Lilacs for Laura

by Dianne Miley

  Her face lit up. “I already did.”

  ****

  Red explosions lit the night sky. Following a boom that Laura felt as much as heard, blue sparks burst from a soaring white glow. With Brett’s warm side pressed against her and his arm stretched across her back, the fireworks over Crystal Falls High School were no match for the ones going off in her head and radiating through her body.

  Don’t lose your heart, she reminded herself. Remember it’s not forever. But she hadn’t had a date in so long. She needed to have a good time for a change. Even if just for today.

  His hand moved to her cheek, turning her to face him.

  “I want to see your eyes in the blue light. They’re magnificent.” He flashed a bright smile, white in the night, as the heat in his gaze melted her insides.

  So romantic. So handsome. So perfect. She lifted her mouth to his. The long, hungry kiss sent her mind sizzling through the sky, bursting into colors while the grand finale blazed above them.

  People scuffled around, tripping over them, and it had to end. In a blur, she let Brett lead her through the mob. With her hand firmly in his, she felt safe and protected. Her fuzzy feelings lingered in the warm night air.

  Jammed traffic prolonged the drive. Brett rubbed her thigh between shifting gears. The bare skin below her shorts grew cool when he reached for the gearshift. Too soon, the ride was over.

  At her front door, he pulled her away from the porch light and wrapped his arms around her. The thrill of it, with her parents just inside, gave her shivers. Feeling like a teenager again, she didn’t want them to see her dissolve in his arms.

  She grew breathless with his kisses. The fireworks lived on. And then he pulled away.

  “I’d better go.” His features filled with regret.

  She gripped his hand, unwilling to let him go.

  “Can I see you again on Friday?” he asked.

  “The sooner, the better,” she breathed.

  He chuckled, low and sexy. “Six o’clock? That’s the earliest I can get cleaned up and be here.”

  “Six o’clock,” she repeated like a lovesick fool.

  Smiling as he pulled his hand from hers, he stepped off the porch. As she turned to the door, realization stung like a swarm of angry bees. Doubts buzzed through her head. Had she lost her heart to him? Or was it only a need for male affection?

  She’d had a good time. Too good a time. She’d better watch it, or she’d fall in love for sure.

  ****

  The next day, a happy little tune played through Laura’s subconscious. Humming along, she arranged red and white carnations among green ivy and blue lobelia. She added a tiny flag to the planter. Just before closing, Mayor Daniels bustled in the back door, bringing a blast of summer heat with him.

  “Is it ready, Laura?” he whispered.

  His secretive manner made her wonder if Myrtle hadn’t been right about him. “Yes, it’s right here.” She retrieved the rustic red, white, and blue planter and set it on the counter.

  “Perfect!” he exclaimed. He looked around the shop and out the front window, then pulled a small, velvet box from his shirt pocket. Whispering again, he said, “Look what else I bought.” He opened the box to reveal a sparkling ruby necklace.

  So Myrtle was telling the truth. Laura was indignant.

  “Do you think she’ll like it?” he asked conspiratorially.

  “Who?” Suspicion tinged her voice.

  “My wife, of course! Who else?” His face was incredulous. “It’s our 35th anniversary. I wanted to get something special. She loves patriotic colors, that’s why we got married in July.”

  “Then she’ll love it!” Laura’s heart lightened considerably. She should have known better. As usual, Myrtle’s malicious imagination had been at work. How dare she accuse him of an affair without a shred of evidence?

  “We have an old joke.” The mayor chuckled. “She only went out with me because I wore a flag on my chest, running for office and all.” The ringing phone stopped his story short.

  She handed him a receipt. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor.” He made his way to the door with the planter as Laura picked up the phone.

  “ Rosebuds . May I help you?” She waited. “Hello?”

  “Laura, help me—” croaked grandmother’s voice.

  Lilacs For Laura

  Lilacs For Laura

  Chapter 9—Heat Wave

  Laura’s stomach clenched. No! This couldn’t be happening...

  “Grandma! I’ll be right there. Hold on!” She covered the phone and called, “Mama! Something’s wrong with Grandma!”

