Family Discipline

Chapter 37

Alex POV

I watch Grayson reluctantly do as he was told and close the office door behind him. I take a deep breath and go sit in front of a terrified Tanner.

"Mr. Reid I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I never meant for anyone to get in trouble."

He was on the verge of tears and looked like he was going to get sick at any moment. I get up and walk to a cabinet in the room and get a water bottle.

"Relax son,  my kids have lived in this house their entire lives. They know the rules and know what is expected of them and know what happens when they disobey. Here drink this and try and calm down."

"This is all my fault. Sneaking out,  going to New York, the urgency to go right then. That can't all fall on Gray. So please I deserve the same."

He gets up and starts to undo his belt and I reach out and stop him.

"Tanner stop, and let's talk for a minute okay. You're right that you made some mistakes and there will be consequences. Consider yourself grounded. No phone, no car,  no friends. You go to school, you go to basketball practice and your games and you come straight back here. No TV and internet is for school work only and will be monitored. Your car is mine for the moment as well."

"Gray got all of that too. He-I, I deserve the other part too."

"No son you don't."

"I don't need you to protect me Mr. Reid. I know what this is and what you're trying to do. I got knocked around at home for no reason. And now that there is a reason you won't do it."

"Tanner calm down. I'm not going to do anything you're not comfortable with, or that is going to cause you to take off. You always have a home here son,  but I also can't make you stay here. You're 18 an adult and have other options available to you."

"I deserve what Gray got. I won't run I have nowhere else to go. And if I take off Eden nor Gray would forgive me. "

"Wait right here okay."

I slip out of the room and head upstairs to grab Grayson and find my wife.

"Come with me for a second."

"What.  Why?"

"Let's get your mom first and we will talk but for now get up and come with me."

These kids and the why's every time you ask them to do something. I find Faith in the kitchen starting dinner.

"Gray sit down and before you start to get defensive and argue let me finish."

"No promises but I will try."

"Tanner is insistent I spank him for their little tour to see Eden. He is feeling guilty that Gray got it and he's only grounded. I don't want to do this. I don't want him to take this the wrong way and I don't want him to run."

"Dad no you can't do that to him. There is no way he can take what I did. I barely took it and I've had many years of practice."

"I wasn't going to strap him Grayson. Wasn't even going to do it bare. If anything to satisfy him no more than 25 with my hand. Honey this is your line of work and I need you to clear him. Run a psych evaluation on him and make sure he is okay to go through with this. No PTSD episodes, none of that not trying to push him too far."

"Dad"

"I'm giving you the run down so you don't bust in the room and get defensive. This is all Tanner and against my better judgement. If you can talk him down please be my guest."