The invitation read,
It's Pixie Tyler's Thanksgiving Open House!
1:00-6:00 Thanksgiving Day
Get out of the kitchen and come over for
food, fun, and football!"
It wasn't a big crowd, but it was a good crowd. Pixie straightened her Santa hat and counted two couples talking in the hot tub and two more watching the game. She joined the women by the hors d'oeuvre trays and pretended that she wasn't watching Lee Sykes, who sat with his girlfriend in front of the fireplace.
She heard a loud "Caroline!" It was her real name, but she didn't react at first. It came from a bull of a man who had just left his coat in the foyer. "Caroline!" he said again, and crossed the room with a big grin on his face. "You look wonderful today," He said.
But of course she did.
"Bill," Pixie said, and extended a hand. "You and my mother are the only people who call me Caroline. Call me Pixie."
"That's such a good nickname," he said. "I don't know why I can't get it straight."
It
was
a good nickname. Even with her heels on Pixie couldn't see over Bill's broad shoulder. She was blond and petite, and she'd been Pixie as long as she could remember.
"There are drinks on the counter and food everywhere," Pixie said. "Dig in." Bill Evans was an important man in her life. She hired him to deal with the investments that fell to her when her husband died.
She glanced at the big patio doors as Bill passed and realized that she could see Lee reflected in the dark window. His eyes were fixed firmly on her butt, and she stepped her feet ever so slightly apart to enhance his view. He was a college freshman caught staring at a woman twenty years his senior. She loved it.
Pixie turned around and smiled at Tamara WagnerโLee's girlfriendโand asked, "Tamara, when are your folks coming over?"
"Pretty soon, I think" Tamara said. She was the pretty high school senior from across the street. "Mom said we were in her way, so she sent us here. They're supposed to come over for a little while before dinner."
"Well, you aren't in the way here," Pixie said. She crouched in front of them and said, "This hostess gig is tiring me out. Could I get a little help?" She touched Tamara's arm, but talked to Lee. "She knows this house really well," she said and turned back to Tamara, "Could you go to the hallway bathroom upstairs and bring down more towels for the hot tub? I think five or six will do for now."
Tamara was happy to help, so Pixie turned to Lee. "People are going through my soda like crazy. Would you come with me? I need you to carry a case." Pixie pointed Lee to the garage and took in the view from behind while she followed. His unruly black hair and the 'V' from his shoulders to his muscular butt pleased her. Lee was just what she needed.
Pixie enjoyed young men like Lee. She wanted them eager, energetic, and sometimes even a little out of control. She liked the sex even if she didn't get an orgasm from it because she still felt good. It made her feel young.
"Here it is," Pixie said, and pointed out a shrink-wrapped case of colas in the backup refrigerator. Lee hoisted it on his shoulder and turned to the door, but Pixie stopped him. "Thanks so much," she said. She slipped her hand into his back pocket, and gave him an affectionate squeeze. Lee blushed, and Pixie was thrilled.
*****
It was starting to snow when Pixie pulled her car around the corner. It wasn't a heavy snowโnot yet anyway. Big flakes drifted down and melted quickly on the street. Lee's car was parked in front of the Wagner's house when she pulled into her driveway then into the garage.
It wasn't odd to see Lee's car there. Since the weather turned cold she usually found it with the windows fogged and knew that Tamara was with him in the car. Tonight was different.
Pixie put her Christmas packages down and shielded her eyes from the indoor light so she could see out through the front window. Two figures bundled in coats and scarves stood by Lee's car. They seemed to argue. Pixie guessed it was Lee and Tamara, so she put her coat back on and went to see what was wrong.
Tamara gestured to her darkened house. "I didn't know my folks were going out tonight, and I left without my key. I'm locked out." She glared at Lee and added, "And he's 'too busy'."
"I can fix one of those problems," Pixie said. "I have a house key." She ducked her head to keep the snow out of her face and hurried to get the key. Tamara was waiting by the front door when she got back, and Lee was climbing into his car.
Pixie stopped long enough to tell Lee, "Don't go anywhere. I want to talk to you." She unlocked the door for Tamara and typed in the security code for the alarms. She collected a quick kiss on the cheek and then found Lee waiting for her.
Lee was curious when Pixie tucked her hand around his elbow and asked, "What do you want, Mrs. Tyler?"
Pixie tugged Lee toward her house and answered, "I want you to stop calling me Mrs. Tyler. It's Pixie. Now let's get out of the snow." She hung her coat in the foyer, dusted melting snow off Lee's shoulders, and took his coat.
Lee took in the view while she hung his coat with hers. His eyes traced Pixie's body from her smile, to the round form of her breasts beneath her sweater, around the curve of her hips, and to her ever-present high heels. Pixie was pleased.
"I'm going to make hot cocoa while you tell me what keeps you too busy to make Tamara happy," Pixie said "Come with me."
Lee didn't like being told what he was going to do. Pixie stopped to light the gas fireplace, and he asked, "Is this all necessary just to pry into my schedule?"
"No," Pixie said. "It's necessary to make it more cozy while I pry into your schedule. Besides, that's not the only thing going on here."