May December

Can I tell this? I was up for partner in a law firm. I had a client I couldn't put out of my mind, a true silver fox, women melted before him. I saw him ahead of me, headed for our offices, I ran behind him and jumped on his back wrapping my legs a round him. Hugging him like I had never hugged a man. He was surprised, thought he was being mugged, he shook me off to the ground, recognizing me at the last minute. I went from an emotional high to absolute embarrassment.

He lifted me by the hand, held me in his arms, I was trembling, crying from embarrassment, he lifted my face and kissed me. So close to the office there were more than one witness, Including a partner. I had a choice, give up my job or break up the relationship. What relationship, a foolish girl falling for a man many years older? My independence was compromised they told me. Or could it have been that they were embarrassed by misbehavior?

The man, ever the gentleman, took me by the hand to a small park next to an old church downtown. Now young lady, he started, you have a career, a future. I wanted to be hugged, not lectured. I got a hug, a kiss, a walk with his arm around my shoulder. Are you sure an old man is your future? A girl in love at a distance, now standing with his arms around her, doesn't think, she can only bury her head in his shoulder.

He is a lot older, half father, half husband. I have two boys now, and one in the oven. I quit the law firm, and work pro bono for a charitable organization. The ladies there all comment about my husband, or father, when they see him. A handsome man they tell me. I don't tell them he is my children's father. Why upset them. Or make them jealous.