Part One
Loving you was young, and wild, and free.....
“Darling, please pass me the orange rose, “90-year-old Bethany whispered to her husband of 70 years. She carefully took it, cutting the bottom part of the stem so it would fit easily on the vase. It was starting to rain a bit outside, which meant the snow would come down soon. Bethany looked at her beautiful flowers, there was a sadness that creased each rose, making her heart hurt a little more. Noticing the distant stare, her husband hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek. The elderly couple danced to the sound of the wind, yet that pain in her heart didn’t go away.
"Balance yourself like a bird on a beam, in the air she goes, there she goes,” he whispered in her ear, as he was about to kiss her, their 5 great-grandchildren ran to greet them. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and hugged each one of the kids.
“Now please, wait your turn. Grandpappy has some gifts for you all,” she said as the young kids ran with excitement to the next room.
“Hello, mom how are you? Daddy called to tell me you weren’t feeling well these past few days,” her daughter hugged her and helped her to her chair near the fireplace and open window.
Bethany smiled, ” that silly old man doesn’t know what he’s saying. I am fine. Just fine.” Her daughter looked at her longingly, knowing her mother was lying.
“Open those boxes and be useful, maybe I’ll talk,” Bethany’s small arm pointed to a few boxes near the fireplace. After a few minutes, her other two daughters came with their children. It was a full house full of love, excitement, but one thing her heart was still not in the right place. She ignored that feeling and continued opening old memories reminiscing the good times.
“Mom who’s this man,” her youngest daughter asked. Bethany grabbed the wooden box that contained a photo of a young man, a letter and a heart-shaped locket.
“I think it’s time for a little story, gather around, and children no interrupting okay,” everyone gathered around her, the little ones sitting on the floor while her daughters sat on the couches. Her husband smiled at her with encouragement because he knows the story by heart. Bethany touched the small locket. She looked at the orange roses and the autumn leaves her heart skipping a beat because the story she was going to tell, was the story she kept a secret for 71 years.
“It started the day before graduation when I thought to be the preacher’s daughter was going to keep me safe from the world.....
