I think it was on one of those summer days when I was cutting the grass that I first saw the trio. Certainly it could have been another time, but it was the one I always seemed to associate with the memory. As I cut the last few rows in the front of my home, I caught some movement in the corner of my eye and looked over as the kids walked home from classes. I was known as the friendly guy who said ‘Hello’ to those on our block, but of course with the roar from the motor all I could was offer a wave. The two older boys walking side by side waved back, although half-heartedly. One of those forced waves because I was nearly ‘an old guy’ at age twenty-seven, compared to their sixteen years of experience! But I guess I thought I knew it all when I was that age. They were identical twins and as much as they fought it, their mother was still trying to dress them the same.
However it was the young lady who followed a few steps behind the boys that had my curiosity peaked. Knowing the twins were the only children Tom and Molly Baker had, I couldn’t help but wonder whose kid she was. I shut off the mowers engine and watched them continue down the sidewalk; it was evident the three knew each other. Every minute or two Tim or Tom Junior would glance back, making sure she was still following them home. Then I shrugged my shoulders and went on about my day.
A couple of weeks after that I was home from work early again and wanted to get some light work done in the front yard. A short while later I happened to glance up and see the trio making their way down the sidewalk much like they had on the first afternoon I had seen the three of them together. I intentionally went to retrieve my mail from the street side postal box just as they came along. After exchanging a greeting with the boys, we stood and chatted for just a few minutes, while I kept my eyes glued on the young miss in their care. The dark sunglasses I wore hid my line of sight from them as the boys and I discussed assisting me with a yard project where they could make some spending money; they were eager for the opportunity.
Even though she was slightly shorter than Tim and Tom, I guessed she was around the same age as the boys. I saw her shoulder length auburn hair, her full pink lips and the cutest button nose beneath the baseball cap she had pulled down onto her head. Once, when she looked up to focus on me as I explained to the boys what I need done, I saw her eyes and they were amazing. They were large hazel colored eyes that had a definite greenish tint to them. She was wearing blue jeans and a yellow sweatshirt, which seemed more suited to a guy, although the clothing fit her much better than any boy her age. Her chest was small, but I could see the development of petite breasts, even beneath the thick material. I lost my train of thought, stumbling over my words for a moment and saw her grin just before she went back to looking down again. What a terrific smile she had; why, her whole face lit up! Since the boys weren’t going to introduce her, I had to nudge them into it. “So who’s this young woman following you two around,” I asked.
“She’s our cousin and,” Tim said and then his brother Tom finished the sentence as they often did, “she’s staying with us for a while.” That was the whole explanation they offered, but for now it would have to do.
As they started edging their way towards home, I turned my attention directly on the girl, putting my hand out and saying, “Hi, I’m Mr. Paul, but you can call me Jay.”
She stuck her hand out and as I took it I was surprised at how firmly she shook it; she was stronger than she looked. “Hi,” she said as her face tilted up just enough to make eye contact with me.
She obviously didn’t expect me to make a joke at the twin’s expense, when I said, “Are you going to tell me your name or do I have to ask Thing One and Thing Two?”
She laughed loudly and once again her smile brightened up her face. Gosh, this girl was really cute, I thought, and she didn’t pull her hand away as I continued to hold it. “My name is Nicki.”
“Well it’s a real pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Nicki,” I said with obvious over-exaggeration as I kissed the back of her hand. I couldn’t believe it, but the young lady actually blushed, which in turn made me feel good that I had done it. She withdrew her hand and ran to catch up with the boys. Watching her, I could see she had a nice little butt, too. Just before she went up the Baker’s front path, I saw her turn and look back in my direction. When she saw me still watching her, she gave me the cutest little wave before she disappeared from my sight.
The following week I saw Molly Baker at our local farmer’s market. After exchanging pleasantries, she remarked that I had made a great impression on her niece. I down-played it, but asked how Nicki had come to stay with them. Molly told me that her sister Mandy was going through a bitter divorce. Mandy and Nicki had moved in with them until the divorce was final and her sister could get back on her feet. She explained further that her sister was working long hours to make every dime she could earn, which is why I hadn’t met her yet. Then she hesitated, as if she was trying to figure out how to explain something; in the end she simply said, “Nicki’s a very special child. She’s had a rough go of things and she doesn’t have many friends, but it all takes time I suppose. I’m glad she likes you, Jay. She may need someone to talk to now and then. Her parents aren’t around much, so she may turn to you. Just be careful, ok? It’s a long story.”
