“Poor mommy.” I felt so bad for her.
A lopsided grin was as close to a smile as she could get. “I’ll try not to ruin the rest of the vacation. You’ll just have to schlep my sorry ass around like a sack of potatoes.”
“Now there’s the spirit,” said Stephen. “I’ll call for our ride.”
We managed to get into the tram, which brought us to the entrance of the resort, where our rental car waited. Once we were situated in the vehicle, we headed for the French side of the island. Thirty minutes later, we took the turnoff labeled Baie Orientale and followed the left fork in the road until we arrived at our favorite beach. We parked under the partial shade of palm trees, which flapped like small green sails in the breeze. Helping mom from the car on uneven ground was a challenge. She tried her best to hoist herself up on her crutches and hobble towards the beach. Her crutches sank into the sand, slowing her progress. I carried towels, a bag of snacks, and another tote filled with sunscreen and goggles.
“That’s it, honey. You’re doing good.” Stephen was by her side in case she needed him.
The sound of the surf soothed my senses, and a soft wind blew, cooling my forehead, which had begun to drip with perspiration.
“We got it,” said Stephen. “You can collapse in a chair in a couple of seconds.”
“Thank God,” she moaned. “I’m beat.”
“Hey, at least you’re getting your workout in,” I said cheerily.
“Ugh.”
I ogled a man on the beach who was completely naked. He strolled by with his speedos in one hand, which I thought was ironic. His cock, long and flaccid, had my full attention.
Stephen noted my overt stare. He grinned. “Ah, the French.”
I thought it was awesome. If I could go naked, I would. What’s stopping you? That was a good question. If it had been just mom and I, I would be topless. Letting Stephen see me nude was exciting, yet awkward. He was my stepfather, and I sometimes became shy around him. Tall, with dark hair and blue eyes, he was handsome and sweet. He was also funny and smart. He’d married my mother this past summer, and my brother, Greg and I, had welcomed him into the family with open arms. My older brother was married with his own family. I sometimes got jealous of my mother when Stephen kissed her, which was weird. Part of me wanted him to see me naked. My tummy tingled when I thought about that.
Several topless women walked by, and my stepfather stared with interest. I caught his gaze and scolded him silently by squinting. He chuckled at that.
Mom sat carefully on a lounge chair. “All the naked boobies. Oh, my.”
I giggled, “I love French people. They’re not hung up like Americans.” We’d been to this beach several times already, and I never got tired of the relaxed, open ambiance. It was nearing Christmas, and holiday decorations were everywhere, which looked bizarre in a tropical environment. It was nearly ninety degrees, and little Santa’s hung from the ceilings of shops and bars.
“You want a water, honey?”
“No. I’m fine.”
I stepped out of my flip-flops and removed my shorts. I was on the cheerleading team and in terrific shape. This being my last year of high school, I had made Varsity, which had been my goal since freshman year. I was about five foot five and slim, with a toned butt and perky boobs. Being a flyer, I had to maintain my weight, so the bases could lift me easily into the air.
I had Stephen’s undivided attention as I took my t-shirt off, which secretly thrilled me. I could almost feel his eyes caressing my boobs, tummy, and thighs.
Mom, put her sunglasses on. “Go swim, for Christ’s sakes. You don’t have to babysit me. I’ll work on my tan.”
“You want me to get you a drink, honey? Something frothy and tropical?”
“I’ve had pain meds.” She was thoughtful “Oh, hell yeah. Fuck it. I could use the extra buzz.”
“Is that smart?” He looked concerned.
“I’ve only had one pill. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Alright.”
I grabbed my goggles. “I’m goin’ in.”
Mom waved to me as I headed for the ocean, which looked like a turquoise bathtub, and it was just as warm. The white sand beneath my feet was satiny soft and hot. A family splashed around in the gentle waves. I slid on my goggles, the rubber straps tugging at the golden strands of my hair, and dove under, immersing myself in the heavenly water. I saw small sand dollars and tiny fish. After surfacing, I waded around with my arms out before me. Then I dove under and swam to the shallow bottom, enjoying the weightlessness.
A pair of manly legs approached. It was Stephen. He’d brought an inflatable child’s ring, which he had around his waist. It looked ridiculous on him. He flopped into the water and floated with a silly grin on his face.