For long I was a loner with no serious relationship though active on dates. Nothing worked out in the long run. But I was happy and enjoyed a social life. When a man showed interest I would track sensibly given that I had many letdowns. With younger man I would be more conscious. I never thought I could get hitched. Much as I least expected or some would said fated I got into a relationship with a younger man. Though we knew each other, I could hardly call him my dream man. It started quite out of the blue though he showed inkling to get closer to me. He was my daughter's boyfriend. Things got into their relationship. I only sensed something wrong when he came visiting her less often. My daughter, Brenda, relationship with her boyfriend Tim seemed to be deteriorating. They used to be very romantic going out most of the times but now I seldom seen him coming to my house. I didn't query daughter; thought they were busy on their new careers as both just started on new jobs.
Once I met him on the street alone. As I was with a friend we didn't chatted much. He didn't let out too much on their relationship. Neither did I bother to find out more. Even if they didn't clicked well it was quite normal. As relationship is more often than not an on off affair, it was better to split than to carry on unhappily.
A few days later Tim came to my house in the evening. I told him Brenda was not in and he could come in to wait for her. He replied they were no longer an item; parted few months ago and hardly communicated since then. I was shocked and he said she found another man, his father.
He said on a particular day he asked her out but she said she was busy. He went home and went to bed early broaching over her. He thought he heard her voice and peeked out of his bedroom. He saw her coming out of his father's bedroom in skimpy nighties to get a drink. She didn't see him. He didn't confront her there and then, went back to his bedroom. He said he couldn't sleep that night lying awake.
I held his hands and offered my sympathy looking in his teary eyes. He didn't said much, gave me a hug and sobbed lightly on my shoulders. I hugged him and consoled him like a mother would for her child in sorrow. I told him there would be girls waiting for him. Just buckled up and worked on his career. Easier said than done I knew but at that moment I could only offer those words of comfort. Indeed he was any mother choice for her daughter; decent, affable, of good character. I liked him very much and was glad daughter picked him for a boyfriend. I expected them to develop further but then it was all in vain.
After he composed himself he asked me if I would allow him to come visiting me. I said sure you were a nice boy. After finishing his drink he took leave.
At the door, he put his hand round my waist, hugged me and brushed his lips on mine lightly adding see you soon.
I didn't know how to make out his actions on me. Was he so dejected and wrecked, he wanted a woman to fill his void and it happened he knew I was unattached. Anyway I had my social life with a few suitors and still without a steady relationship. I guessed he was lonely and needed a woman's company, nothing emotional about it.
He did come, in formal evening attire, knocking one day surprising me with a bouquet of flowers and invited me for dinner. Fortunately I didn't have a date. I gladly accepted saying it was good with advance notification so I didn't have to turn him down if I had a prior appointment. I would also have time to dress up for the occasion.
We had a wonderful dinner and chatted about his plans. I told him to go and mix around and not isolate himself. He could given time build another relationship, a better one maybe, be optimistic in life. He seemed to sober up and didn't displayed a distraught mood. We stayed till closing time. He sent me back home and at the doorstep kissed me goodnight. I didn't read too much into the kiss he planted on my lips. It was just brushing on our lips, couldn't really said it was a kiss. Just a courtesy gesture in a gentleman manner I supposed. I couldn't understand why daughter chose his father over him. I imagined a fatherly figure and a sugar daddy she fell for.
I had a word with daughter on their breakup. She said his father could provide her well financially and he was tender and caring to her. In contrast her ex was so simplistic. She would be moving out to his house and cohabit with his father soon. She had safe guard and even got a prenuptial agreement if he did not legally marry her within a year of cohabiting she would get a tidy sum from him. For a start he purchased a sport car and an apartment for her. I was so disappointed that she was so materialistic and didn't know the meaning of true love her ex had been giving her. It was her own life she wanted. I couldn't argue more and left it as it was. She promised to visit me often and be a filial daughter in deference to me.
Her ex was more cheerful each time I saw him though not that frequent as when they were an item. He got over the affair and on an occasion said it was a blessing in disguise as really their characters were so divergent and interests not exactly compatible. He was an outdoor type whereas she a party goer and materialistic. He thought over it after the breakup and glad they parted way. He agreed his father could take care of her materially. He wanted only to give them his blessings.
I couldn't believe he was magnanimous. I continued to encourage him to socialize more.
