Page 33 of Loving Violet
“That’s what I always tell her. She looks stunning, and she doesn’t even look a year older than fifty,” my dad chimes in.
“Come on, Jordan, don’t lie to me. Those love glasses you have on don’t let you see me right, and your sisters' kids don’t count. I want to have grandbabies from you,” my mom says lovingly to my dad and me.
“I say it as I see it. You are the most beautiful woman on this earth,” My dad says to my mom as he winks at her.
“Dad, stop flirting with my mom.”
“Boy, you watch and learn. This is how you have to treat your woman. Every day, let her know that she is beautiful and special.”
I laugh; my dad is incorrigible. Always flirting and saying sweet things to my mom. But I love it because I can see the love they have for each other. If I met the right woman, and I think I have, I would definitely treat her the same way my dad treats my mom. They are the perfect example of how I imagined what being in love would look like.
Sunday rolls around with clear skies, perfect for the kind of day I’ve been needing. I meet Noah and Esteban down by the river, a spot we’ve been coming to for years. The water’s calm, there are trees surrounding us, and the sound of nature beats the chaos of the week by a long shot. It’s a good day to just unwind and hang out with my boys. Fishing, cracking jokes, no rush—exactly what I’ve been craving.
“How was the visit with your parents?” Noah asks, casting his line into the water.
“Great. We talked a lot. My mom’s eager for grandkids and is constantly asking me to find a wife,” I reply with a chuckle.
Both idiots laugh because they know my mom and her meddling.
“Did you tell them that you found the love of your life?” Noah asks
“I mentioned Violet to them, I want to prepare them, because mark my words, I will marry that woman and I will make her happy. Making my mother happy is not my top concern right now, but I would love to grow a family with her, give Adrian some siblings one day.”
“She sounds like she’s made quite an impression,” Esteban comments, reeling in a small fish.
“She has. I can’t stop thinking about her,” I admit, feeling a sense of determination.
“Man, you got it bad,” Esteban says, shaking his head.
“Yeah, our boy finally found his woman. Now we are left to fend for ourselves,” Noah adds with a grin.
“Yeah, more ladies for us to choose from,” Esteban jokes while I shake my head at their antics.
“Like you need more women,” I say to Esteban.
“You know I love to have a nice time with the ladies. There’s no shame in being honest. I love woman and with you out of the picture, I guess theres more to choose.”
“Whatever, dude,” I say to my crazy friend.
“What did your mom say when you told her about Violet?” Noah inquires.
“She was happy and told me to take it easy and have patience.”
“That’s great advice,” Esteban says while nodding his head.
“So, what’s up with you guys? How is work?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Work is work. We’ve been busy doing renovations for the Bakers, and next we have to work on adding an extension for Mr. and Mrs. Knight,” Noah replies.
“So, work has been amazingly steady. Too busy all week, I end up tired as fuck. That’s why we haven’t met at the Tavern. We are getting old, man,” Esteban says.
“I guess that’s life. I’m busy too, and I’ll give you more work with the new projects I’ve been working on,” I say, feeling the weight of my responsibilities. My best friends and I depend on our mutual referrals to have steady jobs.
“Yeah, that’s great, man,” Noah responds, casting his line again.
As we settle into the rhythm of fishing, the conversation flows naturally. We talk about work, life, and everything in between. Despite the jokes and banter, I can’t help but think about Violet. The way she smiled, the way she looked at me. She’s been through so much, and I want to show her that not all men are like her ex-husband. I want to be there for her and Adrian, to give them the stability and love they deserve.
“Hey, you’re awfully quiet,” Noah remarks, nudging me.
