This Man Cannot Take A Hint

+

To lonely people everywhere

-------[]-----[]-------

Six months after Bob died, I sold our home and bought a smaller home in a planned unit development so I wouldn't have to worry about snow removal or yard care.

I was only 52 when he died. I never thought I would be a widow at that age.

We met in high school, then went to the same college and continued dating there. As juniors, we became lovers and moved in together. Three weeks after we graduated, we got married.

We had two children together, but they both married and moved away before Bob died. I was alone and missed him.

I had no financial worries, but I was feeling lost and lonely.

-------[]-----[]-------

I moved into my new home in September. In December I flew to Seattle to spend Christmas with Amber and Luke, and their three children. Soon it was early January. Amber and Luke were back to their busy lives, so I needed to return home.

As the Uber drove down my street, I noticed the home next door had sold finally. It had been on the market for about four months. I never got to know the older couple who had lived there, but I heard they had moved into assisted living.

"That's the next stop from here," I thought.

The next day I noticed a moving van in that driveway. I decided to bake some cookies and take them over to introduce myself. I like getting to know my neighbors.

When the first batch came out of the oven, I let them cool for a few minutes and then put some on a paper plate and walked next door. As I approached the open garage door a man came out, headed for the truck.

"Are the new owners here?"

"Yeah, he's through that door, in the kitchen."

I walked through the door and stopped.

"Hello?"

"HI! I'm through here."

I followed the voice and found a man standing in the living room, talking on a cell phone. I waited. He saw me and motioned for me to wait. The call ended quickly.

"Hi, I'm Mason."

"I'm Emily. I live next door and saw you were moving in, so I made some cookies."

"Wow, chocolate chip. And warm! My favorite. Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome. I like knowing my neighbors, so I thought I'd introduce myself. Have you recently retired, or are you empty nesters downsizing?"

"I'm not retired quite yet, but downsizing. Good guess... or was that what you did?"

"After my husband died, I was rattling around in a big home and hated having to worry about finding someone to blow snow off my driveway and care for my yard."

"I'm sorry about your husband. We're similar in that regard, because my wife died two years ago. I have enough trouble keeping a house clean, without the additional fun of the snow and the yard, just as you said."

"It's a tough experience, losing a spouse."

"The worst. The grief didn't surprise me..."

"It was the loneliness."

"Exactly. You just don't realize how empty everything becomes. How quiet at night."

"Yeah, and how empty the bed is. It takes time for that to fade. You're a year ahead of me and still feeling it, right?"

"Constantly. What do you do to stay active and positive about things?"

"I spent Christmas with my daughter. She and her husband live in Seattle and have three kids. That was fun, but I didn't want to overstay my welcome. Do you have children, Mason?"

"I have two sons and 5 grandchildren."

"I have a daughter and a son. Also five grandchildren and one on the way. Due in May."

"Do any live close?"

"No. Seattle and Atlanta. Scattered."

"Same with me. Dallas and Long Beach."

"Mason, I hope this doesn't come across wrong, but I suspect you're going to end up eating out tonight. Could I cook dinner for us? Would you come to dinner next door?"

"That would be so nice of you. I hate to be an imposition, though."

"We're standing here talking about being lonely. I hardly think it will be anything other than a nice evening. Would 7 pm work for you, or do you need more time moving in?"

"I think 7 would be perfect. The movers will be long gone by then."

"Please don't even ask if you can bring something. I don't need boxes!"

-------[]-----[]-------

At 7 sharp, my doorbell rang. I opened the door and there was Mason, cleaned up and looking quite handsome. I hoped I looked nice. I had waffled back and forth over what to wear. I finally settled on a casual, mid-calf skirt, with a simple blouse.

"Emily, you look wonderful tonight. Thank you for inviting me."

"It's my pleasure, Mason. I must say, you clean up well."

He was laughing. "If you only knew what I had to go through to take a shower and find a towel. Then some clothes."

"Moving is awful, isn't it?"

"It's so messy for a few days. I feel like I have weeks' worth of work ahead of me to open everything and decide where to put it."

"I... Well, this will start out the way I did earlier. I hope this doesn't sound wrong, but why don't we eat quickly and then spend a couple of hours working together on unpacking your things?"

