“Sophia and I grew up together,” Peony started after taking a sip of tea and clearing her throat for the story ahead. “Her father was a brilliant mechanic and he worked alongside mine to get Becker aircraft off the ground. If you’ll forgive the pun.” Peony smiled, apparently pleased with herself and the little joke but then leaned forward and shielded her mouth with her hand as if she were telling Violet a secret. “You see, my father is terrible with machines. Great at math, obviously. And he has an imagination that soars higher than any airplane to date. However, the poor man couldn’t work a wrench to save his life.”

She sat back with another chuckle and shrugged before continuing. “That’s where Max came in, Sophia’s dad. He was just the opposite. He had a way with machines that was almost magical to watch. Almost like…he intuitively knew how things needed to be.” She trailed off then, seemingly lost in whatever memory had surfaced and caught her attention for the moment. “That very much passed onto his daughter.”

Violet couldn’t help but smile hearing all this, even if she knew the other shoe was bound to drop. “And what about you,” she asked with a tilt of her head. “Did you inherit your father’s penchant for engineering?” 

Again, Peony chuckled and shook her head. “Not really, not unless you count fuel calculations. My dad likes to say that he built planes so I could come along and fly them. That’s where my talents are.” 

“I see. You all sound like you fit together very well.”

“We did. Our own happy family, in a way. Me and my Dad and Sophia and her parents. I haven’t seen them in a long time though, and Max stopped working ever since…” Peony trailed off and Violet watched the previously carefree expression on her face fade to sadness before she averted her gaze. When she did look back, Violet could see that tears had gathered in the corner of her eyes. “Do you write letters to people that died, Violet?” 

“Yes. Professionally and once on my own.” That one time to say one last farewell to the Major.

“I thought as much. It’s a bloody world that you and I have lived in,” Peony said before falling silent for a moment. In that pause, her eyes dropped to the teacup and she used the nail of one finger to lightly trace the lip before sighing. “What about to the ones you love? Have you written that kind of letter before?”

Though her face betrayed no emotion, Violet could feel the slight increase in her heartbeat. “Professionally, yes.” Of course, her mind immediately went to Amy and the letters they wrote each other. However, they weren’t exactly like the ones she’d written for Princess Charlotte or other, similar clients she’d worked with. These were not letters professing her love to her friend, that was something she hadn’t worked up the courage to do. 

Peony’s eyes lifted to Violet’s before narrowing slightly, like she was searching for something. Ultimately though, she nodded subtly. “Good. I will unfortunately make use of both of your experiences here.”

Both? To someone who died and someone Peony loved? “You will?”

“Yes. However, that will come in due time.”

“Very well.” Well, the request did mention two letters, and more questions sprang forth in Violet’s mind but she kept them to herself for now. She wanted to be respectful of her client and wouldn’t prod the woman if she wasn’t ready to share.

“It probably won’t surprise you that Sophia did not make it through the war. She was very dear to me so I’m sure you can imagine the loss. You’ve probably suffered the same if I were to guess. Most soldiers have.” 

When Violet only nodded her agreement, Peony continued. “There are…things I never got to tell her. Important things, important feelings I had for her. I still have for her. I was too cowardly to say them aloud and now I’ll never get that chance. However, I still need to get them out and I figured your services were the best way.” As she spoke, Peony’s expression nearly turned to one of pleading, like she was growing desperate to do what she spoke of.

“Sometimes the act of writing the letter is enough to start healing.”

Peony seemed to relax a little hearing this. Not fully but enough that Violet hoped she got some comfort from the prospect.

“Alright, that’s where I’d like to start then. With Sophia” 

“I understand. Can you tell me a little bit about her?”

Peony nodded but didn’t immediately start speaking. The woman’s eyes floated through the room, stopping intermittently to hover on this or that spot. Most likely recalling an event that happened there or with a specific item. “Where do I even start? Sophia was…kind. Selfless, really. She’d do anything she could to help anyone who asked and even those who didn’t. And she couldn’t even bring herself to hurt a fly.” 

