I watched him leave.
Wait.
That’s it! I closed the door and turned back toward the kitchen, looking at the white plastic bag of food like it held answers to the universe.
That was who I should set up next—Mom!
It would be perfect.
I had loved setting up friends and coworkers, but Mom… Mom would be amazing. It was like I had been training my whole life to pull off this magical event.
What would it be like to have her be spoiled? To have someone sweep her off her feet and make her life easier? I envisioned some silver-haired man in a Corvette driving her through France. I resisted the urge to clap and squeal, but the shoulder shimmy couldn’t be contained.
She raised her eyebrow. “Are you that excited for Leo’s?”
We moved to the kitchen and I set the bag on the counter. I opened the cupboard next to the sink, grabbed out two glass plates, and started loading them up with the steaming cheese ravioli and breadsticks. “Are you not?” I scoffed.
She rolled her eyes and grabbed a few dishes from the sink and started rinsing them off to put in the dishwasher. She couldn’t help it. If she was awake, she felt like she should be helping.
But who was helping her?
“Mom, remember, no cleaning.”
“Oh, it was just a few dishes.” Mom shrugged me off.
“A few dishes thatIwill clean. Later.” I eyed her until she stopped.
“Oh fine. It’s not a big deal.” She huffed.
I wouldn’t mind the help from time to time. The problem was, from sunup to sundown, she couldn’t stop working. I wanted her to relax. “Let’s watch the movie.”
I nodded to her plate. She picked it up and followed me to the couch. I pushed play onRoman Holidayand the instrumental intro came to life.
“I love this one.” Mom was smiling and leaning toward me as the opening credits played.
“Same.” Audrey Hepburn played a princess on the run who fell for an undercover journalist.
I could picture it now, except with Mom in place of Audrey.
Mom, driving through Rome, being swept off her feet in a big romantic gesture. I drummed my fingers on my leg.
What had that ad said? Something about fifty plus… Mom had just turned fifty-one.
She wouldn’t like it at first, but I doubted she would complain in the long run.
I grabbed my phone and found the ad. It took me to a website called “Kismet Silvers.” I peeked over at Mom to see her already sinking deeper into the cushions. I wondered if she’d make it twenty minutes before she fell asleep.
My screen filled with a picture of an older couple lying on a sunny beach in lounge chairs, toasting fruity drinks.
Yep. This was perfect!
I had bugged her about dating before, but she always said she didn’t have time, or didn’t want the drama. I was giddy at the thought of my mom in love.
I scrolled the page. Events were held at The Brick House, newly remodeled. You signed up for an account and could purchase tickets to local events for other “Silver Singles.” I adjusted so my phone was faced away from Mom. This would be way easier than trying to set her up on dates secretly. This could work.
I clicked on the calendar.
The events included food, meet and greets, book clubs, dances, and vintage movie days.
