Change of Scenery-chapter 7
by SamPast and Huggedlots
Copyright (c) 1999

 

Maggie sat at her window, watching the rain, wishing she had a plan for Thanksgiving. Her Mom had finally agreed to invite her grandmother down to have dinner with the Clementes, but she was worried that with her grandmother there, she would never be able to do any matchmaking with the twins' uncle, and her mom.

Sheesh. Wouldn't life ever cooperate? Thanksgiving was only a week away, and the weather wasn't helping her mood any. Her friends, Robin and Jennifer, had both told her lots of really neat stories about their uncle, but would he really be like what they described? Would he like her and her mom? Would he even get the hint?

If only she knew how to do the hinting! The thoughts twirled round and round in her head, making her miserable and cranky. Everyone had dads but her. Everyone had real families. And with that thought, she started to cry, feeling very sorry for herself.

Heather was in the kitchen making lunch on this rainy Saturday. She noticed how Maggie was drooping, but figured it was just the weather and the inability to play outside. She was totally clueless as to what her daughter and her friends had planned for her. Things were just too quiet, and Heather decided to go check on Maggie.

She found her sitting at her window, with slow tears sliding down her face. "What's the matter, baby?" Heather asked, going up to hug her daughter. "Are you in pain? Are you sick?"

"No mom, nothing like that, just feeling blue, that's all," Maggie replied.

"Want to tell me about it?" Heather asked.

"No, I can't mom. I don't really know," Maggie lied.

Heather guessed there was more to this but decided not to push. Heather got Maggie to come with her into the kitchen and the two of them spent hours baking cookies. Maggie's mood seemed to lift with all the attention Heather was showering on her.

Just as they were finishing up, the phone rang. Heather's mom was calling and started ragging on her from the first minute of the call. Heather got exasperated and an argument started. Maggie hadn't heard her grandmother and mom argue like that since the move, and was surprised.

Heather turned around and realized Maggie was listening, and tried to change the tone of the conversation but it was too late. Her mother was in full steam, and not to be deterred. She then informed Heather that she had been invited to some friends for Thanksgiving, and that was just what she was going to do, and that it was going to serve her right, and she could just miss her.

Heather hung up stung as usual by her mothers criticisms, and told Maggie how sorry she was that Grandma wasn't going to come. She assured her she would take her up to visit soon.

Maggie was thrilled, but didn't want Heather to know. After all, she could probably get something out of Heather's guilt trip. "We are still going to Robin and Jenn's house though, right Mom?"

Maggie started to panic, thinking her mom would drag them both up to her grandmother's and ruin all her plans. "Yes, sweetie, don't worry, we are still going to the Clementes. We promised to make several dishes and it would not be fair to pull out now.

"Whew, that was a close call," Maggie thought to herself. Heather could tell something was up, but wasn't sure what it was.

The next day at school, Maggie filled the twins in on what was happening, and that she sure was glad her grandmother was out of the picture. None of them knew just how to get the adults together, but Jenn told them to wait, and see what kind of opportunity presented itself.

"Something's gotta come up we can use," she said. They all laughed and agreed on some hand signals to help them "talk" in code. "Only two days to go Maggie. Uncle Bob gets here on Wednesday night," Jenn said.

They all laughed and jumped up and down, so smug in their planning, hoping that all would work out.

When Heather picked Maggie up at the Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday afternoon, she was so antsy, she had to finally yell at her to calm down, and sit still. When she got home she immediately went to call the twins to see if their uncle had arrived yet.

Jenn told her, "Operation A-Okay," meaning he was there.

Maggie said, "Hmm, now how do I get my mom over there tonight? Ahhh, I know, how about I tell her your mom needs something?"

"What happens when she gets here and my mom doesn't know anything about it? Are you nuts? We don't need to be spanked tonight for gosh sakes," Jenn replied.

"Okay, okay, let me think. There must be something your mom needs. Go ask her," Maggie commanded.

"Okay, hold on," Jenn told Maggie. She ran into the kitchen and explained to her mom that Maggie was on the phone, and that Heather wanted to come over and help with stuff."

"Ohhh, how nice of her, I sure could use a hand tonight," Lisa replied.

Smiling, Jenn went back to the phone, and told Maggie what her mom had just said. Maggie told Jenn she was BRILLIANT.

