A Trip to the Playa (Chapters)

The sun was making the air above the pool ripple. It was a day of dead air and concrete you could cook on. The maintenance guy had spent his day fixing part of the driveway that’d melted. Keeley had been in the pool since breakfast.

There were a lot of advantages to the pool. Obviously, it was a refuge from the heat, particularly on the side shaded by the giant sycamore tree. Equally important, it was an escape from Keeley’s parents. If Keeley needed proof that her parents were actually alien business robots, it was that they had built a pool and then never dipped so much as a toe in it.

Mom and Dad had put the pool on the hot side of the house, which meant that all the curtains on that side of the house had been drawn. Despite the four story mansion looming over the pool, its status as a sanctuary was intact.

Being guaranteed to not have an audience had a single downside. It encouraged Zach to be handsy. Obnoxiously handsy in fact. Keeley squealed and grabbed her suit top after Zach pulled the straps off her shoulders for the fifth time that afternoon.

“Zach, stop!”

“Zaaaach, stoooop.” He laughed, swimming a quick circle around her.

Keeley dove under as soon as her suit was back in place, kicking hard for the bottom of the pool. Rebounding off the smooth aqua tiles, she pushed off at an angle, coming up by the pool side. She squeezed water out of her blonde hair, letting it flop on her shoulder.

Zach had waited for her to surface. As soon as she did, he swam to her with quick, clean strokes. Keeley found herself pinned to the pool wall, with Zach taking a handhold on either side of her. Being trapped by those strong, toned arms put butterflies in her belly.

Keeley leaned in to kiss Zach on the cheek. It was her favorite thing to do with him, now that he’d gotten rid his scratchy stubble. He’d been in the pool long enough that he didn’t smell like cigarettes, or anything but summer air and chlorine. Zach pulled himself closer, pressing his flat stomach against Keeley.

She had to remind herself not to wrap her legs around him. That would only encourage his bad behavior. The butterflies in her tummy wanted him to be bad. They wanted it too much.

“You have to stop grabbing my suit. I don’t want my boobs out in the pool. What if somebody sees?”

“Nobody comes out here except your servants, and they don’t count.”

“They totally count! Why’re you so gropey today?”

“I can’t help it baby. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“Who’s fault is that? You were in rehab, AGAIN. You’ve never gone twice in a month before.”

“I know.” Zach grinned irreverently. “It’s been some wild times. Come on, if I can’t take the top of your suit off, let me slide the bottom to the side…”

Keeley swallowed a lump in her throat. There was a suggestive hardness pressing against her hip.

“We’re not going to have sex in the pool!” Keeley hissed. “Seriously, what’s up with you? We did it twice this morning after we woke up. You’re SUPER lucky that Mom and Dad were out early at the country club, by the way. You know I’m not supposed to let you sleep over.”

“They hate me anyway. Fuck your parents.” Zach shrugged. “Actually – no – gross. I’d rather fuck you. You’re so hot, baby, come on, it’ll be quick and fun for both of us.”

Quick is not fun for both of us, Keeley thought, frowning. She ducked under water again, squeezing out from between Zach and the wall.

“Zach, stop.” Keeley said as she surfaced, swimming backwards to the shallow end. “You’re acting crazy. Are you on something?”

Zach laughed. He swam after her, but he wasn’t chasing anymore. “Okay, you caught me. It’s this new designer Viagra. Instead of being “on” for four hours, it gives your motor a little boost for a day or two. I’ve got you some to try, it’s supposed to work on chicks too.”

“I’m not taking that stuff – gross! You don’t even want me because you think I’m hot, you’re just on your weird pill.”

“You know I think you’re hot. I’ve been obsessed with your body since prep school. Try the stuff. We can go back to your room and be like bunnies all day.”

“Zach, you JUST got out of rehab. Can’t you stay clean for one week, even?”

“I wouldn’t take that bet.”

Keeley and Zach both looked toward the new voice. It was Dominika, rolling up to the pool in a dark red one-piece and sunglasses. Vidette was just behind her, bikini clad with a cute yellow sun-hat on.

