rarely positive. I don't
like that.”
“ I
see.” I moved back over to the sofa and sat down. He maybe saw me
as his girlfriend. He had said that to the doctor on the phone when I
was sick last time. He had spanked me terribly after finding out that
I went to church, looking for a man. He may have pretended that that
wasn't the reason, but I guessed it was.
He
sat down next to me. The sofa was long. It wasn't necessary. Should I
just ask him right out if he wanted me as a girlfriend? Would he say
'no' and I would feel unbelievably stupid? This wasn't the normal way
to meet people. What if he said yes? How would I respond?
Did
I want him as a boyfriend? There were pros and cons with that. I
would end up in the same kind of relationship as my poor friend. We
could compare bruises. No, I didn't want him as my boyfriend. It
didn't matter, he had made it clear in the beginning that we could
never have that kind of relationship. He maybe even had a girlfriend.
I wondered where her toothbrush was.
My
medicine kicked in. I leaned into his warmth and decided to worry
about that another day.
I
woke alone again. I went to the bathroom and then back to sleep. I
could smell turkey the next time I got up. It made me feel hungry. I
noticed a pile on the coffee table. It was three dresses and a three
pack of underwear. I checked the labels they were all my size.
Spooky.
I
got up and peeked in the kitchen. My head was a lot clearer today. I
could go home now. I wondered if my car had been towed. A cab was the
best idea.
“ Happy
Thanksgiving,” I muttered.
He
turned to me and smiled. “Happy Thanksgiving. How do you feel this
morning?”
“ A
lot better, thanks. I think I can stop with the pain medicine. My
hand doesn't hurt anymore.”
He
took both of my hands in his. “That's great because you only have
one pill left. We'll save that for this evening. I'll get your bath
started for you.” He walked past me and into the bathroom. “I got
you some things for you to wear. They are on the table.”
He
was drawing a bath for me like I was a little kid or something. I
should just go now. This guy seemed to want me to be his daughter. He
was so good looking, and he didn't have a girlfriend. This I should
have noticed before.
I
followed him into the bathroom. A nice bath before I left was a great
idea. I would even wear one of the sun dresses he got for me home and
the new underwear.
I
tried to picture him at the store buying it. Did he feel stupid or
proud?
“ Katherine,
it's time. In you go. I still have lots to do in the kitchen. Call me
if you need anything.”
I
picked out one of the dresses. It was plaid with browns and gray and
predominant pink stripes. I chose a pair of light pink panties to
match. The other dresses followed the same pattern just in other
colors. My things had been removed.
I
went in and washed up. There was a hairbrush there too. I wondered if
he could even afford this. He didn't seem to have to go to work. Or
had he taken the week off so he could take care of me? I'd ask him
later. I brushed my hair and then twisted it into a knot. I stepped
into the tub and let the warm water take away some of my tension.
He
was right no one would wonder where I was. He could just keep me and
no one would be the wiser. Did he realize that? I hoped not. Famous
author disappears, never to be seen again.
I
pushed myself out of the tub. A big job with just one hand. I let the
water out and dried myself off, then washed out the tub. I was
definitely feeling well enough to go home.
I
put on my new clothes. They fit well. The dress would have fit better
it I had a bra on. My breasts were bouncing around a bit much. I'd
have to ask him where mine was. I brushed my hair so they were
covered up.
I
went out feeling practically naked. I stood in the kitchen entryway
again. He smiled at me and pulled out a my chair. I thanked him as I
sat.
“ Just
tell me what to put on your plate.” He listed off all the things
that
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