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A Permanent Home
A Permanent Home
Gigantic Canadian hedge surrounded the emerald green lawn of the eighteenth-century Victorian Mansion and exquisite rose gardens flourished with aromatic blossoms along the cobblestone walkways. The Italian sculpted fountain formed a picturesque centerpiece with its virtuous angel figurine cascading crystal tears into the marble basin below.
Rosetta removed her shoes so she could feel the mossy greenness beneath her barefeet, as she is escorted Veldessa to the main entrance of Shadow Brook Haven Retirement Home. Dr. Parries stood inside the resplendent French doors, awaiting their arrival. Rosetta and Veldessa follow him across the recently varnished floor of the spacious parlor into the dining area. "Surprise!" Yell the residents in perfect unison when Rosetta enters. Moisture saturates her umber eyes when she notices the welcome home banner hanging across the dining area.
The French provincial dining tables were draped with ivory-lace tablecloths and candles flicker in the candelabras. Crystal champagne glasses were situated next to each place setting of expensive Royal Doulton china.
"Welcome home Rosetta," said Issaih, grasping her hand and escorting her to the red-velvet upholstered chair at the head of the table. She felt like Cinderella the night of the prince's ball, but she did not need a fairy godmother because she was surrounded by wonderful friends.
Camellia walks into the dining room with John Bellenger's assistance. Camellia had remained confined to a wheel-chair for the past fifteen years, due to rheumatoid arthritis. Rosetta remembered John had washed away Camellia's tear with the water from the Italian fountain. This is the only plausible explanation she can find for Camellia's miraculous recovery.
Waiters dressed in Oriental tuxedos enter the dining room, balancing trays on their shoulders. They carefully place fresh-baked loaves of bread, oriental rice, and savory meats with steamed vegetables on the table, then bow graciously and depart.
The residents helped themselves to generous portions of the cuisine. Nanoka used the chopsticks to eat her meal. Rosetta decided she would master this amazing skill, positioning her chopsticks between her fingers, she attempted to pick up some rice, but Several grains of rice flew across the table, hitting Isaiah between the eyes. "I am extremely sorry." she said, placing her hands over her blushing cheeks.
"It is not necessary to apologize," replied Issiah, wiping the rice from his forhead.
Rosetta finishes her meal and follows Camellia to the recently installed elevator. The elevator stops on the second floor and Rosetta precedes Camellia to their room.
Rosetta is stunned when she sees their redecorated room. The beds are covered with luxuriant, violet-blue bedspreads and matching pleated satin drapes hang over the picture window. The defective wood floor is cushioned by midnight-blue carpet and the eighteenth-century dressing table and bureaus have been refurbished in a lustrous finish. "Our room is beautiful."
"Rosetta, would you like to hear my letter?"
"I would love to hear your letter."
Camellia begins to read her letter aloud;
"Dearest Camellia,"
"Tonight my pen trembles in my nervous hand and my mind desperately seeks the appropriate words of expression. Numerous sleepless nights I have lain awake, praying for the confidence to proclaim my harbored affections for you. We have shared so much together over the past fifteen years; we have cried together through the worst of times and laughed together through the best of times. Together we have managed to overcome impossible obstacles placed in our pathway. You became my cherished friend and confident, but over time my affections for you have far surpassed the boundaries of friendship. My dearest Camellia, I have fallen deeply in love with you. I know many would argue that a man of my excessive years could not possibly have these intimate feelings for another, but love is measured by the emotions inside one's heart, and is oblivious to age."
"Love Always, John Bellenger."
Rosetta presumes Camellia is infatuated with John Bellenger, and reading from a blank piece of stationery, until Camellia hands her the letter. Rosetta is astonished when she recognizes John's undeniable handwriting.
The look in Camellia's eyes confirms her affections for John. Rosetta is speechless when she realizes Camellia and John have fallen in love.
A sudden knock on the door interrupts Camellia's confession of love for John. "Please come in." she said.
Martin enters and hands Rosetta a manilla envelope. "Sorry for the intrusion."
"You're not intruding."
"I could not wait to give you that."
"What is it?"
"Open it and see, silly."
Rosetta removes the contents of the envelope.
"Your Manuscript. You finished it."
She reads the title aloud;
"Rosetta's Cornwall's Golden Years."
"It's a Biography about me."
"Martin, I do not know how to express my gratitude."
"I would like your permission to send it too publishers."
"Of course you have my permission."
"Maybe you should read it first, then make your decision."
"I will begin reading it immediately and give you my review when I am finished."
"Fair enough, I will leave you two ladies to finish your conversation, I interrupted." said Martin exiting the rooom.
Mrs. Carson entered carrying two bathtowels. "I have come to help you two ladies get ready for bed."
