| Chapter Thirty The Big Bad Daddy Wolf |
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| For the next couple of days, Alex did her best to avoid Mark. She felt terrible for speaking to him in the way that she had, but she didn�t know how to tell him she was sorry. After her terrible ordeal across her mother�s knee, she had been told that she must apologize, but so far she hadn�t been able to. It was Friday afternoon and the last school bell had just dismissed the children from their classes. As Alex gathered up her things and headed toward the door, she noticed a couple of girls and a boy looking at her just before they left the room. When she entered the doorway, she suddenly understood why they had looked at her in the way that they had. Mark was waiting for her just outside the door. Alex felt like she wanted to find the nearest rock, and crawl under it. Mark reached out his hand, but never spoke. As much as she didn�t want to, she knew she had to take Mark�s hand. As they walked down the hall together, Alex wondered if the conversation they were about to have, would end with her getting a spanking from her soon-to-be new father. She knew she probably deserved one, but hoped he would forgive her instead. As they continued down the hall, Alex couldn�t help but notice the looks she was getting from the other children. Did they know something she didn�t? Alex followed Mark up the stairs and down the hall. As they came closer to her room, Alex became very nervous. Mark hadn�t spoken a word to her and she knew this wasn�t a good sign because she couldn�t tell if he was still angry with her. When they reached her room, Mark let go of her hand, and opened the door. �Hurry and put your books away and then grab your coat.� Alex glanced at Mark as she slipped past him. She set her books on her bed, and then grabbed her coat. Alex wondered where they might be going, but she didn�t want to ask. She tossed her coat over her arm and headed back out to face the Daddy lion once again. Mark reached down and took the coat from her arms and held it out. Alex slipped her arms into the sleeves, and when she turned around, Mark pulled the coat together and buttoned it for her. Mark then took her hand and proceeded back down the stairs. Alex went silently. She wanted to ask where they were going, but she knew her mother had told her that the next time she spoke to Mark, it had better be the words of an apology. Mark and Alex descended the stairs and continued down the hall toward the front entrance. Alex remembered Wendy�s story of miracle hill, and what happened while she was there. She also remembered what Wendy had said about her visit with her father when they went to the church. Alex wondered if she would wind up visiting both places today. God knows she had been awful enough to deserve it. The squeak of a car door, brought Alex out of her thoughts, and when she shook her head to bring her eyes back into focus, they were standing next to Mark�s car. Without a word, Alex hopped in, and Mark closed the door. As they drove down the country road toward town, Alex wished Wendy were with them. Wendy seemed better at talking to Mark than she was. The line on the side of the road made Alex dizzy as she stared out of the car window. Finally the car slowed as they entered town. It never was much of a town to look at, but a little lump of joy developed inside of Alex�s tummy, because this town was better than no town at all, even if though she wasn�t quite sure where they were going or why they had come in the first place. Alex smiled as they passed a few town boys who were skateboarding down the sidewalk. She wondered where they lived and if they had both parents. Suddenly she realized, soon she would have two parents. �Alex, we�re here.� Alex turned and looked at Mark. They had pulled in and stopped just in front of the park. �You brought me to the park?� Alex asked. �I thought this would be a good place where we could talk, that is if you don�t mind the wind and a few sprinkles.� �I don�t mind the rain,� Alex whispered. She watched as Mark got out of the car and walked around to her side. Once again, his hand was held out, and Alex took it without hesitation. If he planned on spanking her, she knew it wouldn�t be in the park. Mark and Alex walked in silence along the winding path, around the playground and continued on toward the trees that were at one end of the park. After a long period of silence, Mark spoke. �I am not seeking for your approval to marry your mother. I love her and we are going to be married. The problem that exists between you and I is going to have to be solved by us, and not your mother.