Sweet Awakening (Complete Story) by Andrea O'Hanlon

Sweet Awakening Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

"HEY MOM! Are you home?" "I am in the kitchen I yell back." I continue to cook  dinner. My son Jacob walks into the kitchen. "Mom, can I ask you to do me a favor?" "Depends on what it is you want?" Jacob looks awkward. "All I want you to do is go on a blind date with my boss." I turned to look at my son. What could he be thinking? I have been a widow for 3 years now. My husband died when Jacob was 17. I haven't been on a date since. "Why would I do that and what is in it for you?" My son looked sheepish.

"Well, my boss is looking for a new spouse. Before you freak out listen. His wife died of cancer 5 years ago. He hasn't dated since. He has decided he is ready to date again, but he decided not to date the traditional way. He has tried a group date. There will be 5 women there at a get to know you dinner almost like an interview. Then he picks one woman for a private date. Where they decide if the attraction is mutual. If the attraction is mutual, they decide on a dating period and prenuptial agreement and they will get married." My son holds up his hand to hold off my next questions. "No, I don't know why he has decided to handle dating as a business transaction. I think it is because his company works with a lot of big name companies. He has a lot of secrets he wants to remain private. I get a bonus for helping to find a woman just to go to the dinner. All I am asking you to do is go eat let him pick from the other women and come home." Jacob is looking at me with pleading eyes.

"That is all I have to do. Go to dinner with your boss so you get a bonus? What do I get for doing this for you?" I don't think my son expected that answer. "How about I agree to this and you take me out for a nice mother son meal? No cheap go to fast food. A nice sit down and talk, catch up on life. Since you are always so busy now." I can see my son hemming and hawing over this proposal. "That is reasonable, when would you like to go eat? The boss's dinner is tomorrow at 7 at the ROSE restaurant. You will need to wear a nice cocktail dress." I grimace at Jacob last statement. Jacob gives me a knowing grin. He knows I don't have one. I am a jean and a T-shirt kind of women. Even at my sweets shop all I require is a shirt with Sweet Bliss on it. "I don't have a fancy dress. You know I like to wear mostly comfortable clothes. We are going shopping tomorrow morning." "We?" I smirked at my son. "Yes, Jacob you are going with me. Since this your idea"

Thursday morning, I drove over to my son's apartment at 8am. I am confident he isn't awake yet. So I am going to wake him up and have him take me to breakfast and go dress shopping. Then maybe I will let my son go back home since Thursday is his day off. I knocked on his door for five minute before he answered. "Mom? What are you doing here? I thought we were going shopping when the store open at 10am." "We are but I thought breakfast would be a good idea. Before I dragged you all over town today." Jacob shoulders drooped. "What about your shop? Don't you need to open today?" "No, I Have Kelsey running it today. I went in early and made today sweets and I have extra sweets I made from yesterday. So all she has to do is sell until closing." I gave him a big smile. "Rise and shine sleepy head. Let get moving."

We found a table by the window at our favorite restaurant for breakfast. It is a small diner hidden on the edge of the city. "So how have you been Jacob?" Jacobs yawns and sips his coffee. "Good mom, I have been working a lot but I also have been dating a girl." I am full of question, but I know it is better to let Jacob tell me in his own time about her. I smile at him waiting for him to continue. "I have been seeing this girl for about a month now. I like her a lot. I met her at work. She work in a different department than me." Jacob face turns a light shade pink at the thought of her. "What is her name?" I ask him. "Her name is Danielle Croft." "As in Dani Croft who used to make fun of you in elementary school?" Jacobs face went from pink to bright red. "Yes mom. The one and the same. She all grown up. She is an accountant at Global Enterprise. She went to college and got her law degree, but decided she like numbers better." Jacob sighs with a look of admiration on his face. "Mom, she is so mature now. She has worked so hard for the degrees she has and to get this job. She is down to earth, smart, and beautiful. She doesn't pick on me now of course." I reach across the table to grab and squeeze his hand. Then I let go. "I am glad you found Danielle again. Just remember to take your time. I am so proud of you. What is it exactly that you do at Global Enterprise?" "I am the IT guy, when there is a problem with a computer I fix it. Doesn't matter what the problem is, I can fix it. I love my job." I am pleased that he was doing well at work and he loved his job.

After breakfast we went to three different stores and found nothing that I liked. Everything made me look either like a prostitute or like an old lady. I am 38 years old, not 60. While looking through a dress racks. Jacob taps me on the shoulder to show me a beaded fit and flare halter dress is in the color I am looking for. It's gorgeous, I am surprised he found it. So far he has been just grabbing anything to make this end. "It's perfect. Thank you for finding it." I take the dress from him to examine it. It is the right shade of silver I been looking for and it is my size. I went to the dressing room to try it on. I came out of the dressing room to look in the full-length mirror. It fits perfect. The length was right where I wanted above my knees. The dress doesn't cling too tightly. I don't look too old or like a prostitute. It's perfect in every way. "Ok, Jacob we are done." "Only took breakfast and three hours of shopping to find it." My son grumbles. "Now to find matching shoes." Jacob groans a loud and I laugh.