Notelet XVII: You Will Always Be Mine

Nan Hatfield sat in her old recliner on her yellow porch overlooking the fields. She had taken this scene in many times but each day had its own beauty. She couldn't have asked for a more tranquil surroundings. It was just pure heaven on earth. The house would not be a home without the frequent visits of her grandchildren. She recalled when April the oldest did the April Fool's joke on her scaring her in the middle of the night wearing her wig, favourite robe and dentures. Then there was Eddie. "Her Eddie", she called him. He was off to pilot training in the next couple of months. Eddie was a spitting image of John in his younger years. She secretly enjoyed his company the most. Then there was little Gerald and the newly born Theodore from her fifth child. The family was getting bigger. She loved them all and always looked forward to their visits. Today would be no different. Edward Hatfield was coming to visit her. "My Eddie is coming home", she smiled to herself like a chipmunk. She'd pulled out all the stops: the cordial, homemade scones and jam and clotted cream.
Honk, honk came the familiar sound of Eddie's saloon car. First, frantic waves and then a shout, "hi gramps". "Looking good out here". At 26, Eddie was doing well for himself. He was studying to be a pilot. He'd saved a bit to afford his own house and he was mentoring younger boys downtown. Just like his grandpa he had what Violet Hatfield called the "swooning dimple" on his chin. So called because it caused the ladies to turn. His jet black hair and casual jacket finished off his look. "A dashing young man, my Eddie", she thought as he climbed the porch stairs two by two. "Gramps, what's for tea? Am starving", said Eddie. "The tray is already set up inside with your goodies. Help yourself", she replied. With two strides Eddie was inside the hours. An hour later and there were no crumbs on the plates or tray. Gran enjoyed hearing about how Eddie passed his days. "Gran, something strange happened the other day. I was doing some grocery shopping when I bumped into this elderly woman. On bumping into her, her face was fixed to the can she was looking at. Seemed liked she was reading the nutritional content. When she looked up at me she froze. I couldn't think why though. I quickly muttered my apology and left thinking nothing of it. From the way she looked at me you'd think she knew me. Some strange people in the world", he remarked. Gramps listened intently without any show of emotions.
Mr Edward Hatfield? "Sign here please", said the courier delivery guy. He'd been woken up to sign for a letter. "Who from?", he thought. With heavy eyes he opened the letter to see a search by the adoption services and from what he could make out his birth grand mother wanted to re-connect. "This must be a joke", he thought. His fiancée was fond of jokes so she could have been playing such an expensive joke on him. "Only one way to find out", he said to himself. "Debs, can you hear me? Don't play such jokes on me", he said. "Eddie, I don't know what you are on about but I haven't played a joke on you for a while", responded Debs. Eddie although in his morning robe started to feel shivers all over his body. "Let's talk later. I need to be somewhere to make head and tail of a letter I have just received", he replied. Hurriedly he put his cell down and dressed as quickly as he could.
"For God sakes what time do they open", he spoke out to no one in particular. He was in there like a bolt as soon as the clerk unlocked the doors to the adoption agency. "How can I help?", said the clerk unconcernedly. "I received a letter from you and I need to speak to someone urgently about it", said Eddie. "Come this way", responded the clerk. In a few minutes he found himself face to face with the manager. "Mam, can you explain why you sent me such a letter", he said trying to speak calmly. "Mr. Hatfield the long and short of it is your birth grand mother is looking to reconnect. She wrote to us a few weeks ago to help her find you as she thought she'd seen you at Hilda's grocery. We therefore wrote to you". Eddie recalled the old woman who stood frozen. "Wait a minute lady. Is this a scam? I have a grandmother", said he. "What do you mean about a birth grandmother", he asked hoping the answer would be what he wanted to hear. "Mr Hatfield, you are your grandfather's son but not Ms. Violet's. Your maternal grandmother signed off your care to your grandpa at a time when she was severely depressed and couldn't take care of you. Ms. Violet came into your fathers' life a couple of years later and has loved you as her own", said the manager. "It's your choice if you want to reconnect with your birth grandmother", said the adoption manager in addition. Eddie thanked the manager and started walking to the door. "I will think about it", he said. " I am not ready now. It's a lot to take in".
"Gramps, we need to talk", Eddie softly said as he walked quietly on tothe porch. Violet knew the time had come.

"Eddie, whatever your decision I will respect it. Edward, no matter what you will always be my Eddie", said Violet.
"Now I will tell you what happened", she said...


You are quintessentially special,
Love Abba