“What are YOU bitches doing here?” Zach snarled.

“Visiting our friend, Junkie Joe.” Dominika dropped her towel and sunglasses on a lounge chair.

“I told you not to call me that!”

Zach’s face was red and shading toward purple. Keeley nervously back peddled away from him, putting her hands over her stomach. The butterflies were gone, replaced with thrashing piranhas.

“What are you going to do, ask your daddy’s lawyer to sue her for slander?” Vidette asked, stepping sedately down the pool steps.

“Cannonball countersuit!” Dominika yelled, crashing into the water next to Zach.

Zach sputtered, wiping his face and treading water back into the deep end. “Keeley, what the fuck? You told me there wasn’t anybody else coming over today.”

“I didn’t call them!” Keeley protested.

“Well the vibe is fucking ruined anyway.” Zach said. “I’m out.”

“What’s that?” Dominika asked, surfacing. “You’re a lout?”

“Fuck both of you ugly bitches.” Zach climbed the pool ladder in full pout. He stomped away from the pool, pausing to throw Dominika and Vidette’s towels in.

“That guy is a walking disaster. You need to dump his ass.” Vidette said, heedless that Zach was still in earshot.

“You could be nicer to him too.” Keeley threw a nervous glance at Zach – he was only getting angrier as he stalked away. “You always fight with him when you see him. Of course he’s mad at you.”

“No, we can not be nicer to him.” Dominika fished the towels out of the water, wrung them out, and threw them on the lounge chairs. 

“Keeley, he’s bad news and he’s getting worse.” Vidette slow-walked through the water to give Keeley a hug.

“I know but…”

“Baby girl, no.” Dominika said, swimming over with her head up. “This Zach train wreck has got to stop.”

Butterflies of a different kind attacked Keeley’s stomach. “Baby – you haven’t called me that since the Beach House.”

“We’ve been super busy and haven’t had time to do anything elaborate with our little cutie.” Vidette said, wrapping her arms around Keeley from behind.

“I don’t want to play that game again.”

“But you really liked it. We want to take care of you.”

“I liked that part, but,” Keeley dropped her voice to a whisper. “I don’t want to wear diapers again.”

“Nobody’s going to make you wear a diaper today.” Dominika winked. “A pullup maybe.”

“Girls, stop.” Keeley whined.

“Girls? Not nannies?” Vidette asked, squeezing Keeley affectionately.

“Not if you’re being mean.”

“I’ll make you a bet. If I can get you to admit you need to be taken care of, then we play again.” Dominika brushed her knuckles against Keeley’s cheek.

“I don’t need it. I just like it.” Keeley pouted.

“Baby girl, you desperately need it.” Vidette kissed the back of Keeley’s head and let her go. “We’ll give you some time to think about it though. Let’s enjoy the Zach-free pool for a while.”

Keeley swam back to the shady side of the pool with a suspicious eye on her friends. They were too sneaky to have dropped their weird baby game suddenly like that. It was a surprise, and a good one, when Keeley’s suspicions went nowhere.

Vidette and Dominika didn’t say another word about the baby game or the beach house. They relaxed in the pool, playfully splashed Keeley, and gossiped about their social circle. The day hit a high point when they were all draped across pool noodles, floating in and out of the sun in lazy circles around each other.

“I’m getting hungry,” Vidette said.

“I didn’t really eat breakfast,” Keeley admitted.

“The towels have got to be dry enough by now. Let’s take a break from the pool,” Dominika said.

Dominika swam to the side and heaved herself up. She grabbed her towel and stepped into one of the changing tents.

“Hey, my stuff is in that one.” Keeley said, pulling herself out of the pool with arms that had gone noodly from half a day of swimming.

“Keeley, I think your clothes are in here.” Dominika called from the tent.

“That’s what I SAID.” Keeley rolled her eyes and stepped into the tent.

