(It has been a long time since I have submitted a story... This stories continues the saga of the Young Widow Ann and her sexual discovery)
It had been a long five months since the "Spring Break" trip with Jen and Lori. Lori, of course, had gone back home to be with her husband and daughter. Jen had graduated from High School and enrolled in an early entry program at the State College. Soon after, Ann got a call from Jen that she had met a fellow freshman and she had gone out with him. She indicated that she really liked him and that if he should ask her out again she would go. A few weeks later Jen called Ann all excited about her new boyfriend and confessed that she had "officially" lost her virginity. She told Ann that Alex, her new boyfriend, had been very gentle and loving and that in spite of it being her first time with a man it was a very pleasant experience.
Ann, of course, was happy for Jen. It pleased her that Jen had moved on with her life and that she seemed happy. But it also added to the overwhelming sense of loneliness she was feeling lately. Her husband Jim had been gone for almost two years now and she had not yet been able to totally move on. Ann had gone on several dates mostly set up by her friends and family but none really proved to be fruitful or even remotely pleasing. Those bad dates were what inevitably led her to connect with Jen in a way that she had never imagined she would do. They also led to her getting involved with her younger sister Lori. The past few months had been confusing and surreal but at least she was not lonely.
But Jen had been gone now for over two months and Ann had not had anyone to really talk to or be with since. Ann had been busy with Gracie and little Johnny in all their Summer programs but it wasn't the same.
On one of those lonely afternoons Ann was daydreaming when she was brought back to reality by her cell phone going off. The caller ID said it was her sister Lori calling. "Hey Sis, how are you?" said Ann.
"I'm doing great, how are you?" relied Lori. "Well, I'm doing OK, a little lonely since Jen left to go to college, but taking it one day at a time," answered Ann.
"So, no dates? I can't believe a woman as hot you are cannot find a man or a woman," said Lori half teasing on that last part. "Finding a date is not the problem, it's finding a worthwhile person to go out with that is the real problem. But I'm not really looking for that kind of relationship. I would settle for just some good friends," replied Ann.
"Oh, I'm so sorry sweetie; I can't imagine what it is like for you. You and Jim seemed to have so many friends what happened?" asked Lori.
"I didn't realize how many of our friends were more connected with Jim than they were with me. Jim grew up here and already had a base of friends and relationships long before we got married. After he died all those friends kind of fell away. Some called and checked in the first few weeks but ultimately most didn't even send a Christmas card. The only one that calls and checks on us is Allen Phillips who was Jim's boss and partner." replied Ann.
"Wow," answered Lori, "I never gave it much thought because I thought you all were always surrounded by people. Have you thought about moving back to Morristown?"
"Yeah, I thought about it, but I love this house and Clarksville is such a great place to live and raise a family. But, who knows maybe I need to think about it more seriously," mused Ann.
"Is there no where you can go to meet some folks?" asked Lori. "Well, I guess there are always places one can go to 'meet' people, but I'm not really into the bar scene and I'm not ready to get into a serious relationship so those 'online' dating services don't interest me at the moment. All I really crave right now is some good friends to hang out with." replied Ann.
"It must be tough," said Lori, "Maybe you are trying too hard. Just be yourself and try to relax around people. You are such fun to be around I know that you can make friends."
"I suppose you are right," said Ann, "I will work on that."
They talked for a while longer and soon said their goodbyes.
It was time to take the kids to swim lessons and so they loaded up the car headed to the local YMCA pool.
Ann sat outside the pool watching her kids when it dawned on her that in the past few weeks that she had been bring her kids here she had never even attempted to strike up a conversation with any of the other moms.
She looked around and began to take notice of the moms and in some cases the grandmas that were there with their kids.
At the other end of the pool sat two young women carrying on a conversation. Of all the moms that Ann could spot these two grabbed her attention for some reason. She decided that it was time to get off her butt and at least introduced herself. Gathering all the courage she could muster she got up and walked over to the far side of the pool and stopped about 3 feet from the table where the two women were seated having an intense conversation.
When the women noticed Ann standing there and looking at them, they both smiled and one of them asked, "Can we help you with something?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you, I just wanted to come and introduce myself to you. Hello, my name is Ann." Ann felt foolish doing this. It felt so unnatural. But she swallowed a big gulp of air as she waited for a response from the two women.
The younger woman smiled and said, "Well, hello Ann, my name is Megan and my friend here is Katie. We are glad to meet you. You want to sit down and join us?" "Oh no, I didn't really want to intrude in your conversation, I just wanted to say hi. I just realized that I have been coming here for a month and I have made no effort to actually meet anyone and well you two are the only ones I remember seeing the past few weeks. Anyway, I'm really glad to meet you," replied Ann as she turned to walk away.
"You weren't intruding on anything," answered Megan, "Just girl talk. Please have a seat and join us, we insist."
Ann turned and smiled sheepishly and sat down across from both women. Megan had auburn hair with beautiful, clear green eyes. Ann guessed that she was between 28 and 30 years. Katie had beautiful dark hair with deep blue eyes. Ann figured that she was a bit younger then Megan.
Once the general introductions took place, Ann pointed out her two kids and Megan her two and Katie her little girl. Ann discovered that Megan's husband was in the Navy and that he was out at sea for several months. Katie's husband ran an investment company and traveled quite a bit. Both women had known each other through high school even though they had traveled in different crowds. Katie had been a cheerleader and Megan had been in the drama club. They were actually just one year apart even though they had graduated together. Both had grown up in Clarksville and married their high school sweethearts.
Megan had married right out of high school just as her husband Tim came out of basic training. Katie had waited a few years while her husband Brian went to college.
Ann shared her story and both women were very sympathetic about her loss and the difficulty of raising two kids on her own. Ann was so pleased that they hit it off right from the start. Megan and Katie told Ann that they get together a couple of times of week to have play date with their kids and just to hangout. They invited Ann to join them if she wanted.
Ann was more than pleased to accept and in fact she invited them over to her house informing them that she had a pool at her house that's why the kids were taking the swimming lessons in the event that they should accidently fall into the pool.
