Dear Violet,

Traveling already? That’s amazing! Of course, I’m sad that it means an interruption to our letters but I am excited for you to go. And also, to hear about it when you get back! I wonder what kind of food you’ll eat? Honestly, it warms my heart knowing that I can expect these with some frequency and I appreciate you telling me about the pause.

I’m also happy to hear that you wouldn’t be bored sitting at my side once again so hurry up and get back here! I’m just kidding, of course. I know you’re busy and can see why you are in high demand. I just hope there won’t be too many trips that require you to stop writing. Perhaps that’s selfish of me but I can’t help it.

Enough about traveling though, I can’t believe it’s already been almost a month since you’ve been gone. Ashley and the other girls help distract me and schoolwork takes up a lot of my focus too. However, don’t fret, you are still in my thoughts most of the time. I wonder how that will change when I finally graduate and go back home. If anything, it might be more. Perhaps it doesn’t matter because wherever I am, I know you’ll write me.

I miss you.

Yours,

Isabella

It didn’t take long for Isabella York’s letters to be recognized among the workers at C.H. Postal. They soon knew to look out for their arrival and would occasionally race to get the opportunity to deliver them. Naturally, Violet found herself looking forward to each one more and more. She even got antsy if a letter didn’t arrive when her mental countdown indicated it might. Of course, travel time wasn’t exact and variations of up to a few days occasionally happened, much to the dismay of both women. 

She was somewhat gloomy when President Hodgins told her of her first long-term assignment away from Leiden since returning from Amy’s school. Not nearly as long though, only a few weeks. Still, it meant having to go without any letters during that time. Something she was dreading much more than she would’ve imagined when she started exchanging them regularly. Violet was just glad she was able to inform Amy before her letters stopped and that her friend seemed to understand.

The afternoon before her departure, she again found herself In President Hodgins’ office. This time, with Cattleya in attendance. 

“Do you have everything you need?” The President asked from where he sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair with hands folded in his lap. “It’s not for as long this time but still.”

Violet nodded, confident that she did. “Yes. I picked up my tickets from the travel clerk before coming up here. My bag and typewriter are already packed and waiting for me back in my room.” 

“Good. Oh, and Violet…” President Hodgins leaned forward as he spoke, elbows coming to rest on the desk in front of him. “Let’s try not to take any detours this time, okay?”

“Claudia, please,” Cattleya interjected before shaking her head. “She’s a grown woman and can go where she pleases.” However, she still paused and turned to Violet. “After your work is done, of course.”

“Yes, of course. I will ensure my work is complete, as always.” After acknowledging Cattleya, Violet turned back to the President. “I will also not be taking any detours. I wish to return as quickly as possible.” 

This statement caused one of President Hodgins’ eyebrows to rise in surprise. “Is that right?” He asked, tilting his head in curiosity. “Does that have anything to do with the letters from Miss York?”

“Yes,” Violet admitted readily enough. “Please hold onto any that come for me while I’m away.” 

“Of course, I’ll let everyone know to bring them here for safekeeping.” President Hodgins spared a quick glance to Cattleya and then continued once a small smile grew on her face. “You two have been writing a lot, haven’t you?”

“We have,” Violet confirmed. Even when she wasn’t writing a letter to Amy, she was taking note of what to say next.

“What do you talk about?”

What did they talk about? It was hard to put into words when asked specifically. “Nothing in particular, I guess. She tells me about school and I tell her about work and Leiden.” In the pause, a barely perceptible smile played across Violet’s lips as her eyes lost a little bit of their focus. “I’ve been going around and trying new foods at her request, so I can detail them to her. I promised to tell her about any travels as well since she can’t go anywhere.” 

When she was finished, Violet shrugged before clasping her hands in front of her dress. “I guess that sounds silly when I say it out loud. They don’t have much substance at all.” Not like the letters she wrote for her clients. Those very often got across feelings that were hard to capture in other ways. They were important. With Amy though, it was just two friends talking. Not that there was anything wrong with that, Violet cherished each one dearly. It was simply…different. 

