Don't you just love Halloween?
'Look honey, I'm just not comfortable yet,' said Sophie Miller to her daughter.
'Mom, it's been over a year now. Dad would want you to get on with your life. We've been over this before' said her daughter Mariah Gray.
'I know but ... '
'Mom you look gorgeous. Your new boobs are fabulous, you look years younger.'
'Oh god, if you only knew how they feel. They are so big; too big, I'm intimidated by them. I'm not used to having so much sticking out in front of me, and they're different - like cones, not natural. They bounce around and I'm sure that everyone stares at them when I go to the shops. They're just so big.'
'Mom,' Mariah said in mock exasperation. 'That's the whole idea of getting your boobs done. You want people to look at them, especially guys.'
'Oh god honey, I'm not sure I'm up to that. I'm not comfortable with the thought of another man. Well I just couldn't let anyone touch me, I think I would slap his face. And the thought of being with another man ... I ... I don't know that I want to.'
Mariah turned to her husband Dan. 'What do you think honey?' she asked looking for support, her exasperation evident.
'Jeez, I could get in trouble here,' he said laughing, trying to relieve the tension. 'Mom, I'm with Mariah, you look fabulous. Really, you two could pass as sisters, you're the same height, same weight, it's just the boobs ... and they look sensational. If Mariah wasn't here I might go for a grope myself,' he said laughing. 'Any stares you get are going to be stares of admiration. Soak it up, it's all good. Let's face it girls, you are both hot,' he said smiling at his wife.
'See, I told you,' Mariah said triumphantly.
Sophie had a worried look on her face. She shrugged her shoulders as she spoke. 'Look, in time, all in good time honey. I just need to get used to my new body. These ... ' she said cupping her boobs 'god they seem huge. I guess I'll get used to them eventually but I'm just not comfortable being around men at this stage. Well, apart from you Dan but that's different, you're not a man, you're family,' she said giving a shrug.
'What, not a man, should I be insulted?' he said with mock indignation. He stood up and leaned over his mother in law. Wrapping her in his arms he gave her a warm hug and kissed her cheek. 'Mom, if you want a real man's opinion you look absolutely beautiful and more importantly you are beautiful. Your new body is sensational, let go of your inhibitions and enjoy the attention you get. Now if you need someone to give them a test grope ...'
And she laughed and squirmed in his embrace as he tickled and played with her.
'You look real sexy. If I wasn't already married I might throw you on the bed and show you what a real man is like,' he said laughing.
'Yeah, right, you wish,' said Maria as the two woman looked at each other.
When they were alone Mariah spoke quietly to her mother. 'Ok mom, what's really bugging you? And don't tell me there's nothing, I know you too well.'
Mariah could see the conflict play out on her mother's face before she answered.
'It's been 15 months since your father passed away. If you and Dan hadn't been staying with me all that time I would have been alone. It's been so good having you here, and I mean both of you, I love him too. You've been such a comfort to me.'
'I don't think I'm up to dating yet anyway but if I did and I brought a man home with me we would all know what he was there for. It would probably be embarrassing for all of us and I'm sure you and Dan would want to move out sooner rather than later. I couldn't handle that at the moment. I love you and I love Dan: we are a family, I like it. Having you around gives me a focus, a purpose.'
'Oh mom, we aren't going to leave you alone, we love you,' she said giving her mother a hug. 'I've got an idea, maybe we can work something out,' she said. As Dan walked back into the room the phone rang. Mariah answered it. It was obvious that something was wrong.
'Honey, that was Jenny. They had a car crash, Bob is in hospital, they don't think that there is any permanent damage but he won't be getting out anytime soon. Jenny is in a bit of a state given that the baby is due in a few weeks. Hon, she's got no-one to help. She desperately wants me to come and stay for a while till Bob gets out or she has the baby or both. I can't say no, is that ok with you?' Mariah said with a resigned look.
'Not much you can do babe, that's what friends are for. Stay as long as you think you need to and pass on my thoughts to them for a speedy recovery,' her husband Dan replied. 'You won't be able to go to the Halloween party so I'll ring Alice and tell her we won't be able to go tomorrow.'
'No, don't do that. I know you wanted to go. I mean I've paid for the costumes already. You can take mom, we are about the same size, I'm sure she will fit,' Mariah said looking first at Dan then at her mother Sophie.
'What, go to a party with my mother in law?' Dan blurted out.
'What's so wrong with that? You'll both be in costume, mine is cat woman, the only part exposed is from the neck to the nose so no one will even know who you are, where's the problem?' said Mariah a little peeved at his response as her mother looked on.
'I mean, don't take it the wrong way but, well you don't even know if your mother would be interested,' he protested then wished he hadn't spoken as Mariah turned to her mother and he knew that look.
'You would like to go, wouldn't you mom?' she stated rather than asked in a manner that defied a negative response.
'Well, I haven't been out for a while, especially with a real man ...' Sophie mused and Mariah turned triumphantly to her husband, a satisfied smirk on her face. Then her brows knitted together as her mother continued. 'But look sweety, I'm not really sure I will fit into your costume,' she said a little uncertainly.
'You will, it's big on me and we take the same size in everything other than you've had your boobs augmented from a B to a D, but it's stretch material. You'll be alright. That's it, it's settled. You're going, both of you,' she said firmly. Sophie had a bemused smile but secretly she was pleased and looking forward to the party; it had been a while; 15 months since her husband had left for work, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and never returned. After constant nagging from Mariah she picked herself up, got a boob job, a small nip and tuck and got on with life. But at this stage men were not in the equation. Not for want of offers, she was an impressive looking woman; 5'8' pretty face with long brown hair, she had a slim body the same size as her 18 year old daughter but the D boob job gave her a shape that made many a man twitch as she walked by.
'Mom,' Sophie said when they were alone. 'You just need to be aware that Dan is a touchy, feely sort of guy. His hands are always touching me somewhere. He gives me a lot of attention and I like it but ... well, you just need to be prepared is all,' she said a little concerned.
***
The test would be Alice. But when Alice and Mark picked them up there was not a hint of anything being amiss. When they got to the party Alice introduced her friends to Dan and Sophie and they both smiled as she was introduced as Mariah. If Alice was fooled then everyone would be. As is the custom, everyone leaned in a swapped cheek kisses except Sophie stopped before kissing Dan.
'Well, looks like everyone gets a kiss except me,' he said with mock indignity. Mischievously Sophie placed her arms around his neck and drew him to her, her body pressing against his in what could only be described as a full body kiss. Her lips met his, they were soft and warm, moulding to him. It felt like she was stimulating every nerve ending in his lips. As she gently filled his mouth with her tongue he felt a heat spread throughout his body that consumed his mind and his soul. She knew he was responding as his body tensed as a burning desire engulfed him. It wasn't so much that she broke the kiss as slowly peeled her lips from his. He was left immobile, staring at her as if in a trance, the feeling of her lips burning an impression on his mind. For him at that moment nothing else existed except the woman in his arms, her face barely inches from his. His heart leapt as a knowing smile spread across her face and she gently kissed him again, soft, tender, enticing. They broke slowly and she had a sparkle in her eye.