When everyone had assembled in the living room, Adam held Elizabeth in formal waltz position. He cleared his throat and said, “It’s only fair to warn you that I have two left feet. I hope I don’t step on you with either one of them.”
She reached up and gently stroked his cheek with her thin hand.
“I’ll risk it, sir.”
They moved slowly in a small circle in the center of the area rug as he softly hummed “Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms,” a song that had become their song years ago. It was a simple waltz to even simpler accompaniment, but tears formed in Elizabeth’s eyes. Adam produced a handkerchief from his pocket and gently dabbed her tears.
Several family members brought out handkerchiefs too and wiped their eyes, as they did every year at this moment.
Adam and Elizabeth’s youngest great-grandchild, a little girl with a ribbon in her hair and wearing her Sunday dress, glanced up at her mother in concern. “Mommy, is Great-Grandma sad?”
“No, dear,” came the subdued reply. “She’s happy.”
The little girl looked puzzled. “Why is she crying?”
“You’ll see.”
Turning her attention back to her great-grandparents, the little girl watched them intently.
Adam held Elizabeth close, and their steps became smaller and smaller until their feet stopped moving altogether. They merely swayed back and forth on the spot. Dropping the formal dance position, she rested her head against Adam, and he wrapped his arms around her frail shoulders. Humming in a mere whisper now and pausing more frequently to catch his breath, he held her against him until the song ended. Then he tilted her face up to his, and they exchanged a tender kiss.
The family members applauded, the little girl the most enthusiastically of all.
Several cameras appeared, and Adam and Elizabeth held on to each other so the moment could be captured and added to the photo album.
Conducting his wife over to the couch, Adam helped her get seated. “Thank you for the dance, Elizabeth,” he said.
“Thank you for the dance, Adam,” she replied. “All sixty years.”
He sat beside her, and they held hands. The family members gathered around, as they did every year on this occasion, to hear Adam and Elizabeth relate the story of the anniversary waltz.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DARREL NELSON IS a retired schoolteacher and lives with his wife, Marsha, in Raymond, Alberta, Canada. They are the parents of four children and are proud grandparents. Darrel is the author of The Anniversary Waltz and The Return of Cassandra Todd. He is currently working on his next novel, Following Rain.
Correspondence for the author should be addressed to:
Darrel Nelson
P.O. Box 1094
Raymond, Alberta, Canada
T0K 2S0
Or you can visit his website (www.darrelnelson.com) and post comments there.
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