Thank you all for being so patient, school and work have been especially demanding these last few weeks. I hope you enjoy :))
Sharon had intended to take the rest of the afternoon to relax and prepare herself, mentally and physically, for her coming evening…really she had. Although it seemed fate had deemed it necessary to inflame her nervousness.
On the way home was bumper-to-bumper traffic, which wasn't unheard of in LA, but was unusual at four-thirty in the afternoon. On the rare occasion Sharon was able to sneak out of the office around this time, she could normally coast the freeway arriving at home in twenty minutes flat.
It had now been one hour, forty-six minutes, Sharon glanced at her wrist cautiously, quickly averting her eyes back to the road, and twenty-seven seconds. This was getting ridiculous, if she actually achieved getting home in the next fifteen minutes, that would give her roughly a half hour to not only get ready but explain to her two children exactly what this night was all about, before Andy showed up.
She sighed; I guess I should figure that out before hand…
Well what do you want it to be? She asked herself.
Honestly, I'm not sure.
That's dangerous territory, the brunette warned herself.
Don't I know it…
Suddenly the reason for such heavy traffic came into Sharon's line of sight; accidents of this nature never failed to make her stomach turn and jump at the same time. There smashed against the center divider looked like what could have once been a stylish two-door sports car, but now was a permanent compact. The third part to the 'sandwich' was a very familiar looking black and white four-door vehicle.
As she drove by the scene in horror, she couldn't help praying that number one: all those involved were safe; and two: that her services wouldn't be needed this fine evening.
Rachael was casually sprawled out on the ornately stuffed couch that took up the majority of the living room, reading her latest novel of the week when she heard her mother's car pull into the driveway. The engine died off quickly, replaced by the loud clang of the door closing and the precise click of her mom's heels on the walkway. Gingerly she extracted her self from the couch and shuffled to the entryway, just in time to see hurricane Sharon blow in through the front door.
When her mother was in one of her 'moods,' and in a hurry this was the name that Rachael and her brother lovingly bestowed upon her.
Slightly out of breath Sharon asked, "Where's your brother?"
"At Keith's house," Rach giggled slightly to her self, as she watched her mom try to pile everything she held on to the hall table.
Taking pity on the frantic brunette, Rachael grabbed the coat and briefcase precariously balanced on an outstretched hand. No sooner had she taken the burden from her mother, than the woman in question turned and sprinted up the stairs. Rachael, dumbstruck, looked after the woman who claimed to be her mother, and then smiled slowly as she heard her mother's stereo click on, the sultry tones of Sway wafting deliciously down the stairs.
Ah, she grinned to her self, Mom has a date.
Hanging the coat up in the closet and setting the briefcase carefully on the ground next to the table, Rachael turned on her heel and practically bounded up the stairs.
When she reached the door to her mother's room it was slightly cracked and she could see the silhouette of her mother moving at an alarming pace. She took a deep breath, and then casually walked into the bedroom, glancing around and finding the brunette in question had disappeared. She saw the door to the walk in closet slightly ajar, a light filtering from the crack and could hear a few choice words as well. She decided to make her self comfortable on the queen size bed and wait.
A few seconds later her mother appeared from behind said door, clad only in her skirt from the day and black satin bra, looking flushed and nervous.
Sharon quickly glanced up and connected eyes with her grinning daughter, jumping slightly.
"Jesus, Rach," she exclaimed, "You scared me!"
Rachael couldn't help but ogle her mother, she was beautiful after all, well toned and shaped in all the right areas. She certainly had a body to defy her age; she couldn't fathom looking that way when she became her mother's age.
If I'm lucky, she snorted to her self.
"Well I was curious as to what would have my very prim and proper mother, so out of sorts," she batted her eyelashes playfully.
"I'm not out of sorts," Sharon denied as she made her way in the bathroom, her voice carrying into the outer room as she began to touch up her make up.
Rachael smirked as her mother continued to talk, "I'm just…ner…errr…flushed." She couldn't help the snicker that escaped her at her mother's slip.
