New Beginnings-chapter 13
By Sampast and Huggedlots
Copyright © 1999, All rights reserved.

"Oh my god! Oh no! I can't believe this!" Heather screamed, into what she thought was an empty apartment.

Bob came running out of the den. "What is it, hon? What's the matter?"

Heather's jaw dropped. She didn't think anyone was home. "Uh, hi, hon, what are you doing home?"

Bob came over to where Heather was standing. She was holding a torn envelope in her hand. She had put the rest of the mail on the table by the door.

"Heather, what is it? Is it one of your grades? Did you fail? 'Cause if you did, don't worry, we'll..." Bob began.

Heather was shaking her head back and forth. "No, Bob, that's not it. It's, it's, it's Mark. He wants to come here. He wants to see Maggie!" she wailed.

Then she dropped to her knees and began to cry.

"Let me see that!" Bob said, grabbing the letter from him. His eyes got wide as he scanned the letter that Heather's ex-husband had sent.

"That bastard! After all this time, he wants to see that Maggie is being well taken care of? That is unbelievable!" Bob shouted.

Finally, he remembered his wife down on her knees, sobbing. Bob bent down and kneeled next to Heather. He put his arms around her.

"We'll get through this, Heather. We will. Come on, hon, don't cry," Bob soothed.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, after all the arrangements were made, Heather and Bob sat with Maggie on the couch.

"I don't understand," Maggie said.

"Well, honey, your real daddy, Mark, just wants to come and see that you are well taken care of!" Heather explained, again.

"Yes, sweetie. Once he sees how happy you are, he will sign the papers and I will become your "real" daddy. Won't that be wonderful?" Bob asked.

"Yeah, but, why does he have to come here?" Maggie whined. "Why can't you just be my "real" daddy now?"

Bob decided to overlook the whining. He went over and sat with Maggie on the couch. "Look, sweetie, it's very hard to explain. It's a lot of legal stuff, papers, and rules."

"Why do there always have to be rules?" Maggie complained.

Bob took both her hands in his. "There just does, Magpie. Things always run on rules. Just think what would happen to you if your mom and I didn't set down rules for you!"

Maggie nodded. "Yeah, I guess. But, Daddy?"

"Yes, sweetie?" Bob's heart melted. He wished with all his heart that he could make things right with a snap of his fingers.

"Will I have to call him, "Daddy", while he's here? I only want to call you, Daddy," Maggie cried.

Bob pulled Maggie into his lap and hugged her hard. "I am the only daddy you have ever known." He pulled her so that she was looking into her eyes. He put his hands on her shoulders, and said, "No, sweetie, you don't have to call him "daddy". Okay?"

"Okay, Daddy. But I still don't want him to come," Maggie admitted.

Heather had started to cry, and Maggie just looked at her. "Why are you crying, Mommy?" she asked.

Heather tried to laugh and said, "I don't want him to come either."

Bob began to frown, but then he laughed, too.

