Island Cultural Center

by Marilyn Foxworthy

It was time for an early supper when we got back to the resort. Kauai was the one place on Earth where I lost weight on vacation. My meals were light and consisted of a good deal of fruit. Tonight was tacos. No dessert.

  I wanted to walk on the beach for a bit before sunset. We had come straight from Car to the cafe and still had our bags from shopping with us. Heading to the suite to change, the girls were in good spirits. Of course, there was still some tension between Charlotte and I. Not that we were at all upset with each other, that wasn’t it at all. It was that we had a new relationship that we hadn’t really moved into yet and neither of us knew quite how to go forward. I probably knew how, but it was going to take some time. Not long though.

  At the door to Charlotte’s room next to the suite, she started to unlock the door and go in.

  Brenda said, “Charlotte, what are you doing?”

  Charlotte said, “I’m going to go change.”

  Brenda said, “You'll do no such thing. You don’t live there anymore.”

  Charlotte looked quizzically at Brenda and Lisa for a moment, not quite understanding.

  Brenda said, “For goodness sake! Ronny, open the door for us.”

  I opened the door to the suite and Brenda pulled Charlotte inside.

  Brenda said, “Charlotte, look around. This is your home now. You live here. We’ll get your other things later, if there’s anything you want to keep. But the ritual is that you throw it all away and only keep the few things that really delight you. Everything else comes with your new family. Now, let’s go change. One-piece suits.”

  Lisa said, “With wraps around the hips.”

  Brenda said, “Ronny, I assume you are taking Charlotte for a little dip after dark?”

  She didn’t wait for an answer. She was assuming that I would, and it seemed like that was more of a command than a question.

  Brenda, Lisa, and Charlotte disappeared into the bedroom with their bags. A short time later, Brenda came out wearing her swimsuit and carrying a pair of trunks and a light shirt for me. I started to undress with Brenda’s help.

  Brenda said tenderly, “Beloved, I feel so different since this afternoon. But anyway, I sense that you need some time with Lisa and Charlotte alone. With each of them, not together. You need to establish a foundation. I don’t know how this will work, but I know that it will. It will be more comfortable in a few days. Who do you think that you need time with first?”

  I pulled on my trunks and tied the drawstring and said, “I’ll spend time with Lisa first. Charlotte and I will need some extended time tomorrow. I am not going to rush that. Lisa was first.”

  Chapter 19 - Alliances

  Brenda grinned and flipped into her make-believe role as a retro housewife.

  She said, “Ronny, Sweetie, I have to go out this evening to a charity function. It’s a fundraiser for homeless cats or a hospital for discarded and forgotten children’s dolls or some such thing. But I have to go. You know how it is. The thing is that I promised my new friend Lisa, you remember, we talked about her yesterday? Anyway, I promised her that she and I would spend the evening in the hot tub. It was a ruse, of course. I knew about this Home for Wayward Clowns or whatever it is before I set it up to have her over. What I want is for you to get to know her. We talked about seducing her already. I’ve been planting the seeds and she is so horny for a good man that I think she’s all in favor. She cares nothing about the scandal of it and neither do I. She was planning to date that oaf Ted, the one from the country club? Anyway, he’s a bore and well, I think his interest in women might not be so much an honest amorous attraction as a distraction to draw others, and possibly himself, away from what may be a more compelling attraction to his own gender. I don’t care, of course, except that I am coming to love this Lisa woman very dearly and want her to be happy and desired and have an outlet for her loving personality and her strong libido. We have one of those new king-size beds and well, I wonder very much what it would be like to have a larger family at this stage of our lives.”

  I said, “Brenda, Darling, I need to check your swimsuit before we head to the beach for our evening stroll.”

  Brenda said, “I know that, Dear. Here,” and she stood in front of me with her legs slightly spread.

  Reaching down to her crotch I slid the fingers of my right hand into the high cut fabric at her leg and tested to see that it wasn’t too tight, brushing my knuckles over her tiny tuft of pubic hair and down over her slit. She was incredibly smooth there.

