Her Second Chance At Love

(8) First Date In Years

Lisa’s POV

As it turned out I ended up with a couple of dates that weekend.  The first one was on Friday night and the next one Saturday night.  Both of the guys I was going to be meeting seemed really nice and they were pleasant to look at.  I wondered for a moment if that made me a tramp to date more than one guy in a month let alone a weekend and quickly shrugged that notion off.  Maybe given the way I had always been it would be considered as such but I knew women that dated multiple guys in a night.  I called a friend of mine and asked her opinion and the friend immediately told her that a tramp was someone I could never be, I was single and I could do what I wanted.  Damn it all to hell what anyone thought of me.  It wasn't me that shacked up with her sister’s husband, it wasn't me that was seeking solace outside the marriage for God knows how long.  I wasn't married anymore and I sure as hell deserved to enjoy myself while doing so.  My sister was the one that fit the description of tramp not me.  I smiled at my friend’s words.  She always had my back and I loved her to death for it.  It was Thursday night and I was preparing my children for their monthly visit to their father and aunt's house.  How disgusting that sounded to but it was my reality.  The youngest was whining she didn't want to go because she didn't want to be away from mommy.  I could understand that she had never been away from me for more than a few hours.  Hell, if I was honest, I didn’t want them to go either. But this was something they we needed.  The girls needed to know that no matter what happened mommy would always return to them.  They needed to spend time with their father.  Their father needed to spend time with his girls without shoving his responsibilities of them to someone else.  I knew my sister well enough to know that she sure as hell wouldn't be taking care of the kids.  But most importantly, the one thing I had forgotten to do over the years was that I needed time to myself.  Time to kick back, relax, enjoy and wash away all the stress of the days before.  I was going to do that from now on at least once a month.  Hell, if I enjoyed it, I may make it more often.  If their daddy didn't want to take them, I would find someone to watch them that I could trust.  But I deserved to be happy. There was no reason that I couldn't be both mom and a woman.  I had long since forgotten how wonderful it felt to go out.  I remembered the wonderful feeling of dining, dancing and yes flirting.  The sensation of just letting myself go and enjoying the moments as they came.  The feelings of not worrying what was in the cards for me tomorrow but just living in the moment the here and now.  I did my duty to my husband. I did my duty to our girls and well now that their daddy and I were no longer together and we shared the girls it was my chance to be someone besides mom would happen at least once a month.  Tomorrow when the girls left with their dad I was going to go out and pamper myself just a bit.  I hadn't pampered myself in any way in such a long time, before I married Ray in fact.  I had always poured anything extra I had into my family and my home not myself and that was going to change starting tomorrow.

Friday was here and now I was feeling nervous.  I was nervous about sending my kids off with their father by themselves for the first time since well forever.  I really couldn't think of a time when their father had taken care of them and I wasn't there.  Actually, the few times I had to be away was when I was in the hospital having a baby.  Then my mother or sister came over to the house and took care of the children.  He never did take time off.  Not even when we buried our son.  He took two hours away from his job for the funeral and went right back to work.  I had wanted him to stay with us the whole day but he said he couldn’t bear to be idle at that time.  I just put it off as he needed space to get through the emotions of losing a child.  Everyone grieves in their own way and I thought this way his way of grieving.  I heard before I saw the car pulling up to my house pulling me out of my thoughts.  I sighed and knew it was a different life back then and now this is my reality.  II yelled up the stairs to the girls and they all came down reluctantly.  "Mom I don't see why he wants anything to do with us now."  Whined our oldest.  "He's never shown an interest before and it's even worse because we have to go to Jessica's house."  Our oldest daughter was very aware of what had happened to our marriage and why daddy lived where he was living.  She hated him for it.  "You girls know this is what the court has ordered that he has to spend at least one weekend a month with you.  It's just a weekend it will be over before you know.  You are coming home after dinner on Sunday night.  I love you all and will miss you so much while you are gone but please be nice.  It will go much easier for you all if you behave yourselves."  Our little one looked up at me with the bluest eyes and said "but mommy won't you get lonely?  We love you and I don't want you to be lonely."  I smiled at those words got down to her little girls’ level and said "don't you worry about mommy you just have a good time with your daddy ok?"  The little girl nodded her head threw her arms around me and skipped off towards her father’s car.  The other two picked up their bags and the bag of their sister gave me a hug and slowly walked to the car.  I stood at the doorway as I watched them drive away.  There goes my heart and life in that car, I just hoped he knew just how precious those three really were.  I glanced down at my watch and realized I needed to leave the house myself. My hair and nail appointment were soon and I had just enough time to get there.  I was excited because after my hair and nails I was going to go shopping for some new clothes.  Not the frumpy mom clothes that I always wore.  There was nothing wrong with my clothes but they didn't flatter me in any way and I wanted a change.

