Author's note. This is the part of what will be a longer story. Please email me at my profile with any feedback. This is a work of fiction. All characters are 18 years of age or older.
*****
With the last of our bags and boxes finally brought into our new apartment, mom and I both decided to take a break and settle down for a few minutes in our new apartment's kitchen. It was a very nice cozy little place. A far cry better than what we'd been living in back in Michigan.
"Can you believe it, we finally made it to Florida!" She exclaimed.
I could tell my mom was excited. I was too, actually.
Life had been pretty chaotic for us these past few months since dad died. It was a fresh start for the both of us. And we both needed a fresh start.
We both sat there pretty well exhausted from hauling all the boxes up stairs. This was a third floor apartment.
Let me catch you up to speed with everything.
My name is David Armstrong. I'm 21 years old, with short light brown hair and brown eyes, I stand at 5'10" and 180 lbs. Not muscular, but well-toned. I just completed Massage Therapist School.
My mother's name is Diane, she's a Beautician. She's 43 years old and as beautiful as ever with lovely green eyes and the smile of an angel, standing at 5'6" and 130 lbs, with long brown hair that extends just past her breast.
We've just completed relocating from Chessville Michigan to St. Cloud, Florida.
My dad, Tom Armstrong, was killed in a car accident a few months ago, and we'd finally received his Life Insurance payout of $500,000.00, and mom and I both have always wanted to live in Florida. Our plan is to start a Beauty & Massage Parlor business. She does hair, make-up, facials, and I do Massage Therapy. And now here we are sitting in our new kitchen, taking a break and catching our breath with a nice cup of coffee.
As mom and I looked out the window, we could see a few birds flying through the air, and there was a slight breeze blowing through the Palm trees, and the beautiful Florida Sunshine was starting to set. It was picture perfect. I just couldn't imagine it could get any better than this.
Mom and I both sipped on our coffees and looked out the window. Aside from the birds and palm trees, and the sun setting, there were only a few people down below walking and making their way along the towns sidewalks.
"Isn't this lovely?" Mom said in her typical dreamy voice.
"Yes, actually it was quite lovely." I answered.
I sat there, watching out of that window in my own dreamy eye sight.
The coffee tasted good, the music from the birds flying by was beautiful, and the sun seemed to be setting down slowly with a smile.
As I took another sip of my coffee, our doorbell rang. Although, it was really a 'ring'. It was more like a musical chime consisting of several Christmas bells.
Mom and I both looked at each other. We were brand new in this apartment. We didn't know anyone here yet, and therefore we weren't exactly expecting any company.
"Well, I guess we're already popular!" Mom said with her usual cheerful smile.
"Yeah I guess we are!" I answered back.
"Do you want to do the honors sweetie?" Mom asked.
I could tell that she was relaxed and she was also just as exhausted as I was. She was in no mood to get up.
"I'll get it mom." I said with a grin.
"Such a lovely son I have." She said while bringing her coffee back to her warm smiling lips.
*****
As I reached for the door handle, the bell rang again. I instinctively rolled my eyes.
'This must be an impatient person.' I thought to myself.
I opened the door, and there in front of me stood a woman who appeared to be in her 50's. I couldn't tell exactly. But she had to be at least 50. She was actually very pretty. She had shoulder length wavy brown hair, hazel colored eyes, and she was around 5'8" and probably weighed 160lbs.
"Hello!" She said with a loud and cheerful voice.
"Hi!" I said back.
Our smiles connected instantly, and so did our eyes.
"I'm Margaret Fuller, I live there!" She giggled as she turned her head and pointed back towards the door behind her.
She was our next door neighbor. She lived right across the hall.
"Well, hello Margaret, I'm David. David Armstrong. And I...'we' live right here!" I said with a laugh.
"Well, David, it's a pleasure to meet you!" She said again with her cheerful laughter.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you too!" I said.
I didn't even realize it, but I was holding out my hand for a handshake.
She extended her hand and began shaking mine.
Her hand felt warm and soft, and her smile was beautiful. I instantly took a liking to her.
"Sweetie, who's at the door?" I could hear mom calling to me from the kitchen.
