Chapter 3 The following mid morning, the couple is sitting at the kitchen table. Ryan is at the 6 o'clock position and Lynne is at the 3 o'clock when her phone rings. They had finished breakfast only moments before. Hello Rose. Hi mom. After last evening, I didn't think I would hear from you for a few days. I thought you'd still be pouting. I was stupid for being angry at you and Ryan. I though there is no way my mother could allow herself to ever fall in love with another man after my dad passed away. To make it worse, she falls for a good looking guy half her age. I was wrong and stupid. I'm so sorry. Apology accepted. I was hoping you would come around sooner or later. So why did you call? How was last night? Did either of you get any sleep? When we finally got to sleep, it was around midnight. That was after we showered and I changed the sheets again. This morning we showered, brushed our teeth and. well, it was another hour before we dressed. That was after another shower and more oral hygiene. Damn mom! That's way too much information. So how's lover boy this morning? Excuse me?! Sorry. I meant Ryan. How is Ryan this morning? Oh. For a second I thought you were asking how was he this morning. You didn't ask, but I'll tell you anyway, absolutely wonderful. Gee mom, I really didn't want to hear that. Let me talk to him please. Lynne hands the phone to Ryan; Good morning Rose. I want to apologize for being such a bitch yesterday. There's no need but thank you. I know you were only looking out for your mom. If you had a wish right now; what would it be? To wake up every day like I did this morning. To feel the touch of your mothers body next to mine. To open my eyes and see the face of love smiling at me. To reach over, hold her hand while giving and receiving a good morning kiss with the woman I love. Wow! Let me talk to my mother.
Hello dear. Did he put your mind at ease? Yeah, he sure did. I believe I was totally wrong about him. So what are you planning for today? Well, with all the bed linen changes recently, I put on the last set this morning. So doing laundry is a priority along with a load of bath towels. Oh mom, too much information on the linens. Did you think of putting down some towels instead of changing the linens? Yes dear. That's why I have so many towels to wash. It's easier to replace towels than linens. Lynne chuckles as she tells her daughter; I'm so glad I used a little fabric softener on the towels. OMG mom! Next your going to talk about not sleeping on wet spots. You brought it up dear, I didn't. We need to change this line of conversation. I haven't had a companion for some time. I can assure you, I did without a man for over twenty five years and I survived. You'll live. I need to change this conversation right now. So what are you and Ryan doing this morning? I'm cutting his waffle and sausage patty while he cuts my pancake and sausage links. We're dressed in our sweats and feeding each other breakfast. I gotta go mom. This is too much horny talk this early in the day. Could you do me a favor while I have you on the phone? Sure; what do you need? Call your brother's, and this goes for you too. If you any of you call and I don't answer, don't worry. Ryan and I are otherwise occupied and we are not going to stop and answer the phone. And please, none of you come barging in my home unannounced again. I hope all of you can understand we require privacy now. Chuckling; Okay. I understand. You're a passionate woman with needs. Yes I am and I will say no more than that. Bye mom. Bye dear. Ryan looks to his love; Do you think she calmed down? She's being typical Rose. By the way; you're not working today are you? I didn't see your name on the
schedule for today. When they hired the new guy Tony, I moved up the ladder. I only work morning shift, Monday through Friday now. With her romantic smile; Good. I have some plans for us today. He grasps her hands while looking into her light brown eyes; May I tell you something? Anything you want. Remember Friday at work in the lunchroom talking and you put your hand on mine? I recall that clearly. I had been wanting to touch you for months. When I did, you turned beet red and I thought: this young man is going to jump two feet in the air. Why? You had my heart and soul the moment your hands touched mine. I felt so in love with you, I didn't think my love could get any deeper until you proved it could and it did and it's still growing. Ryan? Yes my love? Breakfast is finished. Why are we still here and not upstairs? As they arose from the chairs, he kisses her hand; Because a mere mortal man must allow the goddess of his dreams to go first. Especially while in her domain. She smiles, grasps his hand and off they went. Later that afternoon, her phone rings; Hello. Hi mom, it's number one son Arthur. I figured that when the caller ID said Arthur with your phone number. So whats on your mind this bright early late Sunday morning? It is still morning isn't it? I haven't looked at a clock yet today. Yes it's about nine thirty. It's cloudy and the weather is shitty. I guess you've been too busy to notice. Not busy, that insinuates work or burden. Joyfully occupied is a better description. I really didn't need to know that. Anyway, Henry, Rose and myself would like to invite ourselves over to your place for Sunday dinner around four. No. I don't feel like cooking for seven adults and your children on a moments notice. What's gotten into you? No no no, that's not what I meant. Lena is at her mother's place with the kids. Henry's wife is glad to get him out of the house for a few hours. Rose doesn't have a boyfriend. I'll side step on that issue. We
