Page 36 of Ardently Yours

Sweet Charlotte,

Congrats on a perfect record. You’re headed straight for summa cum laude.

I’m sorry you felt you had to give up the internship you wanted, but there isn’t a doubt in my mind that when you graduate, there will be a world of career possibilities available for you.

You’re not trapped there. If it feels like a cage, find the door. We’ll take the thing off its hinges together, if that’s what it takes. No matter where you are, you can always call me if you need help. Always.

I do understand wanting family around for Bronnie. It must be an incredible thing. I don’t have the same kind of support system that you do. Both of my parents are alive and live nearby, but they’d look at me like I had two heads if I asked them to babysit the boys. They were rarely alone with me without a nanny present in the background when I was a child.

Recently, my mother asked when Henry starts boarding school. The answer is never. My boys live with me.

I don’t understand how it didn’t bother my parents to send me away when I was eight. I know they loved me, but it was a formal kind of affection.

It was hard to unlearn without any examples of a different home life to look to. The way you are with Bronnie is who I strive to be with my boys.

When it comes to parenting, mine had different priorities than you and I do.

In case of emergencies, I have to call the nanny service. I also have staff here at the house. Housekeeping and security. In the past they’ve both pinch-hit for me until the nanny arrived, in exchange for a bonus.

Until you, I didn’t miss (or even understand) what I’d never had.

You made your decision about the internship based on what was right for your child. You always consider her needs first, and I don’t have the words to express how much I admire and respect you for it.

If you ever did decide to come to New York, I'd welcome you and Bronnie both with open arms. We could be that support for each other. You could show up any day, any time, and my door would be wide open for you.

Love, Arden

December 19, 1997

Dear Arden,

Your offer choked me up. I have your back too. Day or night.

If you came here with the boys, though, I have to warn you that my trailer is tiny. We’d have to get creative at bedtime. I’m guessing the boys have never had to sleep on a pull-out sofa bed before. :)

Maybe someday, just for fun, I could be a sneaky visitor to your house.

If I showed up in a maid’s uniform for a few hours, surely, no one would catch on that I wasn’t really your employee.

I could polish your tchotchkes for you, sir. ;)

Love. Always.

Charlotte

One Month of Emails Later

Handwritten letter to Charlotte Miller.

January 17, 1998

Return address: John Smith

Sweet Charlotte,

I can’t put this in an email.

We promised we’d be honest with each other about anything that bothered us.

---