August 2, 1859

August 2, 1859

Dear Lucy,

Oh, I’m sure you can stand the drama of waiting.  Besides, before I continue with the story, there are some things we must talk about.

Jaime almost kissed you?  Child, you barely know the boy!  If he ever tries to do that again, you must make an excuse to leave, and I do not care about how cute he is that day.  You are much too young.

It is very distressing that you’re still losing weight.  Maybe you’re working too hard.  Have Duncan help out a bit more.  Maybe he can do all of the laundry except the delicates, or maybe he can cook breakfast and lunch.  Something like that would be good enough, but if you do too little work then Cindy would notice.  You really should move, but I haven’t found a proper home for you yet.

Now about the story.  The tunnel was a very old tunnel, older than most of the towns in Scotland from that time.  Your grandmother was amazed at the shape and size of the tunnels, and when Sara and Fred kept trying to make her turn around and go back because that part of the tunnel was too dangerous, she insisted to go on, just a little further.

“Come on, I just want to see it.  Please?” she begged them.  They finally decided that going a little further wasn’t going to hurt anything, but it had to be only a little.  Julia agreed.

After another mile, Fred asked her, “What’s so interesting about this?  It’s just a tunnel.  Don’t you want to go back?”

She shook her head.  “I want to keep going.  I feel like I’m being pulled towards something down here.”

Julia didn’t see it because she turned to keep going, but Sara saw it.  She saw her uncle smile, and she wasn’t really sure what to make of it.  It was a . . . hungry sort of smile, and she didn’t really like it.  So she “tripped” over a rock, scraping her knee.  “Uncle Frederick!” she cried.

He turned to her impatiently.  “What?”  But when he saw her on the ground with her knees and hands bleeding, he put on a concerned face.  “What happened, Sara?  Does it hurt?”

“Of course it hurts!  You poor thing,” Julia said, coming back when she heard her friend cry out.  “We have to go back now.”

“Why don’t you keep going?  I’ll take my niece back,” Frederick offered.

Julia shook her head.  “It’s my fault she got hurt in the first place.  It’s too dark in here.  We should have brought another lantern, instead of just one.  Come on, you carry her and I’ll keep holding the lantern.”

Frederick nodded and lifted Sara up.  Julia was impressed with his strength.  She noted it all the way back to the hidden city.  When they got there, everyone asked what had happened.  No one had seen them come out of the forbidden tunnel.  Frederick told everyone that Sara had been walking to his apartment when she had fallen.  Julia had been nearby and took her up to him, and now he was taking her back to her own home.

“We’re fine, really.  Please don’t bother with us,” Fred said humbly.  Julia liked that about him, too.

After Sara was all patched up and sitting comfortably on her couch, Fred left.  Julia started comparing him and Thomas.  Fred was kind and warm, and Thomas was withdrawn and somewhat cold, though there were times when he was normal.  She decided that maybe, just maybe, she could allow herself to fall in love with her friend’s uncle, leaving behind the man who had saved her.

That’s a nice place to stop, I would think.  So, how’s the stomach?  Any better?

Sincerely, Safiya

Author's Note

Sorry it took so long. I was busy, and then I had almost completely forgotten where I was since there's two plots going on and I have to try to match them up so important things happen at about the same time. I know that's no excuse. I hope you enjoy reading it and please leave constructive criticism!