"To tell you the truth, I don't either," Bob said. They all broke out into a fit of giggles.

~~~~~~~~~

Preparing for Mark's visit was no picnic. Bob had called his lawyer to find out all the legal ramifications of what Mark was entitled to, and what they did or didn't have to do. Bob was as upset as Heather and Maggie, but he tried to keep on a brave front. He was the man of the house, and wanted to have a good handle on things. He would show Mark that their home was properly run.

Maggie had been pouty and crabby all week. Bob and Heather put up with it because they understood their daughter's discomfort and insecurities. But finally, on the day of Mark's impending visit, Maggie crossed the line between just being irritable to being downright ornery.

Bob had had enough. "Come here, Margaret Anne!" he boomed.

Maggie jumped up. She knew that her daddy using her full name was not a good thing. "Yes, Daddy?" she asked, innocently.

"Don't be all innocent with me, young lady. I have had enough of this behavior from you all week. Your mom and I let you slide on a few things because we knew you were nervous about your, about Mark's visit. But that does not mean, that you can go around here, being irritable and impossible. I have had it!" Bob yelled.

"I'm sorrreeee, Dadddddeeeee!" Maggie wailed.

"No, I'm sorry. Begging and pleading on your part today will not cut it. I'm afraid you are in for a spanking, young lady!" he stated.

"Daddy, no! Please, I'm sorry!" Maggie cried.

"Bob, don't!" Heather pleaded.

Bob turned on Heather. "Heather!" he warned. "Don't. You know she has been impossible all week. This will help her to remember to behave herself. We definitely did not do a good thing by letting her get away with everything this week." He turned to Maggie. "Go to your room, Maggie. I will be in there in a few minutes."

"Yes, Daddy," Maggie said, hanging her head. She knew she deserved this spanking, but was very sad that she was going to get it.

Bob watched Maggie walk slowly to her room. Then he turned to Heather. "Heather, you know Maggie needs this. Otherwise, who knows how she would behave in front of Mark? We want to make a good impression. We don't want Mark to think we let Maggie be unruly, do you?"

"No," Heather began, "But..."

"But what?" Bob asked, impatiently.

"But we don't want him to think we are too hard on her, do we? What if he doesn't spank his other children? What if he thinks it's wrong? I'm afraid, Bob," Heather admitted.

"You have nothing to be afraid of, hon. I will make sure of that. I'm sure Mark just wants to see for himself that Maggie has a good home and people who love her. Even though he hasn't been a father to her at all, I'm sure the papers came as quite a shock to him. He has to legally sign away all rights to his flesh and blood. Personally, I don't think I could do it!" Bob informed her.

"Oh, but he has to! What if he doesn't?" Heather wailed.

"Heather!" Bob commanded. "Enough, already. You need to calm down. Maybe you need a good spanking, too."

Heather didn't know if he was kidding or not. She tried to read his face. "Um, no, I'm okay," she said.

Bob smiled. "Are you sure? Because I could have a special, two for the price of one? I mean, you did contradict me in front of Maggie, sweetheart. I don't know if I like that. I definitely do not approve."

Heather knew that her husband was kidding around with her now. "I'm sorry, Bob. You're right. Maggie does need this. And I'm sure you're right about Mark, too. Okay, go do what you have to."

"Okay," Bob said, kissing his wife's cheek. He walked slowly to Maggie's room. It had been awhile since he had to put her over his knee.

He knocked and heard a muffled, "Come in." Bob walked in and sat on the edge of Maggie's bed. She was lying on the bed with her head faced toward the wall.

"Turn and look at me, sweetheart," he told her back.

Maggie turned around. Bob could tell that she had been crying. "Come here, sweetie," he said, gently.

Maggie got up and sat on her daddy's lap. He turned her so that she was facing him. "I'm sorry if I was acting so bad, Daddy."

"Are you truly sorry, Maggie? Or are you just trying to get out of this spanking?" Bob asked.

"Well," Maggie said, "I don't want a spanking, but I am sorry."

"What are you sorry about?" he asked.

"I'm sorry I have been crabby and sad. And I'm sorry I talked back to you and Mommy. And I'm sorry I haven't been listening to you," she said.

"Well, I'm sorry, too, honey. You remember when we talked about setting rules for you. Well, your mom and I let you break some of those rules this week because we thought you were going through a hard time. But, that wasn't a good thing. You need those rules to help you be a good, little girl. I'm afraid, even though you are sorry, that you are still going to be punished. Okay?" Bob asked, quietly.

"Yes, Daddy," Maggie whispered.

"Okay, then, let's do this." He put her down on the ground in front of him. In one swoop, he pulled down her pajama bottoms and panties, and pulled her over his lap. He began to spank quickly, alternating each cheek. He watched her bottom get from white, to pink, to a dark red. Maggie cried from the first spank, and was wiggling and kicking her legs.

Neither Bob nor Maggie heard the doorbell ring. Heather went to answer it and was shocked to find Mark at the door.

"Hi," was all he said.

Heather looked back over her shoulder toward Maggie's bedroom. How could this be happening? How could he be here now?

