|
"Laura's Dream" |
| Copyright Francis Blow, 1986. |
| CHAPTER 23 |
| Laura knew she could not get past Alan without being caught. |
| She silently, slowly opened the window and looked outside. The safety railing for the lanai off next door's apartment was over a metre away. To escape, Laura would have to stand on the railing and jump across to the other lanai. She knew she could do it, normally, but not in the tight gown. Could she take it off before Alan thought to search the bathroom? |
| The risk to Laura increased with each second's delay. Laura decided on another course of action. She waited until Alan was squatting next to her luggage, and, gown hitched up to her hips, she sprinted past him. Her hand was on the door knob when Alan grabbed her arms. |
| Self defence training came to her rescue. Foot stamp to Alan's instep, drop into a crouch while pushing her elbows out, then turning to kick hard into Alan's groin. Her assailant fell, groaning in agony. |
| Laura turned back towards the door and was horrified when it began to swing towards her. |
| "What the deuce is going on here?" Gran demanded. |
| "Gran! You frightened me. He came in and started going through our things." Laura explained, still wide eyed with fear. |
| "Right then. You call the Security number, and I'll watch this bit of garbage." Gran declared. She marched into the room and picked up a heavy lamp, ready to smash it into Alan's head should he try to get up. |
| Two men in suits were at the door minutes later. |
| "I'm the head of hotel security, and this is the manager. What's the problem?" |
| "Tell them what you told me, Laura." Gran instructed. |
| Laura explained about how she met Alan, her doubts about him, then his entering the room with a key. |
| "A key?" The security man asked. He searched Alan who was sitting up. Alan looked both scared and angry, though he did not struggle against the brawny security man. |
| "It's one of the maids' keys, Harry," he told the manager. "All right, son. Who gave it to you?" |
| "I found it." Alan mumbled. |
| "No problem. I'll find out easily enough," he pulled a small phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. "Sergeant Grandly please... Phill? Tom here. We have a suspect to break and enter... Yeah, caught in the act. Young girl in the room kicked him in the family jewels when he grabbed her... Nope, he's quiet as a lamb. See you in ten." |
| While they waited, Gran put the time to use by selecting her clothes for the evening, and then having a quick shower. She was ready by the time two police arrived. Sergeant Grandly took Alan out for questioning, while a policewoman spoke to Laura and Gran. After getting Laura's details, the constable assured both her and Gran that there would be no further problems with Alan. |
| "The hotel will press charges, so you won't have to disrupt your stay. Probably the manager will upgrade your room or reduce the bill, as compensation." |
| "Very good," Gran nodded. "Please don't feel as if I'm trying to get rid of you, but we're going to be late for my grand daughter's birthday dinner." |
| "No offense taken," The woman smiled. "And I hope this doesn't upset the rest of your evening. Happy birthday, Laura." |
| |
| "Are we late, Gran?" Laura asked when they were alone. |
| "Not yet. Though I would like to tidy up before we go. We might be too tired when we get back," Gran explained. "Let's start with your things. He seemed more interested in yours than mine." |
| "He must be a real pervert," Laura frowned, still upset. "He ruined every pair of pantyhose I have!" |
| "Laura, with legs like yours, you don't need to disguise them." |
| Laura brightened slightly with the compliment, and together, she and Gran tidied the clothes away. |
| At exactly six thirty, the phone rang. Laura answered and was greeted by several voices all calling out "Happy birthday." |
| Her parents, Joey, Doug, Jem and Simone all spoke to her in turn, while Laura's cheeks became wetter. Gran gave her some tissues, and put an arm around Laura's shoulders. When the call ended, Laura hugged Gran tightly and kissed her. Their embrace was interrupted by the phone demanding more attention. Gran answered briefly, and hung up. |
| "Our car and escorts are here." |
| "What?" Laura doubted she heard right. "Did you say escorts?" |
| "Of course! What fun is a fifteenth birthday unless you have a handsome gentleman by your side?" Gran declared. "Now dry your eyes... Yes, the make-up is fine. Let's go." |
| The only car waiting at the front was a white Rolls Royce convertible. In it sat an uniformed chauffeur and two elegantly dressed men, one silver haired, the other a blond, blue-eyed Adonis in a dinner jacket. |
| The doorman helped Gran into the car first, next to the older man, while Laura found herself seated beside the handsome stranger. |
| "May I do the introductions?" Gran suggested. Both men readily deferred to Gran. |
| "Laura, may I introduce my dear friend, Andrew Southport. Andrew, this is my grand daughter, Laura Shell." |
| Mr. Southport took Laura's hand and kissed it. |
