There was a fierce, wet cold in early November and Joe was spending Saturday night in Mill Valley. The wind blew outside and he wasn’t aware it was morning until he looked at his cell phone on the bedside table. He rolled over, scooped Anna into his arms and pressed himself against her back, spooning her.
“Well, good morning,” she said with a light laugh.
He kissed her neck, nuzzling her for good measure. “It’s eight o’clock,” he whispered. “I slept like the dead. Because sleeping with you is always an adventure.”
“Is that because I make so much noise in my sleep? Snoring and talking.”
“You were either very quiet last night or I was very tired. I’m not sure I even rolled over.” He pulled her closer. “Let’s not get up.”
She laughed appreciatively. It was deliciously obvious he was in the mood. She hadn’t thought of herself as a woman in need of good sex but she found she was definitely appreciating it with Joe. Anna was delightfully surprised and happy to learn that feeling great passion was a little like riding a bike. She was not too old for it, after all. “I’ll make us some coffee,” she said.
She pulled a Danish breakfast roll out of the freezer, stripped the paper off and put it in a pan to warm in the oven. She rinsed off some dishes from the evening before, put them in the dishwasher and got out cups.
Then she heard the sound of the garage door rising and she froze. Within moments Michael walked into kitchen, a nonplussed look on his face. “Whose car is that?” he asked.
“Good morning, Mike,” she said. “What a nice surprise.”
“Mom, do you have company?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. Joe and I went out last night and he stayed over. I told him to just park in the garage. I’m making coffee.”
“Mom? Joe?”
“It would have been easier had you called to let me know you were coming by but I guess it doesn’t really matter. I was planning to tell you, anyway. I guess you could say we’re dating, me and Joe.”
“Dating? Dating?”
“For lack of a better word. We’ve always been good friends and since your father passed away we seem to have gotten closer. Perfectly understandable, I guess.”
“But wait,” he said. “What about Dad?”
“Oh, I think your dad would approve, though whether or not he did was not the first thing on my mind. He’s gone, after all.”
“But does this mean... Are you over him? Dad?”
“That’s not really an issue, Mike. I had no plans to be dating anyone, but Joe and I shared a loss, did a lot of talking, mutually supporting each other in those difficult days following your father’s death, one thing led to another and...”
“Good morning, Mike,” Joe said, coming into the kitchen. Thank God he was fully dressed, shirt, shoes and all.
“You and my mother are dating?” he asked.
“Exactly,” Joe said easily. “It’s not as though we had to get to know each other first. We began supporting each other in grief, which was the natural thing to do. It’s like dating an old and dear friend. I hope you don’t mind because we’re having fun. And fun has been in short supply lately.”
“This is a little awkward, made more so by the fact that I’m in my pajamas and robe. Will you excuse me a moment?” Anna said.
When she got to her bedroom she noted that Joe had made the bed as well as gotten dressed. Hiding the evidence? Well, it had to come out and this was not a moment too soon. She was glad that it was Michael first; of all her children he was the one she was most comfortable with.
She dressed in her closet, hanging her robe on the hook and selecting a soft velour sweat suit. She slid on her black Skechers and quickly ran a brush through her hair. Just for the heck of it, she put on some lip gloss and thought, there, she didn’t look half-bad for someone who had had a very active night and rather shocking morning.
Her cell phone was chiming. It sat on the bedside table and she crossed her fingers, hoping it wasn’t some work-related emergency. She thought she was going to be unlucky since she didn’t recognize the name on the screen. M. Vanderoot. Probably someone from the DA’s office looking for a judge to sign off on a warrant. “Hello,” she said.
“Judge McNichol? My name is Martin Vanderoot and I’m a friend of your daughter, Elizabeth. I’m calling you because Bess seems to be having some kind of... I don’t know what to call it...”
“What’s happening?” she said. “Just tell me what’s happening?”