Stay at Home

We received the notice about the school closing down, and had to vacate the dorms. I felt this would happen when I read about the outbreak of the virus in China, and its spreading to other countries.

I called my parents to let them know what was happening. My dad told me to be safe, and he and my mom would see me when I got home. It took a couple of days for me to pack up my belongings and load them into my car.

I planned to leave Boston, stop to see my sister in North Carolina, and then head to Florida to stay with my retired parents. My parents lived in a retirement community in central Florida. They bought the condo after selling their business.

Carol, my older sister, still lived in the Raleigh area with her husband. Bill and Carol married when she was nineteen, a year after she graduated from high school. Her husband was two years older than Carol.

I hadn't seen my sister in over a year because of my schedule. I wanted to finish my MBA as quickly as I could, so I attended school all year and didn't get home often. While we lived at home, Carol and I didn't hang around together. She's three years older than me and had her own friends. We kept in touch, but it was usually by email.

Bill worked for a large IT company. From what my sister said, he was doing well. I knew they bought a home a year after they married. Before heading out, I texted my sister to make sure it was alright for me to visit. Carol said she would never forgive me if I didn't stop on the way to Florida.

It was almost seven on Monday morning when I left the campus. I wish I'd gotten away earlier to avoid the traffic, but I spent an extra hour having breakfast with my roommate. He was leaving for his home town after we ate.

I checked my GPS, discovering it would take over twelve hours to get to my sister's house. With stops for gas and food, it would probably take longer. Armed with a large black coffee, I headed out.

At one of my stops, I texted Carol to let her know my ETA. She told me not to worry about what time I arrived, and to drive safely. It was nine o'clock when I pulled into the driveway at my sister's house.

I knocked on the door, waiting for someone to answer. Carol opened the door, stepped onto the porch, and hugged me. My sister had always been a curvy girl with full hips, busty, and thick thighs. I noticed she was slimmer and firmer. I wondered if she had been working out.

"You look great, Carol," I said as I released her.

"Thanks, I finally got off my butt and started going to a gym." Carol smiled. "Thanks for noticing."

After a moment, she invited me into the house. Bill stood up, extending his hand, and we shook.

"How was your drive?" Bill said.

"It was uneventful, just the way I like it," I replied.

"Come sit and tell us about it, Matt," Carol said.

Laughing, I said, "If it's all the same, I would rather stand for a few minutes. I've been sitting for a long time."

Carol offered me something to drink. I said a soda would be great. Standing in the living room, I drank from the can, enjoying the refreshing cold drink. A few minutes later, my sister insisted she give me a tour of the house.

The house was a two-story Cape Cod. The first floor had a kitchen, a living room, a half-bath, and a family room with a natural fireplace. We went upstairs, where Carol showed me the master bedroom and its ensuite bathroom. There were two other bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor.

"You can use this room," Carol said as she pointed. "Bill is using the other room as his office. He works from home most of the time."

I looked into Bill's office, seeing his desk and three large monitors. He explained he managed the networks and security for several companies. After leaving Bill's office, we went to the bonus room above the three-car garage. The long room had a wet bar, a large screen television, a pool table, and several pieces of furniture. Alcoves with bay windows provided a view of the front and backyards.

Looking outside, I saw the inground swimming pool and the covered patio.

"This is where we spend most of our time. When we have a party, it keeps the first floor clean." Carol said. Walking to the far end of the room, she showed me a half-bath and a set of stairs leading to the first floor.

"The stairs lead to the mudroom by the garage. When we entertain, our guests come up this way," Bill said.

"Are you hungry?" Carol asked.

"No, I ate earlier," I replied.

We went into the bonus room and sat down. Bill sat in a recliner while my sister sat next to me on one of the two leather couches. We visited for about an hour, then I yawned. Carol smiled and said, "Do you want to get some rest?"

"Yeah, I'm bushed. Sorry, but I feel as if I could fall asleep sitting here," I said.

We all went downstairs. I went to my car, grabbed my backpack, and locked the doors. Back in the house, I said goodnight and went upstairs. I removed my shaving kit from my bag and went to the bathroom. Carol came to the door and told me where I could find clean towels.

