I started this as a stand alone story and soon realized It had potential to be expanded on. Let me know and again, thanks for reading.
At 54 years of age, Dan was what could be classified as a 'Silver Fox'. Recently retired from the military and still in great shape. He never thought of himself as a handsome man, although he knew he got more than his fair share of looks from women of all ages. He had always put it off to his height at six feet even. Although the sandy blonde hair and light green eyes didn't hurt anything.
Dan quit smoking cigarettes when his wife was diagnosed with lung cancer. The doctors called it non small cell lung cancer. He and his wife, Marilyn, had called it a crimp in their life and a pain in their asses. Because of the neutropenia caused by the chemo, they had to completely rearrange their lives. Which included their "lifestyle" club membership.
Dan and Marilyn were popular within the lifestyle. She complimented Dan very well at 5'11", 145lbs, raven black hair and doe brown eyes Marilyn was an imposing looking woman. However, she was very committed, submissive, and loyal to Dan. To her, he was her everything. Her lover, her Master and her best friend. They were completely in love with one another.
After 20 months of fighting, Marilyn initiated a conversation with Dan while in the hospital for what would be the final time.
"Dan?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"I think I'm done. I'm tired, tired of all...this." Waving her hand in the air, pointing at the IV's and various machines.
"Don't talk like that, honey. We'll get through this. I can't imagine being without you." His chest began to tighten up. He was in danger once again of crying in front of others.
"I know you believe things will be alright, but this trip is different. I feel different. I can't explain how just trust me. I need you to promise me something. Ok?"
"Yeah, honey, anything."
"Mourn for me, then continue to live. Don't shut yourself off. Travel like we did. Play like we did. Enjoy life like we did. Find another good girl like me, well, as close as you can. We both know there's only one me." She giggled until it turned into coughing.
"Easy baby. You'll cough your IVs out. Honey, I can't promise I'm going to find anyone else. I can't promise that I'll try. To be honest with you, I don't want anyone else."
"No, not good enough, mister. It's times like these that we should have an important person in our lives. I couldn't imagine going through this alone, laying in this God-awful bed in this dreary room alone. Don't knowingly do that to yourself. Find a special someone. No one deserves to die alone. No one. Now promise me, Dan. I mean it." Tears were rolling down his cheeks when he answered.
.
"Babe, I promise I'll try."
"No, Dan. Promise you will. I'm not dropping this until you do." He knew she was just stubborn enough to stave off the inevitable until he relented. She was submissive until it was something she truly wanted. Marilyn had only done that twice before in their 30-year marriage, so he realized it was important for her to hear what she needed to hear. Sighing heavily, he said it out loud.
"Marilyn, I promise."
"You promise what baby? I need to hear you say it." After some thought, Dan replied.
"I promise I'll try to find a special someone. I promise to live, play, and travel like we used to, but I'll do it in honor of you, not because you made me promise." There it was, the compromise. He would honor her request, but on his terms. Marilyn knew he would. Dan didn't take promises lightly.
"Thank you, my love. Now, be a sweetheart and call the nurse. I'm really hurting right now." He did as requested. After the nurse set up a patient controlled morphine drip, she quietly exited the room.
"Goodnight Dan, I love you."
"Night honey. I love you too." Those were the last words they spoke to one another. Marilyn passed in her sleep that night. Uneventfully, quietly, peacefully.
Dan, of course, was completely shaken to his core. Distraught and alone. He almost had two wrecks and had to pull over no less than a half dozen times on the hour long drive home. To top it off, he wasn't sure he'd be able to live up to his last promise.
**********
It had been just over two years since Marilyn had passed away. Dan had traveled some, thanks to some of Marilyn's good investments and a huge life insurance policy they had on each other. As for the rest, he was still reluctant. He had taken an 'I'll accept what life puts in front of me' approach for everything else. Some of the money he'd received went into his passion, and he opened a gun shop once his Federal Firearms License was approved. The shop did a brisk business and kept his mind occupied. During the week, he watched women coming and going in the strip mall where his store was located. On the weekends, he would cook for himself and do research on new items. No matter how many times he was hit on, though, he couldn't bring himself to follow through. Until the new vape shop opened up next door.
They had a big grand opening that Dan hadn't gone to. Mainly because their opening meant more foot traffic for all the businesses. He had started vaping instead of smoking again after his wife had passed. He waited until Thursday to check it out. To be perfectly honest, Dan half expected to find some young Gen Z, man-bun wearing, skinny, pretentious douchbag guy behind the counter. The person behind the counter took him totally off guard when he entered the store.
"Well, hey there, Mr. Gun man."
"Uh, hi?" Dan was just as taken back by her beauty as he was by her greeting.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to mess with you like that. I saw you Monday going into the gun shop next door, so I knew you worked there. You can come in, I won't bite. Much." Dan realized he was just standing there in the doorway of the shop.
"Oh, ok. Yeah. Sorry, you kind of took me by surprise. I'm Dan, I actually own the store next door, and I'm the only employee, so..."
"Nice to meet you, Dan. I'm Caitlin, my friends call me Cat. So, do you vape, or are you just checking things out?"
"You carry Grumpy Old Asshat in a 6?"
"I like it! A man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to ask. Nice! We, in fact, do have that. How many?"
"Just one. If I may be so bold, who is we? Are you a part owner?" Caitlin giggled.
"Oh nooo. My brother owns this. My ex was supposed to be part owner, but he's an ass, so our dad put up the rest, and here we are. Besides that, I'm only 19 and neither need nor want that kind of responsibility." At the mention of her age, Dan had to mentally pump the brakes. He had been imagining the possibilities with this short, red-headed cutie standing in front of him. Now it seemed he just hit a brick wall.
"Hellooooooo, you still here?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry. Just spaced out there for a second."