"Hi," she replied. "We, uh, weren't expecting you until after lunch."

"I know, and I apologize for that. I was, um, excited, and, uh, nervous, and I couldn't sleep, and so, I left a little earlier than I had planned. I hope this isn't too inconvenient, my showing up so early," he asked, looking into the house. "You look great! Uh, may I come in?" he asked.

Heather quickly regained her composure. "Oh, um, yeah, sorry, come on in. It's just that, well, . . ."

She stopped. He had heard, Why, the whole neighborhood probably heard. Maggie was screaming and crying. And there was that unmistakenable sound of bare hand hitting bare bottom. Heather was so scared and nervous, she didn't know what to do.

"What's going on?" Mark asked, heading toward the sound of the spanking.

Heather started hurrying down the hall after Mark, and finally caught him outside Maggie's bedroom.

"Mark, you can't go in there," Heather declared.

"Why the hell NOT?" Mark asked her.

"Because, it would embarrass Maggie. Think about it!" she asked as she tugged on his arm, "is that the way you want to see her or her you for the first time in 7 years? Please Mark, be reasonable, and come back to the kitchen."

Mark reluctantly agreed to this with a curt nod of his head. Back in the kitchen, Heather offered him some coffee with shaky hands.

"Well," Mark said, "I am waiting for an explanation, Heather, and I WANT IT NOW!"

"Mark, please, you walk in here after all this time, and think you have the right to make demands? You sure have a lot of nerve," she uttered.

All of Heather's animosity against this man rose like bile in her throat, but she knew she had to stay calm; she just wished Bob were there, too.

"Look, Mark, I don't have any idea how you discipline your girls, but in this house, Bob and I make the rules, and Maggie gets disciplined when she deliberately disobeys," Heather explained.

Mark fumed. "That didn't sound like discipline to me, Heather, it sounded like abuse!"

"Really? Do YOU spank your daughters, Mark?" Heather inquired.

"Well, yes, I do, but---"

"But what? You probably never heard what it sounded like from the OTHER side of the door, did you?"

"Well," Mark began.

But Heather interrupted him, and completely angry now she told him, "Look, YOU are the one who upset Maggie by demanding to see her. We were happy before you decided to blow into our lives, and will be as soon as you sign the papers and LEAVE."

Bob heard the yelling from down the hall as he quietly shut Maggie's door. He had held and rocked her until she had fallen asleep, and put her in bed with her teddy bear. Walking into the kitchen, he extended his hand to Mark, and introduced himself.

"Okay, you two, what's up?" he asked.

Heather looked about ready to come unglued, so Bob walked over and put his arm around her. Heather looked up at him with unshed tears in her eyes, and told him, "Mark here, thinks you were abusing Maggie."

"You did?" Bob asked him. "Why is that?"

"Well," Mark blustered, "she was screaming."

Bob expressed, "Of course she was, she had been a naughty little girl, and was being spanked. Do your daughters lay limp over YOUR knees?"

"Well, no, of course not, but that is different," Mark stated.

"Ohh, and how is THAT different?" Bob asked, now amused.

"Well, it just is," Mark contended, even though he knew he had no valid argument.

Mark and Heather looked like two boxers sitting in their separate corners of the ring. Bob knew he better do something fast to alleviate the tension.

"Okay, Mark, look, I know that you didn't walk in at the most opportune moment, but Maggie knows what she did was wrong, and feels better about it and herself. When she wakes up, you two can get to know each other. I think she has been so nervous about you coming, that she has gone a bit over the deep end lately, and we were letting her because we knew what was causing it. BUT, her behavior had to be stopped, and with Maggie, this is the best approach. She herself will tell you how much she hates being grounded. Sooo, how about we all just sit and talk for the next hour like civilized adults?" Bob added.

The antagonists agreed, and both sat down at the kitchen table. Bob got himself a cup of coffee, and began asking Mark about his business, and wife and kids, while Heather just sat throwing venomous looks in Mark's direction. Bob tried to give her several warning looks, but she ignored them all. He knew that if they were to get Bob to sign the papers they needed, they had to be civil. But, he also knew how hard it was for Heather, given the history the two had, and the abandonment feelings that went along with that history.

Things were getting better when a sleepy Maggie started calling, "Daddy?"

Mark and Bob both stood up.

Heather looked at Mark, and said, "She means Bob, not YOU."

"Ohh, right!" Mark said, looking deflated and he sat down again.

Heather started to say something, but Bob looked at her with a look she knew well, and she subsided immediately. Bob walked down the hall and picked up Maggie, and held her close.

"I really am sorry, Daddy," Maggie whispered in his ear.

"I know, Magpie, and as you know, all is forgiven. Okay?"

Maggie hugged him tight, and she looked adorable in her undershirt and matching panties.

"Come on, Magpie, let's get you dressed," Bob said.

"Why, Daddy?"

"Cause your other, well, I mean, Mark is here, hon," Bob announced.

"Ohhh!" Maggie said, and she pressed her face in her daddy's neck, afraid to let go. He felt her trembling body.

"It's going to be okay, Magpie, really," Bob assured her.

