Truth & Knowledge
Trixie helped her mother get supper on the table, and got Bobby washed up and settled. She was quieter than normal, and it did not go unnoticed by her father.
“Is everything all right Princess?” Peter Belden asked. “You don’t seem your usual perky self.”
Trixie answered with a grin. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you complain because I was too quiet Daddy.” She turned serious. “I found some interesting things when I was cleaning out the basement. Grandpa Dave’s things. I was hoping to show them to you and maybe talk about them?” Trixie’s voice trailed off, questioning.
Peter shot a quick look at his wife, who simply shrugged. Turning to his daughter he said, “Sure Sweetie. Why don’t you help Moms get the dishes done and Bobby off to sleep, and then we can ‘take a meeting’ in the family room and you can show me what you found.”
Trixie’s grin brightened tenfold. “Thanks Daddy,” she said.
Later, the kitchen clean and the littlest Belden tucked in bed, Trixie took the logbook and box of letters into the family room. Her father sat in his easy chair, watching the late news report. Moms came in and sat on the love seat, a basket of mending at her side. Trixie sat on the floor between then and dived right in.
“Dad, did you know that you have a half sister in Hawaii?”
“Yes,” Peter Belden’s reply was straightforward, startling his daughter. “I’ve known since just after your Grandmother died. My father was quite ill after she passed, and he spoke of a child named Sarah. Now as you know, I have two brothers and two sisters. Neither of my sisters is named Sarah.”
“Aunt Alicia and Aunt Camille,” Trixie confirmed.
“Exactly,” Peter continued. “I was curious, so one day when he was actually lucid, I asked my dad who Sarah was. He told me. He told me the whole story. I am curious as to how you found out about it though.”
“I found this book,” Trixie held up the log. “And a box of letters. The letters are from...well I don’t really know how to pronounce her name, but she is Sarah’s mother. I read the letters Daddy. I know I probably should have asked first, but Moms did tell me I could snoop through the boxes.”
“Ah yes. The letters. I know your Uncle Andrew read them. I didn’t realize he had left them downstairs.” Peter tapped his mouth with his finger. “So what other questions do you have?”
“I want to know what happened to her. To Sarah,” Trixie rushed on. “Have you ever met her? Did she ever visit? Did Grandpa ever visit her?”
Peter shook his head. “I really don’t know what to tell you. No. I never met her. Uncle Andrew did. She was in college at about the same time he was. That was when our father died. He left instructions for us to contact her upon his death. Uncle Andrew was the one who did that. He says that she was a lovely young woman; very sweet and kind. As far as I know Grandpa never went back to Hawaii. I do know that Sarah was married and returning to Hawaii when Andy met her, and I suppose she may have children. I really don’t know. I’m sorry.”
Trixie bit her lower lip and asked, “Would it be okay if I wrote a letter to the address on the letters? I know she probably doesn’t live there anymore, but if there is a chance...?”
“Why is this so important to you?” Peter asked. “I don’t mind if you want to make contact with...your aunt, but I’m not sure why you want to.”
“I don’t know either,” Trixie admitted. “I guess I just want to know how the story ends.”
“Then by all means go ahead,” Peter told he. “I dare say I’d be interested in knowing how the story ends myself. I’d like to read the letters you found as well.”
“Here,” Trixie handed the items to her father. “It’s a really sad story. I hope it ends happily. Goodnight Daddy.”
“I hope so too Sweetie. Goodnight,” Peter hugged his daughter as she kissed his cheek and headed upstairs. He turned to his wife, who had been quiet through the whole conversation. “Well?” he asked. “Did I do the right thing?”
Helen looked up from the sock she was darning. “You know how I feel Peter,” she said. “I told you the night you came to bed railing at your father’s unfaithfulness to your mother. The child was never to blame. You’re her family, and you should have reached out to her as soon as you knew she existed. Maybe Trixie can do that now and finally make things right.” She looked at the book and box in his lap. “Maybe reading those will help you to understand your father a little better. Maybe then you can finally forgive him and let it go.”
Peter ran his hand over the log book. “Maybe,” he mused. “Maybe.”
Upstairs, Trixie chewed on the end of her pen and tried to find the right words. Finally she decided. Putting pen to paper, she began:
Dear Aunt Sarah,
I hope it is okay that I call you Aunt Sarah. I only just found out about you. My name is Trixie Belden, and my Dad is your older brother Peter Belden. I am third of four kids, and the only girl. I was cleaning out my Grandpa’s belongings, and I found his military log book and some letters from your mother. I hope you don’t mind me writing you, but I really want to know about you and your life...
