The baggage claim area at the airport was full of people. Some had just flown into Austin. Others were here to pick up someone just arriving. I was in this second category. A glance at the overhead display let me know that Jessica's flight from Atlanta had landed. I hadn't seen my sister in nearly a year. Her last visit had been to attend the funeral for my wife, Lilly, who had been tragically killed in an auto accident. I had high expectations that this visit would be much different.
Jessica was 30 years old, about two years younger than myself. She was an attractive woman, about five feet five inches tall with shoulder length brunette hair, green eyes, a big smile, and a cute figure. We cared for, and looked out for, each other. You could say that we had a strong sibling connection. Up until the past few years we had been very close. It nearly broke my heart when she moved to Atlanta about four years ago to pursue a career. But recently her job had turned sour, and her relationship with her boyfriend had ended. Jessica wanted to start a new chapter in her life, and she decided to move back to Austin to make that new start.
At the time I was living in a large four bedroom house in the hill country just west of Austin. Lilly and I had it built as our dream home. We both loved that house, and the wonderful life we lived. Then one fateful day, that all ended. After Lilly's death, I thought I shouldn't continue to live in the house, but I also couldn't bring myself to leave it. That house had so many memories, mostly good ones.
Now I was happy that I had a place for Jessica to stay while she got back on her feet. She anticipated that it wouldn't take more than a few months to find a new job and then a place of her own to live. It would be good having her close to me again.
I looked up at the top of the escalator just as Jessica began to come down from the main concourse. I waved at her as she smiled and waved back at me. She looked beautiful. I moved through the crowd toward the escalator, arriving at the same time she reached the bottom. Jessica leapt into my arms and gave me a big kiss. It was normal that we always greeted close family members with a big kiss. Mom and dad had taught us that.
"So glad you're home." I told her. "I've missed you terribly."
"I'm so happy to be home." Jessica replied with a radiant smile.
We made our way over to the baggage carousel just as the flashing light and horn announced the arrival of the luggage from her flight.
"Those two are mine!" Jessica exclaimed as she pointed to her bags.
We were pleasantly surprised that her bags were the first ones deposited on the carousel. We grabbed them and made our way to the exit. It didn't take long to reach my car in the parking garage and we were soon on the highway. In less than an hour we arrived at my home.
After Jessica put her things into a guest bedroom, we sat in the living room, each of us holding a cold beer. We both were dressed comfortably, suitable for a warm, June day in Austin. I wore a knit sport shirt and Jessica wore a cotton tank top. We both wore shorts and sandals.
"This place looks the same. You haven't changed it very much." Jessica said while looking around the room.
"Not yet. Maybe someday." I replied. For me, the room had many memories of fun gatherings. On one wall were photos of couples, special friends to Lilly and me. I knew someday I would put some things away and start afresh. But not yet.
"I can't thank you enough for letting me stay here a while." Jessica said sincerely. "This really means a lot to me. I hope I'm not an inconvenience or in your way."
"Not an inconvenience at all. Stay as long as you need. I doubt you will be in my way." I replied with a smile. I was happy for the company, and happy I could help my sister.
"This place has such a great pool, and summer is just beginning." Jessica mentioned as she looked out the windows into the backyard. "I intend to do some sunbathing and swimming out there. You know I love pools."
"Yeah. I remember." I replied. "Swim, sunbathe, do whatever you like. The backyard is totally private and I keep the pool clean and maintained. Remember, I also love the water."
We sat and talked about our lives and our work. Jessica told me about the job interviews she had already scheduled. She really hoped that one of these companies would hire her. For the time being we avoided discussing relationships, or whether either of us were dating.
After talking for a few hours, we prepared and ate a light summer meal. Later in the evening, after the sun had gone down and it was beginning to cool off outside, we sat out on the patio by the pool, drank another cold beer and enjoyed the view of the stars.
I was first to turn the discussion to a topic we had been avoiding.
"Care to tell me about what happened with that guy you were living with in Atlanta?" I asked. "What was his name? I don't remember. I only met him once, a couple of years ago."
"Curtis." Jessica relied somewhat coldly. "His name was Curtis Price. Yeah, I lived with him for nearly three years, but we were never a good fit together."
