I think it's the first time Anna and I have had a meal together. Lily is with us of course. Anna says she wants to see me again very soon. But tonight, she wants to be with Lily. I understand that entirely. Lily occupies a place in Anna's heart. Lily will need to be likewise in mine. Our dinner conversation is light. Mostly about our respective days. I do mention inspecting the old house. All Anna says is that she would like to see it sometime. I suggest we do that and include Lily in our trip. I then ask Lily if she would like to go on a horseback ride.
It occurs to me to ask Anna.
"You know how to ride horseback?"
She has the biggest grin and answers.
"You betcha Sugar."
We make a date for the next weekend. The plan is to take all day with riding and a picnic to take along. This will give me time to speak to the owner. Anna has to go back to work, and I need to go home, clean up and get to bed. I give her a good kiss before leaving. Lily takes all this in. I can tell.
I arrive at my little room. I shower and clean up. Then I go ahead to pick up and clean my area. I don't want to get caught again looking like a slob. All dirty clothes gathered and stored. There is a sweeper available. Yes, I can vacuum and do some dusting. I change the sheets on my bed. The old are with the dirty clothes. I'll make a laundry run tomorrow night.
All my dirty clothes, towels, and bedding. If I run it all at once in multiple washers and driers, it won't take long. I do get to bed. Sleep should come easy, but it doesn't. I find I'm thinking about my night with Annatexie. There is that. But also, the two of them, Anna, and Lily. I want to take care of them. Just as Anna wanted. She's a good and honest, straight up girl. I trust my intuition. Sleep does arrive.
The next morning, I am awake long before I need to be. I ain't gonna lie to ya. I want to get to the café and spend as much time seeing Anna as possible. Even if she's workin'. I hop in my truck and probably drive too fast. Kind of silly for someone of my age to act this way. But you know, I don't make it three feet in the door before she's on me. Anna is all arms and lips and I like it. She seats me and brings me coffee. I don't even have to order. Food just shows up. Anna asks what I've got goin' on tonight as she has the evening off.
I answer.
"Oh, nothing much. I'm gonna do laundry."
Anna's hands go to her hips, and she speaks.
"Well now, how about that. Me too! 6:30? It's a date. We'll just combine everything and have fewer loads."
I never thought of doing laundry as a date. But here I am.
The laundromat isn't anything special. You go there for one reason. I met Anna and Lily there at the appointed time. I had my sack of smelly, dirty laundry. Anna had all of their items. Well, she just took my stuff and sorted it. Then sorted her things into my piles. All of Anna's private things and Lily's as well. Not stuff I am accustomed to seeing. Anna had it all sorted, loaded, and washing pretty quickly.
I was doing alright until Anna commented that I should invest in some new underwear. That was embarrassing. Little Lily took it all in stride. She ran around and played as a five-year-old should. Anna and I sat and talked.
She asked.
"Chuck. What did you think about our night together?"
I looked down and smiled. My answer.
"Anna, I haven't thought about much else. It was very special for me, being with you. I would like for us to get together again soon."
Anna leaned over to give me a kiss. I pulled her into my lap. Lily, not wanting to be left out, wanted to be in her mom's lap. Soon it was time to load the wash into dryers. A bit later, the laundry was done. Anna took everything and folded it nicely. Neat piles for me and then her own things. We both needed to head for home, we both work in the morning. I expressed my gratitude about her help. It was a nice time. Once home, I neatly put away everything. Hung up my shirts. I wanted to be sure the place stayed neat.
I showered and bedded down for the night. Sleep didn't come as quickly as it had in the past. The images of Annatexie continually flitted through my mind. Not just the ones of her naked, but also of her in everyday life. Her smile at work. The way we danced slowly. The manner in which she takes care of Lily. Anna was occupying much of my thought. At last, my eyes closed in sleep, but Anna was there also.
I was awake and dressed before the alarm. I drove to Anna's and waited outside. Not like I was stalking her. But I wanted to see her first thing. I didn't have to wait too long. A little before sunrise, she and Lily came out of the apartment.
I spoke.
"Thot you might like a lift to work."
