by Dinah McLeod
“It’s—it’s wonderful!” Dean exclaimed, beating me to it. “Shelby—” he took my hand and squeezed it, hard, “a girl.”
I knew that the sparkle in his eyes matched my own. I was practically glowing with pride. We now had a funny, smart son and soon, a beautiful baby girl. What more could anyone ask for?
It was several minutes later when we recovered and got to speak to the doctor. He took one look at the ultrasound, congratulated us and said I was free to go. Cara was waiting at the discharge desk when I was wheeled over.
“Now remember,” she said, mock-stern. “You are still under strict orders not to over-do it. I gave you a list of activities to avoid, you need to look over it.”
“She will,” Dean answered, his voice firm. “Count on it, Cara.”
That night we celebrated my homecoming with the first homemade meal I’d had in weeks. I was doubly impressed, first, because Dean had cooked it himself. Secondly because of how well Dean and Morgan were getting along. They laughed and kidded each other as they dished out the meal and took turns regaling me with tales of their bachelorhood.
“This looks great!” I enthused after Dean gave me a plate of poppy seed chicken with fluffy, white rice and green beans.
“Don’t be too proud, Mom. He’s cooked this same meal for three weeks straight, he was bound to get it right eventually.” He shot a look of gleeful amusement at his father before adding, “Me personally, I’m sick of the stuff.”
“I admit, the rice part was tricky,” Dean joined in before the two of them chuckled together.
I beamed at the pair of them as we ate, so happy to be home and to see them together like this—a happy family at last. After the meal, I propped myself up and watched as Dean and Morgan did the dishes.
“I thought of a few baby names,” Morgan surprised me by saying.
“Okay, let’s hear them.”
“My first choice was Christine Marie.”
Dean snorted before I got the chance to answer. “So what will we call her? Wait, let me guess: it’s not ‘CM’, is it?”
“That is one option,” my son said, faking offense. “My second choice, only slightly less awesome, is Chris Morgan. You’re welcome.”
“You didn’t have to reach too far for that one, did you?” Dean snickered.
“We’ll give it some thought. Thanks, honey.”
“Thanks?” Dean echoed incredulously. “You are much too generous, Shelby. That’s why this guy is so soft.”
“Soft?” Morgan repeated. “I guess that’s why I’ve schooled you in laser tag the last three times?”
“You most certainly did not school me in anything, Son. Maybe you need a painful reminder of—”
“Please,” he rolled his eyes. “Once I got to lead my own team, it was over.”
“Must run in the family,” I chimed in. They kept talking and ribbing each other like I wasn’t even there, but I didn’t mind.
* * * * *
Dean
“So you’ve already checked the back room, so when you look on the inventory form, you mark here.” I showed it to Mike. “Get it?”
“Man, you make it seem so easy, Colonel.”
“It’s not so bad, once you get used to it. Come on, let’s walk the floor; I want to show you the TVs on the shelf. We need to check to make sure what we’ve got on the floor matches what we have in the computer log.”
“Don’t we have an app for that?”
“Sure we do, but that’s taking the easy way out. Come on, it won’t kill you. Besides, programs fail. It’s a better idea to trust your own eyes.”
“I guess that makes sense,” he admitted.
When we got to the electronics department, both of us bent over our clipboard, talking in shorthand as we worked, I felt my mind drift. I’d been here for almost four months now and there’d been talk of another promotion in the future. The prospect was exciting, but I no longer yearned for the bigger titles the way I used to in the Army.
It was so good to have Shelby home. Even though Morgan and I had been bonding and building our relationship, I’d always felt like a piece was missing. Shelby was the one that completed our puzzle.
As I looked at my inventory sheet, I remembered something I’d been meaning to tell her. Just a few weeks ago while I was in the store, helping deliver furniture to the floor a man had come up to me. He hadn’t said anything and at first I didn’t even notice him. I had no idea how long he’d been standing there when I finally noticed him. I thought he might need something on the aisle we were blocking, so I walked toward him.
“Are we in your way, Sir?” He hadn’t answered. He’s only stared, and something in my brain told me that I knew him. I looked closer, still unsure. “Can I help you?”
Suddenly, he stood up rim-rod straight, drawing his feet together and his shoulders back, standing at attention. I peered closer and realized that First Lieutenant Coots was standing right in front of me. It all came rushing back; seeing his wild, crazed eyes as he held that gun out; his finger on that trigger. I shuddered at the memory.
“Colonel Davies, Sir,” he greeted me, his voice measured.
“At ease, Coots. We’re not in uniform, Son.” I didn’t know why, but the familiar, easy way I’d always used to address him came back, even as I watched him carefully, looking for any sign of danger. I didn’t find any. He looked as calm as I’d ever seen a man in uniform.
“How are you, Sir? I’ve been trying to find you, but no one I was able to get in to contact with had your forwarding address.”
“I appreciate that, Coots. I’m doing fine, thank you. My wife and I stayed in town, about thirty minutes from post. I’m one of the store managers here—I work in shipments.”
“I’m glad you were able to land on your feet, Sir. I wanted you to know how…upset I was when I learned of your early retirement.”