"Do you promise, Daddy?" she asked in a tiny voice.

"Yes, sweetheart, I do," he answered her. Bob felt his heart breaking for her. "You know that Mommy and I love you with all our hearts, right? So, no matter what happens, that will never change. Right?"

Maggie was far from convinced. Too much had happened to her in her short life to really trust much. Bob didn't want to leave Heather and Mark alone too long, so he hurried to get Maggie into some clothes. She was fussy, not knowing what she wanted to wear, and Bob was getting annoyed fast, and trying not to show it.

"Okay, sweetie, tell you what, you can stay here, and decide, and I will go back out to Mommy and Mark," Bob told her.

"NOOOOO Daddy!" Maggie cried, "don't leave me!"

Bob sighed. "Okay, then, pick something, and let's go!"

Maggie finally chose a shirt and pants, and put her hand in Bob's. He quickly brushed her hair, and led her out of her room. As they walked into the kitchen, Bob felt Maggie glued to his leg, and she was almost peeking from behind him at Mark.

Mark looked at Maggie and couldn't believe how beautiful she was. All kinds of conflicting emotions filled his heart and head as he watched her, and knew she felt afraid of him.

"Maggie? Come here, baby, I am not here to hurt you," Mark said.

Maggie stood silently, and felt rooted to the spot, holding onto Bob for dear life. Bob reached down, picked her up, and sat down with her in his lap. Mark tried again, looking at Bob for encouragement.

"Honey, I know it's been a long time, but I am your daddy, and I really want to spend some time with you," Mark confessed.

At that, Maggie shuddered visibly, and Mark felt terrible. Finally, Maggie looked directly at him, and told him, "NO you are not, THIS IS MY DADDY," and pointed to Bob. "I don't know you, and you didn't ever want to know me. I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU," and with that, she jumped off Bob's lap and ran for her room.

After she left there was stunned silence, and then Heather jumped up to go to Maggie. Bob and Mark let her go, knowing that she needed her mom.

Bob looked at Mark and said, "I'm sorry. I am sure that hurt, and Maggie has had so many changes in her life, that meeting you all of a sudden was hard for her. She really does not remember you at all."

"Well," Mark said, running his hand through his hair, "I guess not. Maybe I should never have come, but damn it, she IS my daughter, and I do care about her. I send Heather checks every damn month! Checks that my wife resents, but I do it because she is MINE."

Quietly, Bob told him, "Mark, being a father is more than just having a child. You know that, you have two beautiful daughters with your wife. Maggie needs a dad who will be here for her, will guide her, nurture her, be there for her nightmares, and for her plays, and awards, and homework that's too hard. Sending a check is the least of it, and in your heart I am sure you know that as well."

"I want very much to adopt Maggie. Please don't stand in her way of having a full time dad, Mark. And, of course if I do, you will never have to send another dime, which should help your marriage as well," Bob concluded.

Mark seemed lost in thought, so Bob left him alone, and went to check on Maggie. Walking into her bedroom, Maggie was completely hysterical, and Heather was sitting there stroking her back, and crying, too.

"Okay, I want both my girls, right here, right now!" Bob commanded in his not-to-be-disobeyed voice.

Maggie instantly got more control of herself, and looked up to see Bob standing there with his arms wide. She immediately ran into them, as did Heather, and he enfolded them in a big bear hug.

"Okay, is falling apart going to do anyone any good here?" he inquired.

Not getting an answer from either of them, he gave each of them a swat on the bottom. Two surprised girls then answered quickly, "no sir," and then looked at each other and giggled.

"Mommy? Did Daddy just spank you?" Maggie was amazed, and Heather blushed.

"That was a love tap, sweetie, just as yours was," Bob explained. He kissed the top of both of their heads, and then asked them to look at him. "Now, I expect good behavior from both of you, understand?"

Again, they both answered, "yes sir."

Maggie was giggling, and Bob felt that they had turned a corner. "Okay, now I will go back to Mark, and I will give you two, about two minutes to get faces washed and be back in the kitchen. Now march!"

Once again, he swatted two bottoms.

Back in the kitchen again, Bob asked Mark how he was doing.

"Well, I do want to ask a few questions, if that is okay," he answered.

Bob complied, "Sure, ask away."

Mark began, "How often do you spank Maggie?"

Bob answered very nonchalantly, as if Mark had just asked him how many students he taught at the college. "Well, that depends on her behavior. I do not abuse her, Mark. I spank her when I feel she needs it. Probably once a week or so on average, but then there are weeks and weeks that go by when she doesn't need it. So, like I said, it depends on her. It gets the point across quickly, and effectively, and she always knows she is forgiven afterwards, the slate wiped clean, and she is hugged and loved and knows she is cherished, and safe. Any more questions about our discipline methods?"

Mark was taken aback. "Noo, I guess not. Umm, do you think there is a chance she might want to come and visit with me and my family?"

