Tricky Situation

by Melinda Barron

Chapter One

“You know what’s going to happen, don’t you. Walter is going to throw a fit and y’all are going to have a huge fight, and then, well the rest goes without saying.”
Doreen Cole swiveled on her heels and gave her sister-in-law/best friend a dazzling smile. She pulled a string of paper pumpkins off the table and waved them around.
“No we won’t. I’ll tell him a week before Halloween. He’ll spank me, probably two days in a row, for keeping the party from him, and then he’ll get used to the idea and have a lot of fun. You’ll see.”
“You’ll be lucky if all you get is two spankings,” Carol replied. “If I lied to Henry about a weekend house party, he’d redden my bottom for a week straight.”
“Not Walter. Once, maybe twice. He knows I love Halloween. And when he sees the costumes I got for us for the big party Saturday night, well, things will be fine.”
Carol shook her head. “So, who all have you invited Mrs. “I’ve got my head in the clouds?”
Doreen giggled. “I’ve invited Nancy and James Tyner, Tawny and Jake Landis, Nora and Louis Baxter, Dana and Grant Williams, and of course you and Henry. That will make six couples with Walter and me. I hope everyone says yes.”
“I think you have lost your mind.” Carol picked up a package from the table and held it up. “What’s this?”
“Angel hair. You scatter it in the corners and it looks like cobwebs. I bought a whole bunch, to decorate every room with. Cool, huh?”
“So are you forty-eight, or eight?”
“Very funny. You know how much I love Halloween.” Doreen pouted and Carol shook her head.
“You should save your pouts. You’re going to need them for your husband when Walter finds out you turned his house into a B&B for Halloween.”
Doreen just smiled. “He’s going to love it, and so is everyone else. I bought this murder mystery kit, and it comes complete with a fake dummy to use as the victim. Everyone who comes in will be assigned a character that they will play, and we spend the weekend trying to solve the murder. It’s perfect.”
“Will the murderer know who he is?”
“Of course. I just said everyone gets a part. That part will tell them whether they’re a suspect or the killer, and they will have set lines that they have to say, giving them an alibi, or no alibi. Neat, huh?”
“Yeah, it does sound like fun. But I’m not sure I’d want the sore behind you’re going to have because of it.”
“Walter will think it’s fun.”
“Walter will have wanted you to have consulted him first. He and Henry are brothers, remember? Disciplinarians? Spankers? The head of the house? You make decisions without them and they’re not happy. We both know that.”
“Yeah, but he won’t be that mad about this. Trust me.”
Carol lifted her brows and shook her head. “What ever you say. But if you can’t sit down on November first I’ll know why.”
The phone rang and Doreen ran for it, snatching it up and saying, “Trick or Treat, tell me something good.”
She turned to Carol and giggled as she pointed the phone and mouthed, Walter. “Hi darling. How’s work?”
“Dinner with Carol and Henry tomorrow night? Sure, that sounds like fun. Have I seen Carol today?”
Carol stood up and shook her head.
“I talked to her this morning,” Doreen said, evading a direct answer. “Sure, if I hear from her I’ll tell her to call Henry. Bye darling. See you at six.”
She hung up the phone and turned to her friend. “You’d better call your husband, or it’s your bottom that will be red, not mine. Why would he be mad that you’re over here?”
“Because I promised to finish packing up those books he wants to take to the dealer in Austin. All first editions that he bought online. He can turn a profit, but they’re scattered around the office and I told him I’d do it yesterday. Gotta run. Bye.”
She ran for the front door and Doreen laughed as she picked up a string of orange lights with little witches attached to the wirings in between them.
“Perfect for the window in the front of the house.” She picked up the other two strands of lights, her staple gun and the stepladder and moved toward the living room. She was lucky that she’d married Walter. He was strict, true, but not nearly as strict as his younger brother. She knew that Carol got spanked much more than she did.
Not that Walter didn’t spank her. On the contrary, he usually spanked her at least once a week. She knew, though, that Carol got it much more often, and that Henry was not as easy going as Walter, who liked to joke more than his baby brother.
That’s why Doreen was so sure that Walter would get over being angry abut her planning the party without him. He would be mad at first, but then his blue eyes would flash with amusement and he’d ask what part he was playing in the murder mystery.
The weekend was going to be so much fun. Just two more weeks to shop and prepare, and one more week to keep it a secret from her husband. Things were going to go great, she just knew it.
*****
Walter pulled the car into the garage and put it into park, turning off the motor and leaving the garage door open as he sat inside the car. He knew that Doreen would have heard him pull up, and that his not getting out immediately meant she was getting a spanking.
