"I love Pete!"
I looked into my sister's deep brown eyes. A hint of sadness - unshed tears. She meant it. She got up to get my pancakes.
"Good! That makes me feel better...was just wondering..."
"What?"
I gazed at her tall slim body.
"Well, you guys have been married a while...everything seems to be going well...you have a wonderful home...yet no pitter-patter of little feet as the cliché goes..."
I smiled big, trying to make it into a joke.
"Is none of your business!" she said indignantly.
She turned and walked towards me with the breakfast pancakes. Graceful. Blonde hair cut short. Natural wide red lips.
"I know, Ruthie...I know...mom and dad realize that too...is just that we want to see you happy."
"I am happy." She said stubbornly and sat down at the table with me.
"All right...my happy sis..."
She stuck out her tongue at me.
I rolled my eyes.
She leaned forward and put her hand on mine. Soft touch. Her shirt had moved - cleavage showed.
"I know you care..."
I felt a lump in my throat.
"Yeah."
"When do you get back today?" she asked.
"Early evening...these pancakes are delicious."
"Mom's recipe."
"I know."
I was in Boston attending a sales conference. Ruth and Pete lived in the town of Arlington, not too far away. Forgoing the hotel accommodation, I was staying with them. My intent - to catch up with family.
"You do this often?" Pete asked. It was evening that same day. I was apron-ed and fixing dinner.
"Not too often," I laughed. Pete was a handsome man. And successful. Ruth and he made a great couple. Ruth was helping me. Pete watched us.
"He likes doing all this," she said. A fond look. She was a great cook herself.
"You do?" Pete asked. "Well, don't know about that...we gotta eat...someone has to cook...help me move this stuff to the dinner table..."
As we ate, I commended them,
"Great place you guys have here...comfy...nice area."
"Yeah, great school districts too," Pete said.
"Oh yeah?"
"Is why we bought the place...thought we would have kids..."
There was silence.
"Ruth has not told you, eh?"
I shook my head.
He blew a kiss at her.
"She wouldn't...always loyal," he said, "The truth is, Jack, I shoot blanks!"
"You sure it's you?" I asked.
"The doctors say so...we did all the tests."
I looked at my sister. Her nose had turned red and she was staring into her food.
"Sorry to hear," I said.
"We are considering adoption...but then Ruth can have a baby naturally...artificially inseminated...donor sperm."
"Yeah, the miracles of modern science," I said jokingly.
But both of them seemed sad. Must have been a big blow.
After dinner Pete excused himself to catch up on some paperwork. Ruth and I sat in the living room. The TV was on but neither of us was in the mood. We sat on the couch.
She was wearing low cotton hip huggers. The fabric clung to her shapely long legs. The smooth skin of her belly showed. She squeezed her legs together in a sexy gesture.
I put an arm around her. She came into my arms easily. Tears flowed. She stuck her head into my shirt. Breasts pressed on my side. I caressed her hair,
"It's not so bad...Ruthie," I whispered.
After a while, she stopped crying. Smiling through her tears, she said,
"You could give me a baby!"
I raised my eyebrows questioning.
"Well, even if we did the artificial thing...there has to be a sperm donor...and I'd rather have someone I know...and..."
"Someone you know and?" I asked curious.
"Love!" she completed her sentence.
I gazed at my little sister. Couldn't help smiling - she looked so innocent.
"Is it so difficult to say you love me," I laughed.
She looked away.
I lifted her chin and looking into her eyes said,
"Sweetheart, if that's what you want...I'll go to the sperm bank..."
