0 comments/ 42190 views/ 9 favorites The Other Sister By: egmontgrigor2010 CHAPTER 1 On a wet Thursday Simone Fletcher and the bank's IT manager Jackson Mitchell spent four hours at one of the bank's branches where discrepancies had been discovered by internal audit. Simone was the vice-president responsible for auditing and she and her team had been unable to discover who had taken the missing $85,000. Simone knew the board and the president would be angry with her if she failed to uncover who'd milked the branch holdings. In desperation she turned to Jackson, knowing it could have only occurred by electronic transfer. She told the thirty-one year old she wanted him to look around the branch to see if he could come up with ideas and asked, "Do you have software that can detect repetitive withdrawals?" "Yes but you of all people must understand all automatic transfers are made between accounts each day but the hundreds, if not thousands." "Damn, of course. I'm losing my way on this." "Just relax. Panicking won't solve anything." They toured the bank with its manager. Back in the manager's office Jackson did an electronic sweep for concealed cameras or microphones, making the manager greatly relieved when Jackson announced, "It's clean. The only readings I got were the two security cameras that we already knew about plus your two panic alarms. So we can take it no one is listening to us. Have you gone through the records to double check the initial report that only one person has left this branch during the past three months?" "Yes we checked three times and I am positive only one person left our employ and that person was a receptionist. In the three months prior to that one teller left to have a baby and has since returned, and a mortgage loan originator another receptionist and my predecessor left and we have had head office re-run security checks on all those personnel and nothing untoward turned up." "So the person you replaced as manager. How many months ago did he leave?" "Five months but he's solid." "One can never be sure..." "Leave it Jackson," smiled Simone. "He's Clive Ellis, operations manager at HQ. Why would he steal from here and remain at the bank, taking such a risk for just eighty-five grand?" "Is there any evidence he gambles?" "Christ Jackson, I said leave it. I know you studied forensics but for your information Clive is a lay preacher and like all of our people with hands on the till we practically know even their favorite color of underwear." "Okay okay. You asked me to help. Someone with a clear head and a fresh way of thinking you said." "Well don't disappoint me." "God you can be such a bitch at times." "Now look here young man Mrs Fletcher is one of our most senior executives and I simply won't..." "Leave it Charles and thanks for your support but my young guy here is more intelligent than he looks and hugely qualified as a troubleshooter. I'm backing his brain ahead of good manners and don't expect to be disappointed." But her confidence took a tumble. "Well I'm stumped." Simone looked away from Jackson and sighed, "Oh crap." "Except for one last think. Call security Charles and..." "I'm Mr Noble to you young man." "Call security. I wish to make a supervised search of the staff locker room." "Permission to do that has to come from HQ." Jackson grinned. "Simone?" "Permission granted Jackson. What the hell is this for?" "Dunno. The last man standing must have asked a question like that when holding a gun and seeing there was no one else to shoot." "What the hell is your Jackson talking about?" "Cool it Charles. Please get head of security here at once." There was a quick search of the seventy-three lockers and the only thing that interested Jackson was a laptop plus a second bag of electronic accessories. "Charles please ensure security doesn't allow the guy who has this locker, Paul Fenton, leave the bank until I have completed my examination of this computer." "Are you on to something Jackson?" "Alarm bells are ringing in my head Charles. Why would a guy who uses a laptop to catch up with sports results, porn and newspaper headlines, and check his personal emails during breaks also want with these accessories?" "Jesus," said Simone. "Charles I suggest you keep our Mrs Fenton under surveillance at a distance, with a security guy at your side. What department does he work in?" Charles practically whispered, "Internal audit." "Oh how convenient," Jackson sighed and turning to Simone said, "There may have been a fuck-up with our security checks." With tension building even Charles didn't react to use of the F-word. Simone had snapped into action. "I get on to that while you run your interrogation program. May we use your office Charles?" "Please do Simone." Almost an hour later Jackson called Charles, conscious that Simone had a congratulatory hand still on his shoulder. "Please find for me urgently the identify of the guy who opened an account, presumably an alias account, with the name Steven Raymond Ash." "Please hold, I'm with reach of an appropriate secure computer." Within two minutes Jackson said, sounding almost out of breath, "Paul James Fenton." "Have him detained and call the police fraud squad. I have electronically discovered links in his deleted computer files that establish without doubt he has made withdrawals from almost non-active accounts and transferred all of them to the account of Steven Raymond Ash totaling $85,525 which is $525 more than the internal audit uncovered." * * * As Simone headed the white Lexus towards the bank's head office she said, "I owe you big on this Jackson. Had we failed I would have received a rocket." "Well that's very honest of you to say that Simone. Let me say the bank was only saved by internal audit. Many others in senior management with shared responsibility will be shaken over this and security checking will be in question if that guy has done something like this in his past. Well what about rewarding me with late lunch. I'm hungry." "Oh god, of course you will be, being young and male. I know this area as my daughter Riley works nearby. Here's a parking spot." They sat and while Simone ordered Jackson scanned the café and noticed a young woman looking at them with a hostile expression. He avoided staring at her. He couldn't remember having dated her. He asked for a beer and a beef burger lightly done. They were eating when that young woman in white was beside him looking across at Simone and saying, "So does daddy know you do this?" "Oh hi Riley. This is Jackson who works for our bank in management." "Oh yeah, that's a good one mom. Your youngest manager is fifty or almost there." "Well you are being updated. Jackson has been with us three months. Show Riley your business card." "Why should I bother? I can't believe she won't accept her mother's word or Simone do you usually take the men you lunch with to a room you rent by the hour?" Simone laughed but Miss Hot Tits snapped, "How dare you cast aspersions on my mother like that." Jackson stood and said calmly, listen to me Miss Hot Tits. Do you think your mother would be stupid enough to bring any lover to this café right near where she told me you worked? Do you trust your mother or not, that is the question?" "Hot tts? Why are you making that disgusting comment?" "Answer my question first." "Yes," she flared. "I believe my mother if she