Family Ties

It also gave me a chance to ease the pressure on my swollen manhood.

“All right, I have visual!”

They rejoined us and sank to the blanket. Sabrina looked slightly mussed and very happy indeed.

“The wind’s picked up,” Danny said. “Kinda chilly.”

“Especially on bare skin,” I joked.

“How old are you again?”

We grinned at each other.

“You want another beer?” he asked Sabrina.

“No, thanks. I’m still a little chilled.”

“You ready to go home?”

“Not if you keep me warm.”

She grinned as he pulled a beer from the cooler and then scooted behind her.

I looked at Christy and raised an eyebrow.

Danny laughed. “Good one, Sis.”

Christy scooted between my legs. I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her. Then I glanced down at my watch.

“Moonrise in about half an hour,” I said. “Y’all wanna stay out and watch?”

Danny pushed a button on his watch. The face glowed.

“Will your mom care if we stay out past midnight?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“So you’re our chaperones?” I said without rancor.

“Sort of. Mom made me swear. Sorry, Birdy.”

“Some chaperones you are,” I teased. “You left us alone the first chance you got.” But then I thought about it. “Oh, she’s good.”

“Well, yeah, but… how do you mean?”

“She knew exactly what you and Sabrina would do.”

“He’s probably right,” Sabrina said.

“She even suggested we take the blankets.”

“Hold on,” Danny said. “Are you saying that Mom sent us out here on purpose? To… you know… go off by ourselves?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.

“Yeah. I guess you’re right. I just never thought about her like that.”

“Do you really think she did it on purpose?” Christy asked.

“Yep. She’s a pretty smart lady, your mom.”

“You can say that again,” Danny said.

“She’s a pretty smart lady, your mom.”

Christy looked at me and rolled her eyes.

Danny stared into the night and said, “Well, I’ll be…,” as the realization sank in.

The house was dark and quiet when we returned. We came in through the screen porch. Something seemed odd, but I didn’t figure it out until too late.

The girls had just walked into the house when a wicker chair creaked in the darkness behind me. I spun and dropped into a defensive stance. Rich

stood silhouetted against the moonlit yard beyond the screens.

“Rich…?” Danny said cautiously.

“Just go inside, Danny,” he said.