Page 63 of Weeping Roses

If it wasn’t for my position and my family, I would be with you now. One day, this will all change. It must change. We will be together as we should have been, and this nightmare will be over.

As always, I can’t say much, but know the deep love I hold in my heart is for you—it has always been you. Circumstances dictated we walk along different paths in life, but I glance over at you walking alone with a deep sadness and regret.

This should never have happened, but we must accept that sometimes sacrifices must be made for snatched moments of pleasure that cost us so dearly.

Until we meet next month, stay safe, my darling, and I am thinking of you every minute of the day.

Always yours

Andrei

Tears bubble behind my eyes as I read the sad words. They were deeply in love and apparently had been for some time. They were the Romeo and Juliet of their time and I wonder what kept them apart and why they couldn’t be together.

I glance through many of the other letters and they are much the same. Love letters that I feel bad about reading. Almost as if I am trampling over their love story and interfering in their private thoughts.

I’m unsure why these letters are to remain in this box. They appear no different to the ones inside my aunt’s desk and so I make a decision to remove them and study them back at the house where I’ll have more time.

As I place them carefully in my bag, I wonder if it’s such a good idea, but then turn my attention to the other box that is larger than the first one.

Once again, I break the seal and as I raise the lid, I notice several velvet boxes nestling inside. As I lift the first one, I stare in amazement at the most beautiful diamond necklace that must be worth a small fortune.

I gasp as I remove it and hold it to the light and the weight of the piece, along with the sparkle in the room, tells me this necklace is worth a great deal.

I replace it and set about opening each one and inside every box is a beautiful piece of exquisite jewelry that I’m confident my aunt would never have been able to afford.

These must be gifts from her lover. Andrei. I picture her receiving them and wearing them with pride. They are so beautiful and I’m sad they are locked away in darkness, unable to shine in the light and yet to wear even one of these pieces would involve a security guard on either arm.

At the bottom of the box is another envelope and I’m shocked to see my name written in beautiful calligraphy on the white vellum paper and my fingers shake as I open it and scan the words.

My dearest Pollyanna.

If you are reading this, I am dead. You must be feeling very shocked right now and I apologize for that.

I expect you have many questions, so many of them, and yet they will always remain that way. I am unable to give you the answers you seek because my secrets belong in my grave with me.

I just wanted you to know one thing. I love you.

My eyes swim with tears because I wasn’t expecting that and for a moment I can only focus on that. She never knew me, so why would she love me? It doesn’t make sense.

I turn my attention back to the letter and carry on reading.

Your parents didn’t know why I kept away. I never offered them an explanation. When they died, I wanted to reach out so badly but the only way to keep you safe was to say, or do nothing at all.

When your father died, part of me died too that day. I gave up my past, my present and my future for something I had no control over.

Now, everything I own is yours. A small consolation for a lifetime of neglect, but I hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me. I don’t deserve it. I don’t expect it, but I wanted you to know I did it all for love.

You must be confused reading this and yet this is all I can divulge, which must be confusing and I apologize for that. The jewelry I left is yours, but can never be worn in public. It is worth more than my homes but must never be sold. There will be too many questions raised, ones that will cause you more harm than good, and so I beg you to leave them hidden forever. Let them rot where they are.

I can’t believe what I’m reading. Perhaps they are stolen, or belong to somebody else and I’m confused as to their meaning.

However, the final paragraph makes the ones before it irrelevant as she finishes off.

My final secret is not in these boxes. It is too valuable to be hidden in plain sight. If I didn’t die of old age, you can guarantee it is the reason I am lying in my grave and I’m obligated to warn you to be on your guard.

I have been a reluctant guardian of certain information that could be catastrophic in the wrong hands. By now you will have read the letters Andrei sent me over the years. He was my guilty secret that I sacrificed a normal life for. Circumstances brought us together and circumstances tore us apart, but our love never died. We do incredible things for love, Pollyanna. I only hope you discover a man you would sacrifice everything for because nothing in the word compares to the riches love can bring into your life.

Now, back to the reason I am probably here. It’s not love. It’s probably not revenge and I doubt its natural causes why you’re reading this now. It’s because our secret has fallen into the wrong hands and your life is now in danger as the heir to my estate.

---