says this is a business lunch with a business colleague." "Good and I suggest be more polite to your mother and avoid publicly embarrassing her. I called you Miss Hot Tits because your face had turned red, your neck is red and guess what?" "What? Oh don't answer. I've worked that out. I was angry with mom because she lectured me harshly this morning over breakfast." "Without good reason?" Riley looked away. "I see." "What do you see?" "You lurched home drugged up at 4 a.m. on a working morning." Riley tried to hold his gaze but wilted. "All right, I'm in the wrong and you were quite accurate except it was 3:15 and although I'd been drinking I wasn't drunk. I'd attended my best girlfriend's 28th birthday party at a restaurant and we were evicted when they restaurant people decided they should be leaving for home." "Well at least you admit your mom must have had some reason for berating you. Good girl. Now please apologize to your mother." "Sorry mom. I really messed up. I almost got fired for turning up smelling of liquor." "Thank you dear. Please sit with us." "No I must go. Will I see you again Jackson?" "I thought you would prefer to boot my ass and never see me again?" "If you must know I find you rather interesting and good looking. Most guys around me teeter close to being jerks. Enough said. Miss Cooling Tits is off." Simone looked around and there were only a four people sitting close enough who could have heard the confrontation. They looked away. "Now I think I've seen and heard everything. No one and I mean no one can really handle my darling redhead Riley, not even Ralph my husband and yet you had her almost acting submissively. Normally someone daring to call her hot tits would have been nursing a swelling eye and possibly a very painful crotch." "Don't over-state the situation Simone. Your daughter was wishing to hit back and seeing me with you made her see red. I find that exciting." "Exciting? For goodness sake Jackson my daughter needs more counseling." "Not unless she thinks so otherwise counseling would be futile." "Damn you, are you always right?" "Nah even you know males have their limitations. Do you have sex on the side?" "No," Simone said stiffly, looking ready to pull down the blinds on young Mr Mitchell. "Why do you ask? I'd be too old for you?" "You know Simone, you're the only person in top management at the bank I really like. I asked the question to remind you that if you did play round you could pose a security risk." Turning slightly pale, Simone said coldly, "Don't you think I'm aware of the risks in every direction?" "Passion does amazing things to people Simone and we both know that." She said calmly, "You appear to be a misfit on our team." "Oh I'm delighted you noticed. You see my clients are fellow employees so I'm not really required to interface with a big smile and be overly pleasant. My own team and I interface with machines, not people. People on our peripheral are more often than not blaming, quote the 'dumb machine' unquote, and feeling their vulnerability thinking perhaps we'll discover the fault is due to operator inadequacy. We are recruited for our expertise, not our winning smiles, and during my final interview I was told I had the position provided my security clearance was bulletproof and I fitted perfectly the new generation profile of senior managers that the bank's consultants recently produced and it was adopted by the board chairman, president and vice-president of staffing. Simone looked at him wide-eyed. "The fiends, keeping this a secret. We other VPs ought to have been advised. You are absolutely sure of this?" "Ah, very good Simone. You are top quality. No I lied to wind you up. Sorry. As mom reminds me, at times I act like a grown up kid." "Jesus Jackson, never do that to me again or I'll maim you, er temporarily. I could have gone back to the bank and made a complete fool of myself." "I'm sorry Simone." "You better be. Let's go, it's time we were back and reporting our finding, er your finding." "Our finding is fine Simone. You were beside me every step of the way." As Simone unbuckled in her reserved parking space she said, "Come here you provocative asshole." She pulled him onto her bosom and kissed him soundly. "You saved my butt today my hero. I do hope Riley chooses to spend some time with you. It might be beneficial for her." "No show. She'll be back at her desk plotting a foolproof assassination." "Wrong, she works standing at benches. She's a lab technician engaged in medical research. She has no desk. My daughter is over-sexed; she'll be thinking about you that will give you a red face, red neck and you know what else." Walking into the elevator Jackson slapped Simone playfully on the butt. "Thank you. Now that will be recorded on security camera." "No Mrs Fletcher. There are cameras all through the basement and in the elevator but none actually scan this area immediately in front of the elevator. I timed my affectionate assault perfectly." "Good heavens, I must report that breach in security. Good boy." "You have a firm ass for an old woman." "Thank you assshole. You really are a misfit. You have no respect for seniority or for your superiors but at least you are good at your job. Complaints about computer faults and standard of servicing have reduced over the past two months according to what I read in our last management reports but costs have risen." "Yeah well if the assholes want improved servicing they pay more for preventative maintenance. It's as simple as that." "Jackson do you understand I'd prefer you not using disgusting language in my presence?" "Yes madam vice-president." * * * During an authorized work break Riley said to her best-friend Angela, "How was it you didn't get bawled out for having liquor on your breath this morning?" "Because unlike you I didn't breathe all over our unlovable boss when he said good morning watching us arrive. God he was so rude to you." "Yeah will I hope he catches a STD to give him something to really worry about. Oh I met a really guy at lunchtime and spoke briefly to him." "He'll be married." "Perhaps not. He appeared too light-hearted to be married." "God I could never be that perceptive. Did you snaffle a date?" "No." "Or his business card?" "No." "Then what is he, a truck driver?" "He's an IT manager who just happens to work at mom's bank." "Oooh, then you'll be able to get her to give you interesting info on him." "Why bore myself? He actually mentioned my breasts." Angela sucked in breath, "Jesus, at a first meeting. He'd hot." "With a physique to die for plus good looks." "Oooh, when do you hope to try him out for sex?" "As soon as I can get my hands on him." Guy the head technician came along and said, "Back to work you two. I sincerely hope that's coffee in the mug Riley and not booze." "I regard that as harassment Guy." He looked shocked and said, "I do apologize Riley. Th-that was meant as a joke without any malice at all." "Thanks for that apology Guy. I can assure you except for birthdays and weddings I attend, I drink very moderately." "Um I'll remove this morning notation from your work record." "Oh Guy, you are a darling. Come on Angela, back to work." When Simone arrived home Riley rushed out to greet her in the garage and kissed her and apologized for being such a bitch over being bawled out. She took two of the supermarket bags from