Disciplining Little Abby (12 page)

Reluctantly, she eased herself away from his fingers and tried to focus on the crayon doodles on the tile wall instead of the burning ache welling up between her legs. From the corner of her eye, she caught him staring curiously at her, gauging her mood. Apparently understanding she wasn’t ready, his hand slipped quietly away from her fevered flesh and reached for her hand instead.

Helping her from the tub, he bundled her up in a towel and then led her to the bedroom. Laid out across her bed was a new pair of light purple pajamas with sock monkeys cavorting across them. The corner of the bed was turned down, and Mr. Jingles was propped up against her pillow. A purple ribbon had been tied loosely around one paw, and on the other end of the ribbon dangled a pacifier. She didn’t know what to make of the pacifier but kept silent. Her body was still protesting the abrupt end of her bath, and she didn’t trust her voice to be steady if she spoke.

After thoroughly drying her off, he dressed her in the new pajamas, first pulling the black tank top over her head, then sitting her on the edge of the bed and slipping one leg at a time into the bottoms. They fit perfectly and she grinned as she ran her hand along the soft fleece of the pants.

“Sock monkeys!” she giggled, tracing her finger along a tail. Abby couldn’t imagine where he’d managed to find them on such short notice. They were adorable and made her laugh just to look at them.

“I thought you might like them,” he said as he helped her get situated against the pillows. Once she was comfortable, he tugged the sheet and comforter over her legs and set Mr. Jingles next to her.

“I know you miss having that nasty smoke in your mouth,” he said kindly, “so I got you something to help when the stress starts to get to you.” He took the pacifier and gently but firmly popped it into her mouth, then handed her the remote control. “Now, you stay here with Mr. Jingles and your binky and watch TV, and I’ll go get you a bowl of soup.” Chris kissed her lightly on the forehead, then tucked the blanket up against her and went back out to the kitchen.

Tentatively, Abby let her tongue run along the pacifier nipple and was immediately filled with a strange, but not entirely unpleasant, sense of déjà vu. For a moment she took it out of her mouth and studied it. She’d assumed it was a child’s pacifier at first glance but on closer inspection, she realized it was adult sized.
Where on earth did he find this?
Once more, the urge to condemn the stranger aspects of their relationship arose, but she shoved it aside and embraced the sensation of being cared for and being free from responsibility. Whether it was normal or not, Abby felt safe and loved, snuggled in her new pajamas with a binky in her mouth and Chris in the kitchen preparing her soup. For the time being she wanted to simply enjoy being cared for.

Wrapping an arm around Mr. Jingles, she pulled him close and settled into the pillows, then clicked the TV on and hunted down Animal Planet. When Chris returned with two bowls of steaming, homemade soup, along with crackers and slices of cheese perched atop TV trays, she was snuggled into her blankets and absently sucking on the pacifier while an assortment of meerkats cavorted across the TV screen.

Chris set one tray across her lap and the other on the opposite side of the bed, then pulled an oversized bib from his back pocket and buttoned it around her neck.

“Don’t want any soup spilling on your new jammies,” he said when she raised an eyebrow at him. Looking down, she saw it also had sock monkeys on it, though on a white background instead of purple. Like the pajamas and pacifier, it was also adult sized. Abby started to ask where on earth he found little kid stuff in adult sizes when the soup’s aroma reached her nose and her stomach growled to remind her she’d not eaten anything all morning.

Gingerly, she sipped the steaming soup, careful not to burn her tongue as she tasted it. The rich, velvety broth was loaded with thick noodles, celery and carrot slices, and chunks of roasted chicken, a far cry from the watered down canned soup she normally ate. It was delicious and her empty belly demanded more. Abby eagerly slurped down spoonful after spoonful while Chris made himself comfortable on the bed beside her.

“Good?”

She nodded happily. “It’s the best.”