“Oh, Violet. Those are the most important letters sometimes.” Cattleya rose as she spoke before making her way to stand by President Hodgins’ desk. “I’m sure they mean the world to Amy. Just as they do to you, right?”

“They do.”

Cattleya’s smile widened and she nodded before crossing her arms. “We’ll watch out for the letters and have them waiting when you get back.”

“Thank you.”  Having someone watching out for them helped put Violet at ease.

“Right,” President Hodgins started before standing from his desk. “Then, we’ll see you back here in about two weeks. Give my best to Mr. Hoffman and try not to let him talk your ear off. You know, besides the usual amount required for your job.”

Violet nodded once more and smiled politely before turning and heading to the door. Once she passed through, she went to find Iris so she could say her goodbyes as well. Naturally, the other doll also offered to look out for the letters from Isabella but Violet told her that wouldn’t be necessary. Honestly, it filled her heart with warmth knowing that everyone was helping in this, just like with so many things.

—

As it turned out, Mr. Hoffman was a talker. An impressive one in terms of amount, at least. Beyond the correspondence Violet wrote for him, it didn’t seem like he took a breath the entire time the pair were together. Besides the few times he had to eat or read drafts or the newspaper. Violet learned he was the son of a powerful banking magnate in Leiden and traveled frequently now that he had taken over the business from his late father. Her purpose for traveling on the trip had been to help him write letters explaining his father’s passing and how that affected family and business associates alike. Which amounted to a lot of individuals and businesses.

So, Violet spent nearly the entire time from when she woke in the morning to when she lay down in the evening working away on her typewriter. All in all, she didn’t mind it. The work kept her busy and not focused as much on not being able to write Amy. It also helped pass the time. In the end, the two weeks had almost gone by in the blink of an eye. At least when she wasn’t focused on what awaited her back home.

As they neared the city on that last day, Violet sat by a large window and looked out over the buildings and neighborhoods of the outskirts. Her fingers rested along the windowsill and tapped ever so softly in anticipation.

“Someone’s excited to be going home, I think.” Mr. Hoffman looked up from his newspaper and over to her where she sat before smiling broadly. The expression curved the ends of his gray mustache and highlighted some of the wrinkles around his eyes.

His words pulled Violet from her mind and she Immediately brought her hand down to join its twin in her lap. “Oh…yes. I am; please excuse the noise.”

Mr. Hoffman chuckled to himself but went back to reading. “Think nothing of it. I remember what it was like to go on business trips at your age. I was always eager to get home too.”

“And are you still eager?” Violet asked.

“Very. I’ve never quite gotten used to being away from my family.”

Violet nodded silently in understanding and returned her attention out the window. Traveling wasn’t ever something that made her anxious before but it seemed that had changed now. When the train finally pulled into the station, Violet stood from her seat and quickly thanked Mr. Hoffman before bidding her farewell. Her assignment complete, she gathered her belongings and moved to disembark the train without wasting any time. She worked her way through the crowd then and exited the station before turning and heading in the direction of C.H. Postal. Violet would not be going home first, even if she had to bring her luggage with her.

As she walked, Violet wondered how many letters would be waiting. Surely, there would be at least one, right? Would Amy stop there, perhaps timing her next one for when Violet returned? Not only did that seem like something Amy wouldn’t do, but Violet sincerely hoped that wasn’t the case. She wanted to know what her friend had been up to!

With these thoughts and questions filling her mind, it was no surprise that she picked up her pace just a little bit more. When she finally made it to the post office, Violet stepped through the door and immediately started toward the staircase, luggage still in hand. Cattleya happened to be crossing across the lobby at the same time and she brought her hand up in greeting.

“Violet, welcome back! How did things go?”

However, Violet only had one thing on her mind and didn’t even turn her head to acknowledge the older woman. “It went well and Mr. Hoffman was very pleased.” She continued walking as she spoke but once she finished, Violet actually started running. Of course, this caused nearly everyone in the lobby to stop and regard her with looks of curiosity, especially Cattleya. When she got to the stairs, Violet started taking them two at a time, her eyes focused on the door to the President’s office. After reaching the top, she went right up to it and knocked with a little more vigor than she initially intended.

