“I think it’s going to be very interesting to pit those two together.”
*****
She was running late. And she did not like to be late for anything. But her aunt had kept her up most of last night with what she thought was a heart attack, which turned out to be a panic attack. Jacinth loved the woman who had taken her in when her parents had met their death tragically fifteen years ago.
Gloria was her father’s aunt. She had never been married and had never had children, but when it was time to step up, she had done so without hesitation. Jacinth knew it couldn’t have been easy for a woman in her fifties to have her life turned upside down suddenly. And Jacinth had not been a model child. After her parents’ accident, which left her reeling from grief and anger, she acted out constantly, defying her aunt at every step.
However, the woman had shown considerable patience and fortitude in dealing with an arrogant teenager who was determined to make things difficult for her. Jacinth had grudgingly grown to love and appreciate her for the sacrifice she made when she didn’t have to.
That was why, even when she returned home from college, she had not bothered to get a place of her own. Over the past year, she had contemplated getting herself an apartment and doing just that. The house was too big and old, and her aunt was not the easiest person to live with. But then again, she had been quite difficult herself, and the woman had put up with her.
“Honey, is that you?” Her aunt called out as she went downstairs.
“Who else would it be?” She asked teasingly as she hurried into the kitchen to grab a quick cup of coffee and was on her way.
“I just want to apologize for being so needy and putting you out of your way.”
“No apology necessary.” Moving forward briskly, Jacinth placed an affectionate kiss on the lined cheek. “You aren’t having breakfast?”
“I will fix something a little later. I made coffee.” She nodded to the pot.
“I could smell it upstairs.” She moved to the pot and poured coffee into the go cup.
“I know you are planning on moving out.” The quiet voice behind her had her turning around in guilt.
“Why would you think that?”
“I am an old woman with many complaints. You are a beautiful woman who should live her life, not cooped up in this old house with an even older woman.”
“Perhaps I like old things.” Walking over to the table beneath the large bay window, she sat across from her aunt. “I am here for you like you were there for me when Mom and Dad died.”
Gloria shook her head. “You are here because you are obligated to be here.” Her faded brown eyes wandered over the exquisite face. Jacinth had taken everything from her mother, from the heart-shaped face and the determined chin to the large dark brown eyes with their fringes of long, curly lashes. And she should be out on dates and trying to find a man who is worthy of being with her.
“You have not been in a relationship since that young man broke your heart.”
“That’s because I am enjoying the freedom of being single.” Jacinth did not want to discuss that excruciating area of her life.
“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” Her aunt stared into her cup, a sad expression on her lined face. “You never asked why I remained single and childless.”
“I always assumed it was because you were committed to your career as a librarian.”
“I was not that committed, my dear. There was a young man when I was in my late twenties.”
“What happened?” Jacinth was running late, but her aunt wanted to talk, and she owed her that much.
“He enlisted in the military – navy. We planned to get married when he was back from deployment. We spent every single minute together, and back then, being with a man without being married was frowned upon.”
“Why didn’t you get married before he left?” Jacinth asked curiously.
“We were young and naïve and thought we had all the time in the world. We didn’t want to get married in haste, you see. We wanted to do it properly, but he had two months to leave.”
She shook her head. “He promised me that he would return, and we would get married and have children. We even looked at a house, this very one we are living in. It was up for sale, and we put a downpayment on it.”
“Oh, Aunty.” Jacinth reached across the table and took her hand, “I am so sorry.”
“He never made it home.” Her faded eyes filled with tears.
“There was a war “
“No.” She shook her head. “That was what was so tragic. They were in Japan, and he was robbed and killed. They were on their way home when it happened. It was supposed to be their last night in that country, and they were leaving to return home the next day.”
“I am so sorry,” Jacinth repeated. “And you never found anyone else?”
“I didn’t have the heart to look. It took me years to get over him, and after that, I threw myself into my work.” She blinked the tears away. “I am an old woman and had the love of my life. I want you to have yours as well.”
“I will,” Jacinth assured her.
“Not if you keep running home to care for me every day after work. I want you to start going out and meeting people, and I insist on it.”
“We’ll see.” Pushing back the chair, she picked up her cup and smiled at her. “Thanks for sharing that very poignant story with me.”
“I shared that harrowing story with you so you do not end up like me. Life is made for loving and living, and I want you to do both.”
*****
“I have the lawyers on the phone and a meeting in conference Room C.” Jacinth glanced up from her device as she entered the room.
“I am afraid I have something to tell you.” William Tanner told her gravely.