OLDER WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL LOVERS - PART TWO

OLDER WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFL LOVERS – PART TWO

Bobbie spoke, “Oops! Almost forgot to tell you. Yes, we’re going to the Bahamas HOWEVER, this is an “Irish” cruise, and The Irish Rovers are headlining the entertainment.”

Charlie was sure her heart skipped a beat and that everyone knew it. The Irish Rovers! She’ll get to listen to her favorite group – in person! Okay, so it’s the ONLY group that has her interest. She never was one to idolize entertainers. However, The Irish Rovers were different. Not only did they sing popular music but also the Irish melodies she’d heard as a child and grew to love. She’d also get to listen, firsthand, to that melodious, sometimes angelic, sometimes rough (depending on the song), but always heart-throbbing voice of Aiden Cole.

She leaned against the wall in the kitchen of Mel’s home, used her hands to mockingly fan her face, and said, “Omg! The Irish Rovers! How on earth did you know?”

The three women looked at each other, but it was Bobby that spoke, “Oh, well, let’s see. Every time we’re at your house, you yank out your laptop and have us listen to their songs. Guess we just deduced that you enjoyed their music.”

It was Foxy who’d done the research to find the closest venue for their next concert. Once she zeroed in on their cruise, she FaceTimed Mel and Bobby, then turned the phone’s camera toward her computer.

“So, ladies, what do you think” It’s fourteen months away. Should I book it or wait?”

Bobby asked her to see if there were any cabins near each other.

“Already done! Not only are they near each other, they’re next to each other and, get this – they’re all balcony cabins. You know how Charlie loves the balcony! We can swing the partitions aside and fit all of us on one balcony and drink champagne! Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

“Foxy, you’ve outdone yourself! Final question: what the cost of each room. And before you answer, we already agreed the Charlie’s cruise is on us, but I just want to know in case we might be able to upgrade, or something.”

“Bobby, there’s nothing to upgrade. I checked. We each have balcony rooms, a drink package, four passes to the ‘meet and greet’ for after the show. The only thing I have not done is decide on the shore excursions. That’s something we have time for, and I think we all sit down together and decide.”

Mel spoke up. “Foxy, you hit the proverbial nail! How much time before we reserve the excursions?

Foxy replied, “Ten months but I don’t want to wait ten months to begin looking over the brochures. Let’s plan to at least get a start some time next month. In the meantime, I’ll book the rooms as soon as I’m off here.”

Bobby laughed and shouted, “Go!! Go girl, get ‘er done!”

They all chucked and disconnected the call.

The months seemed to drag, and their excitement grew. They packed their bags, unpacked the same bags, then repacked them again. Foxy was always checking her weather app so they’d have the proper clothes to wear.

They went to dinners together, giggled like young girls, planned, unplanned, and planned more.

Finally, with no more plans or packing to do, all that now needed to be done was sit and wait. Charlie was sure the time would drag on and on. She was sure to pre-pay her bills, cleaned her house, finished her laundry and was about to call Foxy when the cellphone she was holding played her favorite tune. She looked at the caller ID.

“Hey, Girlfriend, I was just about to call you. I’m getting so antsy! If you’re free, how about meeting me at the park? I’d like to take some pictures before we leave.”

Foxy laughed and said, “Uh, when was the last time you checked your calendar?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe this morning? Why?”

“Look again, Sweetie. What’s tomorrow?”

Charlie almost screamed. “HOLY CRAP! Foxy, we leave tomorrow!! The car will pick us up at 6am! Where the hell did the time go?”

Foxy laughed. “Guess you’ve been so busy you just lost track. I’ll meet you at the park in ten minutes.”

The following morning, precisely at 6:15, a long black car pulled into Charlie’s driveway. In addition to the driver, inside waiting were Foxy, Bobbie, and Mel.

Looking at them, Charlie said, “Huh! It’s a good thing I dressed casually. I thought of wearing a dress but, well, now we’re all in jeans.”

Foxy jumped in and replied, “Yeah, but they’re our BEST jeans.”

The first day aboard the ship was chaotic. They found their rooms with a note attached to each door advising that all passengers meet in the assigned lounges for a life-saving drill. Afterwards, they unpacked and headed to the cafeteria for a casual lunch. When dinner was over, they wandered, taking in all the sights the ship had to offer. The next day would be a “day at sea”. Being the water-loving person Charlie was known to be, she looked forward to walking the outer decks, camera in hand, and just enjoying herself.

She knew the first performance of The Irish Rovers would occur after dinner that night following which would be the meet and greet.

After her tour of every level of the outer decks, she met up with her friends for lunch and decided to skip the formal dining room for the barbeque shop on the fourth outdoor deck.

Soon, she was showered, dried, hair styled, dressed, and on her way with her friends to the ship’s theater. Foxy, again, didn’t disappoint her. They had almost the best seats in the house: not too close where they’d be straining their necks looking up at the stage, but not too far back either. They were slightly off-center which Charlie felt was better since most everyone wanted the center aisle seats.

“Can I offer you ladies a drink? A glass of wine, perhaps? Maybe champagne?”

They turned to see several waiters roaming the aisles taking orders. It was Charlie who spoke. “Yes, we’d each love a glass of champagne. Here’s my card. My treat!”

