A Man for Each of Us

EPISODE 1 – MUTUAL ATTRACTION

A chance meet-up in a local café accelerates unexpected romance and poignant choices in this quirky family.

A Family Introduction

Forty-four-year-old divorcée Sandra Ingram meets a strikingly handsome suitor. They exchange phone numbers in a cozy little café, where the scent of freshly ground coffee mingles with the soft murmur of patrons around them. The sunlight streams through the large windows, casting a warm glow over their table.

Sandra tells Evan, “My 23-year old daughter, Monica, is moving back home. So to date me, you must win her over.”

As Sandra leaves the café, her thoughts drift to the conversation she’d soon have with her daughter. Sandra knows she must address a replacement for her father sooner rather than later. The introduction goes well.

With thoughtful gifts, enchanting museum trips, lively concerts, and delightful lunches, Evan puts on excessive charm. Monica, captivated by his allure, plies him with questions about his health, genealogy, work, and hobbies. Soon she finds herself developing a romantic interest. Following a tender public kiss, he apologizes, but it isn’t the last time they share such a moment.

During another private outing with the daughter, he inquires, “Monica, how far out of the picture, is your father?”

“That’s a question better left for my mom. I can say he remarried and is on good terms with me.” Monica asks, “Have you ever been married or do have any kids?”

“I haven’t yet married. There’s a chance that you could have the privilege of becoming my stepdaughter unless we make other decisions. In that case, I may see the birth of my firstborn child.”

Monica remains laser-focused on his every word, looking for clues to his desires. She next asks, “Be candid, I’m an adult. How far along is your relationship with my mom?”

“Actually, it’s embryonic,” he replies. “I paid for her coffee and gave her my number. We put everything on hold, pending your approval.”

“That’s good to hear,” Monica ponders. “This is an interesting predicament. She’s letting me decide her fate. Perhaps the important question is what’s in your heart.”

Evan reasons, “When it comes to matters of the heart, we can only expose it to different circumstances to learn its leanings.”

Their conversations appear to nurture a mutual attraction. While leaning across the table, Monica asks, “Which direction is your’s leaning now?”

He answers with a kiss. “Should I tell her about this, or will you?”

She repositions herself next to him in the restaurant booth. “My mom asked a charismatic eligible bachelor to impress her only daughter. Can I ask your age?”

“As the one deciding my fate, you have a right to know,” he admits. “I’ve already done the math. I’m 16 years older than you.”

“Oh,” Monica gasps. “You’re younger than my mother, but still what twenty-somethings call old.”

Evan responds, “Age is something none of us can control as we go through life meeting people. I can’t be in my mid-20s for you, and my late 40s for your mother.”

“True,” the young female acknowledges. “Are you still young enough to father children?”

“It’s not like I can use a test kit from the local pharmacy regularly,” he says with a smile. “As far as I know, my virility remains intact. Hopefully, I’m young enough to have my faculties until their teen years.”

Monica nods her head in approval before piercing him with another question. “My mom might be spying on us right now, yet you’re sitting next to me and kissing in public. Why not include me on dates with her instead of isolating yourself with me? Is it because you were more attracted to me from the beginning?”

He tries to formulate an answer to the inquisitive young lady’s probing questions while looking around, suspicious of every shadowy figure. “The goal, as I understood it was to win you over before dating her. Your mother is a beautiful woman. You are a younger version, so when I met you, there was a similar physical attraction. Now that I know you better as a person, dating her will complicate emotions between the three of us. Besides, I think she might welcome grandchildren.”

“It’s too soon to suggest the grandmother aspect. Otherwise, your explanation is perfect,” Monica reasons. “You are the one I elect to break the news to her. Bring a scrumptious meal over to the house for a cozy evening. I’ll be in my room. After getting her reaction, text me to join you for support.”

A Meal with Benefits

Evan follows young Monica’s suggestion. Sandra warms up the delectable dinner, serving it on a table adorned with flickering candles and a bottle of exquisite wine. She assumes that the purpose is for him to reveal Monica’s approval. When he mentions a mutual attraction with her daughter that’s heading beyond platonic, Sandra gasps.

Point-blank she asks, “Are you sleeping with Monica?”

“No!” Evan assures. “We’ve just been talking about taking our relationship further, with your approval of course.”

Sandra asks, “How did this turn inside out? Now you want me to decide her outcome? She was supposed to decide mine.” Saundra calls her daughter into the dining room discussion for confirmation. “Evan has shared some interesting news. Explain to me what’s going on between you two.”

Monica is not afraid to admit, “We’ve been careful to choose our words, so he’s going to hear this for the first time.” Pausing to look Evan in the eyes, she continues, “If I must say it out loud, we want to pursue a romantic relationship. He said yours never got off the ground.”

“He’s correct about the disparity.” Sandra reasons, “I haven’t gotten a fair chance yet.”

“Mom, what are you saying?”

“Follow along,” Sandra says. “Your outings have become private dates. The fair thing is to allow both of us to date him. “Then we can let him decide which of us deserve him.”

The daughter summarizes, “It sounds like you want to have a competition for the same man. There are some problems with that. First, the loser will still be in the house with the ultimate winner, creating awkward interactions. Second, we’d need to establish some ground rules to keep this from becoming sordid.”

With growing disbelief, Evan interjects, “Do I have a say in this?”

Both women, without even glancing at him, raise a palm, replying in perfect unison, “Keep quiet!”

Evan blinks, wondering how a mother and daughter could be deciding who wins him. Do they often compete for the same men? Do they… share? He quickly shoves that thought aside, but can’t help questioning what kind of situation he’s gotten himself into.

Sandra says, “There are simple solutions to your so-called problems. First, assuming he’s a man of commitment, the winner moves in with Evan. Second, neither of us sleeps with him during the competition.”

With the belief that youth gives her the upper hand, Monica responds, “You’re on!”

“Deal!” The mother says while shaking hands. “Each of us gets two dates per week. I’m up for the next date since you have a head start. Are you following all this, Evan?”

“Oh, yes,” he says, practically in shock. “This puts me in a very uncomfortable position, but I’ll try to decide in 30 days.”

Continue…

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