her mom. As they sat with coffee, Simone asked, "What do you think of our young Mr Mitchell?" "Oh all right I suppose. Is he any good at his job?" Not mentioning names and the branch, Simone outlined her investigation with Riley that morning. Riley listened agog. "We have nailed the offender. The fraud squad has advised he will appear in court in the morning. Darling I'm totally convince Jackson succeeded where we all had failed because as a final resort he fell back to something as simple as a hunch. He probably asked himself if he were siphoning off cash how would he have done it and somehow that led to him thinking that perhaps the offender did not use one of the bank's computers to avoid direct detection but used a personal computer and had it stored while waiting for the fuss to die before resuming his nefarious activity." "Gee mom, he sounds a good guy. He'd make a good date for someone," Riley said, pretending not to be watching for reaction. "I'm sure he will. Actually I was thinking of inviting him to lunch on Saturday." "Oh that will be fine. I'll probably be out with the girls." "What if I asked you to be present?" I rather think he liked the look of you? "Okay, if it's on tell me and I'll cancel anything else I'd arranged." Simone smiled at the slyness of her younger daughter. Riley was almost shedding her skin in concealed excitement. She had suspected Riley had already been hooked. After dinner Riley sat in her bedroom lounge chair with her earphones on listening to music her parents didn't like while they sat together watching crap TV on the big screen. She'd not asked her mom about Jackson because her mom would only ask why the interest. She'd have to find out herself if he had a regular girlfriend and lived alone. On his big salary as head of a vital department of a large bank he could afford to live in his own apartment so they would have somewhere to go for sex. Young females who still live at home shared that same problem: where to go for sex. It was like living in a cage. Riley felt excited about Jackson because he appeared to be anything but drone-like. He'd risen to defend her mom and had shown absolutely no fear of her and she knew she scared some guys when she was riled. Yes riled Riley could scare the crap out of women as well. That meant Jackson was a little like her, not afraid to be himself and to challenge and to deal with challenges. She drifted off to sleep in the chair thinking of Jackson's hands on her breasts and squeezing... * * * Simone called into Jackson's office and was surprised to find it immaculate. The last guy worked in a mess, almost buried in stacks of electronic equipment and cables. Jackson had come in and had the pick of anyone in the general office to be his PA or to have one recruited and had picked one of the most pleasant clerical assistants imaginable, Mrs Ferris, who was in her fifties. Simone thought Mrs Ferris was very likely to adore her boss. Mrs Ferris looked astonished when Simone had called her Mrs Ferris, knowing who she was, and had politely asked to see Jackson. Yes she'd called him Jackson rather than Mr Mitchell. She jumped to her feet and said quite grandly, "It is a pleasure to have you call Mrs Fletcher. Mr Mitchell has no one with him at the moment so I'll tell him you're here." "Don't allow me to take you from your work Mrs Ferris. He knows me so won't take this visit as an intrusion." Jackson looked up from the manual he was reading and sprang to greet Simone and appeared to almost kiss her. "Go on," she smiled, raising her lips, and was kissed. "I wish to invite you to lunch on Saturday." "That's very nice but I have booked to spend the afternoon at the gym." "Actually it was my daughter's idea although I shouldn't have said that. Some other time them?" "Um lunch Saturday would be fine. I was rude to almost reject such a tempting invitation." "Arrive any time after noon. Our address..." "I know where you live. My parents live near you." "Is Doug Mitchell your father?" "Yes." "Well I never. Now that I have a connection I'll wave next time I see them." "Dad will reciprocate. Why don't you invite mom and dad down for a drink some time?" "Good heavens Jackson, he's the City Attorney." Jackson laughed. "No wonder dad complains about people being snobbish in your neighborhood. No one ever invites him over for a drink or waves when he passes." "I-I haven't thought about it like that. He's a really big VIP." "Well call mom with the invitation. Her name is Kyna and she's your age and possibly short of non-legally connected friends. Don't forget to ask her about her potting shed; she's mad keen on plant propagation." "Well so am I. Damn there goes my pager; I have to go." "Call mom next week. I'll tell her on Sunday to expect a call from you." The Other Sister Later that day Simone accessed Jackson's personal file and read it with interest. He'd worked for the Army as a civilian for three years after graduating from university and had then worked at City Hall before being head-hunted by the bank, well approached to apply for the upcoming vacancy of IT group manager. Ah yes, there it was, his father was the City Attorney and his mother was a former ballerina and president of the local Cymbidium Society. Simone made a mental note to read up on local ballet and orchids and to allow Riley to find out for herself about Jackson's distinguished parents. She told her husband that evening about the connection and he disappointed her by replying the relationship wouldn't last for long because guys found Riley too dominating. "But don't you find that exciting and to learn they live up the avenue a bit." "Oh do they? I meet Mrs Mitchell twice a year when she comes in to sign off the annual accounts of the society but I deal mainly with the treasurer and secretary of the Cymbidium Society." "You know Mrs Mitchell?" "Yes vaguely. What is this Simone?" "Oh nothing. I just like the idea of Riley at last striking up a friendship with a guy who is well-connected." "Are Riley and this guy Mitchell having sex?" Simone groaned and berated Ralph for thinking that was all his daughter was interested in. "The guy is a computer expert including being highly qualified in electronic forensics." "Is he now?" Ralph said, suddenly taking an interest. "Who employs him?" "My bank." "You mean the bank who employs you. So you're procuring dates for our difficult daughter are you?" "Go bury your head you Cretin. No your punishment is to fetch me coffee." * * * On Saturday morning, adopting a tone that annoyed her mom, Riley moaned, "I haven't got anything decent to wear. My sundresses are so much last year's styling and coloring." Simone sighed and went off and returned and tossed one of her credit cards to Riley. "If you choice costs more than one-fifty add your own money." "Oh mom, I was planning to stay here to help with lunch." They both knew that was a lie. Simone kissed her and told her to be off. Jackson correctly judged that being a fine and hot, lunch would be al fresco. He arrived around the side of the house wearing baggy white shorts, a polo shirt and sandals. Ralph who was similarly dressed plus a chef's toque greeted Jackson warmly and took the bottle of pinot noir after shaking hands. The two women came out, both in sunhats and sundresses that revealed rather a lot of flesh. "My you ladies look wonderful." Simone was off the