It was time for her to grow up, put her big girl panties on and take responsibility for herself. The thought that she couldn’t manage her life without someone taking her in hand and spanking her on a regular basis seemed ridiculous in the light of day. She momentarily wondered if maybe Corbin’s Bend had worn off on her in a way that was not too positive. It was a possibility that being constantly surrounded by happy, well-adjusted and spanked women was taking its toll on her self-esteem, and making each and every one of her many shortcomings feel like something she couldn’t handle on her own. She wanted what they had, and she had become so focused on getting it, that she had lost faith in her ability to manage her own life.
Laney knew she wanted a domestic discipline lifestyle someday, and that staying in Corbin’s Bend was the best way to get that, and nurture it in a safe and judgment free environment, but she could see now that she had made it too important in her life, and become so inherently desperate for it, that she had lost herself. No more, she vowed. Someday, she would find her mystery man, and she would have the kind of marriage she had dreamed of, with mutual love and respect, and yes, lots of spankings. But when she found it, she wasn’t going to let it define her. She didn’t want to be the kind of woman who couldn’t manage her own life without someone telling her how to do it. She was better than that. From here on out, she vowed to stop waiting for someone to come around and “fix” her, she was going to do it her damn self!
With renewed vigor, she threw herself into prepping her ingredients for the weekend lunch rush, working in silence until the door on the bell jingled signaling the first customer of the day. She wiped her hands on her apron, gave her station a once over to make sure she was ready, and walked out to the front.
“Oh, it’s you!” she gasped, surprised to see Julie waiting. “What are you doing here?”
She had a feeling she knew exactly why her mentor had come to see her this morning, and it had nothing to do with sushi. Julie was not a fan.
“Gee thanks,” her friend replied sarcastically. “Love you too.”
Laney frowned. “You know what I meant.”
Julie smiled sadly. “Yeah,” she agreed. “Well, I tried to call earlier but your phone was off.” Julie hesitated. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I heard you’ve had a pretty interesting week.”
Laney sighed. She knew she would end up telling Julie everything eventually, but she just wasn’t ready yet. It was all still too fresh and raw in her mind. Luckily, the door jingled again, and Brent came in with the entire housing board behind him, as well as a couple she didn’t recognize. Potential residents, maybe? Saved by the bell, she thought, shooting her friend an apologetic smile. “Sorry, can’t talk right now! Duty calls!”
Julie shot her a look that told her she wouldn’t be put off that easily, but she moved out of the way so Laney could help Brent. Luckily, Brent was feeling chatty, and his order was huge, and Julie left, seeing that she would be busy for a while.
“I’ll see you Monday!” Julie called over her shoulder as she walked out the door. Laney just smiled. Maybe by Monday she would be ready to talk about it. Maybe. Glad for the distraction of work, she turned her attention back to Brent.
A long six hours later, she closed up shop and went home for the day. It had been a crazy day at work, and she was thankful for a quiet night at home. It had been a while since she had had one of those, and after her emotionally draining week, she was looking forward to a glass of wine and a hot bubble bath. Pulling into the driveway of the home she shared with Beau and Ginger, she stopped to get the mail. Catalog, credit card offer, bank statement, nothing exciting. She ripped the credit card offer in half and threw it away, and stuck the bank statement in her pocket, telling herself she would look at it later. Even as she said it, she knew it would never happen. She had a stockpile of unopened bank statements in her room.
That was the old Laney, she reminded herself aloud. The new Laney is responsible for herself, and mindful of things like bank statements and schedules.
The new Laney sounds boring.
The new Laney should stop talking to herself as well. She clucked her tongue, laughing at herself. All in good time. One didn’t change overnight.
Still, she really ought to at least open the bank statement. It really was the responsible thing to do, and just opening it didn’t mean she needed to balance it or double check it or anything tonight, but she could at least look at it. That would be a step in the right direction.
Hesitating, she pulled her phone from her pocket first, and turned it on. Six messages and seventeen texts. She skipped over the voicemails, and skipped straight to the texts. Three were from Julie, two from Ginger, one was from Terri, and the other eleven were from Josiah. She skimmed it enough to see that it was actually one really long text and not eleven separate texts. That was good. She sighed and set the phone down on the dresser. She would read it later.
Biting her lip, she ripped open the bank statement, and unfolded the paper, intending to only give it a cursory once-over, just so she could say she had. She quickly glanced at the numbers listed for her accounts, and set it down beside her phone, before doing a double take and snatching it back up. It had taken a moment for the numbers to register but once they had, she had to look again. Surely, it couldn’t be right!
Holding it in her hand, she gaped at it, turning it over to scrutinize it for errors and found none. She stood in shock for several minutes staring at it, before she let herself believe it was indeed correct. According to this sheet of paper, all her scrimping and penny pinching had paid off, and she now had enough money to purchase half of The Ginger Paddle, and become an actual partner! In fact, she had more than enough, quite a bit more. Her heart sank and she bit her finger in angst as she realized she had probably had enough for quite some time.
