Page 40 of Clash
“You’re constantly moping, Gina,” Bess observed, settling into her big comfy chair.
“I’m just not sure what to do with my life, Bess. I wanted to get to my sister, and that ring was going to help me get there. Now I’m stuck here even longer, no offense, and I’m nowhere near being able to provide for my son. I’m fucking pathetic. Sorry about my language.”
Bess laughed. “Now, Gina, I spent four years of my life in the US Navy. If you don’t think I’ve heard a swear word or two bymy old age, you’re sadly mistaken. And please don’t call yourself pathetic. You’ve had some setbacks in your life, but you’ll figure it all out. I know you will.”
“You were in the Navy?”
She nodded. “That’s where I met my dear Roger, god rest his wretched soul.”
“Wretched?”
I noticed a few of her teeth were missing when her smile slowly moved across her face. It’s weird that I’m just now picking up on it, when I’ve been here for a few weeks. “Ever met a badger before?”
“Can’t say that I have.”
“They are ornery little beasts with a really bad attitude. That was my Roger for you. Nothing ever pleased him, and he was constantly moody. But I did love him. The man had a cock that could split you in two.”
My mouth dropped. I’m pretty sure I left it hanging there for a good twenty seconds before shaking the disbelief out of my mind.
“Didn’t think an old woman like me could have a dirty mouth, did ya?” She chuckled to herself. “It’s why I never got along with the ladies who quilt at the library, no one respected my promiscuous talk. But I told them, I’m old, not dead. I know a good cock when I see one, and my dearest Rod, had a rod that could knock the knickers off of you.”
“Oh my,” I stated, covering my ears. “I can’t believe I’m hearing you say this.”
Bess leaned forward in her chair, that toothy smile curving upward. Even with a few missing teeth, the woman was a precious specimen of what aging gracefully looked like. I idolized her—hoping that when I got older, I’d look just as good as she does for her age.
“You’d be surprised what can come out of an old woman’s mouth when she has nothing else better to do than gossip. Speaking of which, you’ve been here a couple weeks now, and I think it’s about time you get a job. My friend Karen owns a flower shop, and she’s looking for some help. You start Monday.”
“Monday? But I haven’t even interviewed.”
“Nonsense. Karen trusts my judgment, and you look like the type of girl that catches on really fast. Your shift starts at eight in the morning.”
“How would I even get there? What about Alex?”
“I got all that covered, Gina. You can take my car. I hate driving, and barely ever leave my house. As for Alex, you got a built-in babysitter right here, I can keep up with the youngin’ and watch him while you’re working. After a few months, you may have just enough to get to your sister in Vegas. I also told Karen to pay you under the table. She knows about your little situation, and like me, she doesn’t care.”
Emotion clogged my throat, tears threatening to spill out at any second as her generosity and kindness broke me in two.
“I can’t repay you for any of this. At least right now, Bess. Why are you helping me?”
Bess smiled, patting my hand as she began rocking back and forth in her recliner. “I never had children of my own, no nieces or nephews either. I was an only child, and the few times I tried to have a child, nothing ever came of it. My body just couldn’t handle the stress of having a baby I guess, even semen rejected me. Well, the little wormy ones. Back in the Navy, the seamen loved me. My body count would probably make you wince. But as for having a baby, I’m convinced Roger had something to do with it. God, that man had a fucking massively big cock, but mostly shot blanks. Poor guy. Must be hard to be locked and never loaded.” She laughed at her own joke. “He also had troubles getting hard, Viagra did wonders for that man. If itwasn’t for his weak heart, I’m sure that man would’ve kept fucking me until my hundredth birthday.”
I lost it. Absolutely lost it. I was practically falling off the couch rolling around on the ground, that’s how much I fucking lost it in that moment.
God, this woman was like my son. Her stories were definitely entertaining and gave me a laugh. No wonder they got along so well. Alex practically never left her side, unless he was sleeping, like he was now. “Bess, please, I don’t know if I can take another comment about Rod’s impressive appendage and be able to breathe tomorrow.”
“Breathing is highly overrated, but I’ll stop. I know I can be a bit much sometimes. Oh, another thing. We need to get you dating again.”
Now that was something to make me wince. Just the thought of dating anyone made me want to throw up.
“I can see that doubt running around in those big grey eyes of yours, but you do, Gina. And I know just the man to start you off. He’s already shown a liking to you.”
“Who?”
“Walter, my neighbor’s son. He’s Twenty-seven and owns his own company. The man will be a millionaire by next year. That’s what you need, Gina. A man who can make millions.”
Shaking my head, I picked at a wayward thread on her couch and grimaced. “No thanks. I’m done with rich men.”
“Would you rather find yourself on the back seat of a motorcycle?”