mark in a flash and kissed him full on the mouth and turning said lightly, "Riley you'll remember seeing me with Jackson Mitchell the other day?" "Yes, hello Jackson," Riley said, not moving forward. Jackson leaped at her, kissed her and slapping her ass said, "Great to see you again you beauty." "How... how dare you touch me like that you big ape." Simone looked shocked while Ralph stopped scraping the hot plate and grinned at the young couple. "Oh it was my understanding you too knew each other well. Riley was home with that new dress by 10:30 and has been pacing round like a cat on a hot tin roof ever since." "Dad!" yelled Riley and turned to run but was almost pulled off her feet by Jackson who swung her round and in to him. He brushed her fringe back and kissed her on the lips briefly and then said, "I apologize. I provoked that. I'm sorry but wish you'd put a bit of effort into responding when I kiss you." "Well respond to this," she hissed. Jackson easily caught the wrist as her slapping hand wound back and he said, "Please kiss your guess otherwise you might upset your mother." Jackson almost felt steam flowing from his ears by the time Riley pulled out of her long kiss. "God toss me a can of beer please Ralph, I've been superheated." He caught the can with his left hand while taking Riley's hand and leading her to stand with her mom. "Ladies what may I get you to drink?" They both said Martinis and he poured from the ready-made mix on the liquor trolley and handed out the drinks. Before taking a swig of beer gave a toast, "To peace and good fellowship." The Fletcher family responded, all smiling. Riley at 6-feet was almost as tall as Jackson, with sweet curves of her athletic body revealed by the tightness of her sundress that was a mix of greens to complement her coloring including her long auburn hair. She was delighted; the grinning ape in need of having his long brown locks trimmed who had his green eyes fixed on her had performed to her expectations. She'd tried to give him a hard time and he'd nullified her pretended tantrum. God he would be difficult to handle but the sex ought to be awesome. Sex, wasn't it rather early in the relationship to be thinking of that? No way. Besides the way her father was looking at his wife with her tits almost popping free of her built-in bra suggested those two would be testing their athleticism in bed sometime soon. A cookout with a few drinks usually got those two going. She wondered what her older sister Rhoda would think of Jackson. Probably not much because Rhoda was a little tentative and as a result have never been very successful with men. A year ago, two weeks after her husband, a partner in a bridge construction firm working in Ireland where they lived, had advised Rhoda he wanted a divorce. A day later the irate husband of David's lover has chased him along a windy road and the two vehicles had collided on a bend and had crashed over the edge. Both men were killed instantly when their vehicles were wrecked on the rocks below. The coroner had found that the deaths were accidental with the two men driving two fast for the conditions. After her parents had returned home Rhoda had stayed on to sell the house and settle business legalities and wait for the insurance company to pay out after its investigation. She was now on her way home. Two and a half hours later Jackson was thanking his hosts for such a great lunch. "Take me for a drive," Riley said, adding she'd grab a wrap. The Fletcher's only had half cleared away when Ralph grabbed Simone, thrusting a hand in to take hold of tit, and he growled huskily, "Give it to me baby." "Christ darling at least get me into the family room where we won't be seen." Simone bent over the end of the sofa, her big and hairy pussy listening, indicating it was ready for the hovering fat dick. It slipped up and she grunted and Ralph's groin slammed against her butt. "I guess those two will be doing this as well?" Fingering her clit Simone yawned, "I can't imagine Riley wanting to go off with him for just a fruitless drive round the city." * * * Just over half an hour on top of his bed with Riley came disaster for her relationship with Jackson. They'd begun well enough, doing it in the missionary position with Riley's feet over his shoulders. But then while he was dozing she squatted over him and peed on him and then ignored his protests and he yelled she was a dirty bitch but she ignored him and demanded anal sex. Riley was enraged but she was in no mood to back off and called him a conservative old jerk. He wiped off some of the urine and grabbed his billfold, peeled off forty bucks and told her to fuck off home and that he never wanted to see her again. When finding that tears didn't work Riley went off in distress. He was worried about that but after dressing and hurrying down to make sure she boarded a cab found her gone. Simone called him forty minutes later. "Riley is home rather distressed and wouldn't talk. What did you do to her?" "What did I do... ha? Ask her in the morning when she wakes up and is contrite, providing such is capable of that feeling." Simone called before leaving for work next morning to apologize and said all Riley would say was she had acted inappropriately. What did she do?" "That is for her to tell you. I'm finished with her." "On Jackson, please allow me to get her to apologize and then allow me to get you two together again." "No and I mean that Simone. No way." Two weeks later the City Council's director of human resources called Jackson and invited him to apply to fill the unexpected vacancy following the resignation of the general manager of information technology to head a department at least five times larger than his present position. He applied and next day was advised he'd won the position. Jackson had remained friendly with Simone and at his farewell function she kissed him and said she hoped he'd keep in touch. He said he would because he valued her friendship and he was pleased Simone and his mother were now close friends. Ten days after he commenced work as the IT chief at City Hall, Jackson read an email sent to all heads of departments that a Mrs Rhoda Farrell had been appointed the new director of communications. When Jackson being introduced to the attractive new appointee whom the email had stated was thirty-five, she said brightly, "You know my mother Simone Fletcher." Caught by surprised he said dumbly, "So you must be Ralph Fletcher's daughter?" "Yes, dad says he occasionally plays golf with you." "Yeah and he's a great guy. I also had a brief relationship with your younger sister." "Oh yes, yet another of Riley's failed relationships alas. My sister is a worry to us. Well Roger and I must move on to be introduced to other people. I guess we will be working together at times as my department needs to use the resources you control." "Oh yes, full cooperation guaranteed." As soon as Rhoda and the director of HR left, Jackson called Simone and asked her about Rhoda. He was told everything. "Would you come to dinner on Wednesday night and meet Rhoda informally? Riley won't be here, she's away at a training seminar. "You're not trying to set me up to date Rhoda are you?" "Now would a mother do that?" Jackson took that as a no and accepted the invitation and then almost groaned, having a deep suspicion he'd been duped because smart