by Matt Tims
“It’s something you can’t understand until you’re older,” she told him.
“Bullshit!” he strongly responded. “Dad gave me that same BS line too.”
Her eyebrows immediately perked up. That had caught her a bit off guard. “You talked to your father about this?”
“I did,” Jake answered. “You need to move on from this and I want to help if you need it. Mom, I don’t want to see you like this anymore.”
“It’s just…I…we spent twenty years of our lives together,” she hesitantly admitted. “He’s the only man I’ve ever been in a real relationship with. It’s all I’ve ever known since I was nineteen years old, and now here I am, a forty-three-year-old divorced single mother who’s expected to just move on. But move on to what? I don’t know how to not be with him.”
He intently listened.
“I know that I’ve wasted the past four years of my life in this rut; I really do, but I don’t know how to get out of it!” she admitted. “It’s like I’m stuck in Groundhog Day. I can barely sleep at night because my mind is constantly racing!”
He continued to let his mother get it out while he watched her start to become emotional.
“Your father was such an amazing man, and then something just changed in him and I don’t know what!” she said, her words masked by intense sniffles. “I still don’t know what I did!”
“Why do you think it’s your fault?” he asked.
She gazed across the table into her son’s eyes through her own watery ones. “Are you saying that it’s your father’s fault?”
“Why does it have to be someone’s fault?” he proposed the way he saw things. “Don’t people sometimes just grow apart? Listen, you couldn’t have possibly enjoyed those last few years with dad. I know I didn’t, and he wasn’t anywhere near as cold to me as he was to you. Something is still different in him. I honestly don’t know what it is, but he isn’t the same person I knew for my entire childhood. It’s like you’re forgetting that he’s gone now. You’re free from the black cloud that was constantly raining on you. Mom, you’re smart, funny, beautiful, and a total catch. You should be enjoying yourself, not dwelling over a part of your life that’s never coming back.”
Four years ago, in almost the same exact spot in the kitchen, Claire felt herself sink into a deep depression. Not anymore. That burden had floated away in a single moment of clarity. Her son was right: the past was the past. Why dwell over something she couldn’t change?
Her life took a turn for the better that very day. She found her long unused gym membership card, restocked the refrigerator and pantry with healthy food, and started doing the things that made her happy again.
Now, here she was. A year of hard work, healthy eating, and an enjoyable lifestyle had Claire Vetter feeling like an entirely different woman. The forty-four-year-old mom looked better than she had at any point since her mid-twenties. Sure, she didn’t possess the perfect body of her college days, but she looked great compared to most women her age. Her legs were toned, her butt was perky, and her impressive bust aided in accentuating her now significantly slimmer figure. Her new outlook on life helped wash away the rapidly growing wrinkles and crow’s-feet on her face as well. Her long blonde hair was flowing, and she could see the reflection of her vivid blue eyes in the chef’s knife she was using to finish slicing up the fresh watermelon she’d purchased earlier in the day.
She found herself in the kitchen on this Saturday evening mixing watermelon, pineapple, and cantaloupe together to make a big bowl of fruit salad for her son’s friends. It was strange how things had just started happening. Her basement had suddenly turned into the boys’ hangout a few years ago. That was where the sports-crazy teens gathered together to watch the games, and she never had a problem with it—even during her depressed days. In fact, it was one of the bright spots during those dark times.
Not seeing the three teens wouldn’t feel right after knowing them since they were in elementary school; but now that she was out of her funk, she adored having them around. Her favorite thing might’ve been their decision to start coming over to watch games together while Jake was at his dad’s for the weekends. She enjoyed having men around. It was fun to have guys to cook for and take care of, and young men possessed a certain energy that she couldn’t find anywhere else. She would be lying if she didn’t admit to occasionally feeling a sexual energy too, but it was more of an excitement than anything.
A sense of unlimited possibility came along with them while they were merely over to watch football or basketball. It was always there, and it wasn’t exactly easy to describe. It was an energy that would best be characterized as “youthfulness.”