“That’s not a problem, Molly. If she needs to talk to someone, I can certainly lend her an ear. And I wouldn’t worry too much,” I explained, “my parents divorced when I was young and I turned out all right.”
Two weeks after my chat with Mrs. Baker, there came the day for that special project I had enlisted the boys for. I was having two large truckloads of mulch delivered on a Saturday. The plans were to shovel it into wheel barrows, then distribute it about the property in the planting beds and around the trees. The boys were supposed to be there in the morning, but when the time came neither of them showed up. I went to work without them, but soon after noticed Nicki approaching from the street. Once more she had on a pair of jeans and a light jacket, but instead of her ever-present ball cap, her auburn hair was in a ponytail at the back of her head.
“Good morning, Nicki,” I called out to welcome her.
“Good morning, Mr. Paul. I mean, Jay,” she said with a smile. “I came down to explain. Tim and Tom had a soccer match they had forgotten about when they agreed to help you out. So I told Aunt Molly I’d come down in their place.”
“Well, thanks…I was wondering what had happened. They don’t usually pass up a chance the fleece me of some cash.”
I was about to tell her that she didn’t have to spend her Saturday working for me, but she slid her hands inside a pair of leather work gloves, grabbed a pitchfork and dug right in. We worked for about three hours, stopping only to refresh ourselves with a drink of water once or twice. I was really amazed at how hard she could work; I mean, she was doing at least as much work as Tim and Tom Jr would have done. It was during those times we’d talk about things other than the yard work and I found out a great deal more about her. We exchanged likes and dislikes on a variety of subjects; I even learned that she was a senior and a year older than the twins. When asked about her age, she had said proudly, “I’ll be eighteen in just five months!”
It had begun to warm up outside as well, and I noticed Nicki had taken off her jacket so I did the same. A while later, as I was coming around the front of the house, I watched her pull her sweatshirt off above her head. All she had on now was her bra and a thin t-shirt which only defined her upper body even more. I could see she was in fantastic shape, from her flat stomach, to her muscled arms and finally, the swell of her chest. I would swear she was only a thirty-two or thirty-four A-cup, but her breasts fit her lean frame nicely. I tried to remind myself that she was much younger than me and a little less than eighteen, but that was getting less important by the minute. Just then she turned, bent over to pick up the rake she was using and reminded me how well her faded jeans looked stretched over her tight, teen ass. I shook my head quickly from side-to-side, trying to get my brain on the task at hand, not the task I would like to get my hands on!
I became aware she had seen me watching her and I saw her smiling, even though she looked away as I got closer. Deciding then and there to tease her as much as she seemed to be teasing me, I suddenly peeled off my shirt and tossed it up on the front porch, leaving me in noting but a sleeveless muscle shirt. I’m not going to brag, but for a twenty-seven year old guy I thought I looked pretty good. Nicki didn’t seem to have any problem with my six foot, two hundred pound frame or my military style hairstyle. We went on working into the early afternoon and by two O’clock we were using the hose to wash off the wheelbarrows and yard tools. I told her how I had hoped to be done with this by sundown and she had done the work of both her two cousins; I was so pleased I told her, “Nicki I am going to pay you the same amount I was going to pay both Thing One and Thing Two.”
She laughed out loud (at the Dr. Seuss reference), and it was contagious! When we stopped laughing, I told her to come inside my house and I’d make us something for lunch, but she declined saying, “I’m all dirty and sweaty and I probably smell…I need a shower.”
Without thinking about who I was talking to, I flirted with her with, “I’ve got a shower,” as I tucked a lock of her hair behind her right ear. Her entire face turned red and she began to stutter, looking at the ground again. I knew she had taken my comment badly and maybe she thought I meant we’d share a shower, but she was already taking steps backwards and making excuses. I tried to calm her down, tried to reach for her hand, but she just pulled away, said she really had to get going and just like that I found myself alone in my driveway feeling like a complete idiot. I swept off the driveway, put away all the tools and went inside to take a very hot shower – alone. I knew I was over-thinking the whole scene, but I also knew that I’d need to talk to her as soon as I could.
