Inbox • SEBASTIAN STAN

FORTY THREE

Dear Seb,

Your story about the first time you stepped in front of a camera makes perfect sense. It's such a beautiful story too. I love that you found your passion and you worked towards it. A lot of people don't find a passion and some that do, never work towards it. It's sad, Seb. The amount of dreams that are dead because no one ever dedicated time towards it. Speaking of dreams, the coffee shop. Pippa's Place was picked for a newspaper/website piece. A photographer and a reporter are coming in a few days to speak to me and take a few pictures. Everyone is really excited around the shop. They are in their best behavior. (Not that they aren't usually.)

Did I ever tell you about Ellie and Alfie? They work in the shop. Alfie has been working in the shop for the last year or so. Ellie started around the same time as he did. They've been dating for a few months now. I don't mean to pry in their relationship or anything, but I find it really beautiful they found each other in my bookstore. It's a funny thought, that if it weren't for Pippa's place, they wouldn't have met.

I'm doing fine! I've been having some trouble sleeping lately so I've consumed three books in the last week. I think perhaps its all of the coffee I've been drinking lately. But I can't help myself. How are you doing? Are there any new stories from set? Do you ever pull pranks on each other?

The future. I read your letter and I put it down. I put it aside for a couple of days while I thought about the answer. I don't know why I did that but the list of things I want for the future kept growing. I want to find a way to help people, Seb. I'm not sure how I'll do that yet. I'm not sure if I'll donate some part of what we get from the shop to a charity or if I'll start a charity of my own. (I'll be honest, I have no idea how one goes about starting a charity.)

I want to get married and have two, or three little kids running around the house. I want to travel with said little kids and show them the world. (I realize I'm cheating by answering the question that way and by not specifying exactly where I want to travel. Does all of the world count?) I want to teach them how to take care of it, not how to take advantage of it. I don't know, I've always loved the coffee shop but I've always known I want to step down from it eventually. I want someone else to manage it while I run around the trying to change things. Again, I'm not sure how I would go about bringing change but if I can find just someone to help, I'll be okay.

What about you, Seb? What are some things you want in the future? Career wise, what is something you haven't done yet that you would like to accomplish?

I will get started with the book about my idiot brothers. Once it becomes a bestseller I can donate the money. Not a bad plan, eh?

Hugs and kisses,

Pippa.

P.S I realize how cliche "hugs and kisses" sounds but I couldn't myself, Seb. Maybe cliches aren't so bad.