The scent of her vanilla perfume would linger in my nose as my mother tucked me in for the night.
She was dressed in a beautiful black gown. My father was dressed formally as well, the two of them bidding me sweet dreams as they left to attend a late-night gala.
During this kind of evening, I would stay out in the garden instead of sleeping in. I would lie in the grass and stare at the sky.
I'd be lucky if it wasn't raining. If it was, I had no choice but to stay indoors.
Bruce would be there. He wasn't only the family attorney but also a guardian for me when my parents needed to be out at night until late in the morning.
Back then, the garden was carefully tended by a gardener, and roses were always in full bloom. I would often pick one and give it to my mother, beating my father on most days and watching how my mother's face would brighten with delight.
