Summer Girl (5 page)

“It's me, Mom.” Brie said, trying not to cry.
She tossed the letter into the trash. It was only then that she
realized that she was still wearing Tamara's shorts and top.

Brie went to the community center pool at
8:00am and swam laps for an hour. At 10:00 she hauled her mower
into the back of her pick-up for the morning's first stop at the
Swanson's. The previous day she had stayed in her room and
cancelled all her mowing jobs. She told her mom she was sick. Today
would be a long day, trying to make up for the appointments she had
missed from the previous day. No lingering in the lake today.

The next day she was close to being caught up
and was starting to think that she should stop taking on new
customers. She was on her way to do the Thompson's lawn when her
phone vibrated. She killed the mower and pulled the phone out of
her pocket. She didn't recognize the number.

“Hello? Is this Brie?” said a well-modulated
woman's voice.

“I'm not sure,” said Brie.

“Brie, this is Tamara Evans—”

Brie hung up.

Brie stood still, breathing hard.
WTF?

The phone rang again.

“Hi, this Tamara Evans. I was looking for
Brie.”

“This is Brie...”

“I'm Brad's wife.”

“I know,” said Brie.

“I wanted to thank you for doing such a great
job on the lawn. It's never looked this good.”

“It's kind of pointless now, right?” said
Brie.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“All the storm damage,” said Brie.

“Oh, you must have seen the lawn after the
storm,” said Tamera.

Shit. Think fast.
“I saw it when I did
the Fugleson's lawn yesterday.”

“I didn't see you over there. Yes, it was a
mess but we got it cleaned up late yesterday. It looks great,” said
Tamera.

“How did you cleaned-up so fast?” said
Brie.

“We found someone in Bittenberg,” said
Tamera. Bittenberg was eighty miles away. That had to be expensive.
“Can you stop by?” continued Tamera. “There's something I need to
talk to you about.”

Brad must have told her everything. That
fucking open and honest marriage of theirs. Tamera was being nice
on the phone, but the moment Brie arrived at the house Tamera would
read her the riot act. It would be ugly and uncomfortable and Brie
would probably start crying. But Brie shocked herself by saying
“okay”.

Tamera's shorts and top were in the bag on
the truck’s passenger's seat. Brie had washed them but still didn't
know how she would go about giving them back.
“I borrowed your
clothes while I was stranded at your house fucking your husband the
other night during the storm. He’s hung like a steer.”
But
Tamera probably knew all that already. And how would Brie ask for
HER clothes back from Tamera— if they hadn't blown into the next
state already.

Brie pulled into the Merles' driveway. Her
mind was racing. Would Brad be there? Would this be some big ugly
confrontation where they would spill their guts in front of the
spurned wife and admit that they had a mad affair while she was
away? And Brie was still fixating on the fact that Brad got to come
and she didn't. Selfish pig. How could Tamera stand living with
such a jerk? A gorgeous, charming, hung-like-an-Angus, selfish
jerk.

Brie walked through the yard. The lawn looked
pristine, the downed trees and debris from three nights before were
gone.

She walked up the steps and knocked on the
sliding glass door. “Right here, Brie.”

Brie turned her head and saw Tamera in the
pool. “Oh, hello...” said Brie walking back down the steps.

“It's such a beautiful day,” said Tamera.
Tamera walked across the pool through about four feet of water
towards the steps. As the pool got shallower, more of Tamera was
revealed. Water spilled off smooth olive skin as her perfect bikini
body rose up from the water. Seeing her now in the flesh, Brie had
to admit the horrible truth; as impossible as it was, Tamera was
even more beautiful than in her photos. Her body was a single long,
sinuous curve, ideally proportioned. Her shoulders, breasts,
stomach, hips legs... optimum measurements all. And she had a kid?!
No way.

And that face! Full lips, fine sculpted nose,
wide almond eyes, arcing upwards on the edges like a Persian queen,
blond hair cascading down her shoulders, everything the right
distance apart, perfect symmetry.