It was an unwritten code between them. If he got out and barreled into the house, happy and delighted than things were fine. If he waited in the car it was a chance for her to get used to the idea that her bottom was about to become very red, and very sore.
Usually it was because the credit card bill was too high, or he’d found out she’d bought something that he’d told her not to. Today, though, it was because she’d lied to him. Well, not really lied, he thought, just misled. Doreen would never really lie. In their twenty-six years of marriage she never had, and he didn’t expect her to start now.
He sat in the car for four long minutes, and then he hit the button to lower the garage door and opened the car door, stepping into the garage. Once inside the back door he sat his briefcase on the table that sat just inside and took off his coat.
He walked to the kitchen and found Doreen waiting for him, a slightly shaky smile on her face.
“Hello, darling.”
“Hello, beautiful. How was your day?”
“Fine. And yours?”
“Good, for the most part. We closed a big deal and I want to go out to dinner tonight, after your spanking, that is.”
He watched her face fall. She’d known it was coming, so he wondered why she looked so shocked.
“Spanking? Why? I just had one two days ago.”
“True. Think about today, Doreen, and tell me what you did that might bring on a spanking.”
A look of utter panic crossed her face and Walter frowned.
“Doreen. Are you keeping something from me?”
“No. I just don’t understand what I’ve done wrong.”
“Today. When I called?” He stopped talking and looked at her, nodding when realization dawned.
“You called about Carol.”
“That’s right. She missed a meeting at school for some committee that she’s signed up for that deals with Steve’s senior class play. The committee couldn’t find her, so they called Henry looking for her. Henry, in turn, called me, and I called you. And you said, and I quote ‘I talked to her this morning.’”
“But that was true.”
“Yes, and it was also true that she was in the house with you when I called, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want her to get into trouble.”
“Now you’re both in trouble, Carol for missing the meeting, and you for lying to me. Lap, or standing?”
“Walter, please, neither.”
“Lap, or standing?”
“Please, Walter, I’m still a little sore from the last one.”
“Liar. The last one was five measly swats. I repeat, lap, or standing?”
He watched her as she tried to decide. If she took the lap spanking, it usually wasn’t as hard, but it lasted longer. He could choose from a variety of implements that would redden her up and remind her that lying to her husband wasn’t a good thing.
If she wanted the standing spanking it would be over quicker, but it would be much harsher, usually delivered with a long, wooden paddle, or his belt. He had a thick belt that he used for just such occasions. He knew the swats stung from it, but that she remembered the punishment for a long time.
In essence, the lap spanking would last longer, but wasn’t near as hard. He always let her choose which one she wanted, but then he would choose the implement that he would use in the spanking.
“Walter…”
“Do I need to take off my belt?”
“No. Lap. Lap, please.”
He knew that Doreen hated standing spankings, especially with the belt. He nodded and caressed her cheek.
“Go upstairs to the spanking room. On your way by the rec room, pick up a ping pong paddle.”
“Walter, no.”
“You lied to me, Doreen.”
“No, I didn’t. This isn’t fair. It’s not my fault she missed the meeting.” She stomped her foot and he lifted his eyebrows at her.
“Don’t you dare throw a temper tantrum with me. Lying by omission is still lying. You should have told me she was right there. What if something had been wrong with one of her kids?”
“You would have told me. Walter, Please don’t spank me.”
She looked at him with her beautiful brown eyes and he wanted to say no, he wouldn’t. But his father had taught him that discipline was important, and Doreen knew how he felt about it.
“Let’s get it over with so we can enjoy the rest of our evening. I made a reservation at Giovanni’s for eight. Go upstairs. Now.”
He sighed as she turned and walked away from him. Even at forty-eight she was as beautiful as she’d been at twenty. And she was just as willful and stubborn, which made him love her all the more.
Never once had he thought about straying. Doreen was all he wanted, and all he would ever want. She could be a handful but he could handle her. And he was thrilled that she still loved him as much as he loved her.
They were active and enjoyed outdoor activities together, including hiking in the hills outside San Antonio. They’d camp and make love out under the stars. It had been tough, true, when the kids had started to leave for school, but now that Sissy was gone, it was like they were newlyweds again.
He’d spanked her a lot at the first of their marriage, but it had slacked off while the kids were at home. Now that they were gone he’d turned the library, which was actually his office, into the official “spanking room.” When the kids were at home he’d never spanked her anywhere but their bedroom, which was on the other side of the house from the other five bedrooms.
But now that they were in the house alone, he could use any room he’d wanted, and when he’d declared the official spanking room she’d balked, and he’d used that occasion to inaugurate the new room.