Simone had neither confirmed nor denied she was setting up a dating possibility. One younger Fletcher had already been too much for Jackson and he thought if he were to have his choice of the Fletcher females it would be Simone but unfortunately she was already taken. * * * Rhoda answered the door, smiled a warm hi and then held out her hand for the flowers saying, "For me, oh how lovely" and took them. "For you mother actually as hostess." Rhoda looked at him bravely and handed them back and said, "You present them to her. Is that dad's wine?" "Not particularly, it's for the table. You take it. You look so lovely tonight." He had to say that because he'd gotten off to such a bad start. Oh Jesus, she now looked quite shocked and he realized as a widow no guy would have said something of that nature to her for a long time. "You look good yourself," she managed. "I was so nervous meeting you socially," Jackson lied, thinking desperately to produce some level of atonement. "I have no idea of what your sister said about me... er... the reason for our bust-up?" "Actually all she said was she admired you for your integrity and that told me she remains an animal when it comes to sex." "Um I'm sorry to be talking to you at this level. I'm making a real mess of this." "Oh look at me not inviting you in. Please come in. I guess you do kiss older women?" "Yes and just between you and me I've found your mom kisses superbly." "That's great but actually I wasn't talking about mom. I invite you to kiss me. If mom has told you about me I guess you know I don't get much opportunity to be kissed by non-family males these days." Avoiding answering that Jackson smiled widely and said, "It will be my pleasure." Jackson kissed Rhoda and with the level of pink in her cheeks rising she said, "Wow, little wonder mom produces great kisses for you." "Er thanks. I was so stupid not to bring you flowers." "It's fine. Imagine the situation of I had multiple sisters all still living at home? I'm to blame. I shouldn't have jumped in like that, assuming." "Will you have dinner with me out somewhere on Saturday night?" Rhoda looked at Jackson carefully before replying. "Out of sympathy?" "Don't be absurd." "Wow that's telling me straight and thanks for not being condescending. Yes I accept your kind invitation. It will take time to catch up with former friends and acquaintances so right now my social calendar is rather uncluttered." They went through to the family room and Simone came from the kitchen to welcome them and kissed Jackson warmly. "Here's a little something for the hostess," Jackson smiled and Simone took the followers with a big thank you and handed them to Rhoda and asked to place them in a vase. Rhoda held them out to her mother and said politely, "Mom these are not flowers plucked from a bucket at the supermarket. They are from a florist and carefully chosen I should think and some appear cultivated so will be expensive." "Quite right dear and how unappreciative of me Jackson. I do apologize. Come through to the kitchen and chat while I arrange them in a vase. You come too Rhoda." Jackson followed the woman with hazel eyes and hair that he'd call dark chestnut and couldn't help notice the slight sway to her ass. He thought nice butt and its tightness suggested she either went to the gym or was into some other kind of fitness program. * * * When Simone had sent Rhoda to the front door to welcome the dinner guest she had a sense of something and yet couldn't put her finger on it. She opened the door and saw Jackson's strong teeth at the center of his smile. Their eyes locked and her heart fluttered. At that she knew she felt a little something extra for this man. Her mom was partly to blame for that because she'd been going on about Jackson as if expecting a VIP guest for dinner. Oh god, her mom was setting up Jackson for her. When the invitation came for a Saturday night dinner date and he denied strongly it was no way an invitation offered out of sympathy to her being left a widow, Rhoda knew she'd be a fool to say no. She accepted and returned that flutter to her chest. She couldn't believe it; she was acting more like a teenager than a woman in her mid-thirties. When she'd called out "Mom" from the family room and the hostess emerged, Rhoda listened to her mom welcome Jackson as 'darling' and watched how she kissed him affectionately. Never in all the time when she lived at home had she seen her mother greet a younger male like this. A little horrified she knew it was her mom who should be dating Jackson. However her mom redeemed herself by throwing an arm round Rhoda's waist and smiling at Jackson asked, "And how are you enjoying working alongside my beautiful older daughter?" "I look every day to see what she's wearing and at her hair style from that day. You have a great style Rhonda; you're are a real standout." A little embarrassed she said, "Gone on, I best you say that to all the pretty women on staff." "If you think that so be it." Simone was saying to Jackson, City Hall was jammed with so many people on the payroll it was a wonder he and Rhonda saw each other more than once a week, leaving Rhoda to think what had he meant by saying, 'If you think that so be it'? She concluded he was too polite at that moment to reject her comment outright but had lightly made the point he only had her in focus. Why would he want to do that; he could play the field and most of the younger females were single? Was he not concerned she'd been married and been well used by another man? She watched her father arrive home late from a meeting and the warmth of his smile for a young guy whom he obviously liked. Her father went off for a quick shower and to change and Jackson poured the Martinis she'd made earlier and handed them out. Her mother then patted the sofa beside her and Jackson didn't hesitate, going straight to her mother Rhoda couldn't understand why they appeared so well connected unless they were or had been having it off. "I must tell you darling how this lovely young man with his brilliant analytical mind saved my butt," her mom began, and related how Jackson had unmasked a fraudster now serving time in jail. It was a good story but Rhoda was more interested in that made sense why those two had become friends... because of that intense investigation when Jackson had succeeded, her mom would have given him the hero treatment and Jackson would have found he rather liked her. As far as Rhoda knew her parents were not adulterers so she was satisfied it was unlikely Jackson had had sex with her mother. She would never know for certain of course but what did it matter? She now had the core reason for the friendship between those two. Toward the end of the meal, with three drinks before dinner and wine during dinner Rhoda was aware she and her mother had become quite loud but the guys appeared to be enjoying their liveliness. Then her mom proved embarrassing. "Jackson if you are ever short of a date any time remember Rhoda could be home here at a loose end." "Mom!" Rhoda barked. "Well you do need to get back into a social life darling." Rhoda said nothing but then Jackson said helpfully, "Rhoda and I have already arranged to go out for dinner this Saturday. I suggested it when I arrived. I don't have a steady girlfriend at the moment and I recognized she would be busy settling back in here