Whoa girl! Cathie pulled her rampant thoughts to a halt. That's too much like a private fantasy than anything approaching reality.
Thankfully she was sure Ethan would be immune to such gossip anyway.
Grinning Cathie entered her bedroom and realized she was too late.
Chloe had on a black teddy and a pair of sunglasses while tottering around the room in long stilettos. Resigned to the possible gossip Cathie began to put away the 'stickerless' lingerie and the few items of clothing she had bought in the draws and racks of the cavernous walk in robe. Why a guest would need such a large wardrobe was beyond her. The contraband she would deal with later.
'I'm hot. Come for a swim Cathie?'
'Love to but you're not wearing that.'
'Course not silly, it's too big. You can wear it.'
If she told the little girl it wasn't for swimming her enquiring mind would need to know what it was for let alone why it was called a teddy. Titillation of the male species was one bit of knowledge best left until she was in her teens, maybe twenties. Daddy probably would prefer 30's!
'I would prefer the one with less…holes.'
Eyeing the bulging bags she said. 'Now I wonder which bag holds my swimmers?'
'Blue or purple?'
'I only bought one.' thinking that Chloe was referring to the bottom buttoned teddy.
'But there's two… see?' Chloe was holding up two suits neither of which was underwear, her preferred one piece design, or even the one she had selected and seen rung up. Like the underwear they had miraculously appeared amongst her bags and unfortunately had also had the hygiene stickers removed.
'Oh dear.' Cathie feared what else she would find once she emptied all the bags. 'You choose.'
'The purple one. It's my second favouritist colour.' Cathie didn't have to be told what her favourite colour was. The child's bedroom could easily be called the Pink room. 'Race you to the pool.'
'Don't go in without me.' Cathie called after the disappearing girl. She probably hadn't heard, she conceded, but then Darlene and Ethan were both downstairs. Two days in his house and she was looking out for his daughter as if she was a part of the family. Who's kidding who? She asked herself.
Cathie donned the purple bikini dismayed to see not only how brief it was but how much it exposed her bruising. 'At least I'm colour coordinated.' she wryly told her reflection, her bruises and the bikini both purple. She was of the opinion that the bruises covered more skin than the material did. Discarding three T-shirts still thankfully with their tags on she found one of the two she had allowed Darlene to buy. It would have to do as camouflage as she hadn't thought to purchase a rash top and unfortunately neither had Darlene.