  Emily bolted from the back room and snatched the phone Laura held out to her. “Kate, what’s wrong?”

  “I’m going out there,” Laura announced. “Call 911!” she yelled as she raced out the back door.

  She’d never driven so fast through Crystal Falls. Her heart hammered as she shot down a back alley and cut through the cemetery to avoid traffic on the square.

  Steam rose from the asphalt on Route 3 and she pressed her foot to the floor. The Camaro bogged in the heat. “Come on, you old piece of crap!” she yelled at the hood. Finally it thunked into overdrive. She roared up the road until Rose Hill Drive was in sight. Slamming on the brakes, she fishtailed around the corner, flew up the road, and slid into her grandmother’s driveway, spitting gravel.

  She jumped from the car and ran into the house. Her grandmother lay panting on the kitchen floor. Horrified, Laura rushed to her side. Grandma couldn’t die. The family’s pillar of strength, she was lying in a crumbled heap.

  “Gram, what’s wrong?” Laura bent over her.

  “Water,” she whispered hoarsely.

  Frantic, Laura hurried to fill a glass with water. She gently helped her grandmother lean against the wall so she could sit up to drink. Kate balanced herself with one hand on the floor while Laura helped hold the glass.

  “You’ll be fine, Gram. Just get this water down.” Laura tried to be reassuring, but panic hovered beneath the surface.

  Her grandmother shook so badly, she spilled more water down her blouse than she got in her mouth.

  “More,” she demanded.

  Laura nervously fetched more water as sirens wailed in the distance. She breathed a sigh of relief. Kate took the glass and guzzled it down, swallowing most of it this time.

  “Grandma, what happened?” Her voice squeaked as she refilled the glass again.

  “Fell. Couldn’t get up.” Sweat streamed down Kate’s forehead and soaked the bandana wrapped around her white hair. She wore dirty clothing and muddy boots.

  “Have you been gardening in this heat?” Laura was appalled.

  Somewhat revived, her grandma answered testily, “Just a little weeding.”

  “How long were you out there?” Laura couldn’t believe this.

  “Since lunch.” She scowled as sirens screeched closer.

  “It’s almost five o’clock!” Grandma was a tough old bird, but surely she realized the danger of heat stroke at her age.

  Kate snatched her third glass of water, sloshing some across her lap. She drank it down as the squealing sirens cut off and gravel crunched in the driveway.

  “She’s in here!” Laura flung the door open for paramedics carrying large metal boxes and pointed to her grandmother sprawled on the floor.

  “Hello, ladies.” The two men rushed into the house and unloaded their gear.

  Wiping a dirty hand across her mouth, Kate sputtered, “Who called them?”

  Laura squeezed her eyes shut and wrung her hands.

  The paramedics circled Grandma, bent on their haunches.

  “What happened ma’am?” the handsome one asked.

  “I fell down is all,” she answered with disgust.

  “What were you doing when you fell?” the other asked politely as he wet a cloth and handed it to his coworker.

  Kate looked away and refused to answer.

  Laura piped up, “She’s been gardening since lu
nch.” Her eyes begged them to talk some sense into her grandmother.

  “Mrs. James,” the first man spoke gently as he dabbed her forehead with the cool cloth. “In this heat, it’s not safe to work in the sun for more than an hour or so at any age.”

  “And I’m an old fart, is that what you’re saying?” The elderly woman narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips.

  Embarrassment heated Laura’s face.

  “No, ma’am.” He refrained from smiling, but color brightened his cheeks. “Heat like this does a number on anybody. That’s what I’m saying.”

  “Hmpf.” She crossed her arms.

  “We need to take your blood pressure, ma’am.”

  Kate stared him down, arms still crossed.

  “Grandma, let them help you,” Laura pleaded.

  He gently touched Kate’s arm, almost a caress. “Just to prove you’re all right,” he said with a wink.

  This cutie knew what he was doing. She begrudgingly gave him her arm. As he touched her, Kate’s demeanor relaxed. Soon, she fully cooperated with the tests, almost seeming to enjoy the handsome fella’s attention. She even had a hint of smile when he turned to gather supplies. Was Grandma checking out his butt? What would she do next?

