8 Chapter 07

The flight journey was restless with Elizabeth's jittery dreams making her gasp—a side effect of her sudden fervour, but the drive from the airport to the town revitalised her as she began to set her eyes on a town with a rare wild beauty, even though it was almost midnight and her eyes were too worn out to be kept awake .

As the taxi rumbled into the town, Elizabeth noticed the tiny wooden board on the left of the town's entrance lit up by the streetlamp over it, with words painted in swirly letters saying:

"Welcome to Chelseaville...!"

Elizabeth smiled at the sign and breathed in deeply. She thought the town looked like one right out of a fairy tale with the cluttered stores on either sides of the street, where neon signs hung on store fronts decorated with half done bunches of red and yellow tulips. She noticed how each store had a red and yellow tulip bunches tied to the door. She began to wonder if they shot movies in this hidden town that did not look real. It was quiet and the only activity she witnessed was a dimly lit bar with faint music and voices pouring onto the street where there were groups, gangs and couples right outside the steps of the bar laughing and dancing as if the night belonged to them. Elizabeth watched in amazement and as she dived deeper into the town she saw how tornadoes of modernity had erected a few buildings awkwardly. Regardless of the town's touch of à la mode Elizabeth felt that it had not lost its pre-natal earthiness as she felt the air around her begin to soften making it easier for her to breathe. The words of Hope Mayfield surged into her mind and she wondered whether the places Hope had mentioned desperately in her letter still existed or were already buried under the throes of newness.

By midnight Elizabeth checked into the Ritz she had booked hastily on her flight, which was right in front of the town square and happened to be the newest addition to the town according to the receptionist. It was the only hotel in town that went dry as there was no one except for the mayor who gave "two hoots about a fancy schmancy hotel". Elizabeth instantly adored how carefree it seemed to talk to the receptionist of a Michelin star hotel, unlike back home where all the receptionists she had met and learned to remember names were too rigid and prim to even tweak a smile that she had often wondered when she was young if they were robots facilitated for high levels of precision and crappy attitudes.

"Alright, who are ya checkin' in as darlin'?" asked the tall receptionist, who seemed the age of Elizabeth's mother, with a knot of blonde curls toppling off the top of her head and a long face with bright red lips.

"Elizabeth Hartley," she said, "it was a uh last minute reservation."

"Uh huh," said the receptionist lady with her thickly outlined eyes glued to the tab on her hand. She raised her eyes for a second and turned back to the tab. "What's a city girl like you doin' in this musty old town?"

"I um I have to d-deliver something?"

"Are you askin' me?" She asked raising a brow but not her eyes.

"No um I'm here to deliver a thing." Elizabeth stated seriously feeling stupider every time she opened her mouth. Linda the receptionist paused her staring contest with the tab and looked at Elizabeth with her eyebrows shot up.

"Honey, this town is old but it's not unaccounted for. We've got sweet Todd, the mail guy and FedEx from Fairhope doing their daily runs across Chelseaville," she said comfortingly.

"Oh no I'm sure you've got a great mail system here it's just uh," Elizabeth cleared her throat searching for better words that would not make her look like a city creep in this town, "it's just a special delivery."

Linda nodded her head and Elizabeth knew she did not believe her one bit.

"All set," she said and fished a key card out for Elizabeth, "well good luck with the special delivery and enjoy your stay Miss Hartley!"

Elizabeth smiled in response and turned to leave when she quickly turned back to Linda again.

"By the way do you happen to know of a Crawford around here?" Elizabeth had to know if this was truly happening, so she took her chance for any confirmation other than the address she received from Jasper.

Linda's beam drained and her eyes narrowed at Elizabeth suspiciously. She then leaned over the desk towards her.

"Are you Jasper Crawford's old paramour from the city?" Linda asked in a hushed tone.

"What-no! Wait you know Jasper Crawford." She realised and instantly regretted as Linda's eyes widened.

