Word count 744

                                                       

                                                        Doug Hawley

After Charlie’s wife died, his only friend Bill who was also a widower suggested he move to the retirement home Haven where Bill lived.  “It’s great Charlie, I love it there, and you will too.  With the money Jane left you it will be quite affordable.  You won’t have any trouble making friends; they are a great bunch much like we are.”

Charlie’s social life had been arranged by his late wife Jane.  His only close friend was Bill.  He decided to check it out.  His meeting with the honcho at Haven Ms. Jackson was convincing.  The residents he met were all happy with glowing reviews.  The exercise room was well maintained with good equipment, and the theatre had live entertainment and current films.  Charlie did a quick spreadsheet, and found out that with the expenses he would no longer have and his investment income he could easily afford it.  He signed up two days later.

He met all of the residents the first day and spent most of the time moving whatever he had not cleared out after Jane died.  He felt energized and went to the gym.  After a short workout with machines and dumbbells, the attractive blonde attendant Julie asked if he wanted a massage.  “How much” he enquired.

“Basic massage is included with membership.”

“Sounds like a deal.”

Julie led him into a small room and told him “Strip to shorts and get on the table face down.”  She proceeded to give his back and legs a relaxing massage.

Julie told him “I can see you are enjoying the massage.  Just relax, I’m not bothered.”

Charlie relaxed and enquired “Does it happen sometimes with your clients.”

“You’d be surprised with some of these old horn dogs.  Guys in their nineties coming on to me while getting a rubdown.”

“You’re sure I’m not one of the old horn dogs?”

“I had asked about you before the massage.  I’m sorry about your wife.  Something that surprised me was that at fifty-five you are barely old enough to get in here, and you look even better and younger.”

“Looking for a big tip?”

“Always, but I speak the truth.  Anybody here staff or retirees will tell you the same.  By the way why are you here so early?”

“My wife Jane ran our social life.  All the people I knew were her friends.  When she died, I was completely alone.  I thought I’d make friends here, and I have.  How did you end up here?”

“Guy I was married to left when I had a baby on the spectrum.  He just told me he couldn’t handle it and left.  I had some background in massage and exercise therapy, so I was able to slip in here.  Staying afloat and looking after my boy Fred is a real challenge, but we survive.”

Charlie regularly got massages from Julie and they became increasingly close.  After a week Charlie answered a knock on his door.  It was Julie with a bottle of wine.  After an hour they ended cuddling on the couch.

Charlie started the conversation “I’ve been thinking.”

Julie countered “Oh-Oh”.

“Wait.  You may like this.  I came here because I was lonely.  I think I’m healthy enough to live outside the home if I had someone with me.”

“I might like where this is going.”

“We could live together or get married. You can keep working here, get another job, or retire.  I’d like to volunteer here if I could.  I like the people and I think I know a few things that might be appreciated.  Lot of options, but I want us to be together.”

“Wow, that’s a lot.  Give me a week to think it over.”

“Entirely fair, I know I’m putting pressure on you.”

The next day Julie told Charlie “Put a ring on it.”

After they moved into a house close by, they both stayed in touch with Haven.  Julie massaged clients of her choice, and Charlie taught exercise and writing classes there.  Charlie used connections to get Fred a job that he enjoyed and could handle.

Charlie repeated his mantra every morning “I give thanks for my good fortune of knowing two wonderful women, and I will stay open to whatever the universe shows me.”

There isn’t a happily ever after, but they did pretty good for many years.

                                                             The End

Appears in Romance, Buds, and Butterflies.  Inspired by my forced abduction to Sunset City?