It was a cold winter day, as was expected the week before Christmas. I still had a few last gifts to get, and went ahead and drove to the mall. I figured I could get several of them at one stop, as I still had my sister’s kids as well as one for the receptionist where I worked.

I had selected a coffee mug for Joan and was heading to the music store to see if I could find something for my niece when I saw a group of teens over at the food court. There were six of them, and they were all in a cluster and giggling. I smiled at seeing them, as who could not find the sight of a half dozen teens from fourteen to seventeen cute in their schoolgirl outfits. I even recognized them by their outfits as attending the Saint Nicholas Preparatory Academy. And I was almost past them when I heard one of the girls call my name.

“Tim, is that you?” one of them said, then quickly ran over and threw herself into my arms. I smiled and hugged her back, laughing along with her as it had been over a year. I held her at arm’s length and looked at her.

The last year had been a very good one for Carmen. The last time I had seen her was over a year ago when I was dating her mother. Back then she was fourteen and just starting to transform from a cute tomboy to a really cute girl. But now, she was unquestionably a hottie, with her rich brown hair flowing over her shoulders, and I noticed the scrunchie around one of her wrists.

I saw her friends still huddled together and whispering as we hugged again, and I let her pull me over to the others. “Girls, this is Tim. He and my mom dated for over a year, and I’ve not seen him in ages.” I chatted with them all, and they were all adorable. With their proper knee length dark blue skirts, white blouses, and matching blue blazers. And because it was winter and there was almost six inches of snow outside, black tights or hose. I greeted each of them, even though I would never hope to remember all of their names. However, I did notice that each of them had a small gold pin over their school patch on their left breast.

We all chatted for about fifteen minutes, and I said I still had a few more gifts to get before the mall turned into a madhouse. And I welcomed Carmen when she asked if she could join me. I figured she might be the perfect person to help me pick a gift for a fourteen year old girl.

In a way, Carmen could almost have been my daughter, or at least my step-daughter. I dated her mom for almost two years, and we had gotten rather close. Her mom Isabel and I had been a couple back when she was thirteen, and broke up when she was fourteen. And in some ways at that time I considered her “the one that got away”. And it was not even a fight or anything. She was a widow I had met through mutual friends, and something just clicked between us. I spent almost half my time at their place, and at least once a week the two of them came to mine.

Dating Isabel was a first, as I knew right away that I was dating them as a set. Dates out with just the two of us were rare, as almost every single time if I was with Isabel, Carmen was there also. And that was fine with me, because I grew to love her as well. And being a bit of a tomboy, sometimes it was almost as if I was going out with Carmen as her mom chaperoned. Like taking them both ice skating, where I had to alternate which one I skated with. Or going to the park where Carmen and I would be kicking around a soccer ball as Isabel sat at a table nearby reading.

Even then Carmen really loved soccer, and on occasion it would be just the two of us going to the park as her mom stayed at home. We almost were like a family, but ultimately there was a big problem we could never manage to overcome. I was in my early thirties, and like many was more than feeling the urge to settle down and start a family. However, Isabel already had one child, and was not interested in having any others.

And in addition, Isabel also considered herself to be a “Good Catholic”. In other words, no matter how amazing our late night make-out sessions were after Carmen had gone to bed, ultimately they never went past “second base”. Some incredibly steamy kissing, and even some groping of chests through our clothing. But never past what I had experienced in junior high as she would allow me to squeeze and caress her bottom and her breasts, but never without clothing in between her amazing body and my hands. And just like in junior high, I would return home alone where I would masturbate like a teenager again. But I never pressured her for more, no matter how much I wanted to. And eventually, our breakup was actually rather civil, and there were no fights or anything. She simply realized that I wanted at least one child, and she was not willing to have another baby.

And as I was looking through the CDs, I glanced at Carmen as she was looking through and giving me suggestions. I could still recognize her, and only see a bit of the girl I had roughhoused with a few years before. But she had matured in amazing ways. Her face was longer than I remembered, no longer as round as it had been. And she had grown her hair out, no longer the tomboyish hair that barely met her shoulders but was almost to her mid-back. Finally I followed her advice and selected a Faith Hill and Barenaked Ladies CD, and then we went to a toy store. There I got a Bigfoot radio controlled truck for my nephew, and put them both in my car. We headed back in, and were looking through an electronics store when I realized I did not know if Susie had a CD player. So I called my sister, and she said she did not. Carmen watched as I did that, and asked if she could call her mom to let her know where she was.

I smiled and explained how to use a cell phone, and selected a CD player. And as Carmen and Isabel were still talking on the phone and she was not paying attention to me, I saw something next to the counter that I grabbed on impulse. I had missed last Christmas, and figured a single gift would help make up for that.

