Caroline
"Who is he?"
"Huh?" she asked, looking up to the open door. One of her closest work colleagues, she'd go so far as to say friend, Sally, was leaning against the frame. "What?"
"Who is he, Carol? Who is the man that has you smiling like you are all the time?"
"I don't know what you mean, Sally."
"Please, Carol. You've been walking on air the past few weeks. Smiling constantly. Friendlier with everyone. Just like a weight has been lifted off you. Or someone has helped make you moan a few times."
"Sally!"
Her friend closed the door, sneaking over to her desk, taking the seat opposite. "Please, Carol. I'm not mocking. Everyone is happy to see you smiling. Honestly, it's the first time we've probably seen the real you since you started here. You just looked more relaxed. So... who is he? Or is it a she? I mean, the world we live in, that's not really a surprise either."
Caroline knew she wasn't going to be able to fob her friend off easily. Putting down the screen of her laptop, she took off her glasses and looked at Sally across the desk. With a sigh, she nodded. "Okay, fine. But this does not leave this room. I start hearing gossip, and I never tell you another thing, Sally."
"My lips will be sealed." She made a motion of a zipper. "Come on, Carol. I'm dying here!"
"Fine. I'm currently involved with a nice young man."
Sally grinned. "Ah, so you're a cougar. Or maybe you should be considered a MILF, Carol? Good for you. Who is he?"
"We met at a bar. I was out with some girlfriends, we hit it off, despite the fact I am considerably older."
"How much older?"
"He's early twenties. Very early twenties. I'm old enough to realistically be his mother."
"So what is it? Serious? Friends with benefits?" She sighed, glaring at her friend. She put up her hands. "Okay, okay. I won't delve too much. But you like him?"
"He's very sweet and caring. And he's fit. Very fit."
"Think he's done you the world of good, Carol. Glad to see you're smiling so often. It wasn't bad before, but... well, everyone out there has noticed."
"Guess I realised what I was missing. I was single for a long time."
"Are we going to meet him sometime soon?"
"No. It's not that serious. He'll eventually meet someone younger that he can have a family with. But he's enjoying our time together at the moment."
"So you know there's an expiry date on it?"
"I'm forty-five years old, Sally. I'm not a young woman. And I'm realistic. So I'll enjoy it while it lasts, and when he wants to move on, I'll kiss him, wish him the best, and hopefully meet someone else again quickly enough."
"Okay, I'll leave it alone. Going to join us after work? It is Friday?"
"Well, considering it is Friday..."
"Ah, you have plans then?" She just smiled, answering that question. "Well, if you change your mind, we'll be at the bar across the road."
She watched Sally leave her office, finally releasing a nervous chuckle, shaking her head as she lifted the screen of her laptop. While she would have loved to stand on her desk and shout that her son was the best fuck of her life, that simply wasn't possible. But suggesting she was currently intimate with a young handsome man, who adored and loved her in return, wasn't far from the truth.
Finishing work for the week a couple of hours later, most of the staff had already left, some heading out for a Friday afternoon drink, many others simply getting in their cars or hopping onto public transport in their efforts to get home. Arriving at home over an hour later, a couple of cars were in the driveway, though no sign of Mark's car. Even on a Friday, he was one of the last to leave work, putting in all the hours he could to make money.
Deborah and Katie were outside by the pool. It might have been mid-autumn, but the weather was still warm enough to remain outside, while Mark had turned on the heating unit so the water in the pool was now warm enough to swim. No point having a pool you couldn't use all year long, so even in the depths of winter, the family would be found outside, in or by the water.
Pouring herself a glass of wine, she sat in her favourite chair, kicked off her heels, leaning forward to massage her stockinged feet, before relaxing back in the silence, closing her eyes as she leaned back into the chair. Sandra and Becca both walked through the room to the kitchen or outside, giving her a soft kiss, but left her to unwind after a long week.
She heard Mark's car eventually pull up outside. There was no missing the exhaust nor the heavy music blasting from his speakers. It still provoked a smile. He was a young man with a new toy. His taste in music wasn't hers whatsoever, aware he would spend time with Simone whenever a new album dropped from someone or a group they both enjoyed listening to, but there was no doubt they'd picked well when buying the car for him.
Walking through the door in a t-shirt and jeans, she couldn't help feel the slight flutter of butterflies at his appearance, getting to her feet as he immediately grinned, dumping his bag, before taking her in his arms. She always got the first kiss, unless Heidi was home. While the two youngsters were an item, they still lived their own lives, not feeling it necessary to be around each other all the time. The kiss was just what she needed, feeling his strong arms pull her tight, his tongue playful in her mouth. She felt dampness in her panties within a few seconds.
She leaned back as his hand caressed her cheek. They were already the hands of a young man who worked hard, feeling her smile broaden as he looked at her with nothing but unashamed love for her in return. "Well, hello there, handsome."
"I think every son comes home wanting a cuddle with his mother."
