Chapter 11

Three days later, Angie was excitedly tossing some clothes into her suitcase. Her and her mother were going back to Mason to do some house hunting. Her father would be busy wrapping up his business affairs in Williamstown so when her mother asked if she wanted to come along, she jumped at the chance. They would be staying at Steve’s house again and she couldn’t wait to get him alone!

They had only spoken once on the phone, two days ago, and at that time she didn’t know they would be coming back. She decided not to call him, hoping to surprise him.

They finished packing the van and left for Mason before dawn the next morning. It was a nine hour drive and Angie managed to sleep for a few hours, but it felt like the longest trip she’d ever taken. She thought about her and Steve’s last love-making session and how beautiful it had been. Michelle also occupied her thoughts and she hoped the three of them could get together for some fun as well.

It was almost four in the afternoon when they finally arrived at the O’Connell’s and Angie could barely wait until her mother stopped the van before jumping out.

“Hey! Take something in with you!” her mother called as she got out. Angie was halfway to the door and turned around, trotting over to the back of the van as her mother opened the back door.

“Sorry, Mom. I’m just anxious to see Steve and Michelle,” she said as she lifted a suitcase.

“There’ll be plenty of time to hang out with your friends,” she replied, picking up her own luggage.

Just then, the door of the house opened and Karen came out to greet them.

“Hey! You guys made good time!” she exclaimed, giving Cathy a warm hug and smiling at Angie.

“Sorry to impose on you like this,” Cathy began as they started toward the house.

Karen laughed. “You’re not imposing! Remember, I insisted you stay with us. You’re pretty much family and you’re not staying in a hotel!”

Angie looked over at Karen. “Is Steve home?”

Karen shook her head. “He’s at work. He gets off at five.” She held open the door so they could go inside. “I know he’ll be happy to see you!” she added with a little smile. Angie lowered her eyes and followed her mother inside, wondering if she suspected what Karen already knew about her and Steve.

She carried her bags downstairs and to the room she’d stayed in on her last visit. As she unpacked, her mind once more drifted back to the wonderful times her, Steve, and Michelle had shared here. She was getting wet just thinking about it. Come hell or high water, she and Steve were sleeping together tonight!

She finished unpacking and went upstairs to where Karen and Cathy were chatting over coffee in the kitchen. She sat down at the table and glanced up at the clock. It was four-forty-five. Steve would be here in less than half an hour.

“Angie? Did you hear me?”

Startled, she looked over at her mother, who was eyeing her.

“Huh? I’m sorry, Mom. I guess I was day-dreaming.”

Karen grinned knowingly, but said nothing.

“I was asking if you wanted to come with me to look at houses tomorrow,” Cathy asked, taking another sip from her cup.

“Uh, sure, I guess,” she replied, then looked over at Karen. “Is Steve working tomorrow?”

Karen smiled and nodded. “Tomorrow afternoon, I think. But I could be wrong. You’ll have to ask him.”

Cathy watched this exchange with interest, wondering why her daughter was so preoccupied with Steve. The look on Karen’s face told her she knew something about it and made a mental note to ask her about it.

The subject changed to the houses they were looking at and what neighborhoods they were in. Angie was half listening to them, but her real attention was focused on the clock. Only ten more minutes.

At five past five, she excused herself and went back downstairs, claiming it was hot and she was going to watch some TV. The women watched her go, then Cathy looked at Karen.

“Is there something going on with our kids I should know about?” she asked. “Angie has been moping around the house ever since we got home.”

Karen finished her coffee before replying. “You mean she hasn’t said anything?” She took Cathy’s empty cup and went over to get them a refill.

“No,” Cathy said slowly. “But I have my suspicions.”

Karen sat back down, sliding Cathy’s cup across the table. She nodded. “Yeah, they’re dating. I suspected it right away. I guess boys are a little easier to read than girls when it comes to this sort of thing.”

