Significant Others

by Baron, Marilyn

“That’s a great idea,” Aunt Helene agreed. “Two lonely people. Temperamentally suited. I’ve invited her too. I’ll see that they reconnect as soon as she gets here. I’ll have to think up an excuse to get that bloodsucker away from Max. Don’t you worry about it. You need to focus all your attention on Daniel when he arrives.”

  The doorbell rang and Daniel appeared in the doorway, big and burly, his bulk barely fitting into the door frame. He peeked into the room, zeroed in on my mother, and broke out in the biggest, sloppiest grin.

  Charlotte’s eyes bugged out when she saw Daniel, and she wiggled off of Max’s lap and intercepted Daniel before he could get to my mother.

  “Hey there, Green Eyes, I’m Charlotte. You must be new. I haven’t seen you around here, and I would have noticed you.” She placed a plump hand on Daniel’s arm and began rubbing it. She arranged herself so that Daniel could get a good look at what she had to offer. Her gold bangle bracelets jangled and she jiggled. Then she started massaging his ring finger.

  “No ring, I see,” she said, batting her eyelashes like a woman half her age, sidling closer to him and grasping his arm in an octopus grip.

  Daniel squirmed uncomfortably. “I moved here about eight months ago, and then I lost my wife soon after. I, uh, just took the ring off.”

  “Well, I’m sorry,” Cher purred insincerely, winding her leg around Daniel’s. “That’s rough. I know you’re lonely. Well, Charlotte will fix you right up. I know just the thing. I’ve got something nice to drink back at my place to get us in the mood, if you know what I mean.” She licked her full, wet, red lips and smiled crookedly. “My place is just down the hall.”

  I wondered if prostitution was legal in Florida.

  “I, uh, I’m here to see Dee Dee,” answered Daniel, obviously flustered. He looked over at my mother uncomfortably.

  Cher turned to Dee Dee and glared.

  “Well, now, I’m not one to talk, but you know Dee Dee has a thing for Max over there. They’re going on a Christmas cruise together. So you come on with Charlotte. Did anyone ever tell you you have strong arms? Such a big man. I’ll bet you’re just a little old teddy bear. Why don’t we go to my place and find out how cuddly you are under all those muscles.” Daniel stood stock still, looking shocked and absolutely terrified.

  Aunt Helene chose that moment to come to his rescue.

  “I think Daniel has a previous engagement with my sister,” she said, grabbing Daniel by the elbow and wrestling him out of Charlotte’s steely grip.

  Charlotte hissed like a viper when her tasty morsel was taken away.

  Jackson picked that moment to barrel though the bathroom door, almost knocking Mattress Back flat on her face. I leaned in and kept her from losing her balance.

  Cher glared at Jackson.

  “He’s just a little boy. He didn’t mean anything by it,” I apologized.

  Cher’s eyes were still flashing, so I got Jackson out of her path as quickly as possible and headed in my mother’s direction.

  “Dee Dee,” Daniel breathed in relief when he arrived at her side, placing a brief kiss on her lips. He turned to me. “Honey, it’s nice to see you again. And who have we here?”

  “I’m Jackson,” my nephew said.

  “That’s my grandson,” Dee Dee smiled. “Donny’s son.”

  “Well, Jackson, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Daniel shook Jackson’s hand.

  “What a fine-looking young man you are,” Daniel added. “I’ll bet you’re going to follow in your father’s footsteps.”

  Jackson beamed. “I’m going to be on the team someday.”

  “Okay, champ, I want to introduce you around,” I said, taking Jackson’s hand. “We’ll be back.”

  “Sorry about that scene at the door,” Daniel said. “I don’t know what happened. And I’m sorry to be so late. My son would have been disappointed if I’d canceled our dinner. Don’t think I didn’t want to, though.”

  “That would have been rude,” Dee Dee said, blushing. “And don’t apologize for that she-monster. I just had the pleasure of meeting her.”

  “Let’s not talk about her,” Daniel whispered. “I’m just lucky I got out of the doorway alive. She’s about as subtle as a hooker. And I think she might be dangerous. All I could think about the whole day was you and when we could be together again. Can we get out of here? I want to be alone with you.”

