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“Do not avoid my question, young lady. You’re starting to worry me. Tell me what’s wrong. Are you in too much pain? Do you want me to call Dr. Stevens?”
She shook her head. “Well, it still hurts badly, but that’s not what’s wrong.” She paused, guilt gnawing at her heart because of the lie that rested on the tip of her tongue. “I don’t want to take the pain medicine anymore. I think it’s making me emotional. I’d rather deal with an achy rib than feel like crying all the time.” Well, it wasn’t a total lie. It just wasn’t the entire truth. Still, she felt guilty. William never lied to her, and he didn’t deserve to be lied to.
He studied her for a moment, the sun glinting off the streaks of gray in his black hair. “We can cut the dosage for your pain medicine in half and see how that goes. If you’re not suffering too much, then maybe in a few days we’ll wean you completely off it.”
“Thank you, William.” She smiled, relieved. The tension in her chest lessened, but the guilt remained churning inside her like a poison she’d swallowed. She smiled again and picked up a cookie. “You’re the best husband in the world, by the way,” she said as she bit into the warm, gooey goodness.
He grinned and tousled her hair, then passed her the coffee. “By the way, I’ve arranged to work from home next week, so I won’t be losing any more personal days.”
Swallowing a mouthful of cookie dipped in coffee, she glared up at him, annoyance buzzing through her. “But I won’t need you next week! I’ll be perfectly fine. William, it’s a broken rib, nothing more. If I had a job, I’d be going back to work Monday anyway. Please stop treating me like a child.” She almost gasped at her choice of words.Treating me like a child. That’s what she wanted, wasn’t it? To be nurtured by William and have all her needs taken care of? Yet she was pushing him away and wishing the accident had never happened and her new desires hadn’t been awakened.
His expression softened and he stroked her hair. “I know you could manage without me next week, but I want to stay home with you, Alexa. After the worry of that night…” His voice trailed off and dark clouds gathered in his eyes. He swallowed hard. “I just don’t feel like letting you out of my sight yet. Now, no more arguments, or I will make you keep that punishment journal we talked about, young lady.”
Another week. She wondered if she could make it that long without breaking down in front of him and confessing her deep need. She wanted to crawl up on his lap in the rocking chair in the corner of the room and snuggle against his chest while he read her a bedtime story. She wanted to hear him say things like “Daddy loves you, Alexa” and “Time for your bath, little girl” and “Alexa Marie Benson, get your naughty bottom in here right now!”
“Alexa, I expect you to answer me.”
Shaken from her daydreaming, she glanced up and felt a pang of warmth between her thighs at the stern look he’d leveled upon her. Though he hadn’t asked her a direct question, she knew from experience he expected her to acknowledge his statement. “All right, William. I won’t bring it up again.”
“Good girl.” He kissed her forehead, walked to the doorway, and paused. Turning slightly he asked, “Are you absolutely certain that nothing else is bothering you?”
“Yes, William, I am absolutely certain,” she said around a mouthful of cookie.
He departed the bedroom and she placed the cookies and coffee aside, her appetite gone. Not only did she have a big secret she despaired to share with him, but she’d lied to his face after he’d asked a direct question. If he discovered her lie, he’d be disappointed in her and she’d be in big trouble. The kind of trouble that usually resulted in a thoroughly spanked bottom. Despair stabbed at her heart when she imagined his disappointment, and dread rolled through her insides at the thought of a serious punishment spanking.
* * *
William attachedthe advertisement proposal to the email he’d just finished writing and pressed the send button. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair and glanced at the clock. Time to start dinner. After closing down his computer for the day, he moved to stare out the open window, looking at the empty street below as the cool spring air drifted against his face. Thunderclouds gathered in the sky and lightning flashed in the distance. He shut the window and headed out of his home office, intending to check on Alexa before he threw together a lasagna.
He wished she’d tell him what was bothering her, because he couldn’t for the life of him figure it out. He’d seen the amount of tissues in the trashcan next to their bed. When he wasn’t with her, she cried. It killed him that she was crying in secret and wouldn’t lay her burdens on him. He’d tried several times to get her to open up, only for her to claim the pain medication was making her emotional and nothing more.
She was down to taking one pill before bedtime to help her sleep, and she’d gone completely without medication during the last four days. Still, he occasionally found her with red-rimmed eyes, and the tissues kept piling up in the trash can.
Normally Alexa discussed her problems openly and he didn’t have to drag the truth out of her. In fact, he couldn’t remember a time she’d been melancholy for days while bottling her troubles up. Why now? What could it be?
She’d been fine before the accident. She’d been laid off from her job recently, but she’d been steadily applying for new jobs and had even gone to a few interviews already. Financially, they were fine. His job provided enough income for the both of them, so she couldn’t be stressed out about money. Perhaps she was bored. Or lonely. Aside from sitting on the front porch, she hadn’t gotten out of the house in over two weeks.
A sudden crack of thunder and rain pattering down on the roof dispelled his thoughts of getting her out of the house for a short evening walk.
He entered the kitchen and paused at the sight that greeted him. Alexa was sprinkling shredded cheese overtop a casserole of some sort. Pleasure lighted her eyes and she was humming happily. She looked up, wiped her hands on her apron, and graced him with a dazzling smile.
William opened his mouth, ready to chastise her for getting out of bed, but then smartly shut it when he realized how happy she looked. Though she moved around the kitchen slowly, she wasn’t wincing and grabbing her chest with every little movement anymore. Her rib was healing and she was obviously feeling better. His spirits brightened and he grinned, leaning forward over the island. “I’d planned on making lasagna tonight.”
“Well, we’re having chicken and veggie casserole tonight. You can make lasagna tomorrow night. But please, do feel free to set the table,” she said, smirking.
They enjoyed a pleasant meal in the dining room for the first time since Alexa’s accident, and after the storm blew over they sat on the front porch, watching as the moon and stars emerged from behind the lingering clouds.
“If I promise not to take a pill tonight, may I have a glass of wine?” Alexa asked, leaning her head against his shoulder.
“Are you sure you’ll be able to sleep without the pill?”
“Yes.”
He gazed down at her, tucking a strand of silky chestnut brown hair behind her ear and thanking God the accident hadn’t been worse. He kissed her cheek. “One glass. You stay right here and I’ll be back.”
“Make it a big glass!” she called playfully.
Entering the kitchen, he grabbed a bottle of her favorite red wine and searched for the bottle opener. At least her good mood had lasted throughout the evening, he thought as he poured two glasses. Again, he felt a surge of gratitude that she was recovering quickly from the accident.
