Mrs Emerson Michaels

Held accountable

Deep breaths.

Slowly.

Steady.

Teeth grinding.

But overall, I think I've got the pattern down. My eyes shut tight, teeth tightening against each deliberate twack. I can't move even though every muscle in me wants to so badly.

I hold on to Mr Michaels's leg across his lap once again.

When he said 'we're going to talk more at home, he wasn't exactly specific about what that meant!

Now I knew ,and my one hand covered my face, biting back unwanted tears that dared to fall.

The biting smacks on top of my already lingering pain from earlier kicks in. I want to cry but I won't let them.

When I stood in the corner, the unfamiliar sound of yelled cries broke through the air. But they weren't mine. It sounded like a woman's, wait, that meant she also?! My lips parted so wide I nearly forgot where I was as I turned around, then back.

HIS OWN WIFE?! It had to be a joke!? But nope seven minutes of that woman yelling like no tomorrow, said differently.

I was speechless, what was this nineteenth century!

Time seemed to pick up again when the sound of skin smacking again skin stopped and muffled sobs fazed throughout the house. If anything was to be a secret. There definitely wouldn't be in this house.

SMACKSMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK

My nails clawed deep into the soft fabric, my bottom half held at an angle where my legs were held in place.

Smack Smack Smack Smack Smack Smack Smack

By seven more spanks Sebastian lifted me up from off his lap. Placed the hairbrush on the night stand, and led me to hug him.

" Come here baby."

But,I pushed back and ran to the bathroom. Leaving him. Alone.

I closed the door, sunk, my back against the wall on the floor.

SEBASTIAN.

"Millie?"

I stood, rolled back down my sleeves. The air seemed thick with too much tension even as I finished.

The slight sound of sobbing from Millie coming from the bathroom.

I sighed.

*knock knock *

I looked up. Emerson.

She looked my way. The look of worry in her gaze as she looks to the closed bathroom door.

"She'll be alright. She just needs a minute."

"Can I check on her?" Emerson walked in approaching.

"You don't need to ask me, ever, to do that." I confirm. "She's our daughter."

She smiled. "Give us a minute?"

I looked at the door and sighed once again.

"I'll talk to her."

"And I'll give you both some space."

I kissed her ,and planted a smack to her rear for a good measure.

She returns it then yelps the sting still radiating effectively across her cheeks.

"Heyy!"

I chuckled at her protest, desensing the staircase, with a mischievous wink.

She heads up as I fully disappear.

Emerson

"Millie,Sweetheart, can I come in?"

"Go away!" Millie responds back her voice still muffed in tears, I knew the way she always tried to hide, that She didn't like letting anyone see her vulnerable. 

"I will if that's what you want, but I think you don't, sweet girl."

"Leave me alone! I don't want anything from you!" She denies

"Millie Hon, talk to me I'm here for you."" My voice is calm, patient, a wating game for what we both know she wanted.

A beat then suddenly.  A small creak of the door opens. The light dims from the crack of the doorframe. Emerson sighs.

Her arm reached out pushing back the door. Millie's back up against the cabinet.

She didn't speak at first as Emerson approached her. Easing her way in as she still hears the slight sniffles from under her nose.

"Millie, Hon." Emerson responded first.

"He hates me."  Millie replies.
Emerson's eyes resemble a look of disbelief and shock of what she's just heard. Eyes widened in surprise.

"No! No he doesn't. He'd never  feel that toward you." Emerson quickly rebuked.  "Don't say that." She quickly shook her head immediately.

Millie's body stiffened as arms made their way toward her small frame.  Emerson slipped in  to cuddle her close. "Trust me he's never felt that way."

She spoke gently and reassuringly.  "Never."

Millie lifted her head to look at Emerson. The tears she'd  so desperately tried to hide, forgotten as her teeth clutched.

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"He means well, Millie." Emerson explained. "Your Dad-"

"He's not my father!"

Millie protested. Denying a man who'd just thrashed her to be anything as her father.

Emerson clamped back her lips pressed.  Then, took a breath.

"You're right. Not biologically, anyway.  But he cares for you just as much as blood. As I do."

Millie turned away in defense of that. Her lips quivering the sting radiation of her bottom still hurt along with her pride.  She broke down no longer trying to hide her tears. She wiped furiously at her now  damped teared eyes.

Arms wrapped around her once more, and she's pulled into Emerson's warmth embrace.

"It's okay to cry. Let it out. I'm here." Her smoothing voice pressed into Millie's head.  And she did.

"Why?" Millie questioned.

"Because the job of any parent is to guide and teach their child the right way. Even if it's a little uncomfortable."

Emerson answered. Matter of fact. As if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Millie reddened. The thought of spanking being a reusable resource for  Sebastian to guide her made her stomach drop.

She groaned while Emerson chuckled.  "It isn't all that bad. Just behave, and you won't have to get across his lap."

Millie looked back up at her, biting her lip. "Is that why he did you?  because you didn't behave.?"

Emerson stood and looked down at her when she asked this.  "That's the consequences." She just said as if it were traditional.

She held out her hand. "Now come on. Enough tears, you'll be fine,okay."

Millie reluctantly rose to her feet knowing she was being a little silly.

"Is that why there's that paddle on the wall? On the side of the mirror." she asked though probably already knew the answer.

Emerson chuckled merely. A flash of redness graciously appears on her cheeks. As she knew the reasons for that implement hung on the side of the mirror.

"Yes." She confessed.  "Because, under this roof. In this family we're held accountable."