Chapter 19

It was about 7:30 a.m. when Martin looked out the recently cleaned window of his apartment on Good Friday morning and decided the weather fit the day. Gloomy, gray, rainy. “Perfect,” he muttered to himself as he decided to get dressed for the day.
As Martin reached for a pair of dress slacks to wear with a button down shirt, his bowtie and corduroy jacket, he remembered the Sentinel office was closed for holiday. “I think I’ll skip the tie today,” he said out loud to himself. He also kicked himself for not sleeping in a little longer.
As he descended the steps from his apartment to get to Risky Dick’s for some breakfast, Martin thought about his day. He’d called his mother the night before after the service at St. Bart’s, and asked her to join him for Good Friday services at their church in Webster, Redeemer Lutheran Church. Martin had to hold the receiver from his ear to keep his mother’s shriek of delight from affecting his hearing. After Jean calmed down, he also suggested they have dinner together. “Oh, dinner and church with my handsome son,” she cooed. “How could I get so lucky?” Martin felt slightly nauseated.
Because his brain was on overload and he was tired, Martin didn’t control the situation very well when discussing a place to have dinner that evening. He should have just said, “Let’s meet at Adventures at 5:30.” Instead, he casually asked Jean the question, “So where should we have dinner?” and before he could catch himself from allowing free choice, his mother responded, “Well, how about that restaurant in your apartment building? What’s it called again?” Martin wanted to kick himself for being so careless, but answered, “Risky Dick’s.”
“Well that sounds fun,” Jean said happily. “You can show me your apartment, too. I can’t wait to see it.”
Because his mother would finally see the apartment where he lived and the bar where he spent much of his time, Martin decided that Good Friday would be spent making sure that Jean had as little to criticize as possible that evening. That meant, he’d have to go to the Wal-Mart in Forest Lake to get his new curtains and bedspread, he’d have to shampoo his carpet, and he’d have to prep Don for meeting Jean. He’d start with prepping Don while eating his poached eggs and toast, and fill up with gas at Wild Bill’s on his way to Forest Lake.

+ + +

“So, I get to meet the famous Jean Lundeen,” Don said with a certain smarmy sound in his voice, rubbing his hands together. Martin frowned at him and answered, “Yes, what of it?”
Don knew just how to punch Martin’s buttons and continued, “Well, from what I hear, she’s one hot little number…”
Martin looked up at the ceiling and sighed. “Don, you’ve got to be kidding. My mother is so not a hot number…” He trailed off as he saw Don stifling a laugh. “Don, you’re hilarious,” he said grimly.
Don took Martin’s empty plate while filling his cup with hot coffee. “Oh, come on Martin. I’m just having a little fun with ya’. In all seriousness, I’m looking forward to meeting your mother.” Martin looked confused. “Why?”
“Well, I’ve seen her in town, and she has to be a fine woman. She raised you,” he said. Martin saw that he was serious and was touched. “I may even put on a clean shirt,” Don said as he turned away and wiggled his hips in a little dance back to the kitchen. “Who knows? I might ask her out on a date.”
For the second time in 24 hours, Martin felt nauseated.

+ + +

Martin’s gas tank was over three quarters full, but he went to Wild Bill’s anyway, hoping to see Sharla and invite her to go to Forest Lake with him for the shopping trip. He quickly topped off his tank, and went inside to find Sharla.
As usual, she was behind the counter, this time ringing up a sale of a 12 pack of Budwiser for four men who were sitting at one of the small tables in back playing cribbage. Martin looked at his watch. It was 9:00 a.m.
“Hi, Martin,” Sharla called to him, clearly delighted to see him. “I’m so glad you came in today. How’s the project going?”
He came over to the counter and smiled broadly at her. He noticed how cute she looked in her white cut-offs and purple Minnesota Vikings hooded sweatshirt. “It’s going pretty good. I’d like to tell you what we’ve found so far. Any chance you have this afternoon off? I’m driving over to Forest Lake to pick up some things for my apartment, and thought it would be nice if you came along. We could talk in the car…” he said, getting his request out in one big breath.
“Hmmm…let me see,” Sharla answered, taking a three-ring binder out from under the counter. “Uncle Bill has me working until 1:00. Would that be too late?”
Martin thought a minute and replied, “Well, let’s see. I could pick you up at 1:00, it takes an hour to get to Forest Lake, we’ll shop for an hour, another hour to get back. That should work. I just need to pick my mother up for dinner at 5:30.”
“Let’s do it then. Pick me up at 1:00,” Sharla said with a smile.
Martin nodded, and while he pulled out his money to pay for the gas, said, “Will do. Thanks, Sharla. I really appreciate you giving me a woman’s opinion on my apartment.”
Sharla giggled. “Well, I don’t know how much of a decorator I am, but I know what I like.” As she took the money, she said, “Hey, Martin. You know can come in here to see me any time you like without buying anything, don’t you? I mean, everybody knows Uncle Bill charges more for gas than anyone in Burnett County.”