By Liz Dubelman

The taxi let Samantha off in front of 1129 Wellesley Avenue.  Sam had written that address on countless envelopes and packages containing birthday and anniversary wishes.  She hadn’t been to the house for years, since Kelly and Keith bought it after they had been married a few years.  Back then Sam hadn’t thought it was such a good idea for the kids to buy.  Keith wanted to be a writer and Kelly was mainly supporting them.  Sam hated the idea of her daughter supporting a man.  They had put off having children because Keith wasn’t ready, even though Sam knew Kelly wanted them.

Nonetheless, Elise Hazel Sheridan was born this morning at 6:02 am.  Sam went straight from the airport to the hospital.  The baby was beautiful but the labor and the C-section had taken its toll on Kelly.  Sam thought Kelly looked terrible and she couldn’t help wanting to blame Keith.

Sam didn’t much like Keith at all.  She didn’t see what Kelly saw in him.  Kelly was smart, funny and pretty.  She could have had anyone but she picked Keith.  Sam found Keith distant.  She didn’t think he treated her daughter well.  Everything seemed to aggravate him and he was never supportive of Kelly and what she wanted.

Sam walked up the path wheeling her luggage behind.  Keith had given her his keys.  He would be staying at the hospital with his wife and baby daughter.  Sam got to the door and looked down at the mess of keys.  She sighed.  Keith hadn’t given her any hint about which one to use.  Fortunately, luck was with her today and she got it on the second try.

The house was warm and inviting.  They had really fixed it up since her last visit.  The rooms were painted in soft blues and yellows.  Sam put a kettle on for tea.  She was so mixed up because of the time difference and the excitement of being a grandmother.  She should go to sleep but she was wide awake.

While she waited for the water to boil, Sam wandered around the house.  There were fresh-cut flowers on the table.  The house was clean and neat.  She couldn’t help thinking that Kelly, even in her ninth month, had slaved to make the house a home for Keith.  Sam went into the small office off the kitchen – Keith’s office.  It was true that he was doing a bit better financially.  He was writing the animated series, Bob The Builder.  Sam had no idea what that was, except that it was aimed at the pre-school set.

She sat down at his desk.  It was piled impossibly high with books and papers.  There were framed photos scattered about– one of Keith and Kelly taken in the mirror.  Kelly is holding the camera just to the side of her face and Keith is behind her.  They’re both grinning.   The one in the green wood frame was just a photo strip that you get from one of those booths at a fair.  In one pose they’re kissing, in another they’re smiling, and in another they’re sticking their tongues out at each other.

As she continued to survey the desk, Sam noticed a manuscript entitled, “Love Of My Life,” by Keith Sheridan. Woooooooooooooooooo! The kettle whistled.  Sam took the manuscript with her back to the kitchen.  She made a cup of tea with lots of lemon and sugar and sat down to read.

The book was an impossibly beautiful tale of a man who searches his whole life for his soul mate.  He has many unsatisfying relationships, one after another.  When he is in his late forties, he finds a woman twelve years younger than him who seems to speak the same language as him but she’s married.  Eventually they get together.  Life seems perfect.  The woman wants to have a child.  The man thinks this is what he’s waited for his whole life but his behavior is mean and erratic.   He pushes the woman away through his actions.  Together they come to realize that now that he has found the love of his life, he’s afraid that he will lose her.  It’s not that he doesn’t want children.  He’s scared that she will die in childbirth.  Through their love he is able to tolerate his fear and they have a beautiful baby girl.

By the time Sam finished the manuscript she had tears streaming down her face.  It was such a soulful and touching story.  Sam walked back to the office to return the manuscript.  As she placed it back on the desk she noticed a silver box engraved with the words:  “To Kelly, Love Of My Life.” Sam opened the box.  Inside was an exquisite heart-shaped ruby necklace.  Sam was starting to feel sleepy.  Tonight she would sleep well and the next morning her family would come home.