  “Daniel, this is my sister’s party. We’re her guests. We can’t leave now. We just got here.”

  Max looked like he was getting agitated in his chair in the corner. He was tapping his cane on the tile floor in an effort to get my mother’s attention.

  “Hey, that guy over there is giving me the evil eye,” Daniel said.

  “Oh, that’s Max,” my mother said.

  “That shark at the door said you and Max were an item and that you were going on a cruise together.”

  “No. He has an extra ticket to the cruise. His significant other is too ill to go, and I think he just wants company, not me in particular. I think any warm body will do at this point.”

  “You’re not going with him, are you?” Daniel challenged.

  “I don’t think so, but I want to make sure he has someone nice to take. It would be a shame to waste the ticket.”

  “Just so it’s not you. I don’t want your warm body next to anyone’s but mine.”

  My mother blushed again and looked awkwardly at me. I smiled and rolled my eyes. I couldn’t believe what was coming out of this man’s mouth.

  Hank walked over to Daniel.

  “Hank Adams,” he said, introducing himself. “I’m the vice president of the Millennium Gardens Boca Raton Community Center. In charge of security. Helene tells me you used to be with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.”

  Daniel extended his hand and flashed his badge. “That’s right. I’m retired, but I like to keep my hand in.”

  “That’s good to know. I might have a job for you, if you’ll come by my office at the Community Center. I’m sure you’ve seen those Seniors Against Sin flyers around the complex.”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, I’ve pulled a few from my own front door.”

  “We’re trying to keep it sort of hush-hush. We don’t need any outsiders knowing our business, so if you have some time, I could use your help. I’d like you to look into the mystery for us. Also, I’m going to be going on the Millennium Gardens Christmas Cruise, so I’d appreciate it if you would keep your eyes and ears open while I’m gone.”

  “I’d like that,” Daniel said.

  “Oh, and let me give you a little friendly advice. Keep away from Cher. That woman is poison. I’d stick with the beauty you’ve got right here.”

  My mother’s face lit up at the compliment.

  Daniel nodded in agreement. “I intend to. And thanks.”

  The doorbell rang and my aunt ushered Birdie Rosen into the room. Ignoring Charlotte, she pulled up a folding chair next to Max’s seat and gestured for Birdie to make herself comfortable.

  “Max,” Aunt Helene said, smoothly. “You remember Birdie Rosen, don’t you? I think you two have a lot in common.”

  “I was sorry to hear about Ben,” Max said respectfully. “He was a good man.”

  “Yes, he was,” she said and began to cry. “Oh, I promised I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Don’t apologize,” he said, gallantly offering her a handkerchief from his coat pocket. He patted her shoulder while she dabbed her eyes.

  “We were very close. We helped each other out. Remember when he had his hip operation and he stayed at my house for three weeks? And then he stayed with me for a month while he recovered from his knee operation. I took care of him quite well. And he was a good companion. He adored me. I can’t say… It’s hard for me to say I loved him like I loved my husband. I cared for him. Saying ‘I love you’ is extremely romantic, don’t you think? At this stage in life, romance is not really the proper word, don’t you agree? It’s affection, consideration, deep f
riendship, and caring for each other. I felt a lot of goodness for him. I felt appreciated. He felt the same way. He was happy with me and I was content with him. So it worked fine. But now he’s gone, and I’m afraid I’m not handling it very well at all. And we were all supposed to go on that cruise together. But now—”

  “I understand,” Max nodded.

  “He was a very intelligent man,” Birdie continued. “I like a man who’s intelligent. We could have a conversation about the toaster and sit and talk for hours or feel comfortable just sitting and not talking.”

  I had a feeling this woman carried on conversations with a lot of inanimate objects.

  “Exactly,” Max concurred.

  “I think of him a great deal,” Birdie said. “I miss him terribly. Even when we didn’t see each other, we phoned back and forth. But I’m doing all the talking. I was sorry to hear about Jean going into the home.”

  “Yes, she’s a lovely woman,” Max said, and his eyes welled up.

