Letters on Fire

Jake

Finding Jake wasn't as easy as Lily expected. It took her some time, a few months, but she found him.

Jake had moved out of the town straight after school, changed house and work frequently, never seemed to be able to find peace. Until maybe a year ago when he got married and his second child was born. Since then he lived in an old, rented house in a poor suburb of a nearby city.

Today he was supposed to come to Lily's cafè, accepting her offer of a friendly talk.
He seemed neither surprised nor fased when she had called him, as if he had been expecting it for some time.

The little cafè was unusually quiet, only a few customers were chatting at the small, round, glass-top tables over their cups of steaming coffee or eating their lunchtime sandwiches by the fireplace.
Lily was thankful to the first winter storm for choosing this day to hit the town, it kept the people in their dry and cozy homes or offices for lunch. This way she would have more time for Jake when he arrived.

A low, tinkling sound of the little golden bell hanging above the door announced a new customer.

The tall and slim man coming in from the heavy downpour outside wore a very old, worn-out, black coat. No umbrella. The rain water dripping from his short, black hair was trickling down his neck, under the collar of his coat and falling off his clothes to the floor, where it started to form a slippery puddle.
Lily rushed over to him in her typical, helpful and caring way.

"Sir, can I just take your coat for you and hang it by the fire, it might dry a bit while you are here with us."

The little fireplace with its warming, cheerful fire always lit on cool, wet days was one of the things that made her cafè so popular with the locals.

"Lily," the newcomer said, "still the same, running around me excitedly, hanging on my every word..." He spoke with a spiteful smile on his thin lips.

'No way,' she thought, 'he changed so much.' She would never recognise him...

"You can keep your coat then, Jake, if you prefer. And for your information, I'm not the silly, young girl in love with you any longer. So just don't say anymore, I warn you!" She responded coldly. There was something about this new Jake she didn't like.

Jake sat down heavily at the nearest table. He looked as tired and worn as his attire.
His over-used clothes, red-rimmed eyes and shaking hands were telling Lily a story of Jake's life. They were telling her much more than he would ever be able put into words. Much more than Jake would like to share with her. A story of unfulfilled dreams, sleep deprived nights, unhappiness. A story of addiction. Jake was an alcoholic, if not worse. The revelation made her want to cry. She pitied him.

"So," Jake said, breaking the awkward silence, "did Ronald tell you to call me?"

"No, why shoud he?" Jake's question surprised her.

"Well, I thought he has finally had enough of the letters and  sent you to negotiate. I have seen you around together quite often over the last months, I suppose he told you everything." Jake's black eyes were scanning her face, trying to read her, his smile cold and calculating.

Lily shivered unvoluntarily.

"Have you been spying on us? You know, Ronald doesn't really mind the letters, I do! He never tried to find out who sends them, thinking he deserves them, accepting them as a punishment. But I don't agree, Jake. I thought it was you, who else? Your stupid letters are creepy, appaling, you are destroying his life!" Lily rxclaimed angrily. "You must stop sending them and grow up, move on!"

"Fine, honestly, I'm getting quite bored with the letters and the two of you. Let's see, would you pay me if I stopped? How much? Come on, you own this place, I surely need some money more than you do..."

Just looking at Jake gave Lily chills. Sitting there, dressed in his old clothes, his eyes vivid and shiny, voice so excited by the sudden talk of money... He looked like a criminal.

"What? Is this all only about money then? Didn't you love Rose? I was wrong about your motives. You are just an awful, disgusting piece of...
No, no, that's it. Let us stop here."

Lily stood up and walked hastily to the counter. She was back after a few moments, her face composed, impassive.

"There," she said in her usual, calm voice, pushing some banknotes to Jake over the small table. "Use it wisely Jake, if you can, get a new coat, an umbrella maybe. That's all I've got for you, there will be no more. Now, please, get out of my life forever!"

She left him sitting there alone and made her way back to the counter, not looking at him anymore.
After a while the sound of the bell above the door informed her that he left.

Lily breathed out heavily, relaxing. 'That's done', she thought, hoping never to see him again.

She never told Ron about meeting Jake, not willing to re-open his still painful wounds. He had suffered enough.

Several weeks had passed before her phone rang, announcing an incoming call from Jake. 'An undesired call', she thought as she picked up. Lily was surprised to hear a female voice at the other end of the line.

"Hello, miss Lily Austin?" An unknown voice enquired.

"Yes, that's me, who is speaking please?" Lily's curiosity was growing.

"My name is Mia, I'm Jake's wife. I've been calling everybody who might have known my husband."
She paused for a while, then added: "My late husband. He had passed away a couple of weeks ago." After a short while Mia added: "An overdose."

"Oh," Lily sighed, not expecting something like this. She hoped it wasn't her money that bought Jake his death. "Are you all right Mia, may I help you somehow?" Lily asked, puzzled by the lack of emotions in Mia's voice.

'She must be one of those people who can turn the page as soon as one chapter in their lives is over. Get on with their situation, make a reason out of anything. Unlike Ron, who remained at the same page for twenty years...' Lily thought.

"No miss Austin, thanks, I shall be fine. I can take care of myself and my children quite well," Mia responded in a cold voice, as if she didn't want to deal with any of her deceased husband's friends.

Lily felt sorry for her. "Well, you've got my number, keep it. Just call if..."

"Bye, miss Lily, thanks again." The line went dead.
Lily never heard from Mia again.