They snuck down to the beach, where the women could be heard a mile away, screaming, laughing, splashing. To say a good majority of them were pregnant and sober, they were having one hell of a time. Thanks to the full moon shining down on the white sand, they could easily pick out the piles of clothes that had been left on the beach.

“There,” Mac whispered, pointing to the clothes. “Let’s go.”

“Boys,” Big Mac said, “I have to tell you… This is not going to end well.”

“Oh come on, Dad,” Grant said. “It’ll be hysterical, and they have it coming after the crap they’ve pulled on us.”

Grant’s capitulation surprised Slim, as he tended to be much more mature than his older brother. One thing Slim had to say for Mac, he’d missed his calling as a military commander. He was excellent at getting others to follow his lead. While they crept onto the beach to collect the women’s clothing, Slim stayed back with Big Mac, Frank, Kevin and Ned, otherwise known as the actual adults in this group.

“Buncha fools,” Ned muttered.

“Ah, yes,” Big Mac said, “but they’re my fools. I’m just glad Linda, Betsy, Francine and Chelsea offered to babysit tonight so the girls could go out. I’d want no part of digging myself out of this one.”

“You know it, brother,” Frank said.

“Chelsea would kill me,” Kevin said bluntly.

The guys returned, laughing and whispering—loudly—arms loaded with dresses and panties and bras and sandals that they then deposited in a pile on the sand.

“I did this once to Abby,” Adam whispered. “I thought she was going to murder me.”

“She will this time for sure,” Frank said.

“I can’t believe Katie is skinny-dipping,” Shane said. “She doesn’t like being naked in the shower.”

“Dude!” Owen said, sending the others into somewhat-silent hysterics. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.”

“Sorry,” Shane said, chuckling.

“No, you’re not.”

“I feel your pain,” Mac said, using his thumb to point to Joe.

“I only speak the truth,” Joe said, “and your sister is one hot mama.”

“Joseph,” Big Mac said. “End it. Now.”

“You’re talking about his precious princess,” Frank said, patting Joe on the back. “Inferring that you sleep with her is grounds for execution by firing squad.”

“You’re goddamned right it is,” Big Mac growled.

“So what happens now?” Slim asked the mastermind.

“Now, we wait for them to notice,” Mac said.

The ladies were in no apparent rush to end their nocturnal adventure, and the splashing and screaming continued for another fifteen minutes.

“I gotta pee,” Grant said.

“Me, too,” Alex replied.