Dead To Life

Chapter 5

Chapter 5Huxley sat again and laid the special stack aside. The postmarks on the other envelopes were faded and barely discernible. He removed and unfolded the contents of each, placing them atop their respective envelopes. Letters from Rocky to his parents were among the treasures. He paused to quickly glance over certain ones. He handled the faded and wrinkled old papers as if they were the most precious items in his possession.

“Let's read them together. I need your input, Sara. You have a knack for picking up remote clues.”

Sara squeezed his hand, slipped into her chair, and leaned closer as they both read the first one silently.

September 15, 1970

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Keane,

Rocky said that it would be OK to write to you once in a while. I'm writing to let you know about me. I miss him a lot. We got engaged July 4th, two days before he shipped out. I know he told you about me. He told me when he comes home, he will bring me to Oregon to meet you and his sister and little brother.

I live in San Francisco. My sister, Evelyn, and I manage a large apartment building on Page street. Our parents used to manage but they're gone, and we took over. I'm 21 and I'm the boss. My sister is 20 and works for me. Sometimes she works in other places to make more money. She dates a lot too. Our job here is a lot of work but we have an assistant manager. He lives in the building on the first floor across from us.

The building is old, but we have a nice apartment. My dad fixed it up a long time ago. It's the best apartment in the whole building. We don't go too many places because we work a lot. It helps pass the time till Rocky comes home. I gave Rocky a key so he would have a place to stay when he comes back to San Francisco. He promised to wear it taped inside his shirt pocket so it's close to his heart. I love him for doing that.

My sister used to date Rocky before me, but she went out with somebody else and they broke up after only a couple of months. She was sad at first, and even mad at me. She's real moody sometimes but I guess she's okay that Rocky and I are engaged.

I hope you will write to me once in a while because I know you miss Rocky too.

Very truly yours,

Emmalyn

P.S. You can call me Emma

Sara glanced over the message again. “This is from a young inexperienced person, Hux.”

“It's a bit juvenile, even the handwriting, but special anyway.”

“She sounds young, innocent for being twenty-one years old.”

Huxley stared at the letter. “Uh, yeah. Innocent compared to today's young.”

“Doesn't sound like she gets out much, always working in that apartment building. The sister may be the more worldly one.”

“From what I've been able to put together when I was old enough to read and understand these letters, these girls didn't socialize much, just managed that big building. I was only eight years old when this letter came.” He folded the piece of paper and inserted it back into the envelope.

“If we find Emma, maybe she'll have saved her mail from Rocky and your mom and dad too.”

“Here's something.” He picked up another missive. “It's one of Mom and Dad's letters to Rocky.” The letter was lengthy. “It's mostly about the work going on at the farm, but here, read this part.”

September 30, 1970

…We welcome knowing Emma. If you chose her, she must be a special person. We would love to know more about her and look forward to one day meeting her. We told her we have a large farm property in the Coburg Ridge foothills, in the shadow of Indian Head peak. Once you come home, please bring her with you. It might be a relaxing change for her to get away from The City and her job for a while. We told her about Kerrie and Huxley but we're sure you have also. We're praying for your safe return. Come back to us soon.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Huxley shook his head. “My poor mom, poor dad. They've waited so long.”

“I've never asked you their ages.”

Huxley paused, got a distant look in his eyes, then shook his head. “Both are ninety. They went to school together. Got married. Rocky was born near the end of their second year in college, but they still finished and got their degrees. They are inseparable.”

“Strong determined people, and very old now.”

“I know, I know. They both have failing memories. Waiting for Rocky is what's keeping them alive, but they're failing now.”

Sara rubbed the back of his neck, something that always helped him to relax. “We will bring him home, Hux. A lot of years have passed but we will prevail. It's what we're good at. Every search we've done so far has prepared us for this one. We'll find Emma. One way or another, we will have closure for you and your whole family, no matter what it takes.”