In front of me stood identical twins, and that was merely the start! Not only did they look exactly alike, they were quite tall, easily taller than my departed husband, Don, and most certainly taller than everyone else in the room. They had pale skin, long, straight blond hair, and sharp blue eyes, their faces strikingly beautiful, albeit in a masculine sort of way. The girls looked like they came right out of a page of Norse mythology. Their breasts would have been huge on an average-sized woman, but due to their size, looked perfectly proportionate. Anyone with a pulse would look at them twice, or more, their appearance was so striking.

They were dressed the same, or almost, wearing matching black slacks and dark penny loafers, although their brightly-colored blouses varied slightly in design. I also caught a hint of white, cotton stockings at their ankles. Millie moved up beside them, the top of her head well below their broad shoulders.

“Mom, meet Tessa and Gwen.”

Until that moment, I had been passionately making out with Lara on the sofa, oblivious to the fact that the pair had entered and were standing there, watching us, so I was still somewhat out of sorts from being caught off guard.

“I...I…” Trying to conceal the fact that I was still in an extreme condition of arousal, my brain stumbled to form coherent words. “N-nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” By then, I was on my feet, but had no recollection of standing.

“So good to finally meet you, Mrs. Lewis,” they said in unison before pausing to look at each other and laugh.

“I’m Tessa.” The girl to my left offered her large, mannish hand with a big smile. “Excuse us, please. We’re so accustomed to doing everything together, even speaking.” She had a firm grip, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Gwen, or Gwendoline,” the girl on my right said, also offering her hand, although her hold wasn’t quite so firm. “We’ve been trying to break that habit, but it’s been tough.”

“Please don’t apologize, ladies.” I smiled with both my mouth and eyes, trying to establish footing as my insides normalized. Shaking their hands, touching their skin, I sensed that particular, familiar energy. It was the same kind that I had along with my daughter, my friend Lara, and her mother, Esther. It was a wonderful feeling that the twins were on the same frequency as the rest of us and part of that rarefied “sisterhood”, a word that so naturally popped up among the four of us, especially after forming such a strong emotional and sexual bond the previous weekend at my home. “I read an article once about identical twins. Is it true you can tell what each other is thinking?” The moment I said that, I realized how it sounded somewhat stupid. “I’m sorry, that’s a rude question. It’s just so amazing how you appear...well…”

“Identical?” Millie said, giving me a look.

“No, please don’t apologize,” Tessa said, casually taking my hand again, giving me another dose of that unique, warm energy. “I know we look a little odd.”

“No, not at all!” I interjected. “You’re both strikingly beautiful, like Scandinavian models.”

“Oh, wow, thank you,” Gwen said, crinkling her nose with an odd, geeky grin, perhaps a bit embarrassed at being praised. Of course, her sister bore the same expression. “Some people look at us like we should be in a circus.”

“Mom, stop embarrassing them, please!” My daughter interrupted while she moved between the twins and me. She grasped my waist, herding me back toward the sofa. “Go back and sit with Lara and all of you can talk about weird-ass twin shit.”

Tessa and Gwen couldn’t help but laugh again as they joined us in the living room, each one sitting in an easy chair while Millie returned to helping Esther in the kitchen.

“A lot of it is true, though,” Gwen said, glancing over to her sister. “I know we can read each other’s minds.”

“Our experiences strongly suggest that,” Tessa added, pushing a long wisp of hair from her face. “There’s years of evidence to corroborate it.” She almost sounded like Mr. Spock, so scientific!

“I‘ve known it as long as we can remember,” Gwen responded. “You never know what mysteries lie between heaven and earth. Tessa will never admit it. She’s more grounded and cynical.”

“Somebody’s gotta be, girl!” Tessa glared at her sister, eyebrows lifted, definitely a little less Spock-like.

“We also have our secret language.”

“Well, it’s not secret if you tell everyone.”

