I hope Mr. Carter isn't visiting, Layla thought, as she entered the Good Shepherd Nursing Home to visit her mother. It's seems he's always here when I am. Before entering the room, she heard her mother's voice.
"Mrs. Carter, would you please lower the sound on your TV? I feel as though I'm sitting in Judge Judy's courtroom."
"I have the sound at a level at which I can hear. If you didn't watch those stupid cooking shows all the time you might be more civil."
"If you don't turn the sound down I'll have Ms. Sally come in here."
"Good afternoon Mrs. Carter. Good afternoon mother. Are you two having another spat?"
The two old ladies were separated by a white curtain and a distance of about twenty feet. Her mother sat rigid in her wheel chair, her hands grasped the arms of the chair in a steel grip, and had a scowl on her face.
"Don't talk to her Layla. Please get me out of here, that...that woman's TV is driving me deaf and insane." She lifted her arms, faced her daughter hugged and kissed her. Layla pushed her chair to the door.
"Woops! Excuse me Mrs. Simpson. I didn't see you coming. It's nice to see you again Layla." He stepped back with a gorgeous smile on his handsome face.
Layla nodded waiting for him to step out of the way. I know he's a widow like me. How can he be such a hunk? I wonder if he's seeing someone.
Layla rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm under some stress," she said looking at him.
He nodded. "I understand."
She pushed her mother down the hall.
* * *
"Mother, you and Melissa have to find a way to live together without fighting all the time," Layla said as they sat at a table in the dining area.
"I can't stand her blaring TV, and her holier than thou attitude. I want you to get me transferred to another room."
"You've already changed roommates twice this year and there are no available beds. You are going to have to stay where you are and make friends with her."
"Make friends with her over my dead body."
"Do you want to be transferred to another nursing facility?"
"No, I like it here and I was here first. She's nothing but a barbaric interloper."
"There must be something the two of you have in common. You both like to play cards, knit, and crotchet." Layla looked at her stubborn mother.
"I wouldn't play cards with someone like her; she probably cheats."
"Mother, you don't know that. You more than likely haven't spoken a civil word to her since she moved in with you."
"Shh, here they come."
"Do you mind if we join you? Harry asked standing behind his mother's wheel chair.
"No we don't want you here," Shirley said.
Layla stood looking at Melissa and Harry. "I apologize for my mother's behavior. Please join us. We need to talk about the civil war going on in their room."
"Thank you I agree." He pushed his mother next to Shirley and sat beside Layla.
He acts like such a gentleman? He's tall, handsome, athletic, and loves his mother. "Do you think we can negotiate a truce of some kind?"
"I was thinking the same thing since there's no place in this facility for them to move. Can I get you some coffee?" He stood looking deep into her blue eyes.
"Yes please, my mother and I both drink decaf with two creams and two sweeteners."
He nodded and walked to the area where the coffee and condiments were located.
Layla watched his great butt as he walked toward the coffee. She turned to Mrs. Carter, "Do you like to play cards?"
"As a matter of fact I do but no with her." She glanced at Shirley.
"Who said I would ever play a game of cards with you?"
"Harry returned with the coffee and distributed it before sitting down accidently bumped Layla's arm.
She felt a jolt of electricity surge through her body at the incidental tap.
"I've asked the nurse to bring us a deck of cards. Would you like to play a game of Kings in the Corner?" Harry asked.
"No!" The two older ladies said together.
"Thank you for the coffee. I think card's is a great idea. Maybe our mother's might get to know each other a little better in a different situation." Layla took a sip of her coffee.
"We might get to know each other too." He cast a charming smile at Layla.
He has a smile that ought to melt the heart of my mother it certainly has an effect on me.
* * *
Layla expertly shuffled and dealt the first hand and her mother won on her first turn.
She looked at Melissa with a smirk on her face.
"I'd better cut the cards next time it looks like we have a card shark among us." Harry said with a grin.
Shirley shuffled and Layla cut, before the cards were deftly passed to each player.