were thinking to stop somewhere and buying a couple party boxes of chicken with sides and visiting with you and Ryan. There's silence on the phone before Arthur continues; That's if you two can refrain from being consenting adults long enough to eat dinner. I mean there has to be a few breaks during the day. Alright. Since you put it that way, four o'clock it is. Mom, you're not going to pass out from exhaustion this evening are you? No smart ass. There may be streaks of show on the roof, but there sure is fire in this furnace. I really didn't need to hear that from my mother. While I'm thinking of it, order the chicken half regular and half crispy. I like both, but I'm not sure what Ryan likes. Ask Ryan what he would for sides. I would, but I put fresh sheets on the bed earlier. He's upstairs sleeping like a baby. Oh. It's better you leave him sleep. It sounds like he needs to keep up his energy. Oh yes he does. I love watching a man sleep with a smile on his face. I almost forgot how afterwards, men rollover and go to sleep. An elongated and almost sarcastic; Bye mom. Bye dear. It's shortly after four o'clock when Lynne's offspring arrives. Ryan has been awake for several hours now. While the adults are eating dinner and drinking beer, the conversations are more of a get to know you better nature. Rose trying to be friendly; I was born May 23 rd twenty five years ago. Since you're about the same age as me; when were you born? Same year as you on April sixteenth. So you're younger than me. Everyone stopped in motion. It was like time froze everyone. Lynne asks; Do you know exactly what time you were born? My mom told me it was three thirty in the afternoon. She remembered because one of the nurses said her shift ended and is leaving. Mom looked at the clock and it was three thirty. The other nurse said push, and I entered the world. Lynne is noticeably upset. Arthur reaches his hand over to his mom; It's a coincidence, nothing more.
She asks; Where were you born? Right here in town at the Holy Saints hospital. Looking at all the still faces; Did I say something wrong? Henry assumes the lead in the conversation; No no no, you're fine. Mom was six months pregnant with Rose then. I was about three so I don't remember our dad. Arthur was five then. That was the day our dad died. I am so sorry. It's not your fault you were born at the same moment out dad died. It's one of those coincidental things. Lynne folds her hands on the table; I've never told anyone this. The last time my children's father and I made love, I became pregnant with Rose. The following morning during breakfast, he started coughing. We passed it off as a something minor. After that, John, my husband was buying cough syrup and drops constantly. When I missed my second period, I went to the OBGYN and I insisted he see a doctor also. I wanted my children to have a father. Diagnosis: I'm two months pregnant. John has stage four small cell lung cancer. That's about a two percent survival rate. In other words, he was given a death sentence. Fast forward four months. John had been receiving aggressive radiation treatments during his first round of chemo. For his second round, they were using a much more aggressive chemo therapy. The doctors were trying to keep him alive along enough to see the birth of his last child. I was with John while he was getting another infusion of Chemo. We were talking when I had to relieve myself. I told him not to run away. He smiled at me and said goodbye. I returned maybe two minutes later to see him slumped forward in his chair turning blue. They tried to revive him, but he was already gone. He had a heart attack and died while I wasn't there. I was never able to tell him I loved him before he left. She breaks down. Ryan jumps up, helps Lynne from the chair. While holding her, he escorts her to another room. She slowly composes herself. Ryan gave her some tissues. While holding on, she looks into his eyes; I knew you are something special from the first time I seen you. Now conflicted, he has no idea what to say. Thankfully Lynne continues her thoughts. I'm not saying or even thinking you're here to replace John. He died twenty five years ago. I'm just so glad you're here with me now, it's wonderful. Please don't leave me. I love you and I will never leave you. Now shouldn't we go back to your children? Yes. I think we left them in one hell of a state. Upon returning to the kitchen, the siblings are standing. As Lynne approaches, they all gather around and give her a hug.