That was an interesting trait for someone caught up in a war but Violet didn’t interrupt. Not everyone fought, anyway. There were plenty of people behind the front lines that kept things going.

“She was a skilled mechanic too, even better than her father in most regards. It no doubt would’ve been all regards had she had the time. You see, she was my personal mechanic throughout the war. I would fly and fight and she would fix my plane back up so I could do it again. Over and over.” A single tear eventually managed to free itself from the corner of her eye, falling down the woman’s cheek as she spoke. “She didn’t just take care of my plane though; she took care of me. Got me through the day after day and kept my wings level, so to speak. When I lost her, I lost everything.” 

Peony had to pause to reach up and wipe away the streak the tear left behind once it had fallen. “She did so much and I never got to tell her how I felt, even though she told me. In a way, at least.”

Violet could hear the emotion in Peony’s voice, and see the pain written clearly across her face. Violet’s heart ached for Peony’s loss, ached for her own loss. Even if she hadn’t been here for an assignment, she wouldn’t have hesitated to help Peony accomplish this task. It was the least she could do for someone burdened with such a thing. “We can write that letter to Sophia, Miss Becker. It may not completely remove that weight on your heart but it will help. Trust me.”

Peony’s expression relaxed and became hopeful before she nodded slowly. “Thank you, Violet. I certainly hope so.” After another deep breath, Violet’s host rose from the table and turned to make her way back into the kitchen proper. “Let me check on the bread first and then I’d like to go to the garden.”

“As you wish.” Of course, Violet didn’t mind where there the conversation happened but the garden sounded like as pleasant a place as ever. She watched then, as Peony made her way to the oven and removed the stone with the loaf sitting atop it. She hadn’t even realized they had been talking that long. While she waited, Violet continued to sip at the tea and look around the little house. The kitchen was just as neat and orderly as the rest of the house which was unsurprising for a pilot and the daughter of an engineer.

It wasn’t long before the delicious smell of the freshly baked bread reached Violet’s nose and caused her stomach to rumble, bringing her attention back to the kitchen. “That smells wonderful.”

The compliment caused Peony to smile as she held the loaf up with a rag, tapping the bottom to confirm that it was done. The hollow note that reverberated back prompted a nod before Peony set it down and stood straight. “Thank you, it’s a special recipe I make often. It’s from another person special to me and the recipient of the second letter, actually. So, while we let that cool, let’s go talk about that one.” After depositing the rag on the table, Peony walked towards the back door while waving for Violet to follow. Of course, she did so immediately after rising from her chair.

The day had only grown more lovely, even with the nip in the air. The sunlight shone down enough to warm both women and plants alike. Though many flowers appeared past their bloom, there was still enough to make a rainbow of color in the expansive garden. Peony led them to the center where a bench stood unoccupied. However, they didn’t move to sit yet. Instead, Peony moved to the nearest flower and bent down to run her fingers over the delicate blue petals. “One of my favorites. Would you believe me if I told you this garden didn’t exist even two years ago?” 

The question caused Violet to look over everything with a new appreciation. It must’ve taken a lot of time and effort to breathe such expansive life into a bare patch of ground. “That’s very impressive,” Violet offered after returning her eyes to her host. “Did you have a garden growing up?” 

“No,” Peony answered before standing tall. “I’ve never had a green thumb. Maybe a grease thumb? My…friend, Eloise, is responsible for my interest. I swear she could grow anything anywhere.” As she spoke, Peony’s expression shifted to one that Violet recognized in the mirror. It was the same look she got whenever she thought of Amy, one of love and longing. 

“Shall we sit?” Peony finally indicated the bench with an upturned hand and then moved to do just that. Violet nodded her agreement and then sat to one side. She then heard a sigh from beside her but Peony otherwise looked over the various plants, eyes flicking from one to the next. She was obviously in no hurry and neither was Violet, especially not with this view. So, the two sat silently for a few minutes. Just soaking in the sight before them. 

“Have you ever been in love Violet?”

“Yes.” 

The speed at which Violet answered surprised even herself. Peony lifted one eyebrow then, before slowly turning to regard her with a look of curiosity. “Oh? Let me rephrase then, are you in love?”

