19. Chapter Eighteen
Janie was pacing back and forth in her living room. Eleanor was playing on the other side of the room, oblivious to what was going on. Did she make a mistake when she called Mac? She needed to get Eleanor to this doctors appointment.
Maybe she should have called her sister. Though, if she was to do that she should have called a while ago so Joann could make her way down. Janie’s hands flew up to her face and she rubbed it.
There were so many things going through her mind. She didn’t like not having a car to go and do what she needed to. She didn’t want to bother Mac with little things, but he had told her to. He made sure to explain that he would come and help for even the little things. But she didn’t want to take advantage of that.
Janie sighed as her phone went off. Was that Mac telling her he couldn’t come any more? She pulled out her phone and frowned. Why was Donald texting her?
Donald
Can we talk? I have something I want to talk about.
Janie scoffed. Did he really expect her to want to talk to him after everything he had done? He cheated on her with a younger, barely legal, girl. He had told her he didn’t want anything to do with Eleanor and signed over his rights. She loved Eleanor and would do anything for her.
She never really loved Donald and she was seeing that now. Well, she had started to see it after he cheated on her. He was filling her void and fulfilling her dream of being a wife and mother. That dream ended really soon after.
Janie
No. I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want anything to do with you or your girlfriend. You lost your chance with me.
Did she have to say all of that? No. But she wanted to get the point across. This was the first time he was texting her since they got the divorce. Why was he contacting her now?
Donald
Please. It’s important.
Janie
No.
There was no way she was going to meet up with him. He was in the past and she had nothing to do with him.
Another text came through on her phone and she wanted to scream at it. Did Donald not get the hint that she didn’t want to meet up with him?
Joann
You should give him a chance. Mac seems to really like and care for you. You never loved your ex-husband. Eleanor likes him which is huuuuugggeeeee.
Janie sighed once again. Joann hadn’t texted her about him being over last night when she dropped Eleanor off. She had been waiting for the text from her sister about it. Joann never kept her opinion to herself on what she thought Janie should do.
Once again, she was telling her to do something. But Joann didn’t understand. She had a husband who adored her and their kids. They weren’t divorced and she wasn’t a single mother. She didn’t know what Janie was doing or going through.
Before Janie could respond to her sister, there was a knock on the door. That must be Mac. She walked over and picked up Eleanor when he knocked again.
“One second,” Janie yelled.
She walked over to the door with Eleanor on her hip and opened the door. Mac scowled at her.
“Did you look through the peephole to see if it was me?” Mac asked.
No hello or how was she doing. Straight to if she had looked to see who it was or not.
“No, I didn’t. I knew it was you,” Janie said.
“But it could have been someone else. You need to start checking it in case it’s not someone you’re expecting. What if you were holding Eleanor and it was a robber?”
Janie sighed. He was right, but nothing like that had happened yet. It was a quiet and nice neighborhood. Nothing went on.
“I don’t think I need to. It’s a safe neighborhood,” Janie replied.
“Until it’s not,” he said. “If I find out that you open it up again without looking, I’m going to spank your bottom.”
“Spankies!” Eleanor yells. “Nooooooo!”
Mac cupped her cheeks with his hands.
“No spankies for you. Just for mama,” he gently said.
Eleanor cuddled her face into his hand and closed her eyes. She was getting attached to him. Joann was right about Eleanor liking Mac.
“Macie!” Eleanor yelled. “Uppies!”
Mac looked at Janie and she nodded her head. He gave Eleanor a big smile before he picked her up out of her mama’s arms. She snuggled into his chest and Janie’s heart started to melt even more. That was a precious moment.
But her heart sank. Eleanor didn’t have a father figure in her life because her father didn’t want her. What was Janie going to do when she grew up and started to ask questions or wanted a dad? Janie wasn’t prepared for that and didn’t know if she ever would be.
“You can’t spank me,” Janie said.
“We’ve already gone over this, but I’ll be glad to do it again,” Mac replied. “If I ever make you uncomfortable, say your safeword and I’ll take a step back.”
She nodded her head. Sure, he had made her feel uncomfortable at some points but it wasnt anything bad. Definitely not safeword worthy. It would have been inappropriate to say it in those situations.
“But, if I find out that you open the door without looking again, if it’s for me, your sister, or anything, I’ll spank your bare bottom,” Mac said.
Janie gulped and moved her hands to hold her bottom. She didn’t want to get spanked by him. She knew for sure it would hurt so badly.
“It’s a promise. I don’t say things and back down,” Mac said. “But you already knew that.”
She nodded her head. She did know that. He had sent her to the corner at the club and he had made good on other promises that he made. Like right now. He had come to take Eleanor and her to the doctors office.
“What if I take an Uber? Are you going to spank me then?” she asked. “Maybe next time I should take an Uber if I need to go somewhere.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “You do that, and you wont be able to sit for a week.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” she whispered.
“It won’t be fun.” They stared at each other for a couple of seconds. It was almost like he was waiting to see if she was going to say or do something else.
“Do you need anything else before we go?” Mac asked.
Janie grabbed her purse on the little table near the door. “I’ve got everything I need in here.”
“Keys to your house?”
She nodded her head and held them up. They were attached to her purse. She tended to forget sometimes where they were. So, she decided to keep them attached to her purse.
“Come on. Lock the door and then we’ll get in my car,” Mac said.
Janie walked out, closed the door, and locked it before they made their way down her sidewalk. Right as they got to his car, she gasped.
“What’s wrong?” Mac asked. “Did you forget something? Feel alright?”
“I left the car seat in my car. We don’t have one,” Janie said.