“Mukka mukka? Siss kwappa koo?” Gwen snarked, making oblong circles in the air with her index finger.

“Waa waaa! Flocky wukka loppa!” Tess imitated her sister’s tone as well as expression, except she poked her finger forward several times, as if admonishing Gwen.

“They also fuck the same,” my daughter blurted out before snickering like the teenager she was, hand over her mouth, eyes full of naughtiness. She had sneaked up and stood behind Gwen, her hands gliding up and down the girl’s long, elegant neck.

“Wow, seriously, Millie?” Tessa threw up her hands while her sister laughed and laughed.

“She’s right,” Gwen shrugged, turning her head to kiss my daughter’s hand. “We do most everything the same, including sex.”

“I’ll say,” Millie added. “God, they take turns with me. One rests up while the other recharges.”

“And it doesn’t take long, does it?” Gwen said, rubbing her lips against the palm of my daughter’s hand.

“Fuck, no.” Millie leaned down to kiss Gwen’s mouth, giving me an unexpected shiver right down to my twitching pussy. “You two are like Energizer bunnies; you keep coming back for more...and coming…” Another, deeper kiss. “And coming...and…”

“You’re no slouch yourself, Millie,” Tessa grinned.

Lara shook her head, eyes lowered, something she did when embarrassed, although after what had transpired the weekend before, I doubt any of us had much shame left, since we all knew each other’s bodies, with its countless crans and nookies, extremely well. My friend at last looked up, locking her stare with mine.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” She asked, an odd mix of astonishment and amusement on her face.

“We’re all adults, now,” was my lame response. What I should have said was that I had grown to love watching my daughter fuck and be fucked, especially with the right partners, in other words, safe people whom I could trust. I’d rather have her getting off under my roof or under Esther and Lara’s roof instead of going out on some mystery date, although the chance of that happening was still entirely possible. The Lord willing, Millie had a long trip ahead, in both years and experiences, and it helped that I trusted my daughter’s judgment.

“The twins start off as demure, but they heat up pretty fast,” Esther said, also looking somewhat amused. She had joined us from the kitchen and stood behind Tessa, a dotted dish towel in her hands. She drew in a deep breath, her face becoming serious while she glanced around the room. “I must say now, especially you, Jenny, my love.” She threw the towel over her shoulder, giving each of us a little nod as she spoke, her arms akimbo. “We’re all somewhat relaxed around each other, but if there’s anything you object to, something that makes you uncomfortable, please PLEASE speak up.”

“Things have happened so fast,” Lara added, looking at her mother, then to me. “Everyone coming out in the open feels kind of crazy.”

“Yeah, Mom.” Millie slid up beside me, opposite Lara. “What the twins and I have been doing is no secret to you. I told you about us.”

“Yes, darling, you’re totally right.” I pulled her to my breast. “I knew this would be a weekend of discovery, much like last weekend.” She looked up at me, and we kissed. “I said I was just going to let it happen, so I will.” She put her face into the soft, sensitive spot above my chest bone, and her warm breath excited the many nerve endings there. That and watching her interaction with Gwen had my pussy on a quiet buzz. “The Lord will guide me. Less and less feels wrong as those days progress. That energy we all have comforts and guides me, so let’s enjoy ourselves.”

“Mmmm...yes, Mom.” My girl’s face rose again for another, deeper kiss.

“Hear, hear!” Lara said before cocking her head sideways, looking at Esther. “Mother, dear, why haven’t we uncorked a bottle?”

“Oh, my,” Esther rolled her eyes. “I’m such a terrible hostess! I must admit I’m a little nervous, too.”

“Ma, I’m just fucking with you.” Lara stood and kissed her mother on the cheek. “And we’re all a little nervous.” She disappeared into the kitchen, only to return with a large bottle of Cabernet, four wine glasses, and two bottles of Coke. “Ladies?” She passed the Cokes to the twins, fishing a bottle opener out of her pocket, before placing the glasses on the low, long, narrow table before us.