"There was bad accident on the way home...kept me cooped up in the car…you know how I am, I hate to sit." Sharon huffed.
Sure, Rachael thought to her self.
"Anyway," her mother was a master at changing the subject, "how was your day?" she called from the bathroom.
"I took a personal health day," Rachael shot back, "I needed one after my day yesterday." She muttered more to herself.
"That's wonderful sweetheart," Sharon cooed as she reentered the room.
Rachael was relieved, her mother looked less like Captain Raydor and the frantic woman who entered the house fifteen minutes ago, and more like her mom. Sharon had washed her face and reapplied makeup, less severe and more natural. She had used charcoal eyeliner and pale lavender to brighten her eyes. A soft pressed powder and faint blush completed the picture.
Gone was the severe straight hair of Captain Raydor, and in its place were the soft curls of Sharon Raydor, which hung loosely about her shoulders. Rachael loved her mother's hair this way, its what she always equated with her childhood, long nights with her nose buried in her mother's neck and her tiny hands gripped tightly in the silky tresses.
"Will you help me pick something out?" Sharon pleaded with her daughter as she glanced quickly at the clock on the bedside table that ominously read six fifty-six.
Rachael smiled slyly at her mother, "Well I need to know for what occasion…"
The older brunette looked up at the ceiling exasperated, and then returned her gaze to her daughter.
"Dinner with an old friend," Sharon offered hurriedly.
Rachael scooted off the bed and walked ceremoniously into the closet. As she rummaged through the many color-coordinated clothes in her mothers closet, she couldn't help but grin at the nervous twinge in her mother's confession, and couldn't help but poke fun at her.
"Like a dinner date?" Rachael questioned innocently.
"NO!" her mother answered quickly…too quickly, and Rachael chuckled to her self.
"Whatever you say Mom," she intoned.
All she could hear from her position in the closet was her mother's groan and the sound of the doorbell ringing simultaneously.
"Hurry," she heard he mother urge, "He's here!"
Crying triumphantly, Rachael snagged the garment she had been looking for along with the proper accessories, and quickly exited the closet. As she shut the door she promptly shoved her findings in her mother's arms and kissed her cheek.
"You finish up," Rachael suggested, "and I'll stall him."
"But…." Sharon said only to be cut off by her overly eager daughter.
"No worries Mom," Rachael had a grin so wide that Sharon could have sworn her face was going to split in two, "I've got this."
And with that Rachael was off, out the door and down the stairs. Shaking her dismissively, Sharon held up the outfit her daughter had picked and groaned. Too late to change it now, she thought wearily to her self.
She carefully unzipped the skirt ad shimmied it off her hips to pile on the floor, kicking it towards the dirty clothes hamper. Slowly, so as not to muss her hair, she slipped the dress over her head, smoothing the fabric over her bust line and down over her hips. She looked at her self uneasily in the mirror; the dress in question wasn't quite what she had imagined for tonight.
Teetering precariously as she balanced on one foot, she grasped the edge of her dresser as she first she slipped on one boot and then the other, zipping them both up at once. Snatching the brown belt off the plush bed, she laid it about her waist with a flourish as she fastened the notches. Giving her self a once over in the mirror, she had to give Rachael credit; the color definitely complemented her hair and skin color.
Before she could think better of it, she shook her head a little tousling the curls, making sure her hair was cooperating. Then she selected her favorite perfume, dusting her neck, hair, and wrists, while applying a sheer gloss to her full lips. She turned towards her bedroom door with more confidence than she felt and sighed.
I guess it's now or never…
At the third ring of the doorbell Rachael was beginning to think this gentleman was just a little too eager to take her mother out….
She finally reached the door and heaved the heavy piece of wood open, a welcoming smile enveloping her face. When her eyes connected with the intended recipient her smile fell just as quickly as it had appeared. She knew it had been replaced by a look of complete shock and horror, if the way he slightly winced was any way to judge.
