In memory of my editor, adetaildiva.
*
Sunday after church I called Nan and asked her to dinner that evening. Nothing much was said until we had our drinks.
"I'm sorry about the other night," she started.
"Nan, I think we need to break this off."
"No. I don't want to. I admit I made a mistake. I shouldn't have ignored you like that."
"Nan, wait. It's not about the other night, although that triggered it. You're a great woman and some day you'll find a man who's just right for you. I'm not that man."
"It's that other bitch, isn't it? What did she say?" Her voice was rising. A couple nearby looked at us.
"Nan, it's me. I'm a lot older than you. You need someone younger. You'll find someone."
"You bastard!" The whole restaurant could hear now. "You had your playtime and now you're gonna leave!" She threw her drink in my face and followed it with her ice water into my lap as she rose. "Don't you EVER call me, you son of a bitch!"
I stayed seated as she stormed out. We were only a few blocks from her apartment. She could walk back at this time of night or catch a cab. This was a first for me. I'd been yelled at before, even in public. But I'd never had a drink thrown in my face. I thought that happened only in movies. And an ice water after that? Nan was creative.
I signaled the waiter and he brought over a bar towel and then went to ring up the check. I gave him a good tip, so he didn't suffer by having his table turn over so quickly.
When I got back to the house, Linda was still in the process of getting Bobby in bed. I grabbed the phone and went in to my study.
"Jean? Hi. It's Jack. I just wanted to make sure you got back okay."
"Well, being able to take a few comp hours means I missed the traffic out. Rebecca and I stopped south of Fredericksburg for an early supper. That put us in Richmond after their rush hour, so it was an easy trip. Mom and Dad were great to be with and I got to see my brother and his wife. The twins are just adorable."
"That's great. Um, look, I wanted to ask you about next weekend. I thought maybe Friday we'd take the kids to Chuck E. Cheese. If you and Rebecca could bring overnight bags, we'll take the kids to the Zoo for the Christmas display. Then I'm sure Linda would enjoy spending time with both kids and we can go out to dinner."
There was a distinct pause.
"Wait, I'm confused over dates here. You want to go to Chuck E. Cheese, the Zoo, and take me to dinner on which day?"
"Friday, Chuck E. Cheese with the kids. Saturday during the day, Zoo with the kids. Saturday night, us alone wherever you want to be."
"Friday night with the kids. Saturday day with the kids. Saturday night, just us." I could hear a dawning realization in her voice.
"Yes and I'd like you and Rebecca to spend the weekend here."
"Jack, we'd love to."
Since we were coming from different directions, on Friday Jean and Rebecca met Bobby and me at Chuck E. Cheese. Once we had ordered, the kids were allowed to go to a nearby game.
Conversation between Jean and I was mundane until after the pizza had been served and the kids returned to the nearby games. "Where were you thinking about going tomorrow night?" she asked. I named a restaurant in Arlington that was very upscale.
"Jack, that's very expensive."
I took her hands in mine. "This week I want to celebrate you coming back to me from Richmond. Next week I want to take you out for a Christmas celebration and then on Christmas Eve, I'd like to get a baby sitter for the kids and take you and Linda out for a special meal before we go to Midnight Service."
"Did you think Rebecca and I were moving back home?"
"No, but I still want to celebrate."
"Okay, but I don't want to have another fancy dinner next Friday night."
"Well then, let me cook a spaghetti dinner at your place Friday night and I'll take you out Saturday night."
"So, two weekends in a row you want to take me out Friday and Saturday nights."
"Yes."
"Is this going to change again in January?"
"Possibly. I would like to think of a way to get together with you and the kids on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, but I haven't come up with a reasonable approach."
"What about my competition?" There. She had asked the question that she needed answered. I felt her hands tighten in mine.
"You have no competition. I decided and finalized that last weekend while you were away. That's one of the reasons we're celebrating this weekend. At least I hope we're celebrating." Her hands gripped mine harder. Was it possible she had changed her mind? Had I let her slip away by not being decisive?
Suddenly, she relaxed and broke into a shy smile. "Say that again."
"You have no competition. I was foolish not to see it earlier." She leaned across the table for a kiss and I gave her a short one. "Later, I'll improve on that."
"I hope so."
The kids played for a while. About 7:30 we rounded them up and bundled them into their respective cars. I followed Jean to my house. We decided to skip baths tonight and just tuck them into bed. After I finished reading a story, Jean and I kissed both of them and retreated to the den.
"Linda out clubbing again?" It tickled Jean that a fifty-five year-old woman was out dancing every Friday night for three or four hours.