Scoping for Love

/ roughwighting

Valentine, Valentine heartsAmy didn’t know how to tell him.

They’d been dating almost seven months. In September, at month two, she wondered if he was the one.

But something held Amy back.

Mike seemed quite enthusiastic about their prospects, though. date night, drnks, margarita

On the fourth month of movies, dinners out, long walks in the woods, a get-away at an upscale inn in Stockbridge, a  waterfront  dinner at Legal Seafood to meet his sister, and a moonlit stroll at the Boston Public Gardens, Amy was close to sure that Mike was positive that she was his one.

But something held her back.

At 32 years of age, Amy had certainly had her share of losers, bruisers, boozers, and almost approvals. But Mike was heads above her former boyfriends.

Still, something held her back.

So she did what few 30-somethings could do. Amy drove three hours to the assisted living facility where her grandmother lived and thrived at 91 years old.

Most of Amy’s friends either had no grandparents alive or none that they’d ever consider asking for advice.

grandmothere, grandmother love, love storyAmy’s go-to person, though, had always been her Nana. Sweet, sassy, smart, ageless Nana.

After hugs and adding to Nana’s stuffed animal collection, Amy explained to her grandmother all of Mike’s qualities – the good and the one bad.

Nana responded: “My mentor Bill once said, ‘No legacy is as rich as honesty.’ Honesty will reward you, sweetie, I promise.”

Nana quoted William Shakespeare (her “mentor” Bill)  frequently, and she did not disappoint on this visit. With a lightened load, Amy drove three hours back to Cambridge and met Mike at the corner bistro a block from his condo.Burdick's, Boston, Chocolate

“Mike,” Amy began, voice wavering, “I have a request.”

Mike’s heart fell like a stone thrown into a deep lake, afraid that Amy was about to let him go.

She inhaled deeply and then said: “You have halitosis.”

“I’m a hell of a what?” Mike sat up straight, his face reddening, hands tight in his lap.

“Bad breath,” Amy whispered, cursing her Nana and William Shakespeare while wondering if she’d just lost the best man in her life.

“Oh! How’d you know?” he asked, relief crossing his face like a cloud lifting. “I saw my dentist yesterday and he told me I have the beginnings of gingivitis, which can lead to gum disease and bad breath. Wow! You’re psychic!”

“Not psychic. But I suggest you buy a bottle of Scope and we’ll both be happier.”

Mike released a huge breath of relief, which made Amy pull back in horror. Mike’s eyes widened, but then they both laughed as giddily as two people in love. Scope, mouthwash, bad breath, love story

“After some mouthwash and visits to my dentist, will you be my forever Valentine?” Mike asked while covering his mouth with his hand.

“You’re just a breath away from yes,” Amy replied. “Honestly.”

141 thoughts on “Scoping for Love”

  8. Well done to Nana and her mentor Bill for saving the day for Amy and Mike! 😀 Pam, as always you pull me straight into the story, I felt for Amy and wondered about her hesitation … honesty worked wonders here. Great ending with a play on the themes and topic: ‘“You’re just a breath away from yes,” Amy replied. “Honestly.”’ Welcome back from your break, Pam and lovely to read your weekly story posts again! xx🌼🌺

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  16. I laughed all the way through. Who knew that mouthwash (nice double entendre) could do the trick. You never fail to please – and surprise, Pam!

    Happy Valentine’s Day to you too!

    My dentist is treating me for periodontal problems, a close cousin of gingivitis, I assume. 🙂

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    • Going to the dentist is not a fun endeavor. I hope your periodontal problems are fixed quickly and pain-free. Hopefully, no Scope is required! (And despite all that, thanks for laughing at my story of Amy’s dilemma…🤭😘)

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    • As the cycle turns, my wish is that honestly is valued once again like it was in the past, Janet.
      The photo of “Nana” is of my mom, which I took a few months ago. She’s Nanny to my kids, and until dementia took over, she gave out advice freely and often. 🙂

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  25. Wonderful wind up . . . and release!

    Once upon a time, a close friend began dating a fishmonger ~ a great guy . . . if you could get past the whiff of fish that permeated his skin. He showered after work to subdue the stench, but it lingered. He eau de cologned with a heavy hand, but the fishy smell remained.

    When she broke up with him, she urged him to find a girlfriend who was olfactorily challenged. 🙂

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    • What a fishy story, Nancy….but I know it’s a true one. Living near the New Hampshire coast where lobstermen proliferate, I’ve heard many a tale where a husband/boyfriend is sent to a sweet-smelling bubble bath before a night out. 🙂

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  26. Your stories are fantastic. I had to laugh out loud . I had a girlfriend with extremely bad breath. We drove to the opera in San Francisco for years, I didn’t have the guts to tell her about her bad breath. Wishing you and your sweetie a nice day.

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    • Hopefully your girlfriend found a guy who loved her enough to sent her to a dentist…or at least the drugstore! I used to run with a wonderful friend who loved to cook with garlic, which seeped out of her sweating skin on our runs along the Bay. I finally told her to warn me when she had her ‘garlic’ nights, so I could run on the other side of the path. 🙂

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  28. Excellent premise, Pam! How do you do this? Your stories are the best. Seriously, you are a fantastic writer, the build-up, the humor, the feelings, the realities. Well done.

    My oma (maternal grandma) was my best friend. I’d fly thousands of miles to see her every year. We had the most honest and amazing conversations about everything! She was brutally honest with me and I cherished every moment we had together. Time flew when we hung out. I miss her dearly.

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    • Thanks SO much for the writing compliment, Liesbet. It gives this writer the oomph to keep on allowing her muse free reign. 🙂
      I got misty-eyed reading about your Oma. My mom has been that kind of grandmother to my kids. While her advice to me could be a bit irritating, my young adult children hung onto her every word, and love her to bits even now while she’s suffering from dementia.

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  29. As hilarious as this was – and it was – I very much understand Amy. When you are with someone and you often them a mint and they refuse, even if you insist… and then later they want to kiss you? Blech…

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    • This is exactly why I like to be a pantser, Barbara. I had no idea where it was going while I wrote it, either! “No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.” (Mark Twain? someone famous….) xo

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  52. “her share of losers, bruisers, boozers, and almost approvals” okay, this sentence alone got us hooked!! haha great story with a great beginning, middle and ending!! So love your writing and humour. Keep them coming….

    B & P

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    • Yay! I was hoping someone would catch my alliterative fun. Sometimes I wonder where this stuff comes from. Scares my family at times. In person, you’d find me quite the shy quiet type. Really. 🙂
      And seriously, is it not almost miraculous how we all can share our creative lives across the planet as we do here? xo

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