"Dad, Bill's here," Susan called. "We can start loading Mom's things in the van." She walked into her parents' bedroom and saw her father sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her mother's faded yellow dress.

"Oh Dad," she said softly. "That old dress again. Mom should have given that away years ago. I don't know why she held on to it. She hadn't been able to wear it for years."

"It was her favorite."

"I know, and it wss really pretty once. But now it's faded and worn. It's time to give it away."

"Do you know why it was your mother's favorite?"

"Yeah, she said you bought it for her." Susan chuckled. "Mom always was sentimental that way."

Ted shook his head. "No, I bought it for her but that's not why she kept it. You see Susan, when your mother and I got married money was tight. It wasn't long before her birthday that first year that she found out she was pregnant with you.

"Neither of us knew how we were going to keep a baby clothed and fed. She was really feeling down. I wanted to do something special for her birthday to cheer her up and take her mind off things. I didn't have much money but I did have an idea. It took me a while to pull everything together but finally on her birthday..."

**********

"Happy birthday, Vi," Ted said, producing a wrapped package from behind his back.

Violet opened the gift and stared at the yellow flowered dress. She looked at her husband in disbelief. "Oh Ted, it's beautiful. But how did you-- Where did you--?"

"What, you think I didn't notice you looking at that dress every time we walked past Mrs. Prinzi's window? I knew you'd never say anything. But I also knew how much you wanted it. So I worked out a deal with Mrs. Prinzi. I did some work for her on the side in exchange for the dress.

"Now, why don't you put it on and I'll take you out for dinner and dancing. Don't look at me like that. It's your birthday. I've got it all worked out."

A few minutes later Violet emerged from the bedroom. She twirled around  the dress slightly fannjng out around her. Her face was lit with happiness.

Ted whistled appreciatively. "If I had known you were going to look like a goddess in that dress I would have bought it earlier." He offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

Violet took her husband's arm. "Where are we going?"

"Oh, just a little place I know of just outside of town."

(a little later)

Ted turned the car off the road and into a field. He turned to Violet and said, "I know this isn't the fanciest place in town but it's got great atmosphere."

"I love it. I couldn't think of a more perfect place."

Ted took a picnic basket and a blanket out of the car trunk. He offered his arm to Violet and said, "I reserved the best table just for us."

They walked out into the field. Ted spread out the blanket, set down the picnic basket  and opened it. "For dinner we have fried chicken, baked beans, and potato salad prepared the way Madame likes. If you would kindly choose your chicken."

Ted served the beans and potato salad, then poured them each a glass of lemonade. They talked about everything and nothing as they ate. Their gentle laughter rolled over the field. Violet felt like she didn't have a care in the world.

When they had finished eating, Ted cleaned their plates and put everything back in the basket. "Madame will be pleased to know that I have asked Theodore to gandle the dishwashing this evening." He smiled at Violet then stopped, listening for something.

"Do you hear that?"

"What?"

Ted started humming Violet's favorite song. "It sounds like they've started the dancing." He rose and extended his hand. "May I have this dance?"

Violet smiled and put her hand in Ted's. She stood up and followed Ted away from the blanket.

They danced while Ted hummed Violet's favorite song. After three dances Ted looked into Violet's eyes.

"I wish I could take you to dinner and dancing for real. I'm sorry Vi."

" Nonsense. I couldn't have asked for a more lovely evening."

"You know I love you. No matter what happens, no matter what comes our way, I will always be here for you. Whatever life brings us, we can get through it together. There's no one else I'd rather go through it with."

They kissed, then stared into each other's eyes. Ted smiled and hummed another tune.

**********

A tear rolled down Susan's cheek."Oh Dad, I never knew. All these years I just thought Mom was being overly sentimental." She hugged Ted and held the folded dress that was still in his hands. "Why don't we put this someplace safe?"


© Mike Gurak