When I saw what she was wearing my eyes nearly popped out of my head. Something was going on. She was forty two years old, but she was dressed like a much younger woman. In clothes that showed off her body. That was unusual for her, because her normal attire was a lot less revealing than what she currently had on.
"Who's the lucky guy?"
"What do you mean?"
I looked again at what she was wearing, taking my time so that she would realise what I was doing. She had on a tight blouse with a plunging neckline and a very short skirt. She looked good enough to eat. When I had finished, she was still trying to keep up the pretence that she didn't know what I was implying.
"It's just a date, and only our third one."
Said casually, with a dismissive wave of her hand, but she wasn't fooling me. I might only be nineteen, but I wasn't naive. When a woman is dressed like my Mother is now, she is going out on a date, that however it starts, is going to eventually end up in the bedroom!
"So, who's the lucky guy?"
"James, can we please stop this interrogation?"
What she'd said, and the irritation in her voice, told me that it was time to stop teasing her.
"OK, and I hope you have a good time."
When she gave me her best smile, I knew that she'd forgiven me. Then her face changed, her expression telling me that she'd suddenly remembered something.
"Aren't you going out as well?"
I was, but unlike my Mother, I was happy to talk about it.
"I'm seeing Roxy," and then, because I was young and arrogant, I confidently declared, "Tonight's her lucky night!"
"You're just like your Father," was her response to that.
Shortly after, she was gone, and I was still deciding whether comparing me with my Father, who had left her a year ago for a much younger woman, was a compliment or an insult.
An hour later I was out, on my way to meet Roxy. She was one sexy lady, but clothes weren't important to her. Tonight, as on our two earlier dates, I was expecting her to be in jeans and a t-shirt. Both of them baggy rather than tight. Functional rather than stylish or sexy. I'd prefer her to be dressed like my Mother. In clothes that showed off her body. Then I chuckled, whatever Roxy was wearing tonight was irrelevant, because all of it would be coming off!
-
I was back home early, just after ten. I was surprised to see Mother in the living room. She looked as unhappy as I felt. For several seconds we just looked at each other, both of us taking it all in. Without needing to ask, I could tell that her date had been as disappointing as mine. I sat down next to her on the sofa, and then I put my arm around her.
"How bad was it?" I asked.
Her lips trembled as she quietly uttered, "A disaster. A complete and utter car crash."
"Mine as well."
Then she suddenly stood up, so quickly that it startled me.
"I'll make both of us a coffee, and then we can talk about our WONDERFUL evening."
Despite feeling as low as a snake's belly, I had to laugh.
The coffee was too strong, almost undrinkable, but I told her that it was perfect, and that brought a flicker of a smile to her face.
"Tell me what happened."
It took her some time to compose herself, and then, after taking a deep breath, she started.
"I really thought that he liked me. That he wanted more than just a casual relationship. I was stupid enough to think that if I wore some revealing clothes, and some sexy underwear, that he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off me."
That was uncomfortable to hear. My Mother, a very private person, was opening up to me. Talking about her sexual needs. However, despite that, I wanted her to continue. If she was happy to talk about it then I was willing to listen, no matter how upsetting it might be.
"Did I wear the wrong clothes?"
I shook my head. Definitely unsuitable for a job interview at a bank or one for any other financial institution, but perfect for what she had in mind. To entice a man.
My Mother is a shapely woman. She has impressive curves in all the right places. A forty two year old that can still turn heads. Tonight, she was dressed to show off her body. It should have worked, but surprisingly it hadn't.
"At first, he was charming, even flirting with me, but then, what had been a romantic date at a very expensive restaurant, suddenly became a business meeting. He started talking about a company that I should invest in. And he was giving me the hard sell. Telling me that it was too good an opportunity to miss. All I needed to do was hand over one hundred and fifty thousand to him and he would sort it out."
I was now worried. We were well-off, but that wasn't an insignificant amount. Had she agreed to it? Or worse, foolishly already given him the money?
While trying to stay calm, I asked, "So what did you do?"
"I said no, that I wasn't interested."
That was a relief.
"But he wouldn't stop. That's when the penny dropped."
"What do you mean?"
"That's when I realised that our two previous dates had been leading up to this. He didn't want me, he just wanted my money. I'd been stupid to believe that he, a very handsome young man, would find me attractive."
She was now tearful, and my heart was breaking. I didn't know what to say to console her, so I just reached out and held her hand. Then the words came to me.
"You're wrong, Any man would be lucky to have you."
That got a smile from her, but it didn't last long.
"OK, so he was after my money, but he could at least have waited until he'd fucked me!"
After hearing that my face must have been a picture, because it made her laugh.
I let her finish, before asking, "So how did it end?"
"With him storming out of the restaurant, leaving me to pay the bill."
I muttered a few obscenities under my breath while thinking about what I'd like to do to him. That amused her.
"Now it's your turn."
She'd told it as it was, so she was going to get the same from me.
"I struck out as well. I thought that I'd be staying the night at her place, but I couldn't have been more wrong."
That got me a loving pat on the knee to encourage me to continue. It was a nice gesture and I appreciated it, even though it wasn't necessary.
"It started out OK. We were in a bar, not drinking heavily, just enjoying each other's company. However, when we were about to leave to go to her place, somebody came over to our table. Roxy made the introductions. He was Dave, an old friend of hers. Then I made the mistake of asking him to join us."
"And that's when it all went wrong?"
I nodded.
"From then on, all her attention was towards him. It was as if I didn't exist. When it got too much for me I told them that I was leaving. They didn't bother trying to convince me to stay. And I'll bet that they're now in bed together. That bastard has taken my place."
When you pour your heart out to somebody it's supposed to make you feel better, but not in this case. I still felt like a failure. I was a tough guy, full of confidence, but tonight my ego had been seriously bruised.