7Author's Note:
Thank you for reading my story…and a special "thank you" to those who have posted reviews and are following it, too! Receiving notices of reviews and follows absolutely makes my day…my week!
And, again, thank you to kslchen for letting me play in your AU…and for your shout out about "Correspondence from Hanson" this week in "Twist" chapter 123! (It boggles my mind that you have been posting new chapters weekly for almost 2.5 years!)
I hope everyone enjoys "Correspondence from Hanson" chapter 2! Please let me know what you think.
DW.618
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~ ~ ~ ~ Hanson ~ ~ ~ ~ Hanson ~ ~ ~ ~ Hanson ~ ~ ~ ~
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September 2011 (Current duty location – New York City)
It is almost relaxing to be back in our "home base" flat. Now that we're stationed in London once again, our "home base" flat here in NYC seems a bit like a holiday home…if a bit small. Anyway, since PoW is not scheduled for any official engagements during this trip and is mainly spending time indoors with friends, it makes being on duty quite easy.
I am glad that PoW scheduled his visit for this weekend, not next. Even now, a week prior to the 10-year commemoration of the 9/11 attacks here in NYC, I have noticed a significant tightening of security at the airport and in public places around the city. I will rest a bit easier once the date passes (and am glad we will not in NYC at that time) since I always worry about possible incidents during commemoration events. A hazard of the profession, I assume.
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October 2011 (Current duty location – New York City)
While I was on duty tonight, I got thinking about the old Audrey Hepburn/Cary Grant movie, "Roman Holiday." Have you ever seen that film? Even if you have, what would you say about watching it together with me? Yes, like a real date night.
I was thinking that after I return home in a few days, we can keep a lookout on the weather report for a clear night, go out of the city to one of the recommended National Trust stargazing sites, spread out a blanket a bit of an evening picnic and watch the movie on my computer. (Or, we could stay in the car to eat and watch the movie as if we are at a drive-in movie…although we might not end up watching too much of the movie that way…!) Then once it is dark, we could lay there on the blanket and gaze into the night sky for a bit. I think it would be a fun date night. What do you think?
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November 2011 (Current duty location – London)
Based on the breaking "news" online this afternoon (have you seen the headlines?), it is quite possible that I will be traveling today. I haven't heard anything official yet, but I suspect that I will be making use of the "go bag" I keep in the car.
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Yes, it has been confirmed that I will be on an away assignment. Please give my apologies to your sister for missing her dinner party.
I love you and am once again quite thankful that our personal life is "ordinary" and not of any interest to the media.
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If I hadn't been so tired last night (or was it already morning London time?), I might have better enjoyed the experience of flying in a private jet. I was assigned to remain awake and on duty for the flight but was then able to sleep once we arrived at the hotel. I have just a few moments now before my shift starts but I wanted to at least send you a quick text to say "good morning" (or rather "good afternoon") to you.
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Hopefully, you have your phone on silent so this incoming text notification will not wake you. I wanted to let you know that I will be boarding a flight soon for a red-eye flight back home and will take a taxi from the airport since you will already be at work by that point. I had to provide "someone" with transportation before leaving from NYC, so I am on a separate flight from PoW and the rest of the detail…which means I am off duty and can sleep on the flight. I will plan to stay awake after I land so that we can spend the evening together and then I can sleep tonight. See you soon.
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December 2011 (Current duty location – London)
I am sure PoW is ready to head to Balmoral…even if it is damp and cold there. The pressure of fitting in so many engagements before the holidays is always such a crush. As his detail, we get to be invisible in the background. He has to be there with a warm smile, friendly handshakes, and endless pleasant conversation. I'm not sure how he (or his family) does this especially when they want to be elsewhere or with other people. (I'm quite sure he really wishes he was other people!)
Speaking of being elsewhere, did you finish your packing? I am very excited that we head out tomorrow! While the Caribbean would have been warmer, the Canary Islands are much closer and will certainly offer better weather than London! You made a great choice! I'm ready to arrive into Tenerife and start relaxing with a glass of their local wine!