Maggie walked into the kitchen. "Umm, Mom?"

"Yeah, hon?" Heather said absently.

"I just talked to Jenn, and she said that Lisa said that she sure could use your help tonight, but didn't want to ask you if you were too tired or anything," Maggie lied.

"Nooo, I'm not," Heather said, "but gosh, how am I going to get all MY cooking done? Hmmm, ah well, I can manage. Lets just have some quick soup and sandwiches and head over there, okay?"

"Ohh, sure Mom," Maggie said. Hurrying Heather, Maggie rushed around to get everything ready to go over. Again, Heather sensed something, but couldn't put her finger on what it was.

As they got to the door of the apartment building, Heather saw Charlie's car pulling into the garage. Maggie started getting bags out to bring upstairs, and took too much. Just as Heather was admonishing her, Maggie turned and tripped, falling on the cement.

Stunned, and bleeding, Maggie started to cry. Heather dumped everything back in her trunk, and rushed over to soothe and cuddle her little girl. Just then, Charlie and his brother Bob came out of the garage and saw them on the curb. Charlie rushed over to help, and Bob stood back staring at the scene.

He thought to himself that he had never seen anyone so lovely, and tender as Heather, taking care and soothing Maggie. He knew who they were, of course, already getting an earful from the twins, over the past few months they've known them.

Charlie picked up Maggie and told her everything would be okay. He told Heather he would carry her upstairs if she didn't mind. Bob immediately offered to help Heather with all the packages and walked over to introduce himself.

"I feel like I already know you, Heather," he stated.

"I know," Heather smiled at him, "I feel the same way. The twins never stop talking about you."

They both laugh, and then gathered everything up and followed Charlie up to the apartment. Charlie put Maggie down on the bathroom sink , and began to wash out her wound. Screaming bloody murder, Charlie finally ordered her in a firm voice to settle down. Maggie immediately responded to his tone, and let him finish washing out the dirt and bandaging her knee.

When she looked up, she saw that her mom and Bob were standing together at the door, and she valiantly smiled up at them. "Well, Maggie thought, "I sure didn't plan it this way, but I guess it worked."

Charlie lifted Maggie down from the sink, and with a gentle swat, told her to go find and play with the twins. Heather and Bob headed for the kitchen to see what they could do. Everyone started peeling, and chopping and laughing as they did the work for Thanksgiving dinner. Maggie and the twins, anxious to see what was going on, sneaked up and peeked through the door.

"What is this?" Charlie asked, startling them.

"Ohhh, nothing, Uncle Charlie, we just wanted to see what everyone was making, and umm, we didn't want to get in the way," Maggie lied.

"Um hmm, okay, now tell me what you are REALLY doing, young ladies," Charlie said, looking at all three of them.

"Nothing, honest!" Maggie batted her eyes at Charlie, who laughed, and told them he knew what they were up to. They all looked at each other, trying not to get scared, knowing that if he knew, they were probably in trouble.

"What, do you know, Daddy? Jennifer asked.

"Well, I know that three little girls want to sneak some tastes of all this good stuff, don't you?" Charlie asked facetiously.

"Umm, yes, Daddy," Robin said, "we sure do."

All were relieved he was sooo far off the mark.

"Okay, come taste whatever you like and then scoot. Got it?"

"Yes sir," they all chimed, and went to get licks off spoons and bowls.

After they ran out again, Heather turned to Charlie and asked, "Is it my imagination or are the three of them up to something?"

"Ohh, I don't know. They are just excited about Thanksgiving, I think," he replied.

Heather's antenna tell her differently, but she decided to let it go. Back in the car on the way home, Maggie started to grill Heather on what she thought about Bob.

"Ohh, he is nice I guess," replied her mother.

"You guess? You don't know?" Maggie asked incredulously.

"Whoa, what is all this young lady?" Heather asked mildly annoyed.

"Well, he is a Clemente, you know. How could you not like him?" Maggie said, soothing her mom's ruffled feathers.

Heather laughed, and thought Maggie was defending her friends' families' honor. "Of course I like him, sweetie, but I barely know the man yet."

