I may have written myself into a corner

I just had my main character receive a letter or some kind of documents from an unknown source. We don't yet know what it was, though (I switched scenes and POV just as he was opening it).

A little background: this is steampunk, set in the American west around 1900. The character who received the parcel is an airship captain. He's getting ready to leave for the oil fields in Texas and is breaking off a long-time partnership with my other main character and his love interest (they're both in love, but there are certain paranormal complications that make it impossible for them to be together). She knows that whatever was in the letter is troubling to him, though it's not necessarily something horrible.

I'm open to any and all ideas! What was in this letter/package?

A letter from a friend/relative that he hasn't heard from in a while that they're in some sort of trouble. Maybe even a former lover? He's contemplating what they're asking, but doesn't want to tell/hurt/leave partner.

Congratulations! That woman you knocked up 3 years ago had a baby! And then died... Looks like you need to take care of the child now! (obviously only works if your main character is a man)

On the same note, someone could have been gravely injured / attacked, and the main character needs to get to them and find out what happened.

Maybe someone the character knows has some sort of crazy idea that they're going to try, but it is very dangerous, and the main character wants to stop this acquaintance. Going out to space? Alternate dimension? Or, better yet, trying to overcome that paranormal barrier between your characters. Then the main character has to make a choice to take a huge risk, but maybe getting to be with his love interest.

The existence of an illegitimate child? Perhaps the child's mother has died and so the lawyers are contacting him to take custody? Not sure if that will work in your story though.

Maybe some sort of threat? Someone who threatens to hurt her if he keeps up the relationship. Or maybe someone who loves the girl and claims he can make her happier, along with some other stuff.

A relative has just died and left an inheritance to a large parcel of land and/or money. There is a catch though, the MC must travel to the hometown of the deceased relative to claim the inheritance.

Something from the oil fields? A complication with his transfer there (there's a hoop he forgot to jump, or they want to send him to Alaska instead of Texas), or maybe they need him to go with someone (a former lover, a rival, a stranger that he has heard 'things' about).

Maybe a relative is sick/dying/left him an inheritance that he must go claim immediately if he's to claim it at all.

It really is a mysterious package - a cryptic letter, a strange object - that is related somehow to the mystical wooj keeping him & his lover apart (maybe a puzzle piece to resolving that conflict), but needs interpreting.

Illegitimate child is a good one. Maybe he owes someone money? Or an old friend/relative is begging him for money for some problem of their own. Maybe he has some distant nieces and nephews who want to get married/just had their home destroyed/were left orphaned and destitute and could use the money or his help.

Illegitimate child won't work due to the supernatural complications. I was considering the sick or dying relative thing, which might work but could also throw a wrench into future plot points I need to hit, so I'll have to consider that one carefully.

Still open to more ideas, though! :)