Could she possibly explain her relief at Jake’s upcoming decision to live at home while attending their local college? She didn’t want to lose her little boy; but at the same time, there was a different feeling when it was just his friends around. It was a contrasting vibe. She loved cooking for and looking after her son, but she lived for doing it for his friends.
Claire was immediately hit by a wave of sound as she barely managed to open the basement door with a big bowl of fruit salad in her right hand, and three smaller bowls in her left. A powerful lead guitar perfectly complemented the smooth rhythm guitar that flowed through the air. The deep, sultry, sexy sound of a saxophone quickly joined in before being paired with the broad tone of a trumpet. And just when she thought it couldn’t get any better, the gorgeous voice of Mick Jagger jolted her back. Sure, he wasn’t Freddie Mercury or Steve Perry, but his voice oozed a certain sexiness which took her back to her younger days. She could listen to that man sing names out of a phone book.
And while Mick had the voice, Keith Richards had her heart. At least the 1960’s version of Keith did. Give her a time machine and send her back to 1969, and she would’ve turned that man’s world upside down. She would’ve done bad, bad, bad things to her favorite guitarist.
Nostalgia ran through her body every time she listened to The Rolling Stones. Her most recent memory involved seeing the band in concert years ago with Al for her birthday. She could still remember looking around and seeing other couples dancing, singing, and enjoying the music, all the while her now ex-husband complained the entire time. The band members were too old, it didn’t sound like the albums, Mick Jagger was running out of breath: it was a miserable experience.
She preferred to think back to the memories from high school—back to those carefree days of coming home from school and listening to Sticky Fingers on her Walkman until the wee hours of the morning. Her classmates could have Madonna and U2 all to themselves. She would be busy listening to the unmatched classic rock sound of the late sixties and early seventies. They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to.
Chapter 3 – Guess Who Likes The Stones?
“He’s feeling it a little bit!” Dave yelled over the blaring music with a smile.
Phil was feeling it a bit. The mix of blues and rock created an awfully unique sound. Actually, he could see himself getting into this. He would never be a fan, but it was at least tolerable.
“I guess it’s alright,” Phil stated, making sure to appear unimpressed. Whether he enjoyed the music or not, he wouldn’t openly concede to these two any more today.
“Alright?” Mike asked. “Just alright?”
“It’s not like Wu-Tang or anything, but it’s okay,” Phil said.
Mike rolled his eyes. “Jesus Christ…”
The music suddenly stopped.
“What the fuck, dude!?” Mike shouted as he turned to Dave, wondering why he’d paused the tunes.
“Am I interrupting something?”
The three teens simultaneously smiled at the much welcomed arrival of a particular blonde. Did any of them not have a crush on her? Well, some may have felt a little more strongly than others…
“You’re not interrupting at all, Ms. V,” Dave said, just as smitten as always.
Dave had a longtime crush on his friend’s mom
, and it wasn’t just a physical attraction like most teenagers have to sexy older women. It was something more than that. They seemed to have a connection. Everything either of them said was genuinely hilarious to the other, and her sense of humor and playful personality were the complete opposite of the bland personas he’d grown accustomed to with girls his own age.
In fact, he was the one who’d encouraged Jake to talk to her about how she was feeling last year. It killed him to see this beautiful, funny, charismatic woman turn into a shell of her former self; and as bizarre as it may sound, seeing her finally snap out of her funk was one of the happiest moments of his life. It would probably rank behind the night he lost his virginity to Jessica Winds, and in front of the playoff game last year when he threw six touchdowns against North Park. No one had a spot in his heart like this amazing blonde.
