Author's Note:
This is a chronological story of an incestuous, romantic relationship between a mother and son. If this is not your bag, move on! All characters are over 18.
Part 6. Elaine and David move and start cultivating a social life together.
November was a blur! The first week, we went and looked at condos. The 3
rd
one we toured was it! It was just what we were looking for! The building was a 15-year-old building in Pacific Heights. The exterior was somewhat modern, but the condo itself was a Mediterranean theme. The walls were plastered with trowel marks, rough beams on the ceiling, and a free-standing, gas fireplace. It was ornate cast iron with a weathered copper flue. The master bedroom was about the size of our living room in the apartment! There are two other rooms, one a bedroom and the other an office. The master bath had a large Jacuzzi tub with a shower. The master bedroom had a huge walk-in shower. The floor was a composite hardwood with a light roan finish. The northern side of the apartment had picture windows all along the wall, along with a rather large balcony. Elaine fell in love with it as did I.
Elaine and I had birthdays 7 days apart. Hers was on the 2
nd
and mine was on the 9
th
, so we celebrated our birthdays together. The 'Dickhead', aka Eric Howe, my father hasn't been with me for a birthday in 10 years! Oh well, fuck him! He didn't know what he had! Elaine made a reservation at an Italian restaurant in North Beach that we both love. We went to dinner a couple days after my birthday and I was going to order my first legal drink. I was to meet Elaine at work, then on to the restaurant. She was just inside the lobby when I arrived. We took a cab to the restaurant. It was a popular place and pretty full. The restaurant was a long rectangle. Mom reserved one of the booths in the back. A bit quieter and away from the bar. On Friday and Saturday night, all the folks from the 'old country' sing virtuoso's of 'Santa Lucia', 'Ave Maria' and opera. Some are very nice, others not so much. The hostess sat us at our booth. A minute later, a waiter appear asking if we wanted something from the bar.
"I'll have a Glenfiddich, neat." She directed.
"I would like a Bombay Martini, not too dry and in a low ball glass," I said with a bit of confidence.
"Excellent choice sir!" He finished writing the order and left.
"That was a
gyp
!" I exclaimed.
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't get carded!" She chuckled.
"I guess it's your mature, confident image you project."
"I'm
certain
that's it!"
"Whether you realize it or not, you've matured quite a bit in a short time!"
"Maybe so. I'll think on it."
The drinks arrived and we turned our attention to the menu. We ordered a half platter of Antipasti. The full order could feed 6 people! This restaurant was 'Italian family style', all your food on platters. It was really nice for big parties! Elaine ordered the Chicken Marsala. I decided on the surf and turf. A small rib-eye with a bunch of Dungeness crab legs. Mom ordered a bottle of Burgundy.
While we waited for the Antipasti, she reached into her bag and produced a small box with a ribbon on it. I took her present from my coat pocket and we slid them over to each other. We did rock-paper-scissors to see who would open first. She lost. We have always been competitive.
"
Oh Deev, you went all out on the wrapping again!
" It was a long-standing joke. When I was about 9, I had her birthday present, but no wrapping paper. All I could find was a brown paper shopping bag and manila twine to tie it. Ever since then, that's how I wrap her birthday present in brown paper every year. Each year I have become more precise. She took off the twine and folded paper. I didn't use any tape. She turned over the 5"x7" box and lifted the lid off. She unfolded the tissue paper. I had found a vintage-looking cigarette case at a shop in the City. It was gold anodized stainless steel with a long Art Deco, stylized 'ribbon' down the length of the case. On the ribbon, two-thirds of the way down was a circle and I had an 'E' engraved in it. The 2 borders along the ribbon were engraved with Art Deco style Acanthus leaves. Beside it was a gold Colibri lighter.
"David......this is beautiful! Thank you!" She squeezed my hand. She opened the case. It had a nicely engineered latch and bar on each side of the case to hold the cigarettes. The hinge was a piano style. She put it in her bag.
"I thought someone of your sophistication shouldn't carry her cigarettes in something a little more
you
!"
"Why thank you love!"
"Ok, now yours." I opened the box and inside was a money clip; a very nice one! It was gold with 'D' engraved on it. I picked it up and as I did, I noticed a corner of a piece of paper under cotton. I snaked it out. It was a folded ad from one of my astronomy magazines. It was a picture of a telescope. I looked at her.
"You can get rid of your 'stylish' folder clip for your cash! We'll go back to the camera store and you can pick out anything you want. Get all the accessories, cases, whatever!"
I picked up her hand and kissed it.
"Thank you! I don't know what to say." She just smiled.
"When we're settled in, we'll go north and do some viewing under clear skies."
"That sounds like an excellent plan!" I replied.
I was putting the box to the side and I noticed another piece of paper under the cotton. I looked at Elaine and she smiled. I removed it.
"Excuse me!
A Brazilian wax?
"
"David, I love you more than life itself. That
nasty
body hair has to go!"
"You know, they're laws in this state about deforestation!"