443 Letter from mother-in-law
Vincent gave her a nod in response.
“Even though my mother was a human, she was special. Special enough to think about everyone’s future with ifs, if the time came so that there would be no room for doubt,” Vincent hummed, while the fire from the burning logs of wood crackled in the fireplace.
“Go ahead. Open it,” Vincent gave her a nudge, and Eve looked at him.
“Do you want to read it with me?” Eve asked him.
It was because she knew the person whom she had married was curious and liked to know everything that was going on, especially when it concerned her. But he surprised her by shaking his head.
“That one is for you to read, and you alone,” Vincent offered her a smile and continued to watch her before letting his chin rest on the edge of his palm. One of the people he honoured was his mother, and the letters were written with confidence that they would be opened by the person to whom it was addressed and not anyone else. He didn’t want to disrespect his late mother by opening the letter that was for Eve.
A little anxious, Eve carefully tore open the envelope from one side and pulled out the letter. She unfolded the two foldings before spreading the letter to read it.
‘To the special woman who is important to my son,
If Vincent has chosen to marry you, he must hold you very dear to his heart and the one he’s opened his heart to. And if you are reading this letter, it means my time in this world has been cut short. I have come to learn that life is not always how we imagine it to be, and living and loving the person dear to you in the present is what one can do.
My son is one of my precious treasures, and I love him and my family with my life. Vincent has his own way of doing things. A little odd, but mostly out of good intentions. I hope you can continue to love him for who he is because I know he will love you the way you are. Without a question of doubt and protect you, never letting go of your hand. Call it a mother’s intuition, but we know how our child might grow up. To him, you are the most important person in the whole world, and I am happy that he found you. To share his love and happiness, in pain and sadness, for better or worse, that you have each other.
We haven’t met each other, but do believe me when I write this to you, that you are a wonderful person. You will always have my blessings and love, and maybe one day we will meet each other after eons.
pA n,dan(-)0ve1.c0m As I finish this letter, it makes me wonder if you are that person he has gone looking for this afternoon in this cold weather.’
Below the letter was signed by Vincent’s mother’ Katherina Moriarty’.
Eve read the letter two more times and her eyes moistened, at the inability to meet the woman. Vincent smiled at her, whose eyes were still on the letter and he placed his hand on one of her hands that rested on the couch.
“It felt like she knew,” Eve said in a soft voice, feeling a heaviness in her throat and she took a deep breath.
“It always seemed like it,” Vincent responded, and he squeezed her hand, “It is always interesting, on how we had letters, and it felt she was in tune with our lives. Father said it was strange, that for a human, she was so in sync with the future that was going to befall upon us. I went through her history and it seemed like she was a hundred percent human.”
Eve nodded, and stated, “She asked if I was the person you went out to look for one snowy afternoon. We met during the time of Winter, didn’t we?”
Vincent nodded, “We did.”
Eve then picked up the little velvety box and opened it, and her eyes fell upon a red hexagon crystal with a silver chain. She murmured, “This is pretty.” She turned to him and said, “Thank you. For giving them to me.”
“I was only giving you what already belongs to you,” Vincent responded. Eve carefully folded the letter and pushed it back inside the envelope.
Eve said, “I will treasure it,” and moved to sit next to him before her hand went around his arm, and he kissed the side of her head.
The time they shared, the present, was beautiful and held tranquillity. She asked him, “Did Marceline read her letters?”
“She didn’t. Alfie once found a small piece of the letter given to her that hadn’t burned itself completely in the fireplace of Marceline’s room,” Vincent said, his voice barely changing its pitch. “Maybe if she did, she wouldn’t have strayed that far away. Marceline believed it was written by me or my father to change her view of the society.”
“I see…” Eve murmured, not knowing if she should or shouldn’t pity the vampiress.
Earlier this day at the chapel, though Marceline had dared not to go against her family when Lady Aurora had demanded her to tell the truth to everyone, she knew that the vampiress was wary of her current status and wanted not to make everyone her enemies. Not until she got what she wanted.
Tomorrow was when Marceline would leave the Moriarty mansion, unbeknownst to her, what was waiting ahead of her.
A few more minutes passed, with their interlocked fingers playing with each other. Vincent kissed the back of her ear and said, “Shall we head to bed, my darling.”
Eve nodded, and she let go of his hand, standing up. But when Vincent stood up, he scooped her in his arms, and she felt her heart skip. He said, “If we are doing it, let us do it the right way.”