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Author's Note: Hanson will now begin referring to Rilla as "Miss" in his text and emails with his wife.
January 2012 (Current duty location – London)
Just wanted to let you know that I finally took your suggestion and was able to quietly ask PoW today how Miss is coping after her difficulty with US Customs. He didn't say too much but I could tell that he appreciated my personal concern for her.
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January 2012 (Current duty location – New York City)
It only took a few hours for the quantity of photographers in front of Miss's building to exponentially multiply after PoW's arrival. This is his first time at her flat since their relationship was revealed in November. I must give the paps at least a tiny bit of credit for their persistence in sticking around despite the bitterly cold weather – but since they are unaware of the duration of this visit, they don't want to miss any opportunity to get a picture. Most are sitting in their cars trying to keep warm while watching for the entrance door to open. I wonder if their numbers will diminish as the weather worsens - more snow is forecast for later this week.
I'm wondering how marketable any pictures of PoW could even be this week. With the cold weather, he will certainly be all bundled up with a scarf and hat. It seems like a lot of boring waiting in miserable conditions just to get a picture of someone who will be almost unrecognizable.
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I'm so sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Do you think you ate something dodgy yesterday? If you still feel poorly tomorrow, will you at least call in sick to work?
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February 2012 (Current duty location – London)
Sweetheart, how are you feeling? I hated leaving this morning with you still feeling so nauseous. I know this is only supposed to continue during the first trimester, but I just feel so bad for you! I'm thankful your supervisor has been willing to adjust your schedule so you can arrive a bit later in the morning right now.
Anyway, I wanted to give you a "heads up" about the news I received today. At our staff meeting, we were informed that our detail will be based primarily at a university location for one year beginning in August while PoW receives additional schooling. However, since the location should be within driving distance of London, Beckett assures us that schedules will be arranged to allow for us to commute daily from home if we choose and to have multiple off-duty days in a row so that we can be with our families on a regular basis. (Little does he realize how much I will hold him to that!) At least this yearlong away assignment will keep me on your side of the pond this time! There is absolutely no way that I would want an entire ocean to be between us at this point!
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Yes, I agree. I should let Beckett and the others know. I've been dying to use the great announcement idea that I thought up. So, before I go off duty tonight, I will announce to them all about the "additional security detail" (a.k.a. Baby Hanson) that I will be permanently assigned to starting in September. Clever, right?
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March 2012 (Current duty location – en route to New York City)
You know how I always grumble about the jetlag? I thought I was the only one until talking with the rest of the guys and finding that they're struggling, too – especially on these short weekend trips crossing five time zones. So…we've decided to try something different this weekend to see if it helps us avoid suffering from jetlag so badly both in NYC and when we get back to London.
Beckett read an article suggesting that travelers should try to stay on their normal time zone's clock even when in another location. So, we're going to give it a go. Once we land, we're not going to reset our watches but will base our duty schedule, our mealtimes, and our sleep schedules on London time. Hopefully this will keep our bodies in the normal routine. If this works, PoW may be the only one with jetlag when we fly home.
Instead of 1st shift being during the daytime (0600-1400 London), that shift will start at 0100 NYC…but then they will have their off duty "evening time" in the middle of the day. I will be on 2nd shift this weekend, so I will wake each day around 0100 or 0200 NYC. I'll need to find something to do with my pitch black "morning" before starting duty at 0900 NYC (1400 London). Thankfully, the nearby gym we have always gone to is open 24/7. We may also find a 24-hour bowling alley or billiards place.
It will be quite strange going to bed "for the night" at 1700 or 1800 NYC, but that's what sleep masks and blackout curtains are for, right?
Who knows? This "no jetlag" experiment may work great…or it may turn out to be a complete bust! Which do you think it will be?
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Who would have guessed that Saunders is so skilled at bowling? He's given me some pointers and I'm already seeing better scores. Just wait until we go bowling next time with my dad and brothers…they won't know to do with me!
