Between the Lines (13/17)
Previous Chapter
It turned out Jason didn’t need any excuses. As soon as Paige heard the story, she was more than intrigued by the contents of the letters herself. They carried them down to the office, turning on the lights and ordering the letters by date. Then they each took turns reading, squinting to make out the somewhat sloppy and very faded writing. Most were only short notes, clearly written in the few minutes Scotty had available. A few were much longer, the writing cramped to fit on the page.
Kevin,
It has been two weeks since we said goodbye. It seems every town we go through, I can’t help but immediately look for the church. Some are ruined, like ours, and some are beautiful and whole. All of them remind me of the time we spent together.
I hope you are well and safe,
Scotty
___
Dear Kevin,
I received your last letter only a few days ago and yet I keep thinking surely there’s another on the way already, and perhaps another poem. After hours of talking, only having each other for company, it seems strange now to have just these short lines from each other every once in a great while. There’s so much I would like to say to you. I suppose it will have to wait until we see each other again - in L.A., if not before.
Until then, take care,
Scotty
___
Kevin,
My unit had a few hours to ourselves last night, and we went to a military club. I thought of you, of course, and looked around, trying to spot you sitting alone in a corner. No luck, unfortunately, but the hope of it was enough.
Remember - no crashing any more planes,
Scotty
___
Dear Kevin, Jason began.
“That’s a long one,” Chad observed.
“Yes, it is,” Jason agreed, slightly sarcastically. “Are you going to let me read it?”
“Sure,” Chad said with a grin.
Dear Kevin,
I must hope that this letter does not get misdirected or fall into the wrong hands. I find that I can’t hide behind casual words today. I know it’s dangerous, but it certainly isn’t more dangerous than anything else we’ve lived through. Today was bad, and many men were killed. I saw two planes go down, wishing and praying that neither was you. I knew, but didn’t really believe, that it couldn’t possibly be. And so all I could think, as I patched up the boys as best as I could and put bandages over my own - minor, I promise - injuries, was to get to a piece of paper and write to you.
I miss you, Kevin. Even if I had your way with words, I couldn’t find the ones to tell you how much I miss you. I miss your laugh, and I miss your voice, and I miss your touch.
I lie awake at night, dreaming of you. Even as some of the tinier details fade, I remember our time together and wonder if it was real. It had to be, though. You liked to tease me about my fantastic imagination, but even I couldn’t think up something quite as beautiful as those few weeks, or quite as painful as our goodbye.
Think of me, Kevin. Remember me as soon as you get a few moments of privacy. Remember that day in the snow, our cold hands burning each other’s skin. Remember that evening we held each other close, only separating long enough and far enough so we could make plans for the future. Remember that last night before we left our sanctuary, and our last day together when we swore promises to each other.
I want to say so much to you, and even now, as open as I am daring to be, I find there are things I still can’t write. If you want to hear those words, Kevin, you have to make it through. I’ll tell you as soon as I see you again,
Scotty
Jason cleared his throat. He glanced up at Chad, who was staring at him with a guarded but meaningful expression, and he looked away again.
“Oh my,” Paige said softly.
“They were in love,” Jason added, his voice breaking slightly.
“Read the next one,” Chad requested.
Paige picked up the sheet in her hand and began to read.
Kevin,
As much as you say you enjoyed my last letter, I’m afraid I will not risk some of those liberties again. Not until the next time I get a fright, at any rate. But just because I don’t write about some things, it doesn’t mean I don’t feel them. I know the same is true for you.
Scotty
“Damn,” Chad said in disappointment.
Jason laughed. “This isn’t supposed to be porn,” he pointed out.
Chad winked at him, and Jason blushed. Then he remembered their third companion.
“Sorry, Paige,” Jason said quickly.
Paige glanced between the two of them, amused. “I’ve been married three times, boy. I lived in London and Paris in the '60s. Nothing you say shocks me.”
Jason laughed.
“You’re a damn cool broad, Paige,” Chad said, chuckling.
“Don’t forget it. Now, read the next letter already.”