I nodded, hearing all that he wasn’t saying. “Thank you. But all things considered, I’m not doing too badly for myself.”
“I can see that, Sir. And, if I may ask, how is your back?”
“It will never quite be the same,” I admitted, opting for total honesty. “But it could have been a lot worse.”
We talked for several minutes, and as I looked at the man who had shot me, who had taken the shot that ended my career, I struggled with what I was feeling. It wasn’t anything like I’d expected. I daydreamed of running into Coots again sometimes, especially after the surgeries, when the pain was at its worst. I’d assumed I’d be angry; I’d fantasized about getting even. But as we talked, he told me how close he’d come to a dishonorable discharge, that only a medical evaluation had saved him. That same doctor’s report landed him in a facility for mentally disabled veterans for six weeks and he’d only just begun to piece his life back together.
He was, I realized, like me. More like me than I ever would have thought. He had a family that had been affected by what had happened—like me, he’d never be able to stop thinking about it. It was a wound we both carried with us.
“Thank you for thinking of me, Son,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “If you ever want to talk, feel free to call me. I know how much you love Mrs. Davies' lemon box pie.”
“I can’t believe you remember, Colonel,” he'd said, and I could see how I’d touched him.
I came out of my reverie when a start, realizing that Mike had stopped talking and was staring at me. “I’m sorry, Mike. Could you repeat that?”
“No problem, Sir. I was just asking if I did it correctly.”
I looked down at the sheet, then silently counted the number of units in front of us. I checked his total one more time to be sure before grinning at him. “You got it. I told you that you would.”
“I guess it’s easier than I thought,” he admitted. “Thanks, Colonel.”
“That’s my job. Now let’s get back. The other guys are probably wondering where we are.”
* * * * *
As I was driving home, I realized
how content I felt these days. I’d finally gotten used to a slower, less stressful life and I found that I enjoyed it. It was hard to believe, but I did. I knew I’d never feel one-hundred-percent comfortable in the civilian world, but I was doing the best I could. Things were much better with Morgan, Shelby was home. Life was pretty good for us right now, and with a baby on the way, I anticipated it getting even better.
Humming to myself, I parked the car on the street and picked up the bouquet of yellow daisies I’d bought. I walked up the driveway and let myself in, expecting Shelby to be on the couch where I’d set her up that morning with magazines and the TV remote. Her laptop was sitting on the coffee table, closed.
She must be in the bathroom, I thought. I headed that way and saw the door open and empty. Frowning, I walked down the hall to our room and checked our bathroom. No Shelby. I began to walk the tiny apartment, an urgency to my search. I checked my phone, but I had no missed messages.
Where could she have gone? It didn’t make any sense. She would have called me if something had happened. Morgan would have let me know if he was taking her somewhere. I punched my wife’s number into the phone and listened to it ring and ring, but she didn’t pick up. My heart was pitter-pattering something fierce. I dialed Morgan next, and he picked up on the second ring.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Son, do you know where your mother is?”
“No, Sir. Is she missing?”
“She’s not at home, and she’s not answering her phone.”
“Did she have a doctor’s appointment today?”
I powerwalked to the kitchen and checked the calendar. “Doesn’t look like it, and even if she did, she would have had to tell one of us.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“No, you don’t have to ruin your plans. I’m sure—”
“I’m just on a date. Chloe and I will be there in a minute.”
Nodding, I told him goodbye and hung up the phone. I made a note of the time, just in case we needed to get the police involved. The idea turned my mouth as dry as a cotton ball. We’d find her. We just had to.
I set the flowers down on the counter—I hadn’t even realized I’d still been holding on to them—and walked back to the door. I was going to make sure her car was still in the driveway. I had my hand on the knob when I felt it turn on the other side. I wrenched the door open, only to find Shelby on the other side, looking sheepish.
“Hello,” she said, in a near-whisper. “When did you get home?”
“Come in,” I said, my words clipped, stepping aside. Shelby walked in and immediately began fidgeting with her hands, rubbing them up and down on her legs. “Couch,” I ordered.
I was so mad I nearly took her arm and directed her there myself. Only when she was sitting down did I feel myself relax a little. I definitely wasn’t happy with her, but at least she was safe. That was what really mattered.
“Dean, I—”
“Where have you been?” I spoke over her, my voice even.
“I just…” she took a deep breath and I could see the remorse on her face. “I just needed a break.”
“A break?” I echoed. “So you did what?”
“I just went for a little walk. I didn’t mean to worry you, I’m sorry about that. I just—”
“Shelby,” I was having a hard time keeping the anger out of my voice, “I’ve been very worried, but that’s only half of it. You know you’re not supposed to do things like that. How long were you gone? Where did you even go?”
“To the park,” she admitted in a timid voice. “I was only there for about thirty minutes. I was careful, I promise.”
“You walked there?” She nodded and then hung her head. “And you walked back. So thirty minutes was more like forty-five.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I don’t even know what to do with you right now, young lady! What were you thinking?”
Tears pooled in her beautiful brown eyes. “I…I don’t know.”
I shook my head, beyond frustrated. “I don’t know what else to say to you right now. Go to the bedroom.”
