When Lilacs Bloom

By Diane M. Waterman

This is the tale of two sisters, taking place in the late 1970s in the small community of Clarkes Head, Newfoundland. It is a peaceful, picturesque community, or is it? Laura and Della go through many unexpected changes in their lives, but it is the surprise from Grandmas grave that floors them all. Secrets are revealed and the truth is unveiled!

When Laura sees Wade Rogers for the first time, something stirs inside her she never experienced before. Their love will be like no other, but there are complications that Wade was not expecting. Will their new found love survive all the drama?

There is no love like the love between two sisters. The heartbreak of one can be healed by the love of the other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491703489

Diane M. Waterman

I have written many songs and poems over the last twenty years, but I never believed I could write a novel; however, the desire was always there. I have always been an avid reader and was often complimented by my teachers in school, on my short stories. When you do believe, anything you can dream is possible! I was born in the town of Gander, Newfoundland in 1956. When I was four years old my family moved to Goose Bay, Labrador. We resided there for the next eleven years until my family moved to Clarke’s Head, Newfoundland, where this story takes place. In 1978, I moved to Alberta where I have lived for the last 35 years. Although Alberta is a great place to live, I long for the east coast and hope to move back there one day soon. My other passions are family and music!

Book preview

When

Lilacs Bloom

Diane M. Waterman

iUniverse LLC

Bloomington

WHEN LILACS BLOOM

Copyright © 2013 Diane M. Waterman.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4917-0347-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-0348-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013914579

iUniverse rev. date: 9/19/2013

Contact author at [e-mail]

Table of Contents

Dedications

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. The Satchel

Chapter 2. Della’s Nightmare

Chapter 3. Butterflies

Chapter 4. Separation

Chapter 5. Pot Roast and Coconut Pie

Chapter 6. Grandma’s Fall

Chapter 7. Last Goodbye

Chapter 8. Blue and Green Christmas

Chapter 9. Wade Meets Hannah

Chapter 10. A Visit from the Past

Chapter 11. Grandma’s Surprise

Chapter 12. Della’s Healing

Chapter 13. The Reunion

Chapter 14. Justice for All

Chapter 15. The Wedding Day

Chapter 16. The Lilac Tree

September

Dedications

This book is dedicated to the constant loves in my life, my children. They teach me so much and inspire me every day to be the best person I can be. I love you so much!

Jason, Jeffrey, Jeanna and Hanna

Acknowledgements

I would like to say a special thank you to my father, Eric Waterman who has always inspired me with his dedication to spending his life, doing what he loves. The beautiful songs he has written will live on forever. I love you for teaching me to be passionate about life. Thank you also to my mother, Viola Waterman (nee Peckford). Mom always worked very hard to take care of our family. I watched her constantly growing up, learning how to be dedicated to whatever you choose to do, even if it’s something as simple as baking the best chocolate cake. I love you and miss you Mom.

My greatest inspiration has always been my sister Donna who passed away Dec 21, 2008. Her strength and courage in battling many illnesses over the years with humor and great strength will always amaze me. I know you guided my hand in writing this story in the little community we love so much. Thank you for always having my back and genuinely believing in me. I love you and miss you!

My sister Mona has recently passed on July 10th, 2013. She fought a long hard battle with cancer. I spent many hours of the day watching her sleep while I sometimes worked on my book, doing my best to make sure she felt comfortable and loved. I pray that she has found comfort and peace in her journey home. I love you and miss you!

To my sister Faye and brother David. I wish you happiness and great success in your life. Everyone deserves the best! I love you!

Thank you to my friend, author and musician Wayne Bartlett, for giving me the push I needed to give this a try. I am forever grateful!

Chapter 1

The Satchel

There were two men taking turns trying to dig a hole in Mrs. Pardy’s back garden next door. They were both in their mid twenties, one was tall and slim with dark brown hair and the other one was shorter, blonde, with a stoutly build. She could see them quite clearly. Laura had been sitting on the overturned bucket for a good thirty minutes watching them and listening to their ongoing arguments. Although they tried to whisper, Laura was able to hear some of their conversation, mostly curse words. The garden they were trying to dig the hole in was rocky and they were working up a sweat, trying hard to make some kind of progress. They kept taking turns trying to dig the shovel into rock.