"It took three years to learn you weren't a good fit?" I asked, a bit surprised.
"I was young and thought he would change his opinions about certain things." Jessica began. "My ego let me believe he would change in order to make me happy and stay with me. Eventually I realized that he wasn't going to change."
"His opinions about things? What things? And why were they that important?" I pressed back.
"I'd rather not say." Jessica responded quietly. "Let's just say it was fundamentally important to me, and I guess his position was important to him. Neither of us would give in. As time went by, it became a larger issue that we argued over."
Jessica paused for a moment, then decided to explain a bit more.
"A month or so ago, we had that argument again. It became a big blowout and he stormed out to stay with a friend for a couple of days. At that time, my job was also giving me problems. My career had stalled and I couldn't find a way forward, not in Atlanta. I decided I needed a new start in life." Jessica paused, then continued. "I hope by relocating to Austin I can find the career and lifestyle I'm seeking. I'm so grateful that you are letting me stay here to get back on my feet."
"I hope it all works out well for you." I replied. "Again, you can stay as long as you like. You won't be an inconvenience."
"But I'm concerned that I'm interfering in your social life." Jessica retorted. "You are dating, aren't you? You do have a sex life, don't you?"
There was an awkward moment of silence. I finally spoke.
"I've had a few dates." I said. "But I've never brought any dates back to this house. I don't anticipate that your presence here will interfere in my social life."
Since Lilly died, my sex life had changed dramatically, from frequent sex, to almost no sex. Lilly and I had been part of a swingers group and we had enjoyed sex with many partners. But that group only allowed married couples to participate. When Lilly died, my participation ended, or at least until I was again married and had a wife who also wanted to swing. Searching for such a mate was difficult. And for now, I wasn't going to discuss that aspect of my sex life with my sister.
After another pause of silence, I again spoke.
"Although I may not have much of a sex life right now, I don't want to interfere in your love life." I told Jessica. "I hope you feel comfortable bringing your friends and dates here when you like. I guess with your relationship to Curtis over, you also are looking for that someone special."
"Thank you for the support and the offer to stay here." Jessica replied. "Currently there is no one special in my life. We shall see how things go."
"Sounds like both of us need to get laid." I quipped to which we both chuckled, a bit uncomfortably.
- - - - -
Within a week, Jessica and I had settled into our own routines around the house. For the most part each of us had our own life to live. Weekdays, I worked a usual downtown office job 8 to 5. In the mornings, Jessica often had job interviews, or spent time getting reacquainted with Austin. Austin had changed a lot in the past four years. Jessica had reconnected with old Austin friends and was making new friends quickly.
Most afternoons Jessica spent time sunbathing by the pool. Some evenings we had dinner together and watched TV or listened to music. Weekends we occasionally did things together. Otherwise we went our own ways with our own friends. We had no ownership of each other's life, and it all just worked well.
I made it a point to take Jessica out at least once a week for dinner and to visit some of my favorite nightspots. One time we went to a club and discovered how much we enjoyed dancing with each other. Neither of us had prospects for a steady significant other, so we continued to go out clubbing together. We genuinely enjoyed being with each other, possibly because as siblings there was no pressure to develop a romantic relationship. Sometimes we were approached by others and asked if we were husband and wife, or just in a long term relationship. When Jessica didn't want to be bothered by some stranger, her answer was that I was her 'very significant other.'
One Friday night at a dance club a very attractive red-head named Misty asked to join us. The three of us had drinks and danced several songs together. Misty was obviously more interested in Jessica than in me. Eventually I backed out and sat down at our table, watching the two women. The two females danced, touched, hugged and eventually kissed each other. At the end of one music set, Misty excused herself to go to the ladies room. Jessica came over to me and told me she would be going home with Misty for the night. She would get a ride home in the morning. I was a bit stunned, but accepted the situation. Jessica was a grown woman and could do what she liked. I left and went on home by myself.
- - - - -
The next morning I was up and having coffee when Jessica came home.
"So, you and Misty? I didn't know this side of you." I inquired.
"There are several things you don't know about me." Jessica replied, then added, "and I suspect there are many things I don't know about you, my dear brother."
Jessica poured a cup of coffee for herself and joined me at the breakfast table. My curiosity made me ask more about her love life.