Auntie Jenn

Auntie Jenn

Chapter 02 - A Planned Accident?

As morning dawned bright and sunny, I awoke feeling refreshed and strangely elated, I dressed quickly and made my way down to the kitchen. Mom greeted me with a smile and her usual good morning embrace, with a peck on my cheek for good measure.

As I slid into my usual place at the breakfast table, she set a bowl of my favorite cereal in front of me. My dad entered and mussed my hair playfully with his fingers as he sat down to coffee and toast with the morning paper.

I ate quickly, wanting to get outside and enjoy the sunny summer day as quickly as possible. As I took my bowl and spoon to the sink my mother turned to me.

"Is Jennifer up yet?" she asked, "Have you seen her at all this morning?"

I shrugged and shook my head, "I haven't seen her," I said, making my way toward the back door, "Her door was closed when I came down," I added.

"Before you go rushing out of here," she said, raising her voice to halt me in my tracks, "Will you please go up to her room and make sure she's awake? Remind her about the open house she's supposed to host today... and tell her I said she'll be late opening up if she dawdles."

I nodded, feigning dejection when actually, I looked forward to talking to Auntie again. I bounded up the stairs two at a time to the landing. Auntie's bedroom door stood open. I glanced inside her room and looked around, but she was not there. I quickly checked the bathroom, the door was open as well and the room was also empty. I turned and looked toward my room, and was mildly startled to see her there in my room.

Still in her robe and slippers, her back was toward me as she knelt on my bed, her elbows propped on the windowsill, looking out my bedroom window.

"Good morning, Auntie," I said cautiously as I entered my room.

She turned her head and smiled cheerfully. "Hi... good morning to you too," she said.

I opened my mouth to relay Mom's message, but she held up her hand to silence me.

"Wait..." she said, "Don't tell me, let me guess... your mom's freaking out because I'm not up and dressed yet, right?"

I nodded and she smiled and rolled her eyes. "Sometimes," she said, "I swear she acts more like MY mother than yours."

I laughed and she motioned me to join her at the window. I knelt beside her and looked out the window, wondering what had attracted her attention outside and acutely aware of her physically sensual presence beside me.

"How are you feeling this morning?" she asked, keeping her eyes on the window as she spoke. "Did you manage to finally get some sleep?"

"Yeah," I said, "I did actually. What about you?"

She turned her head and smiled. "I did too," she said, sliding her arm about my shoulders and pulling me close as she bent and kissed me on the side of my head. She laughed lightly. "Surprisingly enough... I slept rather well."

Her hand felt deliciously warm and sensual on my shoulder and once again, I opened my senses to her and the plush warm sensuality of her hip touching mine.

"What are we looking at?" I asked, looking back out the window.

"Oh... nothing really," she said, letting her arm slip from my shoulders, "I was just admiring the view from your window."

"Not much to see," I offered with a shrug. Indeed, other than the driveway below and the side of our neighbor's house, there was very little else to look at.

"I see that," she said, turning her face toward me. "But... you know what occurred to me when I first looked out here a minute ago?"

I shrugged and shook my head.

"Well..." she said, turning to look outside once more, "I'll just bet you that, if there was a car down there in the driveway right now... we'd be able to look right down through the windshield into the front seat and see everything going on there."

My entire body jolted involuntarily as if a bolt of electricity had gone through me, and I felt the sudden warm flush of embarrassment on my cheeks.

She turned to me and smiled. "Oh, my," she said laughing softly, "From the embarrassed blush on your cheeks right now, I'm guessing I'm pretty much right about that one... aren't I?"

I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes focused out the window. "I guess so," I offered lamely.

"Michael and I must have put on a pretty sexy show last night, didn't we?" she asked, her voice very low.

I shrugged, feeling my cheeks stinging.

She laughed aloud at my discomfiture and slipped her arm about me affectionately once more, pulling me against her. "Come on, don't try to tell me you weren't watching us," she said, bending her head to kiss the side of my head once more.

I shrugged, keeping my eyes averted.

"Don't go getting all embarrassed on me now," she said, leaning her head against mine, "I'm just yanking your chain a little bit."

I said nothing, but even in my embarrassment, I was thrilled to feel the soft press of her hip against me once more.

