The funeral was officially a thing of the past. That didn't mean that the mourning was over, but Thomas was happy to have the last few weeks done with. The death of his father, Glen, and subsequent events surrounding his sudden illness had exhausted both him and his stepmother. Despite the kindness of friends and neighbors, the preparations for the funeral and memorial had been emotionally and physically draining for both of them.
It also highlighted that nothing in life should be taken for granted. His father had seemingly been in good health until he began having headaches that turned out to be warning signs of an eventual aneurism. When the vein in his brain burst, the emergency surgery was too late, and just like that, his father was gone. Now it was the two of them as a family: Thomas and his relatively new stepmother, Janet. In the course of his youth he had now lost both parents: his mother to cancer and now his father.
Fortunately, money was not an issue. His father, a financial professional, had invested well. Thomas's college fund was enough for even the best schools, and his stepmother was likewise well taken care of. She was younger than his father by almost a decade and still had her good looks. They had been married for seven happy years, and Thomas had grown close to her over time, despite a rocky beginning. The replacement of his birth mother with a relative stranger had been a difficult transition, but Janet had slowly won his heart with her kindness and understanding. It didn't hurt that she was a knockout, even into her early fifties. Thomas had to admit his father had good taste and had found a gem after his first wife finally succumbed to cancer.
Now, though, they were starting a new period of their lives. Thomas was prepping for his second year of college, but he had reservations about it. He was thinking about taking a year off and maybe finding a job and letting things settle. His father would not be happy with that decision, but his stepmother supported him.
"You're old enough to make your own decisions, Thomas. I understand. I would only advise you to think carefully and not make any rash choices. We are both still grieving your dad's loss. It will take some time. Everyone has their way of facing things like this, and if you want some time on your own, I would understand. You're only nineteen and you have a good head on your shoulders. I trust any decision you will make."
As Thomas listened to his stepmother's support, he realized how lucky he was. Janet was open-minded and sensible. It was clear that she and his father were deeply in love, and at no time did she appear to be a gold digger, something that had crossed Thomas's mind when he first met her. In addition to her fantastic good looks, she was an excellent homemaker. The fact that she had a killer body with slim hips and large breasts had initially struck Thomas as a stereotypical bimbo, but she had turned out to be a rock in the eventual marriage to his father. Thomas had not been able to call her mom, but he cared deeply for her, nonetheless.
So, in the days that followed the funeral, they spent much of their time with each other, telling stories about Glen and comforting one another. On several occasions, she had shed tears during their talks, and he would comfort her with his arms around her.
"You've grown to be such a wonderful man, Thomas. You look more like your father every day. You're going to make some lucky woman a great husband...oh, I know...not for a while. You still have many years to prepare for that, but you are so level-headed and handsome. You are mature beyond your years, Honey. I'm happy to have watched you grow into a man."
Thomas did look like a younger version of his father. His dark, good looks were the envy of his friends and the desire of both women his age and older friends of the family. At 6'2" he was lean and fit. He had excelled at several sports, like his father, but despite his good looks, he had always been shy around women. He had dated a few girls but had not had a serious or steady relationship with anyone. That didn't mean there was a shortage of admirers. Studies and athletics seemed to be his focus instead of relationships. And his father and stepmom knew it was only a matter of time before he would get serious with someone.
A couple of weeks after they had buried his father, he noticed travel brochures for warmer climes lying on the counter.
"Thinking about traveling, Janet? I noticed the flyers for tropical locations."
"I was going to mention this to you. I think you and I deserve a vacation to someplace warm, away from snow and sleet that often accompanies our northern spring seasons. What do you think?"
"You don't have to ask twice. That sounds wonderful. Surf and sun! Just where did you want to go?"
So the decision was made. They poured over the brochures and picked a vacation spot on a fairly remote island in the Caribbean. It was expensive, but just what they were looking for: solitude, warm sun, and white beach sand. The bungalows were thatch-roofed and quaint but had all the amenities. The area they chose was limited to only a handful of people at any given time, and the reservation came with kayaks, snorkeling, fishing gear, and crystal-clear water.
"This looks fantastic. The bungalows are well stocked and we only need to submit a list of grocery preferences and everything will be waiting for us. In two weeks we'll be eating fresh fish and drinking mai tais. I can't wait."
"Likewise," Thomas added with a huge grin.
And two weeks later they landed at a small airport in shorts and flowery shirts where a van picked them up and took them to the pier. A large catamaran awaited them and once aboard, they inhaled the warm sea air and enjoyed the hour-long ride to their home for the next three weeks. Their smiles were ear to ear.
The captain of the boat was a local. His dark skin was highlighted by the white uniform he wore. His pearly white teeth were visible in a perpetual smile accompanied by the calypso cadence of his speech and a deep, hearty laugh. As Janet and Thomas relaxed in the back of the boat soaking up the sunshine, he remarked to his first mate about the couple.
"I'm not sure who is in charge, the criss gyal with the large ti tis or the mon with the muscles, but I'd be happy to service her if he's not up to it."
The mate nodded and smiled. The Jamaican slang was not lost on him.
"Ya Brudha. She has big boobies, fer sure. More than a mouthful, eh?"
They both turned and smiled at the couple. Janet's halter top was stuffed with her flesh and Thomas struggled to avoid staring at her chest. His nylon shorts gave credit to his thoughts, however. The bulge between his legs was not lost on his stepmother. The thought of three weeks alone with her created wayward ideas he had trouble dismissing.
Janet's smile belied her own preoccupations. The bulge her stepson was wearing was not lost on her.
I wonder if he's as big as his father? she mused. A dampness formed in her groin. She reached over and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'm so excited. Aren't you, Thomas?"
*****
Soon they were entering a small protected inlet with Bungalows scattered along a stretch of white sandy beach but set back into the jungle growth. Each bungalow had privacy fences on either side even though the bungalows were a good 50 yards apart. The catamaran pulled directly up on the beach and the captain and his mate jumped out into the thigh-deep water as the vessel came to a crunching halt in the soft sand.
"Come around to the bow of the boat, Missus. It is shallow there, and I'll help you."
Janet realized she was going to get wet and removed her shoes. She scooted to the gunnel as the captain stood in front of her with arms out. As she slid off the gunnel, she lost her balance, but he caught her and for a few seconds they were locked in each other's arms before he lost his footing and fell backwards. The water broke his fall and Janet landed on top of him, their bodies pressed together for a few seconds until she could separate herself, but not before she felt a large bulge develop under her.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. That was clumsy of me."
"No worries, Missus. The water is warm. Are you okay?" He shrugged an apology and smiled.
After several reassurances, all were fine. It was only later, after the boat was unloaded, that Janet realized that her nipples were prominently displayed in her wet halter top now clinging to her large breasts. She was thankful she was wearing a bra, something she had considered leaving off due to the heat.
Thomas made no attempt to look away at first. When his stepmother noticed his expression and then realized her large nipples were the cause of it, she automatically covered them with her hands.