My Older Neighbor Part 1

My Older Neighbor Part 1
About 5 years ago I moved to a quite little neighborhood. After living in the city the change was welcomed. I had just turn 30 and was looking to move away from the partying life of my 20’s and invest my money and time in a home. The neighbors were nice, especially the older couple across the street. John and Debra were in their 50’s and you could easily tell very much in love. They helped teach me those little things that you need to know to own a home, proper lawn care, basic plumping, and general handy man tricks.

If it was not for them I really feel I would have sold after the first year and ran back to the city. I really enjoyed spending time with them. Debra was an excellent cook and being a bachelor I was never one to turn down home cooking. Every Friday John would host a poker night for his friends and invited me to play with them; needless to say it became a ritual for me.

I really enjoyed that first year that was until the day John passed away. Debra had gone out shopping and upon her return she found him in the living room floor dead. He had died of a heart attack. The doctors said it was instantaneous and that he did not suffer, but Debra blamed herself for not being there when it happened. Life for the neighborhood changed that day and was never the same again.

For the next 4 years Debra pretty much stayed to herself. I mowed her yard each week when I mowed mine. She would come out and always thank me and participate in small talk, but she was not the same bubbly and happy woman she was before. She always had a sad and lonely look about her. It was sad to see her like this but what could anyone do?

One evening after I had finished mowing her lawn Debra came out, as was customary, and as usual talked about nothing of importance. While we were talking in the front yard a UPS truck pulled up. Her sister had sent her a package. Debra was obviously frustrated that her sister had sent it. I asked if she was alright, she smiled at me and told me her sister always sends her the most god awful birthday gifts.
She said she hated to even open it. I asked when her birthday was and she said the upcoming Sunday.

I thought it would be nice to treat her to a dinner out for her birthday, especially since she had feed me so many times when I first moved in. She declined at first, but I was insistent. I had not seen her go anywhere other than to shop, since John had passed. After she realized I was not going to take no for an answer she agreed. I told her I would make reservations for 8pm Saturday night and asked what cuisine she would like. Italian was the choice.

I looked forward to spending an evening out with Debra. That first year I had gotten used to talking with her daily, since John’s death our interactions had only been fleeting minutes in the front yard. I knocked on her door a little after 7:30. She opened the door and I was pleased to see she was actually ready to go, I had feared she would stand me up at the last minute.

We chatted on the drive to the restaurant, she confessed that at first she did not want to go but once she thought about it she realized she needed to get out and looked forward to tonight. She had gone shopping for the outfit she was wearing and had her hair and makeup done.

I told her that she looked lovely, which was not a lie. I had not noticed, until that moment, that she had put such attention to her looks. I always thought Debra was an attractive woman, but had never paid that much attention as she was John’s wife and a close friend. But sitting there in the car her beauty was undeniable. She was wearing modest, yet stylish, light blue dress that came to just above her knees and an attractive pair of black heels. Her calves were shapely and sexy. Her blond hair had wisps of grey through it giving it a frosted look. Debra looked to be in her mid to late 50’s and was very attractive. She saw me looking at her and shot me an approving smile.

I chuckled to myself; she had enjoyed my eying her from head to toe. I guess it had been awhile since she had taken the effort to make herself up and liked the attention. I was glad to see her enjoying the evening. During dinner she laughed at the way everyone was looking at us. I had not paid attention, but once I did I noticed how some people kept looking our way and then speaking quietly to each other. Debra said they thought we were on a date and that I was her boy toy. I told her we should play it up, just to see their reactions. She agreed and reached her hand across the table to mine. I took her hand and caressed it lovingly.

Sure enough the looks on people’s faces were hilarious. I turned to Debra to see if she noticed, she was not paying a bit of attention to the people around us. She was staring intently at her hand as I caressed it; her cheeks were a little flush. It had been a while since she had been touched in this manner and it must have caught her off guard. I patted her hand gently and pulled mine away. She looked up at me and grinned nervously and a little embarrassed.

My rubbing her hand had quite an effect on her. I could tell she was wrestling with feelings that had long been dormant. I smiled at her and acting as if I had not noticed and ask her if she saw the looks form people. She laughed and recovered quickly.

She asked me “Why would people immediately think we were on a date?”

I replied “Why wouldn’t they?”

She laughed and said “Yeah right a man your age would be interested in an old woman like me.”

I smiled and said “Debra, you are a very attractive woman. Your age would be no issue. There is not that many years between our ages anyway.”

I had never really known how old Debra was. When I met her she looked in her 40’s so I was guessing she was now mid, maybe upper 50’s.

She chuckled and said “I’m too old to think I could attract someone in their 30’s.”

I exclaimed “Well I recently turned 35 and I bet there is not 15 years between us.”

With that she let out a laugh.