My Lovestruck Mother

inded by love. It didn't take much effort for me to test Aiden and

He pushed me away as if I were a burning ember, flu

in. What a coward-no wonder the onl

d my hands thoroughly several ti

ss was palpable. She kept piling food int

here's your favorite, garlic butter sh

flowing, a mountain of food th

hy did you order all my favor

om adding more f

tooth and preferred milder flavors, while my mom was all about

h simple, lightly seasoned dishes-nothi

he said with a smile that reeked of forced enthusiasm

cond thought. If he hadn't passed away when I was fourteen, I wouldn't even have ended up with you. I know these ten years have been hard for you

rsation, and my words carried a hint of bitt

e. "Sarah, that's n

d up, interr

nd, isn't it? Well, don't worry. I won't stop you. It's your life, and it has nothing t

rabbed my bag

a sarcastic smile. "Dating a middle-aged woman must be a bla

rant. But the further I walked, the more the tear

in thought, I coll

n, fumbling to apologi

ng a navy-blue handkerchief extende

before slowly looking up. What gree

Robin

as I found myself face-to-

e renowned landscape

ss domestic and international design

" he asked, h

lectures in college!" I stammered,

Somehow, I managed to gather my courage and asked if we could exchange contacts, explain

I'd survive the humiliation. But instead, Timothy pul

be the most beautiful

I went through his posts obsessively, seven or eight times, lingeri

y mom. A dozen voice messages,

reluctantly clicked on the first one. "Sarah, I know yo

we go. I

out how Aiden was "different" from all her pa

nce further, I exited the chat

ad passed away and she was my only close family le

t hear from her-or

friend request pop

rname-a

unding joyfully through the snow.

he entire day, only accepti

, "Hi, I'm Aiden Davis. I found you

he was

ou what?"

the restroom yester

I saw his reply, and I frowne

ed back. "So, what do you say

almost insta

ties just fell