“We don’t drink,” Tessa said, removing the cap from her bottle before passing the opener to her sister.

“Neither one of us can handle alcohol,” Gwen added. “It affects us, and not in a good way.”

“Of course, ladies.” I nodded, by now getting more and more relaxed, especially with Millie practically sitting in my lap, so soft, warm, and loving. “And you’re probably better off without it.”

“But for the rest of us unbridled lushes...” Grinning, Lara produced a corkscrew from her other pocket and proceeded to open the bottle of wine while her mother returned to the kitchen. My friend carefully poured out the dark, red liquid, partially filling each glass while I looked at her beautiful face, full lips, and expressive mouth that I longed to kiss so very much. While I savored the vision of this amazing woman, I heard the squeak of the oven door, then Esther returned.

“The casserole needs to rest for a few minutes, but we can go ahead and seat ourselves at the dining table.”

“Wonderful!” I smiled. “It smells delicious!” Part of me didn’t want to let go of Millie; she felt so good at that moment, but my stomach was also growling, so there I was, hungry and horny.

“Thank you, love,” Esther said with a wry grin. “It’ll do.”

“What she means is that it was my father’s favorite,” Lara said. “She got the recipe from a wartime cookbook and tweaked it over the years. It’s tried and true.”

“Especially when food rationing ended, and our choices improved,” Esther added.

With beverages in hand, we all made our way to the dining area and the large, oval-shaped wooden table draped with a checkered cloth. The sexy septuagenarian could set quite a spread, albeit modest, but it was what I expected, and loved, from this noble, no-nonsense queen. Alongside the casserole was a pan of brown-topped, yeasty rolls and a large, ceramic dish containing steamed, mixed vegetables. Lined up in the table’s center were salt and pepper shakers, a small bottle of salad dressing, a blue butter dish, and other condiments. At each of our stations, little plates of green salad with cut cherry tomatoes were centered atop vinyl place mats, flanked by silverware, a neatly folded linen napkin to the side.

No surprise, the twins sat next to each other; then it was Millie, me, Lara, and Esther at the end of the table, which faced the kitchen. As everyone got situated, the sound of rubber-tipped chair feet scooting across asbestos tiles made me flush with warmth, and I realized I was beaming like the Cheshire Cat. Since my husband Don’s passing, I longed for such a familial gathering, just one of countless elements in the daily routine of married life and motherhood.

“Is balsamic vinaigrette okay for the salad?” Esther asked, reaching for the bottle on the table. “We have ranch, blue cheese, and Thousand Island in the fridge.”

“I’m fine with what’s here,” I replied, Millie and the twins nodding affirmatively.

“Excellent!” Esther passed the bottle to Tessa on her left. “Everything I plucked from my garden just this morning.”

“Oh, my!” I smiled. “I must see it sometime. I always have a small garden, but this year, we...”

“Of course, love,” Esther replied. “I understand. Perhaps I can help you get it going again next season?”

“I would love that, Esther.”

“We can dedicate it to Dad,” Millie held up her glass, looking very mature in the moment. “Cheers!”

As we made short work of the salad, forks clanking against plates, Esther looked to the twins.

“Is the room set up, ladies?” she asked, and they nodded together in response.

“I’m excited for all of us,” Lara said to no one in particular.

“I know you’re tired of the secrecy, but I wanted today to be a special occasion.” Esther said, taking a big sip of wine, then another, as if fortifying herself. Lara gazed at her mother. “There’s so many things to tell you, I don’t know where to begin.”

“Begin at the beginning, Ma.” Lara reached out and squeezed her hand, nodding. Esther smiled, returning the nod.

“God, it was so many years ago. I couldn’t have been more than eighteen and still in high school. This was before the war. Here…” Esther picked up the casserole dish and passed it to me. “At least you can fill your bellies while this old fossil rambles on.”

