Thirteen Years Earlier:

One late spring Friday afternoon of her junior year Charlotte finished her long run for the week. She ran 10 laps on the track totaling 4,000 meters at her best pace and then jogged another 800 to cool down before she walked home the slightly over 1,200 more to make it a nice round number of just over 6K. Charlotte had previously measured the distance with a GPS and knew the exact distance. She felt that she was most definitely ready for the 1,500 meter race at regionals. She also ran the 5,000 as a substitute, but the 1,500 was by far her best event. As she turned onto her street and headed north, she noticed that Lena's boyfriend Mike was driving south away from her house in his old truck. She smiled and waved at him and he waved back but did not stop. Charlotte made her way to the back door of the 1920s bungalow and dropped her backpack on the bench. She then announced. "Hi, I'm home from practice anyone here?"

From the upstairs attic room, she heard the voice of her best friend. "I'm up here Char."

Charlotte shrugged and then took off her shoes, socks, and jersey and dropped the sweaty workout gear in the hamper in the laundry room. Wearing just her Lycra sports bra and running shorts she took the narrow back stairs to her attic reading room/study/personal sanctuary. Her friend Lena was sitting on the old couch pretending to read one of Charlotte's college-level physics textbooks. The girl had a flushed complexion and a nervous look. "Good work out Char?"

Before answering, Charlotte did a thorough appraisal of the room. Her friend had uncharacteristically ruffled hair. There was also a neatly folded sheet and blanket on the table. There was also a peculiar odor of sweat and both male and female scents. Charlotte quickly figured out that the room smelled of sex. She thought for a moment and added this to her observation of her BFF's boyfriend driving away a few minutes earlier. "Lena, did you and Mike just have sex in my room, my special sanctuary?"

Lena looked away for a moment. "Maybe, um, I mean yes, we did. I hope you're not too mad at me Char?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "What, for desecrating my favorite space, my private place so you could have sex with your boyfriend? Is that what you mean?"

"So, you are mad at me? I'm still your BFF, aren't I?"

Charlotte turned away before answering. "I'm not mad at you Lena, I love you...but this." Charlotte gestured to the old attic room her grandfather had built for her as her special place when Charlotte had come to Boise seven years earlier. "Is my space."

Lena shrugged. "I know Char, but I told you that I would meet you here and you said that you would be at cross country practice until four-thirty, so I told Mike, and we came over here right after school and you know..."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "And it just happened?"

Lena shook her head. "No, not exactly. We have been trying to find a place, you know, so our first time could be awesome."

Charlotte put her hands on her hips. "And what is it?"

Lena smiled. "Yeah, Char it was. I mean we had..."

Charlotte held out a hand to silence her friend and then Lena said. "Right TMI. Anyway, when you told me that you would be all by yourself this week..."

Charlotte touched her chest. "Because my grandparents trust me."

"Right, do you want me to tell you about it or what?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes again. "If you insist. Okay, go on."

"So anyway, we drove over here, Mike parked out back in the alley and then I used my key to the back door and we came up here."

"Do you have all of this planned out?"

"Maybe, sorta' kinda'. We just wanted our first time to be special."

Charlotte reached over to touch her friend's warm hand. "And was it?"

Lena smiled as bright as the sun. "Yeah, Char it was. Like magic."

"Okay good. I'm happy for you really, I am. Now if you haven't noticed, I just ran like five miles and really want a shower. You probably need one too."

Lena gave her tall friend a look. "Yeah, you're probably right."

"Okay, we'll get cleaned up together and then we're going over to your house and you are going to tell your mom."

Lena blanched. "Char!"

Charlotte shook her head. "When your mom took us, both of us to get birth control, we promised, both of us to tell her when we had sex."

Lena paused a moment before answering. "Okay, I guess you are right."

"Of course, I'm right. A promise is a promise."

"Okay L, grab your stuff. We'll go shower and change and then take a walk over to your house."

Lena picked up her backpack and the pile of sheets and towels and gave her friend a sheepish grin. "I'll just drop these in the washing machine on the way."

Charlotte rolled her eyes and could not keep from smiling herself. The main first-floor bathroom of the old house had been remodeled...in around 1949. It had white and black penny tiles on the floor, and pink wall tile with a matching sink, counter and toilet. Against the far wall under a frosted double-hung window was an original 1905 cast iron claw foot tub. Rising from the tub filler was a single small showerhead and above a shower curtain was suspended from the ceiling on a hoop. Charlotte turned on the water. "Why don't you go first L, you probably just want to rinse the sex off and I want to wash my hair after my long run."

Lena stuck out her tongue at her BFF, stripped off her shorts and T-shirt and stepped over the rim of the tall freestanding tub. "Water is just right Char, I'll just be a sec and then it's all yours."

Charlotte could not help but admire her friend's beautiful and very well-developed woman's body. As Lena pulled the curtain closed, she said. "It's been a long time since we were naked together Char like after last year's end of summer pool party I think."

