The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Corinne indulged her children’s requests most of the time. She patted Bryan’s head and said, “Okay. Don’t get so anxious for
now, though. I’ll ask Aunt Francine and Uncle Chester to check if we can get one of those kites for you from a nearby place.”
Bryan nodded enthusiastically. “Okay!”
Corinne turned to Francine and said, “Could you and Chester look around and see if there’s a vendor selling kites nearby?”
That would be the perfect opportunity for Francine and Chester to have some alone time, which did not come easy with the three
little kids occupying most of their time.
Francine was undoubtedly delighted. After agreeing with a nod, she glanced shyly at Chester and said, “I’d have to trouble you to
find a nearby kite vendor with me!”
Chester smiled and extended his hand toward her, saying, “It’s no trouble at all. Let’s go.”
Francine was a little stunned at the sight of her crush’s hand reaching out to her. She could not believe that Chester would offer
to hold her hand! Flattered by his gesture, she reached out in a daze and held his hand.
Chester took her hand gently and led the way, with Corinne breathing a sigh of relief at how their relationship was progressing.
Corinne then remembered the strange man in the wheelchair from earlier and glanced back in that direction. However, the place
was empty, and the man was gone. Corinne could not help but experience an odd sensation and made a peculiar association in
her mind.
Then, her daughter Christine approached her and asked with an adorable and naive expression. “Is Aunt Francine in love with
Uncle Chester?”
Corinne snapped back to reality. She was amazed that her three-year-old daughter would know what the phrase ‘in love’ meant.
She pursed her lips and looked at her daughter’s innocent expression. “Do you know what ‘in love’ means?”
Christine nodded earnestly. “Yeah! It means they like each other and are very happy together!”
Corinne furrowed. “Who told you that?”
“No one,” Christine said, “I figured it out on my own from reading fairy tales! They always end with the prince and princess living
happily ever after. This means they’re in love!”

Corinne did not know how to react at first. Though Christine was the youngest, she appeared to be the most mature of her three
children. She had learned many words even before kindergarten and was able to read picture books as well as fairy tales on her
own.
Girls were usually more perceptive than boys, and it took Christine only a few fairy tales to grasp the concept of falling in love.
Corinne ruffled her daughter’s hair. “You’re absolutely right! Aunt Francine is in love with Uncle Chester, and Uncle Chester will
become part of our family in the future!”
Christine blinked. “If Aunt Francine is in love with Uncle Chester, then who are you in love with, Mommy?”
Corinne’s expression stiffened. ‘Who am I in love with? The person I loved has disappeared, and I no longer have anyone to
share my feelings with.’
Corinne mustered a smile. “I’m not in love with anyone. Not everyone needs to be in love.”
Christine tilted her little head, seemingly a little worried, “But fairy tales say you have to meet someone you like and fall in love to
be happy! Does that mean you’re not happy, Mommy? I don’t want you to be unhappy!”
Christine’s innocent question left Corinne stumped.