What are they, stupid? Laura asked herself. There’s no way they’re going to dig a hole there. If they moved to another part of the garden, they would find a softer spot, but these two didn’t seem smart enough to figure that out. Laura just kept shaking her head as she watched them. Mrs. Pardy had passed away the summer before. Her Victorian home had sat there all winter, with no one to keep it up. There had been a for sale sign in the front yard, but Laura had only seen one older couple come to look at it. Now that summer was here, she thought she might see more people looking, but there was nobody. Laura loved the old home and had been inside it many times to visit Mrs. Pardy when she was alive. She always had fresh cookies baking in the oven. Laura’s favorite was her oatmeal and coconut. She loved the buttercup yellow paint that was now peeling off the exterior and the beautiful white front porch that overlooked the bay. She would be very lucky to ever own a house like that. It would be a dream come true for her.

Laura knew the shorter man’s name was Billy and the taller one was Seth. There was a brown satchel lying on the ground near Billy’s feet. Laura’s mind was racing, wondering what was inside the satchel. She was imagining gold, money, a dead cat, somebody’s head? She shivered at the thought. She knew they couldn’t see her because no one could when she sat in her grandmother’s garden. She loved the peaceful surroundings, the apple tree, damson tree, and the wild roses that grew along the edge of the path to the well house. There were lilac trees, raspberry and strawberry bushes growing wild in front and behind her grandmother’s house. When she sat near the largest lilac tree, when it was in full bloom, she became invisible. She sat out here often when she wanted to be alone. She drank in the wonder of it all and the fragrance in the air was intoxicating. The house was sitting on a bit of an upgrade. She could see far across the garden, all the way out to Mrs. Pardy’s yard and far beyond to the river across the road.

Laura jumped when she saw Billy throw the shovel down and start to walk away. He yelled at Seth, I’ve had enough! We have to find some other place to hide it. He stomped away.

Seth said, Okay as he grabbed the bag and hung it over his shoulder. We’ll have to break into the house.

No, Billy said. What if somebody buys the house and finds the bag, what the hell do we do then?

Don’t be foolish Billy! Nobody’s going to buy this run down shack.

Billy stood back and sized up the old place. I guess you’re right. Look at it, a shack is right. Alright, let’s go!

Next thing Laura knew she heard glass breaking and watched as the two men climbed in a back window. Now what will I do? Laura asked herself. It was getting dark, and Laura was squinting trying to focus on the window. She would have to wait until tomorrow to go find out what was in the bag. Should she call the police? It would take them half an hour to get there. They would be long gone by then. She was shaking with excitement. Ten minutes later the two men climbed back out and ran around the side of the house. Laura heard a car start but couldn’t pick out what make it was. She watched it take off down the road with dust flying behind it. Laura would wait until morning to go into the house. She would go and get her best friend Bessie. Even though she knew she could climb in the window herself, she wanted someone to keep an eye out in case the men came back while she was snooping and to give her support depending on what she found in the bag. Laura knew she was in for a bad night’s sleep, and a bad night sleep it was.

When her mother called her for breakfast at seven thirty, she felt like she had just gone to sleep.

Come on honey! Her mom called. We have things to do today.

She could smell the aroma of bacon and eggs. That was enough to get her moving. Laura pulled her terry cloth robe over her cotton, flower print nightgown and made her way down the stairs. She was so excited about the day and what it would bring, she lost her footing and bounced down the last three steps. Next thing she knew, her foot was stuck in the door of the little wooden stand at the bottom of the staircase. It was a white stand with a white porcelain wash basin sitting on top. Her mom came running in to see what happened. Laura said, I’m alright Mom, as she pulled her foot back, but I broke your stand.

Mom frowned a little. Nothing your father can’t repair Laura, now get yourself up and go eat your breakfast.

Laura was irritated with herself for being so clumsy. She only wanted to do one thing that day, and that was to find out what was in that satchel. She checked her foot for splinters, but there was only a small scratch on her big toe.

After breakfast Laura went upstairs with her sister Della to get dressed for the day. Della was two years younger than Laura, who was twenty. Even though Laura loved her sister dearly, she knew that Della would have trouble keeping a secret. There was no way she was telling her about what she had seen the evening before.