Satisfied at least that Heather hadn't decided to dislike him, she let herself be tucked into bed. Dreaming of having a daddy, Maggie fell asleep and had very pleasant dreams.

The next morning, they headed back over again, and Maggie helped the twins set the table and do other little chores. All the time, all three kept their eyes on Heather and Bob, wishing they knew how to get them to really talk. Maggie wandered over to Bob, and shyly asked him if she could ask him something.

He responded with, "Of course, Maggie, what's on your mind?"

"Well, I was wondering, if I could call you uncle Bob like the twins do," she asked shyly.

"Sure, why not?" Bob smiled down at her.

"Sooo, that kind of makes you family, too. Right?" she asked.

Bob, finding the little girl adorable, swung her high up in the air. Squealing, Maggie decided right then and there, that this man really HAD to fall in love with her Mom.

All during dinner, Maggie kept up her end of the conversation telling Bob how terrific her mom was until Heather asked her to stop. Heather was blushing and Bob thought how endearing a trait that was. After dinner, Maggie volunteered her and the twins to do the dishes, while the adults took a walk or something.

The twins looked at her as if she were nuts, but knew her plan, so they just sighed. Lisa laughed at her daughters' expressions of tortured woe, and came to their rescue. "Tell you what, I think you girls need to go rest for a bit, and your dad and I will do the dishes, but if Heather and Bob would like to go for a walk, that would be fine with me."

Lisa took Jennifer into the bathroom to get her changed, and put all three girls down for a nap. Maggie was restless and couldn't sleep at all. Wandering out to the bathroom, she ran right into Lisa.

"What's the matter, sweetie, cant sleep?" Lisa asked.

"No, Aunt Lisa, I cant," Maggie admitted.

"Come with me," Lisa told her, taking her into her bedroom. Maggie's eyes widened and she started to pull back on Lisa's hand. Lisa looked down and saw the worried look in her eyes.

She said, "It's okay, you are NOT in trouble. I just wanted us to have privacy for a talk."

Maggie began breathing again. Sitting on her bed, Lisa pulled Maggie onto her lap. "Okay, Maggie, now I want you to know that I know something is up with you, and I would like you to confide in me, okay?"

"I can't," whispered Maggie.

"Why not?" Lisa asked.

"Because then it won't come true," Maggie said shyly.

Maggie refused to look up at Lisa. So Lisa cuddled her and rocked her back and forth. "You know Maggs, maybe, if I knew what it was, I could help you with your plan."

Startled, Maggie asked Lisa how she knew she HAD a plan.

"Ahhh, honey, it is obvious, and although I don't know what it is, I know it is important to you, so I would like to help. Please trust me, Lisa suggested.

Maggie felt torn, wanting to believe Lisa, yet afraid she would laugh at her, and told her so.

"I promise not to laugh, sweetie, and unless it is something dangerous, you won't be in trouble, okay?"

"Aunt Lisa?" "Yes sweetie?"

"Do you think Uncle Bob likes my Mom?" Maggie asked seriously.

All of a sudden, Lisa got it. "Ahhh honey, I understand now. I don't know, but I will tell you what."

"What?", Maggie asked, afraid to look up.

"I will do whatever I can to help you, but we can't look too obvious about pushing them together, okay?" Lisa said.

"You will?" Maggie asked incredulously. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"They need time alone to find out if they like each other. Sooo, tell you what. Why don't you ask to stay here tonight? I will agree, and then maybe suggest they go do something or other," Lisa suggested.

"You are the absolute best, Aunt Lisa!" Maggie jumped up on her lap and hugged her sooo hard, Lisa was worried about breathing. "You won't tell, will you?"

"Nope, this time it is okay not to," Lisa said smiling. Maggie had no way of knowing that Lisa had already thought of how good Heather and Bob would be together. They just had to find out for themselves now.

"Okay, now, go back and rest young lady, okay?"

"Yes ma'am," Maggie happily replied, and headed back to the twins' bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Bob and Heather were walking and getting to know one another. Heather started getting a little nervous, and started to tease. Bob took her teasing for awhile, and then started to get annoyed.

"Ohhh, knock it off, you old sourpuss. Geeze, would it kill you to smile? You sure are stuffy for a 27 year old," Heather said lightly.

"And you, are an immature 25 year old," Bob stated.

