love leter for Tessa

Love Letter For Tessa
…it was so very hot. Ticklish rivulets of perspiration rolled down between Jo’s breasts and she lifted a weary arm to brush aside a stray lock of hair that had settled annoyingly across her face. Outside she could hear the children laughing and skylarking as they tried to emulate Spider-Man, swinging from the old jacaranda out the back.
Jo gazed at the dusty cream envelope that she held in her hand; if she adjusted the reading glasses that had slipped down the runway of her nose, she could just decipher the spidery handwriting.
To Tessa my love… was penned in a flourish across the front of the envelope. For a minute or two Jo stared at the inscription as if afraid that it was an illusion that would fade gradually away. Slowly she stood up from her position on her knees, where she had started to lift up the faded carpet. She dusted off her hands one after the other, on the backside of her old Levi’s.
Suddenly she was overcome with a need for privacy, not for herself but for the unknown Tessa and her correspondent. The joyful laughter of the children somehow seemed inappropriate and invasive. Jo closed the door with a push of her sneaker and went to draw the blind on the window. Outside the children’s voices became a soft murmur, with only the occasional squeal of delight to penetrate the dimness that had enveloped the room. Filled with a sense of awe, Jo withdrew the aging pages from the envelope, her hand shaking slightly…
My Dearest Tessa (it began with an elegant flourish)
At long last our journey home has reached its conclusion. The wagon lost a wheel just on the outskirts of Oakey and caused a considerable delay in proceedings. However Father and I were able to have the old girl up and moving in a day. How I would liked to have had that extra time with you my Sweet, but it was not meant to be and everything is in Gods good time, and you and I both know that His time is perfect don’t we dear?
Even so I feel dreadfully bereft since our parting in Allora, and I must say a little anxious. It was an honour to be introduced to your family, dearest and I feel that it is indicative of the importance of our friendship-don’t you dear? However your relationship with your cousin Bob was somewhat perturbing. He seemed to assumed a more intimate style of friendship with you, than I thought propriety deemed suitable…
Jo slowly lowered the letter to her lap; she found that she was breathing quickly and experiencing a certain amount of indignation on the part of the unknown Tessa. Just why she felt that way, she wasn’t sure. It was time to get the children’s lunches, so reluctantly she folded the letter and returned it to the old envelope…


… It was dark now, almost eight o’clock, the children were tucked up in bed, dinner was finished and the washing-up done. Jo made her-self comfortable on an old tapestry cushion, and switched on the reading lamp. She reached into the envelope and withdrew Tessa’s letter…
… I have some exciting news for you dear. I am to return to Allora very shortly. The pastor of our small community has unfortunately succumbed to a particularly vicious attack of gout, leaving the poor man quite debilitated. Although I am most grieved at his position my dear, I find my emotions betraying me, as I am experiencing happiness at the thought of seeing you again so soon. You see. Pastor Grimes has requested that I go in his stead and take the service at Pilton Hall on the fifth of this month. So my sweetness, God indeed works in mysterious ways does He not?
I will have the old grey mare and the buggy, so you and I can go to the dance at Pilton Hall on the Saturday night.
Tessa… I still have a lock of your soft hair in my wallet, it goes with me always, however I pray that before long every lock on your precious head will be under my care…
Jo gave a small grimace; her left leg was smarting with pins and needles. Frowning she gave it a vigorous rub, thinking all the while about the mysterious beau’s words. They unnerved her for some illogical reason. She shook her head as if to clear it of these inexplicable feelings, and turned her head once more to Tessa’s letter…

…Darling (it continued), do you recall the old jacaranda tree under which we pledged our commitment to one another? How could you not? That precious hour is constantly on my mind, as my dear, are you. The old tartan rug upon which we lay has taken on a new meaning for me my dearest. It lays folded on the end of my bunk, as a visual reminder of the promises that you and I made that day. However I am concerned dear, that you may have fond feelings for Bob. I realize of course that this may be purely an insecure conjecture on my part; and if this is the case my darIing I beg you to forgive my impertinence and understand that only my feelings for you make me bold enough to voice these thoughts. Tessa I know that your commitment to myself, and our future together is paramount in your heart. Darling, understand that I do not in any way doubt you or that commitment…

