The Birthday Present

“ I can't believe you call your mother Veronica.”

“It was her idea. I guess she thought she was too young to be called mom.”

Cora asked, “So you and her don't get along too well, huh?”

“That's an understatement. She hates me.”

“She doesn't hate you.”

“Yes she does. She hates me because I'm nothing like her. I don't sleep around with a bunch of different losers every weekend and I certainly don't drink like a fish.”

Cora reached over and patted Ray on her leg. “Things will get better, dear. Daughters never see eye to eye with their mothers when they're your age.”

“Whatever. I'm just glad that I met you, Cora. I like it here. I can't believe I've been here a whole week already. Maybe I just might stay forever.”

Cora stood up and walked over to the pool. She said, “Stay as long as you like, dear. Its fine with me. That guest room is as good as yours.”

And with that, she jumped into the pool.

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That night, Cora told Beau that she was almost ready for her birthday present. “Oh yeah?” he asked with a smirk on his face. “Why am I not surprised?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, you have been spending significant time with Ray. And I know how much you like pretty things. I'm quite sure Ray cleans up well.”

Cora squealed, “Beau, you can't be serious. She's fifteen for goodness sake!”

“Which means she's ripe and ready to be picked.”

“I can't believe these words are coming out of my husband's mouth. You are being preposterous!”

Beau laughed. He said, “You mean to tell me the idea never once crossed your mind?”

“Yes, I mean to tell you the idea never once crossed my mind.”

“Well I don't believe you.”

Cora threw a pillow at him. “You are too much Beau McGillacuddy!”

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The next morning, after her husband left for work, Cora stepped into a nearly-boiling stream of water in her shower. As she lathered her body with jasmine-scented body wash, she thought about the conversation she and Beau had had the night before. Her husband had implied that she somehow wanted a sexual relationship with Ray. How could he think such a thing? The girl was only fifteen! If she wanted to do something with another woman, she would at least pick an adult.

Out loud she said to herself, “He had better save the ménage a trios for his birthday! He knows what I want for mine.” As she thought about her birthday present, her body began to tingle. The suds ran down her body, and she suddenly found herself aroused. She closed her eyes and imagined firm hands caressing her body.

Suddenly she heard a sound. When she opened her eyes, she saw a naked Ray standing in the shower with her. The girl's hair was wet and sticking to her face. Cora couldn't resist swabbing the hair out of Ray's eyes. As soon as she touched her, Cora knew. She knew that this was what she wanted and that Ray wanted it as much.

She turned off the shower and stepped out with Ray hot on her heels. Soaking wet, they entered Cora's bedroom. Grabbing the older woman's hand, Ray led her to the bed, where they both laid down.

“Have you ever done this before?” Cora asked.

Ray placed her index finger on Cora's lips and quietly whispered, “Shh.”

With no other words spoken between them, Ray proved to Cora that it was definitely not her first time.

Three

A month after starting their forbidden affair, Cora still hadn't received her birthday present. If she kept going the rate she was going, she'd have to wait for her thirty-first birthday.

It was a Friday night and Cora was at Veronica's house with Ray. Veronica was out doing her thing, and they had the house to themselves. Ray had massaged Cora's back with coconut oil and the two naked females had fallen asleep on the couch watching a scary movie.

Right before the killer was unmasked, a drunken Veronica stumbled in and found the two. Flabbergasted by what she saw, she screamed, and Cora and Ray woke up. Veronica slapped Ray and grabbed the telephone. She yelled that she was going to put Cora in jail.