Dating During Lockdown - Love Under Lockdown

Polly was calling for me. Quiet but clear, even through the door that separated us. I went to get her up.

“What would you like for breakfast?” I asked, getting Polly into her highchair.

“Baby thakths!”

Realizing she had said “baby shakes” and not “baby cakes,” I tried to fathom how I could whip up such a concoction. Meegan had a blender, of course. She basically subsisted on a liquid diet, cooked food taking time and energy she just didn’t have.

What Leif had actually put into his special smoothie to get her to drink it down so fast, I hadn’t the foggiest. I decided to wing it, grabbing bananas and whatever fruits I could find and shoving them in the blender, hoping the result would pass Polly’s taste test.

“Yummy!” she exclaimed, declaring her approval. Rarely had I ever been so relieved.

Bellies full, we went for a walk. It was healthy for both of us – exercise for me and additions to her vocabulary for Polly. Most of the urban wildlife was pretty tame. I could only hope it would be a good long while before she had occasion to learn the word “skunk.”

I thought I was dreaming. There was no way he was actually there. Riding his bike. Dressed much the same as he had been before, except with a much less scary shirt. He smiled at us almost as though he had been expecting to see us.

“Liff!” Polly rejoiced with all her little soul.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Leif said, hopping down off his bike, remaining a good six feet back.

I had only known him for a few days, but I wanted to run to him. To hold him and kiss him and feel his warmth against me. But I didn’t.

I knew it would be a bad idea to throw myself at a guy like that in general, and it could also get us a citation from one of the patrols that had recently taken to prowling the park like lions on the savannah, pouncing on the unruly or unwary.

“Where Liff go?”

“Huh?”

I looked around, realizing Leif had disappeared. His bike was still on the grass. Only when I saw him waving from a nearby tree did I realize what was going on. My heartbeat slowed to a more regular rate.

“You’d better go find him.”

“Liff!” Polly called, toddling off in pursuit.

She was nearly around the tree before he scooted back to the front. They repeated the process, Leif always seconds ahead, before popping out and making himself known. Much to Polly’s delight; her gleeful giggling followed each reveal.

“Find Liff!” Polly declared, toddling back to me at full speed.

“Good job, baby.”

“Where are you headed?” Leif asked.

“From the park or in life?”

“Both, if you like.”

I was silent for a second, not really expecting that to be his answer, despite my flippant question. He actually seemed to be interested, which was a refreshing change.

“We were headed home. Just needed some fresh air, you know?”

“Yeah, actually. It was pretty much the same for me. I’m working from home these days, but I just needed to get out before I started climbing the walls. I love my job but there’s only so much one can take. I am but flesh and blood.”

“Can we see you again?” I asked, a bit of desperation seeping out.

“Yeah, of course. Will you be here tomorrow?” he asked.

“Yes, and at home tonight.”

“In your robe?”

He had lowered his tone so only I could hear.

“If you like.”

“I would, my pet.”

“Yes, sir,” I whispered, feeling a familiar thrill.

He grinned at me, something in his smile promising new and exciting pleasures later. I hurried home in a daze, only to realize that Polly and I weren’t alone after I had unburdened myself of the stroller and my shoes.

Meegan.

The reckoning was fast and intense. She wielded the empty wine bottle in her hand like a weapon. The fury of a raging fire glowed in her eyes. She was actually growling a little.

“Mommy!” Polly cried, hiding behind me.

“Who is he?”

“Who is who?” I blinked innocently.

“Don’t give me that crap! You downed the entire bottle! You only do that when there’s a guy. Do you have a secret boyfriend?”

“Not exactly,” I said, not sure precisely what was going on with Leif. Other than that I might be starting to love him, of course.

“Give me some details,” Meegan said, calming down.

“I met a guy in the park the other day. I was walking with Polly and he passed by on his bike and we kind of just hit it off.”

I felt like her eyes were melting me into the ground. I never wished I had the money to move out more than right then. Alas, I was an unemployed single mom and that just wasn’t realistic.

“His bike,” Meegan said flatly, arching her eyebrow.

“Yeah. A really nice one, actually. We went on a picnic yesterday. He had two blankets and two baskets set six feet apart. It was really neat.”