Cathy sighed. “Well, at least she picked a good kid.” She took a sip and sat thinking for a moment. “Just how serious do you think it is? Should they be sleeping next door to one another in the basement?”

Karen pursed her lips. She was pretty sure Angie and Steve had already had sex, but wasn’t sure how to tell Cathy; or if she should even tell her at all.

“I think,” she began, her eyes moving from her cup up to Cathy. “That if they want to have sex, they’re going to, no matter what we do. Short of locking in their rooms, that is.” Cathy’s face took on a worried expression and Karen reached out and took her hand. “Look, Cathy, they’re teenagers. You were young once. All we can do is warn them of the consequences. If they’re going to do it, they’ll do it.” She paused, then added, “I already spoke to Steve about it when I first suspected they had hooked up. I ... gave him some condoms, just in case.”

Cathy’s eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped. “You did what?!”

“I figured it was the right thing to do. At least they’d be protected!” Cathy closed her mouth but continued to stare at her friend. Karen managed a smile. “And from the expression on Steve’s face, I think he was more scared than anxious!”

Cathy continued to stare, but she finally let out a sigh. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t imagine my mother giving me condoms and telling me to be careful.” She smiled wanly at Karen. “It’s just so much more nerve-wracking with a daughter.”

Karen patted her hand. “They’re good kids, Cathy. They’ll do the right thing.”

They were interrupted by the door opening. Steve came in and dropped his backpack on the floor. He looked up at Cathy and Karen.

“Hi!” His surprise at seeing Cathy there was evident. Karen hadn’t told him they were coming. She wanted to see the look of surprise on his face. He looked from Cathy to his mother. “I didn’t know you were coming back so soon,” he said to Cathy as he got a glass of water and drank it in one long drink.

Cathy glanced over at Karen, then studied Steve in a different light. She could see how Angie would be attracted to him. He was quite good-looking and had a lean, well-toned body. He finished his water and turned around. Cathy averted her eyes back to her coffee, embarrassed that she was thinking about her friend’s teenage son in that way.

“We came to look at houses,” Cathy said before taking a quick sip.

Steve looked around. “Did ... Angie come with you?” He tried to sound casual, but both women could sense his hopefulness.

Karen smiled and nodded toward the basement stairs. “She’s downstairs.”

Steve looked toward the stairs, then very carefully set his empty glass on the counter. He was trying to act nonchalant, but he was doing a poor job.

“Oh, ok,” he said. “I think I’ll go take a shower before supper.” He went over to the steps and, with a quick glance at the two women, disappeared around the corner. They could hear his thumping footsteps as he practically ran down the stairs. Karen couldn’t control herself any longer and burst out laughing, covering her mouth so Steve wouldn’t hear her. Cathy’s face also broke out into a wide grin.

“Did you see the look on his face?” Karen asked between chuckles. “He was trying to act so cool!”

Cathy grinned and allowed herself a small chuckle. Karen was right, Steve was a good kid, and so was Angie. She just wasn’t sure she was ready for her little girl to grow up.

Steve nearly tripped over his own feet as he stumbled down the stairs to the basement. He reached the bottom in one piece and looked around. The room was empty. Just then, the door to the bathroom opened and Angie stood there, looking so beautiful he wanted to take her into his room and make passionate love to her right then and there. To hell with their mothers in the kitchen. He was in love!

Angie’s eyes locked on his and a wide smile spread across her face. Her eyes sparkled as she ran over to him, leaping up and wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. They kissed long and hard, holding each other tightly. Angie started to move her hips, grinding her pussy against his already stiffening cock. They broke off the kiss and Angie hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder and continuing her warm embrace.

“I missed you so much!” she breathed into his ear.

“I missed you, too, baby!” he replied, his hands caressing her back. They kissed again, then Cathy’s voice from the top of the stairs broke the spell.

“Angie! Could come up and help me finish unloading the van, please?”

