The Yellow Envelope

Richie stuck the envelope in his jacket pocket and picked up the papers Ben and Dan had given him.

"Miss Peeg, would you make copies of all of this and make sure they get sent to the right people?"

"Yes sir, will you be going out to lunch now?" she asked taking the papers from him.

"Yeah, I’m going home for lunch," he smiled

Toni prepared a salad and grilled fish. Richie didn’t often come home for lunch anymore and she was happy to do for him.

Richie came in and kissed Toni, "I got a letter from Michael."

"Your son? That’s wonderful. What does he say?"

"I haven’t read it yet," he took the letter from his pocket and placed it on the table.

Toni knew his son had been upset when his father moved to Australia and this was the first letter he’d received from Michael. Richie spent two days with Michael in Las Vegas before they flew out to the coast and then to Australia. Three months had gone by without a word.

"Well open the darn thing Richie why are you waiting?"

"I don’t know," he picked up the envelope and walked into his den settling on his sofa he slit open the yellow envelope.

Toni stood in the kitchen where she could see him, curiosity eating her up.

"Toni, he wants to know if he can come out for spring break. He’ll have two weeks. He thanks us for his presents; he congratulates us on our marriage."

Toni walked to the den doorway, "It’s all right then," she breathed a sigh of relief, "Come and eat your lunch honey."

"He can actually spell you know. He writes a good letter and he’s given me his email address," smiled Richie. He came back in the kitchen and caught Toni around the waist. "I miss him you know."

"I know…I know." She said laying her head on his chest.