This idea came to me, while listening to a Taylor Swift song. I do see this being a rather long story. Also, I didn't pick any main character points for the story, cuz I would much rather it be a secret! So read to find out who the story is about.
Through The Looking Glass
Summary: Through times of hardship, and happiness, one thing remained true. Their undeniable love for each other.
Chapter One: Mysterious Ways
Running up the stairs of their front porch, was my six year old daughter, and three year old son. I smiled softly. They loved visiting their grandmother. They loved the stories that she would tell. My mom had always been good at telling stories. Most of which were from her seventy year love affair with my father. The stories were always very vivid, and long. Full of love, longing, and desire. My parents had always been their for each other, through thick or thin. My mother never told my children that these stories were of her and my father's relationship when they, too were young.
I stood behind my two very giddy children. Both excited to see their grandparents, but for two totally different reasons. My dad gets around very well, for being seventy-seven years old. Tucker just loves to have grandpa chase him around the house. While Brooklyn would rather sit on grandma's lap and listen to a new round of stories of the past.
Intrigued from my mother's engrossing story-telling abilities, I always sit on the chair across from her and watch as if I too am hearing the story for the first time.
I knock lightly on the door, and wait. They were expecting our visit, as my aunt has been doing so well as of late. I try to suppress the smile that wants to climb onto my lips, I watch the door swing open. It takes me by surprise every time. Even though she's seventy-seven, my mom could pass for late fifties or early sixties. Her hair had grayed almost throughly, although small specks of her original hair color shines through some of the gray. Her eyes are still so very warm, and her ever present smile is still pastured on her face.
I saw my father in the background. He too, looks much younger than his actual age. Through the years he kept in good shape, and he still had a muscular build to him. His blue eyes still shone with high intensity, and his short cropped hair, was almost fully gray now.
"Mom, dad," I offered them both smiles, as me and the kids walked into the house.
I would like to say that I had been as lucky in love as my parents had been. I, however, had been blinded by their undying love for each other, didn't think that once you fell in love that you could ever fall out of it. Without missing a beat, my finger wraps around the third finger on my ring hand. It was missing the nearly twenty-four karat gold wedding band, and engagement ring. Nicholas had always been a wonderful husband. For the first three years, or so. After Brooke turned four though, I found out what he had been doing with his works nights.
"How are you doing baby?" my mom asked, patting my back.
After a year long separation, he begged for me to take him back. He swore he'd never make such a stupid mistake again. He swore that he loved me. He swore he was devoted to keep our marriage afloat. I was stupid, young, and in love. I took him back. We renewed our wedding vows. A year later, I found him, home, in our bed, with my supposed best friend. I threw both out, and then threw both my wedding and engagement rings at him. I haven't heard from him since, neither has his children.
The divorce was hard on Brooke. While she didn't really understand why daddy didn't live at home anymore, she knew that he wasn't ever coming home. What hurt both, me and Brooke the most was when he denied custody. At the hearing he said that I was the perfect mother, that his children deserved more than him as a father. Really all he wanted was to be free to sleep with whomever he wanted, without any children tying him down.
"I'm good mom," I smiled softly at her.
"Good," she walked me to my usual seat, before sitting in her chair.
In the distance I heard my dad making monster noises as he chased Tuck around the house. I closed my eyes for a moment and took in the all too familiar sound, before opening them. I knew my mom wanted to talk, to discuss my useless ex-husband, but I didn't feel like digging up old bones.
"Grandma!" Brooke nearly screamed.
"Inside voice honey," I spoke softly.
She turned toward me, and batted her adorable eyelashes at me. "I'm sorry momma."
"What can I do for you beautiful?" my mom asked, as she pulled Brooklyn into her lap.
"Tell me a story, please," she added quickly, flashing her 'get-anything-I-want' smile.
"Your wish is my command," my mom said, before winking at Brooklyn.
"Start from the beginning grandma, please," she all but begged.
"The beginning it is," there was a sly look on her face that I recognized instantly. She was going to tell the whole story, she was going to tell Brooklyn who the stories were about.
"The stories are about a couple destined from the start. No matter what life threw at them, they took it in stride, and kept going. No matter what, through all the hardships and happiness, they knew deep down that they were meant to be, still are--"
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow, before facing me. "Momma what's grandma talkin bout?"
I smiled, but just shook my head. This was my mom's story to tell, not mine. I was just along for the ride. A ride that I throughly enjoyed, each and every time I got to ride it.