There stood a face she never imagined she would see again…someone who had hurt her mother so deeply. He was dressed casually, apparently for a night out on the town with HER mother. He had worn a nice pair of dark wash jeans carefully paired with a sky blue polo shirt, accented by the black loafers on his feet and the navy blazer slung over his shoulder. She carefully schooled her features into a calm and aloof mask.
"Detective Flynn," Rachael greeted coolly.
Andy Flynn grinned his same boyish grin then cheekily, amused by how much the younger woman resembled her mother, down to the chilling Raydor glare.
He drawled a greeting to Rachael, "Good to see you again Little One."
At the mention of her childhood nickname she bristled slightly. Thankfully they were saved from any more small talk by the soft sound of her mother's boot heels treading down the stairs.
They both simultaneously turned to watch as Sharon Raydor descended down the stairs. Rachael couldn't help but smile at her mother, and giggle as she heard the audible gasp from the man next to her.
She had chosen a soft gauzy, cotton peasant dress in a shade of pale green; it had half sleeves and came to a few inches above Sharon's knees. The neckline was modest and sexy at the same time; it barely ghosted the tops of Sharon's breasts, but was decorated with intricate lace. The color to compliment her mother's eyes and the length to well…highlight her mother's mile long legs; well that was before she knew who her mother's date was to be.
The flowing dress was paired with a chocolate brown belt that rested below Sharon's bust line, creating the illusion of an empire waist. The brown knee high boots showed off her nicely toned calves and gave her a little more in the height department. Although as she cast a side long at the man beside her, now she felt the urge to just cover everything up.
Detective Flynn was speechless, and Rachael had to admit, maybe a touch embarrassed of his reaction. As her mother came down the last few steps, Andy cleared his throat and smiled nervously.
"You look amazing," he blurted out to Sharon and then had the good graces to look hesitantly towards Rachael.
She responded thoughtfully, "I couldn't agree more Mom."
"Well aren't you two full of compliments tonight?" Sharon deflected the compliments easily, hiding her shy smile as she reached for her purse.
Rachael moved out of the way and stood silhouetted in the doorway of the living room. She watched cautiously as Andy helped her mother slip into her navy trench coat and scarf, when a realization hit her square in the face.
When was the last time Mom had been truly happy?
As she watched the interaction between her mother and Detective Flynn, the shy smiles from her mother and the longing glances from Andy, she realized not since he had left. Yes, she had gone on and done what needed to be done, but had she actually lived these last few years? She knew the answer to that, of course.
No…not as she should have anyway.
It was then in that instance that all the uneasiness and resentment she felt for Detective Flynn, suddenly melted away. She might not have understood or liked the way things had ended between these two adults, but that was just it. They were adults and as such didn't have to answer for they're past mistakes or present fantasies. Even if they couldn't see it, Rachael knew that there was something more to this 'date with an old friend.' Smiling conspiratorially to her self, Rachael was brought out of her revelry by her mother's voice.
"Rach, did you hear what I said?" her mother questioned slightly irritated.
"Sorry Mom, I wasn't paying attention," she shrugged.
Sharon rolled her eyes, "I said that I'll have my cell on me the entire time and wont be back until late," she paused to judge her daughter's reaction, "so don't wait up."
The younger brunette waited a couple beats, while the two adults watched her nervously, but then her face began to blossom into a wide smile.
"Sure thing, just don't wake me when you get in," she replied flippantly as she turned on her heel and walked into the living room with a dismissive flick of her hand.
As she plopped back down on to the over stuffed couch she listened carefully for the click of the lock on the front door then rushed excitedly to the front window. Crouching down so as not to be seen, she watched as Andy walked her mother around to the passenger door and with a flourish held the door open for her. Making sure she was situated he carefully closed the door and jogged around to the driver's side.
Rachael sank down to the carpet with her back against the paneling of the wall, and slipped her cell phone out of her pocket. Calling up a new template for a text message she addressed it to Jesse then typed out a quick message.
'You will NEVER guess who just picked up our mother for a date….'