She dropped the statement on the floor, and doubled over, laughing hysterically. She never had been good at math, and this was proof. If she hadn’t had a panic attack last night, and an epiphany this morning, she would have set this in a pile with all the others, and gone on for several months or more in the same scrimping, penny pinching manner, always thinking she was nowhere near close to having enough money, when according to this, she had had it all along!
With a whoop of joy, Lannea bounded down the stairs in search of Ginger, and found her and Beau at the dining table enjoying a glass of wine. Well, Beau was having wine anyway, Ginger had a wine glass full of what looked to be sparkling cider. They were smiling like loons, with their heads pressed together, and they seemed to be celebrating something.
Laney paused, tilting her head as she took in the sweet picture they made. “Hey, guys. What’s up? You look…happy.”
Beau beamed at her. “We had our ultrasound today!” He plucked a piece of paper from his wallet, and handed it to her. “It’s a girl!”
Laney took the paper from him, and admired it, appropriately. Truthfully, she had no idea what she was looking at, but it was exciting nonetheless.
“A girl!” she cried ecstatically. “That’s amazing news, truly. I’m so happy for you two.”
She sat opposite them at the table, and Beau jumped up to pour her a glass of wine, so she could get in on the celebration.
He rejoined them at the table, handing her a glass, and stuck the ultrasound picture back in his wallet for safekeeping.
“How was business this afternoon?” Ginger asked her. “Did it mellow out any?”
“Not really,” Laney mused. She didn’t want to distract from Ginger’s amazing news, but her cousin had just given her the perfect opening. “Actually, it was pretty crazy, and that’s actually what I came down here to talk to you about.
“Oh?” Ginger became tense all of a sudden, surely expecting the worst.
“It’s nothing bad. I was just thinking. Business is going good, great actually, and the community is growing every day, and you’re pregnant, and then you’re going to be busy with your sweet girl.”
Ginger nodded, and Laney took a deep breath, gathering her courage to continue.
“You have a lot on your plate, and who knows what’s going to happen once the baby gets here.” Ginger gave her a shrewd look, and Laney plowed forward, the words pouring out fast, before she lost nerve. “I really think it’s time we get the ball rolling and make our partnership official.”
Beau seemed open to the conversation, but as she had anticipated, Ginger immediately tried to shut her down.
“Laney, I understand where you’re coming from, and I appreciate the thought, but we agreed to wait, until you could purchase half of the business, and we agreed on a price. I know you’re working really hard to save, but until you actually have the money, I’m sorry, I’m just not comfortable with moving forward.”
“I have the money!” Laney exclaimed, withdrawing the statement from where she had hidden it in her back pocket and nearly slamming it down on the table in front of her cousin.
“You do? That’s great!” Beau exclaimed happily, pulling the paper over so he could get a peek.
Ginger barely glanced at it.
“Oh, you do? Well, I mean, it actually cost a little bit more than we originally anticipated to get it up and running. There were fees, and licenses, and you know, the cost of running it up until now.”
Laney sighed. She had known this wouldn’t be easy, and she had even anticipated this particular tactic.
“Fine, so we re-negotiate the price to cover those things, I still have the money, and then some, so add whatever you think is fair. I’m not worried about it. I can cover it.”
Her cousin grimaced, no doubt looking for a new tactic.
Beau, however, was having none of it. As soon as Ginger opened her mouth to argue. He interrupted, “Ginger. No. We’ve talked about this remember,” he said pointedly. Laney was taken aback at the warning tone in his voice. Was he sticking up for her?
“I’m sorry, Laney. Ginger and I just need a minute. Please excuse us. Stay there, we’ll be right back,” he added apologetically, gripping Ginger by her elbow, and helping her to her feet.
Ginger looked like the last thing she wanted to do was go with him, but she was not stupid. Anyone could see that Beau was not going to take no for an answer, and that Ginger was skating on thin ice at the moment.
Laney wondered if they would be going into their bedroom to ‘talk’ and how long she would be waiting. How awkward was this? Beau had said they would be right back, but Laney wondered if she should step outside and give them some privacy for a moment.
She watched as they walked from the room. Beau’s arm around Ginger’s waist, and Ginger dragging her feet, waddling as if she was much farther along than 22 weeks.
Laney thought that they would go all the way to their bedroom, but they stopped around the corner in the hallway, just out of her line of sight.
From her seat at the table, Laney could just make out Ginger’s voice. Her cousin was speaking in rushed angry tones. Laney couldn’t tell what she was saying, but she knew the tone well. Ginger had on her snitty control freak attitude. Laney bit back a smile. This should be good, she thought wickedly. Ginger used that tone with her a lot, because she could get away with it. At home, though, Beau did not tolerate it one bit.
