The Strange Healing (10 page)

Frowning, Phil said, “Heather, that is wrong on so many levels.  What's wrong with you tonight?”

Heath was grinning.  He patted his brother-in-law's back as he walked past him into the condo, and murmured, “Yep, she's all yours now, buddy.” 

Phil was still shaking his head, but Heath did see the smile on his face.  “Yep, she is mine, and I consider myself fortunate.”  Looking at his wife making plans already with Sara, he added, “Most of the time.”

Heath laughed at the added comment.  “She just needs reigned in a little every now and then.  Trust me, I know.”

Phil laughed, as well.  “I'm sure you do.  She's about to be reigned in but good if she doesn't settle herself down pretty soon here.”

Heath took Sara's suitcase to the extra bedroom, then the men joined the two ladies, who were in the kitchen.

As soon as they walked in the door Heather asked, “Do you guys want hot coffee or something cold?  I made a chocolate cake, but what do you want to drink?”

Heath was glad Heather had made a cake.  That was a good excuse for him to stay and visit a while.  He was worried about Sara, and wanted to see for himself that she was calm and seemed okay staying here before he left.  Looking at his sister, he said, I'd love to have a cup of coffee and cake."  He walked up behind Sara and put his arms around her waist and said, “I put your suitcase in the extra room, Honey.”

Heather looked over at them and smiled.  “You two look so good like that.”

Heath sighed and said, “Heather, we need to talk.”

“
Sure.  What about?”

“
Look at me, Heather.”

She turned to him, with a confused look on her face.  Her eyes widened as she said, “Heath, what's wrong?  I don't like the frown on your face.  Whatever it is you think I did, I didn't do it.”

He smiled a bit as he said, “Yes, Honey, you did.  I want to talk about what you just said.”

“
What did I just say?”

“
You said we look good like this, together.”  He hugged Sara to him a bit tighter.  “I want you to know something.  We talked quite a bit tonight, and it seems we're both attracted to each other.  I want –”

“
I knew it!  That's fantastic.  See, I told you –”

Phil broke in.  “Heather, be quiet and let your brother finish what he wants to say.” 

“He already did.  Didn't you hear him?  I knew it!”

“
Heather, I don't think he's done yet, and I want you to listen carefully to what he says, because I have a feeling he's about to tell you what I planned on telling you later tonight.  Only I'd be telling you again, for the second time.  So listen carefully.”

Heather didn't miss the warning in her husband's words, and she quietly turned to Heath.  “I'm sorry, Heath.  Go on.”

With a stern expression, Heath said, “Thank you.  As I was saying, Sara and I both feel an attraction for the other, but our relationship is young.  It's just getting started, and I want you to let it be.  Give it a chance, and see if it develops on its own.  I know you think we're perfect for each other, and to be honest with you, I'm very hopeful myself.  I'm eager to get to know Sara better because I've very much enjoyed the time we've spent together.  But if we're meant to be, it will happen on its own.”

Heath saw Phil nodding his head and knew this was what he intended to talk to Heather about as well.

“As much as I know your intentions are good, please don't keep telling me what a wonderful person Sara is or how suited we are for each other.  And I know you've done the same thing to her because I caught her trying to cover for you today.”

Sara spoke up with a soft, “Sorry, Heather.”

Heath immediately jumped in.  “You don't have anything to be sorry about, Sara.  You didn't do anything wrong.  I've asked Heather not to push this relationship, but she did anyway.  She had good intentions, but she still did what I'd asked her not to do.  When I realized what she'd done, you jumped in and tried to cover for her so I wouldn't get upset with her.  Why would you apologize for that?  All you were doing is trying to keep her out of trouble, something a friend would do.”

Phil chuckled when Heath added, “A misguided friend maybe, but still a friend.  Anyway, you don't have anything to apologize for, Sara.”

Phil took over next.  “Heather, on the other hand, does have something to apologize for, since Heath asked her to butt out, and her husband didn't ask, but told her to butt out.”  Looking at his wayward wife, he asked, “Anything you'd like to say, Heather?”

