Old Love, Young Love, or Both

"Look at them, they make a nice couple," Ray said to Erin, indicating two young people with a gesture of his hand. "They'll never get it together without some help," Erin responded. "So should we help?" he asked running his hand through his graying hair. He was an aging hero, with everything falling about him, except his finances. - arches, waistline, shoulders, and dreams. She had known him since childhood and referred to herself as a pre dowager duchess, not quite old enough to rule the roost. Parts of her body were falling too, but her breasts hadn't reached her knees yet, and her hair and teeth were her own. Sensible shoes had long since replaced the high heels of her youth and her clothes were less style conscious and more flattering to her figure and coloring.

The young people they were talking about were his son and her niece. "She looks like you did at that age," Ray said. "You were such a dish. Looking at her is like seeing the past alive again." His voice sounded wistful and she gave him a funny look, before she turned back to their observation of the couple working intently on a model of a projected park. They were at a showing to choose the winner of a contest for the design of a neighborhood park, sponsored by his company. Ray had been amazed to see Erin again when she came to help her niece carry in the boxes. He sent his son to help and to ask Erin to join him on the landing overlooking the dimly lit floor. Spotlights hung over six different areas where models of parks were to be displayed.

"Oh you know, all the Stewart girls look alike. Blond hair, blue eyes, you should see the cousins when we get together. You would think it was a Nordic convention." Erin said, smiling over the family resemblance which had stood her in good stead for years. Her niece was a looker, there was no denying that. "Your son doesn't do too bad in the looks department himself. He had that knight coming to the rescue routine down pat, when he came to help us with her boxes." After a minute she added, "Don't think I didn't appreciate it. I am getting a bit old to be toting boxes, even for my favorite niece."

What Erin and Ray could not know, was that a similar conversation was going on below them between the two young people. "It's nice to see Dad with someone his own age, who isn't a gold-digger," R.J. said to Elyse, stealing a peek at his father who was smiling at the lady beside him. "He said he knew her from high school. That must have been ages ago." Elyse, busy with the setting up of her display, spared a quick glance up. She had worked hard and hoped to win the contest. The money could be a down payment on a car and winning would add credibility to her reputation as an up and coming landscape designer. She wanted everything to look perfect for this presentation. Unfortunately she had not been able to come the day before to set things up because of classes.

"That's nice," Elyse answered, preoccupied with her work. She had only fifteen minutes left to finish setting things up before the doors would open. She had counted on her aunt's help with this and didn't know how amenable this guy would be to taking direction. Aunt Erin had learned long ago to help with things and Elyse trusted her to not mess things up. "Could you open that box and bring it here, please," she said to him, pointing with her elbow as she smoothed the "grass" with both hands. A corner of her mind thought that it might be fun for her aunt to have a boy friend for a while, but she didn't know if that was something she, or her aunt wanted. Besides, corporate types usually had a wife at home. She had learned that the hard way and she didn't want her aunt hurt by some aging lothario.

As the model came together, R.J. had proved helpful and Elyse had time to glance again at her aunt who was laughing at something Mr. Wood had said. "They seem to be enjoying themselves, don't you think?" R. J. sounded hopeful as he spoke the words. "It has been a while since anyone has gotten him to laugh. He just doesn't un-bend with people much, since Mom's cancer." Elyse's ears pricked, and she said "Oh is your mother ill?" R.J. could hear the prickly protectiveness in her tone and his voice cracked a bit as he said "She passed three years ago. It was long."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know," Elyse said looking for the first time at the tall, skinny guy who was helping her. "I guess I am a bit protective of my aunt. She practically raised me and we usually work as a team." Maybe she had misjudged the man with her aunt, who really seemed to be enjoying herself. "Maybe we can match-make later. Thank you so much for your help. I am almost done here," she said as she reached across for the last box of detailing. He started to hand it to her and it dropped on top of the model, smooshing things together.

"Damn!!" The twin exclamations reached Erin's ears and she turned to see her niece picking things up frantically, while R.J. stood helplessly out of her way, trying to figure out what to do. "You help her, and I'll stall things for a bit, send R.J. when it's ready," came Ray's directive. He went for the door, and she went down the stairs. Elyse was working frantically and Erin pitched in. R.J. watched in fascination as the two women worked with coordination that he had not managed. He picked things up and tried to help, but didn't know exactly what to do. He started to turn away. "Wait," ordered Erin with her mind on what her body was doing. "We'll tell you when to get your father, he is stalling the committee." Realizing her voice had been harsh, she said, "These things happen, we can fix it, right Elyse?" Elyse nodded as her hands deftly restored things.

Five minutes later everything seemed ready. "No one will know. What do you think?" Erin asked looking from Elyse to R.J. Elyse nodded and Erin said to R.J. "Okay, bring them in. We'll wait up there and then come down when people are in." She pointed to where she had stood before. "She turned to Elyse "It is a good vantage point and you will be able to blend in after the room fills. We wouldn't want anyone to think you had special treatment." The three people separated.

When they reached the landing Erin stood between Elyse and the room, hiding her from the people as they came in. There were models from three big design firms and two other projects like Elyse's from her school. "How do you like R.J.? He seems nice, don't you think?" Erin asked her niece trying to sound casual. Elyse looked at her aunt speculatively. "He's okay, what's his father like? Is he nice?" Erin looked at her niece in the same way and said, "He was a hunk when we were in school, but time has passed and gravity has taken its toll on both of us. It was nice to see him again."

