Play Date by Casey Grant

Bobby’s Dad
     
     
    Lena Harris walked up to the front door and
rang the bell. The door opened and she was face to face with the
gorgeous (and single!) Shane Evans.
    “Well, was my Ryan good today?” Lena said,
trying not to get lost in his brown eyes, dark hair and wrestler's
physique.
    “I took Ryan and Bobbie for ice skating and
got ice cream,” said Bobby’s dad.
    “Oh! What do I owe you for the skate rental
and ice cream?” Lena said, fumbling for her purse.
    “Don’t worry about it,” said Shane. Her son,
Ryan and his boy, Bobby appeared behind him.
    “Ready to go home, Honey?” Lena said to her
son, kneeling down to eye level.
    “No!” Ryan yelled as an embarrassed Lena
grabbed Ryan, pulling him down the sidewalk and waving good-bye to
Shane and Bobby.
    Shane never asked Lena to stay for coffee (or
a drink) and never had time to chat in the doorway. Whether Shane
was picking Bobby up at Lena's house—or Lena was picking Ryan up at
Shane's— pleasantries would be exchanged and then— zoom, off he
would go.
    “Oh— Lena, one second...” said Shane
disappearing from the doorway.
    Lena became excited. He must have tickets for
something (and if he did, he wouldn't ask you). Seconds later Shane
ran out to the sideway, handing a card to Lena. “Here—I wanted to
give this to you.”
    “What is it?” said Lena, opening the
envelope.
    “Bobby's birthday party invitation. We hope
you can come.”
    “Oh. Of course. Sure,” said Lena trying not
to show her disappointment.
     
     
    “You might want to stop hiding behind that
mop of hair and those poor-fitting clothes, “said Danielle, sitting
at Lena's kitchen counter, sipping a Mojito. “I know you’re still
grieving over Roger, but you need to start living again. You’re
only twenty-nine, you’re too young to be a widow.”
    Danielle was right. It had been over a year
since Lena’s husband had been killed in that canoeing accident. It
was time to start living again. Thanks to a generous life insurance
policy and an excellent series of investments, Lena was able to
continue living in their upscale, master-planned community of Plush
Run. But she had indeed let herself go, paying little care to her
appearance. Lena knew she needed to get active again, start dating,
and maybe fire-up that real estate license.
    “There's a beautiful girl under those
SteinMart clothes,” said Danielle.
    “What's wrong with SteinMart,” said Lena.
    “Its for women who've given up.” said
Danielle, her phone beeping. Danielle pulled the phone out of her
purse. “Hey! Check this one out, 'Plush Run Casino Night'! They
need volunteers to man the blackjack tables and serve drinks. 'Help
the ‘Plush Run Chorale’ raise money for the Pee-Wee soccer team's
trip to Sweden.'”
    “Ugh,” thought Lena, grimly. “Sounds like
hell.”
    “You’re going,” said Danielle.
    “No, I’m not.
    “It’s for your son's soccer team!” said
Danielle. “—And Cory's too. We HAVE to volunteer! This is a great
chance for you to get back in the swing of things.”
    “Too soon,” said Lena.
    “Don't you want our boys to go to Europe?
What an opportunity!”
    “They're a little young,” said Lena. “I don't
think they'll get much out of it.”
    “Travel broadens the mind, said Danielle,
“This fundraiser will be fun and you need fun.”
     
     
    The next day they met at the Fox and Hen bar
in Old Town Plush Run. It was Danielle’s idea to get a drink before
the meeting. Lena and Danielle both ordered Mojitos and chips. Lena
was slightly jealous of her lovely friend who was also a bit
younger. Danielle had gotten a big divorce settlement from her
restaurant owner husband after catching him in bed with his
eighteen year-old hostesses. Danielle now spent her days working on
her degree in Circadian Studies at nearby East-Central Lancaster
State. She prowled the campus, looking irresistible in her
short-shorts, tank top and reading glasses, all the while having
casual