"It's not your fault your window looks down onto the driveway," she continued, "And... I certainly don't blame you for watching us either. If it was me up here last night... I'd have done the same thing."

I shrugged and smiled sheepishly, feeling the sting of my embarrassment waning.

She returned my smile. "I'll just have to be a little more careful where Michael parks when he brings me home from now on," she said with a wink.

I laughed and nodded.

"All right," she said, lowering her arm from my shoulder, "You better go tell your mom that I'm up and getting dressed before she sends up a gaggle of Marines to kick down my bedroom door."

I laughed aloud. "A GAGGLE of marines?"

"Trust me," she said, smiling broadly, "It's bigger than a platoon. Tell her I'll be down momentarily."

I nodded and as I turned to go, she smacked me playfully on my butt. I turned and looked at her in surprise and she laughed again.

"Go," she said, pointing toward the door.

It might have just been my overactive imagination carrying me away, but, as I returned to the kitchen with Auntie's message, I had the distinct sense that things had definitely changed between Auntie and me. It was as if she was deferring to me as an adult, almost a peer, joking with me in a teasingly, somewhat provocative, way, winking and smacking my bottom playfully.

While Auntie and I had always enjoyed a warm friendship and she had, on hundreds of occasions embraced me and kissed me, she had just done so twice in the last couple of minutes. That had never occurred before. It was as if our friendship had somehow taken on an entirely new warmth and significance after that secret intimacy we had shared the night before.

I smiled to myself as I left the house, pleased by the apparent change in Auntie's disposition. I hoped that it wasn't all just my wishful imagination and that the newfound warmth between us would continue to develop.

I met up with some friends at the library where we had been meeting weekly to discuss football. We were all heavily invested into the fantasy football scenarios and would always have a spirited debate regarding the current NFL standings.

I returned home around lunchtime that afternoon. Mom made us each a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of soup. As we ate our lunch at the table together, Auntie's car pulled up to the front of the house and she joined us at the kitchen table. She declined Mom's offer of soup and a sandwich, opting for a bagel and some coffee.

I listened idly as the two sisters chatted casually. When I finished my sandwich, I rose from the table to put my dishes into the dishwasher.

"Oh... that reminds me," said Auntie, "Michael called and wants to take me out to dinner again tonight... so don't count on me for dinner."

I busied myself at the kitchen counter, not wanting to appear as if I was eavesdropping.

"Oh?" said my mother, raising an eyebrow. "Two nights in a row?"

Auntie smiled and shrugged, "Hey... I'm not complaining," she said, "A couple of months ago I couldn't even BUY a date."

Mom looked over at me and I busied myself putting a glass into the dishwasher.

"Is this getting a little serious between you two?" asked Mom in a hushed tone of voice.

Auntie laughed softly and shook her head. "Oh, I wouldn't say that exactly," she said, "I mean... he's a nice enough guy and all that... and most of the time I enjoy his company... but I really wouldn't call it anything too serious."

My mother took a bite of her sandwich, chewing thoughtfully for a moment. "Listen..." she said, "I don't mean to pry..."

Auntie threw back her head and burst out laughing. "Now THERE'S the biggest load of bullshit I've heard in a long time," she said, turning her face toward me and winking playfully.

Mom's face reddened. She looked at me and I had to turn away quickly to keep her from seeing my broad smile.

Auntie reached across the table and patted Mom's hand affectionately. "If you want to know something, Jo, just ask," she said smiling warmly at her sister, "But don't tell me you don't mean to pry... we know each other too well for that load of crap to fly, don't we?"

Mom shrugged sheepishly and smiled.

Auntie smiled and shook her head, "I'm sorry," she said, "I broke your train of thought. What did you want to pry... I mean ASK me?"

Mom looked pointedly at me and then back at Auntie. "Well..." she said, "I suppose it can wait."

Auntie's mouth opened wide and she gasped aloud in a comical expression of feigned surprise. She looked over at me and shook her head.

"I think your Mother's trying to ask if Michael and I are having sex," she said, "but she's too self-conscious about it to ask me with you in the room."

"JENNIFER!" gasped Mom.