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April 2012 (Current duty location – en route to New York City)
Just a quick note to let you know that an urgent matter has suddenly changed my schedule for the next few days. (I'm so very thankful that we already attended your 12-week scan. I would be frantic if this sudden trip was to have interfered with that!) Anyway, as we were in the car and returning to KP from the engagement at the factory this afternoon, PoW was informed by his staff that Miss had tried to reach him through his office. (I heard Melissa say that that this was the first time that Miss has ever phoned the office.) When PoW couldn't get through to her after repeated tries, he had the driver head directly to the airport. And so…I am now preparing to board a plane to New York. I will contact you when I have more details.
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April 2012 (Current duty location – New York City)
We arrived safely earlier this evening (New York time) and are now settled into our "home base" flat. I realize it is 4 AM for you and I know you will not read this message until you wake in about two hours, but I want you to see this when you first open your eyes. Sweetheart, I wouldn't burden you to help gather my stuff (I know your schedule is always full in the morning even now that you are no longer nauseous) – except there is a bit of a deadline. I have one spare set of clothes here at this flat, but I need you to please pack a few days' worth of clothing and toiletries in my bag and have it ready for a driver to pick up at 7 AM (London time). It looks like we will be here for a minimum of one week. Therefore, the other PPOs in our detail will be flying over mid-morning. An officer has been instructed to retrieve the luggage for each of us who suddenly have found ourselves in the States…and for PoW…and to make sure that the bags end up on the morning flight with the other PPOs.
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Thanks for getting my suitcase packed. The driver should be along soon. And, no, we aren't going to try to do the "keep on London time" schedule again. It just seems too awkward to attempt again this time.
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Each day I keep finding the notes you stashed into my suitcase corners and in my trouser pockets. Thank you for those sweet reminders of you! I also thank you for thinking to include my workout clothes. The spring weather here has been lovely, and I've been enjoying running in some of the larger parks around here…although I really miss training together with you. Even with this unexpected schedule hit, I think I will be ready for next month's half-marathon, don't you? I will miss having you running with me, but I wholeheartedly agree with your decision to keep your runs shorter at this point.
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Yes, it was quite surprising to see a published picture of them together. We tried very hard to keep the photographers away – especially since it was a funeral! However, it appears that there must have been some photogs with very long lenses!
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May 2012 (Current duty location – New York City)
Did I remember to tell you about the horrible leg cramps I got about an hour or two before we landed into New York City the other day? I think it was due to having pushed myself at the end of the race two days before, plus not drinking enough water on the flight and being on a plane with a smaller amount of leg room. You wouldn't think that a few inches would make that much difference, but it really does.
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For the first few days here, PoW was assisting Miss to sort out her friend's belongings from the deceased woman's flat. That task is always hard enough (as I remember from when we helped your aunt with her mother's flat)…but the security concerns for PoW plus the constant presence of the press on the sidewalk certainly made for some challenging logistical issues. The charity shop truck driver could only enter the woman's flat when PoW was not in the flat. And because of the photographers, the items could not be set outside on the sidewalk for the truck to pick up. Thus, PoW and Miss showed me exactly which boxes and furniture items were to be donated and then they darted upstairs to Miss's flat once the truck arrived. When the driver and his helper came in, I pretended to be the "homeowner" and showed them which things to take. Proper good teamwork, eh?
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One advantage of PoW making use of an office at the British Consulate while Miss is sitting her exams is that we PPOs can relax while technically on duty. Another plus is that the head chef at the Consulate is from Knightsbridge so he really knows how to keep us well fed with tastes of home. I'll need to add extra exercise if I keep snacking the way I have been this week!
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Now that I'm off duty, I can tell you about the concert I got to enjoy tonight. PoW took Miss and her parents to see The Rolling Stones…! I was glad to be inside with PoW so I could enjoy the music with my ears – although my eyes were watching the crowds. Her father especially enjoyed the concert. At one point, he caught me singing along (I couldn't help myself) and stepped over to say that he has the vinyls of almost all of their albums. If PoW was trying to make a good impression on Miss's parents with dinner and this concert, I think he nailed it! (What do you remember about the first time you met my parents?)
