How does he do it?

What a wonderful summer we're having. Tom is working as much as ever but we are still getting time together. Ryan finished his short internship at Tom’s firm and seems more than happy to be back out in the summer heat working to get the beginnings of his future landscaping business up and running. The way the neighborhood has that poor boy running I think he will be well sought after when he graduates. Now he has the back breaking, and extremely hot, work of mowing and tending flower gardens. I’m happy to say, though, that he has adopted a siesta lifestyle. He will stop in the hottest part of the day for a swim with Allie and some rest in the shade.

I personally have been so good that there has been little to write about. I haven’t taken the boat out by myself one single time (that Tom knows about), and rarely at all. He’s stern admonishment at the beginning of the summer, ‘do not drink if I don’t put the drink in your hand’ has not been difficult to abide by. You see when we last stocked up on wine I positioned myself so that I put each bottle away as Tom unpacked it. Every drop of wine in those bottles was handed to me by my dear husband and thus, fair game!

Now don’t worry. Sue and I usually limit ourselves to one or two glasses in the afternoon and I’m pretty sure Tom knows. But truly I have been good and while I know Tom appreciated the effort I think he gets bored if I behave too well for too long. When this happens I think he sometimes gets picky and begins looking for reasons for a sound spanking. Goodness knows why, we have plenty of fun ones but then for no reason he gets all stern.

Here’s a case in point. Sue and I had plans to go to a pottery/craft show last week. Tom knew we were going. I didn’t really know what time we were planning to leave but that morning Sue called early – right after Tom left on his run. “How soon can you be ready? Let’s go to breakfast before we shop.”

I told her to come on as soon as she was ready and I’d hurry. I kept thinking Tom would be back before we left but evidently he was on a long run. Being a prefect wife I left him a note,

‘Tom,
Sue and I left early for breakfast. We’ll be home around one.
Love you,
Cassie’

We were headed out the door when Sue began fussing at me, “You’re not planning to carry that suitcase around all day are you? We’re going to be walking a lot and you’re gonna break you back.”

Sue is always making fun of my pocketbook and claiming I carry everything but the kitchen sink. It’s certainly not true but for this particular outing I realized she was right and quickly changed to a smaller bag.

We had a great day. The weather had cooled off and the crafts at this show were amazing. I love the craft shows where you can visit with the artist. We talked with many and got to watch them create some of the lovely pottery that they were selling. We bought a few things, had a big lunch and arrived home around two. Sue let me off and headed on home without coming in.

That was probably for the best. Tom was not in a good mood. I could tell that the minute I walked in. Tom came over and kissed me but it wasn’t a lingering one. “Where have you been?”

“Where have I been? You know Sue and I were going to the craft show today. And I left you a note this morning. You know exactly where I’ve been.” I told him somewhat bewildered.

“You’re late. You said you’d be home at one.”

I couldn’t figure out what had put the bee in his bonnet. “I think I said around one and it’s not even two so that’s around one. Would you be mad if I’d come home around twelve?” I was starting to get aggravated.

“That’s enough, Cassie Jane.” Tom told me in his sternest voice.

‘Enough’, ‘Cassie Jane’ what was going on? He was really upset and I knew it wasn’t because I’d been a little late.

“Tom, what are you mad about?” I ask, truly not understanding.

“I’m not mad.” He stated shortly, “But you know one of the rules of this house is that you will not leave without your cell phone. I come back home this morning, you’re not here. The cell phone is and then you breeze in here late acting as if nothing’s wrong.”

Bingo! I finally found was had gotten him upset. Hidden in that statement was the real reason of his annoyance, him coming home and I wasn’t here. It bugs him to death. That was what had started all this, but I realized he was planning to spank me for not taking my phone – chalk another one up to ‘It’s really Sue’s fault.’ She was the one who made me change my purse and I just forgot the phone.

“Tom you know I always have my phone with me these days. I haven’t forgotten it in months. Now you just calm down and I’ll tell you all about the craft show.”

