Empty Nesters

"No, I'm not gay, I just cannot bring myself to trust any women I meet," I said, looking at my now empty plate. "We should go." I said getting out my wallet and putting 40 bucks on the table.

"Dan, that's way too much," she said, pulling my hand.

"I told you I tip well and I don't wait around or in line much while I'm home," I said bluntly. "Come on lets go shopping for food for rest of the week."

I opened the door and we waved to the waitress, "Thanks very much."

At the truck I opened the door for Katie. "You need help up?" I asked.

"I got in fine the first time," She said.

"Yeah, but I saw you jump down and reconsidered my manners," I said, blushing a bit.

"I saw you watching me jump down. I didn't think it was my safety that had your attention," she said, taking my hand up with a smile.

"Yeah, you caught me. You are very attractive, you know?" Thinking I said too much, I quickly closed the door. Hopping in the driver seat, I started the truck up and drove to the grocery store just in the next block. "Can you grab those bags behind you, Sis?" I said, as I was closing my door. She grabbed several cloth bags behind her seat, while I walked around to help her down.

"You're such a gentleman Dan," she beamed at me. "Thanks."

"What kinds of food should we get?" I asked her. "I mean I always get fresh vegetables and fruits, milk and perishables, but what kinds of home cooked meals would you like?"

"Oh we can just get whatever is on special." she said.

"We can, but we don't have to. We can make this special," I said.

"Oh my god, I'm sorry, Dan. I totally forgot that your birthday is tomorrow."

"Yeah, but that's not what I meant about special. It's going to be really nice having you here, I think. We can have a real simple meal for my birthday. I don't need to be reminded of how old I am."

"You're not even forty, Dan. You are in great shape from what I saw."

Grabbing a cart and putting the bags in I said, "Yeah, let's not go there. I should have put on my jeans before I told you it was clear. I forgot I was tenting."

She fell in beside me and hugged on my arm. We each grabbed several items as we went through the produce isles. Tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, purple onions, apples, oranges, bananas, carrots, celery, cucumbers, grapes. Next I picked up several breads made in the store. In the meat section I got some really nice steaks and some large shrimp. Katie got a package of chicken breast and a pork roast. We gathered several boxes of crackers and a few bags of chips on the snack isle. Milk, eggs, half and half, sour cream and several different kinds of cheese went into the cart from dairy. Then we looked at some beer on the way out. I put some light ones in the cart and we were done.

"That should do for now, don't you think?" I asked her.

"More than enough, I'd think," she said.

"Yeah, and we'll eat out some too. I like to cook, but don't enjoy having to fix every meal for myself," I remarked.

"Well, I can take on some cooking too. I'm not just here for you to wait on, Dan."

"Yes, Sis. I know. You are the most helpful person I know. Just like this morning..." I said putting my hand on hers as we approached the check out.

"Did you two find everything okay today?" the clerk asked, as he started ringing everything up.

"You bet," I said, handing him the bags we'd brought. The young man took the bags, but was clearly giving Katie a good look over. I wondered if she noticed like I did.

With everything bagged and in the cart we headed out to load them into the back of the truck. That was one disadvantage of the truck. It had some space behind the seats, just not enough for groceries. They always went in the back. As I finished putting them in the back. I looked at Katie, "Maybe I'll do it this time off."

"What's that, Dan?"

"Oh, just thinking out loud. I've been thinking it was time to replace this silly truck with a car. Maybe it's time. You up for dealing with car salesmen this week, Sis?"

"Is anyone ever up for that?" she shivered.

"Oh, it's not that bad. We'll go in and tease a few while we test out the high end ones..." I joked.

The trip home was silent. She seemed to be deep in thought. I wondered what she was thinking, but didn't want to push it. We got all the groceries into the house and put away. She went off to move the laundry. When she came back she had her yellow bikini on and I nearly tripped over my tongue.

"I haven't had a chance to test the pool, Katie bug," I said, using my nickname for her.

"I can do it. You taught me last time," she said, as she watched me looking at her. Her eyes twinkled as she opened the French door that opened onto the pool area.

"Yeah, I guess I forgot," I said mindlessly.