  “Mrs. James, you’ve had a heat stroke and you’re severely dehydrated,” the paramedic informed her. “You’ll need an IV to get back in shape.”

  Kate’s mouth dropped open.

  “You may need to stay in the hospital for a few days.”

  “Oh, no,” she balked, pulling away and trying to stand. Dizziness overtook her and she crumpled into his arms.

  Even his cajoling didn’t work now. Grandma fought him, but with the help of his partner, the paramedic carefully laid her on a stretcher and strapped her down.

  Kate finally resigned to the inevitable. With her grandma’s look of defeat, Laura’s assurance turned to drivel.

  ****

  By mid-July, the flower shop was swamped with funeral and hospital arrangements for heat stroke victims. With high temperatures rarely above the low eighties in this part of Ohio, most people didn’t have air conditioning. The elderly especially were unprepared for this kind of heat.

  Along with the hot and heavy weather, Laura’s relationship with Brett took on a fire of its own. She didn’t know whether to be thrilled or scared to death.

  In Riverside, the closest big city to Crystal Falls, waves of heat rose from the asphalt parking lot of the indoor amusement park. Laura held Brett’s hand, happy to be a couple, but still hoping to keep things light and fun. Yet her attachment was growing into much more than friendship. She was falling for him. Hard. And she didn’t know how to stop.

  Even though she didn’t fully trust him, and couldn’t trust her heart, she didn’t really want this feeling to stop.

  They trudged through the heat behind an elderly couple. The man held his wife’s arm as she shuffled along with a cane. Laura delighted at the man’s sweet devotion. How wonderful to grow old with someone who loved you like that.

  At the entrance, Brett stepped ahead of them to open the heavy green door of the expo center. Cool air gushed out as he ushered the couple and Laura inside.

  “Thank you, young man.” The woman smiled at Brett and her husband gave a nod.

  Laura stared over the mass of people and rides. In the center of the cavernous building, skylights curved into the sky to accommodate a giant Ferris wheel. The thought of being that far off the ground gave her a chill.

  “How’s your grandmother?” Brett asked as the elderly couple wandered off. “Chad said she’s home from the hospital.”

  “She’s still not feeling well. I’m worried about her.” She shrugged. “But it sounds like you and Chad get along well.”

  “Chad’s an ace compared to working with my father.” Brett rolled his eyes. He stopped at a ticket booth in front of the Tilt-a-Whirl and put his arm around her. “How about a ride?”

  “Sure.” She smiled at him as he purchased tickets.

  “The view up there is awesome,” he said eagerly, pointing two tickets toward the Ferris wheel.

  “Up...there?” Laura said weakly, looking up.

  “Yeah, have you been on it before?”

  “Uh, no.” She put on a brave face, but shivered.

  “They could turn down the air conditioning a notch.” Still holding her, Brett rubbed her arm as they took a place in line. She didn’t respond as the line moved ahead, nudging them toward the menacing contraption.

  “You don’t know what you’ve been missing. You can see for miles through the skylights. A bird’s eye view of the whole city and surrounding countryside. Heck, you can see Crystal Falls.”

  He continued rubbing her arm, comforting her. And he made the ride sound so enticing. Trying to be brave, she molded to his side. They moved along, closer and closer to the gate. Like sheep entering the slaughterhouse.

  A knot of fear tightened in her stomach as Brett helped her into a seat. After he sat beside her, a big burly man banged the bar shut like the clamp of a steel trap.

  “Fine visibility today,” he said with a smile. “Good view all the way to Route 3.” He slapped the metal car, apparently giving a signal, because they jerked backward and up.

  She clung to Brett. He was warm and sturdy. His strong arms wrapped around her, making her feel safer.

  “Are you okay?” He pushed the hair from her face. “You’re white as a sheet!”

  The ascent stopped abruptly as another seat filled.

  “Sir!” Brett called to the burly man. “Sir! Let us off!” He waved one arm wildly as he held Laura with the other.

