Chapter 21: Another Discerning Mother

Once again, Paul and I had arranged to meet at 7:00 for breakfast. He was looking tired, although he greeted me with a big smile and a sweet kiss. I was alarmed.

“Paul, are you OK?” “Sure, why?” “You look tired.”

“I didn’t sleep well, I’m afraid.” “Oh, no. When you left me yesterday, I had a wonderful nap. Did I do something wrong?”

“Nora, you’re a joy; it was not you. I can’t really explain.”

“Oh, no you don’t. This is how you get into trouble. So spill.”

There was a pause while our food was delivered. “Um, my mother is worrying about the hotel charges. Can you cover the breakfast bill please?”

“Of course. Now, what’s going on?”

“Our room is much less than your suite. It’s just one bedroom with two beds, and a little front lounge with a sofa. I needed to sleep on the sofa last night, and it was too small and uncomfortable.”

“But why?” “I couldn’t sleep in the same room with mom.”

“Again, why?” Quietly: “I had my hands on your unbelievable naked body yesterday. There are some things a man can’t do in front of his mother.”

“Oh. Oh! Oh, my. I’m getting the picture.”

“Yes, many times. A great many tissues were needed.”

“The hardest, um, the worst part is, Mom figured it out. When I was taking a little break, she gave me a bottle of hand lotion!”

“Shit. My mother figured it out, too. She found me naked with my ass in the air and asked, ‘How did my lotion get up on your back?’ Then we discussed birth control. We are so busted! And we didn’t even do it!”

Paul looked me in the eye, “Yet.”

I practically leaped over the table to inflict mayhem through kissing.

“Paul Daniels: Will You Marry Me?”

When we calmed down, we made sure that all of our contact information was exchanged. At Laura’s request, that included the mothers’ numbers. Since Paul was working, we agreed to go out again in three days (which would be a Saturday night).

Arrangements complete, we embraced and said our goodbyes, for now.

A few minutes later, I got a text: “Naked with your ass in the air? I’ll need more tissues.”

Hotel check out was simple, we dumped the rental car and taxied to Dad’s room in the UC Medical Center. There was the usual interminable delay, then we packed into another large rideshare for the long drive home. Dad was in a good mood, glad to see us. But I could see he was pale and weakened.