This time, Violet held her tongue and let memories of Amy dance through her mind. Her smile, her warmth, her face as she lay sleeping, the dances they shared. And yes, the kiss she left on Violet’s cheek. 

“Yes, I am. And I miss her terribly.” 

Again, Peony looked surprised and nodded to herself where she sat. “Her…” the word came out as a curiosity rather than a question, like Peony was digesting it. “It appears we have many things in common, Violet.” 

Now it was Violet’s to be somewhat surprised, though she didn’t let it show on her face. Instead, she only turned her head before speaking. “Eloise?”

“Eloise,” Peony confirmed. “And Sophia before her but I only came to realize that later.”

Well, that made sense considering how much Sophia seemed to mean to her but before Violet could ask any questions, Peony shifted in her seat to turn more towards her guest. “You see, Eli really can grow anything and she grew a love within me that still fills me to this day, even after all these years.” 

“Years?” Violet asked. “Where is she?” Something must be keeping them apart, right? Peony was here, after all. 

“Back in her homeland, in Gardarik.” 

Gardarik? Violet was shocked and couldn’t keep it off her face this time. Peony had fallen in love with someone in a hostile country? A place she and Violet had both fought against for so long.

“I see that look on your face,” Peony finally said.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I can understand it, at least.”

“But…how?”

“Good question. Well, you know I was shot down, right?”

Violet answered with a nod, indicating she did. Everyone in the army probably knew it, that day had been a significant morale blow knowing the Black Duchess had died. Or that was what everyone thought. Contrary to what actually happened, obviously. 

“Well, it was Eli that found me, that saved me. I owe her my life.” Peony paused to enjoy whatever memory had entered her mind. It must’ve been pleasant because a smile finally crept back onto her face. “Towards the end of the war, I was finally…rescued. By the time I was cleared from the hospital, the war was over and I came home.”

“You haven’t seen her since?” Violet asked, with perhaps a healthy amount of curiosity in her voice.

“I haven’t,” Peony shook her head before she seemed to deflate where she sat. “It’s been so long now and I’m worried she’s forgotten about me and our time together.”

That was a fear Violet knew all too well, one she harbored even now. Would Amy forget about her and their friendship? Would the letters eventually slow to a trickle and then stop altogether as she settled into her new life? “I understand that fear, Miss Becker.”

“Good, because I plan to face that fear head on and I would feel much better if I had one of your letters in my hand when I did it.”

Again, Violet was surprised but this time did a better job of not letting it show on her face. “You’re going to go to Gardarik, to see her?” 

“Yes, I am. It’s time and I need to tell her what is in my heart.”

“What if she’s moved on? What if she’s forgotten?” Violet’s questions probably weren’t the most sensitive but she couldn’t help herself and Peony didn’t seem to mind. She simply shrugged like that was of no great concern. 

“She may have. She may have found someone else to give her heart to or maybe it was never meant for me in the first place but Violet, sometimes you have to see where the wind takes you, to take a chance on something wonderful.”

Take a chance? Peony intended to tell Eliose how she felt even after all this time, even knowing there was a possibility her feelings wouldn’t be reciprocated. “Are you scared?”

“Yes. It terrifies me, honestly. However, do you know what really scares me? What keeps me up a night?”

Violet shook her head no.

“Knowing that Eli doesn’t know how I feel, that there is a chance she feels this same pain and longs to cure it but can’t. I won’t go on with that weighing on my mind.” Peony paused and took in a deep breath before smiling softly to herself. “And maybe, just maybe. She feels the same way.” 

Violet took a moment to ponder her words, to mull them over in her mind. It was a powerful thing Peony was suggesting and she sincerely hoped it worked out for her in the end. “Very well, I will help you however I can.”

“Thank you, Violet,” Peony replied with a note of relief in her voice. Of course, Violet was being paid to help but knowing she was so invested must have helped put the woman’s mind at ease. “Now, the bread should have cooled and I have the creamiest butter you’ve ever had waiting to be smothered all over it. Let’s go have a piece and we can learn more about each other. The letters can wait because I want to know more about you too.”