Learning from the Gardener

One

"Shit." Nineteen year old Ava Marie Strickland stepped back from the shattered flat screen TV.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing in here?" Lia Green stepped through her front door.

The new gardener for the Strickland family, which was now only Ava and her mother, Lia had moved into the the mother-in-law suite on their property.

"I was looking for you, there's a flower my mother wants planted or something and I tripped- I- I don't know, I can pay for it."

Lia raised an eyebrow. The girl in front of her was taller than her and lean, with pale skin and blonde hair. She was wearing a sundress and sandals, and was blushing.

"You're Ana?" Lia had interacted with her bosses daughter a few times, but they had never properly met.

"Yes. Can you plant the rose? I left it outside. Thanks." Ana said shortly.

"Woah, woah, woah." Lia stepped forward. "You barge into my house and break my TV, and don't even say sorry?"

"This is my house. You work for me."

"I work for your mother, and this is her house where I pay rent." Lia narrowed her dark eyes, but Ana's smirk stayed plastered on her face. "I think you deserve a punishment."

With one movement, Lia grabbed Ava's wrist and sat down with her over her knee.

"What? Hey!" Ava's dress was flipped up, revealing white cotton panties.

"You're disrespectful. You're rude." Lia said as she reigned down hard smacks. "You're a brat."

"Stop it! I'll have you fired! You'll never work another day in your- OW -life in this town! Damn it, AH! I'm sorry, I said sorry, now quit!"Ava protested and tried to free herself, but Lia held her down with one muscular arm and spanked with the other.

When she felt the girl had been punished, she let her up. Ava stumbled back, both hands on her heated bottom.

"You'll pay for this!" Ava gasped, her face blotchy, tears spilling over her flushed cheeks. "I'll tell my mother that- I'll tell her that I-"

"You got a spanking. You're a careless child, you deserved it and Probably more, if I'm honest." Lia said casually.

"I'm not a child! I'm nineteen!"

"Okay then, you act like a child." Lia shrugged.

"I can't believe you! I- You- This conversation is over!" With that, Ava ran out the front door.

Lia headed toward the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of whiskey. It was six thirty. Surely they wouldn't fire her tonight, maybe not at all.

shouldn't have done that, Lia thought to herself. No, She was disrespectful. She deserved it. No, you're only three years older than her, it's not your place.

Lia sighed. She had gotten spankings growing up for less than the tone Ava took with her. But it was still inappropriate. She'd apologize in the morning.

Meanwhile, Ava made it back to her house. Her mother was in the kitchen, smoking a cigarette.

"Hey, Ava Marie." She said, her voice rough. "Hell's that look on your face for?"

"Uh, nothing mom. I'm gonna shower and then go out to the gardeners, I forgot to give her that rose."

Faye narrowed her eyes, but then shrugged. "Okay, baby. You been crying?"

"No." Ava said quickly, and went to shower.

••••

Lia was pulled from her thoughts three hours later by a knock at her door. She opened it to Ava.

"Can I come in?" Ava asked.

Both of them had changed clothes, Ava wearing a crop top and black shorts, Lia out of her overalls in an oversized sweatshirt.

"Yes."

"I didn't tell my mom. By the way. You're welcome." Ava winced. "I- I don't know why I said that."

"You want something to drink?"

"I'll have what you're having."

Lia chuckled. "How about a glass of water."

Ava nodded and sat down at the table in the kitchen.

"I am sorry. About the TV. And being rude. I said it earlier because I was, you know, in pain, but I mean it."

"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have done that. Even if you deserved it."

"You hurt me. Like... my ass is still stinging a little."

"It'll go away in another hour or so." Lia smiled. "You'll live."

"And how would you know?"

Lia laughed dryly. "I got my fair share of spankings growing up."

"Oh." Ava looked down at her glass. "I'd never gotten a spanking before."

"I figured."

"I know you think I'm a complete bitch, but I just wanted to say sorry. And uh, thanks for the water." Ava stood up and gave Lia a small smile.

"I don't think you're a bitch." Lia stepped closer to Ava. "A little spoiled maybe."

Ava rolled her eyes and smiled back at Lia. "I should go."

Lia nodded. Biting her lip, Ava tried not to notice how short Lia's sweatshirt was, and how it fell around the top of her thighs. And her hair. Her black hair was down now, hanging over her shoulders.

"Okay, then." Ava reached out and squeezed Lia's hands. Then giggled. What am I doing? "Bye!"

"Bye." Lia watched her go, ignored the electric feeling in her hands and went to bed.