"When the lights, go down, in the city..."! One of Liz's favorite tunes screamed out of the 48 year old speakers on Liz's 1964 white Mustang convertible as she and Claire sailed down the old country road. Claire raised her head, watching the large trees whipping by as she flailed her arms in jubilation and joined Liz in a sing-a-long.
"You know who I feel like Liz"?
"Who"?
"Louise"
"Who"!? Liz asked in utter confusion.
"Louise"! She waited for her best friend to figure it out. "From "Thelma and Louise"?!"
You could almost hear the light going on above Liz's head, "OHHHHH. Oh I don't think so. I'm no Thelma! I'm Louise!"
Her friend retorts "Nope. I called it first!" A roar of laughter erupts from the sports car as they continue their journey.
Liz and Claire have been best friends since grade school. People call them sisters because they're always together. They've been there for each other through boyfriends, marriages, divorces, kids and everything else life has thrown at them.
As inseparable as they are, you couldn't find two backgrounds so different.
Claire is 45, married, with 2 teenage kids and a dog named Bert (her daughter's name for the dog was pulled from the hat). She keeps herself in good shape by walking Bert around their quiet neighborhood daily and it shows. Her breasts sag a bit but are still a nice full 36d that protrude from her 5' 5" 24-36 figure. She gets very uncomfortable when guys compare her figure to Sophia Vergara. She's a natural brunette with below the shoulder length hair that she keeps in a ponytail. She doesn't wear makeup because her husband Bob thinks makeup "is for whores".
She drives their minivan to her job as an Accounts Payable clerk and has been there ever since her youngest attended school full time. After work, she comes home, takes care of the kids, makes dinner for her family, and then retires to the couch to read. To get away from it all, she attends her crochet club's weekly meetings to chat and to, well, crochet.
Liz is the same age, divorced (twice) and with a teenager from her first marriage and a 10 year old from her second. The flaming redhead abuses her body by partying several nights a week as a bartender for a Coyote Ugly wannabe bar downtown. But with all that abuse, her body still holds its shape like a twenty-something woman.
When she's not working, she's getting off on riding her Harley around town or getting elbow deep in grease while working on her Mustang in the garage over some beers with her younger boyfriend Clint.
"I hope we don't meet the same demise as those two" Claire exclaims with a laugh.
"You mean getting killed?! Oh hell no! This car will not be going over no damn cliff!" Liz yells as they both laugh and continue their song.
After hours of laughing and riding up the great northern part of Wisconsin, the two reach their destination. It's a beautiful log cabin tucked into the deep woods of Lake Wautoma. The cabin is Claire's parents' retreat. They bought it several years ago when Claire was a child and it's been the family retreat for all.
"This was a great idea Claire" Liz said
"Yes. We need this! Let's get settled in, make a pitcher of Lemonade and go for a swim!? Claire said excitedly.
"Lemonade?" Claire answers Liz with a laugh. "Hell no! It's tequila time!"
Needing to get away was an understatement. Liz was getting burnt out. Between the long, late hours at her job, her kids and their demanding schedules, and the money worries this single mom goes through like every other single mom, she didn't even know what day of the week it was when you asked her.
Claire's life was less hectic due to her kids being more self-sufficient but she needed this trip for a different reason. Claire and Bob have run into a rut in their marriage. A rut that has gone on for the last 10 years. She remembered the day it all went downhill.
"I got the promotion Claire!" he screamed.
"Oh that's wonderful sweetheart! Let's celebrate!"
"I'd love to honey but the Cooper account is in trouble so I have to work late. Rain check?" he asked
"Oh, ah, sure honey. Some other time."
And that's the way it's been since. He works all the time. At night, on weekends or at home once he showed up. For the last 10 years. She's talked to him when she can but to no avail.
When one parent puts his or her job before the family, a domino effect happens. The kids' games are missed, family reunions are not attended, and sex goes south. Claire can't even remember when they had sex. Mainly because they have it every so often but when they do, it's over before she even gets warm. In her entire life, a question in Claire's mind was if she has ever had an orgasm? She's felt thrilled in the past during sex but is that what it is?
"LIZ!" Claire shouts in horror as she runs from her bedroom to the other. "Did you take my suit!? I know I packed my suit before we left. What did you do now!?"
"This is not a family vacation Claire and I know you were going to bring that boring one piece swim suit you always wear. The only way to get you to let loose was to throw out your suit so you have to wear one of mine!" Liz said in a devilish way.
"Liz! I can't wear your suits! They're two-piece and too small for me! Please tell me you didn't throw mine out!?!"
"Just try it Claire. You'll love it!" Liz said meekly.
Claire grabbed it in a huff and returned to her room to give it a try. Although she was furious at her free spirited friend, she had to admit to herself that wearing something so revealing was exciting.
A few minutes later she stormed back to Liz's room wearing her new gift.
"You have GOT to be kidding!? There's hardly any material on it! I hate bright red, the strings are so thin they're going to snap at any minute and most of my boobs are showing! Look at the lower half! It's basically a string with a small triangle patch for the front. Who wears these things!?!"
"Relax". Liz said in a calming voice. "We're the only ones up here. Nobody will see. Besides - you look unbelievable! Just think what you can show Bob when you get back with that tan!"
"Oh yeah. Like he'll even notice." Shirks Claire.
After some reassurance from Liz, the two made their way down to the pier. After an hour of laughing, drinking, talking and tanning on their backs, Liz and Claire heard footsteps on the pier.
"Well what do we have here!?" said a male voice approaching them.
"It must be a Hooters getaway Clint!" said another.
Both women turned toward the voices with a start to find Liz's boyfriend Clint and his friend Derek approaching.
"Clint! What the hell are you doing here!?" shouted Liz
"Hey, nice to see you too love! Damn!" answered Clint while they stopped to check out the women.
"And may I say DAMN again at the sight of you two gorgeous women!" We came at the right time!"
Now Liz was not only mad at Clint for coming unexpectedly but also embarrassed because of Claire being so scantily clothed due to Liz's prodding. "I told you where we were in case of emergency. Not so you could join us!"
"Relax baby". Said Clint in a reassuring manner. "We decided to take a ride on our bikes up north. We're just here to say hi, have a drink or two with you gorgeous women, and then be on our way".
A new voice chimed in to ease the awkwardness "Hi Liz".
"Hi Derek."
"Who's your friend?"
"I'm Claire" She said in a quiet voice with her head turned away. She's still trying to figure out what the best way is to just disappear because she can feel two sets of eyes undressing what little she has on.
"Hi. I'm Derek" he said as he approached her to extend his large hand. She shook it quickly and feebly tried to cover herself. She noticed he's about 6'3" with a large construction build. It's hard to see what kind of hair he has since he's wearing a head wrap but he looked like your typical young biker guy.
"Okay BABY!" Liz shoots back. "Let's grab those drinks for you and say goodbye".
Liz stood up and walked past the two bikers but grabbed Clint's hand and lead him back up the trail to the cabin.
If Claire felt uncomfortable before, she felt even worse now. She's on a pier, in the middle of nowhere, with a biker, laying in a bikini two sizes too small.
Her mind races with a million thoughts like how she's never doing this again with Liz and that she just wants to go home. Could it get any worse?
She spoke too soon. Derek took off his leather jacket while his eyes are staring at Claire's cleavage. Claire notices this and in a panic said "I'm going to go for a swim" and quickly stands up to dive off the pier into the temperate water.