| Chapter 2: A Fresh Start **June 1997** “Laura? Laura!” her mother called from downstairs. “If we don’t get going, you’ll be late!” “I’m coming Mom!” she answered from her bedroom. One last look around, seeing if she forgot anything. She picked up her bag, checked if her ticket was in there, and with a deep breath, went downstairs to the car. On the road with her mother, her mother said, “Before we leave, your grandmother wanted to see you.” Laura smiled. She knew she couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to her Grandma. They pulled up to the blue house and Laura went inside. “Grandma?” Her grandmother bounded down the stairs and enveloped her in a hug. “Now, you didn’t think you could leave for 3 months without saying goodbye, could you?” “Of course not,” Laura responded. She let go of her grandmother and sat down on the couch. “First this,” her grandmother said she handed her an envelope. “Go ahead, open it.” When Laura did so, a check was pulled out for a substantial amount of money. “Grandma! You know I can’t…” Her grandmother put her hand up. “I don’t want to hear another word. Now, you can use it for something frivolous, like going out and not coming home until the morning, or just save it for a rainy day.” Laura laughed. She was the only woman over 70 who could know what it was like to be a 19-year-old in the 90’s. She put the check in her bag. “And this,” her grandmother said as she gave her a paper. “This is the address and number of my friend, Ursula Fernandez. We’ve known each other for 40 years, and she lives near your place. She knows that you’re going to be there and expects an introduction.” “Yes ma’am. I will call her as soon as I get settled.” Laura put the paper in her jacket pocket. “Oh, honey,” her grandmother said as she took Laura’s hands in hers. “You don’t know how proud I am of you. You have handled this year so well. And getting this internship, nothing could make me happier. But it’s so far…” “And with a good purpose,” Laura interrupted. “Yes, I have handled this past year, but I need a new perspective. This will be good, I promise. And, I will call and write; it will be like I was still here.” “I know and trust your judgement. You’re tougher than you look.” “Well, I got to go,” Laura said as she got up. Her grandmother followed suit. “You take care, OK? And call!” Her grandmother hugged her tightly. “I will, I promise,” Laura responded, her voice quavering. A tear escaped her eyes. They walked to the door, with her mother waiting in the car. Laura got in, and the car left the driveway with her grandmother waving at the door. The ride to the airport was somewhat silent, with her mother more intent on driving and Laura staring out of the window. “Are you sure you have everything?” her mother asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. “Yup.” That’s not what she was trying to ask Laura. She was really asking “Are you sure you want to leave for 3 months?” They pulled up to the terminal for departing flights and got out. The baggage attendant helped them with Laura’s bags. “Flight 227?” “That’s right,” Laura responded. They took her bags to the gate. Laura stood there as her mother walked up to her. “Are you sure you don’t want me to wait with you?” “No, it’s OK. It will only be for half an hour and there will be traffic on the way home,” Laura answered. She wanted this goodbye to be quick, as her mother wasn’t happy with her leaving. “Now give me a hug.” Her mother hugged her so tightly Laura couldn’t breathe. “I will miss you.” “Me too,” she managed to get out. “And I’ll call as soon as I get there.” “You better.” Laura broke the hug and backed away. Laura blew her a kiss and mouthed “I love you.” “Love you too,” her mother said through a tear stained face. Laura walked into the airport, crying a little, but with exhilaration about what was before her. ~*~ The Orlando International Airport seemed like a new world as Laura stepped off of the plane, trembling with anticipation. She headed to the baggage claim to get her numerous bags and headed for the taxis. “Where to?” the driver asked. “1229 Jackson Court, in the Sanderson Apartments,” Laura replied. They went on their way. The car arrived in half an hour. Laura got out to find a white condominium. The driver opened the trunk, got out her bags and set them at the door as Laura paid him. She took out her key and opened the door. The place was light and lofty. White walls covered the entire place. The first floor was the kitchen, dining room and living room. The rooms were all connected which seemed like a big room in itself. She went back out to bring her bags inside. When she accomplished that, she noticed a note on the dining room table. She picked it up and read it. Dear Laura, Welcome to Florida! We hope you enjoy the house and please, consider this your home. We left some coupons and information for you about the area. We also have another surprise waiting in the garage: our car that we use when we are here. You are more than welcome to it. Again, make yourself at home and good luck on your internship! Sincerely, Frank and Sarah Jessup Laura smiled. When she got the internship, she didn’t know where she was going to live. Her mother’s friend Sarah suggested that Laura stay at her house while the Jessup’s went to England for the summer. It was right near her internship, in downtown Orlando. She decided to take a look at the condo before unpacking. She had already seen the first floor: a living room with big, beige fluffy couches and a television, full kitchen, and a dining room set with a glass table with beige chairs, and a half bathroom. She went up a spiral staircase to the second floor and found the master bedroom: a white, airy room with a lavender bedspread, white night tables and dresser. There were 2 guest bedrooms, with 2 daybeds, closets and dressers. The main bathroom had a shower and a jacuzzi bathtub. Liking what she saw, she headed to the door to the garage. She saw a black Jeep Wrangler with a droptop. Happy she had wheels to get around, she looked outside. The condo was one of several in the court, each identical with the next. The center had a pool, where some of the kids were playing. “Good, at least I can get a tan,” she said with a smile. “I guess this won’t be so bad after all.” Later that night, Laura sat down at the TV with a pizza ordered from before. Phone calls were made to her mother and grandmother to let them know she was there and how wonderful the place was. She was going over the packet for her internship, which would start next Monday. Drifting off to David Letterman, she decided to turn in and await her first full day in Florida. Chapter 3 Contents Chapter 1 |