"This gadget makes pretty good coffee," Tom said. He stood at one end of the marble island in the Jacobs' kitchen, downing his morning double espresso. He stopped scrolling through his email long enough to take a closer look at the stainless steel Gaggia sitting on the countertop. "When'd we get it?"
"About three months ago." Melissa looked up briefly from her reading. "Glad you like it. I cashed out your 401K for it."
"Cute. What are you reading?"
"Greenleaf Gazette. It's what they call a 'newspaper.' Local doings."
"Hope there's nothing interesting in there about Oakmore."
"Not a word. Hey, you've been awfully tight-lipped about the whole Milt Stewart thing. What exactly was going on down there? Or is it maybe still going on?"
Tom looked startled. "Nothing to write home about. A touch of embezzlement is all," he mumbled, glancing up at the clock. "Look at the time. Long day ahead." He finished his coffee and went to rinse the cup.
"Dad, it's a freaking national holiday!" Ben protested. He hovered at the microwave waiting for his egg and sausage muffin, having feigned disinterest in his parents' conversation until just now.
"Yeah, can't you at least take the evening off?" Melissa pleaded. "They say that Sharon's Fourth of July barbeque is the big blow-out of the season hereabouts. You might surprise yourself and have a good time."
Tom paused at the dishwasher as if considering the possibility. "Wish I could. Thanks to Milt's conniving we have to work twice as hard now to make our operating budget."
"One would think you'd be the company hero for exposing, uh, whatever crimes it is that you exposed."
"Wouldn't that be nice? Sadly, while employee integrity might be respected, no one is a hero for costing the company moneyβwhich was the end result of my reporting Stewart to the police. Never mind why. Don't want to bore you with the details." He gave Melissa a peck on the cheek. "See you later, hon."
Melissa watched through the bay window as her husband backed the car out of the garage and drove away. "I thought he'd never leave," She smiled at her handsome son, rose, and shucked off her robe to stand naked before him. She'd stopped wearing underclothes around the house weeks ago.
"And I thought he'd croak when you asked about the resort," Ben chuckled. "What's gonna happen when someday Dad takes you up on one of your invitations to Sharon's? You ever think about that?"
"That'll be a real interesting day." Melissa slid her hand into her son's pajama shorts, curling her fingers lovingly around his erection. "This house
is
huge, isn't it? Have we fucked in the third-floor guest bedroom, yet? I don't believe we have."
β β β
"Happy Independence Day!" Ruth strolled onto Sharon's back porch. Sharon leaned on the railing with her fist around the neck of a wine bottle, staring out at the party in progress in her yard.
"Uh-huh." Sharon took a gulp and held the bottle out to Ruth.
Ruth frowned, declining the offer. "We're giving up on glasses altogether? Classy."
Sharon looked her friend up and down. "What have you got on, four-inch heels and nothing else? You'll break your neck on the flagstones."
"All the better to get a cock in me standing up, my dear. Several cocks, I hope." Ruth surveyed the scene below. She estimated that there were over fifty people here this evening, dancing and fucking up a storm to the backing of loud techno. She personally preferred classic jazz but had to admit that the guys moved to these beats in ways that felt really good when they were inside her.
"Mercy me, will you just
look
at all those naked people," she joked. "Did anyone at all go out to the fairgrounds today?"
"Nobody you'd wanna fuck." Sharon smiled tightly.
"Penny for your thoughts."
"I was thinkin' that it's good to be the Queen."
"Is that so? It sure doesn't show." Below them, Alice Tilson bent forward over a rattan side table. Luke Gable was taking her from behind. She'd just finished sucking off a young man whom Ruth didn't recognize. He was tall and rugged and wore his long hair in braids. "Check out the new meat. Wanna collab on him?"
"I'll catch up."
"Suit yourself. " After their many years together, Ruth knew Sharon's dark moods too well to pursue the topic. She hugged the blonde and kissed the top of her head. "Whenever you're ready to talk, all right?"
Ruth descended toward the pool, holding onto the rail to help her negotiate the wooden stairs. Melissa passed her on the way up, swaying almost as much in her flat sandals as Ruth did in her heels. She dropped onto the wooden bench beside Sharon. "You doing okay up here, Shar?"
Sharon brightened visibly at the sight of her neighbor. "Better now. You look plowed."
"A little sipβtipsy, is all. Shar, I want it up the ass."
Sharon stared at Melissa in disbelief. "Well, ain't my Girl all growed up."
"I'm s-serious," Melissa insisted. "I've been thinking about it. Like, lots. I want two guys. I wanna get fucked up the ass and, and, and I want Ben in my pussy at the same time."