My uncle Dan moved into our house several months ago. My mother was thrilled to have him live at our home since his job was transferred from Colorado to our town. I was glad to have a man around the house after my brother went into the military. I think that my mother and I felt safer since mom was working and I was going to college, the house was often empty or only one of us were home.
I liked Dan because was the nicest person to be around and had always been very kind to us through out the years. At first I thought that he would be staying in my brother's empty room but to my surprise he moved into my mother's room. I thought that was really kind of creepy at first. I love my mother and respect her judgment but this was too strange. After awhile, I got used to Dan and my mother together and did not think much about it except when the bed knocking and moans filtered through the walls into my bedroom.
It was a beautiful spring day and one of those minor holidays came where college classes were cancelled and mom had the day off from her city government job. Since we have spent so little time together since I graduated high school, mom wanted to take me to lunch and spend some quality time with me. We drove to the nice restaurant that had outdoor dining and requested a table outside. The waiter ushered us to the table with an open umbrella protecting us from the sun and with a view of the cityscape. We sat down as the waiter filled our water glasses, handed us our menus, and left for a few minutes.
"Well Andrea" said my mother, "I hope you like this restaurant. It is really one of my favorite places and the food is wonderful."
"This place is really bitchin" I said with a smile and after looking at the menu asked, "Can we afford to eat here?"
"Oh sure" smiled Connie, "Money isn't so tight since Dan is living with us and I really wanted to make this a special day for you. I don't get a chance to really see you or talk since you are so busy with college. I can't tell you how proud I am that you are going to college and doing so well."
I blushed slightly at my mom's compliment. The waiter came by for our drink order and after writing down two raspberry flavored iced teas, walked away. "Oh it was been a lot of hard work, mom. Harder than high school was but it there is more fun and a lot of freedom that comes with it."
"I am so happy for you but I miss you at home." said mom, "I know that you still live at home and sleep there most of the nights but it seems that your schedule and mine at not in sync."
The waiter placed our drinks on the table and asked if we are ready to order. "I think this may take awhile" I said, "Check back in about 10 minutes, we are in no hurry today. I miss you around the house too. For awhile it was a bit scary around the house when I was the only one home especially since Shawn went overseas. It really is nice to have Uncle Dan around."
"Yes, it is" grinned my mother.
"I bet" I grinned back
"Now what is that supposed to mean" said my mother
"Mom" I said, almost in shock, "I mean it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what's going on! I don't ask about it because I figured it was your business and one of these days you would explain it to me."
Connie blushed and quietly said, "I see."
"I mean is Uncle Dan a perv?" I asked
"No" snapped my mother, "He is the most wonderful person to me and to you too. He has been wonderful to the whole family since I divorced your father years ago. Our relationship is very special and I am not ashamed of it although life is easier being discrete about it. Andrea, my brother and I have had this special relationship since I was first married."
"Is that why you and daddy broke up?" I asked
"No" smiled my mother reassuringly, "Our divorce was for many reasons and Dan was not one of them. My brother was in Colorado for many years and not continually involved with me until now. I know that I have said nothing about this to you and really didn't know how to explain this. I have left you in an awkward position and really shouldn't have. Let me explain this from the beginning."
My mother proceeded to tell me the story about Dan living at her apartment when my father was in basic training so many years ago. She was almost finished when the waiter approached our table and asked to take our order. We scanned through the menus at the last minute and gave the waiter some quickly picked items. He left with our order and after looking to see if no one else was close to the table, my mother continued. She and her brother resumed their affair after the divorce. I began to remember small things that happened when our family would vacation in Colorado. I was too young to know better then but it made a great deal of sense now.
"As you can see" smiled my mother, "Dan and I have this special love. I hope you can understand it and not be afraid of it or Dan for that matter."
"Well you have not been that discrete about" I smiled, "One evening I was coming in late and came in the back door. You and Dan were having fun on the dining room table as I slipped quietly past the dining room into my room. You wouldn't have noticed me anyways as Uncle Dan had his head between your legs! I felt like saying, you know people have to eat on that table!"
Mom started to giggle then we both broke into laughter. After we resumed our composure, I said "Yeah, I know how stupid that would have sounded."
"I understand your relationship, sort of." I smiled, "I mean it is incest and I thought it was very yucky stuff, especially the first time I knew where Dan was sleeping. I have either gotten use to it or have accepted it, besides Mom, you are the happiest that I have seen in a very long time. You were getting quite bitchy after Shawn left for the service. If you are happy, then I am. Who am I to judge? I haven't been the most perfect angel of a daughter."
"I remember being your age" smiled Connie, "and I wasn't the perfect angel either. I used to smoke pot, have sex, dance, and party back in the 60's. Things haven't changed that much since then. It's just a new and exciting when you are out of high school."
"It has been more fun since I'm in college" I confirmed, "It is exactly what you said except the envelope is pushed a bit further. I dance at raves and smoke pot sometimes but sometimes do ecstasy."
"I've heard that ecstasy can be dangerous" my mother grimaced , "You need to be careful about that."
"I know mom.." I said, "I am careful. This stuff is bad is you have heart problems or you use it all the time or get bad stuff. I only do it at raves and it makes me feel so good and really horny!"
"Well be careful" said mom, "I can't control your life but I don't want to see you hurt either. I'm OK about smoking pot but not sure about ecstasy. Be careful about the cops too because regardless of my opinion, both are illegal"
"I am careful" I said, "Maybe you and Dan should try some?"
Mom smiled and said, "That would probably be fun dear, but when you are in your 20's, your body can take an awful lot of stuff and bounce back. At my age, it is harder for the old body to take abuse and be good the next day."