The changing tent, normally quite spacious for its purpose, was feeling crowded with Vidette walking in behind Keeley. She was about ask them to stop being weird, when Dominika shocked Keeley into silence by holding her panties up in her face.

“What’s this?” Dominika demanded.

“Underwear.” Keeley rolled her eyes.

“Dirty underwear. I know you have people that do your laundry, and your panties still look like this?”

Keeley blushed and took a step back, only to have Vidette wrap her arms around her again.

“They’re not…”

“What’s this yellow patch? Or this darker one? They’re are supposed to be white, aren’t they?”

“It’s none of your business!”

“It’s your nanny’s business if you’re having accidents again.”

“I’m not!” Keeley protested in outrage.

“Keeley.” Vidette said in a warning tone.

“I’m not – usually – having accidents,” Keeley said. “I had some wild nights.”

“You expect us to believe you can take care of yourself if you’re not staying clean?” Dominika folded her arms across her chest.

“I’m fine!”

“Like you were fine when we got here? Swimming nervously away from your drugged-up boyfriend?” Vidette nuzzled the back of Keeley’s neck, her voice heavy with concern.

“I had him under control.” Keeley put her hands over her upset stomach.

“Did you talk to your mom about redecorating your room?” Dominika asked.

“She’s been in a bad mood.” Keeley looked away from her friend.

“How about Trish? Have you been to see her?” Vidette asked gently.

“There – wasn’t a good time.” Keeley squirmed.

“Wouldn’t you like it better if we were taking care of you?” Dominika dropped her crossed arms and joined the hug.

The sudden shift to tenderness from Dominika had Keeley’s head spinning. Without thinking, she leaned in to nuzzle her friend’s cheek.

“Keeley.” Vidette squeezed her gently. “Wouldn’t it be better if you had a room you actually liked living in? If you could see your cute girlfriend, and ditch your gross boyfriend?”

“Don’t you want us to take care of you?” Dominika asked softly. “We love you, baby girl.”

“Girls…” Keeley protested. “You want to do it so weird. I don’t like the diapers.”

“You liked them when Trish was babysitting you.” Vidette said.

“No I didn’t, that’s…”

“We went up to your room before we came to the pool.” Dominika said. “You opened the package of pullups. There’s a bunch of them missing.”

“I can’t believe you went into my room!”

“Did you have accidents?” Vidette asked. “Or did you wear them for your girlfriend?”

Keeley whimpered, relaxing into her friends’ embrace. “I – wore them for Trish.”

“She liked seeing you in them a lot, huh?” Dominika stepped back and patted Keeley’s cheek.

“Yes,” Keeley said softly.

“Did you have fun wearing them for her?” Vidette released Keeley and smoothed her wet hair back.

“Yes,” Keeley whispered.

“Do you need us to take care of you, baby girl?” Dominika asked with a soft smile.

“You said I didn’t have to wear a diaper. Just a pullup.” Keeley pouted.

“Just a pullup today.” Dominika countered.

“You promise? No diapers today.”

“We promise.” Vidette said. “We want to take you on a trip with us. It’s going to be super fun. Will you come with?”

“To the beach house again?” Keeley couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice. She’d get to see Trish again if they went back to the coast.

“A road trip, a long one,” Dominika said. “With a fun festival at the end of it. We’re going to Burning Man.”

Keeley blinked. “You want to go all the way to Nevada from New Hampshire? DRIVING?”

“We want to disconnect, and there’s going to be a lot of dead cell spots on that drive.” Vidette said.

“Vi wants to disconnect. I’m willing to disconnect, if I have a baby girl to distract me from the fact that my company will be running without me for two weeks.”

“You’re going to guilt me into this? If I don’t go, you won’t go either and Vi’s vacation is ruined?”

Dominika laughed. “No, baby girl, we’ll fly or something if you don’t go. We’re going to fly back anyway. We do want you to come with us though. I really want to go on a road trip with you.”

“You want me to be a baby the whole time?”

