Editor's note: this story contains scenes of incest or incest content.
*****
The hugs and gushy love that Mom was giving me as I stepped into the old house was wonderful. This was the first time I'd seen her in three years and at one point considered that I might never see her again. Her health was starting to go and for the past twelve years, I had been living on the other side of the country. But as it always was with Mom her warm spirit and kind demeanor was all it took to transport me back to my childhood, if only for a brief moment. It was so lovely, so life-affirming and I reveled in it. Mom was the best... my sister Janie though, ugh. There she was. I would not look directly at her, and she stood there, arms crossed, fuming in my periphery
She strode over and stood behind mom, hands on her hips, looking like someone had just pissed in her cornflakes. I loved my sister with all my heart but, god she could be so judgmental. I closed my eyes tightly as I hung on to mom knowing full well that Janie would have to be dealt with and soon. We were always like fire and ice, Janie and I. She was the hard charger, the take controller, the take no prisoners-er,( I smiled at my own mental pun). I, on the other hand, am the peacemaker, the loving kind one, the one who loved hours of girl talk turned pillow talk.
Yes, I am a somewhat submissive, pretty, lipstick wearing, kiss your coochie all night lesbian. I love it. I adore women. And I was, at forty-two years of age downsized out of a once lucrative career. Consequently, after almost a year of depression that led to a broken relationship, that led to a depletion of all my savings, that led to a burgeoning alcohol problem, I was home once again. Home with little more than my car, (which was paid for) and my clothing. I left the rest of my belongings in storage with a promise from friends that they would pack it and send it all to me when I was on my feet.
Janie and my relationship had been strained ever since she married her jerk of a husband soon after she graduated college. She was wed to that human stain just over a decade before he left her for a nineteen-year-old. She did get her lovely daughter Genevieve out of her horrible marriage.
Then we had a huge brouhaha outside the funeral home when Dad died three years ago. Janie grew
very conservative and religious over the years and she confronted me about my lifestyle. The fact that she was down on me for being a lesbian was just so hypocritical to me because she, little Miss conservative Republican, Miss single mom, Miss- never misses a single service at the super mega non-denominational evangelical congregation was my first. My first lesbian experience was with my dear sister.
Mom pulled back and studied my face for a moment.
"My sweet Rachael," she said, through her wet eyes, "I'm just so happy to see you,"
As we stood there, her soft hands still on my face, she turned toward Janie and said, "I sure hope you girls can get over your differences, for your sakes as well as mine."
"I'm willing," I said softly
Janie stared holes through the living room carpet as she shifted her weight back and forth, one leg to the other. I couldn't help but notice that she was still such a beautiful woman at forty-four.
"I am willing to let bygones be bygones, I guess," she said quietly.
"Well, that makes your momma very happy," Mom said with a broad grin, "put your things up in Gen's room Rachael."
At that, I turned and looked at Jeanie again expecting another fiery look but to my relief there was none. Instead, Janie said, "Come on Rach, I'll help you."
With that, she picked up one of my suitcases and bags and walked toward the stairs. She paused at the first step waiting for me. Mom, now satisfied that her two daughters weren't going to kill each other went into the kitchen where the 'tss, tss tss" of her ancient pressure cooker was singing its old familiar song. The smell emanating from atop her stove told me that I would soon be having her pot roast with potatoes and carrots.
"Hey Rach, you're in for a treat. She is making blackberry cobbler too." Janie puffed as she stepped onto the landing."
I'm, not putting anyone out, am I?" I asked timidly.
"Well, no," she said as she stepped through the door of my old room. "Genevieve has been using it ever since we moved in ten years ago, but she is in college as you know. She will be home in a few days but she is moving in with her friend Julie... you remember Jules, she was at Dad's funeral."
"Oh yes, I remember her," I lied.
The moment that I walked into my old room and was overcome with waves of nostalgia and whimsy at the furniture and decor. From the Power Puff Girls comforter on the bed to the Lady GaGa poster on the wall everything here screamed teen girl. It was pretty much as I had left it, just with different pop culture references.
"She should be here in a week or so, but the apartment won't be ready till the first of next month," Janie informed me as she sat on the bed, "we will find a cot to go in here and you two can work out the sleeping arrangements."
"That's fine Janie, I'll sleep on the floor if I have to. I plan to soon have a job and my own place as soon as possible."
As soon as I sat on the bed next to her we heard the crash of a dropped plate In the kitchen followed quickly by a whoop from mom. Janie jumped up and ran toward the door looking over her shoulder and said, "I'll help mom, just make yourself at home Rach...dinner should be in about fifteen minutes."
I couldn't help but notice her ass in her jeans as she ran out, 'Damn, she's still got it,' I thought... And my mind drifted back to that night so long ago.
Janie was twenty and was home from college for the summer. I was eighteen and was going to a different college in the coming fall. We were so excited to see one another that we sat up and talked till two am, just listening to the radio and enjoying the cool breeze brought in by the window fan.
"So, Rachael, do you have a boyfriend?" she asked.
"No, I broke up with Greg right after graduation...I'm not seeing anybody," I answered.
"Oooh, I forgot. I have something for us in my bag!" she said excitedly.
She jumped up, grabbed her suitcase and tossed it onto the bed. It landed right in front of me and the unzipped cover flipped open. I saw what she had. There sticking out from under some of her panties was a large bottle of vodka.
"Janie," I whispered sharply, "If mom sees that she will go ballistic."
She put her hand to her mouth, held it at an angle and whispered to me,
