Claire

Dear Claire. "What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What... if? What, if? What *if*...? I don't know how your story ended, but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late. If it was true then, why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feels like - a love to leave loved ones for, a love to cross oceans for - but I'd like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I'd have the courage to seize it. And, Claire, if you didn't, I hope one day that you will. All my love, Juliet.

Charlie doesn't approve, which makes it all the more fun.

Oh, of course it is. Her mother chose to leave her. You always knew your parents loved you.

He loved the earth. He loved talking to me about the rain and the springs of fresh water, and we'd walk for miles and miles. We'd lie in the dry grass. l can still remember the smell of his sweet, hot sweat and...

Charlie's just like my husband. Both skeptics. My husband always insisted that love was nothing but hormones. But you see, underneath, he had such a warm, passionate heart. And Charlie's just the same.

An angel brought you to me.