After they’d finished their soup, Abby snuggled up against Chris with her head on his chest and the pacifier in her mouth, while he gently stroked her hair and let her pick the channels. They spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon in bed watching TV. She didn’t remember when she finally dozed off, but it was nearly seven in the evening when she woke up alone. On the bed beside her was a note from Chris letting her know he’d had to go take care of some business but would call later that evening to check on her.

She found leftover soup in the fridge and heated another bowl for dinner. Watching it slowly turn inside the microwave, Abby’s thoughts kept returning to the events of the morning. The memories of having her temperature taken and then of her enema made her cringe with embarrassment. The fact that she’d been more than a little turned on by both only added to the sense of shame and bewilderment.

“What’s wrong with me?” she asked the empty room.

For once the nagging voice in her head had nothing to say.

The next two months Abby skipped her family’s monthly get-together. Julia had left a few emails letting her know she’d been missed, but when she missed the second dinner, her little sister resorted to voicemail.

“Hey, Abby, it’s Jules. I haven’t heard from you since the disaster dinner. Miss you bunches. Call me, okay?”

When that one went unanswered, she left three more. Each one made Abby feel worse, but she had no intention of attending another lunch, or any event that involved being around her mother and older sister. The last few months she’d spent with Chris, and the friendship she’d developed with Amanda had convinced her she was better off steering clear of toxic family members and nightmarish dinners. With Chris she could explore the childhood she never had, and somehow it had given her the strength to look at adulthood with new eyes as well. And Amanda was like the best friend she should have had growing up, always eager to talk on the phone or gossip about music and the cute guy working the counter at their favorite coffee shop.

It wasn’t until she listened to the fourth message that her resolve began to crumble.

“Okay, Abby, I know you’re hearing these. Please call me. Don’t be like this. You know Daddy and I love you, but he still has to live with her, and I’m just a big coward. Please forgive us. You always have our support, even if we’re afraid to show it around her. Just call me, okay? I hate it when you’re angry with me. If you don’t want to come to dinner, that’s okay, but please don’t shut me and Daddy out. We love you bunches.”

Sighing, she leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. The next family dinner was scheduled for that Saturday, and as usual she’d received a formal invitation in the mail. A simple phone call or a text wasn’t how her mother did things. No, it had to be a printed invitation. It had to be proper. She knew that despite the hell that always broke loose, Julia and her father desperately wanted her to come.

Picking up the phone she started to dial, then stopped. She wasn’t ready to talk just yet. For now, an email would be best. With email she could control the conversation, avoid any unwanted questions.

Hey Jules,

I’m sorry. A lot has been going on. I’ve been seeing someone. He’s

She paused, searching for the right words. Chris was nothing like anyone she’d ever known, and she had no clue how to explain how he made her feel. The more time she spent with him, the more her self-confidence had begun to grow. Being able to let her guard down around him and just be herself was amazing. Although she still had trouble reconciling the unconventional aspects of their relationship, she had finally managed to squelch the constantly critical voice of her mother that seemed to live in her head.

Suddenly, an evil idea came to her. With a wicked grin, she deleted the entire thing and started over.

Hey Jules,

I’m not mad @u. I’m sorry I haven’t answered sooner. So much has been going on. I met someone. He’s Greek, gorgeous, and Mom is going to hate him. See u @dinner Saturday!

Love u!

Abby

Giggling, she hit send. She hadn’t planned on going to the dinner at all, but the idea of her mother’s reaction to Chris’ dreads and tattoos made the prospect seem positively appealing. No doubt her mother and Eva both would have some snide remark to fling his way, but Chris wasn’t like her father. She doubted he’d sit passively by and stare at his plate while the arrogant pair belittled him… or her. Now all she had to do was ask him to come along. Reaching across her desk, she grabbed her cell and began texting him.

I wanna ask u something but n person. Can I come over tonight?

His reply was slow in coming.

Come by the shop. I’ll be there late tonight.

Abby scowled as she quickly responded.

But I wanna go to ur house!