Della was a pretty girl, big brown eyes and shoulder length auburn hair, unlike Laura’s grey blue eyes and long dark wavy hair. Laura was a stunning, tall, slender but curvy girl. She was well endowed, while Della was shorter with beautiful curves and smaller breasts like her mother. Della also had her mother’s beautiful eyes. Laura was envious, whenever she looked into them. Her mother’s name was Lilly and her dad was called Levi Wiseman. He was well respected in the small community of Clarke’s Head.

Levi owned a shop that sold everything you would need in a community of 631 people. Everything from round slabs of the best cheddar cheese to hammers and even panty hose, which was the latest fashion for the ladies. After all it was 1978, and times were changing. Thank god, no more garter belts to keep up the stockings. Laura hated them with a passion! The hose would never stay up around her long legs. She always had to be adjusting them. Pain in the ass, her mother always said. That was the strongest curse word, her mother ever uttered. Laura felt like a movie star the first time she tried on a pair of pantyhose. They felt silky, and there was no adjusting them every ten minutes. What will they think of next? she thought when she first pulled the attached panty up around her waist.

Dad left to open the shop, and Mom gave Laura her list of Saturday chores to do. Laura took a pen and numbered them in order to get them done as fast as possible. She pulled the wringer washer out on the porch platform from the small porch built on the front of her grandmother’s house. Thank god it was a beautiful day. The sun was out, and there were only a few clouds. There was a slight breeze, which made it the perfect day for laundry to dry. Mom would be leaving for work soon, and Laura was responsible on her Saturdays off to make sure the chores were done. Every second Saturday, Della and Laura would reverse rolls and help Dad at the shop. It made it easier for everyone. Although Mom worked a half hour away in the town of Gander, she still did Dad’s bookkeeping. They were a very organized family, thanks to her mother, and there were rarely any arguments about daily living. Sometimes Laura and her sister would argue because Della would take Laura’s clothes and wear them without asking, but they got along well and knew they would do anything for each other. Dad always said they were a very blessed family.

As Laura started to load the washer with the boiled water from the big pots off the stove, she glanced over at Mrs. Pardy’s house often. There was no running water in her grandmother’s old house, just a well outside and a pump at the kitchen sink. There was no bathroom, so they used pails and an outhouse. They had moved in with Grandma when their father fell on hard times and got laid off from his job in Nova Scotia in the mines. Mom was happier now that he took over Grandpa’s business. She didn’t worry as much that he would die of a lung disease or worse. Grandpa had passed on, and the shop had been closed for six months. He left it to his only son, Laura’s father. Her father had brought it back to life.

Laura was so intrigued by what was in that satchel that was now hidden somewhere in that huge house. It might take a long time to find it, but she was determined. She felt a little fear stirring up in her stomach but she knew that would never stop her curiosity.

Doing the laundry was a big job, but she loved doing it. She had the wringer washer filled with the boiling water, and then another tub sat on the chair next to her filled with blue water for the whites to be rinsed in. The order was to do the whites first, and by then the water would be cooling down for the medium colors, and the dark clothes went last. She took great pride in her chores that her mother gave her and made sure she did her best to make her mother happy. Her mother rarely got mad at her because Laura would never want to do anything to upset her. Laura loved her mother more than anyone. Everything was hung in perfect order by colors and size on the clothes line behind the old house. Laura loved to watch the pants and shirts, dance together in the wind. She looked forward to going to bed at night whenever there were fresh smelling sheets. She always seemed to get a more restful sleep.

Okay, laundry, dusting, washed floors, dishes, pails dumped and washed, water buckets were filled. She was finished with her list. Now, she would go get Bessie. Laura ran across the garden and down the road. Bessie’s tall, white, salt box home, sat on the corner. It was the same shape as Laura’s home, two stories in the front and one added to the back. They were named the salt box homes because they were shaped like the old wooden salt boxes from the 1700’s. Built to stand up to the sometimes, high winds on the island. Bessie’s stood no more than thirty feet from the river. Laura was about to knock when the door flew open and Mrs. Brinson came flying out.

Sorry Laura but I’m late for work. Go on in, Bessie is in the kitchen, bye.

Laura waved goodbye to her and made her way to