"I wouldn't dream of imposing on your time."

"How can something I offer be an imposition?"

"You're a kind friend. Thank you for your offer, and I definitely need help!"

"If you'll help me with the food, we can move things along in the kitchen."

Within a few minutes we had brought everything to the table and had started eating. I had made a favorite recipe for spaghetti and had also thrown together a salad. Nothing complex. Comfort food.

"This spaghetti sauce is wonderful. I would ask for the recipe, but I don't really cook well."

"You are a project, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I think it's more difficult for a man to be alone, than for a woman. Part of that is psychological, in my opinion, but part is practical. Things like cooking, cleaning, and laundry. If a man has been married for years, it's likely he's weak in those areas. You're a project because you aren't well-prepared to live alone."

"I stand accused and plead guilty."

"What is your work? Are you a lawyer?"

"Guilty again. It's funny I've used criminal law terminology, although that's not my practice area. I practice business law mostly."'

"My husband was a litigator, so I know something of the profession."

"So you're not predisposed to think evil of me."

"I didn't say that!"

We both laughed.

"At the risk of sticking my neck out for a third time tonight, what do you think of having dinner together once a week? I'd like to make sure you eat well, and maybe I can help you learn a few things you can cook for yourself. I mean something more than opening a can of soup."

"I'd like that. It would be nice to have company for dinner, although I may be a hopeless student."

"I'll accept the challenge. I'll plan meals that we can cook together, and I'ill send you home with the recipes."

"Thank you in advance. I'm looking forward to those meals together."

We cleaned up the dishes and I changed into work clothes.

"Come on, let's work on your mess."

For the next two hours, we opened boxes, moved them if needed, and opened everything we could find containing kitchen stuff. Also, Mason's clothes. He had already found a few towels, but no soap or shampoo yet. Or detergent for his washing machine. I was keeping a list of what I thought necessary for the next day or so.

I looked at the bed in his bedroom.

"Do you have bedding, like sheets for the bed?"

"Somewhere, but I found a sleeping bag and thought I would sleep in that on the bed if necessary."

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Mason, are you ready to call it a night?"

"I'll work a little longer but thank you so much for your help."

"Come with me. I have a list of things we haven't found that you need. Let's run to the store and get them for you."

I showed him the list.

"Come on, I'll drive."

We walked together to my driveway, and I used the keypad on the house to open the garage. When we got to the store, we found the things on my list quickly and he paid for them.

When we got back to my house, I pulled into the garage and parked. We got out of the car and walked to the driveway. He was holding the sack from the store.

"Mason, what time do you leave for work?"

"Usually about 8, but I'm not in a big rush tomorrow. Why?"

"Would you join me at 7:30 for breakfast? I looked in your refrigerator and you have nothing to eat there."

"I promise I'll stop being so helpless."

I laughed. "That's alright. It's nice to have made a new friend, and friends help each other. While I think of it, what's your cell number?"

As he gave it to me, I keyed it in and called his phone.

"There's my number."

Mason kissed me on the cheek.

"Thanks Emily. You've made things so much easier for me today. I'll see you at 7:30 in the morning. Good night."

"Good night, Mason. "

-------[]-----[]-------

As I got ready for bed, I was thinking about Mason. I smiled.

I got into bed and my phone pinged. It was a text from him.

Emily:

Thank you so much for worrying about me today. The cookies are wonderful--I just had another--and dinner hit the spot. I am clearly in your debt.

Would you join me for a dressy dinner at one of my favorite restaurants Friday night? I'm planning on wearing a suit. I can drive over to pick you up at 7 that night.

Please RSVP.

Mason

I read the text and smiled. I was looking forward to seeing him in a suit.

Dear Mason:

Thank you so much for the invitation. Are you sure it's not too far to drive to pick me up?

I can hardly wait.

Emily Hoskins

I was still smiling, thinking about dinner. My phone pinged again.

Dear Emily,

Sorry to keep waking you! You just told me your last name is Hoskins, Was Robert Hoskins your husband? This is such a small world! I knew Bob from Bar events, like CLE luncheons. We had a mutual friend who introduced us. I saw his obituary last summer, so I just looked it up online and found he was "survived by his dear wife, Emily."