Bob frowned. "To be honest, no, not at this point in her life. Maybe when she is a bit older, she will be more curious, but at this stage, all she knows is that you stand in the way of her having a "real" daddy. I think in a few years she will be curious about her younger sisters, and may want to, so if you want, you can leave that door open. I would never stand in the way of you seeing Maggie if she wanted to see you."

Mark sighed, and then told Bob, "Look, I came a long way to visit and get to know her. Any suggestions? I want to see if I can explain things to her. My side of it anyway."

"Mark, she is only nine years old. She sees black and white. There is really no grey to her. You left HER, as far as she is concerned, and you didn't come back. She had to live with her grandmother, and her mom when I met her was just learning how to parent. She still has a ways to go but she has always been there for Maggie. You never wrote, or called, or even sent a birthday gift. Can you really expect to walk in here and have her fall into your arms? Be realistic man!"

Maggie and Heather returned to the kitchen to find the men deep in conversation. Looking at the two of them, Heather wondered what she had ever seen in Mark. She loved Bob so much, his strength, and warmth, and caring ways. She couldn't believe how lucky she was that he loved her, and what a brat she was sometimes.

Maggie was looking at them both and worrying that Mark would try to take her away. She trembled, and seeing that, Bob walked over and picked her up again.

He said, "Mark wants to talk to you, Magpie. Are you okay to listen now?"

"Yes, Daddy. I can and will, but umm, can I sit on your lap while we do?" Maggie asked, unsure.

Bob smiled. "Sure, sweetie." Bob settled in on the chair again with Maggie in his lap. Mark reached over for her hand, and she let him. The first time he had touched her in seven years.

Mark cleared his throat. "Maggie, I came so that I could tell you in person, how sorry I am that I had to leave you and your mom. I didn't ever mean to make your life hard, or for you to feel abandoned. It had nothing to do with you not being good enough. It was ME that wasn't good enough. I didn't ever want you to wonder about that, okay?"

Not sure what he meant, Maggie decided it was safer just to agree with him.

"Maggie, can I ask you a few things?" Maggie nodded again.

"Do you like living here?"

Maggie nodded yes.

"Obviously you love Bob, right?" Maggie again nodded.

"I understand he spanks you. Is that right?"

Maggie looked up at Bob, and then at Mark, and hid her head in Bob's shoulder and said, "Yes, when I am naughty."

"And, are you naughty often?"

Maggie wasn't sure how to answer that question, and looked up at Bob. He just smiled down at her, and she smiled back up, and shrugged her shoulders.

"Okay, last question, hon. Do you want Bob to be your daddy?" Mark asked.

Without hesitation, she looked at Mark, and said, "YES, I want him to be my forever daddy."

"Okay, if I sign the papers, will you come have some ice cream with me, Maggie? Once I sign the papers it is all set, and you won't have to worry about my changing my mind, okay? I just want to spend some time with you."

Maggie looked up at Bob, and he kissed the top of her head, and told her, "Magpie, it is your decision, hon. You do what feels right to you."

Glancing back at Mark, she said, "Please? I would really rather not, can't you just stay here?"

Mark breathed, not realizing he had been holding his breath. "Sure, Maggie, I can do that. Would you like to see some pictures of my girls?"

Heather jumped in at that point, and was about to say something rude, when she saw Bob's look. She knew if she said anything, she would be in big trouble, so she said, "Let's look at them together, sweetie. They are your half sisters."

"What does that mean, Mommy?" Maggie asked.

"It means you both have the same daddy, but a different mommy."

"Ohhh," Maggie said, not really understanding the relationships. She looked at the girls, but couldn't see any resemblance to herself at all. "Well, they don't look like sisters to me."

"That's okay," Mark laughed. "They look like their mom."

Mark kept talking about his house, and the things they did, and finally Maggie warmed up enough to leave Bob's lap and get closer to Mark. By the end of the afternoon, Mark gave her a hug which she accepted.

Heather went and retrieved the papers from their bedroom, and watched as Mark signed away his parental rights. She knew this was hard for him, but felt no real sympathy at all. He was a total stranger to her as well as to Maggie. Saying goodbye, Mark told them he had to get back home because it was a very long drive.

Closing the door behind him, all three gave a sigh of relief. Bob went to call Charlie to tell him the news, and Heather looked in the frig for something for dinner. Bob walked back in, and told her that Charlie wanted to go out to celebrate, and they were going to meet them in a half hour at Sizzler's if that was okay with her.

Maggie was all excited about seeing Robin and Jenn, and jumped up and down. Heather was emotionally drained, and wanted nothing more than a quiet evening at home, but agreed to go anyway. Walking back into the bedroom to change, Bob came up behind her, and started kissing the back of her neck.

"Well, today went better than I had hoped. Didn't it?" he asked.

"Better? How can you say that? He was rude, arrogant, and, and, and- Ohhhhhhhhhhhh. MEN."

