The Old Farm

Chapter 9

  They got up early the next morning and got ready for the arrival of Hope's father. Hope went downstairs and started on breakfast. The sun is out and there were no clouds for rain. John came to help with breakfast. He gave a kiss to Hope."Good morning. How are you doing today?" ask John."Actually I'm doing great. When my father gets here we will go for a walk and we have a small talk about my aunt and you." said Hope."You are going to tell him about us?" "Yes I am. I shouldn't be ashamed about my feelings.""Hope everything will be alright, you see." said John."I hope your right. When my father gets here, he and I will walk alone and talk." said Hope with a little nervously sound.Mr. Nile knocks at the door and came in."Good morning Miss. Brooks what a great day! I came by to give you this apple pie. I baked it myself." said Mr. Nile with a great smile on his face."I didn't know you baked Mr. Nile." said Hope."Oh yes. I learned it from your dearly departed Aunt Lucy." said Mr. Nile."Well thank you. My father is coming over and we will enjoy this pie during lunch." as Hope while putting the pie at the kitchen. "Well I be headed off back to my chores." said Mr. Nile

     Hope and John started to clean up the dishes and around the house for the arrival of Hope's father. It took them about two hours to clean up the house and Hope began to look for a recipe for lunch. She looks into the drawers and found a recipe book. It belongs to her aunt. Hope look through the pages to see what to find for lunch. Then, she found a letter address to her aunt. She called John."John look what I found!" said Hope."A letter to your aunt dated on February 8, 1953 but it has not been mailed.""Should I open it? I'm kind of scared.""I believe you should open it. There is no point of mailing it." said John.

     Hope looks at it and look. She didn't know what to do; she thought maybe she'll wait when her father gets here. She put it down and started to prepare some lunch. She just stares at the letter; she just tries to ignore it. All of sudden, she heard a honk outside. Hope looks out the window and sees it was her father. Just on time for lunch. She went outside to greet him."Hi dad. I miss you." Hope hugs her dad."Hi sweetheart. I miss you too. Boy it's been awhile since I been here. The last time I was here when you were just a little girl." said Mr. Brooks. Hope blushes with joy on her face. "Let's us go in. I prepared lunch for us." said Hope."Great! I'm starving." said Mr. Brooks.Hope and her dad went into the house. Mr. Brooks just looks around the house and stares at the furniture and pictures."Boy nothing has change. I remember when I pick up your mom here for a date. She was nervous but beautiful. Her mother will sit at that chair while I was waiting. Boy the questions she asked me. I think I was more nervous than your mom." said Mr. Brooks."What do you mean? Did mom live in this house?" asked Hope."Sure she did. The house belongs to your grandmother. Your aunt inherits this house after your grandmother died."John walks into the room."Hi Mr. Brooks. I'm John O'Bryan. I'm glad to meet you.""I'm glad to meet you too.""Let's us go to the dining room for lunch." said HopeThey went to the dining room and began to eat. Hope asks how her father was and how he was doing with his farm. They had small conversations about anything.     They had finish eating their lunch and her father helped with the dishes."Dad there is something I need to talk to you about?""Sure honey you can talk to me about anything. Now split it out.""Dad since I been here. I encounter something odd. I mean Aunt Lucy had a secret life. You see she was just fourteen I know this because I found her diary.""Just tell me honey.""Aunt Lucy had a child from a boy when she was fourteen. Grandma didn't know about her love affair until later. The boy name was Billy but he was killed while working at a steel mill. Aunt Lucy had to raise the child alone. But, I believed the baby die or was sent away when grandmother find out. Billy is buried here and I seen his picture and he resembles a lot like mom. John and I tried to look for records.""Oh I see. Hope, your mother and I notice couple of times when your aunt was acting strange. For example: she will look sad, she will treat your mom spoiled when they were young, and I remember she will ask your mom strange questions. I believe she might have wanted to tell your mother about her secret.""Is this why you ask me about the another day?" said Mr. Brooks. "I thought maybe you needed me here when I heard your voice sounded sad.""I do need you. Today I found a letter to Aunt Lucy from grandmother. I didn't open it. Dad, I kind of scare to opened it." said Hope."Honey I know your scare but if you opened it, the answers might be there. I do believe maybe your aunt wanted you to find this letter from beyond." said Mr. Brooks. "Oh yeah one more thing maybe later you tell me more about John." Mr. Brooks left the room for Hope can have some privacy.

     Hope just sat there at the kitchen table looking at the letter. She didn't know what to expect when she opens the letter. Hope wants to know about her aunt's baby and if this letter shows the true feelings about her grandmother. Will Hope like the answers she is searching for? Or will be a disappointing results?