Susan,
I know you know me by face but not likely by name. Let me introduce myself: I am Craig, your mother’s, that is, your true mother’s, envoy in this venture. Your mother was so kind to me when I lived next door to you all. I considered her my second mother, as my own mother had died giving birth to me. Your mother would invite me for afternoon snacks she prepared for you and always gave my kitten, Shadow, a dish of milk to. Do you remember? Probably not, you were so young. Besides, you two were in your own world and paid little attention to an older, awkward neighbor.
Six months ago, I received a call from an acquaintance of your mother’s. The woman, I’ll call her Betty, and I arranged to meet in a café, where she told me about your mother’s life over the last fifty-plus years. I listened, riveted yet increasingly distressed. When finished, Betty handed me a letter and asked if I could locate you two and give it to you. I’m no sleuth, I told her, I have no experience tracking people down. But I committed to do this for my second mother. It took me a long time, researching records, following leads, traveling to places I thought you could be. In the end I found you both in Berkeley, but had to make sure you were indeed who I had been looking for. I am now certain. So I am here to deliver your mother’s letter to her daughters Julie and Jeannie, the names she gave you and your sister, now known as Susan and Miranda, at your births. I advise you to read the letter first, then deliver it to your sister, who lives near you, at the address below.
I will report my findings to Betty, who will find a way to contact you as she has a package to deliver to the daughters of her friend. Neither you nor Miranda will see me again and so with my best wishes I bid you farewell,
Craig
P.S. Please destroy this letter after you both have read it.
Read Episode 16
