Maria and Lizzy were as different as night and day. Maria was short, thin, and brown. Lizzy was tall, redheaded, and very white. Maria was nineteen, Lizzy was twenty-four, but Maria seemed the more mature of the two. She was also the more open and outgoing. That they loved each other was as plain as day to anyone who took the time to notice.
Originally, they were friends of my daughter and came to visit with her and sun in my backyard. When my daughter married and moved on, I inherited them. It was no big deal; I was gone most of the time to work so they had the place to themselves.
They had a key to the lock on the back gate so they could come and go as they pleased. They kept the leaves from overrunning the fountain and the fishponds and kept the deck swept. It was a good deal for both of us.
Then I retired and was home all the time.
*****
I had been home a couple of months when I realized that I hadn't seen them in a while. They had come by to see me when I first retired but nothing since. On a spur of the moment, I phoned Lizzy to see if they were all right and if there was a reason, they had stopped coming over.
"We're fine, Uncle Bill. We didn't want to intrude on you and you're always home." Lizzy told me after we had made small talk and I finally got around to the real reason for my call.
"You girls are never an intrusion, quite the opposite, I like young people around. They keep me young. Anyway, I know you both love the freedom of my backyard."
Lizzy laughed. "Yes we do and you do too."
"I won't argue that. It's one of the things that's kept me feeling young. Young girls in bikinis are always a pleasure to behold."
Lizzy was silent for a few seconds and then said softly, "Maria and I haven't worn a bikini in your backyard in some time now."
"Oh and why not? Don't you sunbathe anymore?"
Lizzy giggled softly and replied, "Yes we still sunbathe, we just don't wear anything when we do."
Now it was my turn to be silent for a moment. Finally, I whispered, "Oh, okay, and the problem there is?"
"Maria wouldn't have a problem but I'd be too shy to do anything like that." Lizzy paused for a second and then went on, "We do miss our time alone there, away from the prying eyes that this little town is famous for."
I thought a moment and then said, "You girls just let me know when you want to use the place and I can arrange to be somewhere else or just stay in the house for that matter."
"That's too much trouble and an imposition for you. We don't want to put you out like that."
"It would be no trouble at all, I always need to run to town or something. I put it off and put it off just because I'm lazy and I shouldn't be. Giving you girls time would give me a reason to get out and do some of the things I need and want to do."
"In that case, I'll talk to Maria and see what she thinks," Lizzy said softly. Then as an after thought she added, "I could always wear my bikini again."
"There is that option also. Talk it over with Maria and let me know what you decide."
"I will," Lizzy promised.
*****
A few days later, I was out on the riding mower when a car pulled into the driveway. I was pleasantly surprised when Maria and Lizzy got out. I waved and headed the mower in their direction. Maria ran to meet me and then waited impatiently as I shut off the mower.
As soon as I stepped off, she was hugging me. "We've missed you Uncle Bill." She told me as she kissed me on the cheek.
"Since I haven't seen hide nor hair of either of you, you couldn't prove it by me," I replied gruffly.
"I told you we were giving you your space," Lizzy said as she walked up to stand behind Maria.
I winked at Lizzy and looked down at Maria. "I've missed you also. Come on, I have a pitcher of iced tea on the deck, let's go have some."
"Can we get some sun?" Maria asked with a grin.
"Sure, I don't see why not. That's what I built the deck for in the first place."
"I'll grab our bag," Lizzy said as she turned toward the car.
"Wearing my bikini again is going to seem odd," Maria whispered as we waited and then grinned. "Maybe just the bottoms will satisfy Lizzy."
"Your bottom always satisfies Lizzy," Lizzy said walking up behind Maria. "And yes, the bottoms will be fine."
"How about you?" I asked adding a third grin to the mix.
"We'll see, "Lizzy said frowning but I caught the slight shiver in her shoulders.
*****
The girls went to change while I found two more glasses and returned to the deck to pour the iced tea. I was just sitting down in the shade of the umbrella when they came out of the house. They both had towels wrapped around their bodies from just under their arms to mid thigh. They were both grinning mischievously.
They stopped directly in front of me and Lizzy said, "Tada," loudly and they whipped open the towels.
I grinned as they were both wearing their full bikinis. Maria was just as dark as normal but Lizzy was several shades darker than I remembered. There were more freckles and they seemed to be holding hands. "It's not nice to tease Uncle Bill," I said with a grin.
"But it is fun," Maria put in as she picked up a glass of tea and handed it to Lizzy.
"The expectant look on your face was well worth it," Lizzy said and then sipped her tea.
"Was that what that was? I thought it was just lust and wishful thinking on his part," Maria said and then laughed.
"Wishful thinking, yes. Lust, no. I know my place in the scheme of things." I told her.
Picking up the last glass of tea, Maria asked, "And what is your place in the scheme of things? That is besides dirty old man and good friend."
I thought a moment and then replied, "That about covers it."
Lizzy moved over to one of the lounge chairs and sat down. "You need a lady friend, Bill."
"I have several, thank you."
"She means on a more permanent basis than every once in a while," Maria added.
"But I like being a bachelor."
"I'll just bet you do," Lizzy said with a chuckle.
"I've been married three times for a total of more years than the two of you have been alive combined."
"And?" Maria asked.
"A mans got to have a little freedom sometimes."
Both of them laughed.
Maria moved to the second lounge chair and sat down. She sat her ice tea under the edge of it and then slowly untied the string at the back of her top. Lizzy and I both watched as she untied the sting at the back of her neck and let the top fall to her lap.
"Lovely," I whispered as my eyes took in her small round breasts. The circles under her small hard nipples covered the whole end of her breasts and were much darker in color.
