The old man rests in his chair in the corner of a shady porch. He lives there in the tasteful house alone surrounded by his books and his memories. He is a happy man loved by family and friends. His children and their families often visit on weekends but he spends much of his time alone reading and writing. Every morning and every evening he walks along the lakeshore drinking in the seasons like a child gathering shells on the beach. He prays on those walks and feels close to God by the big water and under the vast sky.
The soft breeze and the fading sunshine of evening lull him to sleep like a baby in his mother’s arms. In his sleep he goes back and back over the years, even the decades to a late spring night. Before him is a young woman in a summery, sleeveless, blue dress. Her skin is darkened by the sun. The breeze blows her long brown hair. Her dark eyes look steadily on him. She never looks away for a fraction of a second when she kisses him. Her mouth is hungry for his. She is in no hurry. She makes no attempt to pull away as he tenderly tugs her to himself. Her soul is deep and her heart is loyal.
Wordlessly he sweeps his young wife into his arms and carries her over the threshold. From the waterfront the sound of a band wafts on the gentle wind. The atmosphere is influenced by the sound of it like the scent of lilac and the pale purple twilight. White curtains rustle in the window. The moon shines on the hardwood floor. Stars blink on the in the heavens. Crickets sing somewhere out in the cool night.
Out on the porch the corners of the old man’s mouth turn up with the lingering memory of a lingering kiss.
very sweet story Ken 🙂