Tamera was looking for a towel but was sure
taking her sweet time in doing it. This was for Brie's benefit, no
doubt. This was a “just-in-case-you're-thinking-of
stealing-my-husband” shot across the bow. It was one of those “this
is what you're dealing with, bitch, so don't even try” pincer
movements. And Brie knew Tamera was right. Brie couldn't compete
with that. No one could compete with that. Tamera was on a whole
different plane. Brie had been slapped and slapped down hard. How
this eighth wonder of world had made its way to their tiny town of
Trestle was something for others to ponder.

“Here, sit down,” Tamera said pulling a
chaise next to hers. Brie smiled nervously and sat down next to
her.

“It's great to meet you,” said Brie.

“Brad told me what a lovely girl you are and
he was right. I guess you two saw each other a couple of times
while I was gone.”

Brie felt a chill go through her. Here it
was. This was it. “Yes, Tamera, and, uh... I want you to know that
I don't believe for a second that I can take your—”

“—do you have any experience with kids?”
Tamera asked.

“Kids?”

“We're looking for a summer girl to take care
of Jackie.”

“You know... to be honest, I really don't,”
said Brie trying to recover.

“Well, let's find out,” said Tamera, letting
her towel drop as she stood up, walking to the glass door and
disappearing inside. Brie sat alone, whip-sawed by the “change of
venue”. Brie had gone into this meeting girded for battle and
instead was entertaining a job offer. A job offer from woman whose
husband Brie had just slept with. Was this just a scheme to keep
Brie close so Tamera could keep an eye on her?

“Here she is!” said Tamera, walking back
outside, holding a darling two-year girl in her arms. “She just
woke up from a nap— didn't you honey?” Tamera said, abruptly
handing the still half-asleep toddler to a shocked Brie. Brie
playfully bounced the little girl in her arms. Surprisingly she
didn't try to squirm away back to her mother. “See, she likes you,”
said Tamera.

“She's so sweet,” said Brie quietly.

“What's your name,” said Jackie drowsily.

“Brie.”

“Oh,” she said going back to sleep.

“This is really the only way to tell
anything,” said Tamera. “The way you hold her and the way she's
reacting is to you is the only test that counts. I could ask for
references but that wouldn't really mean anything since you have
never watched kids before. You have a small mowing business so that
tells me you're responsible. The only thing to do here is just hire
you and see how it works out.”

“I'll have to think about it,” said Brie
staring Tamera's flawless skin.

“You could move in with us and stay until we
go back to Overton at the end of September. But you'd have to quit
your mowing jobs.”

“I don't think I could afford to do that,”
said Brie.

“But of course, you can keep doing lawn,”
said Tamera smiling, a band of bright white teeth framed by
sculpted lips.

“I can't quit my mowing jobs, Tamera.”

“Well, I haven't told you how much we're
paying,” said Brie. “We can do five thousand a month.”

“Huh?! What did you say?”

“Plus room and board. In four months you will
have earned twenty thousand dollars. That's a nice head-start for
next year's tuition.

Five thousand a month to babysit?

“You're serious?” said Brie.

“Yes. But it’s a lot of responsibility. Both
Brad and I have to go into the office a few times a month down in
Overton. Our overseas trips can last a week or more. There may be
times you're here alone. Usually one of us covers for the other but
that gets harder as Jackie gets older and needs more attention. We
both work from home but we have conference calls that can last
hours.”

Jackie was slumbering peacefully in Brie's
arms. Brie looked back at Mrs. Merle. “Why sure. Why not?”

“Oh...” said Tamera getting up and walking to
over to the outdoor cooker. She returned, holding a bag. “You left
this here,” Tamera handing it to Brie. Brie peeked inside and saw
her bunched up shorts and tank top—and the blue bikini. “I guess it
was quite a storm,” smiled Tamera, “It blew the clothes right off
you.

“Brad's coming back from Overton tonight,”
said Tamera.

“Tonight?!” said Brie excited. “I thought it
was tomorrow.”

“He just texted me. He got out of town early.
Should be here around nine.”

“Wow...” said Brie trying not to sound too
obvious but already blowing it.

“I bet you're happy about that,” said Brie,
clearing the kitchen table. Jackie was on the floor in the living
room playing. It was Brie’s second day living at the house and the
days already seemed effortless. Brad was visiting his law firm in
Overton and Tamera was on conference calls for much of the day.
Brie played with Jackie, put her down for her nap, then read, or
watched TV or movies. Tamera's business-like voice could be heard
in the other room while other voices on the call sounded like
random radio chatter on the speaker. Brie would get dinner at
around four at Fritz's Foods, Trestle's only grocery store. Tamera
would help her prepare it and the three of them would eat.