but still might like a bit of male company." "That is very civil of you Jackson," said Ralph, watching his wife sitting with her mouth open. "Yes indeed," Simone said and the conversation switched with Rhoda asking had anyone seen any great movies lately. On Saturday evening when Rhoda was dressing to go out her mom hovered. That had always irritated Rhoda back when she was much younger. After a while her mom would finally delivered the warning about engaged in indiscriminate sex just because the date felt randy, although her mom's words had been 'because of his excessive sex drive.' She was hovering now but it would be stupid giving that caution to a previously married daughter. "Just a wee talk from your loving mother," Simone began, almost prompting Rhoda to scream into laughter. "Now if Jackson attempts to seduce you tonight I think you should let that occur." What? What had happened to the no sex message? Rhoda's lipstick streak being applied skidded off past the end of her month and she said 'Fuck' and her mom ignored that use of the F-word. Rhoda wet a tissue and scrubbed the unwanted extra red slash. "You would have been very sexually active during your marriage and your body would not take kindly being held in denial." God since when had her mom become a sex counselor? "However I understand you may have your own management plan..." "Mom," Rhoda cried desperately. "Please fetch me a glass of water. I'm dry" "Well just remember my advice; that's all I ask." "Oh I heard you loud and clear mom and thanks for your thoughts based on a long life of useful experience. I'm extremely grateful." "Oh thank you darling. I was worried you might reject advice and even become hostile. At your age you need sex and plenty of it." "Mom," Rhoda cried. "Water." The water call proved to be an excellent diversion. Simone returned with the water and then went off saying she had to prepare dinner. * * * Jackson drove up in his black SUV and Rhoda came out quickly and was opening the passenger door by the time he was half out of his seat so he sat back and buckled his seat belt. "Please let's go. Mom has been impossible because she knows it's the first time I've really been out since the death of my husband and I don't need any further messages of understanding." The Other Sister Jackson wanted them to become use to touching and share low-level intimacy. He had not plan beyond that. Rhoda needed to regain her independence and to achieve that she first needed her confidence boosted and he was available, as a friend of the family, to help with that. "Okay but first a kiss please." She leant across without replying and they kissed and he drove off, glancing at her breast pushing out as she pulled her stomach in to buckle up. He liked her curves. The restaurant had parking beneath it. They were alone in the elevator and Jackson had already found she wasn't one of those females who felt it necessary to avoid having blanks in conversation and she appeared very comfortable with him. As the elevator doors closed he said to resume conversation and without much thought, "What do you miss most, the companionship, having someone you feel partly responsible for, the sex or is there something else?" She looked at him and smiled lightly. "At the risk of sounding rude I no longer talk about my life with my former husband." "Oh crap, I put my foot into it, didn't I?" "You did but you are not the first and won't be the last to ask me directly or indirectly about my life in Ireland. But you are somewhat unique in asking me outright amid that mouthful do I miss sex. I miss it so much. Have you been to this restaurant before?" "Yes a couple of times with your parents." As they left the elevator Rhoda said. "I'd found it curious you still remained in contact with my parents after your break-up with Riley and of course mom told me why the other night when we were waiting with you for dad to join us for dinner. You don't have to answer this but have you had sex with my mother?" "No." "I accept that answer and I hope I didn't offend you by asking it." "No it's fine." Dinner was fine and the conversation flowed, sharing information about their backgrounds, hopes and aspirations. Breaking the conversation lull that followed the waitress taking away the money and tip Jackson had placed on top of the bill, Rhoda sucked in breath loud enough for Jackson to just hear and said, "If you ever decide you'd like to have sex with me then I guess that's okay. You are a nice guy, very charming." Jackson gave her a big smile over a big sigh. "Phew, I knew one of us would have to bring that up sooner or later thanks. My priority actually is to held assist you to regain your confidence completely because you'll then cope naturally with your return into society as a single person. To me that suggests for the meantime we should hold off sex during this period of induction. That should reduce the pressures on you." "Wow, you really have thought about my situation. I appreciate that very much and as I suggested earlier, you are a lovely man. Perhaps we ought to let everything drift and see where that takes us?" "That's a little too wishy-washy. I suggest we continued dating and you let me know when you are ready for sex and you are not to be shy about indicating when that time comes should wish to go that far with me. I think with the two things split in that manner we will have devised the perfect package." "Well I agree. Wonderful. Even talking like this has given me a confidence surge. As they were walking out a guy at a table stood, held out his hand to be shaken and said hi to Jackson. Jackson introduced Colin Hogg, sales manager of a computer company supplying hardware to businesses and Jackson introduced Rhoda to Colin and Colin introduced his wife Morgan to both of them. "Rhoda has just arrived back from three years in Eire and is slowly picking up her roots because she is from here. Colin you may know her father Ralph Fletcher, a partner in Vesty and Partners, Public Accountants." "I sure do because they are a big client of ours and Ralph is currently managing partner. They're a big firm and from memory have twenty-five desktop computers and almost 150 laptops and we have sold them servers and other stuff." Morgan cut in. "I taught school for more than a year Rhoda at a place you may not have heard of, called Nass." "Oh but I do, it being part of the greater Dublin area. I lived not too far away at Newbridge." "Omigod, we must talk. Come to lunch tomorrow week, oh please say yes." "Yes I'd love that. " Morgan told Jackson the invitation included him. "Yes sure, you could show me your home computer set-up Colin while the women talk about shopping in Ireland." Well this wouldn't be Rhoda's first social contact since she'd arrived home, Jackson thought, but it would be an important one for her because it appeared Morgan was lively and she and Rhoda were a similar age. Tired but excited Rhoda kissed Jackson good night outside her parent's home and thanked him profusely. He imagined it was how a sister would kiss a brother and that did not faze him. He'd made the suggestion they hold off and Rhoda was convinced it was a good idea. If he became horny he could also call an old friend Helen Ross who sometimes called him for the same reason because she was very dissatisfied with her husband's inadequacy to approach sex romantically. She