Heather looked from one to the other, and said very sincerely, “Heath, Sara, I'm sorry.  Heath, I really was just trying to help, and I'm glad you know that, but you're right, I had no business interfering.  I'm sorry.”  Phil was smiling as he headed over to give his wife a kiss.  He paused, though, when she added, “For what it's worth, I still think you guys are meant for each other and it will work out, but I promise, I'll try and let you two do it alone.”

He finished crossing the room to get to his wife as he said, “You just couldn't stop yourself from adding that last part, could you, brat?”  He swatted her butt once when he got to her, and then pulled her into his arms.  “I still love you, Heather, but we'll be talking more about this later tonight.”

Heather's shoulders slumped and her eyes went to the floor, but she returned Phil's hug.

Sara was shocked when she saw Phil swat Heather.  She'd never seen anyone do that before, but Heather didn't object, so she assumed Phil must have been playing.  But then she noticed Heather's subdued reaction to what Phil said, and she wondered about it.

Heath watched Sara's reaction to Phil and Heather, and had to smile.  She was obviously not accustomed to the practice of spanking.  She could be in for a surprise over the next few days.

Not wanting either of the women to dwell on that one swat too much, he asked, “Heather, do you want me to take this coffee tray into the living room?”

“
That'd be great.  Thanks, Heath.  You guys all go on in and get comfortable.  I'll be right in with the cake.”

The four of them had cake and coffee, mixed with lots of talk and laughter.  Heath kept a watchful eye on Sara until he felt comfortable leaving her for the night, after making plans for breakfast. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Phil, Heather and Sara visited a little while longer, until Phil saw Sara yawn.  “Sara, I know Heath said you had some bad experiences you need to work through, but he didn't tell me anything about them.  He said that's entirely up to you, that if you want us to know about any of it you'll tell us.  I want you to know that we agree completely.  Heather's experience as a nurse may be of help to you, and my experiences as a police officer may be of some help, I don't know.  I just want you to know, though, that that is entirely your choice.  Don't feel like you need to talk to either one of us about anything that happened until and unless you're totally ready to.  Okay?”

“Thank you both,” she said sincerely.  “You guys have meant so much to me, I can't explain it.  I want to tell you both about it eventually, but I just don't think I can yet.  I'm still surprised Heath got it out of me, but I'm glad he did.”

Heather nodded as she said, “
I'm glad he did, too, Sara.  He could always get me to talk when I didn't want to, either, but I was always glad he did.  So I hear what you're saying.  But don't worry about telling us.  When you're ready to talk to us about it you'll know.”

“
That's right,” Phil confirmed.  “But having said that, we don't have to know what happened to know how terrifying a nightmare can be, so if you have any problem like that while you're staying here, let us know.  And I'll warn you now, if we hear you in what sounds like distress we'll be in your room to check on you.”  He grinned as he said, “So I guess I'm suggesting that if you normally sleep nude, you may want to consider a nightgown tonight.”

Heather watched Sara turn red and admonished, “Phil!  You embarrassed her.”

He grinned again as he said, “Well, I would have embarrassed her more if I'd gone in to make sure she was all right and she was lying there naked.”

Sara giggled and assured them, “Not to worry, either of you.  I sleep in pajamas.  And thank you.  It's comforting knowing I won't be alone tonight if I have another nightmare.  Hopefully I'll sleep better knowing that I'm not alone.  And I do feel better after talking to Heath.”

The three said their goodnights and went to their respective bedrooms.  Sara took a shower and climbed into bed, exhausted.

Phil followed Heather into their bedroom, shut the door, and turned to see a nervous little lady watching him.  “Nervous, wife?”

“Yes,” Heather admitted.  “I'm sorry, Phil.”

