Ann had just turned 62, but even she admitted that she didn't look it. 5'7", a gym regular, and perfect 36 D cups that her ex- purchased her for her 50th birthday. Stylishly cut shoulder length hair, light brown with several shades of blonde streaks. She wasn't arrogant or cocky about it, but she was simply confident in her looks. And she dressed in a classy way, but due to her daughter's input she had a modern, sexy look in her choice of clothing, lingerie and shoes; classic pumps, stilettos and high heeled strappy wedges.
Marie is Ann's only child. Marie just turned 39, and a tribute to Ann's good looks is the fact that they are often mistaken for sisters, not mother-daughter. Marie has her mother's "triangle" - her eyes, nose and mouth - and when they smile it is clear that they are related.
Marie is 5'5", and like her Mom she too is a gym regular. She is a hairdresser and right now her hair was angle cut, deep auburn with a few red and pink streaks. And she dresses the part of a hairdresser, always classy but edgy at the same time.
It was a few days after Ann's 62nd birthday that Marie invited her Mom out for a morning of shopping and then lunch. Marie's husband Brad is an electrical engineer and he was away for a week on business. Marie and Brad had no kids, and Marie's hair salon was closed for the week to allow everyone to enjoy the July 4 holiday.
Ann picked up her daughter Marie at 945am. Ann was driving her new Nissan Altima, a surprise birthday gift from her ex-husband Tony. Tony and Ann had divorced 5 years earlier when Ann arrived home early from a trip to the West Coast to find Tony in bed with a neighbor. And not just a neighbor, but a male neighbor, Vanessa's husband Robert. Oddly, Vanessa and Robert are still married.
Ann and Marie arrived at the mall right when things opened at 10am. The small southern city didn't have the high end stores like Nordstrom and Saks, but Ann and Marie made due with Victoria Secret, Black and White, DSW, Sephora and the like.
By 100pm they were shopped out and hungry. Luckily a California Pizza Kitchen was attached to the mall and was near where they parked. They grabbed a table outside to enjoy the sun, and they each had a small salad, split a white pizza and enjoyed a bottle of Sonoma Chardonnay. As the waitress poured their last glass of wine Ann noticed a sly grin on Marie's face, and watched as Marie drew a pack of Marlboro Lights from her purse.
"I know I know" Marie said, "I quit but just the one will be so good right now." Marie lit up with her gold lighter, and as she drew in Ann reached across the table for the pack and lighter.
"I guess you're right" Ann laughed as she lit up as well, taking a long drag and exhaling skyward, her head tilted back and exposing her tan neck, chest and the top of her bikini line-- no need for a bra in that dress with those tits, the waitress observed.
The two of them looked good. Both in similar sundresses, just low cut enough to show off some cleavage. The strappy wedge sandals Ann was wearing really accentuated her toned and tan legs, as did the slip on high heel slides Marie was wearing. The white tipped cigarettes looked good in their manicured fingers, and they both left lipstick prints on the filters as they smoked.
The hot 20- something waitress had taken notice, wondering if the younger one or the older one would be more fun in bed. The waitress was trying to think of some way to find out. She noticed that Marie had been texting someone and thought maybe she would slip her phone number to her.
Ann called for and paid the check. As she slipped the debit card receipt into her shoulder bag she noticed the waitress had written her name and phone number on the receipt, with a "xoxoxo."
Ann laughingly told Marie about it, and Marie said "Mom, you should call her, she'd be perfect for your first time." Ann laughed off her daughter, who had been open about being bi and enjoying women from time to time.
"Not my thing" Ann said, as she picked up the shopping bags to head to the car. But she did keep the receipt, which did have the waitress' name and number.
Marie was standing next to her Mom's Altima as Ann loaded the shopping bags in the trunk. What happened next was a blur. Arms wrapped around them both, suddenly in the back of a panel van, doors slamming, the darkness in the back of the windowless van, the distinct smell of marijuana smoke, a pin prick on the inside of their arms, black skin, a mouth forcing a tongue into their mouths and then pot smoke into their throats and lungs. A hand on Marie's mouth to shut her up, Ann screaming until a hand covered hers, black skin, the van moving.
A blur, to this day, a blur.
