made me promise, and so you should." I had turned from the audience to Jamie who was sitting beside me. We were both already crying then, and he stood up and took the letter from me, to read it aloud to the mic.

He opened the letter, looking at his mother's elegant script. I couldn't help but cry harder after seeing that. A few years ago, when Jenny was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer, she made me promise to give him that letter on his wedding day. Those would be the words that she'd have wanted to say to him, to everyone. I watched her as she wrote that day, telling her that she would get to see him marry the right woman for him, which was Belle. The little comment made her laugh, and she said that she just wanted to make sure, but she knows that she'll be there. We were both wrong.

"Jenny, wherever you are, I hope you're seeing this. Jen, our little boy has grown up now, and I know that you're watching wherever you are right now. I did my end of the promise," I whispered into the air.

"To Jamie, my son, my little boy," Jamie started reading. I could see him cry harder. "If your dad completed his promise, then I assume you're reading this on your wedding day. Was it Belle like your dad predicted? You know, your dad has good senses and intuition, and can probably sense what you feel right now. He's perceptive, that man. Which is why I loved him, and how he got me." Jamie looked at me. I can feel everyone's gaze on me, but I didn't care. I was crying really hard at this point, and Jamie had to come to me and wrap his arms around me to calm me down. He went back to reading.

"Anyways, I hope you've grown up to be like him. Be a good man- no, be the best man there ever was. Treat your girl right. Raise your kids to love and care for everyone. I believe in you." He paused to take a breath.

"To Belle, I have a feeling you're the one he married. I do hope so. If not, then whoever it is he married, take care of my boy, and take care of yourself." Belle looked up, wide-eyed. "Here is my advice to you, if ever Jamie gets grumpy on long days, give him a good massage. He especially loves back massages. Also, if he gets a little too naughty, don't hesitate to hit back." Everyone laughed a little at this, but it quickly turned back to a serious atmosphere.

"To everyone who went to witness this wedding, I thank you. May you have a good time and remember this day as the union of these two wonderful people." The letter ended, and everyone clapped. I just cried and went to the men's room to compose myself. Well, Jen? everything's done. I hope you're happy. I miss you.