2004
"That woman has been looking at you" Art observed as they ate. "Why don't you buy her a drink?"
"Why don't you do it?" Alan deadpanned with annoyance.
"I'm not the widower here, man!"
"She looks a little young" Alan said.
"She can't be less than mid fifties" Art told him, knowing his friend was only making excuses.
After lunch, the two men went golfing.
2005
David came back, after a while, with the promised pictures. As he showed them to CHarlie, and talked about the memories behind the photos, the professor resented more and more all that he missed thanks to his mother.
"...and this is from Marc's High School Graduation... "David narrated, but was interupted by CHarlie.
"I could have been a part of these moments. If only my mother had told me the truth!"
"Charlie...lamentation of the past keeps you from living fully in the present" David advised him, as Charlie started to pace a bit. "We didn't have then, but we've got here and now! Enjoy it!"
"That sounds like something...my...stepfather would say"
"You can call him Dad.I don't mind" David said softly. "Why don't we go out to dinner?" It had been a while since they'd eaten and maybe a new environment would do Charlie good.
They went to one of David's favorite restaurants. Upon entering,David could not believe what he saw: Greg, his good friend, holding hands with his daughter.
"Dad? Charlie?" the young woman noticed them. Marc had left an email about the reunion.
"Greg?" Father and Son asked in shock at the same time.
TBC