With that, they both stomped back to the apartment. Heather slammed the door, and announced that she was leaving. Lisa told her that Maggie was asleep, and had asked permission to spend the night.

Lisa saw the looks on both Bob's and Heather's faces, and knew that things had not gone smoothly or according to plan. Heather noisily gathered up her pots and dishes, and said that Maggie was welcome to spend the night there, and she would call later. She rushed out the door.

Walking into the scene, Charlie looked at Bob, who exploded and told his brother just what an irritating, immature, snob his friend was.

Charlie laughed and pounded him on the back. "She got to you, huh? Maybe you should take her out," he chuckled.

"Take her out? Are you nuts? The woman would drive a saint nuts!" Bob exclaimed.

Overhearing this, Maggie started to cry, and thought all was lost. She tiptoed back to the girls' room and quickly got dressed. Walking back into the kitchen, she told Lisa that she decided she needed to go home. Charlie offered to walk her home, but Bob said he would.

"No thanks, I can walk myself," and with that, Maggie flew out the door.

"Uh oh, we better catch her," Charlie exclaimed.

But Maggie was too quick for either of them. Running down the stairs, she reached the lobby well before the elevator and disappeared out onto the street. Not knowing what to do, she kept running, and wound up on the school grounds. Needing to think, she got onto a swing to help nurture herself with the rhythm.

Getting down to the street, Bob and Charlie didn't see her anywhere. They figured she probably ran home so they went to Heather's place.

Seeing them at the door, Heather was immediately worried. "Whats up?"

"Is Maggie here?" Charlie asked.

"No! She was supposed to be with you, asleep. Where is she?" Heather asked alarmed.

"Well, she got upset about something, and ran out the door and we lost her," Bob chimed in.

"How could you lose her? And why was she upset? What happened?" Heather fired up several questions at one time.

"We have no idea, Heather, but you stay here in case she comes home, and we will go look, okay?" Charlie asked.

Heather immediately called Lisa, who was just as clueless as to what happened. Heather asked to talk to Jenn and Robin, but neither twin knew anything either. Frustrated, Heather paced back and forth in her apartment, worried sick.

Bob swung back to see if Maggie had returned, and Heather started to cry, telling him NO. Bob took her into his arms, reassuring her that he would find her, and left again. After he left, Heather couldn't believe how comforted she was by his gentleness, and felt badly about how bratty she was to him before.



Finally, an hour later, Charlie and Bob found Maggie at the school. Relieved, but angry, Charlie approached Maggie, and saw her woebegone face.

"Whatever possessed you, child? We have been looking everywhere for you!" he shouted.

Seeing Bob behind Charlie, Maggie clammed up, and refused to answer him. Taking her hand, Charlie told her she had some explaining to do. Still looking at the ground, and refusing to speak, Charlie got angry and started to yell at her.

"Especially after what happened to you this past summer, you should know better than to run away, young lady!" he shouted.

Bob walked over and asked Charlie to calm down. Bob hunkered down so that he was at eye level and asked Maggie if she was okay.

"Yes," she sobbed.

"Okay, for now, that is all that is important. You can tell us the rest later, okay?" Bob asked gently.

Greatly relieved, Maggie nodded her head and Charlie started to pick her up, but Maggie held her arms out to Bob. Surprised, Bob picked her up, and she cradled her head on his shoulder.

"Why don't you go home and tell Lisa the news, and I will take Maggie back home, okay?" Bob asked his brother.

Charlie, again surprised, agreed and headed off in the opposite direction. Maggie couldn't believe how good it felt in Bob's arms, and yearned all the more for him to be her daddy.

Knocking on Heather's door, Bob thought he was crazy, but he was already beginning to like this little family. When Heather saw them, she was both relieved and upset. She took Maggie out of Bob's arms, put her down, and demanded an explanation immediately.

Maggie tried to run from the room, but Bob caught her, and put her on the kitchen counter. Still refusing to look anyone in the eyes, Maggie mumbled an apology. Heather started to yell again, and Bob told to pipe down.

Startled speechless by his command, Heather took a breath and then began to berate him. "How dare you interfere? You don't know us at all, you, you, you, meddling busybody!"