Rosetta undresses and steps into the shower. She massages the Tresseme shampoo into her hair and lathers her ebony skin with Ivory soap. Mrs. Carson helps her dry off and put on her oriental pajamas.
"Goodnight, Mrs. Carson," she said, crawling into bed and removing Martin's manuscript from the manilla envelope. She fell alseep still clutching the biography to her chest.
Rosetta was awaken by someone banging on the door. She glances at the florescent numerals on the digital clock,and wondered who would be knocking on their door after midnight. "Hang on, I'm coming she yelled, slipping her housecoat over her pajamas and going to answer the door.
Isaiah Jacobson holds up a deck of cards and gives Rosetta a flirtatious wink. Nanoka, Lorraine, Martin and John are behind him smiling mischievously. "I believe you promised me a honest game of spades."
"I guess you're here to collect on my promise."
"Yes, ma'am."
Rosetta awakes Camellia and they follow the others into the corridor. The residents sit down Indian -style on the corridor floor. Isaiah begins shuffling the cards. Dr. Parries and Mrs. Carson unexpectedly step off the elevator interrupting the card game. "I see you all don't abide by curfews." said Dr. Parries, sittig down among the residents and motioning for Mrs. Carson to join him. "Isaiah are you going to deal the cards?"
"Yes sir, replied Issaih, passing out the cards. He
found it unnecessary to inquire if Dr. Parries dinner date was successful, because the answer was written with Mrs. Carson's magenta lipstick smudges on Dr. Parries' shirt collar.
One Year Later
Rosetta Cornwall sits in front of her second hand sewing machine, adding the finishing touches to the traditional satin wedding gowns. Lorraine Edinburgh sits beside her, weaving fresh cut roses into the wedding bouquets. Nanoka is busy attaching the matching rosebuds to the crowns of the antique lace wedding veils. Martin Masterson bursts into the room, excitedly waving two envelopes in the air. "Rosetta they came."
"What came Martin?"
Martin hands one envelope to Rosetta. She reads the address on the envelope. "It's from the publishers, It's our first royalty checks from your book." she said, excitedly ripping open the envelope and almost fainting when she saw all the zeros.
Martin Masterson's book was a best seller and had instigated investigations into retirement and nursing homes across the United States. Martin and Rosetta had generously agreed to donate the money from book sales to open another wing at Shadow Brook Haven to house residents from retirement homes that were closed down as a result of the investigations.
The Following Afternoon
An old familiar wedding march plays on a beautiful spring afternoon while a great grandfather stands on one side of a magical wishing well and his great grandson stands on the opposite side, waiting for their brides to walk the emerald green isle of Shadow Brook Haven's lawn.
Camellia descends the sloping isle, escorted by Isaiah and holding onto her walker for support. After them comes the gorgeous Melissa Carson escorted by her handsome father. The brides join their grooms beside the Italian sculpted angel fountain.
The preacher addresses the congregation. After he finishes, John faces Camellia and takes her right hand in his, and says his vow; "I, John Bellenger, take thee, Camellia Richardson, to be my lawfully wedded wife, knowing in my heart that you are my best friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this sacred day, I affirm to you in the presence of God and all those in attendance my sacred vow to remain by your side as your faithful husband, tend you through sickness, cry with you through sorrows, laugh with you through joys, walk with you down life's paved highways, carry you across troubled waters. I further promise, to be your provider, your protector and your confident, place you above all others and cherish you as long as we both shall live."
"With this ring I plant my eternal seed of love. I solemnly vow to tend it daily, so that we may blossom together in mind and spirit throughout eternity," said John, placing the ring on Camellia's Hand. Camellia repeated her vows and placed the ring on John's finger.
Melissa Carson and Ivan Parries exchange their traditional wedding vows. "By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husbands and wives. You may kiss your brides." said the preacher.
"I hope, I still remember how to kiss," John whispers in Camellia's ear.
"Don't worry it's liking riding a bicycle, no matter how long it's been since you rode, once your on the seat it all comes back."
"What if I told you, I have never ridden a bicycle."
"John, shut up and kiss me." John bends down and puts his arms around Camellia and kisses her. Camellia and John's friends all cheer.
The brides toss their bouquets and Camellia's lands in Rosetta's arms. Lorraine Edinburgh does a ballerina leap, catching Melissa's bouquet in mid -air.
Rosetta looks fondly at Isaiah, then averts her attention to Lorraine, who is winking at Mr. Masterson. Rosetta retrieves two pennies from her brassiere and hands one penny to Lorraine.
"Rosetta, are you suggesting we make romantic wishes?"
"What do we have to loose at our age. We only live our golden years once."
"On the count of three? One, Two, Three." Lorraine and Rosetta toss their pennies, then close their eyes and listen for the splash.
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