I was just putting my wallet away when Carmen handed me the phone. Isabel thanked me for spending some time with her daughter, and I said that no thanks were needed, I loved seeing her again. And before I realized it, I found myself agreeing to have dinner with them after I took Carmen home.

Finally everything was in the back of my car, and we were chatting as we headed to her apartment. I saw her reach up and remove the pin that had been on her blazer, and asked what that was and why she was putting it away.

“Oh, a lot of us wear pins to show our interests. Like soccer, volleyball, basketball, music, and the like. They are frowned down upon, and we can’t wear them at school. But we often put them on once we get out of school.” And indeed, I had noticed that each of the girls she had been with had at least one pin. And some had several. We were at a stoplight so I asked to see it. It was a gold shield, and I saw on it “SOS 2:3”. I did not know what book or chapter it was, but I did recognize it as shorthand for a Bible passage. I asked her if she was in a Bible club, and she smiled. “Oh, it’s something like that. It’s kind of an unofficial club some of us girls belong to.”

Isabel came up when we got there and gave me a big hug, and thanked me for watching out for Carmen and driving her home. I told her that no thanks were needed, I was more than happy to do so as it let us spend some time together. Carmen went off to her room as her mom and I got acquainted again, and I saw that she had lasagna and garlic bread on the table already.

Carmen joined us in a pair of pink sweats, and after I opened the wine we all started eating. Mostly we just caught up, and Isabel was proud to tell me that Carmen was the center on the school soccer team. I told them I had been promoted, and was now the assistant IT director for my office. Isabel was now the manager of a restaurant on the other side of town. And towards the end, it was Carmen that asked me if I was seeing anybody.

“Oh, not at the moment. I did date a few gals, but nothing like your mom here.” That earned me a smile from both of them, and then she surprised me by offering that her mom had dated a few guys after me, but never for very long. “Carmen!” her mom said, and blushed a bit as I saw her daughter smile and wink at me.

Isabel shooed us out as she cleaned up the table, and once in the living room Carmen confided in me that her mom had never dated anybody for anywhere near as long as she was with me. “Honestly, I think they get frustrated that mom won’t give it up and move on.”

“Carmen!” I said softly but firmly. “That’s not a nice thing to say, and you should not gossip about your mother like that.” But she simply smiled at me, and shook her head. Her mom rejoined us, and handed me a refilled glass of wine so we sat in the living room and caught up. And Isabel admitted she had dated several guys since we had broken up, but they never stayed for very long. She rested her hand on Carmen’s shoulder, and softly admitted that most did not care that she had a daughter and wanted her alone for most of their dates.

“Tim, in that you were actually unusual. It was almost as if you were dating both of us, and I know Carmen appreciated it also. I’m just sorry things did not work out between us.”

“Well, it was not that different for me. Dated one gal for about four months, but she made it clear she never wanted kids. I was with another for over a month before I found out she already had a son.”

Carmen looked up at me, and asked if that was a problem. “Oh sugar, you should know me better than that! I had no problem at all, but the fact she felt like she had to hide him was a problem. I love your mother, and I love you also. And that gal admitted she wanted at least one or two kids, but her not telling me she already had one was the issue. I mean, what else was she keeping a secret from me?”

I saw both of them watching me closely as I said that, and both nodded. Isabel even adding that trust was a big part in any relationship. We chatted together until almost 10:00, when Carmen gave be a big hug and kissed my cheek before heading off to bed. And after that Isabel sat next to me on the couch, and our conversation got a bit more intimate.

She admitted that each of the guys she dated after me would only last a month or so. And although she never said so, I sensed that the lack of sex is why most moved on. Of course, she never actually said “sex”, but “intimacy”. But we both knew exactly what she meant.

“Tim, was it that much of a problem between us in that way?”

I smiled at her and reached out and held her hand in mine. “Isabel, not really. I mean, I did miss not being able to be intimate with you like that. But I loved being with both of you. I dated you for you, not just as a way to get sex. You made it clear early on that you would never have sex until you were married, and I respected that. I think ultimately, it was the issue of kids that had us break up. And to be honest, now I am growing to accept that I will likely never have a kid of my own. I am getting older, and most gals our age don’t want kids, or more kids I should say.”

I saw her nod and take another drink. “Well, you can always look for a younger girl. For many, you might be quite a catch. Single, and no kids or ex-wife. You have a good job, own your own house, and are rather handsome. In fact, there are times I kick myself for the promises I made to myself after Carl died.”

I took both of her hands in mine and held them tight, as she rarely talked about her late husband. “Isabel, don’t ever regret your choices. May I be frank for a moment?” She looked into my eyes and nodded, and I smiled and continued. “As I said, our not having sex was never a huge problem with me. I had you, and at the same time I had Carmen. As for other urges, let’s just say I could take care of things once I got home and leave it at that.”