"STOP! STOP! STOP! screamed Maggie, "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"

She slipped off the counter and ran off to her room. Heather started to cry big gulping sobs, both relieved that Maggie had been found, and agonized over the words she had just flung at her.

"I don't understand what is with her at all," Heather shrieked.

Bob, wanting to help, went over to Heather, and put his arms around her. Heather sank gratefully into his arms and sobbed on his shoulder.

"I am such a mess as a mom," she declared.

"That's not true, Heather. Come on. You are just stressed out and confused. We both are. I have no clue, nor does my brother, what is going on here. But I do know you have to get a grip or you can't help Maggie," he said thoughtfully.

Rubbing her back gently, Bob finally got her to stop crying and pull herself together. "Okay, now do you want me to stay or go?" he asked.

"Please stay. I need to go talk to Maggie, and then I will make us some coffee," she said quietly.

"Okay, show me where stuff is, and I will make coffee for YOU, while you talk t o her," he suggested. Smiling, he told her to buck up, and turned her shoulders toward Maggie's room.

Knocking on the door, Heather could hear Maggie's muffled sobs. Walking in, she sat on the bed, and rubbed her back for a bit.

"Okay, I am not angry anymore. Please roll over and talk to me," Heather said to Maggie. Maggie shook her head NO, and Heather reached over and swatted her bottom, hard.

"OUCH," Maggie yelled. "I thought you weren't mad?"

"I'm not. But, when I ask you to do something, I would appreciate it if you did it, young lady. Okay, start talking. What happened to make you run away today?" Heather asked gently.

Maggie refused to talk to her, and no matter what Heather tried, Maggie remained silent. "Okay, do you know that what you did was wrong, young lady?"

"Yes, Mommy," Maggie admitted.

"Do you know how worried everyone was?" "Yes, Mommy."

"Do you know I can't help you if you won't talk to me?" Heather asked impatiently.

"Yes, I do, but I just can't. You'll ruin it, I know you will," Maggie sobbed. "Just spank me, okay, Mom?"

Heather knew she should discipline Maggie, but couldn't, not knowing what was going on. She knew there was more to the story. Not knowing what to do, she told Maggie to go stand in the corner, and to think about telling her what was wrong. And that she would expect some answers when she came back.

Maggie went to the corner and stood facing the wall. Heather was totally confused and frustrated, and decided to go call Charlie for advice. Walking back to the kitchen, Heather saw Bob. She had almost forgotten he was there.

"Well, how did the talk go?" Bob asked.

"Not well," Heather sighed, "I couldn't get her to tell me anything, so I better call Charlie."

Bob was confused and told her so. "Call my brother? Why?"

"Because it's what I do when I don't know what to do! I told you I was incompetent. Do you believe me now?" Heather cried.

Slow tears slid down her face. "STOP THAT THIS INSTANT, YOUNG LADY! I am not Charlie, but I am here, and I am sure I can help, if you want me to," Bob roared.

Not sure what else to do, Heather agreed to let him talk to Maggie. Bob walked in and saw Maggie standing in the corner and smiled to himself. "What a familiar scene this is," he thought.

"All right, little one, come here," Bob ordered. Maggie turned around and was surprised to see Bob in her room. "You have caused a lot of people a lot of worry, young lady. What do you have to say for yourself?" he asked.

"I am sorry, sir," Maggie said hesitantly.

"Well, sorry isn't good enough, now is it, young lady?" "Noooo sir."

"Now, I want you to tell me what made you so upset in the first place," Bob suggested. Maggie looked down and was silent.

"Did you have a fight with one of the twins?" "Nooo sir."

"Did someone say something to hurt your feelings?" "Umm, not exactly."

"Okay, then what exactly?" Maggie didn't want to answer, so she remained silent.

"Okay, I hate to do this, young lady, but you give me little choice." And with that, he quickly put her over his knee, and started to spank her. Maggie was relieved that he spanked a lot lighter than his brother. What she didn't know was that Bob was only warming up. The spanks started getting harder, and Maggie felt as if her bottom were on fire.

"Please, OUCHHH, It hurts!" Maggie yelled.

"I will stop, young lady, when you start talking, until you are ready, I will keep this up, and I KNOW my hand will last longer than your bottom," Bob told her.

"Ohhh, I CAN'T! OUCHHHHHH!"

