The Older Heroine Romance

Traditionally, the romantic short has been written about a young female protagonist finding love for the first time. The story evolves around her difficulties dealing with her emotional inexperience and how an older or more experience male protagonist helps her in discovering what love is.

Why not change things a bit and write about an older woman and how she rekindles the romantic flames in her life. Being more mature means that she would be more objective in her relationships. There are as many older women as younger ones that have a desire to find their "soul mates."

After reading this example of mature love, experiment with your own thoughts on discovering love after 40.

Lauren brushes back the beautiful cascade of her rich auburn tresses; then stares wistfully into the mirror.

“Forty-five years old and what do I have to show for it?” Lauren replies to her reflection.

“If it wasn’t for my envious hair I would appear quite ordinary.” Lauren laments to herself failing to realize her untamed beauty.

Lauren continues to find it difficult fitting the shattered pieces of her life. Reminiscing on her younger years, marrying Morgan is no spur of the moment decision. They became friends after Morgan’s breakup with actress Carilyn Baxter. Lauren had been introduced to Morgan by a mutual friend and it is love at first sight. Lauren has never loved anyone as much as she loved Morgan. Morgan is the first man that she has known intimately and she will never forget the lessons he has taught her.

The year leading up to the divorce has been long, hard and filled with heartaches but Lauren has persevered. Now, almost a year later she is alone and nursing surges of emotions whenever she thinks of Morgan.

Morgan Blade, the film director is dynamic, persistent and handsome. Perhaps, he is just too handsome. Morgan relishes in his command over the opposite sex. He enjoys their attempts at manipulation to achieve a role in his next movie. The incessant telephone calls and discreet notes in his jacket pockets—Lauren finds the parade of marauding females intolerable! Thus, she files and receives her divorce.

“Oh, well”, Lauren continues her thoughts.

“No need to backstroke over troubled waters. Morgan is no longer a part of my life. His latest conquest is no doubt enjoying the—what am I doing? I’ve got to get on with my life. Morgan is the past, and no matter how it hurts, it’s over. That’s how I wanted it!” Lauren closes her eyes fighting back the tears. Their marriage had been a good one, and had it not been for—her thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door.

There Morgan stands as masculine and desirable as when they first met. Lauren has to shake herself to remember all the pain associated with loving and living Morgan Blade. For moments Lauren stares into his steel grey eyes until she is brought back to reality by the melodious sounds of Morgan’s voice.

“A penny for your thoughts?”

“Well, it would probably be more like a dime.” Lauren is breathless when she speaks to Morgan. She also hopes he doesn’t notice it. He does.

“Our little girl is married now, and I hope she will be happy.” Morgan returns her comment. His eyes drink in the sweetness of her face. He sees that she has been crying and desperately wants to take her into his arms.

“I’m sure she will be, they have so much in common, and they will work out whatever problems they face.” Lauren counters.

“Not like her parents, huh?”Morgan accuses. “Paige will profit from the many mistakes we made, won’t she, Lauren?”

Lauren looks up again into those accusing grey eyes. She doesn’t want to argue the point anymore. She has tried to live with the fact that women find him desirable, the nature of his occupation puts him in contact with many people, but Lauren just got tired. His late nights, the strange times when he needed to be alone, then finding out that he was secretly meeting Carilyn.

After Carilyn’s emotional breakdown she is committed to a private sanitarium. Lauren thought that the nightmare was over. And, for a moment life seems to be just as Lauren imagined it could be. However, it isn’t long before another woman is vying for the attention of Morgan Blade.

“Will there always be a “Carilyn”, Lauren wonders to herself.

“Morgan, let it alone. It’s been almost a year now!”

“I can’t let it alone. I can’t let you alone!" Morgan says it with the finality that is becoming his trademark when it comes to his relationship with Lauren.

Morgan looks at Lauren. Morgan knows he should not have come. However seeing Lauren at Paige’s wedding brings a deluge of memories. Morgan remembers how beautiful Lauren looks on that crisp September day when they were married. Lauren insisted on being a size 7 before she would marry Morgan. Lauren desired to marry in her mother’s gown, then maybe the same happiness shared by her mother and step-father would be hers also. The gorgeous gown was floor length, light beige with lots of lace and pearls.

It was a beautiful day for a wedding. The leaves were turning gold and russet and the air had a clean, fresh smell. They married at his mother’s church in Canada and a beautiful outdoor reception followed. Lauren reads Morgan’s thoughts and smiles also.

“I see you remember it, too!” Morgan says studying Lauren again.