I'm sorry again for your loss. I lost a friend as well.

Mason

I had tears in my eyes reading his text.

Dear Mason:

Yes, Bob was my husband. Such a small world! Thank you for sharing that with me.

Emily

-------[]-----[]-------

The next morning, I got up at 6 so I could shower and have breakfast ready by 7:30. No big production, just scrambled eggs and toast, with some chunks of fresh fruit in a small bowl.

Mason was obviously appreciative of having breakfast. He wanted to help with the dishes, but I jokingly told him to hit the road.

"Mason, promise me one thing. I know it's going to take you a little time to locate your food staples and buy refrigerated things. If you are without food, please give me a chance to help out. Even if you need some shopping help, I'm happy to be there."

"Thank you for your generosity. I'm hopeful at some point to demonstrate a modest level of self-reliance. Please don't forget about our dinner on Friday night. That's my chance to return the kindness you've shown me."

"I'm really looking forward to that. Have a great day at work!"

-------[]-----[]-------

Friday afternoon I was fussing about, trying to decide what to wear. Mason described the dinner as "dressy," and said he would be wearing a suit. My thoughts kept circling around a fundamental question: "What kind of relationship do I want with Mason?"

I concluded it was too early to know what I wanted, but I enjoyed spending time with him, and it was likely he felt the same towards me.

Although the previous year had been a tough one for me, I knew I was relatively young at 53, and attractive. I was slim, with a good figure, so I decided to see how Mason would respond.

I selected a simple but beautiful little black dress. I figured his eyes would tell me a lot!

I discovered I needed new black stockings and struggled to decide whether to buy them to wear with my garter belt, or to wear thigh-hi stockings. I knew they would look the same to him, but I would feel sexier with the garter belt. At the department store, I bought one of each. Game time decision.

Game time came quickly. I was getting dressed when I made the decision. Garter belt. In for a penny, in for a pound. I would feel sexy.

My doorbell rang at 7. When I opened it, I was a little stunned. Mason was incredibly handsome in a dark suit that fit him perfectly. He seemed taller, but that was likely a result of his striking appearance.

"Mason, you look amazing tonight!"

"Well, no one will notice. Not with you on my arm, because everyone in the restaurant will be watching you. That's a beautiful dress, but I'm confident it's the body inside it that makes the dress.'

'Thank you!"

I stepped out and locked the door and took his arm as we walked to his car in my driveway. He opened the door for me.

When we entered the restaurant--one of my favorites--Mason's hand was lightly touching my lower back. The lighting was muted, giving it a romantic feeling.

As we ate, Mason and I had a chance to talk. I asked him to tell me about Eliza, his late wife. I loved watching him as he talked about her. His love for her was obvious. He smiled so sweetly as he spoke about meeting her in a class in college, and about their marriage a year later.

He asked how Bob and I met. Our story was similar, having met while he was in law school. I was four years younger than Bob. We married upon his graduation from law school.

"Mason, I know you're older, but not by much."

"I'm 60. If I calculated correctly in my mind, you must be about 52 or 53."

"Close enough."

We both laughed.

"Well, whichever it is, you're younger than Emily, and I'm older than Bob."

"I'm surprised you're older than Bob. After meeting you the other day, I thought you might even be younger."

"I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you."

-------[]-----[]-------

As we drove home, I asked him if I could peek at how he was doing getting things unpacked. When we walked through the door of his house, I was stunned. There were no boxes! He had unpacked and organized everything!

"Mason, I'm amazed at what you've accomplished! Do I dare ask what you have in the refrigerator?"

"Go ahead and look."

I opened the door and was surprised to see a wide variety of food and fruits.

"I'm impressed. How about we do a regular Wednesday cooking class at my house? Unless, of course, you've misled me about your cooking ability."

He was laughing. "I assure you, I'm worse in the kitchen than I've stated."

I laughed too, but what went through my mind was, "Hopefully you're better in the bedroom." Then I wondered where that thought came from!

"Shall we start at 6 that evening?"

"That should work for me. I'll leave early to get all the way to your house on time!"

