Glenn was about to object when Gloria responded. “We’d be delighted to. And you’re not interrupting a date; we’re just friends.” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Glenn’s shoulders sag. Or was she imagining that? “I’m sure you’re going to find that Glenn has considered his proposals from every angle. If there’s a problem, he’s thought of a solution,” she stated firmly.
The woman gave her a wan smile.
“And we’d love to hear your ideas for getting us out of this mess,” Gloria added with a touch of malice.
“I’m sure you’ve put a lot of work into your proposals,” interjected one of the men, directing the conversation toward Glenn. “We were most impressed with your presentation last night. We just want to hear more. Let’s go through the line and get our food. Then we can settle in and talk.”
***
Two hours later, after discussing and defending his ideas so intensely that he hardly had a chance to eat his meal, Glenn walked Gloria across the complex to her place.
“You look tired, Glenn,” Gloria noted with concern. “You’re not twenty anymore, you know.”
Glenn smiled. “I’m fine. And believe me, I know I’m not twenty. I wouldn’t want to be young again, would you?”
“Only if I could know then what I know now. Otherwise, no.”
They continued in companionable silence.
“Seriously, Glenn. Don’t let these folks exhaust you; don’t let them use you up. What you’re doing is wonderful and noble. And I know you’re finding it very satisfying. Which is fine. But you need to set some boundaries. Maybe you should go out for meals for a while? Until this blows over.”
Glenn stopped and turned to Gloria. “I’d miss your company, unless you went out with me,” he said simply.
“That would really get tongues wagging in this gossipy old place!” she replied.
“Who cares what people say. Aren’t we finally old enough to be beyond all that?” he asked.
“Not me, Glenn. We’re just good friends and it rankles me that people are branding us as a couple. Doesn’t it bother you?” she asked. “It never occurred to me that people would pay any attention to us,” he replied. “I honestly never thought about it.”
“Well, you might want to consider it if only for my sake,” she replied as they reached her door. “I don’t want to be the clichéd old widow pouncing on the recent widower. Now go on home and get a good night’s sleep.”
***
A good night’s sleep was not in the cards for Glenn. He tossed and turned, replaying the earlier conversations with the other residents and thinking of the things he should’ve said. Gloria’s statement that they were just good friends played loudest in his mind.
They were good friends, to be sure. He loved sharing the day-to-day bits with her, keeping someone up to speed on the mundane details of his life. And he valued her opinions and observations. But he was increasingly aware that his feelings ran deeper. Was it possible, at this age and stage of his life, that he was falling in love again?
He pushed himself out of bed and padded to his favorite leather chair by the window, the one where he read poetry every morning. He picked up a pen and pad and began another note to Gloria.
Was he insane to be proposing this? Would he ruin their friendship which had brought him so much peace and pleasure in recent weeks? Would his overture turn their companionship into an awkward mess for both of them?
He paused, pulling aside the curtain to gaze out at the dark, cloud-filled sky. He’d never been a coward, and he wasn’t going to act like one now.
He returned to his paper and began.
***
Gloria slept late the next morning and might have stayed in bed until noon had Tabitha not insisted on her breakfast. Scrounging up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch, she opened her door to retrieve the paper. Sitting beside it on her doormat was a small bouquet of mums arranged with ribbons and berries in a hollowed-out pumpkin accompanied by an envelope addressed in Glenn’s now-familiar hand.
She brought the offerings inside and found a spot for the flowers on her kitchen island. She propped the card against the pumpkin and stared at it, not sure if she wanted to read it or not. She knew that her remarks about their gossipy neighbors had surprised Glenn. Why in the world had she mentioned that to him? She loved things just as they were and would be heartbroken if they discontinued their daily ritual of shared meals. What did it really matter what other people thought? Nothing. So why did she still care about their opinion of her?
Gloria reached for the envelope, turned it over in her hands, and then quickly set it back down. She would read it before he called for her at dinnertime, but she wanted to collect herself first.
An hour later, after dressing and wrangling her unruly hair into a more-or-less presentable bun, she summoned the courage to confront the note. What she read both delighted and confused her:
My dearest Gloria,
You are correct when you say that we are good friends. In fact, I look upon you as one of the best friends I have ever had in this life. Since I’ve been alive almost eighty years, that’s saying something. I’ve come to realize over these last few weeks that my feelings have grown beyond friendship. After Nancy died, I never expected—or even wanted—to feel this way again. Although our outsides may show some wear and tear, our insides tend to remain untouched by time. I’m still a young man in my mind. And I’m falling for you. Head over heels. After much thought—I’ve been up most of the night—I would like permission to court you. Come out in the open with this thing. Frankly, I don’t give a damn (pardon my French) what anyone else thinks.
I know that you may not feel the same way about me. The hardest part about writing this note is that I might damage our friendship. That’s the last thing I want. I’m writing this to you instead of telling you in person, which I’d very much like to do, so that I don’t put you on the spot. If you don’t return my feelings, or if you don’t want to pursue anything beyond friendship, then please just ignore this note. No need to respond. If I don’t hear anything from you, we’ll continue on as friends, like before, and I’ll consider myself blessed.