The waiter scanned her card and walked to the bar at the rear of the room. A few minutes later, he returned with their flutes filled with golden bubbly liquid.

Within a few minutes, the lights dimmed, and the drums began their beat. They were beginning. She knew from the beat of the drums their first song would be one of her Ireland’s favorites: Wild Rover. Naturally, she sang along with the group and the rest of the audience.

Charlie thought, Oh my good heavens!! What a show! To say she thoroughly enjoyed herself would be a completely mild statement. But the best was yet to come. As the last bow was taken, the four friends hurried out the door to the lobby for the meet and greet. They had their pictures taken with the group as a group and ordered one for each of them.

Foxy saw the gleam in Charlie’s eyes and quietly said to the others, we’ll meet her later. Let’s go for a drink. She, then walked to Charlie was standing and told her their plans and said, “Take your time.” Charlie nodded.

It was finally her turn to meet the one who caught her eye. Aiden!

Her first thought was that he was more handsome in person than any of the videos she’d watched. She was also glad she wore her deep blue silk blouse and white pants. While she wasn’t what she considered conceited, she was vain enough to know that the color of that blouse brought out the blue in her eyes. All she wanted to do was make a good impression and maybe, get a smile from this handsome Irish lad.

And he noticed.

He put his hand on her shoulder and steered her to a seat at the side of the meet and greet. A waiter walked by, and Aiden ordered two glasses of champagne.

“Normally, I’d have a Guiness, but after a show like this one, a Guiness can wait until I’m back in my room where I can sit and hopefully pass out for a few hours,” He smiled absent-mindedly.

“Hoping not to sound like a giddy teen, I enjoyed the show but then, after watching as many videos as I saw on YouTube, seeing the group in person, was much better.”

Aiden smiled and Charlie knew he’d heard that all too often but there was something a bit different in the way he looked at her when he smiled.

“I meet so many people on their tours and honestly, I don’t remember half of them. There are just so many. Can I ask your name?”

His eyes were hypnotic, but she forced herself to blink. “Charlotte but everyone calls me Charlie. My last name’s Monroe.”

“Charlotte!” He said her name as if it really meant something. She smiled. “So, tell me, Charlie, where do you call home?”

Aiden stood and taking the glass from her hand, said, “Let’s take a walk.”

Outside, Aide found a bench in a quiet alcove. He motioned toward it and said, “Let’s sit and enjoy the peaceful moonlight.”

They talked for hours, feeling perfectly comfortable in each other’s company. He told her about his family back in Ireland. She told him about the death of her husband. Charlie boasted about her sons and their families. She shook her head and said, “You know, Aiden, you’re only a few years older than my older son.” He smiled and said one day he’d like to meet her sons. They sounded like wonderful men. Aiden stretched out on the bench and unconsciously put his arm around Charlie’s shoulder. She never noticed. She did, however, notice how cool the night air had gotten and it made her slightly shiver.

“You’re cold”, Aiden said and pulled her closer for warmth. And still they felt comfortable with each other.

Neither had realized time passed by so quickly. All too suddenly, Charlie felt as though she could nod off at any given time and noticed that Aiden stifled a yawn. She glanced at her watch and all but jumped off the bench.

“Oh my god! Aiden, it’s two o’clock in the morning! We’ve been out here for four hours!! I think we both need to inside, find out rooms and get some sleep!”

He looked at his watch and his eyes widened. “You’re right. I was so enjoying our conversation that I never realized it was so late. Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.”

She answered with, “While that really isn’t necessary, it would be a real treat for me.”

They arrived at Charlie’s room, and she unlocked the door. Stepping inside, she turned and said, “Aiden, this has been a night only young women dream about. I’ll never forget it.

He smiled and asked, “Me either. Can I at least give you a kiss goodnight?”

She smiled back and nodded her head. It felt as though that kiss would never end.

The following morning, she opened her eyes to the realization that she had not dreamed. Aiden was still in her bed. HER bed!

He opened his eyes and said, “Good morning, Beautiful.”

She wasn’t sure if she was in shock that he was still there or pleased that he was. Her first thought was, He’s gorgeous! So, what the hell is he doing with me?”

What she said, instead was, “Look, Aiden, I’m not trying to chase you away or insult you or hurt your feelings, but you do remember that I’ll be 76-years old this week, right? I’m old enough to be your mother!”

He replied with, “We’re doing a rehearsal this afternoon around noon. I’d like you to be there. There’s a song that’s been buzzing around in my head and I want you to hear it.”

She looked at him wondering if he even heard what she said but agreed to make the rehearsal.

At noon, she walked into the theater. He heard the door open, looked at her and waited for her to take a seat.

Once she did, then nodded to his group and bandmates and said in the microphone, “Charlie, this one’s for you.”

And he began to sing:

Older women are beautiful lovers.

Older women, they understand.

I’ve been around some, and I have discovered.

That older women know just how to please a man.”

Once her shock wore off and the rehearsal ended, Aiden left the stage, walked to where Charlie sat and said, “Let’s get some lunch. I’m starving.”

Yes, after the cruise, they parted ways but to this day, they have kept in touch. They’ve become the best of friends – and when he’s in town, with benefits!

Is this THE END?

Only time will tell, now, won’t it?