"It must be nice to be able to shuffle and deal that well. With my arthritis I can't do that." Melissa looked at her knurled hands.
"I've been playing cards since I was a child. I'm sorry about your arthritis."
"Me too. I taught Harry everything he knows."
"Everything mother?' He smiled lovingly at her. "Did you ladies come to play cards or shoot the bull?" Harry elbowed Layla in the ribs.
She smiled. She enjoyed his male manner and the elbow sending another wave of current through her. I wonder if it means something besides the obvious. It was the only the second time they'd touched except to shake hands. His well kept hand and nails, and the lack of a wedding ring pleased her.
The second hand took much longer and all of them made comments about how bad their cards were. Harry went out first.
"What's the idea Harry? Gentlemen are supposed to allow ladies to win especially your mother. I was going to go out on my next turn." Melissa said throwing her cards into the pile.
"Mom, all's fair in love and cards." He chuckled, mixed the cards and beamed at Layla.
Layla and he touched hands as she cut the cards. For the third time she felt the power of his touch. He has soft, smooth hands and his after shave was heavenly. He's well kept for a man his age.
Play went quickly with the number of wins about even.
"Shirley, Melissa, it's time for lunch," an aid said.
"Where has all the time gone," Shirley asked looking around the table.
"Time flies when you're having a good time." Melissa looked at Shirley.
Layla and Harry glanced at each other.
"You ladies do know that two can play this game?
"Of course, Harry, do you think we're ninnies? His mother asked.
"While our mothers eat may I treat you to lunch?"
She looked at him with anxiety because of his affect on her. She hesitated." Ya...yes, thank you that would be nice."
* * *
Harry offered his arm as they walked to the parking lot, Layla took it.
She thought they made a good looking couple: she was a five foot six inches tall blond, and he stood something over six meet with brown-gray hair. I wouldn't mind this being a permanent picture she thought. "It seems as though the cards may have stopped or at least improved the relations between our mothers."
"It seems that way and I hope it continues. Do you have a preference for lunch? There's a dinner near here I frequent you might like."
"Since you're treating, I'll let your decide. Don't drive too fast. I don't like to go fast or in a lot of traffic."
"I'll drive carefully and the speed limit. I don't want to lose you," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
I hope that statement has a double meaning. Layla thought, as she got into her Camry.
He carefully led her to Millie's dinner on Tappan's Road. It was in an older home surrounded by pine trees. "It's difficult to find a restaurant that isn't part of a chair," he said as she joined him in the parking lot.
Upon entering Millie's a young lady behind the counter said, "Harry, it's nice to see you. Would you like a table for two?"
"Yes that would be nice. Sandra this is Layla Simpson.
"Nice to meet to you Layla, Harry is one of our best customers. What would you like to drink?" She asked as they sat.
"I'd like some decaf coffee."
"I'll have the same." He sat across from her with his elbows on the table.
She liked the way he looked at her. His handsome face and brown eyes were a picture of a confident likeable male.
The restaurant was decorated in a pleasant homey style. She could tell the interior had been designed by a woman.
"What do you do when you're not visiting your mother?" He learned forward as though eager to hear what she had to say.
"I'm the credit manager at the Tar Heel State Bank. I've been there since my late husband died. What about you?"
"I'm a salesman for a small manufacturing company that makes tools."
They ordered and were sipping on their coffee when a beautiful buxom woman probably in her middle thirties in an apron that smelled of fresh bread came to the table and hugged Harry.
"It's good to see you Harry and with a lady for a change."
"Millie this is a friend of mine Layla Simpson."
"Layla, I saw him first and I've got my eye on him. I'll give you a chance but don't take too long. A guy like Harry isn't going to stay single much longer."
Layla blushed. She didn't know what to say.
Harry said, "Thank you Millie. You've embarrassed both of us, now you can return to the kitchen."
"I'm just telling her the truth." She kissed him on the cheek and walked away her slender hips swaying to and fro.
