Chapter 5

The doctors insisted that Mom stay in the hospital for a few days to regain her strength. This also allowed the authorities access to grill her and gather any clues about her ordeal that might allow them to catch Darren Jones. The doctors also stressed that Mom's ordeal mentally was far from over — advocating extensive counseling and therapy to help her recover from whatever traumas she had endured. Dad with his usual abrupt attitude brushed aside most of the doctors' concerns, stating over and over, "Cassie will be fine once we get her home where she belongs."

Finally, we did get to take her home. The drive was quiet and strange — Mom's attention divided between the scenery — the everyday things that we see and take for granted captivating her — and the odd, long looks she would give me and Dad…looks that made me uncomfortable. Mom was also squirming, looking uncomfortable in one of her old sweatsuits that was on of the few things we thought would fit her, tugging and fussing with her bra straps. She made a few mutterings under her breath — comments that led me to understand that while she was Jones's prisoner, she'd not worn a bra or very little else.

It wasn't till we got home that I saw a shadow of the old Mom. She stopped in the doorway and gave our home a long looking over, peering into the kitchen. Dad and I had cleaned up to what we thought was appropriate, but Mom laughed and said, "You poor boys — you've been bachelors far too long. Tomorrow, I'll start getting this place shipshape!"

I protested, saying, "Mom — you should just take it easy. Besides, Dad and I already cleaned."

Mom laughed again and gave me another of her long, intimate hugs and proceeded to point out the layers of dust on the ceiling fan, cobwebs in the corners and the dust bunnies under the sofa. Dad reiterated that she needed to take it easy and that while I was cleaning house tomorrow, he would be taking her shopping for some new clothes.

Mom blushed and looked down, her face growing red as she nodded and said, "Well, maybe just a few things. I'll start working on getting back into shape as soon as I can." She ran her hands up and down her body slowly, caressing and lifting up her breasts before letting them fall and bounce with startling effect before saying, "Although I bet at least one of you must appreciate my bigger boobs!"

It took Mom a few seconds to realize that she'd shocked Dad and me. Mom and Dad had had been pretty religious and conservative — breasts pretty much fell under the subject of sexual things that were not discussed in our house.She reddened further as she realized what she'd said and in a whisper full of fear and embarrassment, said, "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." She rushed upstairs towards her and Dad's bedroom — him tossing me a concerned glance before following her up.

I didn't see Mom until the next morning when I awoke to the unmistakable smell of her special waffles and omelets. I crawled out of bed, quickly dressed and headed downstairs, meeting Dad in the upstairs hallway. We shared a rare smile and he said, "It's good to have your mother home!" I nodded, feeling normal for the first time in what seemed like forever.

That feeling lasted until we walked into the kitchen. I stopped so abruptly, Dad ran into me, shoving me forward, before grinding to a halt himself as we stared at Mom. She was standing at the stove, working on the last omelet, wearing one of my old T-shirts and maybe nothing else. It hung down to about mid-thigh, showing off more of my Mom's legs than I think I'd ever seen. Her thighs were a bit thick, but still her legs were shapely — very much a woman's, and seemed very long. The T-shirt covered her ass, but more or less highlighted its shapeliness rather than conceal her lovely butt. All this and so sign of a panty line!

She turned at our noise and I thought my eyes would pop out of my head as the cotton shirt was molded to her breasts, highlighting their pear-like shape — full and ripe and sagging slightly, the size and thickness of her nipples clearly indicated. She had her hair pulled back in a pony-tail, which despite the graying of her hair, gave her the appearance of someone much younger.