"No, I am still not Jasper's old whatever. I'm looking for Harrison Crawford, do you know him?"

"Oh, are you now?' Linda asked, interested. "What baggage are ya carryin' for old Crawford?'

"Um none, I'm just here to deliver him...something. So, you know him?"

Linda kept her eyes focused on Elizabeth and shrugged.

"Of course I know, the whole town does, once a golden boy- at least in his own ways- always a golden boy."

"Wow he's quite the talk of the town then,"

"Well he was," Linda swatted a hand in disappointment, "but now the old man rarely leaves the house, to be true he never leaves the house." She said shaking her head.

"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked resting her elbow on the counter, emerged in this mysterious man's legacy.

Linda turned to look at Elizabeth, an empty gaze in her eyes and shrugged sadly.

"That's the one thing this town had failed to figure out, sweetie."

This mysterious disposition of Harrison Crawford made Elizabeth's mystery senses tingle in excitement that she felt utterly ashamed for being overly excited about a troubled man's life. The call and request for the letter however drew a connection that could not be ignored and the more she thought of Harrison the more inquisitive Elizabeth got for answers.

"I hope you find what you're looking for darlin'- it's a small town, so whatever's botherin' you- I'm sure you'll find answers." Linda said breaking the short silence.

"Yes, I hope so too" Elizabeth did not know what she agreed to but that sounded about right. She bid Linda a goodnight and turned to walkway when Linda stopped her.

"A word of advice Miss Hartley: the Crawfords tend to be edgy at times so do be careful where you tread."

Something about the way Linda addressed her formally, made Elizabeth believe the woman.

"I promise to keep my eyes open." Elizabeth said.

"You do not want to get hurt by a bunch of townsfolk you barely know." Linda stated casually but Elizabeth swore she heard a faint warning in her voice.

"Nobody wants that," Elizabeth said and smiled politely at Linda. "Goodnight."

******

The Ritz was one of the five tallest buildings in all of Chelseaville. Elizabeth had read it on a brochure left on her bedside table. She tried to spike out the names of the other buildings, but all of them were just quiet dark pillars for the night and the only building she could see was one that rose upwards to a loft or an attic, if she was right, from the bar she had passed. she tried to decipher the receptionist's words or warnings:

You do not want to get hurt by a bunch of townsfolk you barely know

What does that even mean? Before Elizabeth could configure the meaning her eyes caught the striking glow of lights that sparkled beyond the window of her room. It had not occurred to her when she had inspected the buildings of Chelseaville because her eyes were used to reaching the tips of the skyscrapers back home, that she was not familiar with looking down below, but today her eyes finally decided to look down. It was the first time Elizabeth had seen a wholesome view of a horizon with no bricks and concrete blocking her way. She reached the window ledge and rested her eyes at the sight. The town was surrounded by a thin strip of wood that stretched out for a few meters before it touched a glistening lake- there was a bright yellow moon beaming right above the lake and Elizabeth gasped in wonder and shame that she had let her eyes overlook these intricacies.

The houses and the neighbourhoods below and across that spread out within the woodland strip sprouted glowing lights in their own ways and as Elizabeth tried to grasp the whole image in her eyes greedily, she felt her chest rise in wonder.

Her hands automatically slipped into the pocket of her trench coat and she pulled her phone out for a picture, but the minute her screen disguised the view with its artificial imperfections, Elizabeth's heart fell. She stared at the screen view, blotchy and shattered, and glanced at the true view that beheld her majestically. She slipped the phone back into her pocket and leaned against the window ledge in content. It was a panorama that had captivated the quality of rarity and Elizabeth decided she would respect the view with her eyes and only them. Ever since her departure from JFK and the ride through a forgotten quarter of East Alabama she had not felt a wave of exhilaration and an unavoidable feeling of soreness wash over her at a sight so mesmerising. Elizabeth had seen quite a lot of breathtaking views in her life through her voyages, and then it hit her why- this wasn't about the beauty that lay there to be observed, but one that was alive and had to be spoken to with the sighs of the heart, like a fretted lover in awe and pain.