"You can, and you will," he said. Bob kept a steady pace, right in her sit spot. Maggie tried squirming, and realized how much this hurt, and she still had her pants on.

"And," she thought, "I thought he wasn't as hard as Uncle Charlie. WOW!" Seeing that she still wasn't talking, Bob decided to up the ante. He spotted a hairbrush and picked it up and began to smack her bottom with it.

"OHHHH NOOOO!" wailed Maggie, "pleaseeeee, not the hairbrush, OHHHHHHH OUCHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHH< OHHHHHHHHHHHH," Maggie cried.

"You can be done anytime, young lady. It is your choice," Bob stated calmly. Neither of them saw Heather standing in the doorway watching this scene.

"Now, SWAT, tell me SWAT, what you meant SWAT, when you told SWAT, your mother SWAT, that SWAT, you SWAT, hated SWAT, her? SWAT SWAT SWAT," Bob said as he spanked.

"I ahhhh, OUCHHHHHH, don't," sobbed Maggie.

"Then SWAT, tell me SWAT, what SWAT, you meant." SWAT

"Okay, okay, pleaseeee, no more," Maggie was getting hysterical.

Bob stopped spanking her, and started rubbing her back, waiting for her to calm down. Maggie knew that she had never been spanked this much. The fire in her bottom was awful and she was sooo glad it was over. And she didn't have to tell!

"Now, young lady, we are merely taking a break, unless you decide you want to talk to me and tell me why you ran today," Bob uttered.

"A break?" Maggie croaked out. Sobbing, she told Bob she couldn't take anymore.

"Well, that is up to you, young lady," he said.

Heather was amazed at how calm and nurturing Bob was while at the same time disciplining her daughter. She began to wonder how it would feel to be over his knee, and then blushed realizing what a silly thought that was. But she felt turned on anyway.

She was startled at her own feelings because when Charlie spanked her, she felt like a naughty little girl. Yet thinking of Bob spanking her, was making her feel feelings she was amazed at. Hmmmm. Her attention was drawn back to Maggie and Bob when she heard Maggie whisper that she just couldn't tell.

Bob sighed, thinking that if she didn't break soon, he would have to stop, which would NOT be good. Bob began again, but lightly this time. He knew that the accumulated spanks she had already received made her one sore, sorry little girl.

"Okay, young lady, if you want to sit at all this week, I suggest you tell us something," Bob suggested.

Maggie couldn't believe how much her bottom hurt and knew she was close to breaking. She sobbed harder, almost hysterically. "Please don't make me tell, please?"

"You have to, Maggie, this is important to you, as well as to your mom, I don't want to have to keep spanking you, young lady," Bob warned.

Maggie had run out of fight, and was lying limply over Bob's lap. She quietly said, "I hated hearing you two fight."

"What?" they both asked her.

"I wanted, wanted, wanted," she just couldn't go on.

But at that point, they both looked at each other and figured out what this poor little girl was trying to say. Bob quickly put her back on her feet, and held her closely, letting her sob it out on his chest. Blushing, Heather started to cry too, and ran from the room.

"Shhhh, little one," Bob crooned to Maggie until she calmed down. "Okay, first of all, running from our problems rarely solves anything. Secondly, it is dangerous, and makes everyone who loves you crazy with worry. Right?" "Yes Sir."

"Okay, so hearing your mom and I have some words made you run, right?" "Yes sir."

"It scared you?" "Yes sir."

"Okay, I think I understand," Bob acknowledged.

"You do?" Maggie asked, thinking that her plan was ruined.

"Yes, and it's okay. I do like your mom," Bob told her.

"Then why did you yell at each other? I thought you hated each other," Maggie admitted.

Bob smiled, and looking down at Maggie, told her, "You know what, you two are going to be interesting to get to know better, but honey, I think you better get used to your mom and I having words with one another. It is okay. It does NOT mean we don't like each other; it's just the way some people communicate. Your mom and I well, I guess I can't explain it, but trust me, it is all part of getting to know each other, okay? Now, I want you to promise me something..."

"What?" Maggie asked, surprised.

"I want you to promise me, if you start to feel unhappy and like you need to run, that you'll talk to an adult. Okay?" Bob asked. "Yes sir, I promise."