After my shower, I pulled on a pair of running shorts and went to the bedroom. It didn't take long until I fell asleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I put on a tee-shirt and went to the bathroom to take a leak and brush my teeth. Finished, I headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Bill and Carol sat a the island counter, drinking coffee. My sister saw me, stood up, and got me a mug.

"How'd you sleep?" Carol asked as she placed my coffee on the counter.

"I slept great. The bed is very comfortable. It's also large. I'm used to the single bed in my dorm room," I said as I glanced at the television on the wall of the kitchen.

"I'm watching the news. This virus shit is getting out of hand. It sounds like they plan to make people stay at home," Bill said.

"Sweetie, we should go shopping and stock up. What if they close the grocery stores?" Carol said.

"I doubt they'll close the grocery stores. After all, people have to eat," Bill said.

Turning to me, Carol said, "How long do you plan to stay, Matt?"

"What, are you trying to get rid of me?" I said.

"Not at all. We need to know how much food to buy. You know you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like to," Carol said.

"I thought I'd head to Mom and Dad's in a day or two. Maybe Thursday or Friday. The school is beginning the on-line classes on Monday," I said.

"Why don't you two go shopping? I have to work," Bill said.

We ate breakfast while making a shopping list. When we finished, Bill headed for his office. Carol and I changed and left for the store. As she drove, she pointed out several things. As we arrived at the grocery store, my sister's phone rang. She pressed a button on the steering wheel, answering the call.

"Hi, Mom, how are you and Dad doing? Matt is here with me, and we're on speakerphone," Carol said.

"Hi, Carol, hi, Mathew. How was your drive from Boston?" Mom said.

"It was okay, Mom. It took about thirteen hours or so. I will probably see you and Dad on Friday or Saturday," I said.

"That's why I called. The governor had issued an executive order. We're not allowed to leave the house except for food, doctor's appointments, or other essential needs. They are also advising that no one visits," Mom said.

I looked at my sister. She smiled and said, "No problem, Mom. Matt can stay with Bill and me as long as necessary."

"Are you sure, Carol? I mean, if it's necessary, I guess Matt could come here," Mom said.

"Don't be silly. It's okay for my brother to stay here. From what they said on the news this morning, it's going to get worse before it gets better," Carol said, then she asked about our dad.

Laughing, Mom said, "He's playing golf. Dad's afraid they're going to shut down the golf courses."

We chatted with Mom for a few minutes. She kept apologizing for not being able to have me stay with her and Dad. Carol and I told her not to worry. We agreed to keep in touch and ended the call.

"It looks like I'm stuck with my little brother, doesn't it?" Carol said as she bumped against me on the way into the store.

"If it's inconvenient, I can make other arrangements. I can find a hotel or something," I said.

"Don't be ridiculous! You're staying with Bill and me," Carol said.

In the store, we each grabbed a cart. As we went up and down the isles, Carol placed items in the carts. After we went through the check-out, we loaded the groceries into the back of my sister's SUV.

Carol and I started unloading the car. Bill came to help, carrying bags into the kitchen and placing them on the counter and floor.

"It looks like you bought our the store, sweetie," Bill said.

Carol shook her head and told her husband about the phone call from Mom. Bill nodded and assured me I was welcome to stay as long as I wanted to.

Once we had the food and other things put away, Bill said he had to run out. Carol and I sat in the family room, watching the developing news about the virus. We learned the state was ordering a shelter in place order for our area, and that all non-essential business were to close.

When Bill returned, he asked me to help him with the things he bought. We carried the beer, water, soda, and liquor into the house and upstairs to the bonus room.

"Are you planning to have a party?" I said as we stored the things.

"No, but I want to be prepared for a long quartine if it comes to that. Carol and I enjoy a few drinks on the weekends," Bill said.

"It's too bad, the restaurants closed. I was looking forward to having a barbecue dinner," I said.

"I heard on the radio restaurants could still provide carry-out and delivery. We'll get you a good barbecue meal, Matt," Bill said.

Later, Bill called a restaurant and ordered food. We went to pick it up, returning home to eat. While enjoying the tasty pork, I said, "You can't find a good barbecue restaurant in Boston. There are a few places, but they can't compare to this."

"Maybe, but you get great seafood," Bill said.