| "I am truly charmed to be seen in your presence, Laura." He said. |
| Unable to utter a word, Laura could only look into his kind eyes, and ventured a shy smile. |
| "Laura," Gran went on smoothly. "This young gentleman is Peter Southport. Peter, this is Laura." |
| Peter, too, kissed Laura's hand, though he held it a moment longer, gave it a friendly squeeze and winked at Laura, who smiled gratefully at him. |
| Her self confidence restored, she could finally speak. |
| "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Southport, and you, Peter. Please excuse my bad manners, because this is all so unexpected." |
| As the car drew smoothly into traffic, Gran recounted and embellished the story of Laura's escape from the desperate burglar. Occasionally, Laura would giggle and try to interrupt, though Gran refused to be hindered. All four of them were in high spirits when their Rolls glided to a stop in the front courtyard of a very fancy restaurant. With their arms taken by their escorts, Laura and Gran were led inside, past magnificent statuary and a fountain, through to a banquet room with about a hundred diners already seated and talking at tables. |
| As soon as Peter took Laura past the entry to the dining room, a man in tails rang a small triangular bell. All the guests turned to stare at Laura, who was struck numb. |
| "Ladies and Gentlemen. Miss Laura Shell of Australia." |
| When everyone stood with cheers and applause, Laura's knees would have buckled, had Peter not put his arm around her waist. |
| With her escort literally supporting her, Laura could not escape, even if her legs would let her. The final straw came when somewhere, a voice started to sing "Happy Birthday" and the rest joined in. Laura cried, pressed against Peter's chest. |
| Seated at last, and no longer the centre of attention, Laura demanded "How could you do this to me, Gran? I could die of embarrassment!" |
| "Surprise." Was all Gran said, grinning. |
| Laura stared, dumbfounded for a brief moment. Unable to help herself, she began chuckling. |
| Mr. Southport leaned towards her. "Laura, your grandmother told us the other day about your birthday away from your parents and brother. We all decided to surprise you tonight. Most of us have children, and we know how we would feel if one of ours was on her own. To some extent we did this for ourselves. We needed an excuse to break away from our conferences and meetings, and the chance of honouring such a beautiful young woman as yourself was too good to pass up." |
| Peter jumped in as soon as his elder finished. "Don't let their clothes and money fool you, Laura. All they really want is to meet the most exquisite flower in the Pacific." |
| Laura hid her blush behind her hands, only to feel someone tap her shoulder. A couple were beside her, offering an envelope. |
| "Happy birthday, Laura," the woman said. "Bob and I are delighted to meet you." |
| In seconds, Laura was surrounded by people. No one pushed or tried to interrupt anyone else. The table in front of Laura was piled high in moments, with cards of various sizes and colours. All Laura could do was sit, and try to remember to close her mouth, as names and faces came and went. |
| "What's going on, Gran?" She whispered. "Who are all these people?" |
| "My friends, and now yours. Open one of the cards." |
| Laura did so, saw a name and address, then the words "You are welcome to stay with our family any time you choose to visit Chicago. All our love and best wishes for your fifteenth birthday." |
| Laura picked others at random. Each extended a similar invitation to stay in places around the globe. Before she could speak, waitresses were bringing out meals, serving Laura first, as Gran and the two men packed up the cards. |
| "Eat your dinner, Laura," Gran admonished. "Don't let it go to waste." |
| Laura knew it was all a dream. Nothing else could explain what was happening to her. Why should all these people do this for a stranger? There was no sense in it. Rich people were supposed to be greedy and snobbish. But how could anyone love another person before they met? |
| |
| There was one last marvelous event for Laura. A cake with fifteen sparklers was wheeled out and stopped by Laura's side, where all could see it. Sitting in the middle of the white and pink cake, on a half coconut, was a small brown bear, wearing a hula skirt. |
| Gran leaned towards Laura. "The bear is Joey's idea. He told me how much you like his bear. Or did you forget that I gave you his bear on your fourth birthday? Oh Laura! Are you going to cry all night? Everyone's waiting for you to cut the cake!" |
| |
| When they were back in the Rolls, Peter had his arm around Laura, who was cuddling the little bear tight against her chest. Somewhere, the name Wahine was suggested and it stuck. Laura kept Wahine in her arms all the way back to the hotel, where she kissed both men good night, promising to see them again. |
| In their room, Gran helped her out of her gown and into bed. Midnight had come and gone unnoticed, but Laura had a memory that would last forever. |
