Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts
Congratulations Lorna!
Laura’s Bio:
Laura Havens lives in South Eastern Massachusetts with her Husband and young son. When she is not writing, she works full-time as an Executive Assistant. Her favorite authors include Jane Austen, Iris Murdoch, Audrey Niffeneger, and Gregory Maguire. Her dream is to one day publish a book of short stories.
Stolen Summer Night
The fresh scent of honeysuckle overpowered the stale odors of the Nursing home as I walked to Mom’s room. Turning into her door I stopped to take in the image of her frail frame perched in the wheelchair facing the open window. A slight breeze lifted the curtains, making them dance with the particles of dust shining in the sun’s rays. The image and scent transported me back 40 years to Dennisport beach. I was 15 years old that summer. It was the summer of my first kiss. I realized that I had never told Mom about that stolen night and a deep regret welled in my heart. Dementia had taken the woman that would have shared a laugh over my teenage angst.
“Hi Mom!” I said replacing last week’s bouquet that sat decaying on the nightstand next to her bed.
The silence, while it was expected, was still hard to bear. I dragged the extra chair next to hers and sat, ready to tell her all about my boring week. The breeze kicked up again and the scent of honeysuckle wafted through the room, as the sun’s rays hit my bare toes bringing back the feeling of sticking them in the warm sand on Dennisport beach. I threw my inhibitions into the breeze and began my tale.
“Do you remember that summer you and Dad took us to the beach house in Dennisport? I was 15 and Stevie was 12. We bickered constantly that week and you and Dad threatened to ground us until we were 20. Then Dad almost burned the house down trying to make s’mores inside after our bonfire got washed out in the rain. I know you thought we hated that vacation, but that’s not true. In fact, it was the best vacation I can remember. I never had the courage to tell you that one day I met a boy on the beach and we made arrangements to sneak out and meet by the pier at midnight. Funny, I can’t even remember his name now. I think it was Richard. Anyway, I crept out of the house after you and Dad had gone to bed and met him down at the pier. We walked hand in hand to the park, and I can still smell the honeysuckle. Oh Mom, he was such a gentleman! He took my hands, looked me in the eyes and asked, ‘May I kiss you?’ The funny thing is, when I got back to the house, I realized that I hadn’t brought a key and I panicked because I didn’t know how I was going to get back in without you and Dad finding out. But, luckily someone forgot to lock it so I made it back without you ever knowing.”
I turned to look at Mom and finally thank her for that wonderful summer vacation, but she was looking right at me.
“We didn’t forget to lock the door that night,” Mom said with a sly grin.
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