If you’d be my gal, I’d be honored.
Yours faithfully,
Glenn
***
Gloria clutched the note, which she’d read at least a dozen times, with shaking hands. She hadn’t entertained the idea of a suitor in decades. She was in her mid-eighties. Was this the time to risk her heart on such an unlikely romance? How did she really feel about him? It wouldn’t be fair to start down this path if she couldn’t return his affection. And what about their age difference? She was almost eight years older than Glenn. Although she was in good health, that could change on a dime. She’d just watched him care for Nancy during her long illness; she didn’t want him to go through that again with her.
Gloria wandered to her bedroom and sank slowly to the edge of her bed. After yet another read, she returned the note to its envelope and placed it carefully on her nightstand. He would be here in ten minutes to pick her up for dinner. She needed time to decide. For now, she’d remain silent and he’d have to accept her continued friendship while she became sure, in her heart, of her answer.
***
On the other side of Fairview Terraces, Glenn Vaughn fidgeted like a schoolboy fearing he’d be caught passing a note to a girl. Which, of course, was exactly what he had done. He had felt good about the whole idea at seven thirty this morning when he had finally thrown on some clothes, headed to the supermarket to buy flowers, and placed the bouquet and note by Gloria’s door. He had even felt pleased with himself when he returned home and stretched out in his recliner for a morning nap following a sleepless night.
Upon waking in midafternoon, however, he was filled with misgivings. What in the world had he done? He didn’t doubt his feelings for Gloria, but why had he risked their friendship by trying to change things? Wasn’t the status quo enough? Why had he been in such an
all-fired hurry? They weren’t getting any younger, that was true. But why was he trying to rush into something new? What they had was good enough for him.
He showered and shaved, nicking himself twice. Blast! He tried to settle into a Sudoku puzzle, but could not force himself to concentrate. He puttered around his home office until it was finally time to walk over to Gloria’s. He checked his reflection in the mirror by his front door before he left. Get hold of yourself, he admonished. You’re being a ridiculous old fool. The die is cast; now it’s time to see what happens.
He knocked on her door at their usual time, to his ears a little too loudly. She was on the phone when she opened the door. Smiling at him and holding up her hand, she gestured with her thumb and index finger that she would only be a moment longer. Since she hadn’t motioned for him to come inside, Glenn waited patiently on her doorstep.
“Yes, yes, that’s right,” he overheard her say sweetly to the person on the other end of the line. “Okay, I’ve got to go now.” She paused to listen then stated firmly, “I really must get going, my friend is here.”
Friend, he thought. He felt himself droop.
“We’ll talk tomorrow. Bye now,” Gloria said as she hung up and rushed through the door. “Honestly,” she huffed as they set off for the dining hall. “You just cannot get some people off the phone. They don’t take the hint. Drives me crazy.
“How are you?” she asked, glancing up at him.
“Just fine, couldn’t be better,” he said, forcing his familiar reply. He had fervently hoped that she would open her door and tell him immediately that she felt the same way about him. He had worked out several such scenarios, all with happily-ever-after endings. Still, she was here and friendly, and was walking to dinner with him as before. He worried briefly that she might not have received his flowers and note before dismissing the fear as ridiculous.
Gloria smiled at him. “Good to hear it. I’d be better if I hadn’t spent all afternoon listening to my cousin drone on and on about her family and all of their problems. Honestly, they could be on one of those reality television shows. I’m not proud to admit they’re relatives.”
Glenn cocked an eyebrow and gave her a quizzical glance. Apparently, they were to remain as friends. He’d have to get over his disappointment and be grateful for what he had.
“Sounds pretty titillating. Care to elaborate?” he asked.
Gloria occupied the entire mealtime with a detailed description of her cousin’s lineage, their shared “people,” and a thorough cataloging of her cousin’s many relationships. Glenn couldn’t keep it all straight and soon stopped trying. Gloria was on a roll, and he only needed to nod or grunt knowingly from time to time. She finally turned to Glenn.
“So? What do you think I should tell her?” she asked the ultimate, open-ended question.
Glenn hadn’t focused on the details and was caught short. He didn’t want to appear uninterested in Gloria’s family, so he answered tentatively, “What do the kids say these days? ‘She sounds like a hot mess!’”
To his relief, Gloria laughed. “That’s an understatement, for sure. I’d love to say that. I’m going to tell her to give her kids a big, life-changing gift—the gift of financial independence. Get them off the payroll, for heaven’s sake. They’re in their forties and fifties now. It’s way past time.” She looked expectantly at Glenn.
Emboldened, he responded, “Absolutely. She’s doing them no favor by continuing to support them. They’ll figure things out. And gain some pride and self-respect in the process. There’s no reason she should be helping to support them.”
“Good. I’m glad you agree,” she replied. “I promised I’d call her tomorrow. I’ll tell her that I’ve discussed this with you.”
“Does she even know who I am?” he asked as he helped her with her jacket.
“Of course she does,” Gloria said, as they walked back to her place. “I’ve told her all about you.”
