The next day

I had my first foray into parenting a few weekends back. I told you about the first part in my last post. Today I want to tell you what happened the next day.

Ryan arrived while we were eating breakfast. That boy just takes my breath away. Tall, handsome, maybe a bit too thin but he’s young – he’ll fill out. I love the way he looks at Allie! They just make such a sweet couple. I felt like the worse ogre in the word for taking the beach trip from them and I knew I would relent in a heart beat if I thought Tom would let me get away with it.

After greeting us and general small talk Ryan asked Allie what time she wanted to get started. She gave him a stricken look and said “Let’s talk on the deck.”

I looked sadly after them. Tom picked up his paper and headed toward his study. “Cassie” he said soothingly “They’ll be fine. Don’t look like that. And” he added, as I took a step toward the sun room “Give them their privacy. No eavesdropping!” Tom swatted my rear with the newspaper and left the room.

I wasn’t being nosy, not really but I did want to know what Allie as telling Ryan so I took my book to the sun room and took a seat by the open window. The shades were still pulled so I wasn’t notice by my young friends as they talked. They were in the middle of the conversation and Ryan was saying…

“But you had to know they would worry. Why didn’t you come in when they were expecting you?” Ryan sounded down right stern. I wanted to see his face but I stayed put and pretended to read my book in case I was spotted.

Allie was saying “Really Ryan I was barely late. I don’t thing that Cassie really meant it about us not being able to go to the beach. You go asked her – she loves you! You know you can get her to change her mind.”

Before I had the time to panic – because I knew I would probably give in to Ryan – I heard him answer “Allie you’re the one who stayed out too late. I’m not about to browbeat Cassie in to changing her mind. And even if I did ask her to change her mind Tom would never go for it.”

Allie’s voice got soft then and she said “Please Ryan, don’t you want to spend the day alone?”

Oh my! I had to see exactly want was going on. I turned and kneeling in the chair I barely moved the shades so I could see the children. Allie’s eyes were dreamy as she leaned in to give Ryan a kiss. As far as I could tell Ryan was a goner! But after enjoying the kiss Ryan said “I’m still not asking her – now behave yourself.”


‘Behave yourself?!’ now where did Ryan come up with that phrase? I barely had time to wonder when someone (guess who) popped me on the rear so hard you could have heard it next door! I shouted “OWWW…” much louder than I would have wanted to but Tom had surprised the devil out of me! That man can move silently when he choses.

I heard Allie say “What was that?” I stood there horrified as I heard Ryan answer “That was none of our business. Let’s go down on the dock.”

I grabbed Tom and pushed/pulled him to the kitchen. “What is the matter with you?” I fumed “They heard that! Tom have you lost your mind? What was that for anyway?” I asked as I rubbed my sore rear.

Tom as usual was completely unrepentant. “Didn’t I tell you to leave the children alone? Ladies don’t eavesdrop and besides, with your ear hanging out the window and your bottom sticking out as it was I just couldn’t resist.”

I couldn’t really think of a good defense at the moment so I decided to attack. “Tom I want to know what you have been telling Ryan – I heard him tell Allie to behave and he sounded like he knew exactly what was happening in here. I want to know just exactly what you have told that boy!”

Tom took his time making another cup of coffee before turning to me and said “What Ryan and I talk about is between the boy and me. But you can rest assured that I have not told him anything that would embarrass you.” That didn’t answer my question at all but I heard the children coming in then and Tom disappeared back into his study.

Ryan and Allie seemed to be having a nice enough day. After a late lunch Allie asked if we minded if they went on a bike ride. “No honey,” I told her “It’s a beautiful day! Enjoy yourselves.”

“Ah-hum” Tom cleared his throat “I believe you told Allie she couldn’t leave the houses with out one of us.” I swear I don’t know who Tom was trying to irritate more Allie or me! I could have fought with him but I didn’t want to waste the energy so I just turned to Ryan and said “Get my bike out! I’m going too.”

We headed out together but four houses later I stopped. Turning to the kids I said “I’m too tired for a long ride. I’m stay here to visit with Sue – don’t forget to stop for me on your way back.

“I thought Tom said you were to stay with us” Ryan said with a slight grin.

“Ryan” I said somewhat annoyed with the boy “you do have to realize that just because Tom says something it’s not the same as if it’s coming out of the burning bush! Besides” I went on “he said Allie couldn’t leave the house without one of us. She didn’t – I left with her didn’t I? And just keep your mouth shut about it to Tom – you hear me??”

I visited with Sue for a while and in due time the children came back for me and we headed home. Tom grilled out for us all and Ryan headed back to campus shortly after we ate. After he left Allie brought over her Wii. Oh my, what fun! I think Tom enjoyed watching us nearly as much as we enjoyed playing. We played fairly late but shortly after eleven we all headed to bed.

I was tired and ready for sleep but as I headed to the bed Tom spoke up – “We have a few things to discuss before bed Cassie.” Well that got my attention, after all Tom talks with his hands!”



I could tell he wasn’t mad so I asked “What did I do?”

Well first off you didn’t listen to me this morning about spying on Ryan and Allie – very rude and unladylike” he told me as he was pulling me across his lap and pulling my night gown up.

I wasn’t exactly fighting him but I did protest that he had already spanked me for that. Tom laughed, “I popped your rear! That was hardly a spanking.” He peppered my behind with moderate hard swats but he gave me plenty!

He finally stopped to rub only to start up again quite a bit harder. I was trying to squirm off his lap protesting “What that for?” I demanded.

“This” he told me with an especially hard swat “is for stopping at Sue’s when you should have stayed with the children on their bike ride.”

“You let me up!” I demanded! “How dare Ryan! He has no reason to go tattling to you!”

Tom laughed harder as he continued to swat. “Ryan didn’t say a word about it. I knew that was what you were going to do and you just confirmed it. When will you learn I can tell what you’re planning with one look? Don’t you know you can never pull something over on me.”

Tom is the most exasperating man! If I didn’t love him better than life he would be down right annoying. His administering had left me stinging and miffed at him for being a know it all. But soon I was cradled in his arms with my warm bottom pressed against him – my favorite sleeping position.

I lay safe and snug in his arms and thought about what he had said – ‘Don’t you know you can never pull something over on me?’. Did that sound like a challenge to anyone else?