She didn’t like it. Eleanor was just a kid and needed to be in the car seat.
“I bought one for Eleanor,” Mac said. “Don’t worry. I asked my sister and also did a lot of research before I purchased one. I bought one that is good and safe.”
Janie opened her mouth to speak.
“And I made sure to watch several videos and video chatted with my sister to see if I had installed it right,” he said.
“Wow,” she mumbled. She was not expecting him to say all of that. Janie had honestly thought if he had bought one he wouldn’t have gone through all the research. But he was showing that he cared.
“I also bought a booster seat for you,” Mac said as he opened two doors.
Janie glared at him. “I’m not sitting in that. I’m a grown adult who doesn’t need one.”
“I think with your height you do. I did research on that as well and it was recommended for you to use one.”
Her mouth hung open. He was just prepared for everything and anything.
“The only way you’re sitting in my car is if you sit in it,” Mac said. “I want you both to be as safe as possible. That means she goes in a car seat and you in a booster seat. No one will be able to tell. Don’t worry.”
Janie was shocked. “I’m not worried that people will see the booster seat,” she retorted.
“Then why are you making such a big deal out of it?” he asked as he buckled Eleanor into her car seat.
“I just don’t think I need one.”
“I think there’s more to it. Do you want to tell me?”
Mac had stood up at this point and closed the door to Eleanor’s side. He was looking at her, giving her his full attention.
“It just seems like you’re treating me like a child, not the adult that I am,” she whispered.
She didn’t know why she said that, but part of it was true. Maybe it was the fact that she was worried he was seeing her as a child to take care of and not someone he was interested in. Which she needed to get out of her mind. She couldn’t get attached to him.
“I want you safe as my woman but also as my Little. I see you as the woman who Im interested in, but also as the Little who calls out to my Daddy side,” Mac gently said as he walked closer to her.
He cupped her face with his hands and she leaned into them.
“I’ll never see you as a child who needs to be taken care of. But I will see you as my woman who is also a Little and needs her Daddy to spoil her and make sure that she is safe,” Mac said.
She shook her head. “You aren’t my Daddy.”
“Yet,” he gave her a wink. “I’m a patient man. I’ll show you that I’m not going to leave either one of you. I want you and Eleanor all to myself. I want to be your Daddy, your man, lover, and to be Eleanors dad.”
Tears filled her eyes and she closed them. She didn’t want to think of this right now.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
She nodded her head and he helped her climb into the car. Mac made sure she was secure with her seatbelt and on the booster seat. It was weird sitting on when she hadn’t sat on one since she was little.
“The pediatric place that’s fifteen minutes away?” Mac asked as he got into the car.
“Yes,” Janie whispered.
Mac started to drive there. He had put on some kids music and Eleanor was eating it up. She was making cute noises and loving every minute of it.
“Sometimes I take care of my sisters kids when she needs to have a moment to herself,” Mac said. “I bought some stuff and they love this CD. I thought Ellie would like to listen to it while we are heading to the doctor’s office.”
It was so sweet of him to think of Eleanor like that. No one had besides Janie. She didn’t know how to feel about that. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“No need to thank me,” Mac replied. “I just want to make you two happy. Spoil you, love you, but also discipline both of you when you need it.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need any discipline,” Janie said.
“You definitely do,” Mac replied. “You’re naughty sometimes. Naughty girls need some discipline.”
Janie crossed her arms. “Do not.”
“Definitely do. It helps the guilt go away. After punishments, the slate is clean.”
How did he know that she had felt guilty about some things? Was he spying on her? Put cameras in her house?
“We’re here,” Mac said. “I’ll come around and help you out before I get Ellie.”
“I can get Eleanor,” Janie said before he got out of the car.
“I want to help. But if you really want to, you can.” He got out of the car and walked around before opening her door.
“Give me a second and I’ll get her out of her car seat,” Mac said.
She watched him move with ease as he unbuckled everything and got the toddler out of the car. Eleanor snuggled into his chest and her heart melted.
“Come on,” Mac said. “Do you want to hold her?”
She did, but she also didn’t want to take her from his arms. Eleanor looked so comfortable and relaxed.
“You don’t need to come in. It’ll just be a quick check up,” Janie said before they started to walk.
“Nope,” he replied. “I’m coming in.”
She rolled her eyes and they walked towards the entrance of the building. Eleanor was pretty good with doctors right now. Which Janie was grateful for. She had seen several kids screaming and crying in the waiting room.
“How can I help you?” the lady at the desk asked. “Hello, Miss Eleanor.” Eleanor waved at the lady before putting her head back on Mac’s chest.
“We have an appointment with Doctor Harold Smith for her,” Janie said.
“Just sign right here and I’ll let them know you’re here. And who is this fine young man holding Eleanor?”
“I’m her dad,” Mac replied before Janie could. Janie and the lady’s eyebrows went up. Did he really just say he was Eleanor’s dad?
“Well. Happy to see you coming to the doctors appointments now,” the lady said. “Have a seat and they’ll call you shortly.”
They walked towards the waiting room and sat down.
“What was that?” Janie asked.
“Well, I plan on being her dad,” he said as he looked at her. “Too much right now?”
She nodded her head. They weren’t even together yet. Were they ever going to be together?
“Is Harold Smith brothers with Mike Smith who works in the ER?” Mac asked. “The one who stitched up Monroe?”
Janie nodded her head. “Yeah, I didn’t even know until Monroe told me about that. Small little town so it makes sense.”
Mac leaned over and kissed her forehead before leaning back in his chair and rubbing Eleanor’s back. This was going to end in heartbreak, for all three of them.