"Hi Robbie, it's Lisa. How's things?" It was my sister Lisa, 26 year old brainiac accountant. She was the apple of my father's eye and this was not diminished when after a whirlwind romance, Jeff had done the very correct thing and asked my father for his daughter's hand in marriage. Needless to say, it was a jawdropping spectacle of a ceremony two years ago and the happy couple set up home some fifty miles away, nearer to Jeff's job as a fighter pilot. Yes, you heard correctly, my brother-in-law is a fighter pilot, in the Air Force and by all accounts, he's a pretty damn good one.
So, what about me? Well, I'm 28 and I do ok. I have a good job, as a banker, not on Wall Street or anything but I have a comfortable life, which is just as well as I'm paying maintenance on my two daughters. This time the apple's are in my eye and I've been doubly blessed. Just before my little sister married, I got divorced citing irreconcilable differences. She wanted to screw half the county and I didn't. So she shacked up with her adulterous lover, with my kids and I get to pay for them. But enough of the back story, on we go with the phone call.
"Jeez! Lise. What the hell time is it?" I was still in bed, having had a night out with the guys which didn't finish particularly early and my bag of bones of a body took a few hours to recharge.
"Rob, it's half ten and the day's almost half over. Don't tell me your still in bed?" her silvery laugh giggled down the phone. More background on my sister. Not only is she a brainiac with a great job, great husband and fabulous lifestyle but she has an amazing personality and a killer body. All curves but not an once overweight, trimmed and tanned from an active lifestyle and time spent in the sun at home and abroad. If I was to guess, I'd say she was a 36C, with a 34 waist but I could be wrong and around 5'4" with green eyes that sparkle when she laughs, or smiles or tells a joke.
And me, I'm 6'2" and thanks to a gym and run regime, combined with not doing anything too stupid, too often with what I eat and drink, I look pretty good but for whatever reason I've yet to find the next ex-Mrs Robbie Sloan. A few one night stands have lasted into months but nothing beyond that. But again, let's get on with the phone call.
"Maybe for you but not for me. We've been up since seven and been for a run and shopped already. We're getting ready for a surprise trip back to the old country to see the folks and wondered if you'd be around much to catch up?"
"Uh, dunno. I mean not sure. Errr.." My brain was still struggling with the concept of consciousness, having been in blissful unconsciousness only moments ago.
Lisa laughed down the phone at me "C'mon sleepyhead. Stop fiddling with your joystick and get your head in gear. Let's take it slow, step-by-step. It's 2007, June, 16th, 10.30, Earth. Any neurons firing yet?"
Her energy was infectious and I was crash starting those neurons. "Right, yeah. Well, I was gonna hook up with John and Mike tonight but that's nothing that can't wait for another time. My liver could do with a night off. So yeah, count me in. Better still, my place is bigger than theirs so you can all meet up here. I'll get Lorenzo's to cater and get some chips and shit and we'll have a blast. Everyone can stay over and we can hit the beach tomorrow. How does that sound?"
"Apart from Lorenzo's, that's how the rest of my conversation was going to go so I'm glad you cranked up that steam engine of a brain of yours so quick. I told Jeff you'd be cool with hosting us all and wouldn't mind, so not only was I right but I didn't have to ask. You're a rock, Big Brother! Mwah! I love you!"
"Yeah, I love you too sis, not a problem but next time give me more of a head's up' Kay?" I was stumbling around my room now, gathering sweats and specs to get my day started. "See you when you get here." And I went to hang up.
"No wait, there's something else I need to say." So I stalled what I was doing.
"I'm listening, what now? My kidney, liver? Hang on, there's someone at the door" and I jabbed the entry phone button.
"SURPRISE!!" Lisa and Jeff's voices filled the room and I realised that I had been caught out.
"Oh my God! Lisa, I'm not dressed yet and you land on my doorstep?" The panic in my voice was real, so was the early morning woody that was bouncing 8 inches ahead of me. I hadn't gotten into my sweats yet.
"Relax Big Bro. We're not coming in. We're on our way to some of Jeff's buddies and thought that we'd give you a wake-up call. Get yourself sorted and give me a call and we'll swing back later. Take care. Mwah!"
"Fuck Lise! You had me there but that sounds great. You guys have a great day. Now scram and leave me in peace!" I hung both my phone and the entry phone and headed for the shower.
The shower put me back together again and I spent the day running errands, arranging for the food to arrive later and giving the happy homestead a wash and brush up in readiness of my visitors.
I was watching sports later that day, with everything ready when the entry phone went again.
"DADDY!" I couldn't believe it, my daughters' were there as well. This was great.
"Come in. All of you come in, the more the merrier." And I buzzed them in. Mandy and Jess ran through and bear hugged me. Lisa and the gang followed after. She looked amazing. A turquoise sundress with spaghetti straps that finished mid-thigh and started low enough to reveal an ample gorge of cleavage. Everything was on show and everything was bronzed and tan-line free. God, she really was too perfect to be true.
"We thought we'd surprise you. We called Sally and she said there was no problem adding an extra weekend's access. So here we all are. You ready for us?" Her eyes twinkled and her laugh rippled through her words. As she bounced into the house all her curves flowed beautifully under her dress.
"You guys are the best. Come in. Come in. Make yourselves at home. Girls, put your stuff in your room. Mum and dad, you can take my room and sis, you and Jeff can take the guest room. I'll take the den. Do you wanna hand bringing anything in?"
"No, we got it thanks. Honey, you and mum and the brats can chill while the eligible bachelor fixes drinks." And Jeff headed back out to the cars.
"Hey, Ace. Just cos you wear stripes for the day job, doesn't mean that you're the C.O. on this base buddy! But in this case, I'll follow orders. What are you having? Or is Margarita's all round?" I was heading to the bar as I spoke, having pre-mixed litres of the stuff. "Don't forget, no-one's driving tonight!"
"Count me in buddy. And I'll quit bossing y'all around." Then he caught Lisa's raised eyebrow, "or try to stop anyway!" Everyone else agreed and I got the glasses ready, poured and served. Doling out Shirley Temples for the girls. We all sat out back, soaking up the rays, watching the rugrats frolic in the sun and catching up on what was happening with everyone. This last item focussed on not-so-subtle enquiries from my mum on why she wasn't a grandmother yet.
In response, both Lisa and Jeff laughed and said they were still too young and focussed on their careers to bother with children yet but watch this space. The evening continued with drinking and laughing and reminiscing for Jeff's benefit of our exploits when we were younger. These stories got more lurid and extravagant after the children were in bed.
"And there was the first time I caught Robbie whacking off..."
"LISA!!", my mother and I screamed in unison. Neither of were keen for that piece of laundry to get a public washing.
"Shhhhhh! You two. Every guy does it, I know Jeff does and I always get a tingle watching!"