“What the hell? Is that you Benedict? What do you want?” Came the reply.

“It’s Violet, President.”

“Oh, sorry. Well, come–”

She didn’t even wait for the sentence to finish before opening the door swiftly and stepping through.

“In…” President Hodgins sat at his desk, hunched over a stack of papers with pen in hand. Seeing Violet, he sat back in his chair and smiled softly. “Good morning, Violet. Did you have a nice trip? How was Mr. Hoffman?”

Violet nodded by way of answer as she moved across the room and came to stand in front of the big desk. Subsequently, she put her belongings down and clasped her hands together. “Mr. Hoffman is doing well and the assignment was completed to his satisfaction.”

When it appeared nothing else was forthcoming, President Hodgins slowly began to nod his head. “I see…well, –”

“President,” Violet interrupted before the man could go off on some tangent. She had no desire to further discuss the details of the past two weeks because there was only one thing on her mind at this point. 

“Yes?” 

She could tell by the tone of his voice that he was a little surprised. Probably with the intensity of her desire to cut past any small talk. Not that she was really in the habit of participating in such a thing anyway. 

“Do you have any letters for me?”

President Hodgins’ eyebrows rose in understanding now that he realized exactly what Violet was here for. “Ah, and here I thought you were just excited to see me.” 

Oh, she hadn’t meant to imply that she wasn’t happy to see him, or Cattleya for that matter. Violet did run away from her, didn’t she? That was definitely worthy of an apology. After she got the letters, of course. “I’m sorry, President. I’m happy to see you, I’m just very excited.”

President Hodgins opened his desk and withdrew three letters wrapped in a red bow. He offered them over with one hand and waived away her concern with the other. “That’s alright, Violet. I remember what it’s like.”

Huh, like what was it like? “What do you mean?” Violet asked as she stepped forward and took the bundle. Even though she hadn’t received her answer, she nevertheless looked down at the envelopes in her hand. 

Her attention elsewhere, she didn’t see the amusement that played across President Hodgins’ face. “Oh, nothing. What it’s like to be excited to be home, I guess.”

Violet nodded slowly, considering his words. That made sense, in a way. They had both traveled far and wide during the war and Violet knew setting up this company hadn’t been easy either. No doubt that required travel to establish connections in other cities. At least at first. Now she knew he didn’t leave much, always shackled to his desk it seemed. 

“Yes, it is good to be back.” Violet looked up and brought the letters closer to her chest. 

The President hummed his agreement before his free hand came up to indicate the door. “Go on. Don’t let me keep you from reading those, you can tell me about Mr. Hoffman tomorrow.”

“Alright, I will come by first thing tomorrow morning.” 

“I have no doubt. Enjoy the rest of your day, Violet. And welcome home.”

“Thank you, President. I’m happy to be home” Violet smiled and turned on her heels, making a beeline for the door now that she was dismissed. However, after she’d gone through it, she came face to face with Cattleya once more. 

“Violet, I had a feeling I might find you up here. Did you get your letters?” 

Violet held up the bundle to indicate she did before dropping them back down to her side. “Yes, thank you. And I’m sorry about earlier, I guess I was a little excited.” Still excited, if she was being honest.

Cattleya shrugged and then crossed her arms, an amused expression plain on her face. “Don’t worry about it. I remember what it’s like, you know.” There was that phrase again. What were these two talking about? “But don’t let me keep you, I’m sure you want to read those right away. Iris is out today so the office is quiet. Go ahead in there, I’m going to bother Claudia, anyway.”

Violet turned and noted the closed door of the Doll’s office before returning her attention to Cattleya. “Thank you. I’ll do that.”

Cattleya reached out and squeezed Violet’s shoulder before turning and disappearing into the President’s office, a loud “What now?” preceding her entrance.

Subsequently, Violet turned and walked to their office for some privacy. Once inside, she set her bag down and went into her regular cubicle. Her body felt like they were full of energy as she unwrapped the ribbon and set all three on the table, spread apart evenly. Now, where to begin?