“Ma,” Lara took a roll, passing the aluminum pan in the opposite direction and doing the same for the veggies. “It’s okay. Just talk to us.” Esther nodded again, composing herself.

“This energy we all have, and share...this wonderful power we’ve been blessed with that connects us…” She looked around the table, making eye contact with each one of us as she spoke. “I realized I had it then. Not only me, but other women. Some of the girls at school. One or two of the female teachers had it. The occasional mother. The androgynous soda jerk down at the pharmacy who the boys teased mercilessly. Sometimes the power was so strong, it evoked a response. I lost count of how many women would pause, like they received an electric shock, and we’d gaze into each other’s eyes, not knowing what to say. Perhaps she’d nod, or I would. Sometimes I’d be lucky enough to shake hands or touch them, and we’d linger before letting go.”

By now, everyone had full plates. Esther waved her hand, indicating she wanted us to eat.

“I don’t think this will surprise anyone, but I was deeply in love with a girl in my senior class. My lord, the things we would do, I mean physically. The sex was amazing, and my heart felt full. As I said, this was well before the war and before I left my hometown for the big city and my short-lived career with the Rockettes. There are times when I transport back, and it feels like yesterday. I still get shivers.”

“Eat some food, Ma, before it gets cold.”

“This is amazing, by the way,” I held up a forkload of casserole as I made a pig of myself. Millie and the twins nodded energetically in agreement.

“Oh, Jenny, thank you so much!” Esther gave me the warmest, most sincere smile I could remember, forcing my body to respond with another flash of heat. She finally took a bite, chewing timidly. Lara patted her shoulder.

“We’re all in this together, so you can open up. Don’t be so reserved.”

“Honey, you know that, at my core, it’s my nature, and it’s too late to change.”

That comment made me laugh inwardly. Last weekend at my house, Esther was anything but reserved. Still, despite all the deep carnality, all of us going at each other, uninhibited, wallowing in the copious secretions of copulation, she retained a certain demeanor of dignity. Still, I knew we had yet to see all of her, if we ever would.

“Tell them about this place, Ma,” Lara prodded her mother.

“Yes, yes.” She finished her wine, and Lara refilled the glass. “My girlfriend’s…” She paused for a moment. “...my lover’s family owned this building. Bill, my husband,” she looked up and around at the walls and ceiling. “It was his family. They’d owned this place since before the Civil War.”

Did I hear Esther right? Her lover and her future husband came from the same family? I stuck more food in my mouth to keep from interrupting, but my daughter couldn’t resist.

“Wow!” Millie exclaimed. “The same lover you had in your hometown?”

“That’s right, dear. Even though it was the Great Depression, the family had enough money so she could buy an old car. We’d leave that little town far behind and come here, so we could avoid getting seen by anyone who might recognize us. The open road and change of scenery were quite liberating. It gave us a feeling of independence, and it allowed us to keep our relationship secret. When I first entered the building, maybe it was 1935 or later, my memory isn’t the best anymore, there was an old woman perched behind the counter, and she oversaw this little shop.” She laughed, lowering her head, shaking it. I could tell the wine was loosening her up. “Just like the old woman you’re seeing here right now.”

Enraptured by her words, I could easily imagine the place those many years ago. It looked like it hadn’t changed at all. Perhaps the basement apartment where we gathered was newer, but not by much.

“Well, the old woman, who was Bill’s grandmother, immediately picked up on my energy and a bond was formed...Hazel, that was my girlfriend’s name, Lola, who was the grandmother, and me.”

“Okay, just to be clear, and please forgive me for interrupting,” I placed my fork down. “I thought Bill spotted you while you were performing with the Rockettes.”

“Yes, yes, he did, and when I found out the family connection, it was…”

“A little weird, right?” Lara rubbed her mother’s arm.

“True. I usually omit that part when telling how I met my husband, because it comes off as so very strange. Some odd coincidences.”

“So your girlfriend was Bill’s…” I came across as a prying idiot, but I had to keep things straight in...