Three sets of enamored eyes watched as she strolled over to the couch, setting the bowls down on the coffee table. Her tight black yoga pants showed off her fit lower-body, and her gray New York Yankees tank-top perfectly displayed her toned arms and shoulders. When did she ever allow her hair to look this messy and unkempt? How about her decision to barely apply any makeup? There was an undeniable sense of comfort around these eighteen-year-old jocks. It was a safety that she could just be herself, and not have to worry about dressing up or looking pretty. It was a feeling she certainly lacked after leaving the comforts of her own home.
“I hope you boys are in the mood for some fruit,” she said with a smile.
Dave was always in the mood for whatever she had to offer. Food, conversation, her body: oh, the things he would do to that body. None of the girls at school looked like her; and when he really thought about it, celebrities couldn’t even compete with her elegance either. He could only recall a handful of porn stars and swimsuit models who possessed the beauty of his all-time dream girl.
“Looks great,” Mike chimed in, his eyes journeying the length of her body until finally reaching her pretty face.
Phil leaned forward and began scooping some of the fruit salad into a bowl for himself. “Thoughts on The Rolling Stones, Ms. V?”
“Greatest band ever,” she swiftly responded.
As if Dave couldn’t love this woman more than he already did.
“You gotta be kidding me,” Phil laughed. Was everyone against him now? “You too?”
“Ms. V knows what’s up,” Mike commented.
“Of course,” Phil groaned. “I forgot that she grew up with this shit.”
“Hey!” she snapped with a not so playful tone. “I did NOT grow up with The Rolling Stones! Jesus, how old do you think I am?”
“What? They’re an eighties band, right?” Phil asked, looking at his buddies for help.
Dave and Mike both shook their heads in amazement.
“This is who we’ve been arguing with?” Mike asked. “A guy who thinks The Stones are some fuckin’ eighties hair metal band?”
Dave pressed play on his phone before asking Phil, “Does this sound like hair metal to you?”
She was receiving a quick reminder of just how much she loved this song. Did anything else on the planet resemble this? It really was a one of a kind sound.
“Come on, Ms. V!” Dave shouted over the music. “Let’s see some of those moves.”
She couldn’t shake her head fast enough. “There’s no way.”
“Oh, come on,” he whined, flashing that knee-weakening smile of his.
She wasn’t sure if it was the teen’s persistence, or if Bobby Keys’ saxophone was the culprit, but she soon found herself gingerly moving to the music. Comfortable or not, alone in the basement with these three probably wasn’t the best place to get her boogie on. She should’ve been old enough to know that by now.
“Get over here.”
She turned toward that deep voice to find Dave somehow standing next to her. Was the music so loud that she couldn’t hear him approach? And why was he grinning at her like that?
Suddenly, there was a hand on her forearm, pulling her away from the table to lead her to an open space in the carpeted basement. What was she supposed to do? Say no? The charisma oozing from his muscular frame was captivating; and before she knew it, she was moving and grooving along with the charming football star.
She never believed in the idea of someone being a bad dancer. Who’s to judge what’s acceptable when it comes to moving your body to music? It’s all about confidence at the end of the day, isn’t it? Heck, that’s what ran through her mind every time she saw Mick Jagger performing. Aimlessly wiggling his hips, jerking his body and head from side to side, random kicks in all directions: it looked like he was having a seizure on stage half the time. But would anyone actually admit to Mick being a bad dancer? His charm was way too infatuating to deny, and whatever that certain thing was Mick possessed, this kid had it too.
Dave mouthed along with the lyrics, giving her a spin before shaking his hips. She was eating up his confidence. Thirty seconds ago she’d told him there was no way she would dance, and now she was wiggling her hips right along with him. Those cute eighteen-year-old classmates of his must be head over heels in love with this kid.
Jim Price’s trumpet kicked in with two powerful blows which she instinctively shook her butt to.
“Woah!” Dave shouted with a big smile in response to her loosening up.
She broke loose from his hold and strutted toward the stairs, glancing back to find six eyes locked on her every move. It’d been a long time since she felt this level of admiration. These three may have well of been drooling.
“Where you going?” Dave yelled as he shook his shoulders at her, still feeling the song as it made its way to the chorus again.
