Ellen and I shared a look. The families were basically saying that it was OK for her to stay with me at my apartment for as long as she wanted over her summer school break. I think the same forbidden thought passed between us which, fortunately, went unnoticed by both families.
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I stayed with Mike, his wife, and their six-year-old daughter for a couple of weeks. He had bought a house in a quiet neighborhood with a backyard pool that was the entire backyard. I guess you have to get used to having your neighbor right next to you… I mean RIGHT next to you with only a fence for privacy.
Finding a one-bedroom apartment was pretty easy and with what I was making, I could easily afford someplace place pretty nice. It seemed that all of the apartment complexes came with pools and a Jacuzzi, which was going to be a new experience for me. This one had the added feature of a row of four gas grills.
I had checked out the apartment during the week, during my lunch hour when the pool area was pretty empty. The first weekend in my new apartment around the pool was eye-opening. The age group seemed to be around my age, different than my Wausau apartment. But, what really struck me was that everybody seemed to be fit. The women in small bikinis. The guys in board shorts.
Taking pictures inside and out and sending them to Ellen was fun. The letter that went along with the pictures described my first weekend.
In her return letter, the first line was, ‘I had never heard of a ‘Jacuzzi’ now I can’t wait to sit in one with you next to me at night with something to drink’.
An image of Ellen in a bikini filled my brain. If she was going to be staying with me; sharing the bathroom, sleeping on the couch, and walking around in sleepwear was going to be challenging. I know I will have to keep telling myself, “But, she’s my cousin”.
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Christmas found me bearing gifts.
Back then Coors beer was not available east of the Mississippi River. So, I skimped on clothes and packed four six-packs into my suitcase. I knew that my dad would love it, besides, how many clothes does a guy need for ten days?
In my explorations, I found a number of small shops at Laguna Beach, which were perfect to find unique hand-crafted pieces of jewelry for my mom and my favorite cousin.
For Ellen, I found a set of delicate seashell emerald earrings and a matching seashell emerald pendant necklace. When she opened the small case, her eyes welled up and then my sweet cousin pressed her full body against me, as our lips came together for our fourth kiss.
My mom’s was similar only instead of the emerald, each had a black pearl centered against the white seashell.
Christmas dinner was fun with both families gathered around the dining room table at my parent’s house. The conversations were mostly questions about how I liked Southern California, and what attractions had I visited. They were intrigued as I described my visits to a local winery and the tasting room. I had, on occasion, driven my TR6 through the San Bernardino mountains and along the ‘Rim of the World highway’, where the view of the valley below on those rare clear days was spectacular.
At one point, my aunt looked at Ellen and said, “Well Elly, it looks like there will be a lot to do when you visit.”
Ellen and I just exchanged ‘chaste’ smiles.
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