“After midnight,” answered John.
Maureen stood up. “I’d better go,” she said.
“Is Dad expecting you home?” enquired John.
Maureen’s face reddened. “No, he probably thinks I’m in the arms of some young man at the hotel right now,” she replied in an embarrassed tone.
“It would be a shame to disappoint him,” John said with a smile.
“Please, John. I need time to think. It’s a little over my head and quite a leap,” responded his mother anxiously.
“I understand, Mum. Come on, I’ll give you a lift,” said John as he grabbed his keys.
“It’s ok, I’ll walk,” responded Maureen uneasily.
“Don’t be daft, Mum. After what nearly happened tonight you don’t think I’m letting you out of my sight, do you?” answered John firmly. “Besides, it’s only a five minute drive,” he concluded.
Maureen nodded and smiled and accepted her son’s offer.
After pulling up outside the house John turned to his mother. “Goodnight, Mum,” he said.
“Goodnight, Son and thank you,” Maureen responded as she leaned over and kissed him on his cheek.
John took his mother’s hand and kissed it. “You’re welcome, Mum, and remember, think about what we discussed. You’ll be very safe and nobody need knew,” he concluded.
Maureen put her hand affectionately to John’s face. “I’ll think about it, I promise,” she said before she alighted from John’s car and made her way to the house, giving her son one final wave before she went in.
***
For most of the next week Maureen thought nothing else but what John had suggested. She was shocked and yet she didn’t dismiss it out of hand. She thought she should be angry but wasn’t. On the contrary, she felt flattered that her son found her attractive. It explained other things too. For example Maureen had often felt the John eyed her up in an inappropriate manner. She thought it was just her imagination but now she wasn’t so sure.
John was right about one thing though. After the incident at the hotel she would never go there again. She would certainly be safe with her son. However it was because John was her son she had made up her mind on Wednesday to reject the idea. She was determined to relay this decision to John when he visited again.
On Thursday however, Maureen felt her desires resurfacing. What was worse was when John did visit that evening she didn’t see her son. She saw this desirable six feet plus hunk standing before her. Any chance or wish to say no disappeared almost as soon as Maureen opened the door to her son.
For John’s part, his mother had given no indication as to what she had decided. He decided to be patient and not push her. He knew she would make up her own mind in due course. The one thing he did notice was that despite what had happened, or because of it, His mum seemed happy in herself. She seemed to have an extra spring in her step.
That Thursday evening, after a very enjoyable visit and chat with his parents, John got up. “Well, I’d better go. I’ve got an early start in the morning. It’s good to see you looking better, Dad,” he said as he shook his father’s hand.