“Oh how I want to kiss you. Hold you. Run my fingers through that magnificent mane of yours.” Morgan says silently not daring to reveal his true feelings.

Morgan is aware of how very kind the years have been to Lauren. He observes that Lauren’s beauty has never abated. Nor has Lauren’s ability to capture and hold Morgan’s heart. Morgan can feel the familiar throbs of desire swelling in his loins and has to sign softly. Truly Lauren is a blossom in autumn!

“Why did you come, Morgan? Sure you don’t want to journey down memory lane.” Lauren asks smugly.

“I just wanted to see how you were. You seem a little aloft at the wedding.” Morgan replies.

“The wedding was beautiful, Morgan. Our daughter made such a lovely bride and now, if you will excuse me, I have to go through Paige’s things and box them for storage.”

“Is that the way you like it, Lauren. Putting things in nice little boxes and labeling them. Like our marriage. What did you file it under?” Morgan asks sarcastically.

“Yesterday, Morgan, I filed it under yesterday.”Lauren answers flatly.

Lauren can tell that the remark hit home. Morgan gives her a hard stare and turns on his heels. With catlike movements, he gets into his black Lamborghini Garlado. Moments later he is off in the distance. Lauren closes the door and walks into her daughter Paige’s room and just sits.

“So many memories”, she thinks. “This house … Morgan, I don’t need this.” She closes her eyes and lets tears flow. “When will the pain stop?” she questions silently.

Lauren hasn’t noticed the time. The sun is setting and she hadn’t accomplished nearly as much as she had hoped. Slowly she stands up and begins tying and taping the last of the boxes for Paige. Lauren takes her time and carries each parcel out to the garage. As she finishes up she recognizes a familiar car slowly coming into view and stopping in front of the house. It is Morgan!

“Morgan, what do you want now?” Lauren lashes out angrily and moves toward the door with Morgan in pursuit.

“I thought about you … alone in this house … and well maybe you want some company, that’s all.” Morgan recites feeling more like a teenager asking for a date than a 47 year old man.

“That’s kind of you, Morgan. Things have really quieted down, here.” Lauren replies feeling ashamed.

“What am I going to do?” she thinks to herself. “Morgan definitely lives up to his reputation of being persistent.”

“Yes, I can imagine. This place must seem very lonely with Paige gone and all the guests you’ve had these past few weeks?” Morgan replies following Lauren into the living room.

“Yes, it does, Morgan.” Lauren answers plopping down on a traditional studio chair unceremoniously.

“What about dinner, I bet you haven’t eaten since the wedding, have you?”

“No, and it will probably be a long time before I eat again. I never saw so much food. I want to thank you for sponsoring our daughter’s wedding.” Lauren laughs and the sound of her laughter fills Morgan’s soul with desire.

“It was a pleasure. Lauren, why is it like this with us? Other people can have a nice, quiet, relaxing relationship. My mother and yours have ideal marriages. I wanted ours to be like that.”

“You had to be secretive. You never really told me about Carilyn’s issues until much later in our marriage.” she whispers accusingly.

“I didn’t want to worry you about it. I realized now that it was not the right thing to do, but at the time, it seemed like the only thing to do.” Morgan sounds aspirated.

“Oh, I’m just tired, Morgan. It’s been a long week.” Laurie says looking up at him.

Laurie doesn’t realize just how sweet and vulnerable she looks at this moment. It is a rare moment and Morgan feels the sudden urge to protect her.

“Let me massage your shoulders.” Morgan says as he begins to gently rub her soft shoulders then moving down to her back making small semi-circles. Lauren lets herself drift with the moment and leans her head back looking Morgan in the eyes. In his eyes, Lauren sees a mirror of her own rising fascination.

Morgan gently lifts Laurie and sits her on the matching sofa. Lauren's beautiful hair cascades softly over an exposed bare shoulder. Morgan captures the locks; brushes them aside and gives her a wisp of a kiss. Lauren lets out a long involuntary sigh. Morgan smiles inwardly.

Lauren kisses each velvet brow. Morgan envelopes Lauren with his arms. At last, they are together again! Passion cruises through every cell of Morgan’s body and he is intoxicated with the smell of her. It is the smell of a crisp autumn morning and of jasmine.

"No matter what happens. Regardless of the circumstances, I will always love you, Lauren. You are forever, Lauren. Forever in my thoughts. Forever in my plans. Forever in my desire, hopes, and dreams. You are the blossom that forever blooms in autumn and I will forever love you.” Morgan proclaims.

“And I you!”