Maggie still felt as if her bottom were on fire, and started to rub it. Picking her up, Bob carried her into the other room, and told Heather that they have things worked out.

"You do, do you?" Heather asked surprised.

"Yes, we do. Maggie is going to go take a bath to soothe her poor bottom, and you and I are going to talk. Okay?" Bob spoke.

Maggie walked over and told Heather she was sorry for worrying her. Heather hugged her hard, and told her she knows, and kissed her head. Then she told her to go take her bath.

Walking back into the kitchen Bob said, "SIT! We'll drink our coffee and we'll talk."

Heather obeyed. Bob made a fresh pot of coffee and the two of them sat at the counter drinking it. No one said anything for a few minutes, then Heather said, "You were so good with her. So natural. Do you have a few kids tucked away somewhere?"

"No," Bob laughed. "But I love kids. I loved playing with the twins when they were little. But then I went to college, and then grad school."

"And now you're back!" Heather stated.

"Yes, now I'm back," Bob chuckled.

Then there was silence for a few minutes.

Finally, Heather said, "I wish I could be so natural with Maggie. She's my own daughter and I don't even know how to act around her sometimes."

Bob said, "Well, from what I understand, you've had a tough life. It's only natural that you don't always know what to do. It's not like each child comes with an instruction manual."

"That's true. I was only 16 when I had her. I was still a kid myself," Maggie admitted.

"Tell me about your life growing up," Bob said. Then he added, "I mean, if you want to."

Heather sighed. "Well, if you really want to hear about it. It's not that exciting. We were very poor. We lived in a trailer park until I got pregnant. My dad had left when I was 7, and even before then I never saw him. My mother, well, my mother was never very demonstrative about her feelings. I guess I sort of raised Maggie like that, until . . ."

"Until you met my brother," Bob put in.

"Yeah, basically. Oh, Bob, he and Lisa were wonderful. My whole life changed the day we met them. They have really helped me turn my life around," Heather stated.

"Then why are you so down on yourself? I'm sure you're doing a terrific job," Bob said.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Heather laughed.

"I think so, Mommy," Maggie said from the doorway.

Bob and Heather turned to look. They saw the little girl standing there in just a towel.

"C'mere, you," Heather said. "Were you listening to our conversation?"

Bob teased, "Maybe she needs another spanking."

"NO!" Maggie yelled.

Heather laughed. She looked at Bob and then at Maggie. "He was just teasing, honey! Why don't you go put on your pajamas? You can read for a little while, and then I'll come in and tuck you in. Okay?"

"Okay, Mom!" Maggie said.

"She's really a great kid, Heather. You must be doing something right!" Bob exclaimed.

Heather thought to herself, "Wow, this guy is really nice. After all we put him through today, he's still hanging around. And he gives lots of nice compliments." Out loud, she said, "Thanks!"

They finished their coffee and went back to sit in the living room. Bob looked at the clock. "It's getting late. I should probably get back. Charlie'll send out a search party for me soon."

Heather laughed, "Yeah, probably. Listen, Bob, I want to thank you again for before, what you did with Maggie. I'm sorry I fell apart on you."

"Hey, like I said before, don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing the best that you can. I was glad to help. And you know what else, I like you. You're a nice person, and you're funny, and fun to be with. Even if you are a brat!" he added.

"I'm not a brat! I was just teasing you this afternoon. You're just used to being around stuffed shirts all day, like in graduate school. You need a little fun in your life!" Heather stated.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" Bob asked, teasing back.

"Oh, I don't know. I'm sure we could think of something," Heather said.

Bob scratched his head and pretended to think. "Maybe I could take you to a movie tomorrow?" he asked.

Heather blushed. "Are you asking me out on a date?" she asked.

"Well, unless you want to bring Maggie with us, I guess it would be a date," Bob replied.

"No, Maggie'll be busy with the twins. Lisa and Charlie are supposed to take the three of them ice skating. I'd love to go to the movies," Heather said.

Bob said, "Okay, it's a date then."

Bob went into Maggie's room to say good night to her. He kissed her on her cheek and told her to be good. As he left the apartment, he leaned in to Heather and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Heather put her hand to her cheek, and thought, "I'll never wash this cheek again."

to be continued...

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