He knew she was up there right now, waiting for him by the antique wood and fabric couch they’d bought at an auction in Austin. She’d be cussing Carol under her breath but wouldn’t say anything bad to, or about, her friend.
He didn’t plan on this spanking being very hard, because she was right. Technically she hadn’t lied to him out and out, but lying by omission still deserved punishment. He shrugged off his jacket and began to roll up his sleeves, heading for the stairs. Just a few swats, a shower together and then dinner out for a wonderful evening which would end with beautiful lovemaking.
After today’s spanking, he was sure that Doreen wouldn’t need one for at least another week, if not longer, and he was very happy about that.
*****
Doreen stood near the couch, wondering why she hadn’t told Walter that Carol had been with her that afternoon when he’d called. She knew that, if he found out, she’d be in trouble and get a spanking.
She hadn’t planned on this. While they were talking had been the perfect opportunity to come clean about the party, to tell him everything before it was too late. If he was mad about her little slip-up about Carol, he was going to blow his fuse over the party. His reaction today told her she’d misjudged that, completely.
She sat the paddle down on the couch and paced the length of the office. Or maybe he wouldn’t be mad about the party. Maybe he would think it was fun. It would be a surprise Halloween weekend get together that would take him away from the cares of his job and let him escape for a few days into an alternate reality.
If she told him right now the spanking she was about to get would be much, much worse. She wasn’t sure she was prepared to deal with that right now. She heard the stairs creak under his weight and she took a deep breath.
She wouldn’t tell him about the party right now. It would be better to wait and tell him about it later. Maybe tomorrow, or the next day. She’d already sent out the invitations so it was too late to change her mind. They’d been put in that afternoon’s mail and would be delivered tomorrow more than likely.
At dinner tomorrow she would fix his favorite meal, lasagna, and then she would smile and say, “it’s trick or treat early, darling, and I have I got a treat for you.”
She just hoped that treat didn’t turn into a very tricky situation.
He walked into the room and she turned to him. “I’m sorry. I should have told you, I know that.”
“I know, baby. But you know how I feel about discipline, and how important it is. Now drop your jeans and panties.”
He sat down on the sofa and she did as he asked, draping her across his lap before he told her to. Maybe that would make the spanking less severe. She didn’t think that he would give her too many swats, but she hated paddles and would much rather that he used his hand. Of course he knew that, and he knew that paddles and belts got his point across better.
He rubbed her bottom with the paddle, it’s rubbery surface abrading her skin.
“I’m sorry, Walter. You have to know that I didn’t lie to you intentionally.”
“I know, baby. But still, lying by omission…”
He brought the paddle down and Doreen bit back a yelp. It came down again and again and again.
After the sixth swat, she yelped. “Walter! Please stop, please! It’s not like I…”
“What’s the rule?” He brought down three hard smacks, hitting her behind in different places.
“That I don’t question you on punishments.”
“That’s right.” He delivered five more swats and tears formed in Doreen’s eyes. The paddle stung, and the little upraised balls on the plastic left marks on her behind. She knew that from experience.
She held back the tears as he delivered five more hard smacks.
“Will you lie to me again?”
Fear gripped the inside of her stomach. Tell him. Tell him now! If he finds out from someone else you are going to be in more than a little bit of trouble.
“No. I’m sorry.”
“Just a few more, to make sure you understand my point.”
“No, please!”
The paddle came down five more times on each side of her behind. Doreen cried out in despair at each swat, wondering what was going to happen when he found out about the party. It was too late to change her plans now.
What would happen when Walter found out? He was spanking her today much harder than what she thought he would, for something that she thought was a minor transgression. When he found out about the party, he was going to flip.
Smack. The paddle came down harder than it had before and Doreen cried out in pain.
“Answer me.”
“I’m sorry, Walter, what?”
He smacked her behind again, and again.
“Are you daydreaming? I said, have I made my point clear?”
“Yes, yes, Walter, you have.”
After four more quick swats, two on each side, Walter lifted her up and she stood before him.
“You’re preoccupied.” His voice was soft. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
His eyes narrowed and he cocked his head at her.
“Tell me now.”
“It’s nothing, I promise.”
“You know, I spanked you harder than I’d intended simply because I could tell that your mind was elsewhere. I had hoped that it would bring you back around to what was happening. I can see that’s not the case. Do I need to continue the spanking?”
“No.” Doreen rubbed her backside. Heat radiated off her bottom and she knew that her cheeks would be bright red.
“Tell me what you were thinking about.”
“I was thinking…um…”
“That you didn’t deserve the punishment you were receiving?”
“Yes.” Doreen bit her lip. Another chance to come clean had just been wasted. When Walter found out that he’d given her the chance to tell him the truth, and hadn’t, things were going to get much, much worse.
