Mom looked great. All made up, her hair perfect, smiling broadly for my camera. She and Charlie were tying the knot after dating for years, and I couldn't be happier.
After Dad died, Mom fell into a funk. She seemed to have lost the will to live. Still a young woman at 40, and with me as her only family, she was pretty down.
Then, she met Charlie. He was older, and at first I made fun of the old man, teasing Mom about being a gold-digger. She'd laugh and say, "Johnny, we're just friends," but I knew that was changing, and good for her! It took ten years, but she was happy.
I moved out at 21, when I saw she was okay without me, and Charlie picked up the slack, visiting, taking her to dinner, then on vacations, and finally he asked her and she said yes.
So, the ceremony was at City Hall, with me as the Best Man, and Charlie's sister, Rose as her Matron of Honor. Rose was about 50 also, a widow herself, and I had just met her, although Mom had gotten to know her. Mom said I'd like her, so I tried to be nice to her, with small talk, but we really didn't have anything in common.
We were dressed in suits and dresses, not gowns, and after the "I Do's", we went to a steak house for a big lunch, before they were flying to the Caribbean. I noticed Rose having more than a couple with our meals, laughing at nothing, with a silly grin on. She was attractive, and she and Mom could have been classmates, their ages so similar. Mom winked at me more than once, as if to say, 'don't worry, it's almost over,' while I kept glancing at Rose's chest. Her red dress plunged in the front, more suited for a younger woman, but she filled it out well. It turned out she was a barmaid, and I surmised, had a few too many at work regularly.
We loaded into my SUV and headed for the airport, Rose and I in front, with the newlyweds smiling at each other in back. Rose's dress was running high, but I wasn't complaining: I love a show, especially by full-figured babes, what they call flashy women. Not sluts, but close to it. I knew Rose hadn't been celebate since her divorce, for sure!
We dropped them off at the terminal. Since "9-11" it's impossible at airports, so we said our goodbyes at curbside, and off we went.
"So, Rose, where can I drop you?" I asked, as we headed back to town.
"I don't know about you, but I could go for another drink. My treat." She was looking at me, smiling.
"Oh, Jeez, don't you have a long drive?"
"Yeah, but I'll stay tonight. That motel wasn't bad last night, and I'd rather drive in daylight.
But, if you got plans, Johnny, forget it, I don't expect you to babysit for me. I'm a big girl, in case you hadn't noticed."
I looked over and she thrust her chest out and laughed. "Very big!"
I grinned. I liked the risque chat, always enjoying saucy waitresses and barmaids who used their assets to their advantage. And they were big!
"Oh, no, I was just concerned about your drive... Which motel are you at?"
"Quality, on Route 37. Don't feel obligated, Honey, you're a young man, and hanging with someone your mom's age, can't be too exciting.
There's a lounge at the place. I'm sure I'll strike up a conversation with some lost soul, I always do!"
"Believe me, you're nothing like my Mom, she's way too straight-laced. Charlie brings her out a bit, but she'd never travel alone, let alone go into a bar by herself."
"Well, Darlin', we are who we are." She patted my hand on the console. "I'm used to dealing with men mostly. I feel most comfortable with men, I don't know why. Not young hunks like you much anymore, but in my day, I had a following."
I grinned. "I bet you still do, I should come down to your place some time."
"I'd like that, Johnny! Charlie's the only family I got, and your mom now, too. Hey, are we related now? You and me?"