Letters from Becca: A Contemporary Romance Fiction Novel Read Online Free Page B

at least once a week to clean for you.”
    “I clean,” he insisted.
    Jessica continued to dust off her daughter, then took an envelope from her hand that also had dust on it.  She looked at the date of the postmark.
    “That’s been there, what, two months?” she said, handing it to him.
    John’s smile faded as he looked at the return address.  He slowly stepped back and fell into the chair by his desk.
    “Dad?” Jessica moved to his side.  “Daddy?  What’s wrong?  Are you okay?”
    John looked up suddenly and set the envelope face down on the desk.  “Yes, I’m fine,” he said.  He forced a smile and stood.  “Now you get on home before old what’s-his-face sends the state police looking for you two.”
    Jessica hesitated.  “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    John hugged them both, then held the door open for them.  “I’m fine, dear.  Now, off with you, before the new widow across the street starts thinking I have a young mistress.  Wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation, now would you?”
    Jessica narrowed her brow.  “I love you, Daddy.  See you in a few days.”
    “Love you too, honey.  Bye,” he waved.  “Goodbye, Punkin.”
    Amanda waved over her mother’s shoulder as John closed the door.  He walked back to the desk and picked up the letter, sat down, and slowly opened the envelope.  As he unfolded the pages, the familiar handwriting brought back a flood of memories.
    Dear John,
    It feels like an eternity since I last wrote you.  I have so much to tell you—I don’t even know where to start.  Maybe I should begin by saying how much I’ve missed you in my life.  We’ve been friends since the beginning of time, it seems.  The time has gotten away from us, putting a greater distance between us.  I look in the mirror now and can see that time has finally caught up with me.
    John turned the page with a sigh.
    I feel old, John.  And tired and a little sad.  Sad for what I’ve missed by letting you out of my life.  I remember the fun we used to have.  The dreams we used to share.
    John dropped his hand to his lap, then walked to the bookcase in his library.  He glanced at the titles, his glasses sitting low on his nose as he searched.  When he found the yearbook, he slowly pulled it out.  He dusted it off and began to flip through the pages.  A sad smile grew on his face as he found the page he wanted.  His hand ran over the picture of him in his football uniform and Becca in a cheer squad uniform posing for the picture.  He closed his eyes and lay back in the chair.

Chapter 3:  November 8, 1957
    A coach paced on the sidelines and then glanced up at the scoreboard.  They were down 24 to 21.  There were two minutes, two seconds remaining in their last scheduled game of the season.  It was their first down at the eleven-yard line.  The coach leaned over, yelled something into Number 81’s ear and sent him in with a pat on the backside.  The player ran to the huddle, leaned in and moments later the team clapped and moved to their positions.  The ball was snapped to the quarterback who immediately fumbled it.  He fell on the ball, and then everyone fell onto him.
    When they were all standing, they still had possession of the ball.  The coach yelled instructions over the drums playing in the stands.  The quarterback nodded.  The players huddled, broke, and positioned themselves on the line.  There were no timeouts left.  They snapped the ball once more.  The quarterback took several steps back and then threw a lateral pass to Number 81, who caught it and ran eight yards before running out of bounds.  The play stopped with fifty-nine seconds left on the clock.  It was third down and six yards to go.  The crowds on both sides of the field were on their feet in a frenzy.
    The quarterback called them quickly into the huddle.  He turned to his team.  “They’re all over me out there.  You guys have got to keep ‘em back, or we’re sunk.  We can do