As the committee came into the room a similar conversation was going on between R.J. and his father. Each designer spoke to the committee about their model. When it was Elyse's turn she spoke with confidence, explaining the advantages and cost of the features she had included. She had the advantage of listening to the people who had gone before her. When she put her jacket on she had transformed from a young, eager girl, into a competent professional. Good tailoring can be amazing.

After everyone was done R.J. came to Erin and Elyse. "Dad asked that I take you across the street for lunch. He said he would join us there, if you were agreeable." Erin thought that Ray had been clever to maneuver the kids together, while Elyse thought it was brilliant of R.J. to help her occupy her aunt until Ray was available. She was nervous about the contest, but knew that she would have to do something until the results came and that could be days. So across the street they went, to a medium restaurant, where everyone seemed to know R.J.

Six months later things seemed to still be at the same stalemate. After some adjustments and string pulling, Elyse's design had been chosen. She worked with both R.J. and Ray. The four had gone out together every other week or so. At first to some kind of event where Ray could ask Elyse's opinion of some design feature, at the same time, putting the two young people together. Later they went to dinner and movies. Ray was grateful for the time he got to spend with R.J. and with Erin. Elyse was a pleasing surprise to him. It was a funny kind of dance where everyone seemed to be protective of their family member and eager that they get along.

Things could have gone on in that pleasant way for years, but Erin was in serious car accident. Her recovery would be slow. "Don't tell them, what is wrong. I don't want to spoik things for you and R.J. but I really can't go out for a while," Erin said to her niece. "Tell them I had to go out of town for two months. That should work." She hoped to be back to normal by then, no chair, no crutches, no cane. "I don't like to be a cripple and I promise to work hard to get better, but I don't want to hold you back." "But Ray will worry about you," Elyse protested. "Not for long," was her aunt's reply.

The next week after their planned date, Elyse visited her aunt in rehab. "It was awful. Ray brought this woman when we went to the museum. "Gorgeous but, not burdened with an over abundance of intelligence and you could almost see the dollar signs in her eyes." The words poured from her niece's mouth in protest of her aunt's determination. "Maybe he will do better next time. He usually does," was Erin's reply. But weeks passed and there was no next time. Elyse saw Ray occasionally about the park design and visited her aunt every other day. Erin improved, but not as quickly as she hoped.

Finally the park was finished and the dedication was scheduled for a Saturday morning. Erin wanted to go, but knew that she would need a cane to manage the walk from the car to the bench where Elyse thought she could watch the ribbon cutting. She didn't want Ray to compare her to whatever young honey he would bring, but she didn't want to miss Elyse's big day. Elyse's childhood friend Mary, now a chemical engineer, would take Erin to the park and see to it that she was safely settled on the bench early. Elyse would arrive with Ray and R.J about an hour later when it was time to cut the ribbon.

Everything went according to plan. The day was chilly, but clear and sunny. Mary got Erin to the bench and chatted with her about her latest project. Before long people began to appear and chairs were put in two rows in front of Erin and Mary. Mothers and children, showed up along with the usual newsies. Elyse came with R.J. and Ray, who brought along a statuesque, auburn haired beauty. "Young enough to be his daughter," Erin snorted to Mary.

As the self congratulatory speeches began Erin's mind wandered to the past. She had had a good time with Ray when they were young and then again in the last year. She hoped he was happy. Suddenly she heard her niece saying "I couldn't have gotten where I am today without the support and belief of my wonderful Aunt Erin, who is sitting over there. Could you stand up, please." Erin was flummoxed. "Damn it," she thought Elyse knows how much trouble I have going from seated to standing. Mary took her arm and began to lift her up so Erin knew that she wouldn't be able to just smile and wave. With effort she rose to accept the slight applause, and then sat back down with a thud.

A funny glance passed between Ray and R.J. The speeches proceeded and Erin's mind wandered again. Then it was over and people were leaving. Erin and Mary talked about what people were wearing and waited for Elyse. When she came she brought Ray, R.J. and the beauty along. Talk about awkward. It was almost a nice family get-together in the new park - Mary, Erin, Elyse, Ray, the red head with Ray's arm around her waist, and R.J.

"Erin," R.J. said, "I'd like you to meet my sister, Louise." Flummoxed again Erin reached out her hand to take the hand that was reaching for hers. The introductions finished. Erin was surprised that Mary and R.J. already knew each other, apparently quite well from the teasing that was going on. "Maybe we could all go to lunch after Erin and I take a turn around the park. We need to talk." Ray said as he held out his arm, looking intently at Erin. "I don't think I can do that," came out of Erin's mouth. "Oh yes you can," Elyse, responded as she reached across to take one of her arms and Mary helped her up with the other firmly placing it on Ray's. Mary pulled the cane out from hiding and put it in Erin's other hand. Erin tried to fuss but everyone just ignored her as they turned to talk with each other.

After Ray steered Erin away, Elyse and R.J. congratulated themselves on a successful outcome. When Ray and Erin came back they noticed that Mary's hand had casually slipped into R.J.'s and Elyse and Louise were talking together animatedly. This would be an interesting dinner.