Stomping around the room, Heather had to vent some of her pent up emotions. She began throwing pillows, and then shoes, and was almost into a full blown tantrum, when she realized she was being lifted, and pulled over Bob's knee.

He had quietly locked their door, after making sure Maggie was watching a video. He turned on their tv, and then reached for Heather, who hadn't even realized he had left the room.

"I really think you need this, sweetheart," Bob explained.

"Nooooooo!" Heather cried, "Don't."

But she adjusted herself over his knee as she protested. Bob started spanking one cheek, then the other, in fast bursts of volleys. Heather started kicking almost immediately, but put the pillow to her face, so Maggie wouldn't hear her screaming.

Bob spanked her until he could feel her relax, and finally go limp over his knee. Her bottom was a fiery red, and he felt badly for her. Sitting at dinner was going to be hard for her, but he knew she had needed the physical release. While she laid over his knee, he began caressing her, and helped her release some energy another way, leaving them both tired but relaxed.

He finally helped her up, and gave her a quick swat and then a long kiss, before letting her go to finish getting dressed. Heather sighed, knowing, she was the luckiest woman alive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charlie, Lisa, and the twins were waiting outside when Bob, Heather, and Maggie pulled up in front of Sizzler. The brothers shook hands and there was kissing all around. The girls held hands and jumped up and down; something they always did when they got together.

"Hope we didn't keep you waiting too long," Bob said.

"No, not at all," Lisa answered. "We just got here."

While they waited on line, everyone looked at the menu board.

"Mommy, can we just get the salad bar?" Robin asked.

Lisa frowned. "I don't know. What do you think, hon?" she asked Charlie.

Before Charlie could answer, Jennifer declared, "Betsy's parents let HER!"

Lisa pulled Jennifer aside and said, "JENNIFER LYNNE, you know better than to compare us to your friends' parents."

Bob spoke up, "I think it would be good for the kids to just have the salad bar. Lisa, if you look at what they have there, it's not just salad. There's chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, and taco fixings."

Heather turned to Maggie, "Is that what you'd like, honey?"

Maggie nodded. Lisa relented and let the twins get that, too.

After they were all seated, Charlie lifted his glass and said, "A toast! Here's to my little brother, the happy father of a nine-year-old girl!"

"Hear! Hear!" everyone said.

Charlie turned to Maggie and said, "Well, I guess it's time to say goodbye to Maggie Carlton."

"And hello to Maggie Clemente," Lisa finished for him.

The girls chuckled. "Now we're really related, Maggie," Robin said.

"Yeah, you'll have to start writing your new name on all your papers at school," Jenn pointed out.

"Oh, yeah, that's right!" Lisa exclaimed.

Maggie just looked at Heather and Bob. She didn't know what to say.

"Actually, Maggie's been writing "Clemente" since she started this school. Since January," Bob explained.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" Charlie asked.

Now Maggie was looking at the floor. She was afraid to meet her uncle's gaze.

"Well, when I changed my name, Maggie wanted to change hers, too," Heather said.

Charlie and Lisa caught Bob's look and decided not to press the issue any further. They also noticed that Heather was having difficulty finding a comfortable position on the hard chair. Neither said a word. The twins and Maggie went back and forth to the salad and fixings bar three times before they announced they were full.

"Oh, that's too bad," Bob uttered. "I guess you have no room for dessert."

"I do!" Maggie called. "I do, too!" said Robin. "And me, too!" Jenn whined.

Charlie gave Jennifer a disapproving look.

"Sorry, Daddy," she replied.

"Come, girls, I'll help you with the ice cream," Lisa said, getting up.

"We can do it ourselves, Mommy," Robin said.

"Yeah, we're not babies!" Maggie hissed.

"Excuse me?" Lisa asked.

"We can do it ourselves, Aunt Lisa. Thanks anyway!" Maggie stated, and started to walk away.

But Bob pulled her back. "Just a minute, young lady. I think you'd like to change the way you just spoke to your aunt?"

"What, Daddy?" Maggie whined.

"Margaret Anne!" Bob remarked.

The twins looked at each other and mouthed, "Margaret Anne?" to each other. They had never heard Maggie called that. They didn't even know that was her real name.

"Do I have to remind you what happened this morning when you crossed the line between behaving and misbehaving?" Bob asked in a warning tone.

Maggie looked down. "No, sir," she said. Then she turned to Lisa and said, "I'm sorry, Aunt Lisa. You could come help us if you want to." Then she scampered away. Bob smiled.

The girls each got a scoop of ice cream, if you could call it that. At Sizzler's, it was more like ice milk. Then they put almost every topping available on top. Jennifer had gummy bears, m&m's, chocolate chips, and jelly beans on hers. Robin tried caramel, strawberry, and chocolate sauce on hers. She made a face after the first bite.

Maggie had gotten red hots, sprinkles, caramel sauce, and gummy bears on hers. At first she thought Jennifer was being gross by putting the gummy bears, but then she tasted it and liked it.

"Oh, I think I know three little girls who are going to have tummy aches tonight," Bob said, jokingly.

"You know what I was just thinking?" Charlie asked aloud. "Someone is having a birthday soon, isn't she?"