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Good morning. I got to sleep in a bit which was nice after last night. It is always hard to fall asleep after the excitement and noise of a concert…
I can't believe that of all of the people in my family, you were most worried about meeting my Gran! I never knew that. Why did she intimidate you? She's barely 8 stone when soaking wet! I never knew that she worried you back then. (What else don't we know about each other after all of these years?)
My memory of meeting your parents was that I wore the wrong clothes. I assumed that everyone would be wearing suits to the restaurant…so when I walked in and saw your family dressed more casually than I was…it really threw me for a loop! You did such a good job calming my nerves and, before I knew it, I was laughing and enjoying myself.
But…until last night, I had never thought of PoW being worried about meeting anyone! Everyone in the world knows who he is and queues up to wave hello or meet him. He speaks with dignitaries of all sorts all of the time and immediately puts everyone at ease. But that's all in his position and in his role. This is different. This is personal. This is a man wanting to impress his girlfriend's parents. Very human. Very normal. Quite an interesting concept to ponder…
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I forgot to tell you a funny thing that happened before PoW's dinner on Saturday night. I was stationed at the back entrance to the restaurant waiting for the arrival of the taxi transporting Miss and her parents. (I could tell that her parents were puzzled to be entering through the back alley, but that's of no matter to my story.) Miss paused and introduced me to her parents, and I greeted them as "ma'am" and "sir" in the same way I would greet anyone. As they walked ahead of me into the restaurant, her mother must have asked Miss about what I call her. Miss told her mum, "I think it is in his contract. I tried to get him to call me (R****) once and he said 'Very well, Miss.'" For a Canadian living in NYC, she can pull off a decent British accent! :-)
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May 2012 (Current duty location – London)
Hello, favorite wife! Or maybe you should be calling me favorite husband! Why? Because I have a surprise for you (thanks to PoW)!
Are you interested in taking an extra holiday with me this summer? It can be our "babymoon." Yes – you read that right…an extra holiday! And yes, I can hear the questions in your head already. How? Why? When? but mainly How? Have patience and I will tell you! :-)
PoW's secretary (Mr. O) called a meeting today with those of us who make up POW's primary detail. Mr. O basically told us that recently PoW has become "quite aware" of the challenges that his travels puts on relationships (both his…and ours) and he realizes those left behind while we travel suffer as well. Mr. O also acknowledged that when we each accepted our assignment to this detail a few years ago, none of us were expecting the duties to include nearly a year in New York followed quickly by another full year at the university location starting this fall. Logically, we had all anticipated away assignments of average length (like the upcoming three-week tour of BOTs) and other trips for official duties and personal holidays. But the year-long away duties were certainly not anticipated.
Therefore, Mr. O (along with our admin at the Met) has been tasked to provide PoW's core PPOs with a few bonus paid days off, transportation, and accommodations in Gibraltar this summer so that we can each relax and reconnect with our "spouse or significant other." It will take a bit scheduling effort to squeeze in these holidays for each of us around PoW's already full calendar, but we all happily accepted the gift!
So, should I try for June after I get back from the three-weeks tour (and before we head out again in July) or would you prefer early August? Give it some thought and we can talk when we're both home tomorrow. Oh…can you ask your midwife if you could even still fly on an airplane in August? That's an important scheduling detail to know…
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June 2012 (Current duty location – a yacht in the Caribbean)
Poor Saunders…he is really having a hard time with seasickness. (I'm grateful that Gramps took me out on the water so often when I was young…it gave me sea legs.) I know it is hard for Saunders to be on duty when he feels so queasy. We've switched around the duties to keep him on dry land as much as possible – which he has definitely appreciated.
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I had some time off yesterday, so I wandered through the market. I picked up something for you. I thought you might like a clam shell bikini top… (Just kidding!) But seeing couples enjoying the tropical sun together definitely makes me look forward to our own holiday on the beach in August.
And don't worry, I have been diligently slathering on the sunscreen. So far this "pasty white Englishman" has avoided getting sunburned.
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Yes, I know you think you already look like a "whale," but trust me when I tell you that seeing you wearing a clam shell bikini top while pregnant with our child would probably be one of the sexiest sights I could ever imagine!