sadly described her husband as a three-minute specialist and had a low sperm count which annoyed her even more. The next night Jackson had Sunday night dinner with his parents, something they did ever three to four weeks and took turns to cook. On this occasion it was his father's turn in the kitchen and his specialty was chopped up pre-cooked sausages fried with leftover vegetables from the previous couple of evening meals. Nothing great came out of that kitchen. His mom Kyna had proudly shown Jackson her latest quilt and he did well saying the right things for a guy unimpressed that people spent a huge time of creative effort in something like quilting when they could buy machine-made ones already available and offering considerable choice. Thank god she hadn't heaped one of her creations on him. "So you like it?" He switched his thinking to become a grateful son. "Yeah it's um awesome." "Oh that makes me so happy; I'd made this one for you darling." "Er thanks," Jackson said and went over and kissed her and asked, knowing what the answer would be to his question "Are you sure you wouldn't like a drink?" She replied she'd wait to have her glass of wine at the table. "Oooh I believe I have found a lovely young woman for you." Jackson groaned inwardly. His mom was always doing this to him. Her idea of a fine woman was someone like herself, long dark hair, skinny with thimbles for breasts and bony knees. "I have yet to meet her. She's Simone Fletcher's daughter who has just returned from abroad in rather tragic circumstances." "Bring her on mom," Jackson grinned. Kyna was quite shocked to receive an enthusiastic response from her son like that and looking at the quilt she might have been thinking he was fired by the generosity of that gift that she'd worked on over almost four months. "Okay I will see what I can do. I don't know what your father is doing. He's taken enough time to have made and laid concrete." Jackson quietly sighed, hoping that comparison to concrete would not prove almost true. * * * Rhoda had sat with Jackson's father three or four times since her initial introduction to discuss possible legal implications in replies to published criticisms of the council in the city's newspaper and found him to be very cooperative and pleasant. Just like his son, she thought, and wondered why Jackson had told her he only saw his parents once a month. Later that day Rhonda called in to see Jackson and she appeared rather excited. "Your mother called me to invite me to lunch on Saturday. She knows your mother and thinks I might like to meet someone near my own age and named you, not your older sister." "That's fine, I'll look forward to it but what has got you so excited?" "God Jackson, your mother is Irish." "Of course she is. The name Kyna Magee she was christened with sounds awfully Irish to me." "Omigod, Kyna Magee! She only introduced herself as your mother. What a beautiful name. How did your father and she meet? I bet it was romantic?" "Nah, he and three pals after graduation from law school went to London, Paris and Rome on a quick 10-day tour to celebrate. They were in this dingy basement bar in London when part of a ballet troupe came in and dad and the guys decided to try to made a hit on the girl of their pick and dad chose mom." "Omigod." "What, you find that romantic? Dad said the bar was a real dump." "Oh never mind. My god, your mom was a ballerina." "Yeah and a hard-working one apparently, never a star. Two years later dad returned to London and tracked her down and proposed. She emigrated and after the marriage she taught ballet for twenty-five years. But she's domesticated dad. It's so boring being with them. She talks about quilting and the arts and only drinks one glass of wine a day, and that can only be over dinner. She doesn't like dad going out drinking and he doesn't like drinking alone so he ends up watching TV she likes and he lays back and dozes or goes to the home office and works or watches porn on his computer but that's guessing." "Oh Jackson, where is your imagination. Your father couldn't possible watch porn, not being married to someone like your mother and you know what?" "What?" "As she is quilting she's quietly waiting for her next great step in her life, her grandchildren. Hopefully lots of them." "Huh?" As Rhoda walked away, dressed in black and her cute ass swaying slightly, Jackson heard her say, "Kyna Magee... a lot of Irish names are like their music." "Huh?" * * * Helen Ross arrived at Jackson's small but well positioned apartment and looked at the quilt on the bed and said curiously, "Are you turning gay?" "Nah I don't follow social trends. My mom made it and gave it to me on Sunday." "Omigod, your mom made this?" Helen said after bending for a critical examination. I did research before writing a feature article about it and I can tell you her sense of color and pattern cohesion are excellent and her needlework is exquisite. However, I only have an hour free so let's fuck but not on the quilt." Jackson liked Helen and not only because she was the only magazine writer he knew but because she talked a little like a guy, not overly much and directly, devoid of the flowery stuff. She also liked sex and just loved being undressed... probably by any guy she chose to fuck. She wasn't great to look at, a bit horsy, and her hair was shit. He thought she probably combed and brushed it when she got up in the morning and that was it till next morning. But she had great tits and very long limbs. Helen unzipped him and worked him stiff as Jackson pulled down the black zip of her little red dress and pulled it down. As she stepped out of it, not letting go of his dick, he caught a whiff of her arousal. Lovely. She didn't mess with those other bits and pieces many women wear. He had just the bra and panties to remove. Her stay-up stockings would stay on because even Helen loved stroking a nylon thigh when being revved up and no way would Jackson wear nylons for anyone. Her only downside was she was gaining weight around her belly and thighs and under her chin. She refused to exercise, saying walking to the car and fucking were sufficient exercise for her. The first time she'd said that to Jackson he just sighed but that was before he found she walked very fast for a woman and the fire-power she put into sex was awesome. Oh, the other thing about Helen was she was lewd. She used disgusting language and not only when she was soaring into ejaculation. She was the only woman Jackson knew that found it acceptable to be spray with semen anywhere, even in her hair which probably explained it looked shit; perhaps it was over-nourished? Helen, wearing only her stockings, bent over the small table with her legs apart while Jackson ripped off his clothes. Yes Helen was no fusspot. Jackson thought of her as a sex machine, er an emotional sex machine. "Oh, oh, that's it Jackson, push it in. Oh I feel it going in. Oh you're so big and so long... it must surely come close to popping out of my belly button." Talk like that encouraged Jackson's cock to thicken but the downside was it tended to make him drool but Helen didn't mind drool running down her back. She sometimes laughed and said it tickled. "Christ grab my tits and squeeze," she panted. Oh yes, Helen was a great fuck because she put great effort into it and varied her filthy dialogue. Jackson