Thanks all. I feel confident enough to go ahead and send it now. And it helps a lot to have written it. I now know that I will be OK with my decision not to return.
Beestie, I love the re-write, but unfortunately it doesn't "sound" like me (especially the "gotten" -one Americanism I have yet to/refuse to pick up
). I do hope you write professionally, though, because that is beautiful. Thanks for your help and consideration.