If there is one thing readers have noticed about this series so far, it was probably the fact that I drove everywhere. There may have been some who thought this was because she didn't drive or that she didn't have a car or something. I assure you, the reader, that my neighbor did own a vehicle and she was and is a very capable driver. In fact, there was an episode where she drove me crazy and not just in a vehicle either.
Ironically, it was on my birthday. It was going to be the first birthday without my wife since we started dating and I was unsure of what condition I would be in. I did my best to not show anything to my neighbor because the last thing I wanted was a big deal made about it. There are many positive attributes my neighbor possesses and one of them was her desire to help me through the difficult times when the grief would take control.
The day started with my neighbor coming into my bedroom and waking me up with a kiss on my lips. I would love to say that's where it began, but there was no sex that morning. She kissed me as she opened the drapes to allow the sun in.
"Get up, Romeo. We have stuff to do," she said almost drill sergeant like.
I slowly rose from bed and looked at her.
"What kind of stuff?"
My voice betrayed my grouchiness, but also the fact that I was crying shortly before she walked in. She looked at me smiling before she held me in her arms.
"I promised Missy I would not let you do this today. It was one of the last conversations we had, and I never fake a promise."
It was at that moment that my interest was piqued. I slowly trudged into the bathroom and began to clean up. I took a quick shower, shaved my stubble just a bit and walked in wearing a towel before I noticed what she lay on the bed for me. I noticed there was underwear. That was weird considering it was my neighbor. We always seemed to avoid underwear. Then there was a white dress shirt and a pair of dark slacks. There was also a turquoise tie I didn't recognize on the bed.
"Hurry up, we're going to be late."
She seemed like she was in a hurry herself. I started to put my clothes on, even the shined dress shoes I had not worn since the funeral. Still, I played along. As I went into the kitchen for some coffee, I saw my neighbor. Her outfit blew me away. Her hair was up in a hair clip, but her dress was not a sundress. Instead, she wore more of a business casual dress. It was black, but she wore flashes of color with a scarf around her neck and a turquoise belt around her waist. She turned to me and smiled again.
"Are you alright, Romeo?"
It was when she turned around that I almost lost it. There around her neck was the necklace I gave my wife for her "graduation present" as she called it. I wanted to ask why, but her hands were around my neck too fast. She gave me a deep kiss before she pulled back.
"I promised Missy and Mitchell that we would visit them today. I know it is your birthday and it was going to be rough, so I asked for some help."