Love Letter Found

I have been working in a home that has recently changed ownership.  Making things beautiful: plastering a wall to match existing venetian plaster; ensuring there is congruity throughout the bones of the home; tinting metals, chandeliers; waxing built-ins and painting frames of mirrors to look as if they'd been 100 years in a French Chateau.  This has been a huge task but one that I just love, to no end, ensuring the home is ready for my clients - its new owners.


A few days ago, I was sanding the edges of some drawers I had painted a soft creamy white and saw something in the bottom of the cabinet.  I reached in and my fingers grazed the edges of an envelope.  I pulled it out, dusted it off and opened it.  I read the most touching sentiment from a wife to her husband.  The card was a beautiful champagne color with glitter and the foil from a champagne cork with a grosgrain ribbon on threaded on the left side.  Very elegant.  A satiny feel under my fingers as I turned the page; apparent that love was in the choice of this card.

As I read the the promising message, my heart clenched.  You see, the previous owner of the home had been in the middle of a renovation when her husband passed away.  He had been the love of her life and when I had met her, I could feel the weight of her loss and the burden of having to quickly move on with her home and her life.

In my hand was a letter of love and hope for the coming year.  So beautifully written.  So mature in its sentiment.  It must have been in the bottom drawer as a keepsake.  Dated a couple years prior, I imagine it was very special for him to keep it.  I felt fortunate to witness such a love that comes with maturity.

Sitting in the room, with paint up to my elbows, sandpaper on the floor, and dust floating through the air, I wondered about the magic of this moment and what I should do with this special message of promising plans, hope and deep abiding love.  Should I find her address and mail it to her with the message of where I found it - letting her know he had kept it?  Should I leave it in the bottom of the cabinet for the next person to find - maybe fifty to a hundred years from now?  Or should I just make note of it, cherish the moment and toss it in the trash - perhaps saving her from reliving the grief of her loss?  hmmmmm......

What would you do?