Maggie smiled and nodded. "Next month. I'll be ten."

"Ten? Wow, double digits!" Lisa exclaimed.

"Are you gonna have a party?" Robin asked.

"I guess. I dunno," Maggie answered.

Heather spoke up. "Of course she is. We just haven't planned anything yet. But I guess we should. It's almost the end of March, and your birthday is the third week in April."

"And then it'll be our birthday," Jenn supplied.

Lisa frowned. "Not until May, Jennifer. That's a while yet."

"Well, I know one present Maggie's getting that she has been wanting!" Bob stated.

"What, Daddy?" Maggie asked.

"Me," Bob said, pointing to himself, "for a father. Legally."

Maggie jumped onto Bob's lap and he held her tight. "That's the best present I could have asked for. I love you, Daddy!"

Everyone smiled. The adults sat around drinking their coffee while the girls chatted.

"Hey, I got a great idea!" Jennifer whispered.

"Oh, no, Jenn. Your ideas usually get us into trouble!" Robin said.

"Not this time. I just thought it would be neat if Maggie could sleep over tonight," she suggested.

"Yeah!" Maggie agreed.

"Okay, that is a great idea, Jenn," Robin admitted.

They asked their parents. Charlie and Lisa didn't say anything. They looked to Bob and Heather.

"No, I don't think so," Bob said. "Tonight's not a good night."

"Please, Daddy! Please!" Maggie cried.

"Please, Uncle Bob!" Jenn cried.

"Come on, please!" Robin cried, too.

Bob looked at Heather. She spoke up. "No, I'm sorry, Maggie, Daddy's right. Tonight is not a good night. You had a really long day today."

"I'm okay, Mommy, please!" Maggie whined.

"Margaret Anne!" Bob uttered.

There was that name again. Robin and Jennifer were surprised again. And Maggie knew that her full name was definitely not a good sign.

Bob had pulled Maggie close to him and Heather. He spoke quietly to her, "Maggie, Mommy and I said no. Not this time. You can have a sleepover another day." Louder he said, "I think it's time to go."

Maggie folded her arms and started to pout. She knew better than to stamp her foot or throw herself on the floor. But she was unhappy and she wanted everyone to know it.

Everyone started saying their goodbyes. Everyone except Maggie. The twins were disappointed, but they saw their uncle's mood and knew better than to complain. Robin started to cry, though.

"What's the matter, sweetie?" Charlie asked.

"I really wanted Maggie to sleep over tonight," she replied.

"Well, Uncle Bob said tonight wasn't a good night, so we'll make it another time," he told her.

"I know, but it would've been fun," Robin cried.

Charlie scooped Robin up and said, "I know, sweetie, but it's not going to happen tonight. Come on, it's getting late and you're getting tired." Lisa helped Charlie put Robin's jacket on her, and he carried her out to the car. Jennifer held Lisa's hand, and they followed.

Meanwhile, Bob had to pick Maggie up and take her to the car. She cried and pouted the whole way. After placing her inside the car, and positioning her seatbelt, Bob announced, "Maggie, if you don't stop it this instant, you're going to get your second spanking of the day. And I know you don't want that."

Then he closed the door and got into the driver's side. Heather was already in her seat, trying to find a comfortable position. The fiery sting in her bottom had been reduced to a mild unpleasantness. She felt lucky to have gotten through dinner.

On the drive home, Bob looked into the rearview mirror to check on Maggie. "Well?"

"I'm sorry, Daddy. Please don't spank me again," Maggie cried.

"Okay, honey. If you're through having your mini temper tantrum, then I won't have to," Bob explained.

"I wasn't throwing one!" Maggie said a little too loudly.

"Maggie! That's enough!" Heather commanded.

"Okay, sorry Mommy!" Maggie said.

Bob and Heather talked quietly the rest of the way. Maggie sat sulkily thinking about not going to Robin and Jenn's. Then she smiled, as she began to think about her upcoming birthday. She wondered just what kind of a party she would have, after all.

When they got home, Heather gave Maggie a quick bath. She watched her get into her pajamas, and then sat down on the edge of the bed to say goodnight. Bob came in, too, and helped Heather tuck their daughter in.

"Good night, honey!" Bob exclaimed. "I love you."

Maggie put her arms around his neck. "I love you, too, Daddy. I'm glad you didn't have to spank me again."

"So am I. Magpie, tomorrow we're going to visit Nana and Grampsie at their house in New Jersey. I know you've never been there. I think we'll have lots of fun. I just spoke to them and they're so happy about our good news," Bob declared.

"Me too, good night, Daddy. Good night, Mommy!" Maggie said, sleepily.

Bob and Heather kissed her goodnight and shut the light and the door. They put the nightlight on in the bathroom and went to their own room to get ready for bed.

"You okay, hon?" Bob asked.

"I've had better nights. But I'm fine. I don't think I've ever sat on a harder chair, though," Heather commented.

They both laughed. Then they turned off the lights and went to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, they went to Rose and Harry Clemente's house in New Milford, New Jersey. They lived in a modest ranch house. It had three bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a den, which Harry still used for business purposes, and a sun room. It also had an unfinished basement, which was unusual for a ranch.

The moment they arrived, a little dog greeted them.

