Salut D'Amour

800 hours passed here and I just woke up. How thoughtful of our little Tammy to write a reminder for me. She even pinned it up using your favorite stand.

I went downstairs to see our little Tammy washing the dishes. She told me, "Mommy, your breakfast is there and I already ate. You also have mail from daddy."

As I ate, I read your letter and like always, I see your cute starting: Salut D'amour. You know, your letters always arrive in the morning so I always start my day with a smile. I hope my letters to you, arrive in the morning too.

Anyway, I hope you are doing well. Have you eaten? I just finished bathing little Tammy and it's near noon. I might cook her favorite mushroom stew. I am aware that it's also your favorite and I wish I could cook for you again, even just once but again... You're not here.

Oh, wait... Little Tammy wants to write.

Hi Daddy! I love you very very much. Please do take care of yourself because I want my daddy to come back home in good condition or else I will complain to your boss because they did not take care of you. Also, when are you coming back? I want a baby brother and mommy says she needs you home before I get a baby brother. I hope you're eating well, drinking clean water and not getting sick. I also wish you're taking a bath because I am not hugging a stinky daddy when he gets home. I love you, daddy, I miss you very much but mommy misses you more. Love and kisses, Tammy.

Awww... Little Tammy wants you back too. And I want to tell you something... Please, please, please tell me if there's anything wrong... I can write to your boss asking you to come home... I know these past few months have not been the best for you but if you need to take a break, your wife needs to know too... I love you.

Take care of yourself. I love you.

Your wife,

Olfina

After writing the letter, I sighed. Little Tammy is in the yard painting her wall. She's a talented child and I am proud of her. I just wish her father is also, here to see her grow into the best person that she can be.

"Mommy! See, I painted you and daddy in a church." Little Tammy exclaimed with a smile as she held the palette.

I walk on the green grass and I could feel the grass beneath my feet. I held the letter in my hand and as I approach my daughter, she turns to me then says, "Is it time for daddy to get our letter?"

"Yes, but you need to wash first, you have paint all over you and even on your face." I chuckled.

"Okay mommy, please wait for me." She ran inside the house and I cannot help but shake my head in amusement. Oh, how did we manage to have such a sweet child as our daughter?

I look back at the lovely painting and though for a critique, this is no more than a tasteless doodle, it has a heart behind it so I could call it art. I look around to see our wedding album on the chair along with the paint and I see that our picture that Tammy was trying to recreate was our wedding day picture.

I never knew what my husband saw in me but he believed that it was something great. Ever since you left, I quit my job to start work from home where Tammy can help if she wanted to and we thrived.

"Mommy! I'm here, we can go now." Tammy was wearing her pink summer dress with a pink mesh capelet. She held in her little hands the hat that her father gave her before he left.

I went inside then I saw her immediately frown which got me confused. "Why, is there something wrong?"

"Mommy, I don't want to go outside looking like I am walking a runway while you look like you just had a dozen children." Tammy crossed her arms.

"Ha... Fine, fine... Mommy will look her best like her baby Tammy." I hugged her before we both went upstairs.

Tammy happily searched through my closet until she found the black trenchcoat that you gave to me. It was the thing I treasure most and Tammy knew that. She tossed me the coat then she found the white jumpsuit that I wore during our anniversary.

"Mommy will look good in this." Tammy smiled.

I wore the clothes she had laid out for me then she pulled me to my vanity mirror. My hair looked alright but my daughter says otherwise. She got my box of hairpins and she tried fixing my hair. It looked a bit messy but I cared not, if she fixed my hair like this, I should keep it.

"See, mommy looks amazing!" She told me as her eyes sparkled.

"That's sweet. Ready to go?" I asked her.

We walked the streets as I held the letter on my left and my daughter's hand on my right. She held her white parasol as we walked.

"Mommy, why didn't we use the bike or the car?" Tammy asked.

"Because I want to walk with you. Spending more time with you this way. We also meet the people who helped me even before I had such lavish life."

"Afternoon, Olfina! Do you want more plants in your yard?" Mr. Gavin Stone asked as I walked passed his plant shop.

"Ah, I'll see, maybe after my husband comes home." I smiled at him.

"I heard Colonel is coming home next week. Am I mistaken?" He asked me.

"Oh, how I hope so... His arrival is always postponed for some reason... I hope he's okay..." I sighed.

"I hope so too... He's a nice guy... With that being said, you are lucky to have a daughter like little Tammy. I bet she's your bundle of joy." He looked at Tammy.

"Indeed I am lucky to have my bundle of sunshine while my husband is away." I looked back at my daughter who was looking into the road. "Well, we should get going... The post office might close soon."

"Ah, wait! Before you go, my son has something for Tammy." The gardener said. His son came out of the shop with a bouquet of white roses and camellias. "He said that his first bouquet will be given to Tammy."

"Aww... That's just sweet of him." I smiled at the blushing boy. "Tammy, someone wants to give you something."

Tammy looked at the boy who was holding a bouquet then she smiled. The boy gave her the bouquet then he ran away. Tammy gave me the bouquet then she dropped her parasol as she, in her little heels, ran after the boy.

"Ah, children..." The gardener sighed.

"Your son likes Tammy, huh?" I smiled.

"How could he not? Your daughter is beautiful, smart and kind too. Besides, she was all he could ever see since we served you." The gardener replied.

"I cannot argue with that... You are an efficient person, you put effort into all the things you do... I bet your son takes after you." I chuckled.

"Thank you for that compliment." He smiled back at me.

After our conversation, Tammy and the boy went back to the front of the shop. Tammy gave him a short peck on the cheek, I guess my little Tammy is an affectionate child.

"Shall we go?" I asked Tammy.

"Yes! Thank you for the flowers, Ivan, I appreciate it." Tammy smiled as she took her parasol from the floor. I gave her the bouquet then she gave him back the tag that came with the bouquet then she signed it with a pen before we left.

After leaving, the boy was visibly flustered then as we walked, I asked my daughter, "You like him, don't you. You don't give back to people you don't like."

"Ah... Uhm... No, I don't, I just appreciate what he did for me. I mean do you know how important the first bouquet a gardener makes is for them?" She throws the question to me.

"I know because his father gave me his first bouquet back when we were younger." I smiled.

"But you didn't like him," Tammy replied.

"I did. I liked him, very much... It's just that, I loved your father more than I could imagine." I told her.

After that short talk, I noticed that we were in front of the post office. We opened the doors to see a bunch of boxes and mailpersons roaming around.

"Ma'am Olfina! I'm so glad to see you again. Another letter arrived from your husband and we were about to deliver it to you but you're here now so it might be best for you to take is now." The woman behind the counter explained to her.

"Why, thank you... Please give this letter to him... I hope he's alright..." I smiled.

"As long as we give him your letters and we receive his letters to you, I assure you that he is alright." The woman gave a reassuring smile.

"That was quite reassuring... Thank you." I told her.

"Must you excuse me... I have to deliver a letter to Mrs. Yale..." The woman said.

"Isn't she the wife of General Yale?" I asked.

"Yes, sadly, General Yale died just yesterday... But I think it's only rumored... I hope it's only rumored." The woman sighed before leaving.

I felt the grip of my daughter tighten on my hand and when I looked at her, she was about to cry. "Why?"

"Can we visit Mrs. Yale?" She asked.

"Sure... But we need to learn the contents of this letter first." I sighed.