Family Ties

“I should’ve told you,” Kirk said into the silence. “Sorry, Mom.”

“Me too,” I said. “And… I’m sorry I thought it was a sexist thing.”

“I’m sorry I lost my temper,” Susan said. “I guess I’m still upset from Jeremiah’s death. And… Beth’s right.” She looked at Dawn. “I’m so sorry I didn’t realize.”

“It’s okay,” Dawn said. “I didn’t want to make you feel bad.”

“Next time, tell me,” Susan said. “I can take it. I’m a tough old bird.”

I snorted a laugh.

Every head at the table swiveled toward me.

“You aren’t as tough as you think,” I said mildly. “You aren’t that old, either.”

All the men and most of the women shook their heads.

“And if you’re a ‘bird,’” I finished, “it’s only because you’re a hot chick.”

Mom smiled at me gratefully, and Christy squeezed my hand again.

“He’s right,” my dad chimed in. “One of the hottest chicks I know.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re hoping to get lucky,” Susan shot back, but sweet instead of tart.

“Already am lucky,” he said. “Hoping to get luckier is all.”

“Keep that up and you just might,” Mom told him with a smile. She also squeezed Susan’s hand, and they shared a look that spoke volumes.

Christy gripped my own hand so hard that I thought she might burst. She smiled at me with tears in her eyes.

See? I told her silently. Love is love.

After dinner we cleared the table and cleaned the kitchen as a group.

Everyone helped, and we finished in about fifteen minutes with all ten of us working. Then we took our towels and headed out to the hot tub to relax and soak. I hadn’t seen Dawn or Olivia in a while, so I used the opportunity to discreetly check them out.

Dawn was an athletic blonde, although taller and heavier than Christy.

Her figure was more boyish, though, with flat breasts and slim hips. She’d had a full bush the first time I met her, but her current hairstyle was a small triangle at the top of her shaved slit. She also sported an engagement ring that was new since the last time.

Olivia was Dawn’s opposite in many ways: five inches taller and probably twenty-five pounds heavier, with a figure that reminded me of Susan, especially since she shaved her pubic hair as well. She was a brunette too, and her personality was more like Susan’s, wry and sharp compared to Dawn’s perkiness.

Susan herself drew my attention as she draped her towel over a patio chair and descended the stairs into the hot tub. Mom and Dad joined her, followed by Kirk and Doug and their fiancées. Erin hung back to sit by Christy and me, so I stepped into the bubbling water first.

The tub was big, but seven adults displaced enough water that it sloshed over the coping as I joined them. Even more water streamed onto the concrete deck as Christy and Erin sat beside me. Christy was so short that her chin barely cleared the surface, so I put my arm around her and guided her into my lap.

“Much better,” I said.

“It’s a pain being our size,” Dawn said to her, “isn’t it?”

“Sometimes,” Christy agreed.

“I mostly wish I was taller.”

“Me too. And heavier.”

I glanced at Christy. “I dunno. I like you just the way you are.”

Kirk put his arm around Dawn and agreed with a nod.

“Especially when you sit on my lap,” I added. “Then we always have something to talk about.”

Christy stiffened with embarrassment, but everyone else smiled at the old joke. The conversation turned to other things, so I took advantage of the moment and leaned close to her ear.

“Relax,” I said softly. “We’re more open about it, remember?”

She nodded.

“It just takes some getting used to.”

“You can say that again,” she said.

“You’re doing fine.” I kissed her cheek and hugged her protectively.

She relaxed against my chest, but then jerked in surprise when she felt my nascent erection press into her thigh.

“Sorry,” I said without meaning it. “Can’t help it.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled. “I kind of like it.”

“Only kind of?”

“Okay, I like it a lot.”

“Good. ’Cause you’re going to spend a lot of time with it.”

“With him,” she corrected.

“Are you all talking about his dick again?” Erin asked in a low voice.

“Sorry,” Christy said immediately.

“No, it’s cool. I mean, you’re his girlfriend, right? You’re supposed to talk about it.”

“But it’s kind of weird that you know we’re talking about it,” Christy said. “I mean, you’re his sister.”

“Nah, it isn’t weird. We’ve always been like that. Besides, it’s just a body part, like an arm or leg, even if it does seem to have a mind of its own.”

“I know, right!” Christy said. She leaned toward Erin to whisper, “He and Paul actually have conversations.”

“I’m not surprised,” Erin laughed. “Paul’s always talked to himself. So I guess it’s only natural for him to talk to his dick too.” She glanced at me.

“So, big brother, what’s he have to say for himself?”

“Not much. He has a one-track mind.”

“You can say that again,” Christy murmured affectionately.

“Speaking of which,” I said, and shifted her toward me a bit. “Much better. Room to grow and all that.”

Erin rolled her eyes and changed the subject. “So, Christy, what’re your plans for Christmas?”