“
I'm glad.  But tell me, what are you sorry about?”  When Heather didn't respond immediately, he asked, “Are you sorry because you're about to get your cute little butt spanked, or are you sorry that I was there and heard Heath admonish you for ignoring his wishes?  Or is it something altogether different that you're sorry for?”

Heather shrugged her shoulders as if defeated.  “All of the above.”  At Phil's raised eyebrow, she explained, “I'm sorry you heard Heath yell at me because that's probably why you're going to spank me, and I'm sorry about that because obviously, I don't want to be spanked.  But more importantly, I'm sorry because I see now that I disappointed Heath, and you know I hate that.  I'm also sorry because I should have had more faith in Heath and Sara.  I mean it when I say they're meant for each other, but I don't want it to look like I think they need my help for it to work.”

Phil held his arms open to her and she quickly stepped into his embrace.  “Honey, this is what drives me crazy.”

“
What's that?”

“
Now that Heath called you on the carpet, you stop and think about it.  You're right; you shouldn't have interfered in their blossoming relationship, for several reasons.  One of those reasons, of course, was that your brother asked you to butt out.  Also, Honey, they need to discover all the good traits the other has on their own.  It will mean much more to them to see it for themselves.”

“
You're right.”

“
Okay, let's get this over with then and get to bed.  I'm sure you're going to want to spend some time with Sara tomorrow, so we need to get some sleep.”

“
Phil, do we really have to?  I see now that I didn't do them the favor I thought I was doing.”

“
And I wouldn't be doing you a favor if I didn't consistently give you a reason to stop and think first next time.”  He waited until he saw her accept what he'd said before saying, “Okay, Honey, go get ready for bed, but leave your nightgown off.  I'll expect you back here, ready to lay your cute little butt over my knees within ten minutes.”

Watching the love of his life shuffle off dejectedly to the bathroom about broke his heart.  He disliked spanking her just as much as she disliked being spanked.  But he also knew she needed them, and she knew it, as well.  Heather tended to be very emotional, and as such she often acted before stopping to think.  He knew that's why she was way too willing to open her door without checking who was knocking, and she often put her foot in her mouth, saying something she shouldn't.  After she thought about what she'd said she felt bad. 

She admitted to him one time that without him keeping her in check, and Heath before him, she felt like she was spiraling out of control.  So although she hated the spanking at the time, she always felt grounded afterward.  And although she fought to get away at the time, she always respected not only his right to do it, but was grateful afterward, cuddling up to him as she recovered.  He loved her with every breath he had. 

Unfortunately, he knew she wouldn't be happy with him tonight, though, as he retrieved the paddle from his nightstand and laid it on the bed.  They had several things they needed to discuss.

As if on cue, Heather walked out of the bathroom looking forlorn and walked toward him where he sat on their bed.  She stopped short when she saw the paddle.  “Phil, no, not that, please.”

“
Come on over here, Heather.”

“
Phil, no, please?  Why?”

“
Heather, you know you're just making it worse for yourself.  Come over here and let's get this started so we can get it done and behind us.  We'll go over everything, including the reason the paddle's here, and you know that.  Have I ever spanked you without you knowing exactly why you were getting spanked?

She sighed and dropped her head.  To her credit, though, she shuffled slowly, as slowly as she thought she could get away with, over to Phil.

As soon as she was close enough he gently took her hand and pulled her over his left knee, resting her upper body on the bed.  He did that anytime he planned on giving her a longer than normal, or harder than normal spanking, and that along with the paddle had her extremely concerned.  She didn't know what she'd done that warranted this.

He knew she was worried, so he didn't make her wait.  He settled her over his knee and rubbed her bare bottom a few moments while he said, “We have several things we need to discuss, Heather, starting with the way you treated your brother.  He asked you to let him and Sara find their own way, but you wouldn't do it.”  With that he started the spanking.  He let her know he was serious right from the start.  He varied the speed of his spanking, as well as the location.  That kept her off balance.  She never knew where the next swat would land or when.  He knew she hated that, but he was out to make a point today.