Who is Laurette from Johnny Got His Gun and what is their importance?

Laurette is a prostitute working at Stumpy Tesla's in Shale City, Colorado. Laurette strings along all the boys who fall in love with her, withholding sex, but flirting. It is her way of having her cake and eating it too. Each year she takes the summer off in Estes Park. Nearing high school graduation, Joe Bonham and Bill Harper visit the legendary house and Bonham spends the night talking about books with Laurette, which makes him feel dumb. He begins visiting regularly, falls in love, and wonders how to tell his parents. For his high school graduation she sends him a pair of gold cuff links. When he goes to thank her, Telsa tells him she is in Estes Park.