Asking a guy to meet the parents was a big deal, and she didn’t want to do it while half a dozen grease monkeys were eavesdropping. If they were anything like the men at her work, the instant she left they’d all begin to give him hell about commitment and engagement rings and balls and chains.

Another time. Come by the shop when you get off work. I’ll order pizza.

“Dammit,” she swore as her fingers quickly tapped out a last plea.

But I wanna spend the night w u! Ur house?? Pleeeeeze????

This time his reply was almost instant.

Stop whining. Decision is final. Come by the shop after work, or go straight home. Your choice.

“Well fuck!” she snapped. Several people turned to stare at her as she tossed her cell across the desk top. Apparently she’d have to invite him to meet the ‘rents in front of his entire crew after all. Hopefully they wouldn’t talk him out of going after she left.

I’ll come by the shop.

* * *

Chris breathed a sigh of relief as he read the incoming text. She’d been hinting about seeing where he lived for a while now, but this was the first time she’d come right out and asked to come over. Not that he wouldn’t love to have her spend the night, or a week’s worth of nights, but his gut told him it would be a big mistake.

“Who are you texting?”

He looked up to see Kali heading for the kitchen. She had on her Dora the Explorer pajamas again.

“What did I tell you about wearing those things?” he asked with a grin. “They are about eight sizes too small for you.”

“I don’t care!” she insisted, pulling a box of cereal from the cabinet and pouring herself a bowl.

He could only shake his head. The pajamas had to be fifteen years old, and the shorts looked more like hot pants now. He’d bought her a new pair, one that actually fit her, but she still insisted on wearing the pair she’d had since childhood.

“So who were you texting?”

“Just someone from the shop,” he replied, getting to his feet and trying to look indifferent. “What are you going to do today?”

“Making Sparkle Bands and then watching TV and eating popcorn until I puke.” She came back into the den with her bowl of dry cereal and plopped down on one of the oversized floor pillows. He tossed her the remote, which she neatly caught in mid-air, and then watched as she settled in and turned the TV on to Nickelodeon.

In his heart, he knew Abby and Kali would get along beautifully. They were so much alike, although Kali was by far more comfortable with herself than Abby was. He could easily picture the two of them curled up together on the floor, making glitter jewelry and watching silly cartoons.

But he could just as easily see Abby going into a full blown tantrum the instant she learned the truth. She already had a million insecurities and hang-ups, thanks to her mother. It was obvious to him the three of them would get along wonderfully, but there was no doubt in his mind Abby would see it as twisted and sick. Perhaps someday, after she’d learned to accept herself and grown more self-confident, but that day was a long way off. Until then, he’d just have to keep her as far from his house as possible.

* * *

Abby parked beside the showroom building and headed inside. To her surprise she didn’t see anyone else in the shop. As she made her way towards the office, she trailed her fingertips over each bike she passed, admiring the colorful paintjobs and intricate designs. She loved the way the light reflected off the chrome and the way no two bikes were alike. Chris had offered to teach her how to ride one by herself, but she’d turned him down. As beautiful as they were, there was something a little bit frightening about them to her. She was perfectly happy to ride behind him, but the idea of driving one all by herself made her breath catch in her throat.

“I thought I heard you come in.”

Looking up, she saw him standing by the office door, his arms outstretched. Laughing happily she skipped across the shop and flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

“I missed you all day!” she said, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into his chest.

“I missed you too,” he answered. Disengaging from her arms, he took her hand and led her into the office. Taking a seat, he pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “Now, what did you want to ask me?”

Abby put her arms around his shoulder and leaned over to whisper in his ear. “I want you to come to my family’s monthly dinner with me on Saturday.”

When he didn’t respond right away, her heart sank.
Oh God, he thinks I’m pushing him
. She knew better. All the magazines and movies said taking him to see the parents was as bad as letting him see you looking at wedding dresses. Holding her breath, she waited and watched as he stared off into space. When he finally spoke, his reaction was nothing like she’d expected.