Julie opened the door to see one of the couriers' there.
"Hi," she said. "Annika's not in?"
"No," he replied, "but a couple of these are for you anyway."
"Oh?" Julie replied curiously.
She moved out of the way while the courier moved in five boxes. He then handed her the clipboard.
"There, and there," he said, pointing.
Familiar with the routine, Julie signed her signature and name twice at the two line on the sheet. Then she handed the clipboard back.
"Thanks. Have a good day."
"You too."
Julie closed the door behind him. She was about to have a look at what arrived when she heard one of the kids crying. Sighing, Julie trotted off to tend to her young ones.
It was nearly an hour later before Julie could get back to the boxes. She set aside the ones for Annika which contained new merchandise, and looked at the three for her. Her eyes caught the sender's address:
"Mom?"
Unsure of what to think, Julie retrived a knife to open the boxes with. Once the tape was sliced, the first box opened up quite nicely. Her eyes widened when she saw what was inside. Quickly, she opened up the second box, and spotted a letter sitting on the top.
With shaking hands, Julie opened the envelope and pulled out the letter:
Dear Julie,
I must have started this letter a million times. It's been so long, so much has changed, and I just didn't know what to say to you. I know we've had our differences, but you are my daughter and I love you, and miss you.
I'm sure you were every angry with your father when he disowned you. I know I usually went along with him, but in this I did not agree. We both know how he feels about mutants, and I can't say I don't feel differently, but if I have to learn to accept mutants to keep you in my life, then I will.
Speaking of your father, he had a heart attack last month, and then another one yesterday. I used the opportunity to send you the rest of your things. It would be almost an adventurous feeling, smuggling these things to you, if it weren't for the fact that I am so concerned for his health. The heart attack last month was much worse than this one, which is only a small consolation - I'd rather he weren't having any!
I was so happy to hear how things were going for you. I'm glad that you found someone to marry, and am sorry I missed the wedding. I was also astounded to hear about the birth of your quads. I hope that you will let me visit them, and B'E and Tom again, of course.
Julie looked up. How did she know that she got married? And about Tinga, Josh, Dax and Cindy?
I knew that you were interested in IT, I just didn't realise you were into programming computer games. I was thrilled to hear that you've made a successful business out of it.
Someone had obviously been blabbing. Now, who would blab to her mother?
I know it was a sore point of many of our arguments, especially when you announced your first pregnancy. Your father and I were so worried that you were throwing away your intellectual gifts. I realise now, not only were we wrong, but we also had no real idea of what was going on, or what you were doing with your time.
You got that right.
I'm glad that we were wrong, but I'm sorry that you felt that you couldn't talk to us.
I hope that you will give me a second chance.
Love, Mom
Julie swallowed and put the letter down. She didn't know what to think. Was she mad that someone had spoken to her, or glad? Was she happy that her mother wanted to come back into her life, or put out? And she definitely didn't know what to think about her father having those heart attacks. While one part of her was thinking 'serves him right', another part still had some affection for the man she used to call 'Dad'.
She looked at the three boxes, and opened up the third. And here she had been thinking that they'd thrown all these things out, and all this time, Mom had been saving them for her. Frank hadn't gotten her lifesized cutout of Worf. Dana hadn't gotten her plastic, childhood jewellery. None of her stuff ended up in the trash.
Julie read the letter over again, and to her own surprised actually found she believed every word. She believed that her mother missed her, and more importantly, loved her.
The idea seemed to choke her up. In all this time, in all these years, after all the fights, and the way she was treated by them, she never really seemed to think that her parents ever actually did. They always seemed to have more time for Frank and Dana than her, and when they did spend time with her it was usually to criticise.
Julie stood. It was too much for her to deal with right now. She fled to the refuge of her study.