10
Moira - 2017
Mrs. Oliveira handedMoira a cup of coffee, the steam swirled up and filled Moira’s nostrils with the fragrant aroma. “Thank you. I love yourcoffee.”
“It’s the secret ingredient, youknow.”
Moira gulped a mouthful of the precious black liquid before asking. “What’sthat?”
“Love.”
“That makes sense.” She smiled and opened her calendar to coordinate with the neighbor the times for her kids’ activities in the upcomingweeks.
Mrs. Oliveira blindsided her,though.
“Speaking of which, how’s your friend Aidan doing? I haven’t seen him around for awhile?”
“He’s doingfine.”
“When are you putting the man out of hismisery?”
“How do you mean?” Moira playeddumb.
“I have yet to babysit the kids for you to go out with Aidan, so I figured you haven’t given the man much of a chance to…, well, youknow.”
Moira eyeballed her neighbor. The elderly lady was sharp, she had to give herthat.
“We’re just goodfriends.”
“Because you’re stubborn. You both want more than friendship, I cantell.”
Moira considered Mrs. Oliveira’s words and couldn’t refute them. She had fought her attraction for Aidan for months. He had respected her, followed her lead, but he had also taken every opportunity he got to show her how he felt. Her self-control was hanging by a thread, a hair’s-breadththread.
“He’s too young forme.”
“Howmuch?”
“Tenyears.”
“Your ex-husband was twelve years older than you. He was forty and you were eighteen when you got married. Did you consider thatwrong?”
Her question shocked Moira intosilence.
When she recovered, she stated, “I never thought about it that way. I want to say yes, but I’d be lying. On the other hand, I’ve never considered myself a conformist. I’mtorn.”
“You’re not a conformist, Moira. However, society does influence us, sometimes in ways too subtle to be detected. My point is that in both cases the relationship is between two consulting adults, regardless of what their birth certificates state. Nothing wrong in either case, as long as love is involved. Now, if you tell me you’re afraid if you give your heart to another man, he’ll smash it into a million pieces, I totally understand. That is a valid concern based on your past experience. Is that thecase?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Moira hung herhead.
Mrs. Oliveira patted Moira’s back. “Don’t beat yourself up, sweetheart. You’re in the eye of the storm. It’s hard to see the rainbow, but it will come. Remember, when all else fails, hold on tolove.”
Moira gazed into Mrs. Oliveira’s black eyes. Unable to find words to express her appreciation, Moira flung her arms around the good-hearted woman’s neck and squeezed her tight. “This is the best advice I’ve gotten in ages. I don’t say this enough, but I’m so grateful I’ve got you in my life. I’ d be lost without your good sense and bigheart.”
Ever since Moira’s parents and brother perished in a car accident, months after her wedding, she had found a surrogate family in Mr. and Mrs.Oliveira.
“There, there. It’s just an old woman’s rambling,” the woman muttered into Moira’s hair. Then, she straightened her spine and opened her calendar on the table. “Let’s do this. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday. It’s my annual appointment with the oncologist for a check-up.”
Moira glanced on her calendar, and her stomach dropped. The appointment had slipped her mind, but she didn’t say anything to the other woman. It wouldn’t be right. “That’s right. You mentioned your appointment a while ago. Please keep me posted about theresults.”
