Auntie Lee had said to act surprised. I didn’t have to act much after what had just happened. I got up and extended my hand. Uncle Zack gave me a crushing handshake. “We did it!” he said, and then said it again: “We did it!”
Auntie Lee, once I was able to disengage my hand, gave me a big hug—then she gave me a big, rough kiss—right on the mouth, right in front of Uncle Zack, who didn’t seem to mind one bit. What’s to mind about a little kiss, right?
We had delicious cream puffs—Uncle Zack knew they were my favorites and we laughed and celebrated with dessert and stories. The only time it got a little bit serious was when I said:
“I only wish Mom could find a way to have another child. It would make her just as happy.”
Uncle Zack said, “Sometimes the answer in right in front of you, closer than you think.”
Then, finally, it was time for me to leave. Auntie Lee packed up the rest of the cream puffs and a big container of pasta and meatballs for home.
Uncle Zack’s phone rang, and before he answered, Auntie Lee said, “I’ll walk Mike out to the car.” He nodded and shook my hand one more time before she started talking.
As we got to the car, Auntie Lee said, “That couldn’t have gone any better. I’m so happy … so damned happy. I’m going to be a mom. It sinks in more a little bit every day. And I get happier. Because of you, Mike. Other than your uncle, there’s no one on the face of this big planet i would rather have a child with. I may not have thought that at the beginning, but I’m damned sure of it now.”
“And I’m glad … glad it’s you, Auntie Lee. You know I love you and always have, but even more now.
I opened the door of the car, and before I got in, Auntie Lee giggled and kissed me, painting my lips with her tongue. Then she said in that soft purr of a voice that gives me an erection just remembering it, “I’ve been thinking all night, and … any time you want … you can own my tight … pink … virgin—” she bent close and whispered in my ear: “asshole!”
********************************
“Put that final box up there, Mike.” Mrs. Branch pointed to the top shelf in her dance studio’s office area.”
“Sure,” I said as I hefted it with a grunt, “the heaviest one belongs on the TOP shelf!”
She laughed. “Good thing you’re a good, strong boy.”
It was the morning after her dance recital, her extremely successful dance recital, according to the mood she was in.
Lori had volunteered me to pack up everything at the hall Mrs. Branch had rented and bring it back to her studio in the van rented for two days. Lori was going to meet us with the car at the rental office in an hour, when Mrs. Branch returned the van.
Mrs. Branch and I had been mostly silent except for a little chitchat and whatever needed to be said about getting the work done. We both hadn’t mentioned anything about the other day.
She began though, “I want to thank you. Not only for today, helping me with all those heavy things. I would have had to hire someone. But I want to thank you for having the patience and the skills to so thoroughly heal my back that I haven’t given a thought to it since.”