-------[]-----[]-------

We established a pattern that week. On Wednesday, we cooked and ate together, and I sent him home with a recipe. On Friday or Saturday, Mason would take me to dinner. I picked out some easy recipes, like grilled salmon, and suggested easy side dishes, like how to put together a salad that was a little more interesting than just lettuce.

I showed how to bake a potato properly (not wrapped in foil!). I also suggested some instant mashed potatoes that were delicious, but easier.

Mason wanted the recipe for my spaghetti sauce, so I made it with him one night and gave him the recipe. At the bottom I included a suggestion that he try a couple of different bottled sauces. They aren't as good, but they are much simpler for making spaghetti.

To my surprise, the following Wednesday Mason brought a sample of the sauce he had made at home. It was perfect.

Each week, Mason selected a different restaurant. Most were casual, but twice he took me to nice restaurants, and we dressed up.

After a couple of months, Spring was approaching, and we decided to have a picnic at a park instead of dinner at a restaurant.

All this time, Mason didn't show the slightest romantic interest in me. We were no more than a couple of neighbors spending time together. For my part, though, I liked him and wanted a closer relationship. I didn't know how to move him in that direction. I finally had an idea.

We were having our Wednesday cooking class.

"Mason, do you like to dance?"

"I do. Eliza and I often went dancing. Did you and Bob dance?"

"We did. I miss it now."

I waited. Good grief! This man cannot take a hint!

"Would you take me dancing sometime?"

"I'd like that, but I don't know of a good dance place that plays music we would want to dance to."

"How about my living room? The sound system is good, and management only plays what we want. The dance floor isn't crowded either."

"When and what time!"

"How about this Friday night. I understand it's a formal night, so wear your suit."

"May I wear my tux?"

"That sounds wonderful. How about 7:30?"

-------[]-----[]-------

I called Amber the next morning and told her I had been dating my next-door neighbor--and shared my frustrations.

"Do you have a photo of him?"

"No, I don't think so."

"What's his last name?"

"Weaver. Mason Weaver."

"Ok, let's see... here he is. Oh, he's handsome. Well done, Mom!"

"I have a problem."

I described my frustration with his lack of romance. He hadn't kissed me or held my hand.

"Maybe he's just interested in a social friend."

"That's what I'm afraid of, but if that's it, I need to know."

I explained the idea I had of a dance--in my living room.

"I love your idea. If that doesn't get him to kiss you, he's hopeless."

I explained I needed technical help. She helped me download a streaming service on my phone, and I subscribed to it. We worked together to make a playlist. Then Luke got on the phone and gave me the description, manufacturer and model number of a Bluetooth speaker I could find locally.

I drove to the store immediately and found it. When I plugged it in and turned it on, I called Luke and he walked me through linking my phone and the speaker, opening the app and playing my playlist. The sound was fabulous! I practiced several times to make sure I had it down cold.

That morning, I moved the furniture a little to create more space. That exposed dusty areas on the hardwood flooring, so I cleaned those areas.

Amber called and wanted to know how I was feeling.

"Nervous."

She laughed. "I know I would be. Hey, I'm calling tomorrow morning for a blow-by-blow accounting. I guess we don't want it to be blow-by-blow yet, do we?"

I was laughing. "If you were fifteen, I'd ground you."

-------[]-----[]-------

The day before, I had spent a couple of hours making some appetizers, so I got those out to come to room temperature. I had almost decided on chips and salsa, until I considered the effect on breath!

A few minutes before 7:30, I started my playlist and set it to loop, as Luke showed me. The volume was low enough that we could talk, but loud enough to dance. I wanted it for the ambience when he arrived.

When Mason rang the doorbell, I greeted him wearing another little black dress, one with a slit up one side, high enough to expose the top of my stocking. I was wearing a new pair of heels I bought that week. I loved how my legs looked with the dress and the heels.

"Come in Mason, you are incredibly handsome in your tuxedo."

"Emily, is that a new dress? It's spectacular on you and shows off your figure beautifully."

He kissed me on the cheek. I felt a tingle below and a slight wetness.

"I brought a bottle of wine for us to share tonight, since neither of us needs to be a designated driver. I also have a wrist corsage for you tonight."