Auntie laughed aloud at her reaction and I couldn't stop myself from joining her, Mom's reaction was just too funny. Mom looked at each of us with an expression of exasperation, but I could see the corners of her mouth turning up as she tried not to smile.

"Okay...okay," said Auntie, when her mirth had subsided. "Just so you know... Michael and I are NOT sleeping together. He and I have NEVER had sex... and I DON'T have any plans to sleep with him in the near future. Does that about sum it all up for your prying... sorry, your curious mind?"

Mom sighed, shaking her head in exasperation once more.

"Although..." continued Auntie with a sly smile, "We HAVE done a lot of making out with heavy petting."

Mom's mouth opened and her eyes widened. She rolled her eyes to the side pointedly at me and then back at Auntie.

Auntie and I both laughed.

"You don't have to worry about Jamie," said Auntie, with a quick wink in my direction, "He probably knows a lot more about these things than you and I ever did at his age."

Mom cast a skeptical glance in my direction. "Oh... this is just too rich," she said, shaking her head with a little smile as Auntie and I laughed again, "My big sister and my son ganging up on me."

It felt wonderful to be so included in their adult conversation. And, yet again, it seemed as if Auntie had gone out of her way to make sure I WAS included.

That evening, as Mom busied herself in the kitchen fixing dinner, I was lounging on the sofa watching television when Auntie came downstairs dressed for her dinner date with Michael. I turned my head to glance up at her as she entered the room and my eyes nearly had cardiac arrest.

She wore a loose-fitting, pale pink, sleeveless pullover, with a plunging "V" neckline that exposed an elegant amount of cleavage... and a matching pale pink skirt that exposed her wonderful legs to mid-thigh.

Her skirt was so sheer and light that it fluttered provocatively about her legs as she walked. The heels of her high-heeled shoes clicked on the hardwood floor with each step she took.

She sat on the sofa, very near me, and casually crossed her legs. Her legs glistened sleekly in the lamplight, highlighting every curve.

She smiled at me and winked as she put on her earrings. I returned her smile, it took every fiber of self-control I possessed to keep my eyes averted from her legs so provocatively revealed in her short little skirt.

Surely, I thought, she must have at least SOME inclination as to my physical interest in her legs. And just as surely she must also realize how very provocatively her crossed legs were posed.

Yet again, it struck me how Auntie's behavior seemed slightly altered after the night before, and I wondered all over again if it wasn't just my overreaching imagination.

It wasn't long before I heard the familiar rumbling of Michael's car approaching the house. Auntie quickly stood and checked her hair and makeup in the living room mirror.

"Michael's here." she called to Mom in the kitchen, "I'll see you later, Jo."

Mom stepped into the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Will you be late?" she asked.

Auntie shook her head, "I shouldn't think so," she said, "Michael has to be at work extra early tomorrow... so... I'm guessing, ten... or ten-thirty at the latest."

Mom nodded and smiled. "Have a good time," she said, "And tell Michael I said hello."

Auntie smiled at me and blew me a kiss as she crossed the room to the front door.

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As I was getting ready for bed that night, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen when Michael brought Auntie home. After our morning conversation about the view from my bedroom window, I doubted very much that Auntie would allow Michael to park in the driveway again, especially if she planned more late-night intimacy with Michael.

After the previous night, I was a little tired but decided to stay awake at least until Auntie got home. Even though I seriously doubted they would park in the driveway, I didn't want to just assume it wouldn't happen and go to sleep. I'd just hate myself if I discovered, after the fact, that they had made out again under my window and I had missed it, especially when I considered that amazing dress Auntie was wearing.

I got into bed, wearing only my briefs, and switched on my reading lamp. It was just after nine-thirty, so I figured I wouldn't have too long to wait and settled into my book.

It was just after ten when I heard the rumble of Michael's car. I quickly switched off my lamp and waited in the dark to see what happened. To my complete surprise, the car's headlights illuminated my room through the window as it pulled into the driveway.

Cautiously I peered over the windowsill and looked down. Strangely, the car's engine was still running and the headlights were still on. I could see Auntie and Michael seated rather far apart on the big front seat of the Chevy, Auntie's legs looking sleek and sensual with her skirt well above mid-thigh.