*****

Over zealousness and skittishness awoke Elizabeth fresh and jittery for the day she had ahead of her. Throwing herself into an outfit she traipsed up towards the rooftop lounge for her breakfast and when she reached the breezy rooftop did she realise how empty it was, but it dawned upon her that very moment that no sane person at the Ritz would be up before 10.30am. She walked around the empty pool and went over to a table with a beach patio umbrella attached to it where its tassels flapped against the fabric furiously.

It was breezy and warm. Elizabeth sighed in content and sat down. It was truly haunted and empty and when no one appeared even at 10.15, as much as she loved the peace, she had to admit that this was the first time she was at a Ritz for breakfast all by herself and it did not take long for her to feel strange. The pool in the middle glittered like a turquoise elixir under the flaring sun that she soon began to feel drops of perspiration trickle down her spine and stomach, while the sun continued to burn her mercilessly. Elizabeth sighed in frustration and slumped against her wicker chair, tilting her head backed onto the headrest and as she tipped her head, the corner of her eye caught the blue skies consuming the vast horizon. Last night's stretch of a dark void had been awakened by an ultramarine sky with splashes of greenery below it. Elizabeth rested her chin on the headrest and settled her eyes on the vision, thinking she could surely get used to surrendering her eyes to this view.

She sensed slow chills reverberating on her skin, the longer she looked. The church was placed on the Far East and houses and stores of nonthreatening buildings of red, white, blue and grey with vast spaces in between them were placed around the park and amidst trees sprouting beside pavements...like Lego blocks sprawled on a lawn. The brows of frustrations slowly parted ways as a childish glow swept across Elizabeth's face.

It was ten thirty when Elizabeth was laid a thick breakfast like the ones at the Hamptons she used to indulge with her mother on that last week before summer ended back in high school. They were tolerable, and Elizabeth realised it was one of the tiniest memories she had treasured with her mother where she was at her calmest and quietest. She was happy. A hint of a sad smile twitched at the corners of her mouth at the memory as she gazed at the plates of sugary toast, fruits and waffles laid before her. She shook her head and dug into her fruits. While she did she noticed the few guests that had begun to scramble onto the lounge, were either engrossed in a book on a lounger or were lazily baking their bodies with pink backs in the air and faces flat on the headrests. She wondered if they were even aware of the town around them, but needless to say their stagnant layout led her to pity them.

Right before Elizabeth was about to step outside the hotel, Linda stopped her and insisted that she visit 'Bitsy's Best', the famed diner in town that was a must tourist stop. Elizabeth was persistent on getting to the matter at hand: the letter. But she could not lie or say no to Linda as she seemed delighted and proud about recommending this diner that sounded like a place she kept close to her. Elizabeth promised she would visit and to her surprise Linda tipped off Elizabeth about a secret or not so secret pathway , a sort of back road from the hotel, which the staff used to "get away from it all", which was also quicker and led straight to the diner. Elizabeth, shocked and grateful for Linda's kindness, followed her secretly away from prying eyes of the manager into the hotel kitchen and to the outside where a lonely, empty pathway brightened up before her.

"You barely know me," Elizabeth said turning her eyes from the path to Linda, "why are you helping me?"

Linda laughed while Elizabeth stared in confusion.

"No one comes here with any enthusiasm, even for a "delivery", and if anyone does I'd be glad. There's so much this town has to offer, but nobody ever sees that," Linda said a tone of friendliness reigning in her voice, "and you're someone infectiously affectionate for things that does not concern you."

Elizabeth laughed nervously.

"What do you mean?"

"I think you know what I mean- a strange girl from the city tries to track down old Crawford- whatever you're doin' I hope it's for the better."