Ray’s POV

                I pulled up to the house that I once shared with Lisa and our girls.  A wave of regret hit me almost immediately.  I was a complete ass to Lisa the last seven years and all she ever did was try harder to make us whole again.  While I would yell at her and blame her for losing our boy the reality was all those words, I said to her I meant for me.  I hated myself for not making sure they were being taken care of properly.  Hell, I was with her at one of the prenatal checkups where the doctor had told her she needed to rest as much as possible.  But, in true jack ass fashion I still expected a clean house and full meal when I got home.  When she lost our little boy and then I almost lost her I went crazy.  I was afraid to touch her sexually because I didn’t want to hurt her by reminding her that our sessions would never again result in another child for either of us.  So, I would go out to the bar at night, get drunk and get bitter.  Then I would come home and take it out on her.  In the mornings when I would wake up, I would see what I had done to her and regret it.  That first time I really hurt her just about killed me when I sobered up and realized she had slept on the floor in the fetal position.  When I tried to rouse her, she cried out in pain and that’s when I saw the bruises, scratches and bite marks all over her.  I went to the bathroom and puked at what I saw.  I couldn’t even look at her when I left that morning for work because I was so ashamed at what I had done.  That day alone should have pushed me to change and in a way it did.  That’s when I called to talk to her sister and we met at the bar.  One thing led to another and before I knew it we were in a motel room doing the unthinkable.  The Affair lasted for just about seven years, but at the same time I felt myself growing more distant from her.  She had no clue as to why but in reality, it was because I had broken a promise to her that I meant to keep.  I had promised to always protect her and never hurt her.   When Jessica blew the whistle on us, I expected there to be a lot of tears and shouting.  Instead, she had kicked Jessica out of the house and when I got home had already packed my Bags and changed the locks.  She had informed me that she would be filing for divorce and that she wanted nothing more to do with me unless it involved our children. When I asked her where I was supposed to go, she smiled at me and said “I’m sure Jessica is more than happy to have you be hers all the time now.  You should go there.”  After that we had the divorce proceedings and I was met with another shock.  My beautiful wife was a millionairess.  She didn’t ask for anything in the divorce and once we found out why Jessica was all over the place about taking as much from her as she could.  I honestly don’t know why I stay with that woman.  Hell, yes, I do.  I want to be close to Lisa but I hurt her more than anyone ever could.  I had heard through the grapevine that Lisa had joined a few dating sites and was possibly going to be dating again.  I just hoped the guys she went out with realized what a beautiful gem she truly is.  I lost my chance.  I watched as she said something to each of the girls and then I watched as the girls came to my car.  Our oldest hated me and Jessica.  She was fifteen and old enough to understand what had happened.  We drove away and I wondered what would she would be doing with a free weekend.  Little did I know I would be torn apart before this weekend was over.

Lisa’s POV

 When I walked back in the door of my house later that day I felt like a new woman.  My hair had been cut, colored and styled in a way that I had never had it done before.  I liked it and felt beautiful with it.  It suited me and I made a mental note that I was going to keep the style up.  I felt so good I went and spent a fortune on new clothes down to new undies.  Until today I had only ever owned good old cotton panties and bras.  Today I had pretty silk and lace ones.  They made me feel sexy and more importantly beautiful.  I picked out new clothes that weren't in the style of mom but in a woman of town.  I had a fuller figure but the stylist at the store had helped me pick out some light and fresh colors.  Some styles that would flatter not hide my curves.  My next stop was to the makeup counter where I spent a fortune on stuff I hadn't worn or bought in a very long time.  I checked my watch and noted that I had only a few hours until I was to meet my date at the restaurant, they, well really, he, had chosen.  I had chosen to meet him instead of him picking me up because I didn't want anyone knowing my address just yet.  You never know what people are like and I still had three young girls to think of.  I jumped in the shower quick to get myself ready eager to put on the new clothes and makeup I bought today.  Tonight, felt like a soft night so I decided I was going to wear pink. Wrapped in a towel I made my way into my room where my new clothes were all laying on the bed.  I smiled to myself thinking how much my ex hated me to dress up.  He always said it was because he didn't like other men looking at what was his.  Well, they could look away today.  I picked up a light pink bra and panty set and quickly put them on.  I then made my way back into the bathroom where I used the blow dryer to dry my hair and then plugged in the curling iron so I could do my hair with some well-placed curls when I was done applying my makeup.  I thankfully remembered how to put my makeup on and started to work the magic.  While Ray never liked me wearing makeup, curling my hair and dressing nice I would have the rare occasion that I could sneak in some beauty.  I always believed that makeup enhanced a woman's features and not covered them up.  So, I never wore heavy makeup it was always just a light “dusting” as grandma would call it.  When I was done with my hair and makeup, I looked in the mirror and just about cried.  I had forgotten how beautiful a woman I really was. I made my way back into my bedroom where I looked through the new clothes I just bought and settled on a light pink tank top with a pretty pattern and pink jeans.  It had been a while since I had worn jeans Ray didn’t like the way they made my ass look.  I followed that up with some really cute strappy shoes.  When I looked in the full-length mirror, I was extremely pleased with what I saw.  It gave me a renewed sense of confidence and I liked it.

