Widowed, retired, cold...all in four months.
Well, OK, the cold suddenly happened the week after Thanksgiving with a surprising drop in temperature and a freak storm off the Atlantic. Eight inches of heavy, wet snow! I actually looked forward to getting the snow blower going and playing Man by throwing snow around, albeit with a machine not my "strong back and arms."
As I finished my short driveway and sidewalk, I noticed the houses around me had not started to clean out. I had lots of gas, no other plans, and the only snow blower, so I started out. Three of the families included two divorcees with children and one class B "widow" whose husband was trying to sell their home in Indiana before joining her and the girls here.
********************
Ring--Ring! The doorbell? But who, today? Janey was peering through the side window as I opened the door. "Thanks for helping us, Mr. Donley. Mom wanted to offer you lunch, but saw you were already at the Isher's drive. Here is some soup, fresh rolls and a salad. Hope you enjoy, and thanks again." With a flash of her bright smile, Janey was off through the middle of my yard, enjoying kicking the snow.
"Thanks Shawna. The soup was delicious and a real treat. Mind if I bring your things over?"
"Sure, this is a great time. Would you like some coffee, or tea?"
"Coffee would be great." I almost hoped she was going to add "or me? to the offer of coffee or tea. Lynn had died unexpectedly in late Summer, and I was adrift after that. We had enjoyed 41 years of a great marriage, then ground through four years of disintegration. We each blamed the other, but in hindsight, we had both refused to keep adjusting and compromising. I missed her, but not the tension of the last four years. But I did miss her, and realized that I missed being around a "her," sort of any nice woman for a balance.
"Come in. Kids are home from school again today, so things are hectic. Hope you don't mind." After an hour of coffee, yesterday's rolls and jam, I was relaxed and comfortable at the table. And so was Shawna. Pretty, a little overweight, washed out golden red hair and blue eyes, Shawna had the look of a tired Mom. Her husband had moved them into this nice big home four years earlier, then within six months moved out to live with one of the girls in the office. I had seen Shawna and the kids do without, manage to keep the house, settle in, and get back on their feet. The children were well behaved, cute and over the past year had begun to open up more, especially Janey.
"Thanks again for doing the snow yesterday. It would have taken us hours, and frankly, I'm not sure I am quite up to it. I keep busy, but obviously I am not a gym rat!"
"You look great!" which drew a skeptical wry look from Shawna. "No, seriously, you look great. Most of your neighbors would love to have that head of hair and everything," I stammered. "Thanks, and would they want these 40 pounds?" Shawna laughed. Her eyes were sparkling and her teeth flashed through a smile, but I could see she was self conscious. "Yes, they just might if they could keep the curves and your smile!" I could not believe I was commenting on body shape to a neighbor in her kitchen. How did I get here?
Jimmy came in the kitchen asking about lunch, which suddenly became an offer to me. "Thanks for the offer, but I have some of your soup from yesterday and need to go out. I really enjoyed the chat. Thanks. It was the first family interaction I have enjoyed for a while. Really thanks. Why don't you come over for coffee sometime?"
As I cleaned the dishes that evening, I imagined Shawna in her kitchen. She really was attractive, and must have been a real looker in high school when she probably met her husband. She was probably only 35. How miserable to think you are not attractive, a failure, and lonely at 35. And with two kids, she could not exactly go out to troll for dates.