Cindy was still reeling from her divorce, but at least it was over and now the emotional part was what she had to contend with. Luckily, her two children had been very understanding about it all and were very supportive throughtout the process. After all, it was her husband who wanted the divorce, and her children at ages nineteen and twenty-two were old enough and on their own enough to recover well.
With her husband gone, the additional absence with her children going to college was seemingly intensified and the lonesomeness wore on Cindy. She moped and complained some, and her son Alex certainly picked-up on it. He encouraged her to be more outgoing. Further, he came home a couple of weekends from school to urge her out and be more supportive.
Alex went to school only a couple of hours from where the family had lived and he got into a routine of coming back every other weekend. He got his mother into the routine of exercising regularly, and Cindy was pleasantly surprised at how much it energized her and lifted her spirits.
She also liked how much Alex would notice her doing more with her exercising and his encouraging her on. She came to look forward to it.
Inevitably, Cindy and Alex would go get dinner together or have drinks after working-out, and Alex started talking to Cindy about how she could get back out socially and meet people. Cindy looked forward to those weekends when Alex would come home, and she also listened to his advice about meeting people and getting out more.
Just as Alex had suggested, Cindy wound-up meeting and going out with a couple of guys that she met. Before long, Cindy had had several dates with a guy named Tony from their gym. There became a couple of times on a Saturday night when Alex was at home for the weekend when Cindy was supposed to go out with Tony, and Cindy was very adamant about not going even though Alex said she should.
Cindy really felt torn later, and she was going to talk to Alex about it the next time he visited from school. As it turned out, Alex cancelled the next weekend he would've come home from school, saying there were things he had to do at school. Cindy told him she understood, but inside she was actually very disappointed.
They had talked over the usual pleasantries, and Cindy visibly seemed to gather herself to bring up something to Alex.
"Alex, I have to tell you," she started reluctantly," I feel bad about having had plans the other weekend. I really enjoy our time, you know?"
"Listen," he replied concerned at her discomfort, "I understand totally. I look forward to seeing you, too. I enjoy us getting together. Alot. But, listen this is what is best. You need to get out more socially, and I understand."
"You are so sweet. But I just don't want us to stop spending our time together you know?"
"Sure, I understand," he answered. "And we don't have to stop either." Cindy smiled as he said this. Alex liked how she had lit up at this.
"Tell you what," Alex suggested, " let's see how it goes with me still coming home every other weekend or so. Okay?"
"Great!" Cindy exclaimed and went to Alex and hugged his neck, glad that they had worked this out.
Two weekends later, Alex was home from school, and he could tell his mom was really happy to see him. She was beaming when he came through the door, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Alex could smell the light sweet perfume Cindy wore, and he noticed touches of make-up a little more than any recent time he could remember.
Cindy had already planned their dinner out that night, and she was very animated and talkative at the seafood restaurant that she knew was one of his favorites. They had dinner and a couple of drinks as she caught up on how school was going for him. After they talked of school, Alex asked her about Tony. For the first time that evening, Cindy seemed to withdraw some and get quiet.
"Alex, I don't know that we should really get into that. ... I don't expect to be seeing any more of Tony."
This took Alex by surprise.
"Huh?"
"Well, it just didn't work out, I guess," she coyly tried to explain.
"Mom, it sounded like you guys were getting along so well."
"I know, but... ."
"But?" Alex persisted, not letting her off the hook.
"Let's just say he wanted more from things than what I did."
"Really?" Alex wasn't exactly sure what to make of this.
The conversation shfited on to something else, but Alex made it a point to bring it back up when they were at home later and before they were going to call it a night.
"I guess I'm still surprised at you not seeing Tony any more, mom."
They were standing in the kitchen together, and Cindy looked up at Alex saying nothing for a while.
"You know, you could discuss it with me if you want to, you know?" Alex said to her gently.
"Let's just say he wanted to be closer with me. ...And," she stopped, but didn't take her eyes from Alex.
"And?" Alex asked.
"Well, I just didn't want that with him," Cindy gave a slight smile as if to say 'you know what I mean'.
"I understand," Alex tried to comfort her. "There'll be someone you will be comfortable with and will want that with."