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June 2012 (Current duty location – New York City)
Sweetheart, I'm sorry that I didn't get around to fixing the dripping kitchen faucet before I headed to the airport today. I know that the sound has been annoying you for several weeks already. Ironically, the kitchen faucet in our "home base" flat is also dripping…so I have the same irritating sound here if that helps you at all! Granted, the landlord will fix this one tomorrow, but I promise that I will fix ours immediately upon my first day back in London. (I think you just want to see my bum sticking out from under the sink!) Anyway, you just have to endure it for another four days…
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In comparison to being on duty while PoW attended so many engagements in the islands the past few weeks, being on duty here is a breeze. He stays inside with Miss most of the time and he has no official engagements for us to be concerned about. It is really quite nice after so many busy days.
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July 2012 (Current duty location – Prince Edward Island, Canada)
There are lots of things about my job that I enjoy. Interesting people, amazing places, the adrenaline rush inherent with being on duty. But in a different way, I also really do like the times when I arrive early to set up. The constant need to be "on alert" isn't there and I can enjoy seeing new places – almost as a tourist.
Butcher is turning out to be a good traveling companion. As you know, I haven't had too many shifts with him before, so I wasn't sure if he was one who would want to chatter or if he'd be willing to leave us each to our own thoughts. For the most part, he's pretty quiet. Part of my job is to train him on how to handle set up preparations. He's a quick learner and asks good questions. I think he'll fit in with the team quite well. And it is good that Beckett got him added to the detail early enough that he can get acclimated before my paternity leave starts.
This island is about as different from the islands I was on last month as can be! The cool water lapping on the rust-colored beaches and rocky shorelines instead of the warm water on the white sand, the evergreens and maple trees instead of palm trees, the summer berries instead of tropical fruit, everything is so different but equally as nice.
When we arrived two days ago, Miss's parents arranged for a local minister (a good friend of theirs) to give us access to the family's house and what they call the "garden shed" where the PPOs will stay when on duty around the family's house. I know…it sounds small and unpleasant, but it is actually a very nice cottage that will work out quite well. Apparently, Miss's grandmother normally stays in it when visiting the family here.
We've gone through most of the checklist and have just a few more things to handle. And, of course, we've gotten familiar with our accommodations at a local B&B. When this trip first was established a few months ago, it was simplest just to reserve the entire place for the off-duty PPOs in order to avoid inconvenience for other guests. (Since we need rooms for eight of us, we are using the one extra room as an "office" of sorts rather than trying to have private conversations in the sitting room or in anyone's bedroom.) You would really like this B&B…and the older lady who runs it! She reminds me of your Nan. Thankfully, she doesn't have an obsession about embroidered cushions the way your Nan does. I still can't believe your Nan set cushions along the stair landing the last time we were there…every time I went up or down the stairs, I knocked them askew!
I have an appointment to consult with Miss's parents about a few security matters once they arrive tomorrow. Having met them in NYC already, I don't anticipate any issues getting along. If anything, I might have a hard time keeping a professional distance – they are both really quite nice!
I am curious to see if the photographers follow Miss here or if they deem it too unlikely to get any sort of marketable pictures to make it worth their while. (That'd be ironic, right?) I saw the Internet photos of Miss as an attendant in her friend's wedding a few days ago. I hope her friend wasn't offended by the media presence at her wedding because of Miss. All of this publicity has certainly made the "normal" elements of Miss's life less "normal."
Do you think we can schedule a video call tomorrow just after you get home from work? I'd like to "show you around" a bit here…at least let you see the color of this sand!
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By the way, Miss's mother pulled me aside privately yesterday to offer her congratulations on our baby's impending arrival. She is really very pleased for us. It touches me that Miss must have told her mum about our good news.
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Yes, as you saw online, the paps have now discovered our location. Their absence for a few days certainly made our duty easier. With no advance knowledge of our presence, the risk of pre-planned security breaches was greatly lessened. This afforded Miss an unexpected opportunity to show PoW around her island while we followed at a bit of a greater distance. Of course, that ended once people found out who was visiting…but it was nice for PoW and Miss (and us) while it lasted.