I was talking to myself. Tom took my hand and led me to the bedroom, with me protesting all the way! I had not done anything wrong, not really. That didn’t stop him for a minute. I was quickly bare bottomed and over his lap. He spanked with his hand and I know in my head that it wasn’t even that hard but I was fighting him mentally the whole time and that always makes it hurt more.

He stopped but before letting me up he said “I’ve told you before, being without your cell phone will get you spanked every time. I don’t what you to forget that.”

I hate cell phones! I wish the damn things had never been invented! The spanking hadn’t been harsh but neither had it been a good girl. I was still annoyed and very quiet when he let me up. He hugged me and kissed the top of my head, but now I was the one annoyed. I hate feeling this way after a spanking but I couldn’t help it.

Tom went about his afternoon and I took on the job of completely avoiding him and muttering to myself about his unfairness. Around four, Steve and Sue came over. Tom, Steve and Ryan, who had joined us, were in the yard chipping golf balls while Sue and Allie and I sat on the deck. We watched the men and they listening to me gripe. Both Sue and Allie were properly sympathetic. Sue continued on her old theme ‘You shouldn’t have to put up with that shit and why don’t you throw his ass out?’ It’s her way of showing support and as always we ignored what she was saying until she came to the following phrase, “He just need to cool down.” She was exactly right. He did need to cool down.

Do you ever do something and the instant you do, you are stunned by your own actions? What’s what I felt almost as soon as I turn the lawn sprinklers on. I couldn’t believe my own actions. I heard the men bellow and watched them sprint to the house. I stood there like a deer caught in the headlights.

They were soaked when they reached the deck. Everyone was staring at me in disbelief, even Sue and Allie. I made a grasp at behaving like any mature woman who was completely justified in going what she had done, I blamed Sue.

“I… I… Sue said Tom needed to cool down.” I stammered.

Sue was on her feet in a flash at my treachery. “You’re trying to blame me?

I’m sure the rest of what she had to say would have been most interesting but I wasn't around to hear it. Tom, now with a slight smile on his face, grabbed me with one wet had and marched me through the house to the bedroom. He picked up the school ruler – that darn thing is heavy and stings like hell. I was quickly pulled across Tom’s wet lap for my second spanking in two hours.

“Wait!” I yelled in a panic. “Tom you didn’t close the door! Close it, close it!” Tom had our suite soundproofed when we redid the house. While I know everyone on the deck was fully aware of what was happening, I still didn’t want them hearing it.

“I wasn’t the only one you just tried to drown.” Tom told me flatly, “Maybe they would like to hear you get your comeuppance!”

I couldn’t believe him! My embarrassment didn’t slow him for one minute. I know the pop that ruler makes could have been heard next door and I wasn’t exactly silent myself.

“Owww, Owww! Stop!” I couldn’t help shouting. He was spanking fast and hard. I finally managed to throw in a few ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I won’t ever do it again’ as his finally came to a stop.

Tom was in a fine mood now and he was laughing as he helped me to my feet and gave me a big hug. “Girl what am I going to do with you? Sometimes I think you’d spit in the devil’s face.”

“I thought I just did.” I told him sourly and I tried to rub the sting away. “You could have shut the door.”

Tom laughed at me again, “And you could have behaved yourself. Now you go out there and apologize to Steve and Ryan and Sue while you’re at it. Imagine trying to blame that sweet woman for your bad behavior. "And one more thing", Tom continued before I could get my indignant sputtering to come out in words, “whatever else you may do – don’t ever change. I do love you.”

What am I going to do with him? He can spank me for no reason, as many times a day as he feels like. Embarrass me in front of my friends. Order me to apologize when I don’t want to and laugh at me in the bargain. Yet with one smile, one touch, just the sparkle in his eyes and I could just melt with love for him. How does he do it? I guess I'll never know, but he’s a master at it.