Here’s today’s quick holiday gift to you from the person inside me who can write about a place called Coventry (she hasn’t been around much lately).
I was dashing through a marked lack of snow (as well as someone with my back can dash), trying to do too many things at once. I walked out of Walgreen’s and forced myself to sit still in the car and drink something and breathe. A small pickup truck pulled in next to me. The weather has turned warm, so its windows were down. Two men–probably around age seventy-five–sat bickering with each other about whether that was the best place to park/why the driver shouldn’t even have a license anymore/why the passenger was a general pain in the ass with his bad hip, etc. Finally, the passenger got out and went inside Walgreen’s. I noted that even as a senior, he looked sporty and cute in his Levis, Henley shirt, and down vest.
Then I watched the driver. His truck was still running, and he hesitantly backed up a few inches, then looked around, backed up a few inches more. Clearly he knew he wasn’t the driver he probably was at forty, and I smiled at his caution and thought of Lynne telling me I’m a granny driver. (I am; I know.)
I wondered if he was trying to make a getaway from his sparring partner. But no. He pulled out and up to the curb and was in the perfect spot so that when Down Vest came out of Walgreen’s, he could grin and hop right in the truck, then lean over and give the driver a kiss on the cheek before they took off.
THAT, to me, is romance: someone you still want to bicker with when you’re seventy-five, and who’ll pull the truck up to save your tired body a few steps.
That? Just melted my cold, dead heart enough to make my eyes well up.
If that scene never makes it into any of your books, you are more evil than I.
Don’t worry. The lump of coal where our hearts should be will make a reappearance. 😉
Hopefully…in time for Christmas. Yes, I am evil.
A conversation via IM:
Rhonda: “Becky’s blog choked me up. damn her.”
me: “huh? i should read that…”
Rhonda: “it was sweet.”
me: Scurries off to read blog and comes back
“mother fuck… i’m all teary eyed now!”
Rhonda: “right?”
Re: A conversation via IM:
Any post that elicits a “mother fuck” in any tone means I’ve done my job. I can sleep now. =)
Re: A conversation via IM:
You did your job well. I very rarely lose the grip on my emotions. This story very much took a hold of them yesterday. 🙂
Now that brought me some spirit of the season that I have been looking so desperately for! It’s all about love. That is what matters.
Thank you for posting this.
You’re welcome. Always happy to help. =)
huge smile.
Someday you can read this story to Bean and her tiny feet before she falls asleep. =)
😉
sounds like a plan.
Very sweet!
I am a bit amazed that two older men did the peck kiss in public like that. Way cool. Yes, this needs to be in a book/story.
Life is pretty open here in the gayborhood.
No fair making me cry.
All is fair in love and storytelling. =)
Thank you for such a gift. Makes a fellow go all warm. : )
You’re welcome, but why would anyone as hot as you need warming?
Miss Scarlett, may I have the honor of getting you your next glass of punch? : )
Why, I’d be honored.
That’s what I’m sayin’…
Wonderful.
Thank you. (And thanks for not mentioning that I left out a squirrel.)
Great story, Becky. I just loved this. I’m still smiling.
Thank you. I like making you smile. =)
I think you found the REAL Quinn Scott and Jimmy Beloit!
–Famous Author Rob Byrnes
Aw. Now see, that makes it even more special. Thank you.
Beck, you’re the BEST! Maybe they’ll even show up in Coventry sometime?
And no one would believe me when I said there was gay romance after Medicare.
There is ALWAYS romance. A little seasoning only makes it better.
Thanks. =)
You see, this is why I fell in love with your writing in the first place! Love this story!
Aw, thank you. =)
Hopefully that’ll be me and Mike in about 40 years — if we don’t kill each other first, that is.
I wish that for you. Well, not the bad hip. Just the longevity of your romance. =)