From the other side of the curtain, Charlotte said. "Yeah, we used to shower together all the time."

Lena laughed. "Yeah, when we were like 11."

Charlotte smiled to herself. "I miss those days. Things were simpler than."

A moment later, Lena stepped out of the shower and Charlotte handed her a thick cotton towel. "Thanks Char, it's all yours. I didn't use up too much hot water. I know how fast it goes here."

Charlotte smiled. "Lena, you are very beautiful you know. Just now you look like Venus stepping out of the waves."

Lena wrapped the towel around her full breasts and gave her friend a puzzled look. "Venus, waves?"

Charlotte nodded. "You need to read more, that question will be on the SATs."

Charlotte then stripped off her running shorts and tight sports bra and stepped into the shower. As she was washing her short dark hair, she asked. "How are you feeling L, it's been a big day."

"I feel great Char, I really do. Sorry again for using your room like that, but I'm really glad I could share this with you."

A couple of minutes later, Charlotte turned off the water and carefully stepped out of the tub. Lena stood up and gestured for her friend to turn around in a 360. "Charlotte Janssen you have really filled out this year. You're still too thin, but your butt is an 11 and you actually have cleavage!"

Charlotte groaned. "The towel please Lena!"

Lena gave her friend a sheepish grin and handed her a towel. As Charlotte was drying off, Lena changed into a nice skirt and matching blouse. Around her neck was a braided silver necklace with a couple of charms and a gold ring. The ring had been given to her that afternoon by her boyfriend Michael. Charlotte wrapped the towel around her waist and small, but firm breasts. "Let's go to my room and I'll get dressed and then we can go."

Charlotte's room was two doors down, past the small bedroom her grandfather used as a study and office. When the two girls got to Charlotte's room, she opened a drawer, unwrapped her towel and tossed it on the bed. She put on some plain white underwear and reached for a sports bra and well-worn Boise State T-shirt. Lena leaned over to stop her. "Oh no Char, if we're going to do this, you're wearing something nice for a change. I know just the thing."

Lena went to Charlotte's closet and removed a nice pair of linen shorts and a gray blouse. "It's too hot for jeans today and I love this blouse Char, it matches your eyes."

"Thanks L, I didn't know that you noticed."

"Of course, I noticed, you have beautiful eyes like the rest of you.

Charlotte stuck her tongue out. "Well, I actually went shopping last week, just for me."

Charlotte reached into the next drawer and removed a lacy white bra and put it on. "See, I bought some new ones, my old ones didn't fit anymore. Now hand me that blouse...please."

Lena smiled and complied. "Wow Char, you really look good in that, you are turning into a real hottie. Now there is just one more thing."

Lena opened Charlotte's antique walnut jewelry box and found what she was looking for. "Will you wear this for me today, Char? I know that it was your mother's and is very special to you."

Charlotte took the thin braided leather necklace from Lena's hand. On it was a single gold nugget the size of a lima bean set with a thin gold loop. "Why today, L? You know my dad found this and gave it to my mom. She made the necklace for it herself."

Lena nodded and tried to keep her voice from breaking as she whispered. "I know Char, you told me the story. Will you wear it for me, today, please?"

Charlotte silently clasped the leather thong around her neck and adjusted the gold nugget between her breasts. "Thanks L, You're right, I should wear this more often. Okay then, are you ready?"

Lena rolled her eyes again. "Ready as I'll ever be."

After a 15 minute walk in the late afternoon heat, they arrived at Lena's house and took the side door into the kitchen. They were greeted by Lena's mother Jackie and the delicious smell of baking cookies. "Hi girls, you are just in time. I just pulled out the first batch. What's new? Did you have a good practice today Charlotte?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes ma'am, I did. It was a little hot out but I want to be ready for tryouts in a couple of weeks. So, there is something that Lena wants to talk to you about."

"Go ahead Lena I'm listening."

Lena looked at Charlotte and then at her mother. "Okay mom, you see today..."

Just then, 14-year-old Justin bounded into the room with the energy of a teenage boy. "I smelled cookies can I have a couple?"

Jackie smiled and handed her son a cookie and a paper towel. "You may have one before dinner. Now, Lena and Charlotte and I have something to talk about."

Justin smiled and sat down on a stool on the other side of the kitchen island. He munched on his cookie and said, "okay."

Charlotte looked over and smiled wickedly. "Justin, we want to talk about girl stuff, you know feminine hygiene products, tampons and the like so scram, got it!"

Justin blanched, and wolfed down the rest of his cookie. "Right, got it," and dashed out of the side door and into the backyard.

As the door closed, Jackie looked at Charlotte. "I suspect that is not what you two girls want to talk about. Go on Lena what were you going to say."

Lena reached over and squeezed Charlotte's hand. "No ma'am, you see today, Michael and I had sex. It was our first time."

Jackie looked away for a moment and then made eye contact with her daughter. "I see, and where did this momentous event take place, the backseat of a car?"

