This is a work based on a few true occurrences; it is for the most part fiction. Any description or resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
I apologize for the long build up, but I do it in order for the reader to get a better understanding to the events which occur.
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I'm a male, now sixty six years old, been divorced for the past thirty two years, and although there have been a few females in my life during that time, I have never remarried. I've always been too busy with work, and the ladies usually wanted a commitment within a year of our first date. My last relationship ended sixteen years ago.
When my first heart attack happened, about six years ago, I didn't think much about it. One week later, the second heart attack was a bit of a surprise, and because it was discovered that I also had an aortic aneurysm. Which after an operation to repair it, would lay me up for three months. I went back to work for another year and a half, when the third heart attack occurred. I was insistent on returning to work after a week off, even if it meant restricted "duty". The monthly medical check ups were cutting into my work schedule and becoming very aggravating.
To cut this introduction short, I have had two more heart attacks, open heart surgery and the final step thus ending my active employment, was for the company to suggest that I confer with my cardiologist and take permanent disability. About a year and a half ago, prostate surgery was performed. For you gentlemen reading this, I think you know what that means, as far as female companionship is concerned.
I have always had a rather active life, walking, running, and a plethora of other activities, most of which related to the work I was involved with at the time, which I won't go into at this time.
I moved into this retirement building six years ago to make things a little easier on my pocketbook. What with the economy and the world situation as it is.
It was about five years ago, in this building that I met Pilar. I had seen her in the halls several times and even said "hi", receiving a very shy response. As I became friends with other residents, I learned her name, and eventually began to engage her in more conversations over a couple of years' time. Pilar, is a very pretty and very young looking woman, standing about five foot nine inches and a hundred and thirty five pounds. I first estimated her to be in her late thirties or early forties, which as far as I was concerned, was too young for me, but she was nice and her shyness intrigued me. Pilar lived here due to a work related back injury, which has put her on permanent disability after her divorce.
As we got to know one another over the years, I found that she would turn fifty years old, four months before my sixty seventh birthday, and that made her almost sixteen and a half years younger than me. She was still on the young side, as far as I was concerned.
As our friendship deepened, about a year and a half ago I asked her out for coffee to be away from prying eyes and avoid rumors. Then, it was dinner at a local Mexican restaurant during the Christmas season. The next thing I knew, Valentines Day was fast approaching. I hadn't given flowers to a lady for years, and I thought to myself, why not Pilar? "Aww, hell", "why not ask her out to dinner again?" "It might be fun, and it would get us both out of our apartments for awhile". She accepted and I picked her up around five o'clock on Valentine's Day evening.
As she answered the door, I presented to her with not only flowers, but a box of candy and a Valentines Day card that was rather neutral with its verse. I was very surprised by her clothing, and her reaction. Normally she wore loose fitting clothes, almost "baggy" as they say, but that night she wore a sleek pair of slacks, and a blouse that wasn't tight yet did let me know that she wasn't a boy either. Her little "squeal" as she accepted the gifts, made me think that I may have overstepped my boundaries with something that personal, but she quickly explained that no one had ever given her flowers in her entire life. "Not even your ex-husband?" I inquired. "No." "No one." She replied with a trembling voice. I asked myself, "What kind of lout would never bring his wife, flowers?" I'm no Sean Connery, or Richard Gere, by any means. Nor do I consider myself to be handsome, suave or debonair, but even I have given flowers to a lady. I've even brought home flowers for my daughter when she was only eight years old. Needless to say, I was astounded. After a "Thank you." and a few moments to put the flowers in water, she recovered and we left for dinner.
You may ask why we had such an early dinner. It was the Valentines Day weekend and neither of us cares for crowds.
Our table wasn't quite ready when we arrived at the restaurant, so we went into the bar for a drink.