Saturday evening, still warm, mid-80s.
We'd gathered at 4:30 PM β Me (Karen), David (my husband), June (my Mum), Evie (my best friend and business partner), Richard (David's older brother), and Megan (Richard's wife). Richard and Megan were heading home early on Sunday morning.
We sipped on iced tea, or sparkling water, under a big umbrella on our patio. A light breeze came up, bringing a welcome cooling. David barbecued steaks. I made a big green salad. Mum had brought garlic bread, which David heated on the grill.
Out came the Prosecco, then some Chardonnay, and some Cabernet Sauvignon. We sipped and chatted, joked and laughed. Everyone bright and friendly. A loving family.
Sunset, then dusk. And all hands helped move the dinner remains, dishes and detritus off the patio and onto the dining table, to more easily get it to the kitchen.
Mum and Evie were in the kitchen, washing dishes, putting away left-overs. I was bussing dishes and glasses from the dining room table to the kitchen, as the others finished bringing things in from outside.
From the kitchen, I heard Megan call out, "All clear on the patio!"
I peeked out the kitchen door, and saw Megan leading David and Richard back out onto the patio. In the lowering darkness, she seated them both in chairs, with their backs to the house and windows. She stood before them, and, looking up, caught my eye where I was watching them, from inside.
Megan smiled at me. I smiled back and nodded, then turned back into the kitchen.
As I turned back through the kitchen door, Mum went out past me, saying, "I'll help get in the last of it."
To Evie, I quickly said, "We haven't had a moment alone together since Thursday night. How'd it go? My imagination has been running wild."
Evie smiled slyly. "How did what go, Karen? I don't know what you could mean."
"Ha! You know exactly what I mean, Evie," I said, smiling back at her. "You and David and the hairy pussy review."
As I spoke those last words, Mum had walked into the kitchen.
We were all quiet for a moment. Exchanging glances.
"OK," said Mum. "I have a couple of questions. What about David and the hairy pussy review? And what's going on outside, on the patio?"
Evie looked at me. I looked at Evie. Evie smiled at me.
"All right, Mum," I said. "Cutting to the chase. Sit down, because I don't want you to fall over in a faint."
Mum and Evie both sat down in the two chairs of our kitchen breakfast nook table. Neither spoke.
Standing, I said, "Mum, I know that you and David have been enjoying one another's intimate company pretty regularly."
"Oh, Karen," said my mother, quickly. "Let me explain."
"No need to explain to me, Mum," I said. "I'm not upset."
"Oh," said Mum.
"And I've told Evie about masturbating with you, and one particular evening with you and me and David," I said.
"Oh, my God," spluttered Mum. "Everything?"
"With graphic details," said Evie.
"But you're not upset?" asked Mum.
"I'm not upset," I said.
"I'm not upset, either," added Evie.
"Oh, my God," said Mum. "OK, OK ... then what about the David review thing?"
"Evie has a lot of hair, down there ... you don't mind my sharing that with Mum, do you Evie?" I asked.
"I don't mind," answered Evie. "I do have a lot of hair down there."
"Oh, my God," said Mum. "But how could you know that, Karen?"
"Because I've seen it, Mum," I said. "Evie gave me a good look, once, before she took an even closer look at my pubic hair."
"And we're planning to give Karen a really intimate look between my thighs," said Evie, smiling at me. "We just need to set the date and time."
"Oh, my God," said Mum.
"Mum," I said. "You're sounding very repetitious."
"Sorry, sweetie," said Mum. "This is all just so ... so ... surprising! In a fun way, I mean, of course."
"Yes," I said.
"And the David hair review, Karen?" asked Mum. "What's that all about?"
"David's been rather obsessive about your hair down there, Mum," I said. "I told him that he ought to check out Evie's, for comparison."
"And we did, this past Thursday night," said Evie.