One April Fool (4 page)

That was how Derrick convinced himself to fix dinner for the two of them.  He found all the herbs he could ever want, and if he needed an ingredient for any of the dishes he prepared, all he had to do was open the fridge, or go to the pantry.  For a single woman, April had everything on hand.  He would almost think her kitchen was that of another Chef… if he didn’t know better, that is.

When dinner was ready, he went into the bedroom and woke April as gently as possible.  “April, dinner is ready.  You need to come and eat something.  Neither of us had lunch, and I know you are starving by now.”

April sat up and immediately cried out in pain.  “Oh my God, I hurt so much!”

“Yes, I am sure you do,” he said quietly as he helped her stand up.  “Wash up, and don’t take too long.  I hate for good food to go to waste.”

April hurried into the bathroom, wishing she didn’t need to pee, but it couldn’t be avoided, and she cried when she sat on the unyielding toilet seat.  She was going to be miserable for days!  April washed her face and hands, and tried not to look at her swollen eyes and lips.  She was one redhead who couldn’t cry and look pretty, and her face was a true mess.  In spite of everything, her stomach growled in hunger, and she wondered what kind of mess Derrick had made in her kitchen.

She started sniffing the appetizing aromas as soon as she left her bedroom, and followed her nose out into the kitchen.  April cringed when she spotted all the dirty dishes, but she couldn’t wait to eat. 

“I hope you have a good appetite; I got a bit carried away,” Derrick sheepishly admitted, placing two small plates with appetizers on the breakfast bar.  “I know you don’t feel like sitting to eat, April, but if you’d rather sit at the table instead of standing here… Well, just this once I’ll let you put a pillow on your chair…?”

“I don’t want to sit… even with a pillow, Derrick.  This looks heavenly; what is it?”

Chapter Four

Even though April had to stand at the breakfast bar to eat her meal, it was well worth standing there to eat every last bite!  “This is so fantastic.  You could be a Chef, Derrick.  Really!  You are so talented.”

“You must be talented, too, April.  Your kitchen is so well stocked it was a pleasure to prepare our meal.”

“I wanted to try a couple of new recipes this coming weekend.  But, this surpassed my abilities.  You are really good, though.  Have you considered working in a restaurant?” April asked.  “I know you are a businessman, but anyone who can cook the way you do should be doing it in a restaurant.  You would have tons of patrons come in to support you.”

Derrick felt himself blush.  “April, I’m so flattered by your compliments, but…” 

The telephone rang, drawing April’s full attention.  The answering machine picked up before April could reach the phone; it was Charity. April said a quiet ‘hello’ to her, and took the handset into the living room for a bit of privacy. 

The one thing that Derrick hated about cooking at home was all the darn dishes.  At work there were plenty of others to clean up his messes; but not here and now.  He made a face and was pleased when he saw there was a dishwasher.  That would help a lot!

April returned to the kitchen a few minutes later to find it spotlessly clean.  “Wow!  You cook amazing meals and clean up afterwards.  Thank you, Derrick.”

“You’re welcome, April.  So, tell me, why are you working for Mr. Brimley when you love to cook so much?  Why don’t you get a job working in a kitchen, or go to culinary school?”

“I can’t afford culinary school, for one thing, and there aren’t any great restaurants here; they’re all in the city.”

“So, what is wrong with moving?  Is there some reason you can’t?”

“No, not really,” she answered truthfully.  “It’s just that I’ve lived here for a long time and it’s all I know.”

“I would help you find a job if you didn’t want to go to school,” he offered.

“After the horrible way I treated your Aunt?”  She was shocked and it showed on her face.

“You are forgiven, April, and I think you need to forgive yourself or I will have to give you another spanking, and I don’t think either of us want to go through that again so soon.  I don’t enjoy making you cry in pain.”

She nodded, but she didn’t say anything and she wouldn’t look at him.  He’d embarrassed her once again.

“Why don’t you get some sleep, young lady.  I’ll be here early to drive you to work; I know your car is still there in the parking lot, and you’ll need a ride in the morning.”

“I could call Charity,” she immediately offered.

“No.  I will pick you up and stand with you when you speak to Mr. Brimley.”  With those words, he opened the door and left.  The apartment suddenly felt huge and very empty.

In the morning April was ready early.  She wondered when Derrick would come for her, but he came with just enough time to drive her to work and be there on time.  After greeting him, and shuddering when her extremely sore backside made contact with the seat of his car, she asked, “Is your Aunt coming to work today?”

Derrick nodded and answered, “She is.  She is acting like herself again, thanks to you.”

“But, I’m the one who caused all the trouble in the first place!”

“Aunt Penny doesn’t think so.  She regrets a few things, but it is up to her to explain herself.  He finally parked his car in front of Brimley Enterprises and reached for her before she could thank him and get out.  “Please give me a moment before we go inside, April.  I know that we met under trying circumstances, but I really do like you.  Would you consider spending some time with me and see where it takes us?”