"Uh I hope so too." Elizabeth said quickly and looked at Linda, "Harrison seems like someone you care about?"

Linda smiled sadly, but it was not personal.

"He's someone the whole town cares about," she sighed and quickly shook her head, "but you're not here to hear me dawdle about the past. So, there you go doll, go now." She said nodding her head towards the path.

Elizabeth remembered Hope's words, and as they struck her she knew she should not be surprised by the way Linda spoke of Harrison. She squeezed Linda's hand and thanked her. Linda stayed behind with an unexpected hopeful smile flickering on her face as Elizabeth disappeared into the path.

The path was quicker and a true epitome of a small-town secret lovers' lane. It was gravelly and quite dusty, but the patches of wild on either side of the path was the main attraction- there were a few strands of tall grass beside that were brightened by stray bunches of daisies like minuscule patches of sun. Linda had instructed Elizabeth to take the lane to the very end of it where she would pop out right next to the diner. It was quite convenient for the hotel staff to have their late-night fixes at the diner away from authoritative eyes. Elizabeth traipsed along the path and before she knew it she was standing beside a diner which looked like a revamped version of the deli right around her apartment back home. With neon swirly letters in red spelling out "Bitsy's Best", on the pastel green diner front, it truly looked like one from the past.

It was almost noon and the car park was filled as people bustled in and out of the diner hurriedly as if their presence was required to grace the place. Elizabeth opened the screen door and the moment she walked in a waft of greasy pastry and creamy strawberries crashed her olfactory senses. Knowing she had had a lumpy breakfast a while ago her stomach yet rumbled. Elizabeth let the door slip behind and took in the presence of the tiny diner with the smaller wooden booths hugging the red walls and a coke fountain erected right on the counter which Elizabeth thought was for show until a waitress turned a knob and a train of cola squirted into a glass. But what caught her attention were the eyes of the diners that were fixated on her as if she was someone out of this world.

She smiled awkwardly, wondering what about her that made them stop drooling over whatever that produced the fragrances she had experience seconds ago. It was then she noticed they were rather taken in by her outfit rather than her, and as her eyes trailed along theirs, she began to apprehend that her stilettos, plaid midi skirt and the fringed sweater weren't appropriate breakfast wear as almost everyone in the diner were clad in loose fitted dresses, flannels, jeans and overalls- simply the most comfortable outfits Elizabeth had seen. She instantly felt her cheeks warming up in embarrassment at her extravagant mien.

Ruby, the diner owner saw the new girl from the city, which her daughter, Linda, had spilled about last night- it wasn't hard for her to discern the girl who was clad like Hepburn, looking cheerfully flushed and awkward in the middle of the diner . She decided to save her.

"Hey there sweetheart, what can I get ya?" asked a woman from the counter, smiling at Elizabeth and she took it as her sign to stop herself from looking anymore comical. The old lady with the silver white bangs and hoop earrings motioned Elizabeth to sit on a bar stool. Elizabeth smiled back in relief and took her place.

"I'll uh I'll have a flat white please." But she could not take her time as the old lady looked at her with a sorry smile on her face.

"Okay hon, look around you," said the woman leaning closer.

"Wh-what?"

"Look around you," she repeated in a calm tone.

Elizabeth looked around her hesitantly and observed the diner, it's dingy fairy lights circling the windowsills and the same waitress who had tapped soda before from the fountain, pour a steaming, thin black liquid into a cup on one of the tables in a rush. Elizabeth raised her eyes in realisation. There were no flat whites.

"Oh, you don't serve flat whites here do you?" She asked sheepishly.

"No love, but," the old woman laughed and grabbed a cup from under the counter, and a coffee pot that lay on a machine, and poured a scalding hot coffee into the cup, " we've got this stuff that will keep you fit as a fiddle for the rest of the day."

Elizabeth stared at the coffee in horror which was beginning to look like tar. Coffee with no cream or life in it. Elizabeth shuddered at the cup and managed a struggling smile at the old lady.