I busied myself in the kitchen making up a tray of veggies to snack on during the day. While I watched her out the back, carefully cleaning the pool. Every so often she bent way down giving me a very nice view. I was getting stiff just standing there. I have got to put that out of my head, I thought to myself. I cannot hurt her again.

I went to my room to change into some swim trunks. I paced around for a while letting my arousal subside. Then I grabbed some beach towels from the linen closet and went out to the pool. Katie was showering off over by the pool house. Her top had become somewhat see though. I was starting to wonder if I was being tempted on purpose.

"I tested the salinity and pH like you showed me. Everything looks good. I left the test stuff over there on the table for you to double check," she said, wetting her long blond hair.

"I'm sure it is fine. I have a guy that checks it before I come home. I just normally make sure," I said, trying not to look at the very perky dark aureoles that were now plainly visible through her top.

She must have noticed my gaze, but she didn't say anything. The day was lovely, we just swam and sunned for most of the rest of the morning. Around 1:30 I asked her if she wanted some of the snacks I'd made and we had a little snack and a couple of lite beers at the table in the outdoor kitchen.

"You have quite the set up here, Dan," she said.

"Yeah, I don't really go out that much when I'm home. I like it here. We're secluded and the view is pretty good too," realizing my blunder immediately.

"You just won't let it go, will you perv?"

I was really talking about the gulf but instead of defending the statement, I dove into it, "Oh, you know I was talking about the gulf, you tease. We've both been squirming avoiding the incident from that night nearly six years ago."

"I don't -- um. What?"

"Don't act all shy and surprised. Miss see through, barely covering my nice ass bikini," I said, smiling and taking her hand. "I am sorry it happened the way it did back then. I have thought about it often over the years. I can't tell you how many times I've picked up the phone to call you and talk about it."

"Me too, Dan," she said. There was a long pause. "I have been a bit naughty to you today," she finally admitted. "I can't remember much about that whole thing. We were really drunk. The main thing I remember was waking up and seeing you like that. You were pretty big. I don't think I've seen one that thick, and I couldn't believe I had somehow gotten it in me. But the whole plane ride home I could feel where you had been inside."

"So what do we do about it?" I asked honestly. "I have no memory of the event either. Just like you, I saw you when I woke up and how awesome your body was."

"I don't know. I don't think I came here to seduce you," she said.

"Oh, I never thought that. You came here when I needed you to and now you've come back when you needed me." I said. "But I have to say what you are wearing and the way you've teased me makes me regret not having any memory of the event."

"So you feel deprived too?" she queried.

"Yeah, that's kind of it. We did it, but I don't remember and wish I did.... I was deprived of that memory but still have the shame of having done that to you."

"Shame? You feel shame about it?" she asked, looking shocked.

"I figured I was responsible, Katie bug," I said sadly. "I would never intentionally hurt you. I love you so much."

"Oh, Dan," she said, as she hugged me tightly.

All I could do was hug back. The whole time I my manhood was just filling and filling. Her aroma was making me crazy and her nipples were pressing into my bare chest.

"I love you so much. I know you would never hurt me. I just need you to help me though this," she whispered in my ear.

"I am here for you," I whispered back. My trunks were really straining now.

She finally noticed the effect she was having on me. "Oh, Dan, I'm so sorry." She patted it and ran into the house.

I didn't really know what to do. I felt bad, but I didn't have much control over how my body was reacting to the physical contact she was giving me. Slowly the swelling was going back down. I decided I'd go in and work on some dinner preparations. I figured I would make some shrimp Alfredo over a wilted spinach rather than a bunch of pasta since we already carb'd out that morning.

The first thing I did was go change back into some baggy clothing. I put on some clothes I held back from my heavy days. At one point I'd weighted as much as 275. Even at 6' 3" that's too much. I had a pretty low esteem going from the divorce and there is always bad food to eat on the rig. It took a lot of willpower to get back to my 220 and maintain it. That still had me as bulky, but I had a lot of muscle. That was the period of my life when I converted one of the rooms in the house to an exercise room.

Walking back into the kitchen in my frumpy cloths, I started to make the sauce. I cooked the onions and garlic first in some olive oil and then cooked the shrimp. The way I make Alfredo is with cream cheese, milk, a little half and half and a little butter. With the sauce made all I needed to do was wilt the spinach lightly in the microwave. Quick, easy and not too fattening, but still comfort food. I liked to call it healthy comfort food. I wasn't sure what to do about Katie. I figured she'd come out when she smelled the food, but that plan wasn't working, at least not yet.