April knew she was blushing, but she nodded and said, “I would like that a lot, Derrick.”

“Good.”  He smiled at her, and then said, “Let’s go and face Mr. Brimley.  Remember, he is a good man, and his bark is worse than his bite.  Just remember to be your sweet self, and if he does let you go, I’ll help you find another job.”

They got off the elevator in time to hear Mr. Brimley welcoming Penelope back to work.  April was amazed at the change in the woman.  She looked like herself once more, and she was smiling.  “There are Derrick and April now; I feared you were going to be late.”  She shook a warning finger at them and Derrick chuckled.

“Come on into my office,” Mr. Brimley said briskly, leading the way.  Once he seated Penelope he took a seat behind his own desk.  “I hear that you are the one who pulled the April Fools prank on Penny, young lady.”

“Yes sir.  I feel absolutely horrible about everything.  I had no idea that things would snowball the way they did.  I mean, Father Smith…!  He is a wonderful man and no one should even think that he or Miss Winslow would do anything of that sort.  I was foolish and naïve.  I am truly sorry.”

“You ought to be soundly spanked, young woman!” Horace Brimley believed in discipline.

“Horace, no…” Penelope gently scolded.  “I am afraid that I was too strict with April and the others, and brought on this desire to see me taken by surprise.”

“You, Penny…?”  His dark eyes settled on her.  “Up to your old tricks, Penny?”

“I didn’t realize it until I spent some time thinking yesterday after April came to me and apologized.  It would seem that I have forgotten that kindness reaps better rewards than constant scolding.”

“Mr. Brimley, I won’t leave April here unless you give me your word that no further disciplinary action will be taken…?”

“Further disciplinary action…?  I haven’t disciplined her at all… yet!”

“April has done everything within her power to make things right, sir.  She took responsibility for her actions.  She went to Aunt Penny and apologized and asked forgiveness; she saw Father Smith and endured a tongue lashing that was hard to sit through; she also gave him an apology to have published in the church bulletin so that everyone will know that Aunt Penny is innocent.  She made it clear that Father Smith was also a victim of the prank, and she retracted everything that she said in the program.  Sir, April has been punished enough.”

“I still say she needs a damned good spanking.”

“Horace, I wouldn’t like that at all.  I pushed her too hard, and now we must all learn to work past this.  I hope you won’t make that even more difficult…?  Please…?”

When Penelope smiled at Horace Brimley and he nodded, April was stunned to realize that they were in love with each other!  She couldn’t help but wonder why they hadn’t married.  Mr. Brimley’s wife died five years ago, at least!

Hell’s bells!
Derrick thought as he looked at his Aunt Penny’s face.  She was in love with Horace Brimley, and the man loved her, too.  He knew that he needed to get little April out of there before the man got her alone and carried out his threat to spank her again.  April did not deserve another spanking… not after the strapping he gave her the day before.

“Are you sure about this, Penny?”

“Yes, Horace, I am.  Come along, April.  We must surely be behind…!”

“We tried hard to keep up, Miss Winslow, but I think that Maureen was the only one in our department here all day yesterday, so I am sure you are right.”

Derrick had to smile at how easily his Aunt got April out of Mr. Brimley’s office.

“Son, I am grateful to you for handling this matter.  I never would have dreamed that April Burnside would do something so hateful.  I honestly do think she needs a sound spanking.”

“Sir, I don’t wish to embarrass April, but she cries if she has to sit for any amount of time at all right now.  I took my belt to her yesterday, and that was after the sound spanking I gave her.  She’s sorry and she has been punished more than enough.”

Horace chuckled.  “You like that little girl, don’t you?”

“A lot.”

“Well, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, young man.  You sweep that little girl off her feet and marry her and have babies.  That is all that really matters in this life… family.”

“I know I’m out of line, but why haven’t you asked Aunt Penny to marry you?  It’s plain as can be that the two of you love each other.”

“The truth is that she won’t have me.  I’ve asked her twice already.”

“Then don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, sir.  A man I respect gave me that advice.”

Horace chuckled.  “I hear you, Derrick.  Don’t worry about April.  I won’t paddle her, but I’m glad you were upfront with me.  I would have, in spite of what I said to Penny.”

Derrick nodded.  “Yes, I could see that.”  He bade the man goodbye and said he had to get back to work.  He stopped by April’s desk.  “Are you free on Sunday, April?  I won’t be able to get free again until then.”

“I’m free.  I’ll fix dinner for us.”

“Thanks.  I would really like that.”  Out of respect for her, he refrained from kissing her in front of the snooping Maureen and Charity.  He also knew his Aunt Penny was watching and waiting for him to come and tell her goodbye.   Once he finished that, he hurried on his way.  He owed some people some time off and a big thank you for over three days of patience with his being gone from work.