"Mom, we have neighbor, her name is-" I stopped suddenly. I couldn't remember her name, even though she'd just told me a minute ago.
Margret giggled a little bit more and she still stood there shaking my hand.
"My name is Margaret, and you're name is 'David', remember?" She giggled.
"Oh yes, sorry, Margaret." I said. I could tell my face was turning red, and by the looks in her eyes, I could see that she could see that my face was turning red.
"David, why don't you introduce me to your mom!" She giggled again.
For a brief moment. There was some silence, and some awkwardness. But then our handshake finally broke, and I turned my head back toward the kitchen.
"Sweetie, aren't you going to bring our guest in?" Mom laughed from the kitchen table.
*****
"Hello!" Margaret said cheerfully with her out-stretched hand.
"I'm Margaret Fuller, your next door neighbor, and you are?" She asked with her cheerful smile.
Mom stood up from her chair and stretched out her hand and smiled.
"I'm Diane Armstrong. I'm his mom." My mom said with a bright smile and motioning to me.
Margaret looked back and forth between my mom and I for a few seconds before her eyes started looking at the one last chair sitting before her.
"Oh yes, please, please, have a seat, I'm sorry. I'm just so exhausted from the move, I think all of my manners have gone out the window. I'm sorry!" Mom said with red-faced embarrassment.
"No, don't be silly!" Margaret exclaimed.
"Well, I'm sure you've done a move or relocation at some point in your life, so I'm sure you know the feeling. This ain't fun sister!" Mom laughed while taking another sip of her coffee.
"Oh yes dear, I've done my fair share of moves. I don't want to do any more. I'm quite comfortable living right over here!" She laughed, pointing her right index finger over her shoulder toward door behind her.
"Well, Margaret, it's wonderful to meet you. How long have you lived here?" Mom asked.
"Well, my husband Ray passed a while back, and this is where I stetted. He had Cancer, and, well, it's a very long story. Let's just say, it's a wonderful sight to see you two here."
Mom looked at her with sadness in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry to hear that Margaret. Well, we're happy to have you as a neighbor!" My mom lifted her coffee cup as in a toast.
"Well, I'm sorry, but I don't have anything to toast with!" Margaret said with her cheerful smile.
"Oh my god, where are my manners!" Mom said. "Margaret, would you like a cup?"
"A small cup would be nice, thank you Diane." Margaret said with her lovely smile.
*****
The next two days passed with my mom and Margaret talking back and forth. It was actually a beautiful sight, those two women, just talking their womanly talk. They seemed to connect instantly, almost as if they'd been best friends for many years.
I watched outside the kitchen window as several more birds flew by and several more slight breezes danced their way through the palm trees, and I listened as my mom and Margaret simply talked their womanly talk and let their tongues spell out their own little dirty secrets. I sat there on that kitchen chair, with my own cup of coffee, as these two brilliant woman sat there and joked back and forth, talking and talking. And as I sat there, I realized how lucky I was, to have such a beautiful mother, with such an amazing personality, and here is this woman from across the hall, with an equally amazing and bubbly personality.
The only thing I knew about her at this point, is that her name is Margaret Fuller, and she's lived alone ever since her husband passed way from Cancer. And she's actually quite pretty.
From what I could see of her, she was a kind hearted, good and decent morale woman. And from what I also saw of her, I thought she'd make a great new friend.
I thought to myself, 'This is going to be the start of something beautiful.'
*****
As I was watching a few birds fly through the air, mom and Margaret's voices caught me.
"Hello! Earth to David!" I could hear both of them calling to me simultaneously.
They were both sitting there laughing at me.
"He's such a cutie!" Margaret said.
I think she thought I wasn't listening. But I was.
I was listening and watching.
"Yeah, he's probably out in his own world." My mom said with a smile.
"I think all guys are 'out in their own worlds' now days!" Margaret said with a laugh.
"Sweetie. If you're too tired, I can do the rest of the unpacking." Mom said.
Somehow, I suddenly came straight back to reality.
"Nah, don't be silly mom, I can handle it. Just sit there and enjoy yourself." I said, sitting upright.
"Well, I'm just saying, I can help!" Mom said.