Seventy-Nine

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Back to you, reader.

Present day.

I had to write to the family today. It was long due, especially since the wedding was in two days! Before finding an inn, I stopped by a parchment store.

The small bell rung as I walked in, a warm atmosphere welcoming me. It was so cold here compared to at sea and Albany!

"Welcome, Miss!" The store owner, a middle aged gentleman, said brightly. He brushed his dark hair behind his ear and walked up to me. He had a shiny silver band on his ring finger. He grabbed my hand and kissed it.

I smiled shyly and did a small curtsy. "Y/F/N Olivers." I said politely, needing a fake name in such a loyalist town. He grinned.

"So tell me, Mrs.Olivers, what will you be needing from my shop?" He asked, waving an arm to the dozens of parchments, quills, and inks. Missus!? Oh right, my ring. I toyed with the metal.

I looked around the shop. "Just," I counted on my fingers. "Twelve parchments, a quill, ink, twelve envelopes, and a wax seal. Red wax please." I said as politely as possible.

The store owner's eyes widened at the large list. He raised a suspicious eyebrow. "That's at least ten shillings." He said accusingly. Ten is quite a lot. Thank goodness I brought twenty!

I dug into my bag and pulled out the required amount. He blinked and took the coins carefully, stuffing them inside a pocket. Immediately, he rushed around in search for my items.

I walked towards the desk while he searched and looked around. A small paper had a name on it. I examined it. There, scrawled in loopy handwriting, stood out a name.

Levi Montgomery.

I gasped quietly and stepped back. Wait, didn't Levi have a name on a paper I found? What was the name? Wilbur? Will? William! William Fran-something. Oh no, was Levi a loyalist? It was this man a patriot? Or neither? Or both?

"Are you alright, ma'am?" I blinked and looked up to him. I swallowed and nodded. He had all of my stuff in a bag and handed it to me.

I was about to leave when I paused, turning to him. "Do you know a Levi Montgomery?" I asked. It was his turn to blink. "Oh, yeah. Very close friend of mine." He said. I could've sworn I saw color lighten his cheeks.

I decided to investigate further, out of sheer nosiness. "What's your name?" I asked, stepping towards him again. He smiled. "William Francis." I nodded. "And how do you know Levi?"

He shrugged. "Met on travel in France." FRANCE!! Levi never told me! I hid my surprise. "How do you know him?" He countered.

I smiled softly. "I snuck from my house when I was younger, before I married my husband. I bumped into him rushing home. We have been friends since." I said vaguely. He nodded and smiled. "Tell him I said hello when you see him again." He said quietly. I nodded and left the shop.

* *

After searching for an inn, which took an hour, I locked the small door. My room was dirty and cramped, but it was shelter.

A small, four-poster bed sat against the wall and window, a desk at the foot. A closet lay to the east, while a powder room was in the west, across from the closet. It was only three meters by five meters.

I plopped my bag on my bed and winced at the creak. I grabbed my parchment and laid it out. My first letter was to John.

* *

After writing every letter, I had a mental list of what each entailed.

Mother's was a sincere apology for my sudden leaving.

Angelica's was about the journey here, about Alexander, and asking about the family.

Elizabeth's was congratulating on the wedding, a merry Christmas, and a report on Alexander.

Margarita's was a merry Christmas, a report on father, telling about Harry, and asking about Levi and Isabella.

John's was complicated. I told him about the ship, how I captained, almost drowned, and about Harry. I told him that I am a bit behind but made it to a town. I also apologized for leaving in the first place.

Jeremiah's was asking about Rensselaer, Margarita, and mother. It was also a merry Christmas.

Rensselaer's was just like Margarita's, but I was asking him to be nice to his brothers.

I wrote the same thing for the little sisters, though they couldn't read. I told them of a heroic journey.

The letter to Isabella was a congratulations to her and Matthew, telling her about the ship ride, and asking about the baby.

To Levi, I said merry Christmas and asked about William.

After sealing them all, I relaxed in my seat and sighed. I needed rest. I looked to my bed and cringed. I'll just sleep here. I stood and grabbed my nightgown. I changed quickly before lounging in my chair, sleep coming over me quickly.

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