Read Online Laura Abbot by Belleporte Summer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Belleporte Summer
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“When I’m an old lady, I shall wear purple.”
The only place she had ever truly been able to be herself was at Summer Haven—years ago. Even before Frank. It made perfect sense to begin her new life there. The giddy high of possibility dizzied her, and she turned away from the window and sank into the dressing table chair, studying her reflection in the mirror. The years—and expensive cosmetologists—had preserved her better than most. Her naturally white hair smoothly waved back from her high forehead, and her complexion remained soft, the wrinkles evidence of character. Her eyes, brown with hints of green and amber, were the same as those of the little girl who had built sand castles on the beach below her father’s happiest monument to success—Summer Haven. She tilted her head in wonderment. Where had the time gone? She didn’t feel old, despite the evidence in the mirror. How could she possibly be nearing seventy-five? It didn’t make any sense.
But what did make sense, now that her life was no longer dictated by her often demanding, though charismatic husband, was doing what she wanted in whatever time remained to her.
In the distance, she heard the front door chime. Greta, her housekeeper, would answer it. Undoubtedly it would be her daughter Nan, who checked on her nearly every day, as if she were senile. Not that she didn’t appreciate Nan’s solicitude, but she still had a will of her own, thank you very much.
“Mother!” Nan burst into the bedroom. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Quite the contrary. In fact, I’m simply beginning to exercise it again. Why?”
“John just called. A friend of his who’s on the board told him you’ve resigned from the country club.” Nan pulled a chair close to Katherine and sat down, leaning forward in concern. “Surely it’s a mistake.”
Katherine pivoted to face her daughter. “Not at all. What do I need the club for now?”
“But your friends…your bridge foursome…”
Katherine tried to hide her amusement. How could Nan know she despised the vacuity of the fashion-obsessed women in the bridge group? “I won’t be needing the amenities of a club membership.”
Belatedly, Nan looked at her mother’s bed. She jumped to her feet and rifled through the satins, silks and velvets. “What’s all this?”
“Discards for the hospital auxiliary thrift shop.”
“Discards?” Katherine recognized the symptoms. Nan was working herself into high dudgeon. She held up a silver-gray chiffon gown with a sequined jacket. “Why, this is your Versace.”
“Yes,” Katherine replied. She knew she shouldn’t be taking such delight in her daughter’s distress.
Nan fondled a mink cloche. “Daddy gave you this one Christmas.” She flung her arms wide in bewilderment. “You can’t do this.”
“Watch me,” Katherine said, unable to refrain from smiling.
Nan sank onto the bed. “Mother, are you sure you’re all right?”
“Darling, I’m better than I’ve been in a great long while.” She fingered her wedding band before continuing. “I loved your father. I hope I made him happy. I didn’t always agree with him, as you know all too well, but he was a very forceful individual. Early on in our marriage, I had to make a decision. To bend to Frank’s will or oppose him. I’d promised to love and obey. If I wanted our marriage to last, there was only one choice. I made it gladly. At least at the time. He’s gone now. Maybe I let him protect me too much. Pampering can be easy to get used to. It can also be suffocating. Limiting.”
“You’re worrying me. What are you trying to say?”
“I’ve made some plans. I didn’t want to tell you until I had everything arranged because I knew you’d try to dissuade me.”
“What plans?”
“Unless you and John want to buy this house, I’m selling it and moving permanently to Summer Haven.”
Judging from Nan’s slack jaw and wide-eyed expression, Katherine couldn’t have shocked her
The only place she had ever truly been able to be herself was at Summer Haven—years ago. Even before Frank. It made perfect sense to begin her new life there. The giddy high of possibility dizzied her, and she turned away from the window and sank into the dressing table chair, studying her reflection in the mirror. The years—and expensive cosmetologists—had preserved her better than most. Her naturally white hair smoothly waved back from her high forehead, and her complexion remained soft, the wrinkles evidence of character. Her eyes, brown with hints of green and amber, were the same as those of the little girl who had built sand castles on the beach below her father’s happiest monument to success—Summer Haven. She tilted her head in wonderment. Where had the time gone? She didn’t feel old, despite the evidence in the mirror. How could she possibly be nearing seventy-five? It didn’t make any sense.
But what did make sense, now that her life was no longer dictated by her often demanding, though charismatic husband, was doing what she wanted in whatever time remained to her.
In the distance, she heard the front door chime. Greta, her housekeeper, would answer it. Undoubtedly it would be her daughter Nan, who checked on her nearly every day, as if she were senile. Not that she didn’t appreciate Nan’s solicitude, but she still had a will of her own, thank you very much.
“Mother!” Nan burst into the bedroom. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Quite the contrary. In fact, I’m simply beginning to exercise it again. Why?”
“John just called. A friend of his who’s on the board told him you’ve resigned from the country club.” Nan pulled a chair close to Katherine and sat down, leaning forward in concern. “Surely it’s a mistake.”
Katherine pivoted to face her daughter. “Not at all. What do I need the club for now?”
“But your friends…your bridge foursome…”
Katherine tried to hide her amusement. How could Nan know she despised the vacuity of the fashion-obsessed women in the bridge group? “I won’t be needing the amenities of a club membership.”
Belatedly, Nan looked at her mother’s bed. She jumped to her feet and rifled through the satins, silks and velvets. “What’s all this?”
“Discards for the hospital auxiliary thrift shop.”
“Discards?” Katherine recognized the symptoms. Nan was working herself into high dudgeon. She held up a silver-gray chiffon gown with a sequined jacket. “Why, this is your Versace.”
“Yes,” Katherine replied. She knew she shouldn’t be taking such delight in her daughter’s distress.
Nan fondled a mink cloche. “Daddy gave you this one Christmas.” She flung her arms wide in bewilderment. “You can’t do this.”
“Watch me,” Katherine said, unable to refrain from smiling.
Nan sank onto the bed. “Mother, are you sure you’re all right?”
“Darling, I’m better than I’ve been in a great long while.” She fingered her wedding band before continuing. “I loved your father. I hope I made him happy. I didn’t always agree with him, as you know all too well, but he was a very forceful individual. Early on in our marriage, I had to make a decision. To bend to Frank’s will or oppose him. I’d promised to love and obey. If I wanted our marriage to last, there was only one choice. I made it gladly. At least at the time. He’s gone now. Maybe I let him protect me too much. Pampering can be easy to get used to. It can also be suffocating. Limiting.”
“You’re worrying me. What are you trying to say?”
“I’ve made some plans. I didn’t want to tell you until I had everything arranged because I knew you’d try to dissuade me.”
“What plans?”
“Unless you and John want to buy this house, I’m selling it and moving permanently to Summer Haven.”
Judging from Nan’s slack jaw and wide-eyed expression, Katherine couldn’t have shocked her
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