“I want you to be my baby girl. I want to be your nana again, and take care of you.” Dominika squeezed Keeley’s hand.

“I don’t want people to see me – like when we went to the Sea Witch. I can’t go in a car all the time in – in a car seat – and a diaper – and baby clothes.” Keeley could feel hiccups coming on as she stumbled over her demands.

“Baby girl, calm down, you’re going to hyperventilate.” Vidette stroked Keeley’s back. “We aren’t going to expose you like that on the road trip. I feel bad for the Sea Witch thing. We went a little far. Though, you did get Trish out of it….”

“That’s not fair.”

“Isn’t it?” Dominika lightly flicked Keeley’s nose. “You like her a lot. She likes you too, even though you’re still with Zach.”

Keeley whined. Now they’re guilting me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t unfair guilt. She hadn’t talked to Trish about Zach nearly enough. Hadn’t been honest about her relationship with him at all.

Maybe if I do this, they can help me fix things with Trish. They’re my nannies – if we play. Then they HAVE to help me. It’s their job.

Both her friends were quiet, watching her. Keeley shifted her weight from foot to foot, huffing and squirming. They were patiently waiting. The tension quickly grew unbearable.

“Okay, I’ll do it!” Keeley burst out, blushing. She couldn’t look either of her friends in the eye. “We can – play.”

“Great!” Dominika hugged Keeley tightly.

“Good girl!” Vidette joined the hug.

Keeley couldn’t keep a smile off her face. Between her friends’ excitement and all the physical affection, she was feeling better than she had since her parents came back from Dubai.

“We’re going to start playing now, okay?” Dominika stepped back and took Keeley’s chin in her hand.

“Okay.”

“Good girl.” Dominika smiled. “Who am I?”

Keeley squirmed. Dominika wouldn’t let her look away. “N-nanny Dominika.”

“And behind you?”

“Nanny Vidette.”

Compliance was rewarded with another big, double hug. “Good girl.” Her nannies said in unison.

“You don’t have to call us nanny in front of your parents. We’re not going to make it weird for you, okay?” Vidette gave Keeley’s butt a pat.

“You’re not going to make it weird? I don’t have to wear diapers at all?”

“Be a good baby.” Dominika said, lightly swatting Keeley’s rear. Her tone was light, both nannies were chuckling.

“Okay nana,” Keeley said.

It felt good to be obedient, no matter how weird it was, or how much weirder things were going to get. A big load of anxiety had vanished from Keeley’s shoulders already.

In Keeley’s suite, her nannies wasted no time stripping her out of her swimsuit. She’d never been fanatic about body modesty, but nakedness had become a complete non-issue around Dominika and Vidette. Never mind that she’d slept with them both, at different times, but they’d stripped, dressed, and diapered her enough that Keeley didn’t think to protest.

A bit of modesty reared it’s head when Dominika followed Keeley into the shower. It was a nice big shower, with five showerheads, but that was still a lot of naked nanny in Keeley’s personal space. Once she’d gotten over Dominika’s proximate nudity, being scrubbed like a fussy toddler was still embarrassing.

Keeley tried to protest when Dominika knelt down to scrub her crotch and the crack of her butt. The first word of protest was met with a slap on the butt that echoed off the shower tile. Dominika went right back to scrubbing without waiting for Keeley to react.

Defeated by Dominika’s quick and casual discipline, Keeley closed her eyes and let her nanny scrub away. It was over quickly enough, with Dominika ejecting Keeley from the shower to be dried off by Vidette.

“As long as you’re a good girl, we’re going to let you wear big girl clothes.” Vidette guide Keeley to her bed and laid her down on the comforter. “You’re going to be in pullups or diapers from now on though. We’ll pick clothes that won’t make the padding obvious, okay?”

“I can wear pullups more than just today?” Keeley asked. “I like them way better than the diapers.”

“Is that because of how they look, how they feel, or because they remind you of Trish?”

Keeley covered her face. “I don’t know.”