  The dreaded steel bar clamped shut again, and the wheel ascended rapidly without stopping. They soared above ant-sized people and she buried her face in Brett’s chest.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were afraid?”

  “You said it was awesome,” she said, muffled against him.

  Sunlight shone on his shirt. She peeked out at the skylights. The city of Riverside lay below. A twisted green ribbon of river ran through the center of town, and threads of gleaming streets boxed in Monopoly-sized buildings. The drawbridge opened to let a toy boat pass beneath it.

  “Amazing!” she breathed.

  Brett gave her an I-told-you-so grin. “Having fun yet?”

  With a sidelong glance, she kissed his cheek. He’d been right, but that didn’t mean she could trust him with her heart.

  His adventurous, slightly dangerous side terrified her as much as it gave her a naughty thrill. Just last night he’d driven 85 miles an hour up Route 3, and then French-kissed her on her parents’ front porch. She hoped for an encore tonight. And missed the privacy of her apartment more than ever.

  But right now, her legs dangled and her hair whipped in the breeze. Freedom from gravity both frightened and exhilarated her. Below the skylight, throngs of people grew bigger and closer as she approached the ground.

  At a shooting gallery, she spotted the folks they’d followed in. Inexplicably drawn to them, she watched the old man lower his gun and choose a large teddy bear for his wife. Her heart warmed. That was the kind of love she wanted.

  Her seat whooshed past the floor. The clueless attendant waved at them.

  “Oh, now you pay attention,” Brett muttered.

  She laughed, still clinging to him and slightly dazed, but awestruck at the view around them. With each swipe across the sky, she saw more details in the city below, picking out the courthouse and mall. Beyond the countryside, she truly could see all the way to Route 3. Crystal Falls was hidden in a valley. Only the steeples of Church Street jutted above the trees.

  She realized how she loved that town, and how she was falling in love with the man beside her. Needing them both, she desperately hoped she’d never have to choose between them.

  ****

  August arrived with soaring temperatures. Mercury topped one hundred degrees for a week straight, breaking records all over Ohio. Under the broiling sun, Brett
pushed a two-by-four toward a buzzing saw blade. Sawdust clung to his sweat-soaked clothes and skin, but the board cut clean. He tossed the wood onto a pile and flipped a switch beneath the table saw. The jagged blade whirred to a stop.

  Hoisting the heavy lumber onto his shoulder, he carried it up a makeshift plank, and dropped it to the plywood floor.

  “Thanks, bro,” Chad called from the far side of the stifling, stud-walled house. “Lucky for you,” he teased, “we get a record heat wave while you’re stuck doing this blasted job.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Brett yelled over their resumed hammering, glad his boss understood. For months, he’d looked for an engineering job. Now desperate to stay near Laura, he’d even looked for a less-than-perfect job in Riverside, not minding the twenty-five mile commute. But he’d still turned up nothing. Even on the internet, decent jobs required a year of experience. How could he get experience when no one would hire him?

  In frustration, he pounded a nail crooked, ripped it out, and reached angrily for a fresh nail. He hated this job! He was grateful Chad hired him, but he should be designing cars, not doing grunt work. Pounding the hammer fiercely, he drove in a nail until the wood bruised.

  He wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his arm, smearing sawdust across his face and into his hair. Disgusted with the heat, the job, and getting sawdust in his hair, he threw down the hammer and walked to the water jug. He splashed his face clean and took a few cool sips. Then he shook sawdust from his head, pulled the comb from his back pocket, and combed his hair to its usual perfection.

  Dread hovered over him. He couldn’t imagine a future doing a job he hated, and chances were slim to none that he’d find his dream job near Crystal Falls. But he couldn’t imagine a happy future without Laura.

  Chad’s cell phone rang, and he sprinted to the truck to answer it. After an animated conversation, he bounded back with a slap-happy expression.

  “What’s up, dude?” Brett cocked his head in question.

  “Hey, bro, guess where our next job is?”

  “From the looks of you, we got a job at the Taj Mahal.”

  “Is the Taj Mahal air conditioned?” Chad beamed.