She actually blushed as I said that, knowing I was implying that I often masturbated when I got home. And I was a bit surprised when she softly admitted it had been the same for her. We hugged and held each other for about five minutes after that, gently caressing each other’s back and arms as we did. Then after a soft kiss, I said it was getting late and I should go home.

I think Isabel understood, and we shared a tender kiss before standing up. “Tim, can you do me a favor, please? She understood when we broke up why she would not be seeing you anymore, but can you try and give Carmen some time at least occasionally? You are the closest she ever had to a father figure once her dad died. And I know we would both appreciate it if you could at least be in her life sometimes.”

“Well, I promise I can do that. I think mostly I stayed away out of respect for you. I imagine a lot of guys would have found it strange if your ex-boyfriend was around, and might not believe it was just to see your daughter.”

“Well, let me worry about that. But please, I think Carmen can use a steady male figure in her life.”

We shared another hug, then a soft kiss before she walked me to the door. And I smiled as I drove home, as it was like it was over a year before. A great dinner with two lovely ladies, just with less intimacy. And I did not even have the urge to jack off when I got home.

The next day I had just finished wrapping the gifts when I got a call. It was Carmen, and she asked me for my email address. So I gave her the one I used at home, and she said she had some things she wanted to send to me. We talked for about ten minutes, and after I hung up I went and had some lunch. And once I was finished I went into my office and logged onto the Internet.

After listening to the expected screaming form the modem, I was soon on and went to my email. And was not surprised to see an email from Carmen. She talked about how happy she had been to see me, and that several of the girls had admitted they thought I was cute for an older guy. And seeing that she had attached several photos I smiled and downloaded them.

The first was much like I had seen her yesterday. In her school uniform, but obviously earlier in the year as there were three of them, one showing all of her including her bare legs. And the next of her torso with her smiling at the camera. And yet another that was obviously of her soccer team, and of just her in her soccer uniform. And she was easy to spot on the bottom row. Her legs were crossed, but her hands demurely in front of her groin as she should be for a proper girl like she was. And I recognized that two of the other girls in the photo had been with her at the mall.

I looked through them again, and took a chance and added her address to my MSN Instant Messenger. And was not surprised to see she was there, but not online. But I added her anyways, so maybe we could talk again soon. And I went ahead and pulled up my Yahoo account and added her to that as well.

On Sunday I was checking out the football scores, and saw that she had logged on to her computer. She accepted my request right away on MSN, and she said she was glad to see me there. And I was not sure if she was teasing when she said she thought I was too old for instant messaging. I reminded her I was an IT person, so always kept up on the newest technology.

And I saw that she responded to my request on Yahoo, and that she said that she did not know me. I smiled, and said I lived in the same town and that I had thought her profile picture had looked cute. And it was kinda strange, as we were having two very different conversations. On MSN she was telling me about her looking forward to school break. And on Yahoo, she was asking if I had found her through her group. I admitted I had heard of it, but was not a member.

She went ahead and added me as a friend, and I was a bit surprised when she asked me what I looked like. I realized she had no idea that was me, as it was my Yahoo ID and not the one I use on MSN. So I described myself, and she said I sounded great. And a few minutes later she told me she had to log off to do some things.

I looked and found the group she had talked about and joined it. It was a private group, called “Song of Solomon”. And nobody else in the group was on, but I saw there were around fifty members. And in the photo area were photos of a dozen girls. And each was wearing their school uniforms, but they were sexy photos. First of all, each of the girls was apparently listed under a pseudonym, as each had a name from the Bible under their photos. And also, each of the girls was either wearing a mask or had the photo covering them from their neck down. And some of the photos showed the girl in their blazer without their blouse, one even with the blazer open so I could just see the center of their chest between their breasts.

I spotted Carmen easily as “Rahab”, as I had seen her in a swimsuit before. The photo showed her head, and she was of all things wearing one of those Sailor Moon girl masks. I had no idea which one, but she had got it when she was twelve and it was the one with green hair. And the small mole just above her left breast was confirmation, as I had only seen that a few times when we went to a pool and she was in a swimsuit.

Carmen was wearing her blazer as well, but the top buttons were undone and I could see the top of her swelling breast in it as well as the mole. What in the hell had I stumbled into? And I noticed that there were images of praying hands below each of the photos, from one to four of them. And on the blazer each girl was wearing was the same SOS 2:3 pin that I saw Carmen wearing.

I went ahead and logged off to make dinner, and was wondering what in the hell the group was. I was in the group under the name “RamFan”, and apparently she had no idea that was me. After dinner I logged on again, and saw that Carmen was logged on also, but listed as “away from keyboard” on MSN. But on Yahoo, she was active and I was soon in a group chat.