When Bill returned we were all in the lounge, Mum reading, Beth and I on our phones. "Modern family life," he chuckled.
"How was your walk?" Mum asked.
"Great," he nodded. "It's cold enough to be bracing but not uncomfortable."
Mum got up. "Lunch, then?"
"Mm."
They moved over to the kitchen area, and I leaned across to Beth. "Going to give me a hint about your plan?"
She grinned knowingly. "Well, the first thing is, I go to your Mum's room when you and Dad are both out, I'm looking a little anxious, and she asks me if I'm OK."
"Right," I said cautiously. "And then?"
"I explain to her that since my Mum hasn't been around, I've had nobody to talk to about - you know, girl stuff."
I had to admire Beth's creativity. "So what do you tell her you need to talk about?"
"I say to her that I'm getting these... feelings, I know it wouldn't be right to do anything about them with - well, with a boyfriend, but it makes me want to, to..."
"So she nods to let me know she understands. "All girls feel that way, there's nothing wrong with it."
"She puts her arm around me. "Do you touch yourself when you feel like that?"
"I nod, my cheeks a little pink now, and she smiles. "That's OK too."
"I give her my best frustrated look. "But I don't think it feels the same as it would if..."
"I see her hesitate visibly. "Beth - I don't know if I should -"
"Then she obviously makes a decision. "There are, well, ways of helping with that. I - I sometimes need that myself," she admits. "Let me just get something."
"She goes over to the bedside table, opens the drawer, takes out - well, it's that thing we saw today. "Beth - this is what a lot of girls, women, use to help them."
"I pretend to look at it fascinated, like it's a snake maybe. "Wow."
"She offers it to me. "Would you like to borrow it? It's clean, I promise."
"I take it in my hand hesitantly. "Will you - will you watch me, to see if I'm doing it right?"
"She's obviously a little shocked, but I think her feeling of responsibility to me wins out over her hesitation. "Well, OK."
"I unzip my jeans, slip them off, then my panties, then glance at her to make sure it's OK as I lay down, part my thighs. She smiles reassuringly. "There's no rush - it might take a little while for you to be ready, and don't worry if it doesn't feel quite right the first time."
"I put it against my entrance, of course she doesn't know that I've been so wet since we started talking. I press on it a little, and just the tip slides inside. I gasp, and stop. "Oh!"
"She leans closer. "Are you OK, Beth?"
"I nod. "It feels... Actually it feels nice."
"I use my other hand to touch myself, and I can see that she can't tear herself away from watching now, she must be getting turned on herself. The toy slides in further, and I pull it back a little, then thrust again. "Ohh... that feels good."
"She can't help herself, her hand's moved to her breast and she's squeezing it, I can hear her breathing change. "Just do whatever feels best, Beth, it's OK."
"I use the toy more insistently, my fingers are moving on my nub, and I feel myself getting close to coming. "It feels - something, right inside me, getting more..."
"She nods. "Oh, yes, Beth, let it go, I know it'll be amazing for you..."
"I tip over the edge, I can't help moaning, my hips shuddering, pushing the toy in as far as it'll go, and - and then I spurt, and she moves back a little in surprise, then leans closer despite herself to watch it run down, making a wet patch on the bed. "Goodness, Beth, that's - well, that doesn't always happen."
"I'm relaxing now, and I slide the toy out of me, put it on the bed. "That was amazing - thank you so much..."
She takes a deep breath. "Beth - would you mind if I... if I did the same? I'm sorry - watching you has made me, well..."
"I reach to touch her hand. "Don't be sorry - you told me it's natural, right, so of course it's the same for you."
"She looks relieved, and a little self-consciously unzips her slacks, pushes them down, her panties too. "You can lose them completely," I reassure her.
"So she parts her thighs, slides two fingers inside, her other hand urgent on her nub. "I really enjoyed watching you, Beth," she confesses. "I could almost feel what it was like for you, feeling so full for the first time, just like if Bill - I mean, if someone you really trusted was inside you, both of you being intimate with one another, he's doing whatever he knows you like the most -"
"I can't believe how quickly she comes, not really a spurt but a dribble, and she clasps her thighs together round her hands. "Mm..."
Before Beth could imagine the end of her story, Bill returned. "What on earth are you two whispering about?" he asked, grinning. "Come on, lunch is ready."
When we'd finished eating, I could see Beth hinting to me with her eyes, and I cleared my throat. "Er, Bill?"
"Hmm?"
"How about you show me that route you walked this morning? I'd quite like to stretch my legs too."
"Sure."
Beth flashed her eyebrows at me as I pulled on my boots. "Take your time, enjoy the walk," she chuckled.
Bill and I made our way up the hill towards the woods. "I was hoping to get some time to talk to you," he ventured.
"Ah, OK," I managed. "Anything in particular?"
"Just wanted to thank you for taking care of Beth - I know she can be very independent, and she tries to sound like she doesn't need anything, but deep down I can see that she really appreciates having you around."
He grinned. "I think she always wanted a big brother."
"I'll do my best," I promised.
We carried on walking mostly in silence, Bill obviously not sure what would engage my interest. Then - "Oh, look - is that a buzzard?" I pointed.
"Definitely. Though there are kites around here, too."
We discovered that we had a shared interest in birds of prey, and the rest of the walk was filled with conversation about birds we'd seen or places we'd like to visit, wildlife centres.
When we got back to the lodge, there was no sign of Beth or Mum, and Bill put the kettle on. "Cup of tea, that'll soon bring them."