When I met Linda it could be said that she was a good catch.
Being a woman in her early fifties and tripping on a kerb whilst running to catch a bus, I, like the good Samaritan, was there to catch her and break her fall.
She could not thank me enough. But she was shaky and shocked having gashed her knee on the bus stop sign. I tended her, lifting her under her arms to ensure she was okay to walk.
I thought the best thing I could do was to give her a lift to her home in MY car. At first she declined looking to be the independent type. But I insisted.
She told me that I reminded her of her son who, with his family, had emigrated to Australia.
"My name is Linda by the way, and thank you again for saving me from something that might have been tragic and you are very kind to lift me home, the least can do is ask you in for coffee, erm?
"Jason" I said assuming her question."
She said my smile captivated her.
"You even smile like David - David is my son's name."
"I shall be delighted to take up your offer, Linda, so long as you don't take advantage of me" I joked.
But Linda blushed: "I hope you don't think...?"
"Not at all" I replied again assuming her question. "I take the offer as you obviously mean it with no strings attached" I laughed.
Now she realised I was teasing her. The look on her face said it.
"I wonder where that saying came from, Jason? She queried.
"No idea, but I guess everybody knows what it means."
"How old are you Jason?"
"Old enough" I winked.
Linda blushed again. Perhaps she fancied me. Well I had a mate who had settled with a much older woman who tells me she makes really good sex.
I eventually said that I was 25 on his last birthday, the day Janice dumped me..
"I am so sorry. If you don't mind my saying, she must have been mad to dump a nice handsome guy like you."
"Thanks for that" I retuned happily. At first I did miss her but now I have got used to being single.
"Oh! You were married then Jason?"
"No, it is just a figure of speech."
By the time I left Linda's for home, ensuring she was alright, having bandaged her knee, when she showed me a little more thigh than I think she meant to. Or did she? - We had become quite close. I discovered comfort in exchanging stories about our lives.
So much so that, when Linda invited me to call again I was delighted. She was so easy to speak with and besides, I had a sort of yearning for her. We spent quality time together, just being with each other and this went on for another two visits,.
The third time I visited was on a Sunday afternoon.
"I usually take a nap on a Sunday" Linda announced.
"Oh! Right, if you'd rather me go then Linda and let you have your constitutional nap, I can make it another time?"
"Not at all, Jason. I value your company too much."
He wondered then why she said that; about having a nap on a Sunday. Perhaps it was a hidden invitation or perhaps not. And anyway; why was I thinking like that? She was old enough to be my mum.
Next time we met, Linda seemed down, she had been crying that was evident and always the good Samaritan, I asked what was the matter and could he help.
"I am just being silly. It was Bob's birthday today you see. I get so emotional even now although he has been ten years gone."
I instinctively joined her on the settee, put my arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
"Bob was your other half eh?"
"He was my husband; we'd been married twenty years until he foolishly killed himself in a motor crash."
We didn't talk awhile. Linda snuggled into my chest and said quietly that she felt better now she had me.
I quickly moved from her side, - what did she mean?
"But you are old enough to be my Mum" I announced.
"I am being silly Jason, Ignore me, I was thinking perhaps that you could feel for me differently than as a mum. Is she still alive and I am so sorry if I offended you?"
"You didn't really Linda. It is simply that my mindset thinks of you as a mother image."