✔ A Minute in Heaven || Wattys 2017

Chapter Ten - Another Celebration and Another Letter

I won't leave you behind.

...

As kind as she was, Katyushka was relentless with her teasing.

Although she never brought it up in public or around Natalia, whenever she was alone with me, she'd start giggling and saying something along the lines of, "My little brother's got a crush on Alfred!" I would ask her to stop, but she'd smile and shake her head, tittering.

"You're a hopeless case, Ivan," she said. "You're helpless!"

As much as I didn't want to agree with her, she was right. I'd always greeted everyone with a kiss, but whenever I greeted Alfred with one, I felt my heart beat a little bit faster. I grew accustomed to Alfred wrapping his arms around me before I went to sleep. I kept noticing how he'd smirk at me when no one was looking, that little smirk that suggested something more.

Katyushka was right.

I was helpless.

+ + + + +

The day started with Alfred reading another letter.

Alfred had been in a particularly good mood that day. I'd tried to ask what was up, but he'd shake his head and start humming to himself.

When he received the letter, the smile that had been on his face for the whole day stretched even wider. He danced his way into my bedroom and hummed a familiar tune to himself.

"He didn't forget," he whispered as he tore open the envelope. "He didn't forget, he didn't forget!"

"Forget what?" I asked, poking my head into the bedroom.

"You'll see," Alfred grinned as he read the letter.

I stood there for a good five minutes before Alfred, still grinning, handed me the letter and sat back on the bed.

Still confused, I read the letter as Alfred had asked me.

Dear Alfred,

I've got a lot of good news in this letter, so forgive me if it's a bit long.

First off, there's the most obvious news: Happy Birthday! God, you were, what, nineteen when you started your flight?

Anyways, I actually hosted a little birthday party back home here in Ottawa for you. I invited all the neighbors, and one of them, Gilbert, actually baked a cake! He said he brought the recipe with him from Germany when he moved here five years earlier, and that he got it from his brother, who still lives in Germany. (It was some darn good cake, too! German chocolate. I'll have to try and make it myself.)

That brings me to my other big piece of good news. America has entered the war! I think it's good because with extra firepower, the Allies should be able to force the Centrals back under control pretty quickly. I won't give away much, just in case this letter is intercepted or mixed up, but I'll say that much.

Oh, and one more thing. I'm thinking about asking Gilbert out. I don't think Dad and Pops will care, I mean, you've seen them, but I don't know how to ask him... you know, on a date! I was hoping that you might have some advice, you having Ivan and all.

Anyways, I've written enough. Your presents are waiting for you here in Ottawa, and I'll be sure to make that cake for you. Tell the Braginskys I said hi!

Your brother,
Matthew

Everything clicked after I read the letter. His unusual level of excitement, that song, Mattie not forgetting something; it had all been because today was his birthday.