“I think you do know, but I won’t push you.” Vidette retrieved a pullup from the built-in bed drawer and slid them up Keeley’s hips.

Keeley lifted her butt to accept the padding, Vidette is wrong. I don’t know why I like the pullups better. Favoring pullups might be down to showing them to Trish, sure. They also didn’t remind Keeley of her nannys’ more coercive moments at the beach house. Plus, they were shaped like underwear. There was a lot less baby going on with them.

I don’t know how my nannies got into all this diaper stuff, but I don’t think they get that I don’t like them like they do. They’re weird, and gross, and – comfortable I guess, but that doesn’t make up for anything.

Vidette tagged out for a shower when Dominika finished. Nika took over nanny duties, dressing Keeley in a pleated skirt and blouse. It was a cute outfit – Keeley didn’t buy clothes that weren’t cute – but it was easily the youngest-looking thing in her closet. One of the most conservative of Keeley’s outfits, too.

Keeley had to sit like a good girl in her sterile white bedroom while her nannies got dressed. Asking what she was supposed to tell Zach about the trip had Dominika threatening Keeley with a pacifier. Wrinkling her nose, Keeley sat quietly until her nannies were done.

“You’re such a good girl. You look very pretty in that outfit.” Vidette grinned at Keeley, looking her up and down. “Do you want me to help you with your makeup?”

“I can do my own makeup.” Keeley rolled her eyes.

“I know. You’re a big girl,” Vidette said, in her nanny tone. She took Keeley’s hand gently. “Do you want me to help you anyway?”

“I uh – okay nana.” Keeley blushed. It wasn’t fair that her friends knew she was always thirsty for attention.

It was a surprise that Vidette let Keeley do almost all her makeup. Far from taking over and painting Keely’s face, Vidette stuck to assisting and checking for symmetry. Keeley wrinkled her nose in frustration as Vidette plucked an errant eyebrow hair. The rules of the game seemed to have changed, but Keeley didn’t know how exactly.

