That Night (For All Time fic)
That Night
by: Littlepink80
rating: you really don't even need sunscreen.
dislaimer: again, poor. again, not mine. again, please don't sue me.
NOTES: A sequel. A companion, I suppose to Right After. Picks up.... that night. I know, not so clever with the titles, I am?
She pushed the bedroom door open, just enough to allow room to enter. It was very late and she should have been asleep, but not yet. Across the small room, wrapped up in bedclothes and quilts lay her daughter. Letting the moonlight be her guide, she crossed the room and only paused a moment before gingerly lowering herself to the side of the bed.
Today had been so close to disaster.
She had come so horribly close to loosing this child… this headstrong, beautiful girl she loved so much. She swallowed hard as a long breath left her body in shuddering increments. A shaky hand reached out and brushed the hair from her daughter’s face.
But then, that man had arrived. He had, by all accounts, rushed through that park as if the devil himself was on his tail. A day or so ago, and she would have gladly sent all the hounds of hell after that man herself.
He had hurt her daughter- horrendously.
Oh, the girl thought she hid it, but mothers always know when their children are in pain.
‘Something Laura Clark would do well to remember," her mother thought to herself. She shook her head. In some ways her daughter was a mystery to her. But in a few other ways, there was no mystery at all. Laura had become quite smitten with Charles Lattimer. Foolish girl thought she could hide that from her mother, of all people.
Charles Lattimer had strange ideas and strange ways and he was not a good influence on her Laura. Mrs. Clark in no way approved of his existence, much less his presence in Laura’s life. But, when he’d arrived at their home, after Laura had told little Mary that he probably would not return….
Laura’s mother… the mother who only wished to see her daughter happy again had gone against Mrs. Clark’s better judgement and told the man where to find Laura. But it had taken precious little time for her to deeply regret that decision. Something had happened, oh she’d known something was wrong… no matter how tight-lipped her obstinate daughter chose to be.
He’d hurt her. He had broken her child’s heart.
And then he’d saved her. He saved Mary. Lord only knew how many people were still alive right now because of Charles Lattimer. But she was painfully aware that she was gazing at one of them.
And once more Miss Obstinate was refusing to talk to her mother. Infuriating girl. Well, no matter. Laura’s mother would find out everything she wanted about Mr. Charles Lattimer and his intentions towards her Laura.
She smoothed her daughter’s hair once more before she stood and straightened the old quilt, tucking in both her daughter and the granddaughter who had insisted on sleeping in her mother’s bed. With a whispered prayer of thanks to God, the old woman eased her way back to the doorway and down the hall to her own room.
And Laura Clark Brown watched the mother she loved leave her room. She shifted closer to her Mary. Her mother had been in the closest state of panic that Laura had ever remembered seeing the normally, predictably unflappable old woman. She hadn’t stopped reaching out to touch, ever fleetingly, her or Mary throughout the rest of the afternoon or the evening… or repeatedly asking to have the whole tale recounted.
And Mary, now home and secure once more, had been only too happy to oblige her grandmother. Repeatedly. And with details.
Of course, Charles Lattimer’s name had appeared again and again. And each time Laura had felt her mother’s shrewd gaze.
Mr. Lattimer.
Charles.
She could still feel the weight of his hands and arms as he rushed her and Mary to safety. Laura closed her eyes. She could still feel the weight of his lips on her own.
Dear God, he was married! Married. She felt the sting of tears as she blinked back the sudden rush. She’d agreed to meet him tomorrow. He’d be there, Laura Brown knew it without a doubt. Laura turned to wrap her arms around Mary and tried to put the whole mess out of her mind. She needed sleep. She needed a clear head.
But, what would he say?
What in God’s name was she going to say?
THE END???