Page 34 of The Fadeaway
“That’s silly.”
“Alright, buddy. I love you. Get some sleep.”
“Night, Mom.”
As I close his bedroom door, I let out a real sigh, feeling content for the first time all day. I did it. I survived another day. Maybe that seems melodramatic, but motherhood is rough. Going it alone doesn’t make me feel all independent woman and tough. It makes me feel tired and older than I am.
I grab the mystery box and bring it to the couch. I turn on the TV and pull up an oldSaved by the Bellepisode for background noise before I finally tear into the package.
The first thing that hits me is the fragrance. Peppermint, cedar, and leather. I’ve had months to pick apart the smells of Joel and as I pull away the tissue paper, it’s his scent that floats out with the thin white sheets. I reach in eagerly and pull out two large blue bottles. Shampoo and conditioner?
I hold the bottles in front of my face completely stumped. Why the heck would he send me… Oh my God. When it hits me, I can’t help but swoon a little. One of the first excuses I ever gave him was that I needed to wash my hair. Two points for originality. Flipping the top on the shampoo, I inhale. It smells amazing. This didn’t come from a department store. It looks and smells too expensive. Okay, fine, three points.
Me: Thank you for the shampoo and conditioner this will come in handy the next time I need to blow you off.
Joel: You’re welcome. Also, just a thought, another plan could be you wash your hair, get dressed up and let me take you to dinner? Araceli’s Thursday seven o’clock?
Me: I can’t.
Joel: You really can’t or you’re blowing me off again?
Me: Really can’t. I don’t have a sitter.
Joel: I am sure I could find someone for that.
Me: I’m sort of picky about who I let watch him. He’s only stayed with family at night.
Joel: And family can’t watch him Thursday?
Me: No.
Two long minutes pass and I assume he’s given up.
Joel: Alright then we’re doing this another way. Tomorrow night seven o’clock. Virtual date. You don’t even have to leave your apartment.
Me: Virtual date?
Joel: Details to come. See ya at seven, Kitty.
And just like that, I have a date for tomorrow and a new favorite thing of the day.
* * *
“Mom, you look pretty.” Christian stares at me like I have three heads as I walk into the living room where he’s watchingThe Incredibles. His smile falls. “Are we going somewhere?”
“Nope.”
With a shrug, he goes back to the movie and I’m thankful I don’t have to try and explain why I’m dressed up. If I can’t wrap my own brain around it, I definitely can’t explain it to a three-year-old. What the heck is a virtual date anyway?
It’s twenty minutes until seven. Christian doesn’t typically go to bed until closer to seven thirty, but I pushed everything up tonight to get him into bed before my date.
“Alright, buddy, bedtime.”
When he looks like he’s going to protest, I add, “Three books tonight so go pick them out and I’ll be right there.”
As he runs off, I run a shaky hand through my hair – washed with my new shampoo and conditioner, curled and I even used an old bottle of hair spray that hasn’t been touched since… well, I’m not even sure. I opted for leggings and a shirt that shows off my midriff and hangs off one shoulder. It’s comfortable but sexy.
I gotta be honest I don’t know if a virtual date includes the ability to see the other person. Maybe we’re going to text. I’m torn between the hope that it includes video chat and nervous that if we do, something will go wrong. I can just picture Christian busting into the living room in the middle of my date – that would be awkward.
