Kate Kresley, age 35, lives alone in the split-level yellowish-brown residence that she had moved into eight years ago this month. Though she occasionally entertains a long-time friend, she seems to prefer being by herself.
Unlike other women, she did not get the house in a nasty divorce settlement but, instead, had it built to specifications. Employed by a bio technology firm, she sees a secure future. She has no prospects for a husband.
The last week in August sees her taking time off from the job. She likes taking day trips or just hiking.
Kate keeps herself slim. A diet of mainly fruit and fish, no sweets and a daily 5 mile run maintains her body weight at roughly 126 pounds. She is my height: 5 6.
Hospital scheduling for nurses in most departments gives me a day off in mid week and makes Saturday a work day. It's a schedule that I've kept for 12 years and I'm used to it.
About 10 o'clock I dialed Kate's number.
"What's up Stephanie?"
"Not much," I said. "Todays my day off."
"I hope you're enjoying it."
"I noticed it rang a few times. Are you in the pool?"
"I've been out here for about 10 minutes. Come stay with me."
Her pool is an inground rectangle of 16 by 32 feet with no diving board. She has provided floating chaise lounges for herself and a guest. The fence is a chainlink. The area beyond the fence is dense woodland giving privacy.
I pulled up blue cutoffs over high-waisted high-cut leg swimsuit bottom. My bathing suit top is a pink halter.
Shortly before 10 25 I was on my way.
I've known Kate for years. She has never done anything crazy or nutty. She's predictable but this day would see her doing something no one could'ave predicted.
I let myself inside her pool area and pulled my shorts off. Kate was lying in a chaise lounge wearing a Coral Camelia off-the-shoulder short-sleeved knit top and cutoffs.
"I thought you were in the pool."
"I will. This is what I put on when I got up this morning."
I stepped into the pool and waded toward the middle where I climbed onto floating chair. In the meantime Kate had just taken off top and shorts.
"I didn't know you like skinny-dipping."