… An uneasy feeling of disquiet, settled upon Jo. The more she read of the old love letter the creepier she felt. The writer left her feeling defensive for his recipient, although she was unsure as to why. Jo rubbed her eyes; it had been a long day. Putting down the letter she wandered into the kitchen, all the while pondering on the mysterious couple.
The ardent suitor, who had penned the letter, seemed almost threatening in his insistence of his lady’s devotion. He seemed so sure of his position in her affections.
“Too sure!” Jo protested aloud, as she reached for her favourite coffee mug. She measured out precisely two and a half teaspoons of coffee, poured on the milk and started to stir. He reminded her of someone; though she was not sure who it was. Something intangible about the way he expressed himself, sparked a reclusive memory that disturbed her. Lifting the kettle Jo poured a stream of boiling water into her mug; she shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. The aroma alone would keep her going a while longer.
Back in the small room, Jo put her coffee on the old dresser near the reading lamp, repositioned the cushion and began to read…

…Dearest, I fully realize that your feelings of fondness for your cousin are just that- cousinly friendship. I am aware of the attractions that a woman of your standing places on a fellow, and therefore I can fully empathize with the plight that Bob finds himself in. However that does not condone his forwardness regarding yourself my love, and I feel that the sooner that it is revealed to him, it will pre-empt any unpleasantness that may occur, don’t you? My darling I feel confident that I can rely on you to approach this matter with your usual finesse…

Jo anger was bubbling away indignantly. Who was this man who had penned such a letter? She winced and found her fingernails were starting to cut into the skin on her hands. This guy was unreal! Even though he wrote with such a natural eloquence it was but a sheer veneer for his threats and self-opinionated ideas.
Jo smiled ruefully at her indignant reaction to a man she had never met. In all probability the fellow was a product of his generation, the era into which he was born. The euphemisms in the flowery epistle were probably merely those indicative of the linguistics of the day. Obviously this guy was intent on winning Tessa as his own, even if it meant the dissolution of another relationship. Jo wondered who Bob was and whether he was serious competition. Deep in contemplation she took a sip of her coffee-and made a face, it was stone cold. Putting aside the cup she returned to the letter…

…Only two weeks to go my dear, and we can announce our intentions to our families and friends. When I come to Allora would seem the perfect time to tell everyone don’t you think. Such a happy surprise, darling. The Lords timing is perfect, isn't it, Tessa? Are you keeping your journal, my love? It is an invaluable occupation I have found, that provides me with a greater insight into ones inner feelings. Since our first meeting, my journal has been full of excerpts regarding you, my dearest. Not a day goes by that you do not feature in it somewhere. You are constantly on my mind. So my dear until the Fourth of the month…
Your loving friend,
Alistar.


Jo looked at her watch. It was getting late and her eyes had begun to get heavy, and the letter slid from her fingers to the floor. As the haziness of sleep enveloped her, Jo’s vaguely conscious thoughts remained with the mysterious Tessa and admirer. She sank down further into the comfort of the embroidered cushion, wondering what had become of the pair and if they did eventually marry. These thoughts dancing randomly in her head, Jo drifted of to sleep.
In the sepia coloured world of dreams, Jo envisaged a pinprick of light glinting at the back of her mind. A keyhole opened and the shaft of light grew, glowering like the dying embers of a fire, it took on an ethereal appearance. In the centre of the light two figures began to form. One was a bride attired from head to toe in virginal white; the other was a young airman standing proudly in full uniform. They stood hand in hand before a pulpit. Eyes alight with love she gazed in adoration at the young man next to her, a tear glistened on a rose-blushed cheek. His head was bent in concentration over a well-worn book. One big hand squeezed his brides small one, gently communicating his love. On the cream parchment of the register Tessa had placed her small diminutive signature; and with a definite stroke of the pen the young man added his… Bob!