We talked about the different foods we liked. I told my brother-in-law and sister I liked almost everything. Bill told me they had a freezer full of steaks, pork, chicken, and fish.

After taking care of the trash, we all went to the bonus room to watch television. After watching the news for an hour, Carol said she was tired of hearing all of the doom and gloom. She switched to a different program.

Our lives were affected by the virus, but the three of us quickly fell into a routine. On Monday, I began my virtual classes. My sister took care of the housework and sat by the pool reading. Bill worked all day, and then we ate together. After dinner, we'd have a drink while watching television until it was bedtime.

During the day, we would take a break to go swimming and relax. I couldn't keep my eyes off my sister in her bikini. When she caught me looking, Carol would smile.

It seemed the three of us all staked our claims to our favorite seats in the bonus room. Bill sat in one of the two recliners. Carol and I sat on opposite ends of a couch. She liked to sit with her legs curled under her and lean against the armrest. I sat with my feet up on a footstool.

We would watch the evening news, making comments about the deteriorating conditions. The reports talked about social distancing and avoiding crowds. They told people to stay home unless it was necessary to go out. Bill made comments about the pressure on the data networks he monitored.

While living with Bill and Carol, I noticed the affection they openly shared. At first, seeing them kiss, hug, and whisper to each other was a little uncomfortable, but it soon became normal. One morning I walked into the kitchen and saw my brother-in-law hugging Carol. His hands gripped her bottom as they shared a tender kiss. When my sister saw me, she smiled but didn't pull away from her husband.

There were several times that Carol and I talked while Bill worked. We'd sit outside, enjoying the warm air while getting to know one another better. Carol asked me if I had a girlfriend. I said I dated a couple of girls, but nothing serious.

It was Friday afternoon, almost two weeks since I arrived at my sister's house. I finished my virtual classes and homework. Bill came down from his office, and we talked about dinner.

"I took out three porterhouse steaks for dinner. We can cook them on the grill. I'll make a salad and baked potatoes," Carol said.

At five o'clock, Bill and I went outside to start the grill while Carol worked in the kitchen. A few minutes later, my sister came out with cans of beer for us. We chatted while waiting for the coals to burn down. Like most days, all of us wore shorts and tee shirts. It would be too chilly in Boston, but it was in the eighties in North Carolina.

We sat at the patio table, drinking beer, and enjoying our steaks. I commented about gaining weight if I had to stay much longer.

"I know. If the gyms stay closed, I'm going to get fat again," Carol said.

"You were never fat," Bill said.

"I wasn't skinny, that's for sure," Carol said.

Not knowing how to react, I smiled. I never felt my sister was fat, but I didn't feel commenting.

We finished eating but stayed outside, drinking our cold beers. At about six-thirty, we decided to head inside. Bill and I took care of the dishes while Carol sat on a stool at the island counter watching. Getting up, my sister hugged Bill from behind.

"I want to get toasted tonight. Let's go upstairs," Carol said.

Bill laughed, turned around, and hugged Carol. He kissed her neck and then whispered in her ear. When my sister nodded, Bill went to the refrigerator and got a couple of lemons.

We went upstairs and into the bonus room. Bill put the lemons in the small refrigerator behind the bar. He gave each of us a beer and turned on the television.

"Can we watch something other than the news? It is so depressing," Carol said.

"Sure, what do you want to watch, baby?" Bill replied.

"Put in a movie. I don't care which one as long as it's funny," Carol said.

Opening a drawer in the entertainment center, Bill flipped through a stack of DVDs. He held up one, putting it into the player when my sister nodded. I chuckled when I saw it was Spaceballs.

We sat in our usual spots, watching the movie and laughing. About halfway through the film, Bill paused it. He said he was going to shower and change. Carol followed her husband to their bedroom. I decided showering and changing was a good idea and went to my room.

About a half-hour later, we regrouped in the bonus room. We opened new beers, sat down, and Bill resumed the movie. I noticed my sister wore a pair of pajama bottoms and a tank-top. Like me, Bill wore a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt.

"I want a shot," Carol said.

Bill went to the bar, took out one of the lemons, and cut it into half-slices. Next, he put three rocks glasses on the bar. I watched him take a bottle of tequila from under the bar and pour the golden liquid into the glasses.

