Page 59 of Taking Her Medicine

“Is everything okay, Daddy?”

“No, kitten, but sit down and eat first.”

Zoelle obliged and we enjoyed the meal, but she stayed mostly silent. I tried to drag some conversation out of her, but she finally folded her napkin and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Are we breaking up?”

“I have no idea why that’s what your little brain jumped to, butno. Stand up and put your palms on the table.”

She dropped her chin to her chest but rose to her feet and did as I’d instructed. “I don’t do well with things hanging over my head that I don’t know, Sir.”

“I’m sorry for the unfortunate news I’m about to share.” I stood and selected a huge plastic spatula from a jar on the counter. I pressed my hand on her lower back, flattening her body against the table and landed several harsh slaps on each of her thighs. Bright pink spots shone upon her milky white skin but I kept going. I tucked her tee-shirt into her panties, and shifted focus to the lowest part of her curvy bottom. Soon her entire rump was blushing and hot to the touch.

“Ouch!” Her feet drummed up and down. “Ow! I’m so sorry for jumping to stupid conclusions. Please tell me what’s happening.”

I untucked the shirt and smoothed it back down to her thighs. “Go back to your seat.”

“Yes, Sir.” Zoelle obeyed, her eyes locked on mine as she sank into the cushion.

“We have to leave today.”

“No, Daddy! We just got here.” Huge tears welled up in her eyes. “That’s not fair.”

Her tears broke my damn heart into bits, and I swallowed down the lump in my throat, hating that I brought her all the way out here and had no choice but to go back home. “I’ve been dragged into a wrongful death lawsuit at the hospital by one of the families who was involved in the motor vehicle accident. I’m not worried; there wasn’t anything I did wrong. But the preliminary hearing is tomorrow afternoon.”

“Is there a chance you could lose your medical license?”

“No. I happened to be one of the last people with his hands on the patient. It happens sometimes, kitten. The family is hurting, they lost several members—which is just unthinkable—and they need some sort of relief. It’s not personal.”

“Can’t you attend virtually, Daddy?”

“No, kitten. I requested they postpone the board hearing, but it’s out of my hands. I need to be there in person. Please understand, I didn’t expect this to happen.”

She pouted and threw her plate across the table. It crashed to the floor, strewing the remaining bits of her breakfast across the white tile. Seeing the mess she’d made seemed to push Zoelle over the edge. The tears she had been holding back poured down her cheeks as she sobbed. I let her cry for a while, her poor heart sounding just as broken as mine.

After a while I reached over and rubbed her back. “Go stand in the corner, Zoelle. I understand you’re upset, and I’m upset, too. But we don’t throw things.”

“I’m so sorry, Daddy. I’m just so fucking irritated.” Her eyes darted to mine.

“Are you little or big right now?” I tilted my head to the side as I studied her, waiting for a well thought out answer.

“I keep going little, so I’ve been cursing to try and get into my big space, but it’s not working so well. I’m not attempting to be disrespectful. I’m not mad at you. It’s just that we were supposed to have this great time…”

“Well, not to add sprinkles to this shitstorm, but the clinic can’t afford to keep me on. No matter what the outcome of the case is, whether proven true or not, my medical insurance is going to spike. They’ve already thanked me for everything I’ve done, but… I don’t work there anymore.”

“What the hell, Aaron!” She got to her feet. “How can theydothat?”

“It’s not something you have to worry about, and I hate that it’s added stress to you. Try not to think about it right now. Do as I asked and then we’ll clean up and get on the road.”

“That’s bullshit.” She shook her head, her lips in a tight thin line. “I don’t mean about what you asked me. Iwilldo what you asked, Sir. But the crap with the clinic. You loved working there.”

“I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve yet, kitten.” I gestured to the corner.

“Will you tell me what they are?”

“Corner.”

“I’m not refusing your order. Not really.” She pulled at the hem of her tee-shirt. “I’m just really worried.”

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