After everyone sat down; Please eat everyone. I'm so glad all of you let me get that out of my system. I've been holding that inside me for over twenty five years. Henry, mister you never know what's going to come out of his mouth; Anything else you want to get off your mind? Nothing relating to your recent history, like the last twenty four hours upstairs. We're all adults here, but you're our mother. You know what I'm getting at don't you? Arthur looks to his brother; Mom gets it. Loud and clear. Lynne smiles a devilish smile; I know I was verbally appreciative. She turns to Ryan; I don't think I was too loud; was I? Do you think the neighbors heard? Ryan looks like he's about to pass out when Rose saves the moment; Mother! You're embarrassing him. Ryan, make like you're pulling a zipper across your mouth. (which he does) Now you're safe. Mister surprise announces; While you were predisposed mom, we have a couple of questions. I'm sorry. Go ahead and ask me anything you like, within reason. We noticed you stopped wearing your wedding band some time ago. We thought you were finally ready to move on with your life without dad. This might not be the best time, but why did you wait so long. When someone new is hired at the home center where I work, management always brings the new hire around to meet the department heads. Because I'm the head of building materials, I wear work gloves to protect my hands. When Ryan was hired, I seen him and the GM walking towards me. At that moment, I was so glad my wedding band was covered by my gloves, you have no idea. I was holding something I couldn't let go of or I would have removed my right glove and shaken his right hand. I wanted to touch Ryan so bad, I had everything to hold back and only say: hello. When I came home that evening about a year ago, I removed the wedding band, put it back into the box it came in and apologized to your dad. Then I removed all our wedding photos that were on display around the house and put them away. Damn mom. Love at first sight? With a smile from ear to ear; Yes it was and is. Ryan is smiling and brushing away a tear. Lynne looking at him and asks; Are you alright? I'm fine. I was so attracted to you then, I didn't have a clue as what to do. I was so afraid you would say: How dare you approach me. I'm not interested for some beefcake wanting to see if he can bed me. Go find some little chick a dee your own age boy. Lynne looks in shock before; After you and the manager left my department, I wondered how could I make you interested enough to ask me out on a date. For a year I thought about it and never had the nerve to ask you. It's amazing how wrong we can be about each other.
Ryan pulls Lynne close where they wrap their arms around each other, hug, kiss and look into each others eyes. The three siblings decide it's time to leave. Goodbyes are given while Lynne and Ryan have an arm around each others waist. Henry is out the door first, then Rose. As Arthur is leaving; Did my mom tell you about the sounds she hears coming from the attic during the full moon? No. What's that all about? Wait until she tells you about her full moon research and suspicions. Now out the door and smiling; Mom, make sure you hide his clothes and lock the doors so Ryan can't run away when you tell him about your full moon stuff. It's a hoot! Lynne's face turns a little sour while closing the door; Don't worry. I'm not a nut job. I won't tell you about what Arthur said, it's nothing. Ryan dropped to his knees, wraps his arms around her butt and looks up; If something, anything is bothering you, I would like to hear about it. She puts her hands on his head and is running her fingers thru his hair; You realize there has been a lot of activity down there recently. Every moment of it has been filled with enjoyment and passion. Using your mouth to talk to my womanliness is not exactly what I expected. You've done so much better. Let's go upstairs and. well, let's just go upstairs. We can talk later.