Laurie's Time (The Fairfield Series) Read Free

thrilled. She knew that Emma had worked a lot of extra hours to purchase such an extravagant gift, and that made it all the more valuable.
    Finally, she looked at the cardboard box with at questioning look. Emma confessed that she did not know what was in the box but that it was from Sarah, Laurie’s mom.
    “Where did it come from?”
    “When we packed up the house and moved to the apartment, I found it in the attic. It was sealed up, but the writing on top caught my eye because I recognized Sarah’s handwriting.”
    Laurie leaned over the box and saw the writing.
    For Laurie’s eyes only, when she is an adult.
    She carefully opened the box, and she and Emma peered inside. There was an old, musty-smelling T-shirt and a note. That was all that was in the box. Laurie opened the note and read her mother’s writing.
    I have no idea where life will take us, so I want to make sure that I save this for you to have. My stories about your father were true; I did fall in love with Brock that night. I always told my parents that I did not know his name because I did not want him to feel trapped. His last name is written on the inside of his shirt. I kept the secret from all, but you deserve to know it now. I am afraid that I was a fling for him, but for me, I loved your father. I hope I can be there to give this to you on this special birthday, but just in case I am not, I am packing it up for you. I love you, always, my Laurie girl, Mom
    By the time Laurie finished reading the shocking letter, Emma was already in tears. Both women sat in stunned silence for a few minutes, letting their thoughts drift over the revelations.
    Emma could always tell that Sarah had loved Laurie’s father but had no idea that she had buried his name in her heart. She looked up at Laurie, not surprised to see tears in her eyes and her shaking hands still holding the note.
    Slowly, Laurie reached into the box and pulled out a faded, grey Army T-shirt. She rubbed her fingers over the Army lettering on the front, smoothing out the material. With her hands still shaking, she turned the shirt around so that she could see the name tag sewn into the back of the t-shirt’s neck. There in block stitching was a name.
    Sinclair, Brock T.
    My father has a name. I have a name. He doesn’t know I exist. He never knew my mother beyond one night. Did he care about her? Would he have cared about me?
    Laurie and Emma sat without speaking for several moments, each lost in their own musings. Laurie continued to trace her fingers over the name tag of her father. She looked up at Emma.
    “You never knew?” she asked her aunt.
    Emma shook her head slowly, still looking down at the note that Laurie had passed to her.
    “No, I never knew,” she said softly. “I used to ask Sarah about Brock. She would always look wistful but would never tell me any details. I had no idea that she knew his last name all this time.”
    “If she knew his name and that he was in the Army, she could have found him. She could have told him about me.” Laurie felt tears threatening to fall. “Why didn’t she?”
    “I don’t know, Laurie. But I know Sarah. She must have had a good reason to keep this from him. But she also knew that, no matter what, as an adult you would deserve to decide for yourself what you want to do. There is no way she could have known she wouldn’t be here to give you this herself, but it was important enough for her to take precautions to make sure you got it.”
    Emma and Laurie went to bed, but both slept fitfully that night. The next day dawned, and Emma woke to find Laurie gone, having left a note that she was down on the beach. Following her there, Emma sat next to Laurie on the beach wall. She leaned over and gently shoulder bumped her niece.
    “Happy birthday, Laurie,” she said.
    Laurie looked over at Emma, smiled and threw her arm around her shoulders and gave her a tight squeeze. Knowing that Emma was wondering what she was thinking, she tried to put