A Compromise

"Hold on a minute," Tim said, jumping to his feet, wobbling for a minute on his strappy heels. He stepped away from her hands and positioned himself on the other side of the chair that his girlfriend had previously occupied, "Nancy and I..."

"...are a great couple," Nancy's mother, Vanessa cut him off, "Nobody with a pair of eyes could deny that. You're obviously good for her, and I would never stand in the way of my daughter's love life," Vanessa ran her fingers over the chair that Tim had been sitting in and took a step toward him, "but I think that a man like you could see the opportunity before him and make something of it."

"Listen," Tim said, feeling extremely nervous. He'd never had the mother of a girlfriend come onto him before. Heck, he'd never even had a girlfriend before! "I'm not sure that I..."

"Once Nancy approached me with the idea of sharing you," she took another step forward, "I have to admit that I was thinking of her wellbeing more than anything else. Having another person in the relationship that would watch out for her interests, especially since she can't really look out for herself the way that other girls do, would help me worry a lot less. Now that I've met you, though, spent a little bit of time with you, I will confess that my priorities have shifted a bit."

Again she took a step. Tim matched her step backward, trying to keep his distance.

"But we just met," he said, "We've hardly spent any time at all."

"You have a certain magnetism," Vanessa said, dipping her finger in his wine glass and bringing it to her mouth to suck dry, then, "and even without Nancy, I think you and I could have an excellent future together."

Tim stared at the woman before him as if for the first time. She was a stunning demonstration of feminine beauty. Blonde, like her daughter, but with a shorter, more sophisticated cut. Her face was much like Nancy's, but had begun to take on some signs of experience. The age, though, did nothing to mar her appeal. For a moment, Tim could see himself pressed against her, lips on hers, exploring each other's bodies...

"Stop," Tim said, shaking himself from the fantasy. Vanessa, midstride toward him, obeyed, "You're an amazing woman, Vanessa," he said, "Sexy, successful, a great mother. Honestly, I'm flattered, but I'm with Nancy. It just wouldn't be right for me to..."

"...reject her?" Nancy's voice piped up from the doorway, "Honestly, Tim, I don't know how you could. Look at her! She's perfect for you! I want you to do this. She needs it. So do you."

Tim was flabbergasted. It was one thing for Nancy to convince him to date his teacher, but her own mother?!

"Tim," Vanessa spoke, "I understand that this is a lot, and that I can come on a bit strong. I didn't get to where I am in life without knowing what I wanted and going for it. It just so happens that this time what I want is a bit less... conventional. How about I propose a compromise: You and I go out tonight, alone, and get to know each other without all this subterfuge. Nancy, you would stay home and not interfere. However things land after the date, that's where we let things lay. Does that seem fair?"

"I guess..."

"Excellent," she said, holding her hand out to Tim, "We're already dressed to impress, so let's go out."

Things were moving very quickly, and Tim still didn't know how he felt about the whole thing, but the urgent look in his girlfriend's eyes convinced him. He reached out and took Vanessa's hand in his and squeezed.

"Where to?"