She let her legs drop to the floor, but continued to hold him with her arms. “I’ll be right back,” she told him. With a final kiss, she released his neck and went over to the steps, looking back until she couldn’t see him anymore. He sighed and pulled off his shirt, then his shorts. He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, wondering when he and Angie would be able to make love again.

When he came out of the shower ten minutes later with a towel wrapped around his waist, he expected Angie to be waiting in the rec room. But she wasn’t there. He went into his room and slipped into a pair of shorts and t-shirt, combed his hair, and went upstairs.

Angie, Karen, and Cathy were in the kitchen, setting the table and doing the final preparations for dinner. Alan arrived home from work a few minutes later and greeted Cathy with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. They all sat down to eat and talked about the Delaney’s estimated moving date and whether they would be moved in time for Angie to start school in another month.

Cathy frowned. “I don’t know. It depends on if we find the right house and can get a quick closing. That’s asking a lot and I don’t want to settle for a place that isn’t what we want just to move in quicker.”

Alan swallowed a mouthful, then said, “You could always rent an apartment for a month or two.”

Cathy nodded. “That’s what we’re thinking we’ll do. It would be hard for Angie to change schools after only a month or two.”

Steve spoke up. “She could always stay here.”

Everyone turned to him and he felt a little embarrassed to be the center of attention. Angie sensed his discomfort and came to his rescue.

“That would be fine with me,” she said, trying to sound casual.

Cathy turned to her. “I’m sure it would, dear, but it’s not nice to ask to move in with someone.”

“I have no problem with that,” Karen said, glancing over at Steve’s father. Alan nodded.

“Sure. Angie’s just like family, anyway.” He grinned and gave her a wink. “The daughter we never had.”

Angie giggled and lowered her eyes, then looked over at her mother. “Could I, Mom? I wouldn’t even have to go back to Williamstown with you. All my stuff is already packed except what I brought with me.”

Cathy laid down her fork and fixed Angie with a hard look. “Angie...”

Karen interrupted her. “It’s ok, Cathy. It’s up to you and Mark, but if she wants to stay, that’s fine with us.”

Angie could feel her mother starting to give in. “Please, Mom? I’m starting to make friends here and it’s hard leaving them to go back home and have to say goodbye to everyone there all over again!”

Cathy sighed. “Let me talk to your father about it.” Angie grinned. “But that doesn’t mean I’m saying yes. We have to have a little talk first.” She glanced over at Steve, who ducked his head and concentrated on his dinner.

Alan caught the exchange and looked over at Karen with a questioning look on his face. She mouthed, ‘later’, and went back to eating.

The rest of the meal was relatively quiet, with only a smattering of conversation. Angie could hardly contain herself. She had to convince her parents to let her stay! Just the thought of being separated from Steve again was almost unbearable!

When dinner was finished, Steve and Angie volunteered to clean up and their parents retired to the living room. Steve glanced over his shoulder as they stood at the sink doing the dishes, then whispered to Angie, “Do you think they’ll say yes?”

She smiled and their hands touched as he passed her a plate to dry. “They have to. I don’t want to be apart from you again. Or Michelle.”

He nodded and began thinking about Michelle and Artie. He hadn’t had the chance to tell Angie about the addition to their little group and although he didn’t know exactly how to tell her, he knew it had to be done soon.

“Why don’t we call Michelle and ask her to come over tonight?” he said as he passed another plate to her.

She nodded. “Yeah, good idea. I can’t wait to see her again.” She gave him a quick sideways glance then nudged him. “Did you two get together while I was gone?”

He looked over at her, expecting an accusing stare, but her eyes twinkled and she had a mischievous grin on her face. He felt his face getting hot.

“Aha! Looks like you did!” she whispered, shoving him sideways with her hip.

He grinned and looked embarrassed. “Yeah, we did. But really only once. We were, uh, interrupted the first time we tried.”

She looked up at him as she hung the dish towel on the rack. “Oh?” She looked toward the living room to make sure they weren’t overheard, then leaned in closer. “What happened?”