*Everyone in this fictional story is well over the age of 18.*
This is one of the first times I've written a story of this nature I've written for a specific person, and I am so grateful they immediately wanted this story included here. My Dear Friend, you mean a lot me and I'm appreciate you.
"Hey Mom," the text message read. "Let's do lunch. Just you and me. I'm thinking Constantine's." It was her favorite restaurant. Carrie sat there, staring at her phone, a mere step below awe-struck.
"Sounds wonderful. See you there at 1:30," she sent back. It made the next few hours difficult to concentrate. She told her boss she had family stuff that needed her attention, not technically a lie, and he approved her leaving early for the day.
She pulled into the parking lot beside Benji's pickup truck and walked into the dimly lit restaurant. Her son was sitting at a small table in the center of the room, showing off that great big happy smile. In front of him was a large bouquet of peonies flowers in several pastel colors. "Are those... for me?" She asked as he rose to hug her, his hand lingering on the small of her back. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sweet feeling of being held while he couldn't see her face.
"Course they are. For my favorite girl."
She took her seat, "And it looks like I get a few of my favorites today." He asked about her day at the office, which hadn't been very exciting. He was listening clearly, but she could tell there was something on his mind. Once they'd both placed their orders, she prompted, "Is this... lunch date for any specific occasion?"
He bobbed his head contemplatively, "I was hoping... Would you be ok if we talk about something kinda heavy?"
"Sure, Honey. What's on your mind?"
"I've been thinking about... when Dad was... about the routine you had with Dad when he would get home from work."
"Oh." Whatever she'd expected to hear was NOT that. She focused her eyes on her water glass. "Yeah. Your father... had his demands." It had been few years since she'd made him leave. There'd been hard times, like she knew there would be, but she'd managed on her own. She was proud those years were behind her.
Benji reached across the table and took his mother's hand on top of the white tablecloth. She smiled at the caring gesture. "He demanded you satisfy him as soon as he was through the door."
"Same time every day."
"And I used to get in the closet so I could watch the two of you."
She nodded softly, the first time either of them had ever acknowledged this out loud.
"And you knew I was watching because you always made sure he turned so he wouldn't look at the closet. And you used to make eye contact with me while he... had his way."
She squeezed his hand a bit tighter, not very comfortable with revisiting the memory, but committed to speaking to him with honesty. "I did."
"I never told you... why I used to come and watch you."
Carrie clenched her jaw and forced herself to meet Benji's eyes again. There was so much emotion there. She chose deliberately to reciprocate, "Why did you come to watch me?"
"I used to watch you because I wanted it to be me instead of him that you were with. When you used to suck his dick, I used to hold mine, dreaming of what it would feel like to have your lips wrapped around me. When he was inside of you, I would try to imagine if it was me instead, feeling your body. Mom... you are beautiful... inside and out... and I have loved you and wanted you for as long as I can remember."
If he hadn't been holding her hand in that moment, she might have trembled. As it was, her bottom lip did quiver, just slightly. Her eyes were locked on his, unblinking and unsure what to say.
He went on, "But... If it had been me... there with you... then I would have been so different than he was. Dad was so... demanding of you. So rough and so... he was awful to you Mom. Every day I watched him with you, I hated him more. You deserve so much better than him. You deserve to be worshiped and adored. You deserve someone dedicated to pleasing you and making you happy. That's what I wanted, Mom, when I would watch you. I wanted the chance to make love to you the way you deserve to be loved."
Carrie's eyes were brimming with tears. No one had ever spoken to her this way. She had absolutely no idea how to react, but she was fortunately saved by the server bringing their plates. Carrie forced a smile as she turned to the young woman and pulled her hand away to give her space to put down the hot food.
"You two make a really cute couple," the server said genuinely.
"Thanks," Benji said, as though the compliment were the most natural thing he'd ever heard. He was already reaching for his fork to take a bite. Carrie could only stare at the meal, watching the patterns the steam made as it dissolved into the air.
"There was more to it than that though. More than just me wanting you."
Internally, she didn't feel prepared to hear more, but she spoke anyway. "Go on."
His face scrunched thoughtfully as he brought up the memory. "I knew... I knew you didn't want to be with him, but you didn't feel like you had any choice. I could see you felt trapped and I know how awful it was to go through every day... I felt so bad for you. I wanted you to have something good in those moments. I wanted you to know I was there with you, that you weren't completely alone. When you used to look at me, it was like I could feel this connection between us, like we were both somewhere different, but we were together... Does that sound... weird, Mom?"
She let out a brief laugh, not so much that she was amused, but more that she didn't know how else to react. "No, Sweetheart. No, it doesn't sound weird at all. Actually, that's exactly the way I felt. I felt you there with me, and I wanted to be there with you and not with him. And you know what? You gave me strength. You made it easier to get through it, and ultimately you made me feel strong enough to give it a go without him. I know it took me a long time, but... Honey I couldn't have done it without you being there for me."
They locked eyes again for a time, then Benji returned his hand to hers. The silence felt instantly more comfortable. Carrie managed a few bites of her food, though she didn't have the same appetite as her son.
It was near the end of their meal when he finally declared, "I still want you, Mom. Every part of my being wants to make love to you and I want nothing as much as I want to love you the way you deserve."
She let out a slow breath. What sort of response do you give to that? She had none.
When he'd finished his meal, he asked for a to-go box for hers. He studied her face while he waited for the check. "Tell you what, Mom. I've... um... I got you something. It's at the house. How about you go home and put your flowers in water and I'll be right behind you, okay?"
She nodded and rose to her feet, taking the bouquet into her hands. "Thank you, Sweetheart."
He beamed up at her and nodded. "You're welcome. I'll see you at home."
Carrie walked out to the car and set the flowers down on the passenger seat. She drove home on autopilot, her mind simultaneously flooded with thoughts and completely blank. The most real thing in the world to her seemed to be those peonies. Her fingertips stroked their soft petals and she could not imagine a more soothing feeling.