He was opened to me and tried as he did it didn't help though as a handsome guy, he could laid as many girls as possible. But there was no real satisfaction in not meeting the right girl. Each conquest was no more that a sexual surrogate for the woman he secretly admired for some time.
He wasn't specified except to say he had always admired maturity in a woman with tender loving caring characteristics. He wasn't enamored with girls who only possessed materialistic values. I guessed what he gone through had made him mature and in future relationship he value intrinsic beauty in women he would have long term relationship.
He confided he had a woman in mind whom he had secret feelings and been harboring thoughts of telling her. It would be appropriate time now that he was single again. I was glad for him and told him to confess to her sooner than later. But he was worried she might not accept him as she was a mature woman older than him. He would demonstrate to her feelings transcend age. It was important both had mutual feelings and compatible in characters and interests.
He looked at me attentively, clapped my hands and asked if I could teach him how to approach her. I was happy to be of help I replied.
I sensed he had been paying attention to me when he was dating my daughter. Ever often took opportunity to come close to me and had small talks glancing at me giving me a run down with his eyes. I thought it was a natural phenomenon for a young man to have ogling eyes. I didn't think it was anything more.
After the breakup he became more attentive to me. I accepted most of his dates to meals, movies, and concerts. He was picking fast on his mannerism with my advice on how to treat a woman to gain her friendship. He wanted to practice what he learned with me. I said OK perfect on me. He looked please closed his eyes momentarily. I couldn't fathom much access to his inner most feelings. It would not be easy to "fathom the heart" in such a situation. He had been hurt by daughter. He would know how to treat me like a lady, holding my hand on occasions. I couldn't make out his motive at that time. He was becoming more mature for his age.
At the rate he was progressing on his mannerism I figured it would not be too far he would be confident to approach his woman he secretly admired. I prayed his wish would be fulfilled. At least what I did to help him would have atoned for my daughter deserting him.
When they were an item, I used to go outings with them. He was a nature addict, swimming, biking, trekking and jogging were his hobbies. Both introduced me to the nudist beach. When we took off our clothes, I remembered he ogled at me. I was embarrassed initially. Gradually I took it in my stride and enjoyed being in the nude openly with them walking on the beach kicking the sand or simply sunbathed lying on a towel. He would rub sunscreen on me and daughter. I was not abashed he touched my bare flesh. It was sensational feeling as he rubbed sunscreen on me front and back. I controlled hard to hide my erotic feeling. As it became unbearable I shook off his hands. He would back off.
We began to see each other more and I took to his outdoor interests. I would go swimming, jogging, biking or trekking with him. It was a healthy lifestyle breathing fresh air in sunny nature surroundings. I quite enjoyed time with him out in the open. Casual we were with each other indulging our time together. Very different from my other dates who escorted me dressed in formal attires to high end establishment restaurants, concerts and lounges. It was a change of living heartily. During our time together, I found him a pleasant guy a girl would love and I couldn't understand my daughter chose his father over him. A materialistic girl she was and I prayed he loved her for good.
My concern at that time was for both daughter and her ex found their love mates and moved onto new lives and I got back to focus on career and hopefully also found my love too.
For a few more months we cajoled and went about in outdoor activities.
It was time I pop the question that he spent less time with me and instead approached his secret woman confidently.
He looked at me eagerly and asked me if I were that woman would I accept him. Jokingly I said sure you would make a lovable boyfriend without putting much thought.
Taking my hands he said he had all the while admired me and wished to have a girlfriend with my character, so resilient, demure, caring and understanding. Something my daughter lacking. Breaking up with my daughter spurred him to get closer to me to sound me out. He was afraid of my rejection so he took such long time to tell me. Having been with me, he was sure I was his dream girlfriend and found the courage to express his affection for me which he had been keeping in his heart.
I was in a heady stage, astonished, mouth gasped open wide as I listened to him. I told him our age different might not be suitable for us to be an item. Love transcends age he reminded what I told him. We were compatible in characters and I didn't look my age. A beautiful lady to behold he uttered.
I asked him was it because I was near and caring at the time he had fallen out of love with daughter that I became his target to replace his lost love. I should had kept an arm's length from him and let him go over his depression. Given time he would act more rationally. But he said he was glad my daughter left him, allowing him to think over I was really the woman he wanted. We had much in common, compatible in characters and interests though a gap in age might hamper our relationship.