That move got a big smile out of her—whatever the hell it was. This kid had plenty of Mick Jagger in him, alright. Could he possibly be more assured of himself?
She took two playful steps up the stairs, still wiggling to the music before leaning over the railing to peer into his masculine brown eyes. He responded by lowering the volume of the speakers with his phone.
“I have to go over to my parents’ house for a while,” she told the group of jocks.
“We can leave if you want,” Mike said.
“You guys are free to stay as long as you want,” she said, turning her attention to Mike. “I trust you. Just lock up when you leave, okay?”
“Will do, Ms. V!” Dave replied before increasing the sound of the speakers. It didn’t take long before the music was deafeningly loud again. “It’s a shame you couldn’t keep up with me!”
Claire responded with a smile before giving the basement one last sultry shake of her hips. She quickly jogged up the stairs with a big grin on her face. She wasn’t a tease, but she loved to flirt, and it wasn’t like she was necessarily flirting with these guys either. Well, maybe she was a little bit. She didn’t really know what she was doing, to be honest. She just loved knowing that she had a group of guys who were looking out for her best interest. Plus, she definitely knew what she would be listening to on the car ride over to her parents.
Dave couldn’t hear the basement door shut, but he assumed Ms. V had to be upstairs by now. He was getting to the point in his life where he really didn’t care if she heard him admit to this or not. “I love that woman.”
“Huh!?” Mike shouted, unable to hear his friend over the sound of the music.
Dave muted the music and headed over to the sofa with his buddies. “I said that I love that woman.”
“Right…” Phil laughed.
“I’m serious, dude,” Dave firmly declared, taking a seat back in his original spot on the couch.
“Get in line, bro,” Mike chimed in. “I got dibs on her.”
Dave wasn’t about to allow that. If anyone got a shot at Ms. V, then it was going to be him. “Do you guys think Jake would lose his shit if I asked her out?”
Phil and Mike both waited for some kind of joke.
“Wait, you’re not kidding?” Mi
ke finally asked after realizing his friend was serious. “You want to ask Ms. V out?”
“Yeah, I mean, why not?” Dave asked.
“Um…I don’t know…maybe because she’s Jake’s mom and we’ve been friends with him since the fourth grade,” Mike explained with a decent amount of bewilderment in his voice. “Not to mention she’s like twenty-five years older than you.”
“Just hear me out,” Dave started, much to the chagrin of the rest of the room. “So, she got divorced back when we were in middle school. That’s like five years ago at this point, and we’ve never heard about a boyfriend or anything. Not once! I mean, maybe she doesn’t want to date; but if she does, wouldn’t Jake rather her date someone like me, over a random dude on some dating website?”
“You think Jake would prefer his mom dated a scumbag he already knows like yourself?” Mike sarcastically inquired.
“This is such a ridiculous discussion,” Phil commented, shaking his head at the absurdity of what he was listening to. “A forty-something-year-old mom isn’t going to date a fuckin’ eighteen-year-old high schooler.”
“Says who?” Dave asked.
Phil couldn’t appear more confused. “Says who? How about society?”
“Bullshit!” Dave huffed, rolling his eyes. “Keep it up and I might be paying your mom a visit.”
Phil took a deep breath and pondered what life would be like with a different group of friends. Was it too late to start hanging out with the baseball team? Maybe they wouldn’t be such idiots all the time?
“Ms. V has a perfect ass, but Phil’s mom has that giant ass that I love,” Mike laughed. “I wouldn’t mind getting a piece of that either.”
“You guys are assholes,” groaned Phil.
“Let me hear it, Phil,” Dave grinned. “Is it okay if I stay out late tonight, Dad?”
“What?” Phil asked.
Dave repeated himself, “Is it okay if I stay out late tonight, Dad?”
Phil still wasn’t following. The hesitation in his voice clearly showed that. “Is it okay….if I stay out late tonight…”