Day Twenty Three - Message

I’m still not allowed to go anywhere near the sitting room, and I’ve been told ro also not go outside of the house today.

This morning when I came downstairs, Teddy was already waiting for me with breakfast on the table. I innocently asked if I could go out to get the mail, and Calvin was quick to interject to offer to get it for me himself. My plans have been foiled.

While Teddy and I continue to eat together, Calvin disappears and reappears with a bundle of mail. He passes it to me and I begin to sort through it.

There’s a new science magazine which I pass to Calvin who excitedly takes it and begins to flip through the pages.

Then there’s bills, junk mail, and some other random bits of mail that I’m not interested in. And then, at the bottom of it all, a letter with a handwritten address and stamp from outside the country. I excitedly tear open the envelope.

“Must be from someone exciting.” Teddy comments and takes another sip of his coffee.

“It’s from my friend Elsie in England. She runs an inn too.” I say quickly, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.

Teddy looks curiously at me from over the top of his coffee cup. “And is this inn, haunted, by any chance?”

I laugh, “Yes, of course! All of us who run these places keep in touch one way or another. But Elsie and I like to keep each other updated on a monthly basis.”

“Have you two ever met in person?” he asks.

“No, never, I know what she looks like but we both could never leave our homes for long.” I say.

Teddy nods, “I guess when you took over that’s why your aunt took it at as an opportunity to travel the world.”

“Yes!” I say, “In fact, I think Elsie has an update for me about my aunt too. It sounds like she was able to stop in and help out a bit. How nice. And she sent photos!”

I pass the photos to Teddy so he can look over them too. Elsie and my aunt look so happy together, and they’re surrounded by friends. Teddy is amused by the photos too.

“So, are there more to these photos or is it just your Aunt and Elsie in these?” he asks.

Puzzled, I take the photos back. Of course, I see many others in these photos, but I suppose that’s something only certain people can see on film.

“No, there’s others, Elsie’s guests here and there too.”

It’s too bad it doesn’t translate onto film.

Teddy shrugs, “It’s weird but I can kind of see these glowing spots in the photos? Almost like an odd lens flare.” He points at one of them on a photo. And at the tip of his finger is a ghost.

“I’ve learned something new today!” I say to him.

Teddy smiles at me and eats the last bite of his breakfast. He takes our dishes to the kitchen before coming over to give me a kiss goodbye for the day.

“No peeking.” He says to me before he leaves.

“I’ll do my best.” I say back to him.

As much as I want to see what work has been done, I just need to be patient. I’d love to get a letter from Elsie every day, but there’s something special about having to wait that makes the surprise even better.

I read Elsie’s letter again eagerly, already forming a response in my head.