The sauce would keep like it was for a hour or so I figured, so I turned on the news for a bit. After 30 minutes or so, I went to her door and knocked. "Katie, I'm really sorry about earlier. Don't you want to eat?" There was no answer. I cracked the door and found her on the bed asleep. She'd change clothes too and appeared to have cried herself to sleep. I felt like a real bum. I desperately wanted to fix this if I could. Kneeling on the floor beside her I stroked her hair and whispered, "Katie" a few times until she stirred. "Hey, I just wanted to tell you how bad I felt about earlier."

"Oh, Dan. You need to stop apologizing to me. I was the one teasing you. Then when you responded to our physical closeness, I lost my nerve." She reached up and hugged me to her. Then she whispered to me. "I love you and my body wants you, too. I just need to wrap my head around that."

"Hey, we have all the time in the world for whatever life has in store for us," I offered. "You don't have to do anything for me. I'm here to support you. I love you so much, Katie. I just wish I could take your pain on for you."

"You do, don't you?" she whispered hugging me closer. We stayed like that for several minutes until her tension relaxed. Finally, she asked in a soft voice, "What smells so good?"

"Oh, I made some shrimp Alfredo sauce to go over wilted spinach. You hungry?" I asked finally, breaking the embrace.

"You don't know how hungry I am." she sighed, sitting up and scooting to the edge of the bed. "One more hug, little brother." She hugged me again as I knelt. Then she got up and we went out into the kitchen.

"Won't be but a minute or so, I just need to reheat the sauce and steam the spinach for about 30 seconds," I told her, as she pulled up a bar stool to the granite island where I was cooking.

The kitchen had a nice work triangle and was really another reason I'd held on to the house. It had this island with gas cook top at one end and space to eat at the other. It also had really modern stainless steel vent hood, although I rarely used it, it just made it look like a professional kitchen. As the sauce came back to a boil, I sprinkled a tiny bit of water on the spinach in her bowl covered it with a plate and placed it in the microwave for 30 seconds. At the ding, the sauce was just right and I put a generous serving on top of the wilted spinach.

"Here you go," I said, placing it at her seat. "Would you like some grated Parmesan and black pepper?"

"Ooo, yes, just the cheese please," she affirmed.

As I ground the cheese I realized I hadn't gotten any utensils. "Let me get you some utensils."

"This looks nice, Dan," she said, sniffing it deeply.

"I like cooking when I'm home. So much of what I get on the rig is pre-made or over cooked or unhealthy," I said, as I handed her a knife, fork and cloth napkin. "The pepper grinder is here if you change your mind." I placed it on the island between us.

I started fixing my bowl the same as I'd done for hers. Then pulled a stool up opposite her and started to eat. Then feeling stupid, I asked. "Hey, did you want some red or white wine with this?"

"Oh, um Yeah, what do you have that would go well with this?" she asked.

"I have a really excellent Riesling that's chilled or I have a nice Sangiovese that I love with any meal." I really had around 100 or more bottles in my collection. It was something else I had spent some of my money on upgrading the house. "I have a bunch of other stuff in my wine cellar." It wasn't really a cellar since we don't have many basements in Corpus Christi, but it was a temperature and humidity controlled room. That was where I was building my small collection.

"I think I'll try the Riesling," she said.

Pulling it out of the little wine refrigerator under the island, I got out the corkscrew and opened it up. I presented her with the cork with a little flourish. "Here you are ma'am, does it suit you?"

She smiled a broad beautiful smile. Her eyes twinkled as she answered, "It smells fantastic, kind sir."

"Excellent, I'll pour you a glass," I said with a little bow.

As I got down some glasses from the rack, she watched me intently. I was poured hers and gave it to her to taste. "How is it I asked?"

"It has a very nice flavor. I think it'll really go nicely with this meal," she said. I finished pouring her glass and then mine. As I was sitting down to take a sip, she asked me, "Do you treat all of your dates to such finery?"

I nearly spit my wine out my nose at the bluntness. "Well - um," I said, trying to recover. "I don't have many dates these days. I have a lot of trust issues."

