19. Chapter 19
Edith
When we got back to my place in the morning, I felt a little sad. I didn’t say anything, but my face did.
Frank’s hand cupped my cheek. “What is it, baby?”
“I, uh, hate to admit it, but I kinda miss you when you’re not around.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “I’ll see you later, baby.”
He waited until I was in my apartment before he left.
And like it or not, life continued as normal as I gathered laundry and then ditched my dress for a tank top and shorts while I did the normal housework.
Not long after I’m home, Matt came flying in the door. “Mom, I’ll be back. I am going to the store with Nana.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Don’t worry about nothin’. Tonight is gonna be epic!” He bounced off, leaving me standing there, confused.
“Wait!” I called after him. “What do I need to do?”
He ran back to me, panting. “Nothin, and don’t shower. I have a plan.” He nodded and ran off again.
Should I be worried?
Matt came back one more time. “I love you, mama.”
“I love you too. What should I do while you’re gone?”
Shrugging, he’s half out the door. “Read a book or take a nap.”
And just like that, my son disappeared, slamming the door.
A nap sounded amazing. Heading to the bedroom, I grabbed my phone and put it beside me, got comfy and dozed off until it was time to do whatever he had planned.
Feet running through the apartment woke me up. I stretched and heard Mattie telling my mom to put her bag in the kitchen. Laughing to myself, I picked up my phone and realized I had slept for five hours!
Sitting up, I looked around as Matt came running into my room. “Now. Don’t be mad, Mom.”
Fuck my life.
“What am I not being mad about?”
“I have something very special set up for tonight. So I got you a new outfit, and I am making dinner and I will get you a bath drawn so you can relax.”
I felt my eyes narrow. “Not sure what I’m not supposed to be mad about.”
He smiled and dashed from the room, yelling from the bathroom. “Don’t come into the bathroom! I’ve got a surprise!”
“Matthew, please stop yelling in the house.”
Mom poked her head in my room. “How was last night?”
“So good.” I smiled. “Thanks for watching him.”
“No problem.” She chuckled and turned to leave. “Have fun.”
“Wait.” I hopped off my bed and went to her. “Do you know what he has planned?”
“Oh, yeah.” Her laughter grew. “I promise. You’ll love it.”
I heard the water running, which told me he was filling the tub, and I heard cabinets being slammed shut in the kitchen. Then his feet as he ran through the house again.
“I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.” I went out to the living room and almost sat in my chair when Matthew popped up.
“Okay, Mom. Your bath is ready.”
“Thank you, Matt.”
Taking my phone into the bathroom, I noticed the tub was almost full. There’s some light green oil floating on the surface, along with some rose petals. On the vanity there’s a lit candle, and on the floor sitting beside the tub was a bottle of sparkling grape juice along with a champagne flute beside it.
“Go ahead and get in.” He urged. “You don’t want your water to get cold.”
“Good point.”
He left me to my bath, so I striped down and as I stepped into the water, it’s not the hot water I expected. It’s more of a lukewarm.
“Mattie?”
“Yeah, Mom?”
“Did you use hot water?”
“I did, but not too much. Because I didn’t want to burn you.”
“Gotcha.”
“Is it okay?”
“Oh yeah, it’s perfect.” I bit my lip for lying to my son, but I can see how much thought he’s put into this, and I don’t want to hurt his feelings.
Waiting until I know he’s not lurking outside of the door, I let some of the water out and added more hot. The rose petals give a nice, delicate scent, and with the addition of the hot water, there’s a fruity scent as well. It’s an interesting mix, to say the least.
My hair was up in a loose bun, and between the nap and now this my body is thanking me after last night. Playing with a random rose petal, I smiled, thinking of Frank and how he made me feel.
I made up my mind last night that I wanted to tell Matthew who Frank was. Tonight, over dinner, we can lay it all out. I think he’ll be pleased when he learns his beloved Doc was my Frank.
My Frank.
Picking up my flute of grape juice, I noticed a bottle in the trash.
My good olive oil bottle.
“Oh. Tell me he didn’t.” I sighed. “Matt!”
I heard his feet stomp through the house. “Yes, Mom?”
“What kind of oil did you use?”
“Well, the magazine article said to use essential oil, and the only essential one we had in the house was olive oil.”
“Essential oil?”
“Duh, Mom. You use them to help make your skin moister, and not dry. So I got the rose petals and mixed with the olive oil.”
Hard to be irritated with that logic.
“That is super sweet of you, baby.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m almost done with my kitchen prep when I am, then you can shower off and get dressed for your surprise!”
How the hell am I going to get all this oil off me?
Shaking my head, I finished drinking my grape juice and focused on the sweetness of what my son did for me. Laying my head back, I closed my eyes, only to be startled by a knock at the door.
I strained my ears to hear who was here; but I couldn’t hear anything, and Matt wasn’t running through the house.
“Matt?”
“Hang on, Mom!”
A moment later, he knocked on the bathroom door. “You can shower now. I put your new outfit on your bed. When you’re dressed, come on into the kitchen.”
“Mattie? Is someone here?”
“Mom, dinner is gonna burn if you keep asking questions.”
“Alright!” Rolling my eyes, I unplugged the drain and collected all the flower petals. I grabbed a nearby washcloth and put them all on there for later and then shower off.
