Their loving feeling....

That summer was their first love. Upon reflection, Deidre Barnett considered now that it had been true love. That first glance at a summer party had her love bound.

Deidre, currently a grey-haired senior matron, was a resident as a retirement village home unit. She paused her reading of her book. She liked sitting by herself, a widow now, there as her family of three adults children lived for away. They were all so busy with their daily lives and their own growing families.

Deidre was a great reader, a reticent introvert, who met most of her friends in books, "Yes, it was true love," she mused. That party had been their end of secondary school forever. The evening was so hot, during the middle of a heat wave. Deidre had been wearing a new lemon frock, her long honey blonde hair had been offset by her youthful and pretty face.

That had led to their first dance, the instant attraction, his hands in hers, then cradling her face. Their first kiss. She was unsure of what to say.

"You okay?" he had muttered. Deidre had merely nodded.

Her summer love was of medium height, strong muscly arms, brown curly hair and a cheeky smile which lit up his face. They kept embracing. Despite her parents' objections, Deidre and her beloved had dated all summer long. Every evening concluded with an ever increasing passion. As they were entwining, the stars had glittered in the heavens above. Their first summer of love had burned from within.

The summer loving young couple stood nightly below her porch light at her home, lingering in cuddles and kisses. Promising love forever strong and true, they whispered endearments. Their endless phone chats had so annoyed her parents. Uncaring of what anyone said, Deidre would sit at her phone for long hours.

"Say it," he would tell her.

"No,I can't," whispered back.

"Well wait, I'll pick you up at 7:30 pm. You okay?"

"Great," Deidre would reply, smiling to herself, hugging her secrets. She still didn't know exactly what to say.

But then, one even hotter night, he missed that nightly routine phone call. It had by then become their ritual. Deidre waited and pondered.

"Should I phone him?" Her parents did not approve. The days were growing slowly cooler. The Autumn leaves floated past her window, blown by the bitter winds. Deidre had spotted him in town, his arms around another girl. Deidre wondered if he had been saying those enticing promises to her as well.

Eventually, she had 'gotten over it', 'moved on' and was living the rest of her life. For her, summer love had been true love. Since then, the heavens had truly blessed her for more than a little while. For Deidre, summer love still flickered within.

Sure, her first love was true love, but never really her only love. She had met and wed her husband, loved him loyally, and had kept the faith. She loved her children, and was sure they and their children were a credit to themselves, as well as to their parental influences. That was her family tapestry.

At peace and serene, spending some of her reticent hours in introspection, she loved channelling her inner hermit. She found a lot of friends in literature, food for her brain, a product of her background and environment, the times and experiences of her lifespan.

"You need to grow up!" the critics had told her after her summer love had moved on with his new ones. Deidre had read long ago, and still wondered that classic question, still burning in her brain, "Is it scarier to be alone, or not alone?" She might put off worrying about her family's comments and the gossips in the retirement village to some invisible other day.

Deidre could not worry, she took some action at last. She had browsed online, on facebook and online, wondering what that first summer love looked like now. She sent him a message and friend invite on his page, and then laughed at herself. "Maybe he is still a happily married man!" she sighed, "He's forgotten the whole summer when we kissed and cuddled."

Then one morning, she woke up with a response from that still handsome senior. He had been living some distance away, he too was widower these days. He wrote that he was delighted that Deidre had reached to him after all those passing years. She did not know if this message was a scam, so she did not reply straight away. When she did, she suggested that they meet somewhere in a cafe, for decent coffee and lunch.

Deidre was hoping that he would not be too disappointing, they could keep things platonic. Maybe they might share a laugh reminiscing about their once intense young feelings. She refused to get her hopes up, instead having a slight makeover with her hairdo and new frock. She was not game to share this reunion with her family or anyone yet.

But there was still that thrill, as her once summer love, a man of mystery, greeted her with a kiss and soft embrace. That magic was still there for Deidre, trying not to be flustered. He was always a great kisser. Overcoming that initial hesitation, their lunch was relaxed and held some promise. She was unsure of how to say anything at first .

Deidre arrived back home, wondering if he still kept his wandering eye. They had been so young, she must not over react, even when he phoned her and arranged more dates. Ah, the thrill of it all. Yes, kissing ensued, as Deidre and her first true love defied all the criticisms and comments they faced together. He had matured, and so had she. His roses still charmed her, he could swoon forever in her arms.

The golden years took on new meaning, as they became a couple who never, ever really grew up. Somehow, Deidre could finally find something to tell her lover. Loving was fun, there was never any need for Deidre to worry. Time went on, their families had to accept them now. They moved to a retirement village interstate, by a sparkling ocean, renewing first true love, with a glow that shone from them both. Deidre and her true love, that man of such mystery, still always kept that loving feeling, forever and beyond, while there were still lucid thoughts in their souls.