Page 3 of Mama's Boy
“Would it matter if I did?”Edith answered.
“Since it’s now five and I’ve chauffeured you around since nine this morning, frankly, I don’t think it would.Remember, I’m calling the driving school on Monday.I’m also going to call around and see about a good used car for you.”Edith sat at the kitchen table and sighed dramatically.
“If you must.”She sniffed.
“I must, because this has to stop.You’re too young to go to assisted living and you won’t take the senior bus to the store.I don’t have the time to play chauffer.I’m behind in my work.All of your troubles will be over as soon as you get into a car and learn how to drive.”
“I saw you speaking to that man in line.He looked nice.Did you get his number?”His mother asked.
“Since when have you taken any interest in my love life?”Chase asked.
“I care,” Edith said, indignant.
“You care because you want to change the subject.”Chase gave his mother a kiss.He loved her despite the fact that she was a pain in his ass.“I’m leaving.I’ll call you on Monday morning with the details about the driving lessons.”
“You’re not coming to dinner tomorrow?Why did I buy pot roast if you’re not coming?”Edith gave a hearty sniff and took out her handkerchief again.
“I told you I have work to finish.Remember, two chapters?”Chase leaned on the counter.
“If you say so,” Edith said, dispirited.
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”Edith sniffed again, got up and started to put away her groceries.Chase let himself out.
Chapter 2
Tuesday Afternoon
Chase waited three days for Rowan to call.He had just about given up and was going to call himself when the phone rang.
“Chase?This is Rowan.Do you remember me from the checkout line the other day at Wegmans?”
“Of course I do.How are you?”Chase wanted to do a happy dance but played with a paper clip instead.He always played with something when he was nervous.
“I’m about to start teaching classes the first week of June.This is my first year as a full professor and I’m nervous.”Rowan gave a little laugh.
“Where and what do you teach?”Chase asked, paperclip twisting in his fingers.
“I teach mathematics at Monmouth University.Since I’m the new guy on the block, I’m getting the remedial classes.”
“What did you do before becoming a professor?”Chase was curious.This was the first man that really interested him in a long time.He bent the paperclip.
“I went to work at a brokerage house in New York right out of MIT, devising complex mathematical formulas to design derivatives.I took the job because it paid so well and I had student loans.The crash woke me up.I didn’t lose my job, but after 2008 I started to go back to school at night.I got my doctorate last year and finally was able to quit.It was really a soul sucking job, long hours, questionable ethics, and when I realized what the company was doing, I knew I had to move on.What got you into writing gay romance?I must admit I was taken aback.”
“It’s a new lucrative niche market.I do well at it, enough to afford a small house and a decent car and I’m good at it.I think everyone needs a good love story.”
“I know I could use one.”Rowan chuckled.“Are you busy Saturday?I thought maybe we could go to the beach at Belmar, get some supper and then a few beers somewhere on the boards?It’s Memorial Day weekend, so everything should be open.”
“That’s sounds great.I didn’t get over to the beach much last year.”Chase thought about all the time he spent carting his mother around since she moved down to Ocean Township in May.
“I’d like to pick you up, where do you live?”
Chase smiled and put down the paperclip.“In Oakhurst, on Oakhurst Road, it’s small, only two bedrooms, but that’s all I need…and you?”
“Interlaken, I bought an older home.I’ve spent the spring fixing it up.”
“Nice area, was the house hit bad by the storm?”Chase asked genuinely curious.
“I got it after the storm.It had some damage, but not enough to scare me off.The storm surge didn’t get this far.”