Glenn’s step lightened. He hoped that Gloria would elaborate, but she remained silent. They reached her door and Glenn stood quietly as she unlocked it. “Goodnight, then,” he said with a sigh, turning to retreat to his house. Gloria reached out and touched his elbow.
“Before you go, Glenn,” she said gently, “I want you to know that I was deeply moved by your note and that I’m thinking about what you asked. I’m not being coy. I value your friendship too much for that. I just need time to consider your offer—carefully. Do you understand?” she asked, with a soft, inquisitive look.
He met and held her gaze. “Indeed I do, Gloria. I meant every word of that note. I’m in no rush. Take your time. I’m content with that,” he assured her as he rested his hand over hers and held it briefly.
Gloria nodded and let out a sigh of relief.
With renewed hope, Glenn turned toward home.
***
Gloria shifted the phone from one ear to the other. Her cousin had called every day for the past week. The woman just wore her out. The voice on the other end stopped abruptly.
“Gloria. Are you all right?”
“Yes, fine. I’ve had a lot on my mind recently.”
“That’s a first. I’ve never known everything not to be perfect in your world.”
Then you haven’t been paying attention, Gloria thought. I was a widow with nine children—how perfect could that have been? She kept these feelings to herself and said, “There’s turmoil about the leases here. And Glenn wants to be my boyfriend, if you can believe that.”
The other woman let out a low whistle. “Why didn’t you say so? That’s big stuff.”
“I know,” Gloria replied. “The lease will get worked out, I’m not really worried about that. It’s Glenn. I’m not sure what to do.”
“I can tell you one thing. You’re crazy about him.”
Gloria laughed. “Why in the world do you say that?” she asked.
“You talk about him every time I call. I can’t remember you doing that with anyone else. Ever.”
“That’s just because we’ve become such good friends.”
“Nonsense. There’s something different in your voice when you talk about him. You gush. Takes seventy years off your life. Truth be told, I thought you were already going together.”
“I really do care for him,” Gloria conceded. “Don’t you think it’s sort of ridiculous for us to start a romance at our ages? Aren’t we past all that?”
“Evidently not,” she replied. “And a good thing, too. I’ve hoped for—prayed for—this for years. Gloria, if you can live out the rest of your days in love with a good, kind man like Glenn, you’d be crazy not to.”
“You really think so? This is such foreign territory for me.”
“I do. Quit sitting on the fence. Let him know, okay?”
Gloria paused. “You’re right. I’ve got to go. I need to make myself presentable before dinner.”
***
Glenn tapped on Gloria’s door as usual. It had been a week since he made his overture to her. Other than that initial response, he had heard nothing more. Disappointed, he was resigning himself to the fact that they would just remain friends. At this point in his life, he knew he was lucky to have that.
Gloria stepped across her threshold and he caught a whiff of a familiar heady fragrance. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly what it was, but he liked it. “Whatever perfume you’re wearing smells nice,” he remarked.
Gloria beamed. “Glad you approve. I always like putting on scent when I go out on a date,” she replied as she slipped her hand in his.
Glenn stopped and turned to her. Their eyes met and they stood quietly as the happy realization washed over Glenn. His smile mirrored hers. He brought her hand to his lips and brushed it with a gentle kiss.
Hand-in-hand, they proceeded to dinner.
Chapter 21
Maggie strode through the lobby of Town Hall an hour before the town’s administrative departments opened. Given the bad press she had been barraged with recen
tly, she liked to get to her office before the building filled with constituents who had questions or—as was happening more and more frequently—wanted to give her a piece of their mind. She noted the tall man lingering outside of the juvenile court department and was surprised when she got close enough to identify him as the activist from Fairview Terraces. Glenn something, wasn’t it? If she was going to be a politician, she’d have to get better at remembering names, she chastised herself.
She approached him, holding out her hand. “Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you here this early in the morning. Is something scheduled concerning Fairview?”
“Mayor Martin,” he said, shaking her hand warmly. “Glenn Vaughn. Nice to see you again. No. I’m not here on Terraces business. I’m hoping to meet with one of the juvenile court case workers.”
“Oh … I see,” Maggie said, attempting to conceal her bewilderment.
“I’m a mentor in the court-ordered diversion program, and the boy I’m working with is having a very difficult time.”
Maggie regarded him thoughtfully. How many people at his age had the energy and willingness to work with a troubled young person? Glenn Vaughn was gaining in her estimation at every turn. “That’s admirable, Mr. Vaughn. The juvenile court doesn’t open until eight. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Glenn shook his head. “I was so anxious to talk to somebody that I jumped the gun. Maybe you can point me to the coffee machine?”
Maggie smiled. “I’ll do better than that. Ride the elevator upstairs with me, and I’ll make us coffee in my office.”
“You don’t have to do that; I don’t want to be a bother.”
“Nonsense. I’m making a pot for myself, anyway. Come on,” she insisted, steering him to the bank of elevators.
“You know,” he said as they stepped onto her floor, “maybe you can help me. This boy is a good kid—very intelligent. His life has been turned upside down through no fault of his own. He feels betrayed by the person he looked up to most, and now that person has died. He’s feeling rudderless, and he’s acting out in destructive ways. I want to break that cycle before he gets himself in too deep.”
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