They appeared to be just talking, and it seemed that Michael was doing most of the talking, his hands gesticulating animatedly as he spoke. Auntie was not smiling, she sat rigidly with her hands folded in her lap and only shrugged or nodded, seemingly adding very little to the conversation. I wondered if they were having some sort of fight about something.

Moments later the car door opened and Auntie stepped from the car. She closed the door behind her without even a backward glance at Michael and made her way toward the front of the house. Michael revved the engine several times and then backed out of the driveway. His tires squealed lightly as he took off, his engine roaring until it faded into the distance.

I bit my lip thoughtfully. Something was definitely wrong between them. I switched on my lamp once more and picked up my book as I heard Auntie's key in the front door latch.

Moments later, I heard her tread on the stairs and then the close of her bedroom door.

I turned off my light once again and got out of bed cautiously, tiptoeing to my door and opening it a crack to look out.

All was in relative darkness, the only light came from beneath Auntie's bedroom door, as she had turned off the lights downstairs behind her. I shrugged and closed my door, retreating to my bed and switching on the light once more. I decided to read a little more, at least until I knew that Auntie had definitely retired for the night.

Moments later, I heard her bedroom door open. I listened to her tread on the landing as she went into the bathroom and closed the door. I heard the water running and thought to myself that Auntie must be washing up for bed.

Several minutes later, the water was turned off and I heard the bathroom door open and listened for Auntie's tread as she returned to her bedroom.

I started in surprise to hear a soft knock at my door. I had been listening so intently that, when the knock came, it sounded very loud and surprised me.

The door opened a crack and Auntie smiled in.

"Hey... you still up?" she said, pushing the door wider.

I nodded, showing her my book.

"Ah," she said, leaning against the door frame and folding her arms across her chest. Surprisingly, she had not even begun to dress for bed and still wore her sexy sheer skirt.

"I saw your light under the door and... just thought I'd say hello," she said, smiling thinly.

It was then that I noticed the sadness on her face. "What happened, Auntie?" I asked, "What's wrong?"

She shrugged and bit her lip. "Nothing's actually wrong," she said softly, "just a little... different. Michael and I broke things off tonight."

"What?" I said with a little gasp. I had seen that they hadn't seemed to part on the best of terms, but never imagined it had been a final parting.

She nodded and sighed heavily. "I'm afraid so," she said.

"But..." I stammered, putting aside my book, "what happened?"

She shrugged and smiled, then laughed softly, "It wasn't so much something that happened," she said, "I think it was more a case of something that DIDN'T happen."

I shook my head in confusion, "I don't understand," I said.

"Sex," she said, looking directly at me. "sex didn't happen."

"Oh," I said, surprised by her candor but inwardly pleased at the same time.

"Apparently," she continued, "he was tired of waiting for me to get with the program. He told me it would be tonight... or never." She looked at me and shrugged, "I told him goodnight... and goodbye."

"Are you okay?" I asked, even though I could see she was not.

She nodded and shrugged once more. "I think I need a beer," she said, pushing off from the door frame. "You want one?"

I almost gasped in surprise at her offer. "Sure." I said, wondering if I had heard her correctly.

Auntie laughed aloud and shook her head, "Nice try, honey, you almost had me there too. But your mother would skin me alive."

"You and me both," I responded with a laugh.

Without a word, she turned and walked to the stairs, her flirty little skirt swishing sensually about her legs as she walked. She returned a few minutes later carrying an entire six-pack of Coors under her arm and two cans of A&W root beer in her other hand.

"I hope you want some company," she said, softly closing my bedroom door behind her. "Because I hate to drink alone."

"Sure," I said, pleased she wanted to spend more time with me.

"Move over, sweetie," she said as she crossed the room to my bed.

Obediently, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, keeping the blanket pulled over my briefs to cover myself. I leaned back against the wall, making room for her. She sat down beside me and slid back until her back rested against the wall, then crossed her legs at the ankles.

"That's better," she said, handing me the can of root beer and tearing a can of Coors from the plastic. She quickly popped the top of her can and took several deep swallows.

"Thanks," I said, "it's not really beer, but at least is has beer in the name," I added with a laugh.

I popped open my can and also took several swallows. Even though I wasn't drinking real beer with Auntie, it still had the emotional effect of doing so. I smiled to myself, feeling suddenly more mature.