My hands were so greasy from the olive oil that I couldn’t hold on to anything. I’m dropping bottles everywhere, and no amount of scrubbing seems to help.
Great, I’m going to need to bathe with Dawn.
This felt like the longest shower of my life as I scrubbed my skin hard, and finally cut through the oil, so I could wash my hair and get out of the tub.
Drying off, I skipped the lotion. I was relatively confident my skin had more than enough moisture.
I wrapped my hair up and then wrapped my body in my favorite fluffy towel; I peeked into the living room and didn’t see anyone.
Maybe it was one of those ads people stuck on your door?
Going into my room there was an outfit on my bed, and … oh my god, it’s … bizarre.
The skirt was this odd shade of puke yellow-green, and the top wasn’t much better. It was a deep purple button up. Neither were something I would’ve picked. And just by looking at them, I can tell he picked them all on his own,
Grabbing my phone, I texted my mom.
Did you see what he picked?
Yep
Why didn’t you help him?
I did.
That’s how you got those
Mom. They’re hideous!
Oh, I know.
This right here is what being a parent is about. Trust me, you five had your share of hideous moments
Now get dressed and get to your surprise
I dropped my towel and tried to spray myself with my body spray, but my hands were still too slick. Giving up, I got out some underwear and got dressed.
The skirt was a hair too big, but it had a tie in the waist, that was a plus. The shirt on the other hand was a hair too small, and my boobs are pulling the buttons apart.
“Mattie?”
He came running in. “Yes?”
“How do I look?”
“You look great!” His face lit up, and I knew if I suggested a change, it’d break his heart.
“Let me do my hair and I’ll be out.”
“I can wait for you.” He flopped on my bed all smiles.
This has got to be one hell of a surprise.
Smiling back at my boy, I took my hair down and combed it out, then twisted it up into another loose bun.
“Well?”
“You’re beautiful, mom.” He giggled. “Are you ready for your surprise?”
“I am.”
“Good. Close your eyes and I’ll lead you to the kitchen.”
From the scent in the air, I knew he cooked me dinner.
“Matt?” I reached out with my hands and felt him take them. “Easy.”
“MoOoOom.” He whined softly. “Trust me.”
I nodded and let him lead me. He went slow and once we got to where I assumed was the entrance to the kitchen, he stopped moving.
“Still got your eyes closed?”
“Yes, Matt.”
He let go of my hands and I heard him moving around. “Okay, Mom. You can open your eyes.”
Swallowing hard, I popped my eyes open to see Frank standing against the counter in jeans, a flannel shirt, complete with a bowtie.
Oh Lord. Matt picked his clothes too.
“Evening, Edie.”
“How do you know her name?” Matt looked between us.
“Back at ya, Frank.”
“Frank? Who’s Frank?” Matt’s voice raised as he continued to look between us. “That’s not Frank. Mom this is Doc.”
“Mattie.” I pointed at the man leaning on the counter. “That is Frank.”
“ The Frank?” His eyes opened wide. “The Frank you went on a date with?” Recognition covered his face as he jumped in place. “MOM!”
“Matthew, calm down.”
“OH MY GOD!” He started spinning in circles.
“Mattie?”
“DO YOU KNOW WHO HE IS?”
“Matt. The house is not on fire.”
“Mom!”
“What?” I finally yelled back.
“He’s Doc!” He jumped up and down. “This is Doc.” With his feet stomping, he continued yelling. “ Your Frank is my Doc!”
“I think we broke him.” Frank laughed.
“Did you know about this?”
He shrugged. “I was invited to dinner to meet a very special lady.” He stepped over to me. “I recognized the address and decided it was an offer I needed to say yes to.”
“Mattie?” I walked over to my son. “Did you set this up?”
“I told you.” He nodded. “I knew Doc would be perfect for us.”
“He is.”
“So he’s gonna be my dad?”
“Slow down.” I held my hands up. “There are things that have to be talked about. You can’t just assume …”
“Doc, will you be my dad?”
Wow.
“I’d be honored to be your dad, but we need to have a man to man about that and a few other things.”
“We can do that.”
“I don’t know about you two, but I am starving.” Frank rubbed his belly.
“I could eat.”
“Mom. Doc. I made you macaroni and cheese with chicken nuggets.” Matt smiled proudly.
“How about we all eat together?” Frank suggested.
“You want me to stay for your date?”
“Edith? Can we have a moment?” Frank motioned between him and Matt.
“Sure.” I stepped into the living room, staying close to eavesdrop.
Their heads were close together as they mumbled, and when I peeked in, Frank was on one knee, eye to eye with my son. Tears filled my eyes watching their interaction. Matt deserved to have a dad-like person in his life.
When they finished talking, Matthew came over and wrapped his arms around me. “Mama, would you like to go bowling with me and Doc? We could treat you to pizza.”
“But you worked hard on dinner.” I stroked my son’s head.
“We can eat it tomorrow.” He looked up at me with excitement in his eyes.
“That sounds like a plan.” I looked down at my clothes. “But I need to change. These clothes aren’t good for bowling.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He gave me a full smile and let go. “We’ll wait for you.”
“Matthew and I will put dinner up.” Frank gave me a wink.
“Thank you. I’ll be right back, boys.” I headed to my room and changed into jeans and tee. With as slick as my hands were, this might be an interesting night.