The Queen and King of Hearts

When I was young, my father became caretaker for the Dunes Club, located on the eastern end of Atlantic Beach, NC. During the winter months, we resided in the small caretaker’s cottage. As spring approached, we returned to the home of my great grandfather, Absolom (Tobe) Guthrie, in the Promise Land in Morehead City, NC. When the summer season closed, we moved back to the Dunes Club

We were the only family living on the eastern end of the island, except for Jesse Long’s family at Fort Macon State Park. Jesse was the superintendent of the park.

As Valentine’s Day neared, I looked forward to the tradition my friends and I practiced in the Promise Land by stealthily placing a valentine card under the front door of a friend’s home, yelling Valentine!, then running like crazy to hide from view. I do not know why, but this ritual delighted us.

On Valentine’s Day, Daddy (my chauffeur for the evening), and I drove across the old Atlantic Beach bridge in the cold February night. I held my handmade cards close to my heart, excited with the anticipation of the deliveries. A sparkling, blue-diamond star, Sirius, dominated the early evening Southern sky. Bogue Sound, mirror-like, reflected the homes of the Promise Land along the shoreline. It seemed as if nature too, was celebrating this occasion to express love to one another in sweet, simple valentine cards.

When we arrived in the Promise Land Daddy slowly followed behind me in the car as I delivered my valentines. I remember the sheer joy of slipping a card under a door, and shouting valentine! After my deliveries, the winter night became black, except for the twinkling stars, as Daddy and I crossed the bridge, returning to the Dunes Club. Happy and content, I did not notice I was shivering.

Returning to Atlantic Beach in the velvet night, I knew my parents looked forward to their only form of entertainment - playing cards. We lived on an isolated beach, surrounded by the sea and the constant north wind whistling over the dunes. At times, the ocean seemed to take on a sad timbre, like the meeting of longtime friends, lamenting their tribulations. On some nights during those winter months, the winds had a human quality, and I thought I heard their moaning voices consoling each other.

When Daddy and I returned home the warmth of the heater welcomed us. Mama had prepared the card table with snacks and a deck of cards shuffled and ready for dealing. As my mother tucked me in bed, she sensed my sadness. No one had surprised me with valentines. As I drifted to sleep, it seemed the wind and crashing waves began to weep for me. In my dreams I heard them speaking in my parents’ voices, devising a plan to ease my sorrow.

When the morning sun poured into my room, I awakened, and someone had placed valentines on my pillow. Beautiful red hearts, pasted on sheets of lined notebook paper. Sweet messages of love, “Be Mine…You are my Sweetheart…My Heart is Yours,” adorned the handmade cards. I placed them in my pockets and not even my kitten that kept me company on those lonely days distracted me from them.

I have never forgotten that I received a true gift of love that night, long ago, when I was a child. My parents did not play cards that evening; instead, they cut their playing cards into valentines for me.

Sarah and Harper, this story is for you that you may tell your grandchildren about the time Sirius hung in the winter night sky, and the King and Queen of hearts made valentines for your grandmother.