�Sure!� Allie said, nodding enthusiastically.
�Um, yeah, but while you�re making it, I need to show my cousins something.� Lily said, motioning to the stairs heading to the second floor.
�I�ll have your dad bring you guys some in your room, okay?� Allegra said. After Lily�s nod, Allegra and Gregory headed for the kitchen, while Lily began the trek to the upstairs landing, her friends following.
�Are we going to your room?� Piper asked, as they passed the master bedroom at the head of the stairs.
�Nope.� Lily said, as they passed her room, the bathroom, and the guest room, and finally stopped at the end of the curved hallway at a door. Lily paused for a moment, remembering her grandmother�s words.
�Go to the attic, Lily. Bring your cousins, and in the attic you�ll find it. Look in the white dresser by the landing, in the bottom drawer is something very important.�
Lily wondered what could be very important that she and her cousins needed to find. She opened the door, and started climbing the steep stairs to the musty attic. Lily couldn�t remember the last time she�d been in the attic. The house had been in her family for a very long time, it had been her grandmother�s childhood home, and the attic was cluttered with family heirlooms.
�What are we looking for?� Lexi asked, as her best friends gathered behind her. Lily didn�t respond, just searched the attic, and her eyes set on the dresser her grandmother had mentioned. She hurried over, and kneeled down, opening the bottom drawer.
�We�re looking for this.� Lily finally said, as she looked down at the green oak box, the only item in the dresser. It had a latch, and was padlocked shut. On the top it said, �For Lillian Allegra, Alexis Marie, Alyson Tamara, and Piper Tamara.�
�Cool!� Allie breathed, �What do you think it is?�
�I don�t know, but it�s locked. Where�s the key?� Lexi asked, turning the box over, �It�s not on the bottom.�
Lily smiled, �I know where it is. Come on.� Lily led the way back down the attic steps, Allie and Piper following, Lexi following them with the box.
�Lily, do you know something we don�t know?� Piper asked, as they trooped into Lily�s room. Lily just grinned, as she opened her bottom dresser drawer, and pawed through the clothing there. She thought back to a day not so very long ago, when she�d discovered the key.
�Grandma, there�s a key in my dresser. Do you know what it�s for?�
�Yes, I do, darling. Put it back, and soon you�ll know what that key opens.�
Lily let out a triumphant cry and held it up for her friends to see, �This is it. Who wants to open it?� she asked.
�I think you�d better.� Lexi offered, and Lily sat on the bed next to her and inserted the key into the lock. It clicked and Lily eased open the top.
�It�s stuffed with treasure!� Lily exclaimed.
�Treasure?� Allie asked, and leaned forward, �Oooh.� she whistled.
�Wow!� Piper was right next to her, and looked in the box, too. The four girls just sat and looked, knowing exactly who had made up the box, and not wanting to disturb it�s contents just yet.
�Looks like all four of our grandmas made this up before....you know.� Allie said, softly. Her grandmother, Alyson, had died four days after she had been born, so she never got to know her like Lexi and Lily had gotten to know theirs. Lexi�s grandmother, Siobhan, had died when she was twelve and a half, and Kennedi had died 6 months later.
Lexi finally reached in and took the items on the top out, four envelopes, a little yellowed with age. She read each one�s front, and handed them to their respective addressees, �Alyson Tamara Combs. Lily Allegra Mitchell. Piper Tamara Combs. Alexis-Marie Lindley.�
Each girl carefully opened their envelopes and began reading, silently. The letters weren�t terribly long, so they were finished quickly, tears in their eyes. �Does anyone want to hear mine?� Lexi asked.
�If you don�t mind sharing.� Piper said, quickly.
�I really don�t. Okay.� Lexi cleared her throat, �It�s dated April 10, 2043.� she began
�The day after Piper and I were born.� Allie said, softly.
�Dear our precious Alexis-Marie.� Lexi read, �You are only six months old as we write this, but you have already captured our hearts. You began crawling just yesterday, the same day as your new twin cousins were born. We hope very much that you will still remain close to them even after we are gone. Friendship is so very important, it must be held very precious. This box contains some of the mementos from over the years of growing up with each other, Ally, Tara, and even Madison and Annie, even though we lost them quite young. Please keep them, treasure them, and share them with your cousins, and your future daughters. Let them know how important it is to have friends. Remember, even if we aren�t still alive as you read this, we love you very much. Your grandmothers, Kennedi and Siobhan.�
�Awww!� Piper crooned, �That was a sweet letter! You want to share, Lily?� she asked.
�Sure.� Lily began to read, �It�s also dated the same day. Dear Lillian. At just five months old, I can already tell you take after me. The sweet, caring, sensitive one of the bunch, like I was. As I write this, my best friend Ally is very, very sick, and doesn�t have much more time to live. She�ll be the third friend I�ve lost, and I�m just so grateful I have Kennedi and Siobhan, your mother, your friends� mothers, all of them here for me. Alyson was my best friend since Kindergarten, we�ve now known each other for 52 and a half years, and I know we�ll still be friends even in death. My hope for you, my darling, is that you will grow to love Alexis, Piper, and little Alyson, and hold them in your heart forever. I love you, always remember that. Your loving grandmother, Tara.�
Lexi reached out and hugged her friend when she noticed she was a little choked up, �That was a very sweet letter.� she remarked, smiling as she pulled back.
Lily nodded, �Yes it was.� she smiled back, �Allie, Piper, what about your letters?� she asked.
Allie looked at her sister, �You go first.� she said, gracefully.
�Okay. Well mine�s dated the same day, also.� Piper began, �Dear Piper Tamara Combs, my precious granddaughter. By the time you read this I�ll be gone. My only regret will be that I didn�t get to spend very much time with you on Earth. Yesterday you were born, and in a few days I�ll die. I held you in my arms, and I can tell you�ll grow to do great things. Please do one thing for me, though. Stay close to your twin, and Lexi and Lily. They�re going to be great support systems for you. If you�re not already close, make it happen, but I highly doubt that you aren�t already. Don�t be afraid to love anyone, and always stay Piper, you don�t need to be anyone else. Your grandmother, Alyson Piper.�
�Wow, it�s great!� Lexi said, and gave Piper a hug. Allie followed suit and gave her twin a monster of a hug, only pulling back when Piper said her oxygen was getting cut off.
�Okay, Allie, your turn.� Lily said, excitedly. She leaned back, snuggling into Lexi, who put the box on the bed to hold her friend better.
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