*****

The doorbell chimed through the house and she went to answer the summons.  “Horace, I wasn’t expecting you!”

“Of course not.  If I’d called and invited myself you would have told me ‘no’, so here I am.  Let me in, Penny, unless you want your nosy neighbor to hear what I have to say.  Or to see what I have in my pocket…”  He pulled out a paddle that was made of wood.

“This isn’t a good idea, Horace.”

“It is a very good idea… unless you want this spanking to take place at work or on your front porch…?”

“What?  You can’t be serious!”

“Oh, but yes I am serious.  You need a spanking every bit as much as young April did.”

“You promised you wouldn’t do that, Horace!”  Penelope was shocked.  “That poor child!”

“That poor child had a proper walloping from your nephew or I would have taken a paddle to her right there in my office.  And I am going to take the same advice I gave him and apply it to us.  You are going to spend some time over my knee, Penny, and once I’m done with you, we are going to be married.  I am damn sick and tired of your saying ‘no’ and protecting me from a woman who is ‘too set in her ways’ to get married.  I know how to handle that if it gets to be a problem.  Dammit, woman, I love you, and you love me.”

“It’s not that simple, Horace, and I really do want you to leave now.”

“No, not going to happen.  You are getting a damn good spanking.”

“Horace!  No!  It wouldn’t be right!”

“I seem to recall it worked wonders the one other time I did it…”

“But, I am too old for a spanking!” Penelope tried to convince him.

“You are only fifty-two, and that is far from old.”  While they’d been going back and forth, he’d slowly backed her into her living room, and he made himself at home and went around and closed all of her blinds to give them privacy.”

“What will the neighbors think, Horace?”  Penelope’s cheeks were pink with embarrassment.

“They’ll probably think you’re a lucky woman to have such a fine man courting you.  Only, the courting isn’t going to start until you have a nice red bottom.”  He took a seat on her sofa and bent his finger at her several times.  “Come here, Penny.  You know you earned this paddling.”

“For work matters?” she asked, her voice small as she looked at the paddle.

“Yes, ma’am… for starters.”  He patted his knee.  “Bend over and put your bottom right here on top of my thigh.  I want a nice target.”  He waited, but she didn’t move.  “It’s going to get a lot worse if you don’t obey me right now, Penny.  Young folks today might not believe in the obey part of wedding vows, but I do.  I know you do, too, and this is time to prove it.”

“We aren’t married!”

“We will be one day very soon!  Now come to me!”

Penelope knew that she was full of pride.  It was one of her worst faults.  But still, it was difficult to admit her wrongs, but submitting to a spanking for correction was beyond difficult.  She felt she was too old for a spanking.  For goodness sake, what would her family think if they learned that Horace paddled her?!  Her sisters wouldn’t submit to such an indignity!  And neither of them were very happy, she reminded herself.  “Will you be patient with me, Horace?  There are things you don’t know, and I’m not sure I can talk about them.  My refusal to marry you… It has nothing to do with you.  I think you a wonderful man.  I just… can’t…”

“We aren’t discussing marriage right now, Penny.  We’re talking about a spanking for treating the employees who work under you without the same respect you insist upon from others.  Do you recall admitting that to me this morning?” he asked.

Penelope nodded.

“You are going to get a spanking.  Right here.  Right now.  This is your very last opportunity to make it easier on yourself.  I’ll bare you if I have to chase you down.”  Her eyes filled with horror and he wanted to smile.  It was so difficult to remain firm at times.  Finally, Penelope came to him, and she carefully placed herself over his lap and the sofa.  “Are you comfortable, Penny?” he asked.

She laughed.  “You are planning to spank me, Horace!  How comfortable do you think I will be?”

“I am spanking your behind, but I don’t want the rest of you to suffer in any way.  You are going to be here for a good while.”  He suddenly gave her bottom a firm swat with his hand.  He’d placed the paddle beside him on the sofa, and he would get it when the time was right.  Another swat followed and he found that the caftan she was wearing prevented him from making sure he was spanking her behind, and not her lower back.  It wasn’t safe.  “Are you wearing panties, Penny?” he asked.

“What kind of question is that?” 

“A necessary one.  I’ll let you up to go and put on panties if you aren’t wearing any, but that caftan is hiding you too well, and I’m afraid I’ll spank you someplace I shouldn’t.  I’m going to pull it up and out of the way.  Last chance to go and put on panties if you aren’t wearing any…?”  When she tensed on his lap he had his answer.  He slid the garment up until her pretty panties were on view.  “You have a fine backside, Penny,” he complimented her, and then spanked her again and yet again.  “Yes, this is much better, don’t you think so?” he asked teasingly.  “Now, we’ll get down to business.  You need to remember that just because you are a supervisor, it doesn’t give you the right to be so demanding that young girls like April get so frustrated they do something foolish.  Hear me, Penny?”