Page 31 of Yours, For Good

To: Mr. Smith

From: Eleanora

Subject: The Lock Willow B&B

Dear Oh Dear Mr. B.,

Lock Willow is a dream! Mrs. Semple's B&B is set in an old house near the bay in what used to be a big, stately farm house. She and her husband and a maid and her husband all live here, and administer the property and the business, which seems to be quite successful. Mrs. Semple explained that Christmas is typically quiet, but that we should expect an influx of guests right after. I'm caught in the flurry of excitement of it all, and I'm so thankful to you and to Mr. Griggs and to Mrs. Semple and to everyone involved in me being here today.

I've attached a few pictures of the place. I hope they please you nearly as much as it makes me happy to be here.

Tomorrow I'll have my first interview with Mrs. Semple over breakfast. I can't wait!

With true affection,

Nora

Chapter 15

Javier

EVERYTHING WOULD BE EASIER if she weren't such a delight.

Chapter 16

Date: December 26

To: Mr. Smith

From: Eleanora

Subject: You'll never guess...

Dear Mr. B.,

I've had a series of talks with Mrs. Semple and they've been utterly illuminating. Her experience is giving me a new perspective that will add great depth to my business plan.

She talks about the children and youth with whom she worked with such affection! She explained the delicate politics of protecting the children's interests, while assuring their caregivers that the children were being both challenged and supported, stimulated but not over-stimulated, etc. She told me how difficult it was to say goodbye sometimes, and how she stayed in contact

with many of them. She shared that the house we're in was a gift from one of the children she tutored, which I think speaks to how close a relationship between a tutor and the child can be. Receiving this gift let her retire early and securely, she said and, really… receiving a house? As a gift? I think it's a big deal.

But that's only one part of what's been on my mind non-stop.

After dinner last night, I decided to look around the house library, trying to research the history of the place. I discovered a couple of books with labels inside, including a children's book that looked well read and with a clear name in the inside lapel of the dust jacket. I asked Mrs. Semple about it and one thing led to another and…

Do you know who used to own this house, Mr. B.? Do you know the family, and is that why you sent me here?

Do you know a Mr. Javier Pendleton?

Apparently, Mrs. Lizzie Semple used to be his tutor and they spent a lot of time together in this house. Years went by and he grew up all the way to his six feet and many inches, and wanted to show her how much he appreciates her via this token of gratitude.

And somehow, you sent me here of all places. Which, again, wonderful. Mrs. Semple exceeds the requirements for the kind of research and connection in the field that I was looking for. But now I'm ???? and !!!!! and ?!?!?!?! and trying to put it all together.

I suppose I shouldn't be thoroughly surprised; I've known for a while that the number of families that have the background and resources to sponsor people to the

incubator are few and, thus, you all probably know each other. If that's one circle in the Venn diagram, and there's another for the people who are in the high spheres of society who worked with Mrs. Semple, then the overlap must be huge and both you and the Pendletons exist within it.

Did you know Julia would be in the incubator with me? Did you let out an elderly chuckle when I mentioned Julia's uncle in my letters?