"Oooh, a puppy!" Maggie squealed.

"Oh, she's hardly a puppy. Just a small dog. Her name's Heidi. We call her Heididog," Nana explained.

"Heididog," Maggie tried out the name on the dog. "I like it. Oh, she's so cute!"

"Cute? That thing's uglier than a witch with warts," Grampsie growled.

Heather and Bob laughed. The dog was a pug, not known for its cuteness.

"I forgot you've never been here," Nana said. "We also have a parrot."

"Ooh, a parrot? Does it talk?" Maggie asked, interested.

"Sure, a few words here and there. His name is Skippy," Nana told her.

Maggie giggled. "Skippybird?"

Everyone laughed. They had a wonderful day. Maggie was on her best behavior, after being warned by both Bob and Heather that they were not going to stand for any misbehavior at Nana and Grampsie's.

Maggie was really engrossed in the parrot. She said a word and then listened to see if it repeated it. Nana got so much delight watching Maggie. She just took in the effect the bird had on Maggie. Nana got an idea about what to get Maggie for her birthday.

After awhile, Maggie lost interest in the parrot and asked what else she could do. She was bored. Now if Robin and Jenn had been there, it would have been a totally different story!

Nana told Maggie she could go into their bedroom and watch t.v. She even went in with Maggie and showed her how to work the television. Maggie sat on the edge of Nana and Grampsie's bed and watched an old Shirley Temple movie. Heidi came in and sat at Maggie's feet.

"Oooh, Heididog, come here, girl," she said, jumping down. She pet the dog and scratched her behind the ears. Then the dog scampered out of the bedroom, and into Rose and Harry's bathroom.

"Whatcha doing, Heididog?" Maggie asked, following the dog into the bathroom. Maggie watched as the dog jumped up and unraveled the toilet paper from the roll and started to eat it.

"Hey, you don't eat that!" Maggie cautioned. But Heididog didn't listen. In fact, the dog was having a tough time getting at it, so Maggie helped her. "Well, if you're gonna eat it, I guess I could help."

She broke off pieces of toilet paper and fed them to the dog. It amused her that of all things to eat, the dog wanted to eat toilet paper.

Back in the living room, Heather said, "I'm going to go check on Maggie. We should probably get going soon. She has school tomorrow."

Heather walked into Nana and Grampsie's room. She saw that the television was on, but no Maggie. "Maggie!" she called.

"In here, Mommy!" Maggie said, and poked her head out of the bathroom.

Heather walked closer. "What are you doing in there, Maggs?" Heather asked.

As if it were the most normal thing in the world to be doing, Maggie announced, "I'm feeding toilet paper to Heididog!"

"What!? Why are you doing that? She's gonna get sick!" Heather shouted.

Of course, Heather's shouting brought Rose and Bob. Harry had gone outside to smoke his cigar.

"What's the matter?" Rose asked.

"What's going on?" Bob said, excited.

"Maggie was feeding toilet paper to the dog," Heather replied.

Maggie started to cry. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. She liked it. Really!" she cried.

Rose just stood there with her hands on her hips. "Of all things, toilet paper?"

Bob exclaimed, "Maggie, why would you do that? You must have known Heidi shouldn't eat toilet paper!"

But Maggie was far beyond hearing. She was completely hysterical. Her body was shaking and she was wracking with sobs. Harry came in then, and asked, "Hey, what's going on in here? Party in the bathroom?"

Rose filled him in on the events. Harry just chuckled. "That darn dog eats just about everything. One day, I found her trying to eat one of my cigars."

He went over and put his arm around Maggie. "Hey, don't worry about it. It's not your fault. If you hadn't fed it to her, she would have found another way to eat it, or something else. Okay? Now, calm down."

Grampsie led Maggie over to their bed and she sat down. She was still crying but not as hard. She looked up at Bob.

"Are you mad, Daddy? Am I gonna get a spanking?" Maggie sobbed.

Bob looked at his parents. They didn't seem too concerned that she had fed toilet paper to the dog. Then his face softened. "No, sweetie. You're not in trouble. Come here, baby!" he said.

He motioned for her to come to him, which she did. Bob picked her up and comforted her. Even though she was happy not to be in trouble, she still cried against his shoulder.

Everyone else cleared out of the bedroom to give Bob and Maggie some alone time. "Okay, baby, shush, shush, it's all right. No more crying!" Bob soothed. He held her tight and rubbed her back.

Finally her crying stopped. She looked up at her daddy with a tear-stained face and said, "I'm really sorry, Daddy. I try and I try not to be in trouble. I don't know why I do the things I do sometimes. I didn't think there would be anything wrong with that."

"Well, honey, for the future, the only things dogs should eat are bones, dog food, and the occasional table scraps. Okay?" Bob asked.

Maggie nodded. "Yes, Daddy. Thank you for not spanking me."

"Honey, I only spank you when you've done something wrong, to teach you right from wrong. Do you understand that?" Bob inquired of her.

"Yes, Daddy. Daddy? Can we go home? I'm tired," Maggie announced.

Bob smiled. "Yes, let's do that. Come, let's say good-bye to Nana and Grampsie and thank them for lunch."

They walked out of the room hand in hand.

to be continued...

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