Chapter 1 - Samantha and Jack Meet
Samantha Jones was a proper southern girl born of god-fearing Baptist parents in a small town in Mississippi. She was an only child and got a lot of unnecessary attention from her mother. Martha Jones, nee Thompson, had studied library science in school and met her future husband at a church social. Roy was the youngest son in a large farm family. He grew up being bullied by almost everyone. His burning desire was to get as far away from the family farm in Kentucky as he could. He found an office job in Jackson and made it his career. He wasn't entirely sure why Martha liked him, but he decided that he would find a way to win her heart and marry her, which he did after several years of courting.
Samantha was an above average student, and to her mother's surprise, won a scholarship to a girl's college in a small town in rural Tennessee. Her mother looked up the school librarian in her professional directory and called her to inquire about the quality of teaching and the respectability of the housing for young women. Assured that both were of a high standard, she reluctantly agreed that Samantha could attend the school, subject to frequent visits home.
In the summer after sophomore year, chafing under her mother's short leash and a subtle tyranny exercised through control of a small but necessary allowance, Samantha found a summer job as a tour guide at the Civil War history center in Chattanooga, and was very pleased when her great aunt Ophelia invited her to stay at her home for the ten weeks of the job. Martha was dubious about her young daughter staying in the home of a divorced woman, but Roy convinced her that these were modern times, and nothing untoward could happen in a short ten week stay.
Ophelia was also my great aunt, which makes Samantha and me distant cousins. Which is why we were invited to a 4th of July pool party at our aunt's house, along with more than fifty other relatives of one kind or another. Ophelia and her husband parted, without children, when she was in her late twenties. There didn't seem to be any particular reason, but some rumors circulated about sexual incompatibility, which is definitely not party conversation in the genteel south. I did notice that my aunt lived a very active lifestyle, and wasn't shy about revealing her assets, which were considerable. My friend Jack commented, "What a package!" Everything about Ophelia seemed to fit together nicely. Impressive front, lovely butt, long, muscular legs. In other words, a body to die for, especially if you thought you had a chance at experiencing it up close.
Ophelia excelled at making her guests feel comfortable. Refreshments and snacks were arranged around the perimeter of the pool area so that people could meet, greet and mingle. There were sun loungers, along with shady nooks for those worried about exposure. She made sure that both men and women could find an appropriate bathing suit if they happened not to arrive with one. Water play and contests were held every hour, while a giant barbeque grill was smoking away at the edge of the yard, covered with southern delicacies.
You would have to be totally anti-social not to enjoy the party, but I did notice that one young woman seemed lonely and sad. I admit that I am a six foot, blond haired extrovert, to whom warming up an attractive girl is a natural challenge.
"Hello, I'm Jack Smith, one of the relatives, but I don't believe I've seen you at Ophelia's pool party before?"
"Well, I've not been able to come until now. It certainly is a great crush of people isn't it? Are all these folks relatives of ours?"
"Ophelia is such a great party person, you really don't know. But her mother was into genealogy, and had contacts all over the country with generations of the Alexander clan. Where do you fit in?"
"Gosh, I've never worked it out. I guess it is on my mother's side. Her grandfather was an Alexander."
Samantha was already warming and smiling. I was noticing how trim and neat she looked, even under too much clothing for such a warm day.
"Are you up for a swim? I'm actually supposed to be at the pool in my suit because I'm on lifeguard duty today."
"Are you a real lifeguard, or a pretend one?"
I gave her a belligerent look. "Plueeze! I paid my way through college lifeguarding. Do you need mouth to mouth resuscitation? Are you feeling faint?"
She blushed and said, "I'm sorry for doubting you. But I forgot to bring a suit, so you won't have a chance to rescue me." She was actually smiling and laughing.
"Come with me." I led her into the laundry room at the back of the house and showed her a large stack of suits. "Ophelia keeps these laundered and ready for emergencies. Find one you like and change in the bathroom over there. I'll get into my suit and meet you at the pool. Oh, and don't pick the frumpiest one in the pile. I only rescue girls in bikinis."
It took a while, but Samantha looked great in a skimpy suit when she came out to the pool. I was refereeing a dunking contest and didn't see her until she stood by my side. No tan but everything else was perfect.
I yelled at one of the boys, "Hey Greg, catch this!" and tossed Sam into his wet arms. She screeched and looked daggers at me. I dove in and pulled her to my side. "You looked so delectable, I knew I would do something naughty if you stayed that close to me."
I put my arms around her and kissed her cheek lightly.
She squirmed and said, "I hardly know you and you're attacking me!" But her hip slid into mine and her arm went around my waist. "When does the rescue start, now that you've dunked me?"
"Right away. Can I bring you one of Ophelia's juleps?" What Ophelia and I knew, but Samantha didn't, was that these were mai tai's in disguise, intended to break down a girl's inhibitions.
We climbed out of the shallow end and I went to get the drinks while she dried and found two chairs in the shade.
The conversation between us was easy. I discovered she was staying in Ophelia's house, in the tiny attic room with chintz decorations. She discovered I was finishing my second year of law school here in Chattanooga. She finished her first julep quickly, saying, "These are really good." She had big brown eyes that just looked right through you, especially since she knew how to hold your gaze without blinking.
"How do you do that?"
Do what?"
"Stare right through me without blinking. You must be hypnotizing me."
"My roommate Sarah taught me. She said that if you want to get a guy's attention, just give him the unblinking stare. You're the first person I've tried it on."
I leaned forward and kissed her gently, whispering, "You've sure got my attention. Do you suppose I could get a date sometime?"
She ran her fingers through my hair, kissed me lightly, and pushed me back to my seat.
Her eyes were dancing and she said, "My overprotective mother would say, 'Samantha, you can't agree to a date sitting there with nothing on!' "
I stood up, took her hand, and said, "Why don't we go find your little diary book and pick a day when you are free, and not naked?"
She reached up and pinched my ear. "You are entirely too forward. If we go out, it must be a secret from my mom."
In all the noise and games of the afternoon, no one noticed us slipping into the house. Nor climbing up the three flights of stairs to the chintz bedroom.
Samantha said, "I really love this room, it makes me feel like a little girl again. The only things missing are my bears and my flannel nighty." She smiled up at me, the eyes holding both promise and vulnerability.
I stood behind her at the small window, arms around but not grabbing at anything I shouldn't.
She relaxed against me and said, "I feel really close and warm with you, but I shouldn't, I guess. I don't know you and we haven't even had a date yet. Maybe you just got me up here to put the make on me."
I kissed her ear and licked her neck. "I'd like to think I'm not the type of guy to force myself on you."
I continued in a light tone, "I suppose your mother gave you rules about what can be done on a first date?"