Lena shook her head. "No, we, I um, in Charlotte's attic, in her study room. We wanted our first time to be special. It's quiet up there and..."

Jackie interrupted her daughter. "And you Charlotte, did you know about this?"

Charlotte shook her head emphatically. "No ma'am. I was at practice and Lena was supposed to meet me at my house. I'm staying by myself this week."

"Yes, I'm quite aware. Your grandfather asked me to look in on you. Seems I should have been keeping a closer eye on my other daughter."

Lena looked over at her mother. "Are you mad at me?"

"No. I'm not mad at you. You and Michael have been together a long time. It was inevitable. So how do you feel after this my love?"

Finally, Lena smiled. "I feel great mom, we wanted our first time to be special. That's why we waited."

"And was it, special that is?"

Lena nodded silently.

Jackie then reached over and touched Charlotte's hand. "And what do you think about this Charlotte?"

Charlotte looked at Lena and then at Jackie. "I think it's good. Michael is really good for her and they make each other better. I guess I just wish that they hadn't picked my room to do it in, but even that is okay."

Jackie gestured broadly with her hand. "And both of you are here right now just exactly why?"

Lena gulped before answering. "Well mom, Charlotte reminded me in no uncertain terms that we promised to tell you when either of us had sex for the first time, so here we are. I had sex with Michael today, so there it is."

Lena smiled and looked at the other girl. "Thank you, Charlotte, you have always been the more responsible daughter."

Charlotte looked away for a moment and then stared into Jackie's eyes. "Did you just call me daughter?"

Jackie blanched and quickly held both of Charlotte's warm hands in hers. "Yes dear, but I didn't mean to say that I could take the place of your mother."

Tears rolled down Charlotte's cheeks and she touched the gold nugget between her breasts. "It's okay. I love you and Lena has been like a sister. You can call me your daughter any time you want."

With that emotional statement, all three women hugged and cried for a couple of minutes. Finally, Jackie dried her eyes with a kitchen towel and smiled. "Well, it's been a big day. Charlotte from now on if you would like, please call me Jackie. It wouldn't be right for you to call me mom, but Mrs. Crawford won't work anymore. Would you like that?"

Charlotte brushed away a final tear. "Yes, yes Jackie. I would very much."

Jackie then looked at her daughter and said. "Good, but as far as you Lena, you shall continue calling me mom or ma'am, got it?"

Lena squeezed her mother's hand and smiled. "Yes ma'am."

"Okay, I will inform your father and Michael's parents."

Lena shook her head. "Mom, it's just him and his dad now. His mom left them a few months ago and isn't coming back. Mike is real close with his dad and told me he was going to tell him tonight so you don't have to worry about that."

Jackie nodded sadly. "Okay good, I hadn't realized that Charlene had really left. I know that things were uncertain."

Lena nodded. "Mike told me that as hard as it has been, this will be best for everyone."

Jackie nodded. "I understand, but please make sure that he does tell his father. In the meantime, Lena, there is no need to sneak around, but please do be discreet and do continue to be careful. I expect you at Boise State next year, not on teen moms of Boise."

"Yes ma'am."

Jackie then looked at Charlotte and then at the clock on the range. "Charlotte, would you like to stay for dinner tonight? It's no trouble."

Charlotte looked at Lena and then at Jackie and nodded. "Yes, that would be very nice."

The Crawford family had a nice quiet dinner with Charlotte. The mealtime discussions consisted of the usual goings on in the neighborhood, Justin's on-going Scout project and Charlotte's upcoming cross-country meet. Nothing was mentioned about Lena's afternoon activity. Afterward, Lena, Charlotte and Justin did the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. As the three teens were finishing up, Jackie came in and smiled wryly. "Justin, would you walk Charlotte home please? Your sister and I and your father have a few things to discuss."

Justin nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

He then looked at his sister's tall dark-haired friend. "Char, any time you're ready."

Charlotte smiled and laughed a bit. "Sure thing J, just let me say bye to your favorite sister and then we'll exit stage left."

A couple of minutes later, they went out the front door and turned up the street towards Charlotte's house. When they were well out of earshot Justin looked into Charlotte's eyes. "Um, Char, do you think Lena's gonna get hollered at or grounded?"

Charlotte thought for a moment before answering. "No Justin, I think that your folks just want to have a heart-to-heart with Lena."

"So, you don't think that she's in big trouble?"

Charlotte shook her head. "No, this might be TMI, but your mom just asked that when this, um situation came up, that we, your sister and me were honest about it and told her, so we did."

"So how about you Char, have you?"

Charlotte gave him a stern look. "Justin Crawford that is NONE of your business!"

"Sorry, I, um..."

There was a long silence as they walked down the street. Charlotte then reached over and held his hand. "It's okay J, been an emotional day, but if you must know, the answer is no, not yet."

He looked down and squeezed her warm hand in his and did not let go as they walked in silence the rest of the way to Charlotte's old house.