She told me, “I love you, but I know another woman loves you and would like to spend time with you.
The other woman my wife asked for attention was my mother. She had been a widow for 19 years.
But since my work and three children required all my energies, I could only visit her occasionally.
That night I called her to take her out to dinner and a movie.
– What’s wrong? Are you all right? – She asked right away.
My mom is the kind of woman who immediately sets herself up for bad news if the phone rings late.
– I thought you might enjoy spending time with me,” I answered.
She thought for a second, then said: “I really want to do this.”
On Friday after work, I was driving behind her and was a little nervous. When my car pulled up outside her house, I saw her standing in the doorway and noticed that she seemed a little nervous, too.
She was standing in the doorway of the house with her coat slung over her shoulders. Her hair was curled into curls, and she was wearing a dress she had bought to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.
– I told my friends that my son would be spending the evening with me at the restaurant tonight, and they were deeply impressed, she said as she got in the car.
We drove to the restaurant. Although not luxurious, it was very nice and cozy. My mother took me under her arm and walked as if she were the first lady.
When we sat down at the table, I had to read the menu to her myself. My mother’s eyes could see only the large print.
When I reached the halfway point, I looked up and saw my mother sitting looking at me, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips.
– I used to read all the menus when you were little,” she said.
– Then it’s time to pay quid pro quo,” I answered.
We had a very good conversation over dinner. It didn’t seem to be …anything special. We were just sharing the latest events in our lives. But we got so carried away that we were late for the movie.
When I brought her home, she said: ‘I’ll go to the restaurant with you again. Only this time I’m inviting you.
I agreed.
– How was your evening? – My wife asked me when I got home.
– Very well. Much better than I’d imagined,” I answered.
A few days later my mother died of a massive heart attack.
It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her.
A few days later I received an envelope with a receipt from the restaurant where my mother and I had dinner. Attached to the receipt was a note: “I paid the bill for our second dinner in advance.
True, I’m not sure I’ll be able to have dinner with you. But nevertheless, I paid for two people. You and your wife.
I don’t think I could ever explain to you what that dinner for two you invited me to meant to me.
My son, I love you!”
