I ask

Jared fiddles with a loose thread on his shirt, contemplating Grace's offer. "I haven't been to the lake since I was a kid," he admits quietly. He did have some good family memories there. They were kind of foggy, but most of them had fairly good feelings attached to them. It seemed to be a rarity to remember something now that didn't feel negative. 

Glancing up, he studies Grace's face as she works on his legs. He knew she was trying to cheer him up, and he wanted to be cheered up. He just... couldn't seem to pull himself out of this pit. There was too much bad. Too much regret. Too much pain. 

"I'll go," he finally accepts.

A small but genuine smiles creases Carson's lips and he shakes his head. "If I told you that, I'd have to kill you..." He quirks an eyebrow coyly before turning to put away some glasses. 

He eventually goes back into the kitchen to clean up some things - he didn't think he'd be getting any more orders in tonight. After he was closed up, he'd go to the apartment for a little while before heading in to TJY and using their computers again. That would give him a couple hours sleep... which is what he got most nights now. 

Coming back out to the counter to check on Katie, he watches her for a moment, many thoughts going through his mind. "Hey, um..." He purses his lips in thought. He probably shouldn't say any more, but she was the only one he trusted right now. 

"When... when you see Misty again... would you just.." He shrugs. "Make sure she's doing okay? I know she's got Jason and all, I just... I worry about her."

Mick whistles a soft tune through his teeth as he ambles back down the driveway after having just retrieved the mail. He sifts through the handful of envelopes, sorting them between his fingers. Bill... bill.... junk... Eric... Becky... Jim... bill... Angel... junk... junk... Rosalyn...

He didn't usually pay much attention to what other people got in the mail - it wasn't any of his business. But for some reason, his eyes glance to the return address. Chad Mason. He stops walking for a moment to reread the name. Yes, it was Chad alright, with the return address in Nevada.

Thinking for a moment, Mick resumes his walk, tucking the envelope address-down in his back pocket. He usually just put the mail out in trays at the office and everybody was responsible for picking it up themselves. But this time... he had a feeling Rosalyn might not even check to see if she had any mail - it was rare she got anything other than magazines once in a while, and... Mick wasn't so sure having other people see the letter would be a good idea. 

It had become general knowledge - at least to Jim's brothers - what had transpired between Rosalyn and Chad, and how Jim felt about it. The last thing Mick wanted was to have Rosalyn bawled out for something that might mean nothing at all. It wasn't that he necessarily disagreed with his brother... he just... perhaps would handle things a little differently. 

It wasn't until a while later in the barn when he caught Rosalyn grooming one of the horses, and she was alone. "Hey, Rosalyn." 

She turns and smiles. "Hi, Mick." 

"Got something for ya." Mick approaches and retrieves the letter from his pocket, handing it to her. 

A little confused, Rosalyn takes it from him and turns it over, scanning the address. As she looks at whom it was from, her heart skips a beat. Looking up quickly, she catches Mick's eyes, almost afraid. 

Mick shakes his head and gives her a gentle smile. "I thought you might want that hand-delivered away from the circus." 

She swallows hard, feeling her cheeks turn a little warm. "Thank you." 

He nods and turns, leaving her be. 

Looking back down at the letter, Rosalyn studies the handwriting for a long moment. Chad? Chad had written to her? Why? Was it just something formal after his stay here? Was it something specifically for her? Was it an actual letter or something else? 

Since Chad had left, she had missed him a whole lot more than she thought she would. It seemed no matter what she did, her mind was always returning to him. She'd kept it all to herself though, not wanting to upset her father or get another talking to. She knew her feelings would pass eventually. But now...

Hearing someone else enter the barn, she quickly folds the envelope and hides it in her jeans pocket. She'd read it later....

...Though it felt as if she'd never get a moment alone, she finally had a break. Flopping down on her stomach on her bed, she carefully slits open the envelope and pulls out the pages. Seeing his handwriting, her pulse picks up. It really was a letter... specifically to her.

Reading his words, she could almost hear his voice. He wrote just like he spoke. So sweet. Gentle. She imagined the ocean and seeing it with him. Imagined the brightness of the moon and gazing upon it just like he would be. Imagined being held in his strong arms. Never had she ever received a letter so romantic... so warm. 

Gazing down the second page, a lump rises in her throat until on the last line, a small tear trickles down her cheek. Surely Chad didn't mean all these things, did he? Was he really truly pursuing her even from a distance? Had his visit here - with her - really meant so much that he would make the effort to correspond with her? Was it really true? 

It wouldn't be until that night when she would find time to write her own letter. Sitting by her window, she looks out at the night sky, finding the moon and smiling. Her little lamp offered just enough light to write by. 

Dear Chad,

You sir, are a flirt... 

She grins, knowing he would remember her saying that to him more than once. 

Your letter came as such a sweet surprise. I very much expected never to hear from you again when you left here. It makes me feel as though I am still asleep in a dream, wondering if I shall forever be asleep, or if I will one day awake, searching for that which now is lost. 

I sit at my window, writing by the light of the moon, which I trust your eyes are gazing upon as well. I don't know when you will get this - if you are still in Florida or not. I've never been there, but I can imagine the ocean so vast and powerful. It must truly be an awesome sight - you are fortunate to be able to spend so much time with the beautiful water. 

As I read your lovely poetry, I found myself hearing your voice. You make me feel so good - you really have no idea. Your poetic skills are quite flattering, and I will keep this poem always, to remember. 

I must ask you - for I do not know you well enough to tell - are you compelled to continue writing to me? I ask because I was shocked. I ask because I wonder if you realize I am eleven years your junior. I ask because I wonder if I should eagerly await more poetry or if this shall be the last, that I will cherish forever, as I do my memories of you. 

Tell me, and be truthful of your intentions, for my heart truly is touched by no one else, and it is but the most fragile part of me.

Rosalyn