***
Jason lowered the last letter into his lap. The notes ended abruptly, with no indication of why they had stopped. “That’s it,” he said slowly. “That’s the end.”
“What do you think happened to him?” Paige asked.
Jason shrugged.
“Maybe he was discharged,” Chad said hopefully.
“Maybe he was killed,” Jason voiced the obvious.
“I can’t believe that,” Paige said. “I don’t want to.”
“It would make sense, wouldn’t it?” Jason asked. “It would fit with a lot of his work. And what other explanation could there be?”
Paige sighed. She began to gather the letters and envelopes again. One envelope felt thicker than the others, and she paused.
“What’s this?”
“What?” Chad asked, leaning closer.
“We missed one!” she said excitedly, pulling the folded letter from the envelope. “Strange,” she mused. “He never folded his other letters this much.”
“He never wrote Kevin’s name on the outside, either,” Jason observed, pointing at the paper.
Paige quickly unfolded it. “It’s not dated. It’s…mon Dieu.”
“What?!” Chad asked.
Kevin,
I’ve finally made it to L.A. - a little later than we planned and apparently unexpected. I’d like to see you again and reminisce about our experiences in France. I’m staying at the Roadside Lodge, a motel in Silver Lake, and I will be there for at least two nights. I’m willing to stay here in the city for as long as you’d like, however. Please come as soon as you can, but if you can’t make it, I will understand your decision. It may be too much to ask now, but perhaps we can have a few moments together, for old times’ sake.
Scotty
“He came to L.A.?!” Jason exclaimed.
“Sometime after the war,” Paige added.
“Did Kevin go to him? Did they meet?” Chad asked.
“There’s nothing in any of Kevin’s work or letters that even suggests…” Jason trailed off, trying to think.
“I think I know why it’s folded like that,” Paige interrupted softly. “I don’t think it was mailed. I think it was hand-delivered.”
“To who?” Chad asked.
Paige sat quietly for a moment, then she inhaled, lifting her head. “Aunt Rebecca.”
***
They only got a few hours of sleep that night, and Jason yawned into his morning coffee. Paige, unbelievably, was as cheerful and warmly hospitable as she always was. Chad walked into the dining room a half hour after the others were up.
“Sorry,” he said. “I got a phone call this morning.” He looked at Jason. “The movie’s officially dead. The scripts for Tempest Bay are already coming in. I know we were going to stay a few more days, but I need to get back.”
Jason nodded, trying not to reveal his disappointment.
***
By the time they made it back to the States, Jason was resolved. Paige had given them the letters, saying she would clear everything up with Cooper so Jason could keep them for his research. But for the moment, he didn’t want to even look at them. He didn’t want anything to do with them.
“I don’t understand,” Chad argued as he pulled his car into Jason’s parking lot. “You’re just going to sit on it?”
“Yep ,” Jason said, sighing.
“Why?”
“What good would it do?” Jason said. “Who really needs to know?”
Chad stared at him for a beat. “It’s the truth. People deserve the truth.”
“That’s rich, Chad.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, it’s just…I don’t want to know anymore, OK? I’m done. There’s no way this ended happily. Whether Kevin ever got that letter, no matter what happened to Scotty - there’s clearly broken hearts at the end. They weren’t together; they couldn’t have been.”
“We don’t know that. Things like that happened back then; they just weren’t advertised.”
Jason climbed out of the car. He crouched down by the open window, resting his arms on the door as he looked off to the side. “Not a lot has changed, huh?”
Chad stared at him, and Jason sighed, turning back to face Chad. “He couldn’t be open, so he lived a lie. But he had no real choice, not at that time. What’s your excuse?”
“Jase - ”
Jason stood. “I’m done, Chad. I’m done with all of it.”
Between the Lines (1951)
Clever hints and secret messages,
Hidden in your notes.
It’s not our time yet,
And so you’ve learned -
How to tell me
Without telling me.
How to confess,
So no one can discover
The true meaning of your words.
We must wait a while yet,
Sweetheart,
Before anyone can even suspect.
We must be apart,
Meeting other obligations.
So while we wait and hope and dream,
Continue as you have been,
Writing me small riddles of love.
