Richard had written them during his final illness.
Patrick explained that every letter included a personal memory and the same request concerning Beth’s future wedding.
One thanked Danny for driving him to rehabilitation when he was too embarrassed to ask his own family for help.
Another thanked a colleague for fixing the porch steps when Richard could barely walk.
One sentence appeared in several letters.
“If she wants you there, please stand with her for me.”
Beth ran her fingers across her father’s handwriting.
“He really thought about all this?”
Patrick nodded.
“He worried about the things he’d miss.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Patrick’s expression changed.
“I wasn’t sure you would want something like this.”
“You could have asked.”
He lowered his eyes.
“You’re right.”
Beth looked down at the letters again.
“All those Sunday calls. You could have told me Dad wrote these.”
