Part 4: Serving the City Fathers
This story takes place in 1976 before there were cell phones and personal computers.
#
Chapter 6
The second morning at my aunt and uncle's home in Santa Teresa, I took a long swim with my uncle, Michael before breakfast. The three of us enjoyed another big breakfast with the cocktail of the day and friendly banter. I was relieved that neither my aunt or my uncle gave any indication to suggest they knew I had been watching them last night while they noisily fucked in the hot tub outside my bedroom.
Cathy and I went to the beach mid-morning. We were both lost in our own world and barely exchange more than a dozen words. I wondered if my aunt regretted revealing her feelings about my mom when we went to the beach yesterday. Her hands felt rougher today when she silently rubbed lotion on my back. I wanted us to be friends and thought about how to restore the warm feelings we had shared at the airport. Her late night of heavy sex with my uncle must have exhausted her, and she fell asleep sunbathing.
Shortly after noon, she awoke refreshed and excited. She joked about being jealous of my young athletic body before she announced we needed to go home. She had agreed to host a beach party themed dinner for the Exposition's Board of Directors and had arranged for a local catering company to handle the details but needed to be on hand to let a crew in to decorate the patio.
As she drove back, Cathy said, "Hosting a party always makes me nervous, but this one is especially important. This year's Art Exposition is Michael's first as President, and he wants to keep the position. So, he is a bit obsessed about impressing the board members as well as the community. Traditionally the president is from the artist community, and there was considerable opposition to giving the job to a real estate lawyer. Several board members resigned in protest. Now, most of the Board members are close friends of his."
As we turned in to the driveway, I said, "You need to have something to eat. I'll postpone my shower and make us some sandwiches. After that, I'll stay out of your hair."
"Thanks, Jean that would be a tremendous help. I don't know why I'm so jumpy. It's a working dinner, so none of the spouses will be there to criticize my arrangements."
We sat at the kitchen table with our sandwiches and beer while people set up for the party outside. I thought the Tiki torches and small potted palm trees placed around the pool made a nice touch. The table was set for eight and, the side facing the house was left empty. Everyone would have a view of the sun setting over the ocean.
I had gone body surfing while my aunt slept at the beach, so, after lunch, I took a long shower to wash off the salt. The hot water felt wonderful. It made me realize just how exhausted I felt after a night with little sleep. I stepped out of the shower and dried myself before wrapping a large towel around my body. I put my bikini to soak in the sink. I was blow drying my shoulder length hair when my aunt burst into my bathroom. I switched off the hairdryer and turned to face my aunt. I was surprised to see her still wearing her translucent floral beach wrap over her bikini.
"Oh god, the dinner is going to be a disaster. The wait staff called in sick. It's the middle of the fucking summer. How can two college girls both come down with the flu the same day? I can't supervise the kitchen and wait on the guests by myself."
I pulled my aunt over to my bed and sat beside her with my arm around her shoulders.
"Maybe I can help? I worked as a waitress at the Wisconsin University Alumni House for a couple of years. I think I can handle a party of eight. I have lots of experience serving large parties of important people. I even learned how to deal with being groped by the dean."
"Oh God, Jean, you're a lifesaver. You have no idea how big a deal this dinner is for Michael. I promise I'll take you on a shopping spree with the money I was going to pay the servers."
"It's Ok Cathy. You don't owe me anything. I'm happy to show my appreciation for a vacation in paradise. The only thing I need is a good night's sleep."
Cathy said, "I have to get back to the party preparations. It's my fault you didn't sleep well last night. Why don't you take a nap for a couple of hours? I can wake you when I need your help."
"Thanks, I'm really exhausted. I didn't get a lot of sleep at my boyfriend's, and I spent most of last night worrying about law school. Make sure you wake me."
I slipped a large tee shirt I had borrowed permanently from my boyfriend over my naked body. It still bore his scent, and I fell asleep within minutes. Cathy woke me from a lovely dream about my boyfriend and I getting caught having sex on Angel Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. I still remember the Japanese tourists snapping pictures with their big Nikons.
After my aunt left, I brushed my hair and put on light makeup. I dressed in a pair of khaki pants and a white sleeveless blouse. This outfit had been my favorite when I was a waitress. It produced generous tips. The scoop necked blouse combined with a push-up bra enthralled those customers with a breast fetish. I also loved the pants, and I knew many of my customers liked them as well. They were tight across my athletic butt and caught the eye of the ass loving crowd. All in all, I had dressed as hot as I dared for a college student dependent on tips to pay my outrageous tuition.
As I walked passed the tropical splendor of the dining area, I caught the wonderful aroma of tonight's dinner. A team of caterers had taken over the kitchen, and every surface was being used. I caught Cathy's attention, and she met me in the hallway. I couldn't understand the look of concern on her face.
I said, "I'm ready for action. Just introduce me to the head cook, and I can take it from there."
"Jean, I'm sorry. I guess I was so upset about the waitresses that I didn't explain the beach party theme. The guests will be dressed in swimsuits and Hawaiian shirts, and Michael insisted that the waitresses wear bikinis. I know it's a lot to ask, but could you please wear the bikini I bought you."
"Seriously, you want me to wear that ridiculously skimpy bikini while I serve?"