  She cooed quietly and said, “That’s so nice. Ronny, I need to ask you something.”

  I pulled out my hand before I went any farther in arousing either of us.

  I said, “What is it?”

  She looked at me seriously and said, “Have you been fucking your secretary, Charlotte?”

  I said, “No! Dear, she kisses my cheek, but I hardly touch her! You saw her kiss me when I gave her that jewelry trinket that we had for her as a token of thanks, but no!”

  Brenda stared into my eyes and said vehemently, “Do it.”

  A feigned shock and said, “What?”

  Brenda said, “Do it. I mean it.”

  I said, “But why?”

  She said, “For several reasons. One: our business empire would suffer a great loss if she ever left you. And if she took secrets to one of your competitors, it would harm us a great deal. She is loyal and trusted, but we can’t take the chance. And Roland, you must marry her.”

  I said sharply, “Marry her! What do you mean? Brenda?”

  Brenda said, “Yes, marry her. I’m seeing it clearly now.”

  I said, “Brenda, how? Do you mean that I divorce you and…”

  She said, “Oh, don’t be stupid. No, of course not. What I mean is that you must let her fall in love with you and propose a marriage that joins her to us. Fly to Argentina or something and make it legal there if not here. She has become dangerous to us. If she leaves or succumbs to bribery or blackmail, it could ruin everything that you have worked so hard for. She’s pretty and if you play your cards right I know that you can do it. She loves you already, for heaven’s sake. It’s only out of respect for me that she isn’t bending over constantly and letting her blouse fall accidentally open all day long and sitting on your lap for dictation as it is. I won’t make any comments about the ‘dictation’ that I really think she’s yearning to take from you.”

  I said, “But you said that there were several reasons. Yes, there is a business argument for cementing her allegiance to the family, but I haven’t noticed any flirtatious hints that she likes me beyond as her employer and friend.”

  Brenda said, “That’s because you aren’t a woman. The second reason is that she has needs. Roland, she is as libidinous as Lisa Pretty-Tits. Anyone but you would see that she’s suffering around you. Do you think that she actually forgets to wear her panties when she gets dressed for work in the morning?”

  I said, “Of course she doesn’t forget her panties!”

  Brenda said, “Then why isn’t she wearing any? And yes, the latest fashion is for progressive women to forgo the bra at cocktail parties and even at the theater, but your Miss Charlotte Wonder-Bottom comes to work that way.”

  I exclaimed, “She does not!”

  Brenda said, “She does, occasionally at least. She is a woman with needs. Sexual, relational, womanly needs for companionship and family. Right now, her eyes are on you but if you rebuff her long enough she will turn elsewhere and that can’t be allowed. Roland, I heard her myself. She asked you to feel her Wonder-Bottom at cocktails with the Jensens when she thought no one could hear. She was out of her head of course, and knowing you I expect that you took it as a joke and refused, but you should have done it. It’s my fault, I know that. We should have had this talk a long time ago, but it’s been my friend Lisa that has opened my eyes to my own needs as well as the needs of others in our circle.”

  I said, “Brenda, yes, both Miss Pretty-tits and Miss Wonder-bottom are perfect women, but ca
n this be best for all of us? Will they think I’m a horrid lecherous adulterer if I show an interest in them?”

  Brenda said, “I assure you they will not. Lisa Pretty-tits has the same fears that you do. I have tried to reassure her, but it’s up to you to show an interest now.”

  I said, “How far should I go this evening when she comes over?”

  Brenda said, “All, the way to the end of the hot wet tunnel between her legs.”

  I gasped, “Brenda!”

  She said, “Oh, don’t be a prude! There’s no point talking about it anymore. Spend time in the hot tub, get her naked, and let nature take its course. Your brain will fly out the window soon enough and you won’t have much choice but to do what your body says is right. And here’s a final reason. Did you know that your secretary had a daughter? She didn’t either. Not until recently. Charlotte never had a husband and her daughter never had a true father. The girl is grown now, but both of them need a real place to share holidays as a family. The daughter is married and it won’t hurt you to get to know her husband. But, even at this age, she needs family. Think about it. She never had blood relatives. No siblings, no uncles and aunts, no cousins, and no true mom or dad. You need to take that role. The reasons are compelling. The third less than the first two, but the third is a bonus.”

