“Are you ready, Sara?
“Give me just another minute, Mom!”
While I waited for Sara, My thoughts drifted to the night she was conceived.
~~~~~~~~
Our (mine and Jake’s) favorite thing to do was to watch the sailboats enter and leave Bauske’s Boat Harbor. All the high school kids loved to hang out there during the summer.
The rain dropped like crystals as we watched the lights blinking around the harbor. His warm lips made me shiver as we kissed and the softness of his touch had me questioning why I waited so long.
Our senior year in high school was almost over and though Jake and I dated for two years, I was still in tact. He was patient with me and I loved him because of it. It was time now though, to take the next step.
As he gently unbuttoned my blouse and let his fingertips softly skim across my breasts, I knew this was meant to be. There was a sensual tingle I was sure he felt, too. As our needs grew stronger our bodies met in perfect rhythm. The dizzying excitement filled our hearts. The seed was placed…..though we didn’t know it at the time.
Jake and I had planned to marry after graduation. There were no worries. Our families really liked each other and always said we were “meant to be”. We were in love and we would share a wonderful life.
“Karen, are you alright? I didn’t hurt you…did I?”
“No! Oh, no Jake....you didn’t hurt me. I feel wonderful……. Are YOU happy? Was this…the right time?”
He smiled. “I love you so much, Karen and this was the perfect time.”
~~~~~~~
“How do I look, Mom? Startled, I answered.
“Sara, your father will be so proud of you.”
We agreed to meet at the harbor. I hadn’t been there in years. It was hurtful reminder. But, Jake suggested it and Sara mentioned going there every single time we passed the sign at the entrance. She seemed naturally drawn to the very place where her life began. I guess it was the most fitting place, whatever the future may bring to us.
It was Saturday afternoon, but the boating season hadn’t come into full swing yet, so it was fairly calm. We first had lunch at the restaurant, which had just recently been built. It was called the Captains Quarters, carrying the same name as the old café that had burned down a year or so ago.
Everything was the same as it had been, only improved….giving hope that the best was yet to come……….
After the best lunch that Sara and I’d had in a very long time, Jake asked if we would like to go sailing. Sara immediately jumped at the chance. A quick scan of the harbor only showed one rather large sailboat tethered to one of the piers. It was his and as it turned out…….so was the harbor. He bought it from the Bauske family five years earlier. Professionally and financially, he’d done very well and was ready to give up the corporate life to be near us, if we should decide to have him.
Sara visited with her father and asked a zillion questions, as I stared at both of them marveling at the resemblance. Hmmm! I’d always thought she favored me.
The obvious question, “Why, Dad?” was answered.
“Sara, I wish I had a good answer to that question, but there just isn’t one. I can only say that I have felt shame for the past twelve years for leaving you and your mom. I just didn’t know how to be a good dad for you or a good husband for your mom.”
“Are you sure you know how now, Dad? Because I won’t let you hurt my mom ever again. Even if it means……not ever having you in my life.”
I noticed Jake’s eyes welling up with tears and couldn’t help but reach over to hold his hand. I desperately wanted to make his pain go away. I knew he was genuine in wanting to right the wrong of so many lonely years. He never married. A year after he left he wanted to return, but didn’t trust himself not to walk away again.
I put my hand out to Sara. She smiled, took my hand in hers and doing what felt so right, she reached for her dad’s hand. The family circle had been completed…………sort of.
“OK, so do you two think there might be a sibling in my future?”
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