  Birdie placed a sympathetic hand on Max’s knee.

  “Did you know that my wife was the first Jewish Rockette?” Max asked.

  “Really?” Birdie said. “We’re all alone in this world now, and that’s a shame. But I have a nice chicken I could warm up and bring over to you. Maybe some matzo ball soup to go with it.”

  Max’s eyes brightened. The deal was sealed.

  “Did you know I take ninety-eight different medications a week?” he chirped.

  Looking at Birdie and Max together, I knew he was going to be just fine. It was a match made in heaven. She couldn’t stop talking and he could barely hear. Love at any age couldn’t be sweeter. I wondered how long it would take for Max to withdraw his cruise invitation from my mother and extend it to his latest lovebird, Birdie Rosen.

  Aunt Helene came up behind me and put her hands on my shoulders as we both glanced at my mother and Daniel.

  “You know, my Harold was a handsome man, built solid, but not nearly as good-looking as Daniel.”

  We laughed. Heck, even I thought Daniel was good-looking. Mom’s new guy was in great shape for a senior citizen. He must have some great genes. He and my mother were huddled in a corner. They couldn’t seem to get close enough. They were oblivious to everyone else in the room.

  “Look at the two of them,” Aunt Helene said wistfully. “They were made for each other.”

  “I lost my father not that long ago, so I can’t come face-to-face with the fact that there’s another man in her life so soon after,” I confided. “It’s a little difficult to adjust to. But I can’t deny he makes her happy. And one thing I know with certainty—my dad loved my mother beyond anything, and he would have wanted her to be happy.”

  “The main thing is no one should be alone,” Aunt Helene said, “whether you develop close relationships with other women and you get together and do things or find a significant other for male companionship. The Gardens is a wonderful place to live.”

  I was beginning to understand what my mother saw in the place. She had friends here, she was making a new life for herself, and, from the looks of it, she was beginning to fall in love.

  “We’re all in the same boat,” Aunt Helene explained. “We complain about the same things. When we get together, our conversations are all about doctors and what restaurant to go to. And speaking of conversations, your mother and Daniel seem to be pretty cozy.”

  Watching the two of them together, I couldn’t deny it.

  “Dee Dee, I don’t think I can wait until breakfast tomorrow,” Daniel was saying to my mother, loud enough for me or anyone else in the room to hear.

  Jeesh. My mother was getting more action than I was.

  All the significant others were looking at Daniel and Dee Dee and nodding knowingly. Some were openly smirking.

  I could take a hint. I was uncomfortable intruding on their intimacy. I walked over to my mother.

  “Mom, I’m beat. I need to make some phone calls. I’ll just go back to the condo with Jackson, and maybe Daniel, uh, Mr. Moore, can drive you—”

  “I’ll come with you,” she interrupted nervously.

  “Dee Dee?” Daniel questioned, his hand tightening around hers, looking like he was afraid if he let her go she’d disappear into thin air.

  “Daniel, I’m sure you’re exhausted after a long day, and you’re going to pick me up early tomorrow, so maybe we’d better call it a night.”

  He was fervently stroking my mother’s hand.

  “I’m rushing you,” he said. “I don’t mean to, but when something is right, you just know it.”

  “Daniel, everybody is staring at us.” Dee Dee frowned. “I’m going to get a reputation.”

  He laughed.

  “At our age, I think that’s considered a good thing.”

  “I just think—”

  “Dee Dee,” he said, breathing heavily. “Please come back to my place.”

  “You’re right. I think we’re moving too fast,” she said. “Honey, take me home.”

  “Don’t be angry with me,” Daniel said, flashing my mother an endearing look.

  “I’m not angry,” my mother assured Daniel, smiling. “I’m looking forward to our breakfast, to being with you, tomorrow.”

  “Good, okay, well, then, I live right down the hall, so I’ll see myself out. Until tomorrow.” He had no interest in hanging around after my mother was gone.

  “Goodbye, Daniel,” she said, pulling her hand out of his. “Honey, will you tell your aunt we’re leaving?”

