Cyrus
Becoming a Navy SEAL required mental strength and stamina along with physical strength and stamina. So, it was a bit unnerving that someone like me, who could not only achieve becoming a Navy SEAL, but carry out the job, would need a cupcake and a smile from a pretty petite baker to keep his morale up. As much as I was always eager for my daily visits with Petal, I was equally as unsettled by them when I left. Still, there was no denying that I felt rejuvenated and ready to finish the day. And I was very happy that I had a plus one, as she called it, for Jude and April’s Halloween party. Thank God for Petal.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to meet someone new someday. But before that happened, I’d need to get my Petal infatuation out of my system. Jude would probably argue that if I got out more, I’d be more likely to move on, but I’d also have to give up my daily coffee and cupcake, and I wasn’t ready for that.
I finished my work at the office and then headed home. When I first moved here, I considered buying property that would allow me to have horses. Being a city boy, the idea of country living intrigued me, until I discovered the amount of work and expense it took to main land and care for livestock. So instead, I bought a one and half story fixer upper in the historic Cathedral District. Built in 1927, it had a ton of charm, but was rough around the edges. Just like me.
I changed my clothes and headed down to the partially finished basement where I had my home gym. It was one of the many areas I was fixing up, but tonight instead of working on the room, I jumped on the treadmill and did a quick five mile run. I drank my water as I made my way up two flights of stairs, showered, and then went to the main level to get a beer and make some dinner. It was my usual routine, especially now that Jude was married. He’d been the only person I’d known when I came to Bismarck and while I knew some other people now, they were either related to Jude or were clients. And there was Petal, but I didn’t think it was safe to hang with her alone. So, my nights were my own.
I’d already renovated the kitchen, restored the stone fireplace in the living room, and fixed up the main level bedroom into a home office. I’d also painted the entire main floor. The only project left on this level was the bathroom. I’d done most of the work already. All that was left was the tiling, light fixtures and painting. Tonight, I decided to work on the tiling.
The bathroom had been upgraded about a decade before, but I felt like a home built in the twenties, should retain its character as much as possible. So, I’d pulled everything out and replaced it with materials that fit the times. The tile I was laying on the floor was a black and white basketweave. Fortunately, old homes were small, and so the bathroom wasn’t that large making the project not too overwhelming.
Several hours later, I took a break to have another beer. I snapped a picture of the tile and texted to my mom and then I sat on the couch to call her.
“Oh goodness Cy, that flooring is gorgeous. I can’t wait until you finish and I can finally come visit you,” my mother said when she picked up.
“Nearly there, mom. Just the upstairs is left.” And the basement, but that was my gym and laundry area. I could also put a mancave, but since the whole home was mine, I didn’t need a place to escape my family. To be honest, I had to wonder about men who felt the need to escape to a mancave. Not that couples didn’t need some time for themselves, but did a man really need an entire room? And what did women have? Where was her personal escape spot?
“I don’t know why you don’t let me come now. It’s been a year.” She sighed and I wondered if she had a hard day at work. She was a school secretary, which to my mind had to be one of the hardest jobs ever. To be on demand by administrators, teachers, and parents couldn’t be easy.
“I saw you a few months ago when I came home for your birthday,” I said, stretching my legs out on the ottoman I’d bought to go with my couch.
“It’s been a year since you bought that house. I want to see it. I’m not getting any younger you know.”
I laughed. “You’re not even fifty, mom. It’s not like you’re elderly.”
“Next year I’ll qualify for AARP.”
“Soon mom, I promise. Are you okay? You sound tired.”
“Do I?” Her voice perked up some, which actually made me more suspicious. Like maybe she didn’t want me to think she was tired. “Oh well, you know how it is. Mr. Burke was all in a tizzy about a fight on the bus,” she said about the principal. “And the school board is looking at more cuts, so everyone is on edge. What about you? Your business is still booming?”
“Yes. It’s great. Better than I’d anticipated.” I sipped my beer.
“Well of course. You and Jude are two smart, dedicated men. Have you seen his new baby?”
“I have.” I steeled myself for her to talk about wanting grandchildren. I was her only child, and so I was her only hope to be a grandmother. “He’s cute. Apparently he wakes up twice a night.”
“They do that.” She paused for a moment. “Lora isn’t with that man anymore.”
It took me a minute to register the change in topic. I’d been ready to hear about how she’d like to be a grandmother and instead she tossed out news about my ex. Like I’d care. Then again, based on what she said, perhaps we were talking about grandchildren. Had my life gone to plan, I might have given her one by now with Lora.
“That’s too bad,” I said.
“I think she regrets losing you.”
“When did you see Lora?” I asked. Lora was an oncology nurse and while she lived in the same outskirts of Chicago, it wasn’t a small area. It’s not like they’d run into each other at the grocery store.
“The other day. She happened to be out when I was. I was going to ignore her. She hurt my son. I wanted to punch her in the throat.”
I let out a laugh. My mom rocked. She was five feet tall with her pumps on, but what she lacked in height she made up for in feistiness. The fact that I was just over six three suggested my father was tall. But we never talked about him.
“But she stopped me and asked how I was doing. Of course, I told her how you were so successful there in Bismarck. A bigwig businessman. Making money hand over fist.”
I smiled. Moms really were the best. “I wouldn’t go that far.” Although my savings was growing steadily.
“I, of course, had to inquire about her. At one point I think she was engaged to that man, but she said it was over. She made some comment about not fully valuing what she had. I’m certain she was talking about you. But she seemed alright otherwise.”