All characters in sexual situations are 18 or older. Thanks for reading!
"Oh... my..." Penelope stretched. "That was the most restful night's sleep... ever. How did you sleep, darling?" She rolled onto her side to caress her husband, but his half of the bed was empty. A rush of emptiness filled her.
He's only gone to the office. He told me last night that he had an early day. Everything's fine. I'll have a productive day without him.
She rose from bed and gasped when she saw the clock. It was late! Hurriedly, she brushed her teeth, dressed herself, pinned her hair, and descended the stairs.
She tarried on the second floor when she saw that her son's door was open.
What would a good mother do?
Her mind leaned toward bursting in and demanding to know if Theodore and Victoria were officially courting. She imagined how he might chafe at such a conversation.
Maybe I should apologize for walking in on him again.
She didn't want to seem weak. She had already apologized.
A good mother is loving, warm, and strong.
Penelope pressed her gloved fingers into the wall. Was a good mother decisive? If so, she was failing the test.
Step after step, she found her slippered feet moving toward his room. The image of his giant, ugly penis came into her mind. Her feet faltered, and she clutched the wall for support. She wouldn't see it again. His door was open. He wouldn't have it out on display. She took several deep breaths, trying to ignore the persistent thrilling hum coming from her vagina. She needed her husband's penis badly, but he was gone for the day. Penelope wiped sweat from her brow.
I am brave. I can face any situation.
She thought about how Winifred had told her that Theodore wept for her when she disappeared. That he had missed her.
My son loves me back.
Her feet moved again, and she continued down the hall, stopping in his doorway.
"Good morning, lambkin." Penelope put a bright smile on her face and a cheery cadence to her words. She found him reading a book while propped sideways on his chair. She studied his pudgy body. Of course, she remembered arguing that he should diet and exercise. But perhaps she'd been wrong. He was so cute in his round form. So very much like a smaller version of his father.
Although, not all of him is smaller than Felix!
That thought nearly threw her into another nose dive, but his scowling face brought her back to the moment. "I was... um... I was going to make you breakfast. And I wanted you to know that I'll never enter without knocking again. That was a mistake. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."
Oh, no. I apologized.
"Freddie already made me pancakes. I'm not hungry." Theodore stared holes through his mother. A lingering silence stretched out between them. He studied her closely. This was so different from the way Winifred waited him out with tactical precision. His mother's brows were knitted, and she wrung her gloved hands with anxiety. He could tell she was working with no tactics or strategy. "You can go now."
"Perhaps we could talk about last night? If you have anything to get off your chest, I'm here." Penelope didn't like the sound of that. It rang hollow. "I mean... I want to be here for you... now that I'm back."
"Forget it, Mom." Theodore turned back to his book.
"I wonder, are you officially courting Victoria? She seems like a lovely woman, and I know it would make your father happy if it was official." Penelope's frown deepened. She could see her son's muscles tense. "I didn't mean to -"
Theodore hurled his book at the wall. It struck with a loud bang, rattling the framed prints of airplanes and spacecraft nearby. "You don't get to come home and meddle in my life." He waited for her to explode. He stared her down and could see a brief flash of anger pass over her face. But her rage evaporated almost as soon as it began. He had to hand it to her, she really was trying to be a better mother. But it was too little, too late. Far too late.
"I didn't mean to leave... the way I did. I can't understand why I did that, Teddy." Penelope gulped.
I am brave. I am understanding.
"I know the last two and half years have been hard on -"
"You think this is about the last two and a half years?" Theodore screamed. He jumped to his feet, hands gesticulating wildly. "Where were you at my baseball games? Where were you at concerts, science fairs... where were you before you left? Shit... you weren't working like Dad, but you always seemed to be busy. The only time you paid attention to me was when I got a bad grade or punched someone at school. And whatever you said wasn't helpful. It wasn't... fucking... helpful."
She fought the impulse to chastise his language. That wouldn't help. "It didn't happen that often -"
"Is that how you want to play it? Want me to make a fucking list?" Theodore wished he had something else in his hands to throw.
"I was under stress. I married your father young and... I had difficulties. I didn't mean to hurt you." Tears rolled down Penelope's cheeks. "I don't know why I did any of those things. I should have been there for you when you hit home runs or played the clarinet. I should have helped you do better when you flubbed a class or got in a fight. I don't understand why I -"
"The worst part about your disappearing is knowing that I was better off without you! And knowing how much things are going to suck now that you're back." Theodore's voice lowered a little. He sat down in his chair. He was spent.
"I'll do better. I promise." Penelope wiped the tears from her cheeks, her chest heaved with sobs.
A mother isn't supposed to cry in front of her child.
"It's too late. I'm nineteen. A man. And if I do need a mother, I've got Freddie right down the hall." He pointed a finger past her. "You... get out."