  I said, “I do have compassion for single mothers and their children.”

  Brenda said, “Then it makes it even easier with my friend Lisa because she is in the same place as Charlotte. I know that we are mature and past the middle point of our lives, but I see it clearly now. Our family will be the four of us and these new grown children.”

  I said, “Brenda, is Lisa’s daughter married already?”

  Brenda said, “That’s part of the strangeness of the universe. She and Charlotte’s daughter, and my brother’s sister-in-law, are all married to the same man! How is that for confirmation? But both of them will be here soon for our stroll. I will take Charlotte to the thing to benefit the Retired Telephone Sanitizers Senior Center and you get to know Lisa. And invite her to sleep over tonight. And if she balks, command her. Now, they are planning to meet us by the pool in a few minutes, so we had better be going.”

  Brenda kissed me and straightened the wrap around her hips and led me to the door. Lisa and Charlotte were still in the bedroom when we left the suite.

  When we came to the pool, Brenda stopped us and waited. A minute later, Lisa and Charlotte joined us. Charlotte was carrying a bottle of water.

  Coming close to me, Charlotte said, “Take this,” and she held out a small yellow pill and the water.

  She whispered, “It’s for your erections, Sir. This is a full dose. Tomorrow morning, you will start taking a daily dose. From now on, one of my responsibilities will be your medications. You take meds for high blood pressure and allergies. And now for a little helper for when you want more sexual activity than any of us have been used to. I had it discussed with your doctor and he approved these dosages. Your medical records are being transferred to a local physician that Mr. Jensen trusts as well. The two of them will coordinate between themselves when you travel here or at your home in California.”

  I took the pill gladly. I’d taken this before. It really did make it easier to get and keep a stronger erection more frequently. If I wanted one. It wasn’t magic in the sense of making me want sex more often, but that wasn’t a problem, I wanted sex plenty, but it did help with the number of times that I could be ready in a week. Hell, I was 60 years old; things slow down with age.

  I whispered to Charlotte, “Thank you! You can’t imagine how much I appreciate you thinking of this and taking care of it for me.”

  She grinned and said, “Sir, do you want to inspect the fit of my swimsuit? I was told that you require a particular fit in certain areas of your…wives…swimwear.”

  She hesitated over the word ‘wives’ as if she were searching for the right word. What was she to me? What was she allowed to call herself? How did she fit? I was glad that she included herself as my wife. And as far as checking her swimsuit, I had intended to postpone anything like that with Charlotte until we had moved forward in our relationship a bit more, but now that she’d brought it up, and called herself my wife, and made it clear that I had not only her consent but also an implied right and her desire for it, I figured, why not? Let’s have some fun. Start acting like Charlotte is truly one of my women, in the same way that I was with Brenda and Lisa. We had to get this covenant settled.

  I leaned very close to Charlotte and put my lips to her ear and my hand to her hip. I’d go ahead and touch her right here, out in the open at the pool. I wasn’t going to be blatant about it, I’d make sure that there was little possibility of being caught, but if she wanted the thrill of having me check to make sure that her suit wouldn’t impede intercourse if we wanted it, then I’d go ahead and check right where she stood. She had suggested that this was an ‘inspection’ to make sure that her uniform was properly fitted; I’d go ahead and inspect my troops before they were allowed to move on.

  I acted as if all I was doing was whispering to her. People, if they did glance at us would look at our faces, wondering what secret we were sharing, not noticing that the secret was about to take place below Charlotte’s waist.

  I whispered very quietly, “Spread your feet just a little.”

  Charlotte jerked involuntarily, realizing that I was going to do it right now instead of taking her away to a more private spot, or to demure until later. My hand sneaked inside the slit of the wrap at her hips and continued toward the bottom of her suit where it wrapped over her mound, between her legs, and then up the back over her pretty butt.