A couple of hours later I could be seen standing out in the driveway admiring how good my yard looked; even the old geezer from down the road had driven by and given me a frosty stare, so I knew it look great! I went in, grabbed the phone and called down to the Baker’s house. Tom Sr answered, we chatted a bit and then I asked to speak to Nicki. It was weird, but he said something about her, just like his wife had done. Some comment about ‘Nick is damaged goods’ and to ‘watch what I get myself in to’. When she got on the line, she immediately started apologizing for ‘acting like a kid’. I would have heard her, if I hadn’t been apologizing myself. Then we both stopped talking and there was dead air on the line.
Finally I said, “You like Mexican food?”
“Yep.”
“When should I pick you up?”
“Give me fifteen minutes,” she said and then I heard her shout, “Aunt Molly, Mr. Paul is taking me out to dinner to thank me for helping him out.”
I got my wallet and keys, then went out to the garage and climbed up into my Jeep. It’s a four-door Wrangler Unlimited Sahara, black on black, lifted, big tires, the works. The only vehicle I liked driving more was a Harley Davidson motorcycle and fortunately I owned one of them too. I turn right out of the drive, travelled about 120 yards and then another right into Tom and Molly’s house. The twins were home and bummed out that they’d missed out on making some spending cash! Nicki came bounding out of the front door dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a two-piece beige lacey top; she looked amazing and I tried not to let Tom and Molly’s warnings cloud my head about her.
“I love your Jeep, Jay,” she exclaimed. Then in the next breath, “Can I drive it?”
The twins were moaning ‘no fair’ even as I said, “Maybe someday” and Tom said to me, “Nick has a driver’s license but don’t let yourself be talked into anything!”
She climbed in as I held the door for her and tried not to stare at her butt. (I failed!) We drove off to this place I was known to patronize a lot. We sat at the bar and chatted with the owner in between him barking orders to his employees; I had a couple of drinks while Nicki had a Sprecker’s root beer, then we let them seat us at a quiet table in the back. We ordered, talked, ate, joked, and played a little guessing game where I found out I was correct when I had thought, thirty-four-A (her bra) and five foot seven inches (her height). She was spot-on about my height and weight, which was a bit spooky. After a couple of hours, I drove her back towards our street. Pulling over at a local park, I could see how she immediately stiffened, as if she was expecting me to try something physical. But instead, I had a talk with her and explained that while I did ‘like her’ I thought we should remain friends, for now. She relaxed as we talked and she even let me take her hand in mine. I felt her thumb caressing mine as we talked and then she put me on the spot with a single question.
“When I turn eighteen can we have this talk again, I mean, if we both feel the same way?”
From how softly she spoke, something told me she’d only been able to ask it at all, because we were sitting in the dark and I couldn’t see her face. “Of course, whatever you want,” I heard myself answering her.
Soon after dark we were back in her driveway. I went around, opened her door and held out my hand as she stepped down. “I had fun tonight Jay,” she said. “I haven’t had a night like this, in like forever.”
Just then Nicki’s mom, Molly’s sister, came out of the house and said, “I want to talk to you,” as she walked towards us. I noticed the drink she held in her hand as she approached and wondered if this was going to get ugly or not. I also could see the similarity between her and Nicki, the same height, weight, and shape.
“Mom, you weren’t home and I called your cell but you were working and Jay, I mean Mr. Paul took me to eat because I helped him out and,”…
“Holy shit, Nick,” her mom said, cutting her off. “I got it. I just want to get a good look at this guy so if he tries anything on you or leads you on,”…
“Mom, it’s not like that at all. We’re just friends!”
“Fine. That’s fine. But I’m your mom and I’ll keep looking out for you until you’re on your own, got it?”
Nicki stepped up to me as her mom and I stared at each other, squeezed my hand and said, “Thanks again for the nice evening.” She skipped up the walkway and disappeared into the house.
That’s when her mother told me, “Just watch it around Nick, ok? That kid has been through more shit than most adults and she certainly doesn’t need her heart broken by you. I’ve just gotten her to where she isn’t afraid of the world again.”
On that note, she turned and went back into the house. I hadn’t said a word the entire time, nope…not a word. Had I checked out her mom’s backside when she walked away? Sure, wouldn’t you? I backed out of the driveway and rolled up the street to my own home. About ten minutes after I’d kicked off my shoes I got a text from Nicki, it said “Sorry about my mom; she’ll be cool when she gets to know you.”
