Jana was too embarrassed to admit it, but she lived vicariously through her daughter.
She had given birth to Cassandra when she was only 16. Though she lacked better judgment by having unprotected sex as a high school teen, with help from her parents--- and with barely any assistance from the baby's father or the father's family--- Jana somehow transitioned into motherhood even though she was still basically a child herself. It was rough and painful, but she was grateful for the support of her family during those trying times.
That Jana had even graduated from high school while becoming a mother at 16 was a minor miracle. It was a difficult time in her life, made worse by the fact that her boyfriend at the time, Cassandra's father whom she was genuinely in love with and thought she would marry, was no help during the pregnancy and after. Becoming a single mother at such a young age also meant that Jana had to miss out on much of her high school experience.
Homecoming. Prom. Friday night football games. Hanging out with her friends.
It was only when Cassandra entered high school that the woman began feeling the acute loss of her teenage and young adult life.
Jana didn't want to think about her love life, or lack thereof. She knew that she could have any man she wanted, but except for a few romantic relationships that didn't last or went nowhere, the woman had been single for longer than she cared to admit. Cassandra's father had burned Jana badly, and she was still scarred. It made her scared of commitment.
Jana also did not like the idea of bringing random men into Cassandra's life.
It's us against the world
.
That was their motto.
Jana loved her child more than life itself. They weren't just mother and daughter, but each other's best friend and confidant. There wasn't anything that the woman wouldn't do for her little girl, and would die for Cassandra without
Cassandra had just turned 18, and it was hard for the woman to believe that her daughter was now older than she was when Cassandra was born.
However, being a single mother as a teenager still affected Jana as an adult especially now that Cassandra was a high school senior.
Jana didn't consider herself old by any means, but her rapidly-approaching mid-30's was making her feel out-of-sorts. She knew she still appeared youthful. With firm breasts, a toned bottom, and a healthy complexion, men flirted with Jana believing she was much younger than she actually was. In fact, most people assumed that mother and daughter were sisters.
Jana realized that she had much to be grateful for, namely Cassandra. Not only was she a mother to a wonderful daughter, but owned her own home, had many friends and family, and a stable job. She was very fortunate, and Jana knew it.
But something about her life still felt
off
.
Motherhood had consumed her young adult life, and her future was unsettled.
Jana sighed.
But she forced herself to focus on the present, and not the past or future.
Cassandra was having her boyfriend and friends over this weekend for a pool party. It was an exciting event for the girl, but it was important to Jana, too. The woman frequently offered to entertain her daughter's friends due to a twofold purpose. First and foremost, it enabled her to keep an eye on Cassandra, to be involved in her life, and to know whom her daughter was associating with.
But it also enabled Jana to be the "cool mom".
The latter stemmed from her own insecurities and the longing to live vicariously through Cassandra.
Jana knew it.
And that's how trouble started.
******************************************************************************
"How do I look?"
Cassandra snorted. "You look like a bikini model!"
Jana beamed as she hugged her daughter. The woman was dressed in a revealing two-piece bikini, with a top that enveloped her perfect breasts beautifully and a bottom that highlighted her incredible ass. Jana felt empowered, and her daughter's compliment further stoked her ego.
Cassandra appeared only slightly less sexy than her young mother. Clad in 1-piece bathing suit, the polyester and spandex fashion stretched tautly across her lithe form, outlining her feminine curves. Her the girl's body was not as voluptuous as her mother's, but it was easily enough to make a grown man's mouth water.
Cassandra had definitely inherited her mother's beauty.
"Thanks, Cass. Love you."
"Love you, too, mom!"
The doorbell rang. Their guests had finally arrived. Jana experienced a strange flutter.
The woman was as excited as her daughter, but hid it well.
"That's my friends!"
Cassandra turned to answer the door, but her mother stopped her. "Finish setting up the food and drinks, Cass. I'll let your friends in."
"Thanks, mom!"
******************************************************************************
9 teenagers---- 5 boys and 4 girls--- were standing on her front porch when Jana answered the door.
"Ms. Lindermeyer!" the girls squealed. They rushed in and gave the woman a group hug with an affection that wasn't too dissimilar from Cassandra's. Jana knew the girls well since she often drove them to and from school events and practices with her daughter. She was like a surrogate mother to them and Cassandra's girlfriends, in turn, were like adopted children to the woman.
The girls quickly filed in, and the boys followed.
Jana knew the boys almost as well as she knew the girls, but their reaction to her was in stark contrast. Whereas the girls greeted Cassandra's mother with open affection, the boys regarded her with barely concealed lust. They ogled Jana's breasts and chiseled belly as she stood before them in the skimpy bikini, and it was easy to decipher what was on their minds.
Most women would've felt uncomfortable, but not Jana; she welcomed the boys' attention.
In fact, she had been hoping for it.