I followed Carol to the bar. After putting salt on the backs of our hands, we picked up our glasses and tapped them together. We drank our shots, grabbed a slice of lemon, and bit into it.

Placing her glass on the bar, chuckled, and said, "Thank you, sir, may I have another?"

Laughing, Bill refilled our drinks. We repeated the process, taking a sip of beer after biting the lemons. After a few minutes, Bill poured another shot for each of us. I knew there was more than one ounce of booze in each of our drinks.

"I want to play pool," Carol said. She looked at Bill, and then at me. "Who wants to play with me?"

We went to the pool table to have a game. "What are we going to play with three people?" I asked.

"We'll play cut-throat," Bill said as he racked the balls.

I listened as Bill explained how to play the game. Each player would have five of the fifteen balls.

"So, one player gets the low-balls, the one through the five. Another player gets the mid-balls, the six through the ten, and the other player has the eleven through the fifteen. The object of the game is to be the last player with one or more of their balls on the table.

"We decide who has which group by the break. If you make a ball on the break, you get to choose which group you want. You continue shooting until you miss. When the next player shoots, they choose between the remaining two groups and shoot until they miss," Bill said.

"How do we decide who breaks?" I asked.

"I'll get a deck of cards. We'll pick a card to determine the order," Bill said.

We went to the bar for another drink and to select a card. Bill poured tequila into our glasses, held his up, and said, "Here's to fun and games."

Nodding, Carol said, "I'll drink to that. Hell, I'll drink to anything."

"Are you already getting drunk, honey?" Bill said.

"Nope, just getting mellow," My sister replied.

We took our drinks, ate the lemon slices, and then Bill spread a deck of cards on the bar. We each selected a card, flipping it over to show the others what we had. I had the highest card and would break. Bill's card was lowest, so he'd shoot last.

Before starting to play, Carol asked for another shot of tequila. Bill poured but didn't put as much in the glasses as before.

We played three games. Each of us won one. Between games, we took shots, chasing them with beer.

As we played our fourth game, I watched my sister lean over the table to take her shot. Her tank-top gapped, giving me a view of the tops of her breasts. Looking up, Carol giggled and then hit the cue ball.

"My brother was trying to look down my top," Carol said as she bumped against me. "Matt was always trying to peek at my tits when we were younger."

I felt myself blushing. Carol noticed and smiled at me.

"Did you ever see her tits?" Bill asked. He looked at my sister and raised his eyebrows.

"Not really. Carol never wore tops that revealed much," I said.

Hugging Carol from behind, Bill said, "You never flashed your brother? My little sister couldn't keep her boobs hidden. She was always flashing me."

"I wasn't an exhibitionist when I was a teenager," Carol said. She wiggled against Bill. "You know you were the first man to see my breasts. You were the first guy to see anything."

"You weren't a good big sister," Bill said as he held Carol's hips.

Shrugging her shoulders, Carol said, "Well, you're not a good husband. My drink is empty."

Bill kissed my sister's neck. He chuckled and said, "Well, if you show us your tits, I'll get you another drink."

Looking back over her shoulder, Carol winked at Bill. Then, much to my surprise, she lifted her arms. Bill gripped the hem of her top, pulling it up and off. When my sister saw the look on my face, she giggled.

"What's the matter, Matt? Haven't you ever seen tits before?" Carol said.

It took a moment to digest what I was seeing. I stared at my sister's full round breasts, noticing how they wobbled as she laughed. Bill continued standing behind Carol as she displayed her bare chest.

"Sure, but I've never seen any as nice as yours are, Carol," I said. I guess the tequila removed my usual shyness.

"Isn't my brother sweet?" Carol said.

"He's right, baby. You have spectacular tits," Bill said as he moved his hands up and cupped her mounds.

Carol turned around, kissed Bill, and said, "Do I get my drink now?"

"I don't know. You have a hard time keeping your clothes on when you drink tequila."

Taking her husband's hand, Carol walked toward the bar. "Make it a double, sweetie."

Stopping, my sister turned to me. She glanced at my crotch, smiling when she saw the tent in my nylon running shorts.

Giggling, Carol said, "My brother does like my tits." Shaking her shoulders and making her breasts jiggle, she put her hand between Bill's legs. "You like them too, don't you?"