"You're kidding, right?"
Lauren looked at me and smiled. "No, I'm not, Sharon. You'd be really good for them." She got up from the patio table, took off her sunglasses, walked to the edge of the pool and dove in. "Come on," she said. "It's refreshing."
We swam a few laps, raced each other for one, and then sat on the bench in the shallow end, friends for 20 years. I was godmother to her twin boys whose 18th birthday, which coincided with their high school graduation, was in three weeks. She helped me through the death of my husband.
"I don't think teenagers want to fool around with a 41-year-old woman." I said. "Besides, I've known them since they were one day old. They're like my own sons." Lauren laughed and touched my arm. Her green eyes sparkled as she kissed me on the cheek.
"I've thought about this a lot," she said. "I know the girls they've dated; I suspect they've done a bit more than kissing. But I know they're still virgins."
"How do you know that?"
"I straight out asked them. We're pretty cool that way. I'm glad they're comfortable enough to talk about sex with me."
"What about Hank? Have you told him what you want me to do with his sons?"
"I did," she said. "He thought it would be a tremendous gift."
"Geez," I said. Lauren looked at me but said nothing. "I have to think about this. I mean, 'why me?' I don't..."
"Sweetie, listen," she said. "When you and that guy we knew and loved were first going out, he told me that you were the most sexual being he'd ever met. You knew how to relate to a man intimately. You were so sure of yourself. Brian saying that means a lot. He'd been with his share of exciting women before he met you. We'd love for our guys to get their first full experience from you."
"Have you thought about how that will change my relationship with them? With Hank? With you?"
"Of course, you silly girl! Hank and I talked about it real seriously. We think it'll draw all of us closer. But it's up to you. No pressure."
I smiled, but I wasn't sure what to do. "Give me a couple of days," I said.
"You got it, kiddo," she said, as she put her arms around me. Our embrace was warm, prolonged, with our breasts nestled against each other.
After the weekend, I called Lauren. "Look," I said. "I haven't been with a man, let alone two, since Brian died. I may have lost my touch."
"Stop it!" she said. "You can do this. In fact, this will help you as well as the boys." She'd hit the nerve that had begun tingling ever since she'd stunned me with her proposal.
"Listen," I said. "If I do this, it's one time only. Gary and Jack have to be told that up front. I don't want any entanglements with either of them. Understood?"
"Does that mean you'll do it, Sharon?"
"I hope this isn't a big mistake, but yes, I'll do it."
"Oh my god!" Lauren squealed like a teenager. "Thank you so much! Thank you! Thank you!"
Making a decision was a relief. Making the decision to be the twins' graduation gift, their first fuck, was more exciting than I had imagined. I felt giddy as Sharon and I talked about how we would present the opportunity. I wanted to offer me. But I didn't want them to feel like they had to accept, particularly if either one of them felt that it might ruin something. We settled on me going over to their house a week before graduation. Lauren and Hank would tell them about the "gift" they wanted to give their sons. The three of us would gauge their initial responses and go on from there. No pressure if they felt uncomfortable.
But, for the next eight days, the pressure on me to call it all off increased. One moment I felt like it was a mistake to do this with the boys; the next moment I was getting very excited about the thought of showing them all of me. But that seemed wrong, too. I hated the idea of going back on my promise to Lauren. But was this the way to get back into sex? Was I missing something in my reasoning? Was I just nervous?
And then my sex drive returned with a power I had not felt for fifteen months. "This is right," I thought. "This is good." "I deserve to feel sexual again." I kept saying this in my mind as I drove over to their house. When I knocked on the door, I was ready for anything.
Hank greeted me and we walked back to their enclosed patio. It was a cool June night, so staying inside was better than eating dinner by the pool. Gary and Jack talked excitedly about their upcoming graduation and about college in the fall. Sharon put the finishing touches on the buffet. The food and drinks were great. The conversation was relaxed and funny. As we were finishing dessert, Lauren said she had something to discuss. I knew what was coming.
"Boys, it's not everyone who has a birthday and a high school graduation on the same day. It means your dad and I can save on buying two sets of presents." Gary and Jack booed. "I thought you two might react that way, so we do have a couple of birthday gifts we'll give you." Now, the boys cheered.
"What about graduation?" said Jack.
"Yes, graduation," said Lauren. "Your dad and I have talked a lot about what would be a special gift for each of you." She looked quickly at me and then back to her sons. She paused, then inhaled deeply. "I know you're both virgins and..."
"Mom!" they said in unison.
"Wait," she said, trying hard to stay in control.
"But, Mom!" Jack said, looking at me and then at Lauren. "We shouldn't talk about this with Sharon here."
"Well, we should," she said. "After all, she's your godmother. She's known you all your life. She's always wanted what's best for you."
"What's that have to do with us being virgins?"
"Well, we all think that young men can learn a lot about good sex from an experienced woman. So, we want to provide you with the opportunity to learn how to be good lovers."
"I don't get it," Gary said.
Hank spoke up. "What your mom is saying is that we know a woman who is willing to teach you what women like sexually."
"There's a class for that?" Jack said.
"It's a hands-on class," Lauren said. "This woman is willing to engage with you intimately so that you can learn what pleases a woman. It will help make your love life much better. Believe me, a man who knows his way in bed will be cherished by any woman who's his partner."
Gary and Jack listened intently. "How'd you meet her?" Jack said.
"I've known her a long time," Lauren said. She smiled. "I trust her to teach you well."
"Do you know her, Sharon?" Gary asked.