Next Chapter
Main Page
It turned out Jason didn’t need any excuses. As soon as Paige heard the story, she was more than intrigued by the contents of the letters herself. They carried them down to the office, turning on the lights and ordering the letters by date. Then they each took turns reading, squinting to make out the somewhat sloppy and very faded writing. Most were only short notes, clearly written in the few minutes Scotty had available. A few were much longer, the writing cramped to fit on the page.
Kevin,
It has been two weeks since we said goodbye. It seems every town we go through, I can’t help but immediately look for the church. Some are ruined, like ours, and some are beautiful and whole. All of them remind me of the time we spent together.
I hope you are well and safe,
Scotty
___
Dear Kevin,
I received your last letter only a few days ago and yet I keep thinking surely there’s another on the way already, and perhaps another poem. After hours of talking, only having each other for company, it seems strange now to have just these short lines from each other every once in a great while. There’s so much I would like to say to you. I suppose it will have to wait until we see each other again - in L.A., if not before.
Until then, take care,
Scotty
___
Kevin,
My unit had a few hours to ourselves last night, and we went to a military club. I thought of you, of course, and looked around, trying to spot you sitting alone in a corner. No luck, unfortunately, but the hope of it was enough.
Remember - no crashing any more planes,
Scotty
___
Dear Kevin, Jason began.
“That’s a long one,” Chad observed.
“Yes, it is,” Jason agreed, slightly sarcastically. “Are you going to let me read it?”
“Sure,” Chad said with a grin.
Dear Kevin,
I must hope that this letter does not get misdirected or fall into the wrong hands. I find that I can’t hide behind casual words today. I know it’s dangerous, but it certainly isn’t more dangerous than anything else we’ve lived through. Today was bad, and many men were killed. I saw two planes go down, wishing and praying that neither was you. I knew, but didn’t really believe, that it couldn’t possibly be. And so all I could think, as I patched up the boys as best as I could and put bandages over my own - minor, I promise - injuries, was to get to a piece of paper and write to you.
I miss you, Kevin. Even if I had your way with words, I couldn’t find the ones to tell you how much I miss you. I miss your laugh, and I miss your voice, and I miss your touch.
I lie awake at night, dreaming of you. Even as some of the tinier details fade, I remember our time together and wonder if it was real. It had to be, though. You liked to tease me about my fantastic imagination, but even I couldn’t think up something quite as beautiful as those few weeks, or quite as painful as our goodbye.
Think of me, Kevin. Remember me as soon as you get a few moments of privacy. Remember that day in the snow, our cold hands burning each other’s skin. Remember that evening we held each other close, only separating long enough and far enough so we could make plans for the future. Remember that last night before we left our sanctuary, and our last day together when we swore promises to each other.
I want to say so much to you, and even now, as open as I am daring to be, I find there are things I still can’t write. If you want to hear those words, Kevin, you have to make it through. I’ll tell you as soon as I see you again,
Scotty
Jason cleared his throat. He glanced up at Chad, who was staring at him with a guarded but meaningful expression, and he looked away again.
“Oh my,” Paige said softly.
“They were in love,” Jason added, his voice breaking slightly.
“Read the next one,” Chad requested.
Paige picked up the sheet in her hand and began to read.
Kevin,
As much as you say you enjoyed my last letter, I’m afraid I will not risk some of those liberties again. Not until the next time I get a fright, at any rate. But just because I don’t write about some things, it doesn’t mean I don’t feel them. I know the same is true for you.
Scotty
“Damn,” Chad said in disappointment.
Jason laughed. “This isn’t supposed to be porn,” he pointed out.
Chad winked at him, and Jason blushed. Then he remembered their third companion.
“Sorry, Paige,” Jason said quickly.
Paige glanced between the two of them, amused. “I’ve been married three times, boy. I lived in London and Paris in the '60s. Nothing you say shocks me.”
Jason laughed.
“You’re a damn cool broad, Paige,” Chad said, chuckling.
“Don’t forget it. Now, read the next letter already.”
***
Jason lowered the last letter into his lap. The notes ended abruptly, with no indication of why they had stopped. “That’s it,” he said slowly. “That’s the end.”