"I...that'll do fine. It is coffee after all." Elizabeth eventually found her beam and shrugged.

"Well you're catchin' up good, new girl," the woman said appreciatively.

"Wha- how do you—

"Word here travels unbelievably fast darlin," she winked at Elizabeth, "I'm Ruby."

"That's terrifyingly fast if you ask me," Elizabeth said unsettled, nevertheless smiled politely "I'm Elizabeth Hartley," she said and bought the cup to her mouth which protruded a sharp leathery smell that seeped through her nostrils. Elizabeth coughed lightly at the fume before the liquid touched her lips and set the cup down immediately.

"So, what brings you down to Chelseaville?" Ruby asked grinning at Elizabeth's not so subtle resentment of the coffee.

"I uh it's- I'm here to deliver a package. An important one, which is why I'm here." Elizabeth thought she had practised how to answer this question last night, but realised she delivered no signs of progression. The word "package" was more preferable than "letter" as she believed people would find this debatable at least rather than downright crazy if she had instead mentioned she was visiting this town to deliver a letter.

"The word goes you've been lookin' for the Crawfords," Ruby said, resting her arms on the counter.

"Well yes, yes I have," Elizabeth decided to believe that anonymity was a newfound notion that did not exist here in Chelseaville. "I'm looking for Jasper Crawford actually, do uh do you think he'll be in today?"

"Why don't you go ask him," Ruby said and nodded towards a booth behind Elizabeth. When she turned she saw a man of her age with neatly combed brown hair, clad in a polo shirt and jeans, his grey eyes intensely focused on the menu. He looked set apart from the rest of the crowd in the diner and Elizabeth could speculate that he was a bit of a perfectionist from the way he aligned the menu right behind his coffee cup with both his hands, and his tucked in polo shirt. But he did not look alienated from the others either, as she noticed him offering a faint smile of recognition for the people who saluted him or waved at him in familiarity. The town spirit ran through him. Sitting in front of him was a woman with glowing golden locks and a dimply smile excited over a plate of half eaten beignets, however what distracted Elizabeth the most was her attire- the beige boots, plaid skirt and a ruffled top- Elizabeth knew the fashion spirit of the streets and heights when she saw it. But the townsfolk had not stared at this woman who dressed so much like her, in fact a few of them had smiled and exchange a few words with her.

"Do you know who the girl is?" Elizabeth asked turning to Ruby.

"Oh, that's Hailey Goodwin, Jasper's sweetheart, been together for years now. Word goes around that he might get down on one knee soon." Ruby cheered, and narrowed her eyes at Elizabeth, "say, you're not Jasper's old lover from the city now are you?"

"What-no, why does everyone keep asking me that?" Elizabeth asked bewildered and bothered that two people from the town had already assumed she was a revengeful or pathetic ex on the run, or both at the worst case.

"A tale of the past, but if you want to catch him, I'd make a move already," Ruby raised her eyes at the couple, where Jasper was setting aside the menu and placing a tip on the table. Elizabeth quickly got to her feet, her hand landing unconsciously on top of her cross-body bag where the letter lay and walked over to the booth.

She stopped beside the booth and half raised her hand as Hailey caught her approaching them.

"Uh hi I'm Elizabeth Hartley," she switched her glance back and forth from Hailey to Jasper, "I talked to you about a letter a few days ago- a letter for a Harrison Crawford?"

Jasper looked up at her with a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"I'm sorry but uh say what now?" He asked with a confused smile.

"Okay, we uh spoke about a letter and I was supposed to mail it, but I thought it was too valuable to mail over states, so I uh came down here to give it myself," she saw Jasper's expression shifting between shock, horror and wonder, "-because I'm on vacation too! it's such a funny coincidence and a win-win really." Elizabeth wished she could have gathered her words before she jumped on a stranger and mumbled polite and diplomatic nothings, literally.

