This is the first installment of a four-part series revolving around The Brookhaven Book Club, a group of six ladies who meet monthly to discuss books, drink wine, and talk, i.e., gossip. One of the members decides the ladies might enjoy some daring adventures, getting naked or partially so, and completing a challenge that could allow them to be seen. They all agree to do this and each member fills out four cards describing challenges. The cards are put together and shuffled. Each member then draws a card and has four weeks to complete the challenge, documenting what they've done along the way. At the next meeting, each will share their challenge and how it went.
This installment covers the two meetings where it's decided to perform the challenges and where the cards are drawn, along with Annette performing her challenge.
I hope you enjoy this and the future installments. Rating and commenting are appreciated.
It was the second Wednesday of the month, the day of the regular meeting of the Brookhaven Book Club, and the other five members would soon be arriving. Poppy Ritter was ready for them, plenty of wine, chocolate, and the latest gossip prepared for consumption. The six would spend a while talking about their current book, and several of them would have kept up their reading, but the wine and the gossip were always their focus. Poppy liked it that way, and she wondered how things might go today. Sometimes they surprised each other, and the conversation took off in a totally unexpected direction which often led to unforeseen reactions as the ladies learned more about each other.
Poppy carefully washed and polished the six white wine glasses, stepping back to enjoy their sparkle. She carefully arranged the chocolates on two plates, then smiled. She was ready.
Gloria Birchall, a tall blond who was always surrounded by an air of sophistication, was the first to arrive, her Mercedes parked on the small driveway extension beside the garage. She usually arrived first and stayed after the other four had gone home, sharing with Poppy a little more wine and maybe another chocolate or two, but mostly reviewing the juiciest gossip and speculating what might be coming next.
"I forgot my book," Gloria groaned as she came through the door. "Am I going to be punished?"
"Did you read it?"
"I did do that."
Poppy laughed. "You should be fine if we ever get to the book."
Gloria joined in the laughter as the door swung open once more, and they were joined by Lisbet Pierson and Alina Novy. Lisbet was the youngest of the six at twenty-nine, had been an athlete in both high school and college, soccer and track, and still worked out when she could find the time. She was clearly in better shape than the other five and the only single lady among them. Her sleek olive skin gave her a fascinating look, and being an independent real estate agent allowed her the freedom to be a part of the group.
Alina was definitely not an athlete at five-foot-two and one-hundred-forty-two pounds which gave her a hint of pudginess with a bit of a belly that she controlled with a girdle. At least that's what her Nana and mother called it. Alina preferred to call it "shapewear." She enjoyed sewing; she had been taught and encouraged by her Nana. She made many of her clothes and had become an expert in minimizing what she felt were her unattractive features. These included her very ample bosoms, which she constantly worked to minimize with minimum success. Her bubbly personality made her very likable.
"Did you workout today?" Poppy asked Lisbet.
"Do I look that bad?"
"I wish I looked "that bad," Poppy laughed. "You always look...shit, you know what I mean."
"Good genes. My mom was the same way."
"I wish your mom was my mom. At least so I'd have her genes and a body more like yours," Alina said with a giggle.
"I wish I had genes that would give me some boobs," Lisbet said, glancing at Alina's chest.
"I'd share if I could." Another giggle from Alina.
"They always told me that when I stopped competitive sports, my body fat would increase, and I'd grow boobs. Hasn't worked," she added with a laugh.
"If I had a body like yours, I wouldn't complain," Gloria said. She was the oldest at forty, but she didn't look it. Tall and slender with blond hair and the accompanying blue eyes made her highly attractive, if not verging on beautiful. She was the consummate trophy wife, her sixty-three-year-old husband more than happy to lavish money on her in order to keep her at least moderately content. They were childless, not by plan but simply because she had never conceived.
"Um, you look pretty good," Lisbet replied.
"For an old woman?"
Before Lisbet could respond, the door opened again, and the final two members of the Brookhaven Book Club made their entrance, wondering what all the laughter was about.
"Cecily," Poppy called to the first one through the door. "We were just talking about tits and can't wait for your opinion."
As she heard the word "tits," Cecily Kennedy's face turned a bright crimson, her eyes wide.
"Poppy, you're cruel," Lisbet said. "Just ignore her, Cec."
"What about tits?" Annette Perrot asked, peeking around Cecily.
"Random conversation from the haves and have nots," Lisbet said.
"Count me in with the "have nots," Annette said, chuckling. She was certainly not a "have not" trailing only Poppy and Alina in volume--and possibly Cecily, who always wore non-revealing clothes. Her dark complexion, passed forward from middle-eastern grandparents, coupled with long dark hair and flashing black eyes gave her a fascinating look that always drew admiring looks from the men around her, which generated lots of teasing comments from her husband, Claus.
Cecily was a partial puzzle. Friendly, kind, and soft-spoken, she was very shy, blushing at any comment, even Borderline off-color, her fair complexion highlighting the blushing. Obviously very bright with an honors degree in English, she was nevertheless reluctant to express an opinion or begin a conversation, even though when she did speak, it was always precise, clearly stated, and accurate. Her choice of clothing could best be described as bland. She clearly was not slender nor plump, but what was hidden beneath whatever she was wearing was unknown. The ladies often joked among themselves, when Cecily was absent, that they hoped her husband, Mitch, got to look at her, at least occasionally. If you checked Cecily carefully and objectively, she was very adorable.
Poppy, as was often the case, did her best to keep Cecily's cheeks pink, not addressing her directly.
"Lis was lamenting her lack of tits, Annette. She'd hoped they'd grow when she stopped competing."
"They didn't," Lis interjected.
Surprising everyone, Cecily spoke, cheeks still red.
"You're still exercising, aren't you?"
A nod of the head from a surprised Lisbet.
"And you weigh the same as you did then?"
"Maybe a pound," Lis said, now embarrassed herself.
"Gain fifteen pounds and...well...you'll have them."
"Fifteen pounds. I'd look like a blimp," Lis said, laughing.
"I don't know, Lis. Fifteen pounds, and you might be a big titty babe." Poppy was chuckling.
"Time for wine and the meeting," Gloria said, shaking her head decisively and heading toward the wine bottles. Her suggestion was unanimously approved, the wine being the deciding factor. Glasses were filled...to the brim as the ladies liked to have a heady buzz for their meeting.
"Poppy, this is
good
. What's different?" Gloria was looking from the glass to Poppy.
"I found this wine marked down, and it's ten years old. Is it good?"
Five heads nodded in unison, joined quickly by Poppy's.
"Um, that IS good," Poppy agreed, and soon all glasses were being refilled.
Each lady selected some chocolates and found a place to sit in the family room.
"Have Megan and Steve finally separated?" Alina asked, looking from face to face.
"I've been by the house three or four times, and his car hasn't been there."
"Adrienne," Gloria said, curling her lip.
"Really?" Cecily asked. "I know her very slightly, but she seemed sweet and dedicated to her husband.
"I think she's changed then. A friend confided she'd seen her in a bar with Steve."
"Could be a coincidence."
"Hanging onto him, and, an occasional kiss."
"Oh," Cecily said softly.