Her eyes betrayed her mirth as she continued, "You don't have to work so hard for me."

Stunned at the turn in mood and tone, I was just happy she was happy. "I generally like my dates to be happy and comfortable. There should be as little tension as possible. I'm so happy you came."

Reaching across the bar she took my hand. "Thanks little brother, you really are one of the good ones."

As we finished eating I was admiring her face. I just sat there sipping my Riesling. She finally looked me directly in the eyes, "What?"

"Nothing, Sis. I was just looking at you." I looked away feeling the tension coming back. It felt pretty precarious right now. "You are very pretty in this light. I'm sorry, I was staring." I got up to start cleaning up the kitchen.

"I told you to stop apologizing, Dan. I just wondered what you were thinking. I wasn't accusing you of anything. Here, let me help you with all this."

"You don't have to do that, Katie bug," I said instinctively. "I just want you to begin the healing process."

"I like cleaning, little brother. It clears my mind. It helps me feel better about myself when my surroundings are tidy. Your house is very tidy; it puts me at ease," she said, giving me a hug as she rounded the counter.

We cleaned up the cooking area and placed all the dishes and pans in the dishwasher. Then I poured myself another glass and asked, "Would you like another glass?" She nodded and I poured.

She walked back over to the recliner sofa and sat down in the middle, and patted the seat where I'd sat last night. "Come sit with me," she pleaded me gently.

"Of course," I said, assuming my place beside her.

Snuggling up to me she sighed. "I'm thinking about going back to school."

"Hey, that's a good idea," I encouraged. "Are you thinking of completing your engineering degree?"

"Yeah, it feels like the right thing to do. I have money coming from the settlement. I just think it would give me something else to focus on than the betrayal and loss," she said, stroking my knee.

"You are welcome to stay here while you go. Texas A&M has a campus here," I offered.

"That might be just the thing, little brother," she said, sitting up to give me a kiss.

I wasn't expecting it when she placed her lips on mine. I didn't kiss back at first, but it felt like she wasn't moving away quick enough. Time might have slowed down or something I was feeling pretty confused. Suddenly our tongues were touching and electricity alive between our mouths. As our mouths parted a soft moan emanated from her throat. After what seemed like a long time she blushingly said, "I don't know why I did that."

"It was very nice." I said lightly touching her face. "You know I love you and I would do almost anything for you."

"Yes, you are helping me but I should have asked first," she said, kind of admonishing herself and turning her face downward towards her lap.

I moved my hand to her face and gently tilted it back to look at me. "You don't have to ask, Sis," I whispered.

She snuggled into my chest and relaxed. We just sat there for an hour. It was just nice to hold each other. I would occasionally stroke her hair, she would occasionally shift or stroke my knee. She was clearly having an internal struggle.

"Dan, could we sleep in a bed tonight?" she finally asked.

"Oh, sure." I laughed. "Sleeping on the sofa wasn't really my plan last night. It just kind of happened that way."

"Would you mind if I slept with you?" she pressed.

"I have a California king bed that you are welcome to share. It is a little longer than the one in the guest room."

"I just want to be held. Last night was so nice, but I just have a little cramp from sleeping on your chest," she giggled.

"Okay, well let me change the sheets on it first," I offered.

"We don't need to do that, I like how you smell. It reminds me of um -" she cut herself short.

Rescuing her from her own words, I quickly said, "Well, I'm pretty tired and you still have some dark circles under your eyes. Did you want to go now?" I asked, stroking her long blond hair lightly.

"Yes, I just need to get my nightgown from my bag and brush my teeth."

"Okay, I'll go get into some boxers and a tee shirt," I said. I usually slept naked, but felt that might be too frightening. As I brushed my teeth I thought to myself. If anything is going to happen, I want her to be the instigator.

She met me in my room a few minutes later. Her gown was knee length and looked like silk. The chest area was a bit more open than I was expecting, but not too reveling. I pulled my tee shirt on and asked, "Which side do you prefer, Katie bug?"

"I like to sleep on the bathroom side," she said smiling.

"That would be the left then, I'll take the right," I said, walking around to that side to climb in. The AC was still running and I pulled up the covers as I got in.

Katie got in and snuggled her back up to me. I turned out the touch table lamp and we drifted off to sleep.