* * * * *
Shelby
I couldn’t stop crying. I was lying on the bed, with my face pressed into my pillow as tears fell. I knew I’d been stupid, had known it even when I thought I was going to get away with it. There was no excuse, none that Dean would even consider, but I’d been bored to the point of tears. I’d always been an active person and all the sitting and waiting for another hour to crawl by was killing me. One little walk wouldn’t hurt, I’d told myself. I’d expected to be back before my husband, but the fresh air and the beauty of the rich, green trees and the scent of the new flowers made me lose track of time.
Spring had always been my favorite time of year, and I hated that I was missing it while cooped up inside. I knew it would be worth it, one day, but right now I was at the end of my rope. I had to get out.
Now I was going to pay for it, I thought glumly. I’d disappointed him, and I knew that he had every right to be mad at me. It was a stupid thing to do.
“Shelby.”
I turned at the sound of his voice and saw him leaning in the doorway. “Hey,” I replied, sniffling. Dean strode in, closing the door behind him, and walked to the bed. I sat up as he neared, wiping a hand across my eyes.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m sure the baby’s fine. I’m not having any contractions, and—”
“Baby, I asked how you were feeling.”
I glanced up, meeting his eyes for the briefest of seconds before looking away again. “Stupid.”
“Don’t say that,” he said gently. “You’re not stupid. You just should have thought it through some more.”
I nodded my head glumly.
“I want you to turn around and get on your knees.”
“What?” I gaped at him.
“With your butt nice and high in the air,” he clarified.
I stared at him, agog. He just got on to me for walking and now he was going to spank me? Surely, if walking wasn’t allowed, spanking wasn’t either.
“Don’t worry,” his eyes twinkled at me, “I talked to your doctor. He says it’s okay.”
My mouth dropped open. He’d talked to my doctor about spanking me? I could hardly believe it. I’d never be able to look the man in the eye again! I might as well go ahead and change doctors! And I should use one that didn’t approve of pregnant patients being spanked while I was at it.
“Shelby,” he said my name with a quiet authority that meant he was getting tired of waiting for me to obey.
I moved to do as he’d instructed, feeling very sorry for myself. I knew what I had done was wrong and I sure would have been paying closer attention if I’d known he was willing to spank me for it.
“This is going to be over quick,” he told me. “But I want you to be thinking about your behavior, understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Be my good girl and stay still, okay?”
“I’m sorry,” I said one more time, tears coursing down my cheeks again and the spanking not even started.
“I know.” Not long after his words, the first swat landed on my upturned rear. Each swat stung, but wasn’t nearly as hard as I knew he could make them. As each spank landed, my body moved forward a bit, and Dean would wait for me to get back in position before delivering another. He’d only given me about a dozen spanks when he announced that it was over.
It certainly wasn’t as bad as the spankings I was used to, but somehow, knowing how wrong I’d been and how much I’d worried him, they hurt all the same.
“In bed,” he commanded shortly. Only when I was lying under the sheets did he surprise me by climbing in bedside me. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, even as the tears coursed down my cheeks. “I’m really sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Dean nodded and stroked my cheek, using his thumb to wipe away my tears.
“
Did you really call my doctor?” I shut my eyes, afraid to hear the answer.
Dean chuckled low in his throat. “Yes, Shelby. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t unsafe to punish you. And that’s why it wasn’t too hard or very long, but I hope I’ve made my point.”
“Yes, sir,” I answered meekly.
“Good girl. But he did give some news you’ll be happy about. You can walk every day for ten minutes.”
“Really?” My eyes flew to his face to see if he was kidding.
“Really. But to be sure you don’t overdo it, I’m going with you. You are not to walk unless I’m going, do you understand?”
His no-nonsense tone made me shiver, but I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“And because of your stunt today you are not going for the rest of the week.”
I wanted to scowl at him, or at least pout, but I knew he was right. “I promise.”
“Good. Do you know what else the doctor said?”
I shook my head and gasped in surprise when I felt Dean gently pulling down my pants. I raised my hips to help him pull them free. When he began stroking my cleft I felt my sex clench.
“You are such a naughty girl,” he breathed. “I think you liked your spanking too much.”
I didn’t answer, unable to think about anything except how delicious his hand felt on my pussy. “Are you…”
“Not yet,” he answered huskily. “But the doctor said that at your next ultrasound you might be cleared for some light foreplay, depending on what the scan shows.”
I nodded my head, silently begging him to continue his delicious stroking. “You aren’t mad at me anymore?”
“No, baby. As long as you follow the doctor’s orders, then all’s forgiven.”
“Thank you.” I relaxed and let myself enjoy the warmth of his touch.
* * * * *
Dean
“Hey, Colonel. Someone here to see you.”
I looked up from my computer to see the new guy, Jay, standing in front of the counter. He was a nice guy, and had taken more than a little hazing from the guys. Thanks to them, he was still very afraid of me. I could see it every time I looked at him, even though I’d done everything I could to put him at ease. Caleb had confessed that he’d told him that I fired anyone who didn’t call me “Colonel." I’d been so shocked, seeing as how it came from the quiet, reserved kid, that it had taken me a full minute to start laughing.
