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After he died, I promised myself to not get too close to anyone after his death.
I look at his picture and lovingly run a finger down the length of the frame. Pulling myself away from the portrait of my one and only love, I unbutton my blouse.
While I remove my outfit from the day, and opt for some silky underthings, I sprawl out on my California King, taking a deep stretch as I do. It feels amazing to be able to come home from a position and know that you learned a new thing today.
After my long and much needed stretch, I reach for my phone and dial my mother’s number. She’s in the middle stages of dementia and as the night goes on, she gets worse. I try to call before that sets in.
“Hello?” a craggy and tired voice answers the other end of the line.
“Hey Mom,” I try to be more than a little upbeat. It helps to boost the conversations with her. “How ya doing today?”
“Oh, Lily! You know, same old self,” she says. “Just waiting to kick the bucket.”
“Stop it, Mom,” I say with some exasperation. “You know I don’t like that. Anyway, I wanted to fill you in on the first day of my new job.”
“Oh! Yes, I want every detail,” she exclaims on the other end.
“Well, it’s going to be a challenge, that’s for certain,” I say as I take a gulp of the wine, wondering how many times I might have to repeat something. “And my bosses are really nice.”
“You can do anything you put your mind to, dear,” Mom says, and begins a coughing fit. After smoking for years, a permanent cough has settled. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries,” I say and continue explaining the ins and outs of my position. “It’s going to be a whole lot different than waitressing at the diner. I mean, in that I’ll take orders from only two bosses and not from ten tables at a time.” I laugh a little saying that aloud.
“Have you met anyone else today?” she questions.
“There was this one guy that introduced himself to me,” I shudder when I recall his approach. “His name is Jeff and he really gave me a creepy vibe. And I know that isn’t nice so I decided to try to be nice to him.”
“That’s my girl. I raised you to be better than that. And what about your two bosses, what do they look like?” Mom asked, prying as she often does. What mother doesn’t do that?
I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks as I think about how to answer that, knowing I’ve already slept with one of them. “Well, they both are handsome and not only are they my bosses, but they own the company.”
“Perhaps you might be able to hook up with one of them,” she says and I know where she’s heading with that remark. “Maybe, I’ll get to meet a grandchild before I pass. Lord knows that Rose isn’t into that.”
“Mom, it’ll happen when it happens, I’m not going to push myself on anyone, especially since Michael’s death…” I trail off as I look at the picture of him again.
“You need to let go of that, Lily,” Mom speaks with some determination in her voice. “It’s been five years now, going on six.”
“I know,” I say as I jump from the doorbell ringing. Who could that be? “I have to go, Mom. I’ll stop by tomorrow.” I hang the phone up after we say goodbye and the bell rings again.
When I open the door, Rose is standing there with a curious look on her face. “So tell me, how was your first day with the handsome hunk?”
Rolling my eyes, I let her in and tell her all the same things that I told Mom. Even about Jeff.
“Just be careful with him,” Rose says.
“You’ve watched too many murder mysteries with crazy people and what-not,” I slap her arm playfully. “Besides, I have two strong hunks to protect me.”
Seeing the looks in both of their eyes, I see some defensiveness, a look of protection.
And protect me they will.
Eight
David
Turning the corner into the office, I see the gorgeous Lily typing away on the computer before her. She doesn’t see me come into the office yet as she’s fully engrossed learning the ins and outs of her tasks.
Beautiful.