  “Okay. Goodbye, Mr. Moore,” I echoed, following my mother’s eyes as she watched him go.

  “You like him, don’t you, Mom? More than like, from what I can see.”

  “I do,” she admitted. “I liked him from the beginning. But I don’t want you to think that… I mean, that your father was—”

  “I know Dad would want you to be happy,” I said. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

  As we walked down the stairs and back to my mother’s unit, swinging Jackson between us, I brought up the unresolved issue of Palladino Properties.

  “You haven’t asked about the business since I’ve gotten here,” I began cautiously. “Aren’t you interested in what’s been going on back in Atlanta?”

  Dee Dee looked guilty. “Well, I—”

  “I know it’s difficult to bounce back, and you’re still recovering from Dad’s death. But have you thought any more about not selling Palladino Properties but doing some kind of merger? I mean, you only have a few days left to decide.”

  “That’s all I’ve been able to think about,” Dee Dee admitted anxiously. “I still have a lot of concerns about the contract. I’d really like it if Marc could look it over for me one more time. He was so helpful to me, doing all the paperwork after your father’s death. Mergers and acquisitions are his specialty, aren’t they?”

  “Marc apparently has a lot of specialties,” I said dryly. Screwing secretaries is at the top of that list. “I don’t want him anywhere near that contract or in our business. In fact, I don’t want him anywhere near me.”

  “Is something wrong between you, Honey? I haven’t wanted to interfere, but I have been wondering.”

  “Where’s Uncle Marc?” Jackson piped in.

  “Uncle Marc is back in Atlanta,” I said, not wanting to upset either one of them.

  “It’s nothing for you to worry about,” I assured my mother. “Nothing I can’t handle. Why don’t you ask Barbara to take a look at the contract?”

  “She’s a divorce attorney.”

  Thank God. “But she’s still an attorney. Maybe she can recommend someone else.”

  “She suggested Marc, said he was the best M&A attorney in Atlanta.”

  I sighed. Apparently, there was no end to my husband’s fans…

  “Are you going to sign?” I pressed.

  “There’s so much to consider,” Dee Dee said. “I know your dad wouldn’t have wanted me to sell the company outright. And I know you and Donny do
n’t think it’s the right thing to do. But it’s a lot of money.”

  “More than you could spend in a lifetime,” I countered.

  “Honey, I’m not sure I want to run the company. I’m sorry.”

  “Mom, why not? You and Dad worked a lifetime for this.”

  “That’s just it. I’ve worked a lifetime. I loved my career, working with your father and you and Donny. But I don’t have the energy to start this new phase in my life. I think I’m ready to wind down.”

  “Now you’re talking like an old lady, which you definitely are not,” I said harshly. “You’re the most dynamic woman I know. Look what you’ve accomplished. I’ve tried my whole life to be just like you. And you know you’re Hannah’s role model.”

  Dee Dee squeezed my hand. “That’s sweet, but you know, sometimes I think it would be so great just to relax, do nothing, drop out. Take that cruise and sit on the deck and soak up the sun.”

  “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that’s what you’ve been doing down here for the past year.” That came out harsher than I meant it, and I could see that my mother took offense.

  “It’s just that you haven’t really been involved in Palladino Properties for a long time,” I said smoothly. “I think you need to get back in the saddle. Go into the office, go to luncheons, show houses, keep mentally active. It will give you a sense of purpose and an excuse to get out of the house. You don’t have to work too hard, but you should stay affiliated. You’ve more than pulled your load in the past. Now it’s my turn. Remember what Dad always said.”

  “I know, the Palladino persistence.” My mother laughed.

  “Do you think Dad would want you to give up?”

  “Honey, I’ve spent my entire life with your father. I’m lost without him. If I was ever down, he’d be right there to pump me back up. But a lot of times I felt inadequate, not up to the task.”

  “That’s ridiculous. You are the best broker associate in the city.”

  “No, Honey, you are. Watching you sell a house is a sight to behold. You’re really the force behind Palladino Properties now.”

  “We’re the best mother-daughter team,” I compromised.

  “Definitely,” she agreed.