The Gift- Complete

6

Lydia pov

We have been staying with Arthur for a week now and I absolutely love it. Every Sunday we have a family tea. And even mase is starting to get used to the family dynamics. I have also been learning how to read. After masons outburst I decided to teach myself in secret but I havnt gotten very far. I'm still trying to remember the alphabet.

"Lyds, he's sent a letter" mase yelled from the bottom of the stairs. A smile found its way onto my face as i ran from my room and down to where Mason was standing

"Oh it's such a blessing. Please read it to me mase" I exclaimed happily as he lead us to the sofa. We sat down although I was bouncing in my seat

Dear Lydia-Rose and Mason

Everyday, I miss you more and every day I get closer to coming home. As you are aware, I cant disclose and information in my letters about my job so I'll keep it simple. The people we are helping are grateful to have me on board. And I hope I can come home soon. Although I reckon I still have a few more years before i get to see your faces

Lydia-Rose, I hope when I return you are still the bubbly 9 year old I remember. Mason sent me a photo of you and you grow more like your mother every day. I pray that you understand why I had to leave. It wasn't because I wanted to. Infact i wanted nothing more than to stay. But I had to help the less fortunate. If I had known of your mother's fate then I never would have left. Keep smiling my darling and we will meet again soon

He read it to me and tears welled in my eyes. Dad always wrote a paragraph for me and a paragraph for Mason. Since I can't read Mason had to do it for me but I never heard what he wrote to my brother. He said he wanted to keep it private and I both respect and understand that.

"Can I see it?" I asked in amazement. I always looked at the letters and held them in my hands after he read. I don't know why. Not like I can read them anyway. But it just feels needed. Like I can feel his soul seeping through the pages. Mason handed me the piece of paper and I looked at it with adoration

"Erm...mase...I think you may have read it wrong" I said scrunching my eyebrows. I watched as his eyes widened and he quickly grabbed the paper from me

"Nope. I know what I read" he defended

"But my name, it wasn't on the letter. So how could he have possible wrote to me if he didn't write my name? It makes no sense" I explained. I have always been able to spell my name, but that's about it. I can't write it either. Only read it

"Ye...its....ermm..." I couldn't tell I had stumped him

"Mase, what's going on?" I asked reaching for his hand trying to keep a smile on my face to not worry him

"Nothing. You simply read it wrong I'm afraid" he said as he quickly stood up and went to leave

"I want to see the letters" I said not looking at him. He stopped in the doorway and turned around slowly

"I want to look at them. Find out if even one has my name written on it" I demanded trying my best to smile politely and not to let the tears fall. I hated having to sound so rude but I was entirely confused

"No" he said. That's when Arthur walked into the room and stood staring at the both of us

"Everything alright?" He asked referring to the unpleasant atmosphere

"Mason. They aren't just your letters. I have every right" I defended my case, willing to drop to my knees and beg

"Lyd, you alright?" Arthur asked as a singular tear fell from my cheek. I havnt cried. Not in years

"He won't give me the letters. I just want to know if he ever wrote to me. Because that letter you just read didn't have my name on so don't lie" I yelled. I could see the shock in their eyes as I raised my voice, shaking slightly but trying my best to stay optimistic. When no one replied, I stormed past them and ran upstairs.

Arthur and Mason were chasing behind me trying to stop me from getting the letters. But I went into mine and Masons room and locked the door.

"Lydia-Rose!" Mason yelled banging on the door but I ignored him and began look for the letters. It didn't take long for me to find them on his nightstand, tied with a ribbon and preserved perfectly. I carefully and neatly untied the package and began scanning the first letter.

Nope. Nothing about me. Next one. Still nothing. It took 5 letters before I realised my name wasn't on any. So what the hell had Mason been saying to me? Did dad write to just him? Did he not write at all? Had something happened to him?

I opened the door with tears in my eyes but refusing to fall. With one hand, i shoved the letters in masons chest and ran around them so I could have some air.

"Lyds. Please" Mason said chasing me down the stairs. I stood at the bottom as the tears were now gushing from my eyes

"Tell me the truth! Why is my name not on the letters?" I asked not wanting to raise my voice

"He just misspelt it-"

"Stop bullshitting me" I yelled feeling ashamed for using such language

"Fine. I'm sorry. Your name isn't on the letters because they aren't really letters" he explained

"Then what are they?" I demanded an answer

"Abit of everything. Newspaper articles. Adverts. Job requests. Anything I could find" he admitted

"And where are the letters?" I asked. He looked down at the ground and didn't reply

"Why don't we all sit down" Arthur said but I ignored him and stayed put, staring daggers at my brother waiting for a reply

"They don't exist" he finally admitted

"Why?" I asked through gritted teeth

"Dad never wrote to us. He's not working for the government"

"Then where is he?" I asked my voice cracking as I tried not to sob

"I don't know. And that's the truth. There's a reason he never said goodbye when he left. Because he didnt want us. I'm sorry and I know it's harsh but you wanted the truth. He abandoned us" he yelled. I saw the regret in his eyes the moment he raised his voice.

I was now stood at the bottom of the stairs, him on the first step, me sobbing and running my hand through my hair as I wonder why I never knew

"Why didn't you just tell me the truth?" I asked so quiet it was almost a whisper

"You saw him as a hero. I didn't want you to get hurt so I made up all these lies" he told me slowly walking down the step and towards me. I refused to look him in the eye and when his hand touched my shoulder, I shrugged him off

"No don't touch me" I mumbled as I turned and walked away. I just needed space and time. So i left the house and no one tried to follow me thankfully. I decided to go to the place I knew I would get answers. The person who would never lie to me because he's brutally honest. Uncle Alfie!