Each denial was digging the hole deeper, but Doreen knew there was no turning back now. If she confessed that she’d planned the party, and invited overnight guests for the whole weekend now, then he would spank her on top of the spanking she’d just received. She wasn’t ready for that, knowing that the pain would be much harsher than she could handle.
“You know I don’t spank without good reason?”
“Yes, Walter.”
“Good. Then you know what just happened was deserved, just as every spanking you’ve ever received has been deserved. Now, remind me what happens after a spanking?”
She hated this part, truly. He closed every spanking with the same thing, and she hated repeating the words.
“I’m sorry for breaking the rules, Walter.”
“You’re forgiven. Now, let’s go and get dressed for dinner. I’m thinking lots of food and a good bottle of wine.”
He tipped her face to his and kissed the end of her nose. “I love you, Doreen.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him, his hands caressing her back.
“And I love you, Walter. So very much.” Please remember that in the next few days, when you find out that I’ve planned a party without your permission.
His lips moved to hers and he groaned softly. “We should be careful. If we get too excited we may miss that dinner reservation all together. Now, pull your pants back up and let’s go and get ready.”
She did as he asked, and then he took her hand and led her to the doorway. She followed behind him, her mind not on her aching behind, but on ways she could break into the post office and retrieve the invitations before they were delivered to their recipients.
*****
“Last night was your fault.” Doreen put one of her new pumpkins on the countertop and stared at Carol. “Bringing me gifts won’t help.”
“I said I was sorry. I have a few more in the car. There’s a great pumpkin patch a few blocks down. I told him to give me five of their best ones, just for you.”
Doreen nodded.
“So, did he take news of the party badly?”
“He still doesn’t know.” She walked past her friend to the front door, intent on going to the car and brining in more pumpkins. They would make perfect decorations for the party. She just couldn’t carve them until the day before, which would be hard to do. She loved carving pumpkins.
“You didn’t tell him? Have you gone mad?”
“No. I was already spanked last night because he thought I’d lied to him about you being here. Telling him about the party would have only made him madder. Later I decided that if I told him at the right time, he wouldn’t be angry.”
“You’re in a dream world.” Carol shook her head, and then winced when she stood and followed Doreen into the living room.
“You got one too, huh?”
“You know I did. I can’t believe I forgot that meeting.” She stopped and put her hand on Doreen’s arm. “I’m sorry my mistake got you spanked, too.”
“Don’t worry about it. We had a nice dinner out and then we made love on the deck. It was beautiful.”
Carol laughed as they headed out the front door to her car. They picked up two smaller pumpkins apiece, and then headed back to the house.
“So, are you going to tell him tonight?”
“No. I’m waiting until Monday. We have a busy weekend coming up, since we’re going to visit Sissy in Austin, and we’re leaving tomorrow afternoon.”
“Are you kidding? The RSVPs will start coming in tomorrow at the latest. If he hears about it from that…”
“He’s not going to. Trust me. The invitations probably won’t be delivered today, and then the wives will call me and then things will go just fine. Besides, I’m not risking getting a spanking on top of a spanking. My behind is plenty sore from last night.”
*****
“Hey, Walter, how’s it going?”
Jake Landis headed toward the coffee machine, picking up a cup and filling it.
“Hey Jake, how’s Tawny?”
“She’s great, thanks for asking. I just got off the phone with her. She’s all excited about that house party of yours, which sounds like a lot of fun. We’re going to have to hire a babysitter for Chelsea, but getting away for the weekend, even if it’s not leaving town will be fun. She was heading to the costume store after we hung up.”
Walter snorted out a laugh, and then smiled broadly to hide his surprise.
Party? What party? And not just a party but a weekend house party? Before he looked like a total idiot he nodded.
“Well, you know Doreen. She loves Halloween and she’s always thinking of new things to do.”
“True, true, but this is a huge undertaking. I just wanted to say that I think it’s great. And it’s going to be a lot of fun!” Jake took a sip of his coffee and left the room.
Walter looked out the picture windows toward the San Antonio River. A house party? She’d planned a house party for Halloween and not told him? He loved parties, true, but he would have liked to be consulted before the plans were made.
And to top things off, she obviously knew about it last night. That’s why she’d been looking guilty, not because of “lying” to him about Carol, but because she’d sent out invitations that day to a party that he didn’t know about.
He wondered how many people she’d invited. He wondered what the plans were for the weekend. He wondered what sort of food she’d planned to serve.
He wondered about a lot of things
The only true fact that rang through his mind was that when he entered the back door tonight, he would have his belt in his hands.