Thanks to John for the inspiration.
*****
I was walking home from the local shop, up my street, when, a block ahead of me, I saw my mother, Janet, in the front doorway of a house near ours. A man, about my age, was at the door, and gave my mother a quick kiss before she turned to leave. The door closed, and my mother came down the path to the pavement in front of the house. She turned away from me, hadn't seen me, and walked towards the house where John and I live.
I hurried after her, and caught up with her just in front of my own front path.
"Mum!" I said, sharply.
She turned, startled, and said, "Paula! I was just stopping in to see if you or John was home."
I bustled past her to the door, and let myself in with the latchkey. "Come in, Mum, John's not home right now."
We entered, I closed the door, we took off our coats, and walked into the front room.
"Cup of tea?" my Mum asked.
"I saw you," I said, staring hard at her.
"Saw me?" she asked, puzzled.
"Saw you with a man on this street," I said.
"Oh, I don't think ..." she began.
"Saw you kissing a man on this street," I said.
"Oh, dear," sighed my Mum, eyes widening. She sank into a front room chair. "I thought I was being so careful."
"Kissing a man on this street!" I said.
"You sound so angry," said my Mum, quietly.
"I'm outraged!" I said. "Are you having an affair with that man?"
"His name is Sean," said my Mum.
"Are you having an affair with this Sean," I said. Still standing, staring at my Mum.
"Your father hasn't been well, Paula," Mum said.
"I'm only asking once more, Mum: Are you having an affair with this man Sean, one of my neighbors?"
"I didn't mean it to get this far," said Mum. "Really, I didn't."
"I'll take that as a 'yes,' then," I said. "How could you? What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking, maybe just a taste, before my time's up," said Mum quietly, eyes downcast.
"And no thought for me, for Dad?" I stormed on.
"It doesn't really have anything to do with you or your Dad," said Mum.
"How can you say that!" I fumed. "It has everything to do with us, our trust in you."
"Honestly, Paula, I can't see what my private life has to do with you," said Mum.
"My reputation! John's reputation!" I cried.
"I doubt they would be tarnished, without your helping tarnish them, Paula," said Mum, beginning to stand up for herself.
"And Dad?" I asked.
"He knows I've missed it, missed our intimacies," said Mum. "He knows I've been loyal to him."
"Does he know about this Sean?" I asked.
"He knows that ... something ... is happening," replied Mum. "I've asked if he wants to know more, and he said 'no.'"
"You told him?" I was incredulous.
"Not details," said Mum. "But I don't want to have secrets from your Dad."
"But it's OK to have secrets from your daughter, it appears," I said, know I sounded unreasonable.
"It's not a secret any more, is it?" asked my Mum. "What do you want to do about it?"
"I want it to stop, of course!" I said loudly.
"I hear you, Paula, but I don't think that's your choice to make," said Mum.
"How did you even meet this Sean?" I asked.
"Darren knows him," said Mum. "Sean's been helping Darren."
"Oh, that's just perfect!" I cried. "Darren causing me more grief!"
"This really isn't about you, Paula," said Mum. "Really, it isn't."
"Just get out," I said. "I can't talk to you any more right now. Get out."
My Mum, Janet, rose, put on her coat, and let herself out the front door.
I sat down, really steaming, and decided that I needed to confront this 'Sean' ... but first I needed a good stiff drink. Scotch, neat, thank you.
Late the next afternoon, after John had walked down to the local pub, I walked the other direction to that man Sean's house.
I went up the walk, and knocked firmly on the door. I was a bit surprised when it opened almost immediately. Part of me hoped the man wouldn't be home.
"Hello?" asked the pleasant looking man in the doorway.
"I live three doors up, and I need a word with you," I said.
"OK," said the man, Sean. "Come in."
Standing in the hallway, me still in my coat, the man said, "My name's Sean, and you are ...?" He held out his hand to shake.
I ignored the hand. "My name's not important. I need to talk to you about my family."
"You have me at a disadvantage," said Sean. "Do I know your family?"
"Janet and Darren," I said, sneering. "You know them, I think?"
"Ah," said Sean. "You must be Paula. Please come in."
"I don't need your hospitality," I said.
"Well, I'm going to sit down in my front room," said Sean. "You can talk to me from the entry-way, here, or you can join me in there." He turned and walked into his front room ... the house was very like ours.
I frowned and paused, then followed him into the front room. But I wasn't taking off my coat.
Sean was sitting, and pouring himself a glass of red wine. "Join me?" he asked.
"No," I said. "What have you been doing with my Mum, with Janet?"
"I don't think that's any of your business," smiled Sean.
"I'm making it my business!" I said. "I know you two have been up to ... things. I want to know why ... why you would be interested in a pensioner, at your age."