This game would be easier if they treated me like a baby again – no, that’s crazy. I don’t want to be a baby. I don’t.

~~~~*~~~~

They found Mom in her office, to Keeley’s total lack of surprise. Mom was in one of her twenty billion pantsuits – texting, answering emails on her laptop, and reviewing papers all at the same time.

“Dominika, Vidette!” Mom said, with genuine excitement. “I didn’t realize you’d come to visit. How’re my favorite girls?”

Keeley ground her teeth. A nasty, heavy feeling wormed its way through her gut.

“Hi Janice,” Vidette said.

“Hi Janice. We came to see Keeley.” Dominika motioned to Janice’s unacknowledged daughter. “We took the trash out for you too.”

“Hmm?” Mom was confused enough to set her phone down.

“Zach was here,” Vidette said. “He’s gone now.”

“Ugh.” Mom rubbed her temples. “Keeley, how many times have we talked about that wastrel?”

“He’s my boyfriend and I’ll see him if I want to. You can’t complain about him, he’s from a good family. This is my house too, I can invite guests!” Keeley’s cheeks were hot, her hands trembling.

“Can’t you do something with her, girls?” Mom sighed and sat back in her chair.

“Actually we’re planning to take Keeley on a trip for a couple of weeks, if you don’t mind,” Dominika said.

“Perfect! Get her away from Zach and out of my hair. You girls are angels.”

She didn’t even ask where we’re going. They’re taking me for two weeks and Mom doesn’t want to know where.

The heavy feeling in Keeley’s gut had gone cold. The heat was out of her face too. She wilted, leaning into Vidette. It helped a lot that Vidette took her hand, threading their fingers together.

“You look busy, we’ll leave you to it,” Dominika said. “I’m getting a taste of what that’s like myself.”

“I heard your business was doing well!” Mom grinned at Dominika. She’d been almost exclusively looking at Dominika, Keeley noted despairingly.

“Well enough that I can take this vacation – I think.”

“I’m going to make sure Nika disconnects. She’s been working ninety hour weeks.”

“It’s a good idea to take a break.” Mom picked her phone back up. “Do as I say, not as I do. Have a fun trip, girls.”

“We will, thanks Janice. See you in a few weeks.”

Neither Vidette nor Keeley said goodbye. Mom didn’t seem to notice. Keeley’s legs were shaking. She couldn’t make them stop.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re okay, baby girl.” Vidette pulled Keeley in for a hug as soon as they were around the corner from Mom’s office.

“She didn’t ask where we’re going. She didn’t look at me!” Keeley softly sobbed into Vidette’s shoulder.

“Baby girl, you’re going to be okay. Nana is here.” Vidette stroked Keeley’s back until the tears stopped.

“Come on Keeley, we have a surprise for you in the kitchen.” Dominika squeezed Keeley’s shoulder.

Miserably clinging to Vidette’s sleeve, Keeley followed Dominika. The kitchen was as intense as always, glittering stainless steel on dark tile. Chef Louis greeted them right away when they entered, buttoning up his spotless white jacket.

“Hi Louis, how’s my favorite Michelin starred chef?” Dominika asked.

“Bored of household dining, but enjoying the money, as usual. I take it the trip is a go? We’re about halfway through the food you requested.”

“What food?” Keeley roused herself enough to ask.

“All your favorites, Ms. Hartwell.” Louis beamed, like he always did when he was talking about food. “They won’t last any two weeks, but Ms. Galvez said you’ve got a four day road trip. In the RV fridge, they’ll keep fine.”

“There’s an RV now?”

“You didn’t think we were going to drive three thousand miles in a sedan, did you?” Vidette chuckled. “Besides, you have to make your own accommodations at the festival. If you’ve got the money, an RV is the way to go.”

“But what’s the food? Louis, tell me!”

“It’s supposed to be a surprise, but I’ll tell you tomorrow’s package.” Louis smirked at Dominika’s yelp of protest. “Bacon wrapped dates and your favorite quinoa salad.”

“Oh, really?” Keeley sighed with longing. “We haven’t had those in forever.”

“You can always ask. I’ll send someone up with a plate any time.”

“Mom doesn’t let me have food in my room,” Keeley said grumpily.

“Who’s going to tell her?” Louis popped the kitchen door open, making a big show of looking around the dining room. “I don’t see her anywhere. I don’t think she’ll know.”

“You’d do that? I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

“I’m not worried about trouble. I didn’t realize you were having such a rough time until Ms. Marroquin and I talked. We’re here to serve you, Ms. Hartwell. Take advantage of it.”

“Okay. I will. Maybe.”

“Well now that the surprise has been spoiled by some big mouth, we have to get Keeley ready for the trip.” Dominika took Keeley’s hand firmly. “We’re leaving tomorrow, six am sharp.”

“It’ll be ready. If you park the RV here overnight, we’ll even load it in the fridge for you.”

“You’re the best, Louis.”

“Of course I am.”

“What do I need to get ready for the trip?” Keeley stumbled along, pulled along by Dominika.

“We’re going on a two week trip and you didn’t think you might need some clothes?”

“I thought you were going to make me wear baby stuff the whole time.” Belatedly, Keeley glanced around the hall. It was empty, thankfully.

Dominika came to a halt, exchanging a surprised look with Vidette. “We could – if that’s what you want.”

“No!” Keeley shook her head. “I thought – that’s what you were going to make me do.”

“We can pack some of your clothes, baby girl,” Vidette said. “Plus your makeup, some art supplies, oh, and you’re going to want your stuffed animals, right?”

“Yeah, I almost forgot.” It was a good thing Vidette was on the ball. Keeley didn’t want to imagine a week or more of the baby game without Gordo or Bertha.

“Then let’s get you upstairs, Little Girl.” Dominika pulled the waistband of Keeley’s skirt and pullup, taking a quick peek in.

“I didn’t use it.” Keeley whispered petulantly.

“Not yet anyway.” Vidette took Keeley’s free hand. Both nannies lead Keeley up to her suite.