I don’t really know what I’m saying. I’m going to send this to you, despite my better judgment, and I will write you a saner letter soon.

Love,
Raj

Dearest Raj:

I wanted to tell you, in case Annie hasn’t, that Lewis has disappeared. He’s been gone for more than three weeks now and is officially a Missing Person. Mrs. Yost said she saw a man up in the woods—a “wild” man—but you know what she’s like and now all those rumors about the man of the woods and his white dog have returned. I know you and Annie haven’t corresponded for a few months. I don’t know why. I’ve noticed Annie has stopped asking me about you. I asked if she was angry at you. She said she was angry at herself. She said she treated you unfairly, expected too much, and realizes now that she was depressed after the birth of the baby—who still hasn’t got a name.

I really enjoyed my last trip to Boston. Rachel seems like a lovely woman and she clearly adores you. But Raj, I have to say it: She looks so much like Annie it’s shocking.

I can’t stand it that you two, who’ve spent your lives together, are so estranged. At first I wanted you to get away from everything here. Some of that was petty. I wanted you to be successful. I wanted that damn father of yours, that damn uncle, to see you recognized by the whole world. In the beginning I was afraid, afraid that Annie would trap you here. But she wouldn’t do that, I know, and more than anything in the world, right now, she would love to see you. Needs to see you.

All my love,
Ruth