“What do you think happened to him?” Paige asked.
Jason shrugged.
“Maybe he was discharged,” Chad said hopefully.
“Maybe he was killed,” Jason voiced the obvious.
“I can’t believe that,” Paige said. “I don’t want to.”
“It would make sense, wouldn’t it?” Jason asked. “It would fit with a lot of his work. And what other explanation could there be?”
Paige sighed. She began to gather the letters and envelopes again. One envelope felt thicker than the others, and she paused.
“What’s this?”
“What?” Chad asked, leaning closer.
“We missed one!” she said excitedly, pulling the folded letter from the envelope. “Strange,” she mused. “He never folded his other letters this much.”
“He never wrote Kevin’s name on the outside, either,” Jason observed, pointing at the paper.
Paige quickly unfolded it. “It’s not dated. It’s…mon Dieu.”
“What?!” Chad asked.
Kevin,
I’ve finally made it to L.A. - a little later than we planned and apparently unexpected. I’d like to see you again and reminisce about our experiences in France. I’m staying at the Roadside Lodge, a motel in Silver Lake, and I will be there for at least two nights. I’m willing to stay here in the city for as long as you’d like, however. Please come as soon as you can, but if you can’t make it, I will understand your decision. It may be too much to ask now, but perhaps we can have a few moments together, for old times’ sake.
Scotty
“He came to L.A.?!” Jason exclaimed.
“Sometime after the war,” Paige added.
“Did Kevin go to him? Did they meet?” Chad asked.
“There’s nothing in any of Kevin’s work or letters that even suggests…” Jason trailed off, trying to think.
“I think I know why it’s folded like that,” Paige interrupted softly. “I don’t think it was mailed. I think it was hand-delivered.”
“To who?” Chad asked.
Paige sat quietly for a moment, then she inhaled, lifting her head. “Aunt Rebecca.”
***
They only got a few hours of sleep that night, and Jason yawned into his morning coffee. Paige, unbelievably, was as cheerful and warmly hospitable as she always was. Chad walked into the dining room a half hour after the others were up.
“Sorry,” he said. “I got a phone call this morning.” He looked at Jason. “The movie’s officially dead. The scripts for Tempest Bay are already coming in. I know we were going to stay a few more days, but I need to get back.”
Jason nodded, trying not to reveal his disappointment.
***
By the time they made it back to the States, Jason was resolved. Paige had given them the letters, saying she would clear everything up with Cooper so Jason could keep them for his research. But for the moment, he didn’t want to even look at them. He didn’t want anything to do with them.
“I don’t understand,” Chad argued as he pulled his car into Jason’s parking lot. “You’re just going to sit on it?”
“Yep ,” Jason said, sighing.
“Why?”
“What good would it do?” Jason said. “Who really needs to know?”
Chad stared at him for a beat. “It’s the truth. People deserve the truth.”
“That’s rich, Chad.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, it’s just…I don’t want to know anymore, OK? I’m done. There’s no way this ended happily. Whether Kevin ever got that letter, no matter what happened to Scotty - there’s clearly broken hearts at the end. They weren’t together; they couldn’t have been.”
“We don’t know that. Things like that happened back then; they just weren’t advertised.”
Jason climbed out of the car. He crouched down by the open window, resting his arms on the door as he looked off to the side. “Not a lot has changed, huh?”
Chad stared at him, and Jason sighed, turning back to face Chad. “He couldn’t be open, so he lived a lie. But he had no real choice, not at that time. What’s your excuse?”
“Jase - ”
Jason stood. “I’m done, Chad. I’m done with all of it.”
Between the Lines (1951)
Clever hints and secret messages,
Hidden in your notes.
It’s not our time yet,
And so you’ve learned -
How to tell me
Without telling me.
How to confess,
So no one can discover
The true meaning of your words.
We must wait a while yet,
Sweetheart,
Before anyone can even suspect.
We must be apart,
Meeting other obligations.
So while we wait and hope and dream,
Continue as you have been,
Writing me small riddles of love.
Next Chapter
Main Page