� Alex stopped walking as Mark continued to speak. She heard the words, but her heart didn�t want to accept them. She wanted her mother to be happy, but she couldn�t get her mind to accept the kind of correction that having a father could bring. She imagined herself over his knee every evening before bed, getting strapped by his mean, ugly belt, as she screamed and died over and over. She didn�t know how Wendy ever survived such spankings. Alex felt Mark�s hand on her shoulder. �Did you hear me?� Alex realized that she had fallen to her thoughts, and had probably missed something Mark had said. She slowly looked up at him. �Yes, you�re going to marry my mother anyway.� �I did say that, yes, but what did I say after that?� Alex quickly looked at the ground. Mark took hold of her hand again, and continued on down the winding path until they reached a small covered picnic area. When Alex took a seat next to Mark on the top of the picnic table and looked out into the park, she realized there wasn�t anyone around. Her tummy began to ache. Her Mary-Janes were wet, but her cable knit tights were keeping her legs warm, and though she had brought her warm winter coat, she shivered from the cold. Mark reached over and wrapped his arm around Alex to help keep her warm. Alex sat and looked out as Mark spoke. �What I said, that you didn�t hear was, that I love you too, and I want to be your father more than anything.� Alex looked up at Mark with worry. �You�re a wonderful little girl with a smile of gold, and a personality that lights up a room when you enter. Why would anyone not want to be your father? I feel lucky, Alexandra.� Alex�s lips began to quiver. She didn�t understand how someone could say such nice things after she had been so mean. Alex�s expressions of worry turned to looks of remorse, and she began to cry. �I�m sorrrrrryyy. I�ve been such a bad girl, and I don�t deserve anything.� As Alex wrapped her arm around Mark�s waist, she threw her head into his chest and wept. Mark comforted her until she stopped crying and finally sat up again. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face. �I have thought of you as my daughter for a very long time, and it has troubled me that you feel the way you do about me, but in spite of what you think you do or don�t deserve, you are going to be getting a father.� �I�m afraid to have you as my father,� Alex stated. �I know we talked about this before, but I thought we worked it out. Apparently we haven�t. I think the best thing for us, is to take it one day at a time. Don�t you?� Alex sniffled, and then nodded. Mark took his arm from around Alex and turned her toward him. He reached up and lifted Alex�s chin so that her attention wouldn�t wander from his words. �I know what your fear is, and I know it isn�t me that you fear. Your mother and I have talked a lot since she had to correct you. Alex, I don�t want you to be afraid of me or have the idea that being corrected by me, is going to be the end of your life. I love you, and what ever I do, I do because it needs doing. I would only ever do what is necessary for your growth. That is my job as a parent; to teach you right from wrong and to help you keep yourself on the up and up. I don�t delight in ever having to punish. I would rather not have to, but sometimes it is necessary, especially when you are deliberate in your defiance, or disrespectful out of anger. That kind of behavior can�t and won�t be tolerated. Do you understand?� �Yes, sir.� Do you understand that is why your mother was so harsh with you the other day?� �Yes, sir.� �When we talked about all of this before, I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it. For now, unless I need to step in, your mother is going to continue to handle any situation that may arise in which a spanking is needed, but Alex, if you ever speak to me in such a disrespectful manner, the way you did two days ago, you will be dealt with by me, not your mother! It will not be a pleasant experience. Do you understand, young lady?� Alex swallowed hard. She realized in her quest to keep Mark from becoming her father, she had done just the opposite. He was going to be more of a father to her, than to anyone else. She knew she had better learn to tow the line, and fast. �I�m sorry I said what I said the other day. I don�t know what came over me. I was not being a very nice person, and I�m sorry.� Alex cried. Mark reached over with his hand and wiped the tears from her eyes. �I know you�re sorry, and I know that you won�t let it happen again. Now why don�t you stop your crying so we can go to the diner and have something to warm us up.� Alex smiled just a little. �May I have some hot chocolate with whipped cream?� Mark stood and helped Alex jump down. �You may have anything your heart desires.� |