Chapter 6

It happened on a Friday evening. I had been at the mall with some friends and got home about eleven. I noticed Pete's car was absent from the driveway, a rare occurrence, when I walked up to the front door.

I usually went directly to my room and checked on Mom and Pete through the peephole, but tonight I thought I heard sobs coming from the front room.

I looked in and saw Mom, sitting on the couch, head in her hands, trying unsuccessfully to stop the tears.

"Mom, what's the matter?" I asked, already suspecting.

She looked up, surprised, again trying to stop the weeping.

"Oh, Darin, Pete's gone!" was all she got out before breaking into tears once again.

"Gone? You mean... ?"

"Yes. He said he felt trapped, that I was smothering him."

"The ungrateful bastard," I breathed.

"Darin! you shouldn't use language like that."

"And why not? After all you've given him -- I mean all the love you've given him and then he just walks out."

"I ... I thought he wanted to marry me. Oh, what a fool I've been!" The tears began again.

"Mom, your only mistake was trusting a guy like that. He was just using you, getting what he wanted then walking out the door."

"I'm afraid you're right," she said between sobs.

I sat next to her and put my arm around her.

"It will be okay," I said quietly.

"Oh, Darin, I guess I'm too old -- just not attractive enough."

"That's crap and we both know it. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known. You just need a man who's worthy of you. Someone you can trust to be there for you when you need him."

"I'm afraid men like that are few and far between."

"Maybe you don't have to look as far as you might think."

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes the choice is obvious. Sometimes it's right under your nose. You just have to open your eyes and your arms."

"I don't..." she started.

"Isn't it obvious. Do you remember some time ago, before Pete moved into the picture, you're telling me I had to be the man of the house."

"Yes, of course."

"Okay, maybe I wasn't ready then, but I am now."

"Darin, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I'm ready to be a man, Mom -- your man."

"Oh, Honey, that's so sweet and you know I love you more than anything, but the love of a son and mother is different from..."

"From what?" I asked, looking her directly in the eye.

"Well, different from ... from ... romantic love."

"And why should it be?"

"Why ... because I ... that is you ... I mean we ... couldn't..."

I pulled her gently to me, our faces inches apart.

"Why not? We both already love each other. The other kind of love is just a step away. You've said many times you think I'm handsome."

"Oh, you are, Honey. Far more handsome than any other man I've ever been with but..."

"No buts, Mom. I've already learned about how to make you happy -- in more ways than one."

"Darin Taylor! You're taking about inces..."

"I'm talking about two people doing what will give them happiness."

"Yes, but..."

"There you go with those buts again."

"Well ... what about our ages? My God I'm twenty nine years old."