had often thought he was lucky Helen didn't wish to be paid for it. CHAPTER 2 It was raining Saturday. Jackson backed in and parked hard by the side door of the Fletcher's house so Rhoda could board the vehicle while he held an umbrella. He thought Helen would say "Fuck off with that umbrella, I'm not a wimp." Jackson kissed Simone, smothering her lips as unusual. She said it was wonderful he was leading Rhoda into a resumed social life. She said his mother had sounded so excited to be meeting her, aware she'd been to Ireland." "What's the big deal about Ireland?" She smiled, "Something in the mind perhaps but of course your mother is Irish." Jackson said perhaps it related to what people referred to as "blarney." Doug, who'd heard that conversation as he approached, slapped Jackson on his back and said, "Ireland was an old settled country long before anyone knew of the existence of this country and being small and tradition-minded it has carved a niche for itself in this very diverse world." "Yeah, you'll be right about that," Jackson said, wishing he could make intelligent comments with ease like that. He also knew his mom had filled him and his sister Gwen with Irish bullshit all their lives. He was now confused about Irish bullshit and Irish reality. Rhoda entered and stood by her mom and said hi but made no move to kiss him. He thought Simone was looking at him desperately so strolled over and planted hips lips lightly on Rhoda's cheek. She grabbed him and said, "If you wish to kiss me kiss me properly." He had not trouble doing that and stepped back to stand alongside Ralph, noting Simone's fat smile. God Rhoda was dressed in full battle-gear. Her hair was piled up, and she was wearing a tight navy suit with thin white trim on the lapels, boots and was in full make-up. Oh no, he wished to warn her Kyna would be in jeans and a shirt but probably would have removed her gumboots and smock she wore when tending her orchids on the Saturday morning feeding routine. Rhoda would be upset if she found his mom was embarrassed being caught underdressed or whatever women called it. But if he asked Rhoda to change she'd be embarrassed. Oh shit. "Well we ought to be off," he said. The rain was pelting down. He said he'd grab a golf umbrella off her father. "Fuck an umbrella," Rhoda said. "Please don't treat me like a wimp." Shocked, Jackson leaped forward, opened her door and then sped round the front of the vehicle and climbed into his seat to find Rhoda smiling at him while she buckled up. She made no apology for using the F-word, not that Jackson expected it. He was just surprised, that's all... er shocked. He thought he should relax and not expect Rhoda to be Miss or rather Mrs Perfect. He knew what it was: he'd expected Rhoda to be the exact opposition to Riley with her nasty little edge and even to be without backbone. Yeah he'd really misread the situation hadn't he? Further he'd missed picking up an important marker on that occasion when Rhoda had said to him without embarrassment that she supposed he'd want to have sex with her. Jackson groaned inwardly thinking he was a hopeless bumbling idiot. He sought to change that. "Do you play with yourself at nights, um you know, being alone and used to being sexually active?" She giggled. Jesus, she wasn't suppose to do that; she was supposed to be shocked at receiving such a deeply intimate comment out of the blue from the new and forceful Jackson Mitchell. Oh no, now he'd swung too far to the right. Still giggling Rhoda said, "Why are you interested in knowing that?" "Um I was just making conversation." She laughed and said well he'd taking some getting used to, engaging in red-hot small talk like that. He remained silent and then he heard the rumble of her giggling. "What?" "I think I know what happened." "What are you talking about?" She said he must forgive her if she were wrong but after his foul sexual experience with Riley he'd graciously had decided her sister would behave quite the opposite. "And then minutes ago when I bawled you out demanding you not treat me like wimp would realized your error and tried too hard to correct the situation and over-corrected, coming out and alleging I play with my pussy." "Oh I'm so..." "It's all right. Of course I play with my pussy and now have several toys and I'm happy to tell you that. I also want you to know I'll be happy not to be treated like a grieving widow who feels all washed up simply because that is not me at all. Oh here we are. I wasn't aware your folk lived so close to mine. This house is huge." "The former dance studio now harbors an indoor swimming pool." "Oh what a wonderful conversion solution. Two people really don't need too much space." "Um could you let your hair down and leave you jacket here? Mom won't be expecting you to be formally dressed." "No way, your mother will be dressed to the nines and you father will be made to wear a shirt and tie. You will be the one under-dressed." Jackson didn't reply, having the feeling that once again he might have misjudged the situation. The downpour had eased. Jackson's suited father came to the door and said hi, kissed Rhoda and glancing again at his son removed his jacket and pulled off his tie. Rhoda made no comment but giggled. Holding out his arm Doug said, "Come, our Celtic queen awaits your arrival in great anticipation." Kyna wore a black trouser suit that made her appear pencil-thin and she had colored strands woven into the front of her graying hair that finished in a plait. She frowned at the modified appearance of her husband and the casual dress of her son and then smiled. "Oh Rhoda I'm so pleased to meet you. You look wonderful, every bit as good as those studio photos your mother showed me." "Thank you and thank you are inviting me here today Mrs Mitchell." "Come into the family room darling where you can tell me about yourself. Please call me Kyna. The men will want to chat over a beer. Do you drink beer?" "Only when I'm in a pub." "Oh that will be Irish pubs you are mentioning..." Doug handed across a beer and warned, "Best you watch your mom. She'd been trying to match you off for years and I've never seen her so intent as she has been above this with your mom. They were on the phone for two hours one night talking about a possible match up." "Thanks for the warning dad but as you know nothing will happen without my consent. As it happens, this babe is slowly making a significant impression on me." "Is it the body; she has a great body?" "I find myself going beyond that. I must be getting old." His father laughed as said the name for it was maturity. "Maturity is a state of being in your lifetime development. Age is simply related to anniversaries an annual marker and of little relevance hence the truth in the saying, "You're only as old as you are." "What do you think about her dad?" "She's a real honey. Not as sexy as her sister but when Riley's breasts sag, she develops bags under her eyes and bloats a guy would probably have to ask himself what's left? My guess is this Rhoda has the intelligence to take real care of herself and to keep on reinventing herself just like your mother has done. Rhoda is rather top shelf son, so take a hard look at her. What do you think of the Mayor's latest fuck up in bawling out the City Manager at yesterday's meeting of the Works and Development Committee?"