AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Clearing her throat, Sharon excuses herself. “I’m going to give you two some privacy.” Her fingers graze the top of my dad’s hand on her way out of the room, and I can’t help but smile.
Eyebrows raised, I turn to my dad, giving him a silent what’s up with that look.
“Rhett s-stayed the n-n-night the other night.”
“Oh no,” I laugh. “You are not turning this around on me. I haven’t been hiding Rhett from you. I’ve been open and honest about us getting back together. But this…what is this? Are you and Sharon…”
I leave my words hanging in the air because I don’t even know what to say to my father. Are you dating? Are you sleeping together?
Can he even have sex?
Shit. I shake the thoughts away before I give myself a heart attack.
“You know what? It’s none of my business. You are a grown man capable of making your own decisions.” With my hands raised in the air, I turn to go down the hall, only to stop when my dad says…
“I’m h-happy.”
With a resigned sigh, I turn around and walk back to the table, sitting down next to my father.
“She m-makes me h-h-happy,” he says, his voice cracking on the last word. “Haven’t h-had that in a l-l-long time.”
Well, shit, if that doesn’t make my heart smile, I don’t know what will. “When did you two…start dating? Is that what we’re calling it here? Because I’m a little confused. You’re gonna have to help a daughter out.”
Dad laughs, and I realize that’s a sound I haven’t heard in way too long. “We’re n-not dating.”
“Wow. Okay. Not gonna lie, this is a little awkward. So, you’re…sleeping together? Is this a physical thing?”
The words sound worse coming out of my mouth than they did in my head, and all I can think is Abort! Abort! “Forget I said that. If it’s a physical thing, I’d rather not know.” A little lost and a lot confused, I rub a hand over my face.
“No. N-not sleeping together. She just m-makes me happy.”
I stare at him, confused. “So, you’re not dating and you’re not…you know…sleeping together. What are you?”
“F-friends.”
“Friends don’t kiss.”
Dad’s brows furrow. I can tell he’s getting frustrated as he tries to explain.
“Maybe I can help,” Sharon says, walking back into the kitchen. She retakes the seat she vacated, rests her hand on my dad’s, and looks at me.
“Your mother has been gone for a long time, and so has my Jack. Life gets lonely sometimes, which is why I offered to take over as your father’s caregiver. It’s also why I don’t mind letting you go do extra things while I stay here with him. Your dad is a wonderful man, Mo, but I don’t have to tell you that.” She smiles at me and then looks at him. “I’ve spent the last six years taking care of him, every day. You don’t spend that much time with someone and not grow close to them.”
I guess I didn’t look at it like that. To me, Sharon is my best friend’s mom and a nurse who takes care of my dad. Sure, she’s always been special to me, but I guess I failed to consider her as a widowed woman who still wants to be cared for and loved.
“I don’t want to get married—Jack was the love of my life—but I’ve realized over the years that it’s okay for me to love another man. It’s okay for me to find comfort with another man’s touch, even if it’s just the touch of his hand.”
“Do you love my father?”
She answers without hesitation. “Very much.”
Dad squeezes Sharon’s hand, and she bends down so he can kiss her cheek. The move is so fluid I’d swear they’ve been doing it for years.
“How long has this been going on?”
Sharon shrugs. “I can’t answer that. It’s been organic over the last several years. Your father and I have shared many stories over many meals. We’ve laughed, cried, watched movies, done all the things a normal couple would do, and one day, it just happened.”
“Is this why you want to go into assisted living?” I ask, looking at Dad. “Because you want more privacy?” I’m not sure how much more privacy the two of them could get. I’m usually only home long enough to sleep.