  I didn’t linger. I slid my hand into the leg of her suit and made sure that there was enough play to allow the crotch to be pulled to the side comfortably if desired. Tickling the bottom of her slit with one finger very briefly, I quickly removed my hand.

  Pulling her head tight against my lips I whispered, “That will do, Cherry. Good girl. That’s just how I want you. Keep that in mind. If you don’t know what I want, pretend that you are asking me and do what you think that I’d say. Did they tell you that you’re going to take your suit off on the beach and go into the ocean naked tonight? I’m going to give you a bath in the ocean. Right down there at the south end of the beach. Tonight, I don’t care if the crotch of the suit can be pulled aside to take my erection, because tonight you’ll be standing naked on the sand until I call you to come to me so that I can bathe you in moonlight and saltwater. Did they tell you that’s what I’m going to do with you tonight?”

  Charlotte shuddered and pulled herself tight into my arms and whimpered, “No, Sir.”

  I said softly, “Cherry, are you crying?”

  I looked at her and there were certainly tears on her cheeks.

  She stared into my eyes and said, “I am. I…I love you!”

  I smiled and gathered her close again and said, “And I love you. I always will. Let’s go get your ear pierced before we go to the beach.”

  She said, “Sir, I already have your ring in my ear.”

  I looked at her head and said, “Oh, that’s right. Sorry, I forgot. It’s been a blur. I remembered we did that, but I forgot that you did it too.”

  Charlotte said, “I thought that maybe you wouldn’t remember. Things weren’t exactly settled then. It did seem like a dream.”

  We took Charlotte’s hand and the four of us started walking toward the sand.

  Lisa said, “I wish I could have heard what they were saying to each other.”

  We headed north, toward the shops at first. We weren’t going shopping. We were just walking on the sand. When we came to the end of the beach, we’d turn around and go back in the other direction. We chatted about this and that as we strolled. We avoided topics of any significance.

  Brenda asked, “Charlotte, how um, what’s your sex life been like?”

  Charlotte said, “I haven’t been with a man in over 30 years. Sin
ce before Lily was born. That’s a nice name. Lily. I had a daughter and never knew her name. But yeah, you know what, it was so long ago that I don’t really even remember it. It must not have made an impression on me, one way or another. And there’s a good chance that all the sickness I had may have wiped out a few of the details and emotions that I’d expect to have. You want to know my most intense sexual experience that I do remember?”

  Lisa said, “Yes!”

  Charlotte grinned and said playfully, as if she were telling a secret to a few girlfriends, “Well, it was very recent. I was by the pool with this guy I’m totally in love with now. We haven’t had sex yet, but we’re so close I can’t stand it. Anyway, we were by the pool, and he just boldly stuck his fingers in the crotch of my bathing suit, telling me that he has to make sure that it won’t get in the way.”

  Lisa played along and asked, “In the way of what?”

  Charlotte said, “Of his dick, apparently. It’s pretty big.”

  Lisa said, “Is it? How do you know?”

  Breaking out of her story, Charlotte said, “Well, he was in the middle of fucking Brenda and I walked in on them and when he was done with her, I wiped him up with a towel and helped him get dressed. Lisa, I just wanted to try oral sex so bad right then that I almost went for it!”

  Lisa said, “Why didn’t you?”

  Charlotte said, “Because I didn’t know how.”

  Lisa said, “So that was the most exciting thing you’ve done so far?”

  Charlotte said, “No. Like I was saying, it was at the pool. A few minutes ago. Right there out in the open, he pulled the front of my crotch away and made sure that he could fit in there if he wanted to. No one saw us. At least I don’t think so.”

  Lisa said, “I didn’t.”

  Brenda smiled and said, “I did.”

  Charlotte said, “I had half an orgasm. But that wasn’t the real deal. It wasn’t how he touched me, he hardly touched me at all. In fact, I almost grabbed his hand and demanded that he really touch me, but I knew that isn’t how he is. And he proved it the next minute.”