CHAPTER 10: MY FUNNY VALENTINE
"Can't you at least give me a hint where we're going?" Aileen asked from the bedroom as Colin emerged from the bathroom wearing only a towel around his waist after taking a shower.
"Nope," Colin said smiling mischievously. "All you need to know is to wear something nice, I have this whole evening planned out for us." Colin called back to his mother then went to his old bed room to finish drying off and get dressed.
Colin had been planning this occasion for over a month. He wanted it to be as special as possible. This was the first Valentine's Day he got to spend with his mother since they became lovers. He wanted it to have special meaning and for her to remember it always. It had all ready started off wonderful. They had woken up late and spent the remainder of the morning in bed making gentle love with each other.
After thoroughly drying himself Colin tossed aside his towel and pulled on his boxer shorts and a white tee shirt, he then went to work combing his russet hair trying to make it neat as possible. The suit he was going to wear tonight was laid out on the bed. It was his best suit, a navy blue pinstripe, and he was wearing his royal blue tie with it. Colin finished dressing and checked himself out in the mirror to make sure his tie was straight.
"My, don't you look handsome." Colin turned around to see his mother standing in the doorway and his jaw dropped. She was wearing a turquoise chiffon gown; it only had one strap going over her left shoulder holding up a bodice adorned with turquoise and silver beads and with a sheer insert at the top that allowed an enticing glimpse of her magnificent cleavage. The gown fell all the way to the floor and was form fitted to her curvaceous body. Not only that, her long scarlet hair hung in loose curls draped down her back and was pushed back over her ears to reveal silver earrings with turquoise stones that matched her dress. Her lips were rose red and there was the slightest hint of blush on her porcelain cheeks. She looked absolutely stunning.
"My God, you are beautiful!" Colin sputtered when he was finally able to speak.
"So this is nice enough for tonight?" Aileen asked with an impish grin.
"If it were any nicer I don't think we'd make it out of the apartment," Colin said. "Right now I've half a mind to scuttle the plans I made and spend the entire night here making love to you."
"Hmmm, that doesn't sound too bad," Aileen said stepping up to Colin so her bosom was almost in contact with his chest and running her hand up and down his jacket sleeve.
"No, it doesn't sound bad at all," Colin said. "But tonight is your night to be shown off to the world and my night to be seen as the luckiest man in the world to have a woman like you."
"Colin, you know once we leave this apartment we can't act as a couple," Aileen stated.
"I've taken care of that, you have to trust me," Colin said.
"You know I trust you with all my heart," Aileen said.
"I know," Colin said smiling. "So let's get going!" Colin said as he helped his mother on with her coat. "What's wrong mom?" Colin asked as he noticed the frown on her face.
"Oh, I was just thinking about Sheryl, I feel bad for her," Aileen said. "For Seth to have done what he did to her and on the day before Valentine's Day! I didn't think my opinion of him could get any lower. Now she's going to be all alone."
"She's not going to be alone," Colin said.
"What do you mean?"
"I've made arrangements for someone to take her to the school dance and keep her company tonight." Colin said.
"How did you get someone to do that for you on such short notice?" Aileen asked.
"I have a friend who feels he owes me one..."
* * *
Colin led Aileen to the parking garage of their apartment building and to their Honda Civic. He opened the passenger door for her and once she was seated he closed the door and went around to the driver's side and climbed in. It was roughly three-thirty in the afternoon when they began their journey.
Aileen stayed silent as Colin drove through the streets of Philadelphia, but he could tell she was burning with curiosity as to their destination. When it was apparent they were leaving the bounds of the city Aileen turned to her son like she wanted to say something but then decided to stay silent. When Colin merged onto the New Jersey Turnpike heading north it was clear where their destination was.
"We're going to New York?" Aileen asked. Colin smiled and nodded. "What's in New York?"
"You'll see," Colin said.
"Arghhhhh!" Aileen cried. "You know how infuriating you're being?"
Colin took his mother's hand and pressed the back of it to his lips. "But you love me anyway," he said.
"Yes," Aileen sighed exaggeratedly. "I love you no matter what...even though you are driving me crazy!" Aileen said and Colin laughed.
The drive from Philadelphia to New York City takes a little less than two hours if traffic isn't too heavy. For the most part, the traffic seemed to be very forgiving for Colin and Aileen as they made good time. About a quarter after five, Manhattan came into view. The sun was setting behind the buildings giving a glowing halo to that magnificent skyline.
"It's so beautiful," Aileen remarked.
"Yes, it is," Colin had to agree. "But the most beautiful thing in the world is sitting right next to me." Aileen turned to him and gave him a radiant smile. "I love you," Colin said.
Aileen smiled and replied, "I love you too." Then she was thoughtful for a moment before she said, "You love me enough to tell me what you have planned now?"
