She would fret and worry, ask me a million questions about my insulin dosage and eating schedule, and probably suggest I move closer to her so she could keep an eye on me. Never mind that I was thirty-four and had managed my diabetes fine since I was a teenager. One little episode, and she’d act like I was that scared kid in the hospital again, getting his first insulin shot.
But I also couldn’t wait to tell her about Stanton. About how he’d taken care of me during my hypo, how gentle and caring he’d been. How he made my heart flutter every time he smiled at me, and how his deep voice sent shivers down my spine when he called me “honey.” Maybe if I led with that, she’d be too distracted by the possibility of her baby boy finding love to worry too much about the hypo. A guy could hope, right?
“Hi, sweetie!” Mom’s voice was warm and familiar, instantly making me feel both better and worse. “How are you?”
“I’m good, Mom.” I settled more comfortably on my bed, surrounded by my usual nest of pillows. “How’s Dad’s new church group coming along?”
“Oh, they’re wonderful. Such sweet people. And you should see the quilts they’re making for the children’s hospital. Your father says it’s the most engaged group he’s had in years.”
I smiled, picturing my dad surrounded by little old ladies wielding needles and thread. “That’s great. And the garden?”
I was one hundred percent stalling, and it wouldn’t take long before my mom caught on.
“You know how much I love spring. All the vegetables are coming along nicely, and we’re about ready to plant the tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers. And your father’s prize roses are about to bloom, so he’s anxiously awaiting that. But enough about us. How’s work? Are those Safe Space meetings still going well?”
“Yeah, they are. The group has grown so much that I needed a second volunteer.”
“Oh, sweetie, that’s amazing! I’m so proud of you. Who’s helping you?”
Now, I faced a dilemma. Did I tell her about Stanton or the hypo first? I might as well get the bad news over with first. “Yeah, I’m very happy with how they’re going…though I did have a bit of a hypo during the last one.”
“Oh, honey.” Mom’s voice filled with concern. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I’m fine. It happens sometimes when I’m too busy or stressed. Even when I eat well, it’s not always predictable, you know that.”
“I know, sweetie, but I still worry. Ever since that time in high school when you passed out during your piano recital…”She paused, and I could picture her twisting her wedding ring like she always did when anxious. “At least tell me someone was there to help you? You weren’t alone?”
“No, Mom. Stanton was there. He noticed something was wrong before I did and helped me drink some juice. He even drove me home afterward and stayed until I fell asleep.”
“Stanton?” The worry in her voice transformed into something else entirely. “And who might this Stanton be? You haven’t mentioned him before.”
I took a deep breath. “He’s the new volunteer…and we’re dating.”
She flat-out squealed. “Tell me everything!”
The smile came automatically as soon as I thought of Stanton. “He’s amazing, Mom. He volunteers at the library, reading to kids, and he helps me with the Safe Space program. He’s kind and thoughtful and romantic.”
“What does he do for a living?” Mom asked. “Is he from Forestville?”
“He’s actually retired. He used to be a reporter in New York, but he needed a change of pace and moved out here.” I wasn’t going to tell her about him winning the lottery. That was nobody’s business but his. “He bought this amazing old farmhouse on Route 2, just outside of town, that he’s renovating. You should see how passionate he gets when he talks about restoring the original hardwood floors or fixing up the wraparound porch. And he’s so smart, Mom. We can talk about books for hours.”
“He sounds wonderful, honey. But you said he’s retired? How old is he?”
“Forty-eight.” I held my breath, waiting for her reaction. Stanton’s age wasn’t an issue for me, but my mom had strong opinions on suitable age gaps.
“Oh.” She paused. “That’s quite an age difference.”
My stomach clenched. “It’s only fourteen years.”
“Only? Honey, you’re thirty-four. He’s almost fifty.”
“I know.” I sank deeper into my pillows. “But it doesn’t feel that way when we’re together. He’s so…present, you know? And he takes such good care of me. Last week, when I had that hypo, he knew exactly what to do. His sister-in-law is a type 1 diabetic, and he knows what it means. Whenever we go out for dinner together or when he cooks for me, he’s made sure it’s food I can eat that won’t jack up my blood sugars too much.”
“That’s wonderful. You deserve someone who understands and accepts that part of you. But…” She hesitated. “Have you thought about what this means long-term? At his age, he’s probably not looking to start a family, and that’s something you’ve always dreamed of.”
And just like that, my happy bubble burst. Mom had hit on the exact thing I’d been trying not to think about. “I haven’t discussed that with him.”
“You should. Before you get too invested. You’ve always wanted children.”