“I'm happy, but I bet not has happy as you,”
said Tamera.

“I don't think so. He's your husband,” said
Brie.

Tamera looked at Brie as she slid a fork of
lettuce into her mouth, “I've known him for six years now but
you've just met him. Everything is more intense at the
beginning.”

How can she be so blasé?

“I heard that you guys had a fight,” said
Tamera.

“He told you that?” said Brie. Despite all
the declarations of open marriage by both Brad and Tamera, Brie was
still uncomfortable with this kind of open talk.

“Brad told me it didn't end well, said
Tamera. “That you were upset.”

“It was stupid”

“It was about me, right?” said Tamera.

“I really don't feel like talking about
this,” said Brie.

“You want to have some fun?” said Tamera.

“No.”

“Do you want to make him forget about all
that fight?” said Tamera.

“I guess,” said Brie.

“I think you should greet Brad at the door
tonight.”

“And where will you be?”

“In bed reading.”

“Okay,” said Brie, her vocabulary stymied by
the offer.

“And we'll get you dressed up. He loves girls
in business suits,” said Tamera. “Tight business suits. High heels,
hair pulled back, garter belt and stockings underneath. I don't get
a chance to wear those things up here in the summer. He misses it.
You'll blow his mind.”

“But I don't own anything like that.”

“You're roughly my size. I've got plenty you
can wear.”

Brie felt a chill. So that was Brad's fetish?
His secret kink, the one thing that can make him come crawling.
“Okay,” said Brie, feeling wetness between her legs.

They finished the dishes and put Jackie in
her crib. They retreated to the master bedroom and Tamera opened
the top of her lingerie drawer. “Take off your clothes,” said
Tamera matter-of-factly. Brie took off her shorts and top and was
soon naked. As Tamera went through the door she looked at Brie, up
and down, sizing her up for a second. She walked over with a black
garter belt and panties, holding them up to Brie. “Hmm, black
washes you out. Let's try something else.”

“Do you have anything in blue?” said
Brie.

“Oh, yes, right,” said Tamera. “Blue is your
color isn't it?” Tamera opened another drawer and found something
immediately. “Here we go. Try these.” Tamera handed Brie a bra,
thong-style panties and garter-belt set. All blue. The lace panties
and bra were sheer, barely covering her nipples and leaving much
exposed cleavage.

“Blue is indeed your color,” Tamera said.

“My God, there's not much here,” said
Brie.

“Oh no, there's plenty there, sweetheart,”
said Tamera. “I hope you feel sexy as you look.”

Brie fumbled with the garter-belt. Tamera
helped her, sliding her fingers underneath and adjusting it,
pulling the straps upwards, “You want this to be situated right on
the waist,” Tamera said.

Brie was trying to contain her excitement.
She caught a glimpse of her lacy curves in the mirror. Oh yeah, she
was hot! She thought about Brad seeing her in the doorway for the
first time in five days, going berserk, ravishing her and tearing
off her clothes right there in the hall. He would be insatiable…
kissing her neck, run his tongue down her hot body. She imagined
him bending her over the sofa and drilling her from behind with his
massive cock... Brie was flowing, soaking Tamera's barely-there
panties before she was even dressed.

Tamera returned to the lingerie chest and
rummaged around, “Usually you want the stockings to match the
lingerie but when you have blue I don't think you can do that. I
just don't think blue hosiery looks good... ah, but you know what
does? Black. Black stockings go with everything,” she said tossing
a pair to Brie.

Brie rolled the stockings up her legs,
clasping the front garter, but the rear ones dangled. “I can't
reach back there,” said Brie standing in front of Tamera sitting on
the edge of the bed. “Here,” she said turning Brie around. Tamera
was eye level with Brie's almost bare bottom. Brie could feel
Tamera attach the stockings, then make slight adjustments to the
ensemble while Brie held her arms submissively out at her sides as
Tamera spun her around again “Put these on,” said Tamera, grabbing
a pair of four inch heels.