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at least four days while the swelling subsided in my leg.
    That left me seven days to wait. That was not a good thing with Shawn’s Law.

Five

     
    Harley
     
    Our first date.
     
    O H , THE memories that first date brings back. I deliberately resisted walking past Shawn’s house for the next week so the excitement for our first date would build. I sent him a number of text messages during the week and confirmed our arrangements. My plan was I would pick him up and take him to my favorite Indian restaurant in the city. Then I had tickets to a comedy evening that was getting great reviews, and I intended to take him up to Kings Park, overlooking the city. By that time of night it would be dark. I would bring a picnic blanket, and we could sit and stare at the city lights and be romantic for a while.
    I’m not shy to admit that I hoped for a little more than sitting on a blanket in the dark. Nothing porn-movie worthy—just a little make out and maybe a grope or two. Nothing that would have any nosy parkers calling the police. I didn’t expect the night to end up back at my place, but just in case it did, I changed my sheets and made sure I had supplies.
    Shawn texted me and explained that he’d contacted a respite agency to sit with his mother that night, so he’d need to be home before midnight. That fit with my plans, so I told him I would pick him up at six o’clock. Early for dinner, but I guess, in the end, it was lucky I did.
    Shawn texted me. Plans around me tend to have a tendency to go awry. I hope you don’t mind.
    I remember laughing at that. At the time it was because of the phrasing “tend to have a tendency.” I asked my workmate if it was a double positive, as opposed to a double negative. He told me it was just overemphasizing a point. I would soon learn there was no overemphasis.
    I dressed carefully for my date, taking a couple of days to think out the problem of whether to wear underwear or not. Pro: It’s my usual state of dress and Shawn would just have to take me as I am. Con: Can make dates uncomfortable, if they notice. Pro: I would be relaxed and happy without underwear (in contrast to tight and uptight). Con: I had an inclination to spring boners in Shawn’s presence.
    I was still undecided about it when I remembered the third part of my planned evening—the kiss in the dark. That decided it for me. If Shawn was an exploring man and wanted to be adventurous, he didn’t need an extra layer of material.
    At 5:58 p.m., I jumped in my car and drove the four-hundred-or-so meters to Shawn’s house and almost skipped up the path to knock jauntily on the door. He was ready, but nervous.
    “Hi,” I said.
    Before he could answer, his mother appeared behind him, dressed in a bright yellow cardigan (despite the weather) and pink slacks. “Arthur. What are you doing here? Do we have a date tonight?”
    I laughed and grinned at her. Her absentmindedness was cute, but I was glad I didn’t have to take her in anything more than small doses. “Estelle,” I crowed. “You look more and more beautiful every day. Yes, we have a date, but we’re going boating. So, how about you go and put on a pretty dress? Don’t hurry. I’m happy to wait.”
    “Did my father give you permission to take me out tonight?”
    “Yes,” I replied soberly. “I promised to take good care of you.”
    “Good. I’ll go now.” She danced down the hallway to the bedroom and closed the door.
    Shawn was half smiling, half frowning at me. “You shouldn’t have told her that. What happens if she remembers to put on a pretty dress then comes out and you’ve gone? It will break her heart.”
    I cocked an eyebrow in his direction. “Is she likely to remember?”
    “Well, no. She doesn’t remember anything short-term these days. But I’m just saying.”
    It was a fair point. I nodded. “Okay. I won’t do it again. Next time I’ll tell her I’m here for her sexy son and that her father has given me permission to take