"I'm sure this is a misunderstanding, because I don't think we've spoken before," Jasper said with a strong tone of honesty that made Elizabeth break into sweats. But she had proof, so Elizabeth pulled out her phone and showed him their conversation. Jasper glanced over the screen and frowned in confusion, and annoyance to Elizabeth's surprise.

"What in the blazes- I really don't remember having this conversation with you and that doesn't even sound like me," he squinted at the screen, and whatever was said made him raise a brow as he slowly switched his gaze to Hailey. Elizabeth reverted her attention to Hailey who was staring into her coffee desperately, while fidgeting in her seat tight lipped.

"Hailey," Jasper began in an inquisitive tone, "did you ask this woma-

"It's Elizabeth Hartley, you can call me Liz or Beth, but Elizabeth's fine too."

Jasper glanced at her exasperated and turned back to Hailey.

"- Elizabeth, to mail a letter...pretendin' to be me—and where is this letter?"

Elizabeth scooped out the envelope which she had glued back together with perfection it looked unaffected and placed it in the table.

"It was written to your father years ago--if Harrison Crawford is your father-- but was never delivered," she said, "look I'm not crazy to travel all the way to a town I've never been to for a random letter because this letter is anything but random . Due to...unforeseen circumstances I happened to read the letter, and it was what was in it that moved me to bring it here and I think your father would love to see it, if he truly is even aware of it." Elizabeth turned to Hailey and saw her smile falter guiltily.

Jasper took the envelope in his hands, a helpless and confused look still clinging to his face.

"Jasper it's from Hope," Hailey spoke for the first time, "Hope Mayfield."

Elizabeth saw his grey eyes darken like thunder clouds crashing violently and she winced.

"No, no no-no way," he mumbled to Hailey his tone gravelly and for the moment Elizabeth knew he forgot she was there, and he instantly turned to her, "I'm sorry, we- I'm not—

"Jasper... maybe this will help your fa—

"No. Hailey, no I ca-," Elizabeth saw him try to contain himself when he noticed she was still here, "look, my father is- has anger management issues , and it is vital that his temper or anything that triggers it must be avoided, so the last thing he needs right now is a flux of emotions from an old love letter." He said in a clipped tone and stood up, "I'm sorry that you had to take off your time for this and my apologies for misleading you, but I can't take this letter," he placed the letter back on the table and turned to Hailey, "Hail, you comin' ?"

"In a minute Jasper," she said in a vague icy tone that made Elizabeth turn at the woman who was mum a while ago. His demeanour changed and nodding his head silently he walked past Elizabeth in a whirl to his car outside. Elizabeth turned back to Hailey.

"So, it was you who talked to me."

"Yes, and I'm sorry for Jasper's rude behaviour," she apologised motioning Elizabeth to sit down, "his father had always been a touchy subject for him. I just never thought you'd fly all the way here, that's quite a leap I must say." Hailey smiled

"Oh I was looking forward to a vacation and thought hey a small town I've never heard off could be my escape," Elizabeth said and quickly changed the subject, "but like I said this letter is not just a love letter – there's more to it and I don't know where this is coming from but I've got a feeling that Harrison would consider this." Elizabeth had never felt so certain in front of a stranger while favouring another stranger.

Hailey nodded in agreement with a victorious smile.

"I know it," she beamed, "I know this letter will help him."

"Help him get closure you mean?" Elizabeth asked and Hailey shifted her gaze to Jasper leaning against the car patiently waiting for Hailey, even though the frown was still knotted against his face.

"That too and help him get better," said Hailey as a matter of fact, "Harrison's temper issues have a lot of root causes, but every time I talk him, he begins to simmer down at the thought of Hope and in a jiffy he's better, it's almost miraculous. I know Jasper freaks out about his father's condition, but it is always the most insignificant things that trigger Harrison like outdoors, people, in short the whole town except...

"Hope." Elizabeth finished.