My dates name that night was Mike.  We had exchanged photos through text messages, so that we knew what the other one looked like.  Of course, I wasn't certain how much he would recognize me given that I was dressed up now and, in my picture, I wasn't wearing makeup and my hair was in a pony tail.  My hair was also a different color than the picture.  I shuddered to think of that picture and vowed to myself that I wasn't going back to that woman.  Mike from the picture I had was a handsome middle-aged man.  He wasn't my normal type but then again look what normal types had gotten me.  Who knows maybe I didn't have a type?  I got to my destination about ten minutes early and found the perfect place to sit with a great view of the doorway.  Now I would see the exact moment he walked in and be able to assess him from a distance better.  To my surprise he walked in just a few seconds after I got seated.  I remember that I thought that was a good first impression he was prompt.  I watched him scanning the dining room to see if I was there yet.  Should I wave to him or see if he recognized me?  I chose to wave and grab his attention.  When he walked over to the table, he smiled at me and said "your even more beautiful than your picture.  I'm glad that you waved me down I wouldn't have recognized you."  That made me feel good then he pulled his hand out from behind his back and handed me a beautiful yellow rose.  In the back of my mind, I was searching our few conversations to try and remember if I had told him that she liked yellow roses.  No, I never mentioned that.  Then noticing the puzzled look on my face, he said "I wanted to get you a rose and yellow is the color of friendship I'm hoping we can at least be good friends."  I smiled and embraced the rose as if it was the best thing, I had ever received. Smiling up at him I told him that I was just trying to remember if I had told him what my favorite color of rose was because he picked it out.   He sat down at the table across from me and asked what I was having.  I told him that I was waiting for him to arrive before I decided to order.  I asked him what he recommended because it was, he that suggested this place and I had never eaten here before.  He smiled and said "do you trust me?"  I nodded my head and he ordered for the two of us.  We chatted through the meal and even after.  It felt really nice and comfortable with him.  I was definitely interested in seeing where things could go with him.  I couldn’t explain it but I felt drawn to him and felt like I could trust him with my life and yet I had just met this guy.  He looked around and asked me if I would like to go walk around the park nearby to chat some more because the restaurant looked ready to close.  Not wanting the night to end just yet I agreed and we went to the park to walk around.  We spent another two hours walking and talking when he looked at me, pulled me to him and kissed me.  I felt electricity, something I hadn’t felt in a really long time.  We were making our goodbyes when he asked if he could see me again the next night.  I reluctantly sighed and told him that I had plans but give me a few days and maybe I could work out a sitter for the kids.  He smiled and said he would like that.  A few hours later I got a text message from him it said "had such a wonderful time tonight. You are amazing and beautiful I look forward to getting to know you more.  Sleep sweet."  I replied with "I can't wait to get to know you more as well.  Thank you I will."  I closed down my phone and curled up in my bed with a smile on my face.

Mike’s POV

                When I arrived at the diner, I was having a hard time locating her.  I had told the staff that I was meeting someone and to please alert me when she showed up.  I was scanning the crowd when I saw the most beautiful woman waving at me.  I took another glance and realized it was Lisa but she was looking hot.  How in the hell was it that this woman was single?  I made my way over to the table and thanked her for waving me down telling her I wouldn’t have recognized her if she hadn’t.  She smiled and I think even blushed a little at the compliment.  I pulled the rose I had gotten earlier out from behind my back and handed it to her.  She got a puzzling look on her face and it made me think I had done something wrong was moving to fast.  But giving a beautiful woman a flower on the first date wasn’t bad.  We had chatted and I knew she had beauty on the outside but more importantly I could see her beauty shining through her personality.  I quickly explained that I wanted to get her a flower and that yellow was the color of friendship and I hoped that we could at least be friends.  With that she smiled at me and explained she was trying to remember if she had ever told me that yellow roses were her favorite flower.  We sat down and I asked her what she was having to eat and that’s when she told me she hadn’t ordered yet because she was waiting on me.  I thought to myself this woman can’t be real.  But then I was happy when she said she trusted me enough to let me order for her.  We talked and ate and before I knew it the diner was getting ready to close.  Of course, nobody would have bothered us or tried to rush us out of there because well I’m their boss.  But I asked her if we could go walk in the park so that we could talk and get to know each other a little more.  We walked and talked for hours.  She told me all about her two relationships and how they had ended.  She told me about her girls and how they meant the world to her.  I just couldn’t figure out what was wrong with those two guys that they would treat her that way.  I was dying to see how she fit in my arms and what her lips tasted like so at the end of the night I pulled her into me and kissed her.  At first, she was shocked but she kissed me back which was a good sign.  I asked her if I could see her again the next night and was slightly disappointed when she said she had other plans.  Later that night after our date was over, I couldn’t help myself I texted her to tell her I enjoyed the night and wished her sweet sleep.  She told me that she would see about getting a babysitter for her kids so that we could go out again sometime soon.  That gave me hope.