Beau’s voice was slightly louder, and more controlled. Laney could hear him perfectly.
“Don’t. Stop right there. You and Laney had an agreement, and that agreement included a price. And you are going to honor that agreement, including the original price.”
More hushed whispers from Ginger that Laney couldn’t quite catch.
“No, what’s not fair is you trying to add on expenses that were incurred while you were the only owner. Being the sole owner may have had extra expenses, but it also had perks. Laney got treated like an employee, and paid as an employee. Those expenses are not her responsibility, do you understand me?”
Ginger responded, and she was getting slightly louder, but Laney still couldn’t quite make out what she was saying.
“I get it. I know you like being in control, and giving up a portion of that control to someone like Laney, who yes, can be irresponsible at times scares you. I know this. But you’re forgetting something. Laney went to culinary school, and that culinary school included business classes on owning and managing a restaurant and everything that that entails. She could run The Ginger Paddle without you, or she could open and run a competing business. You went to business school, and have no culinary skills. You could not run the business without her. Period. And I haven’t seen any other sushi chefs in Corbin’s Bend. You may not want to admit it, but you need her.”
Laney pumped her fist in the air. Beau had a good point, one that she hadn’t thought of and she was glad he had her back.
Muttered grumbles came from Ginger’s side of the hallway.
“Not another word. Remember what I promised you would happen if you did this. You have more than broken your promise, and I’ve given you a little leeway because I know you can’t help yourself. But I have reached my limit, and make no mistake, we will be discussing this later. And I think you know what I mean. Now you go out there and be happy, and gracious, and make a plan to make it official. I’m giving you two weeks. If it’s not official by then, your ass is mine.”
Damn. Laney almost felt bad for eavesdropping when she heard Beau threatening her cousin, and promising her a spanking later that evening. But, she reminded herself with a smile, Ginger really had deserved it. And, Ginger’s control freak ways were exactly why she and Beau had a domestic discipline marriage. If he didn’t rein her in every once in a while, she would spiral out of control.
She heard their footsteps heading towards her before they came into view, and Laney forced herself to put on a smile and look natural.
She had a feeling that Beau had meant her to hear every word, but she also didn’t want to embarrass Ginger further. Her cousin’s face was red, and she looked contrite next to her very somber husband. Beau had his hand on the small of Ginger’s back, and he nudged her forward.
“Laney I’m very sorry I reacted the way I did. I’m very happy for you, and excited to take this step together. We can go get papers drawn up first thing Monday morning.”
Beau nodded, and nudged her again.
“Oh, and the original price we agreed to is fine.”
“Thank you” Laney responded simply, stifling a laugh at her cousin’s obviously reluctance and her very obviously rehearsed speech. Damn, she thought, biting her lip. I don’t give Beau nearly enough credit. The man is practically a miracle worker.
Beau nodded at her happily and gave Ginger the look. Her cousin took off towards the bedroom, and Beau busied himself cleaning off the table and loading the dishwasher before joining her. It was obvious what was going on, and not wanting to make things any more awkward than they already were, Laney decided to take herself out for a drink to celebrate. This day had certainly ended up much better than it has started out.
Chapter 10
Laney found herself back at Amore, by herself this time. She felt a little funny going into the bar alone, but she was celebrating. Besides, bar or not, it was still Corbin’s Bend not some big city bar in LA like the ones she used to frequent. You never went to the bar in LA alone.
But here, she felt safe, especially knowing it was Saturday night, and Julie’s husband Matt would be working in the kitchen. What could happen?
She went straight up to the bartender, whose name she now knew was Debbie, and ordered a cosmopolitan.
“Coming right up, sweetheart,” Debbie said with a smile.
Laney leaned her elbows on the bar and turned on her stool, looking around the dim room. Amore was packed, even for a Saturday night, and as she scanned the room, she saw several familiar faces, but no one she really felt like talking to. Despite her celebratory mood, she found she still wasn’t much in the mood for conversation, and if she were honest, she would much rather be celebrating with a glass of wine at home then at a
crowded restaurant bar. But, she thought with a wry grin, Ginger had ruined that for her.
Debbie put the drink in front of her, and Laney pulled a ten from her wallet, and tried to hand it to her, but Debbie waved it off.
“Your friend already paid.”
Laney’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I’m sorry? I’m not with anyone tonight. You must be thinking of someone else. Here, take it.” She pushed the bill forward on the counter top.
Debbie pushed it back. “It’s already been paid for, sugar. Put it away.” Debbie was still smiling, but her voice was getting a forceful edge to it.
Confused, but not willing to push the matter further and risk pissing off the sweet lady, Laney put her money away. She would find a way to sneak it to the woman as a tip before she left, just in case. She didn’t want to be responsible for the till being short.
Shaking her head, she picked up her drink and swiveled her seat around once more to face the crowd. And came face to face with the one person she did not want to see.
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