“No worries, sweetheart. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” she answered. Then another text: “I like that you called me sweetheart.” Funny thing was, I hadn’t realized that’s the term I used until she pointed it out.
Life moves along pretty fast when everything is going right and it did so for me and Nicki as well. I had my career and she had her schooling, so the weekdays filled themselves in on their own. Sometimes I’d be home early and she’d stop to talk, but mostly we’d be on the phone about every subject you can think of. Of course there were subjects I learned not to broach; her father was one of them. He was rarely mentioned and if he was, it was to point out some negative trait about the guy. I sensed there was a major issue with her father and that was off limits. She also didn’t want to discuss playing sports in school although she loved watching others. The twins went to the playoffs and the Baker clan invited me to come and watch. Of course I went; sitting beside Nicki, as well as driving her home afterwards.
There weren’t many days that stood out as peculiar, although once when I needed to run into the next county to pick up some parts for my motorcycle, Nicki had jumped at the chance to stop at a couple of shops she normally couldn’t get to. It seemed she and her mom used to live close to where we were going. I handed over my keys, telling her to take the wheel. She was a little out of practice, but quickly got used to the vehicle and did fine. Her smile glowed that I was letting her drive my cherished four-by-four.
Later that day we were sitting in the Jeep chatting about where to grab lunch, when she suddenly ducked her head and slid into the foot well, telling me to drive away quickly. When I pressed her for an answer, she confessed to knowing the group of young adults walking down the sidewalk. I did what she asked but that day stuck in my head for a long time. If she was excited about returning to an area she grew up in, but freaked out about seeing people she knew there, the reason for it must be a good one.
We had a weekly standing date on Saturday nights; we’d go out to eat, to see a movie or we’d just hang out at my house and talk. Once we went to the store on a cold, rainy morning, bought a ton of ingredients and made like four-hundred cookies that day! We put two dozen each in plastic bags and put one in each neighbor’s mail boxes on our block; yes…even the grumpy old geezer down the street. I learned rather quickly that Nicki was more than just a cute girl; she was really smart and I felt she could do anything she put her mind to. It was just so much fun to be together; I didn’t care what we did or didn’t do and lately our Saturday evenings continued when she returned on Sunday afternoon.
I’m not going to narrate this story and say there wasn’t some sexual tension between us, there was plenty! And unfortunately not every story can be a fairy tale, because ‘living happily ever after’ is a tough route to follow. For one thing, Nicki’s mom was slow to warm up to me, although I think she would have felt that way about whomever her daughter attracted. Then there was our relationship; after three to four months I felt my feelings for Nicki were stronger than her feelings for me. It was either that, or she was petrified of having a complete relationship with me. We had said we would wait until she turned eighteen and then talk about it, if we both wanted to. Occasionally we broke our pact; a couple of months before her birthday, for example. I was sitting on my couch with Nicki sitting on my lap. Neither one of us wanted to leave the other, even though it was beginning to get late. She turned to look at me, our noses collided and it felt like we were the only two people in the world.
Maybe it was her bedroom eyes, the way our breathing got heavy or just the right time. I know we looked at one another and both wanted it more than anything else; ‘the first kiss’. Her lips were soft, yet firm and hot as we collided. Cradling her chin in the palm of my right hand; her arms slipping about my shoulders, deepening our first kiss as our passion levels rose. Before realizing it, we had opened wide, tipped our heads in opposite directions and were in a full lip-lock. I thrust my tongue inside as we explored each other orally, sucking air through our noses. We broke apart, gasping for oxygen, but we never really stopped kissing each other. Small kiss, quick kisses and some tender biting too sprinkled down the side of her throat and back to those hungry lips I could not pull away from. I couldn’t understand how we had waited as long as we had as her arms tightened around my shoulders.
I felt Nicki shifting on my lap and in the instant that she felt my hardness, our eyes popped open, focusing on each other. She held me in her gaze as I felt for her left breast and the stiff nipple which capped it. Her groan of pleasure was filled with lust as were my own, which was the reason for me to slip my right hand from her face to her waist, slipping beneath her shirt to feel her smoldering bare flesh. A little voice in my head screamed ‘slow down’ while another urged me to fill my hand with her conical flesh! It was then that her cell phone went off and everything came to a screeching halt.