Paul was spending the evening at his office, and I was exhausted from a full day at the toy store. I stepped out of the shower, a towel loosely over my shoulders, but otherwise naked. The bathroom door was open, but I'd closed the door to the bedroom. It was now ajar and I caught a glimpse of Karen darting away from my door. Wrapping the towel around me, I decided to try a different tactic. I called to her.
"Karen!" She didn't answer so I called again. She came in the room as if nothing had happened.
"I was in my room," she fibbed but she was startled to see me with nothing more than a bath towel wrapped loosely in front.
I spoke, in what I hoped was a conversational tone, "I thought I'd closed the door."
She thought a moment, considering her response. "I guess you didn't." I stared at her. Finally, she shrugged. "You did," she answered with a hint of defiance.
"Why did you run away?"
"I knew you'd get mad."
"I'm not mad. Why should I be?"
"I snuck in here and saw you without any clothes on."
Her revelation surprised me. She was obsessive about her own privacy. She never allowed anyone to see her not fully dressed. She insisted on a lock on her door and Paul reluctantly installed one after I persuaded him to go along with her wishes. I'm sure if I'd spied on her, she'd have near panicked. My curiosity got the better of me.
"We're both women," I said. "I'm not ashamed of my body. You shouldn't be ashamed of yours either. That doesn't mean flaunting immodesty and parading around without any clothes, but if you wanted to come in here you're welcome. A knock on the door is all I ask."
She got up to leave but I stopped her. "Stay awhile."
"I have homework."
"Sit down. Have you ever seen a woman naked before?" I reached for my robe but let the towel drop, my back to her. My question and casual nakedness caught her off balance. While I knew I was being improper, I was determined to make a point.
"Sure. . . I mean that we take showers down at the pool every day. Some girls don't care what they show." I was sure Karen wasn't one of them.
"Have you ever seen an adult woman naked?"
"My mother." Her answer caused me to regret my line of questioning but she continued. "When I'd wash her and sometimes clean up after she messed herself." Then in a spurt of boldness added, "But you've got hair down there . . . and bigger breasts."