DP Challenge

Years ago I was newly divorced and living in my father’s home with my young daughter. I had no idea what direction I wanted to go in. What I wanted to do. I didn’t even know what I was capable of doing. Meanwhile I had to provide for my daughter. My brother gave me the name of a man who had his own cleaning business. I called him and he had me meet him for lunch at an upscale little bistro type place.

Over lunch he explained his business and said he normally has people clean with him for one day before deciding to hire. And by the way….he doesn’t pay for that.

I was still pretty naive at this point in my life. But in my head I was screaming “HELL NO”. I had no intention of working an entire day for him for nothing.

Meanwhile he kept talking and said he wouldn’t expect that from me. So I was glad I didn’t yell “HELL NO” out loud. Though now, all these years later, it would have been funnier.

I started working with him. And I think he liked me as a worker. We had some good times. One day he picked me up as he sometimes did and told me some of his regular customers were making comments since I started. I got nervous. Though if there was one thing I knew how to do at that time it was clean. And clean well. As it turns out, some of the customers noticed that when I was around he seemed more upbeat, funny, and seemed to be enjoying his work.

My bank of self esteem took a deposit that day for the first time in I didn’t know how long.

They even heard him singing when I was around.

We worked a lot together, and we talked a good bit as well. He knew about me. Though I didn’t know as much about him. He was kind of secretive. He told me ‘things’ but on reflection they were not very personal. But we got along well enough. We didn’t connect outside of work. Our time together was always and only work based.

One day we were talking about holidays and surprises. To that point in my life, though married for six years, I had never really had a valentines. He was surprised and asked why. I had no idea. Though I was sad talking about, it didn’t dawn on me to be too morose about it. And that was all that was really discussed.

We happen to be working together on Valentines – months later. When we got to the business we would be working in he told me he had forgotten some things in his apartment. He wanted me to go get them because he couldn’t leave me alone in the business. Groan. I do not like deviation from my plans. My plan was to go in and work and go home. But there was nothing I could do. Even though I did complain to him. He took it in stride and pretty much told me to get over myself.

He gave me the key to his home and directions. I went with very specific instructions on where to go in his home and what to retrieve.

When I got there I let myself in.

Strewn on the floor from the door to his dining room table, as a path to follow, were rose petals.

On the table were flowers, candy and a card. With my name on them.

He called me and told me to sit down and rest and enjoy the card.

It might not be a funny valentine.

But it was one of the sweetest moments of my life up to that point.

And maybe it’s kind of funny now. Because it makes me laugh and feel good, still, all of these years later.

We parted ways. And I don’t know what happened to him. But I hope he has had that wonderfully kind act paid back one hundred fold.

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DP Challenge : My Funny Valentine

Other stories written for this prompt on DP CHALLENGE:

The Chatter Blog

Living: All Day Every Day: Then Chattering About It

Cleaning Up On Valentines

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