“Isn’t there any way that I can get your father to feel better about your being with me, so I can take you out on a real date?”
“Maybe later. Let me think about it,” I said, hoping that would satisfy him.
He looked at his watch. “You still have a little time, don’t you? Let’s just talk, then. Tell me more about yourself. What happened to your real mother?”
“Cancer,” I said. How convenient and all-encompassing that word could be.
“Oh, sure. Well, what about your current father? Where’s his wife? How was he able to adopt you if he didn’t have a wife?” he asked.
“His sister lives with us,” I said. “She’s been… she’s been our mother.”
“That’s weird. Your father never married?”
“Yes, he did. His wife died.”
“Oh. And so he didn’t give you back afterward, since his sister was there?”
“Something like that,” I said.
“Something like that? Funny way to put it.”
“It’s not something I question, Buddy. Imagine asking ‘Why did you keep me?’”
“Yeah, I see your point. You said you have a younger sister. So he legally adopted her, too?”
“Yes.”
“So, Ava is the daughter your father had with his wife before she died?”
“Yes.”
I looked at my watch. “I had better go. If I’m not home when Ava returns with my younger sister…”
“Okay,” he said, rising. “Should I call you tonight?”
“I’ll call you,” I said. “It’s very important that Ava not know about us, Buddy.”
“You do make her sound dangerous. What is she, some kind of psychotic?”
“She’s… a very jealous person. She can be very mean, yes, and she would do something to get me into big trouble.”
He nodded and walked me out. We stood by my car for a moment. He just looked at me.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re so full of mystery and contradictions. I’m frustrated, but I’m also even more attracted to you.” He pretended to look around. “You sure we’re not on some kind of reality show here?”
“Hardly,” I said, laughing. He was so cute, his passion for me so obvious. I leaned in and kissed him. He kept his eyes closed after I pulled back.
“I want to savor every kiss,” he said. “Pack it tightly into my memory so I’ll be able to relive it while I’m away from you. Suffering, I might add.”
I got into my car.
“You’ll call me later? You promise?”
“Let’s not turn everything into a promise,” I said. “Too much opportunity for disappointment.”
“Hey… that’s deep. You are a woman of mystery. Okay, I’ll keep my cell phone in the pocket next to my heart.”