"Yes," agreed Hailey, "it's not something he gloats over, but he cannot help it either. He's just too fragile to "move on" and the only thing he can do is hold onto a memory long gone." Hailey's voice quivered and Elizabeth's chest nipped at Hailey's affection for her boyfriend's father along with Harrison's helpless struggle.

"I knew the letter was there all this time for a reason," Elizabeth murmured to herself.

"I believe that too," Hailey said catching her murmurs, Elizabeth looked up at her quickly, "see after Jasper's mother , Jo Anne passed away, Harrison was driven to the edge, but he didn't fall off the wagon, he didn't and lord knows what pulled him back, but whatever or whoever it was he wasn't the same after. It was then a few years later that he began speaking of Hope—just little memories from all over were his daily musings, but it also drove him away from everyone and now he never leaves home. The man hasn't seen the town square in seven years." Hailey said and sucked in her breath as if in actual realisation, "seven years."

"You're close to him,"

Hailey smiled. "I got closer to Harrison ever since Jasper introduced me to him, which was why I knew the letter had to be a sign. A sign of recovery and change."

"I think it will be," Elizabeth smiled reassuringly, and Hailey strangely felt comforted by her bright sunshine of a smile, "but I must admit that Jasper isn't on the same table."

"Jasper is overprotective of his father, it's almost possessive," Hailey looked outside the window, pained, "he loves his father, regardless of his flaws. He just doesn't want him to fall into a wreckage, again."

"But the letter...

"I know," Hailey said sadly, "I know I can't do anything against Jasper's wishes, it's his father after all."

"Well it's not fair for Harrison either," Elizabeth said defensively, "I mean does he not deserve to read this when it's just inches away from him?"

"It's not that easy Elizabeth. Harrison is very sensitive-

"But you believe this letter could help him, you said it yourself," Elizabeth said and pushed the letter towards Hailey, "so you'll give it to him. Do the right thing?"

Hailey looked from the letter to Elizabeth in worry.

"I – I—

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked noticing the fear behind Hailey's eyes.

"No it's—look I know what I said, but as much as I want to believe this-," she picked up the envelope in her hand, "-will make it right, I'm more terrified of the possibility of things going sideways."

"Yes they could, things rarely turn out the way we want, but you can't hide something or keep something away from someone- the more you keep them away, the more rebellious they get," Elizabeth did not expect to find a knot in her throat as she said that, but she did and she quickly gulped it down and looked back at Hailey.

"Harrison is not aware of the letter," Hailey said sheepishly while reassuring herself.

"It's a small town and I've just experienced the impossible lack of anonymity here," Elizabeth said with a halfhearted smile which Hailey returned. "Harrison deserves to know and if and when he's ready I'll be here with the letter." Elizabeth said softly and took the letter back and put in her bag, to which Hailey nodded unsure.

"I just don't want to hurt Jasper in the end," she said rubbing her temples in frustration.

"You don't have to; it's going to be Harrison's choice."

"Harrison's choices tend to be well, lopsided, as they turn back on him sometimes, so a "sure darlin" could turn into a real nasty "out of my face tramp!" in a split second."

Elizabeth winced inwardly at the possibility of having to face a tempered old man, but she steadied herself.

"I truly believe he'll be affirmative this time," said Elizabeth unwavering as she smiled comfortingly. Hailey watched the woman in front of her, dazed.

"You're surely a positive penny we could all use every now and then," Hailey laughed.

"Let me be useful then, I mean I didn't come all the way here just for a vacation."

Hailey breathed in deep and nodded her head,

"Alright we wait for Harrison's word then," She agreed, "think you'll be bored with this town before that?"

Elizabeth's mind flashed back to the glowing town from last night and the indulging places too other-worldly that Hope could not leave here in Chelseaville, which made Elizabeth curioser and curioser.

"I doubt I will be." Elizabeth replied, an adventurous spark igniting in her eyes