Chapter 3 #2
“What the hell is going on in here?” Rory demanded, grabbing some paper towels and trying unsuccessfully to wipe the dripping mess off of his chest. “What are you girls, five? Clean this damn mess up before Ma gets home,” he ordered, throwing the paper towels down in disgust. “I’ll deal with you later,” he growled fixing his eyes firmly on Tess.
“Geeze, Rory, don’t blow a gasket,” Bridget yelled after him before Tess could get her hand over Bridget’s mouth. “It’s not like it was acid or poison or something.”
“Shut up,” Tess pleaded, “Please, before he comes back here.”
“Ah, his bark is worse than his bite,” Bridget insisted. “Come on; let’s get this cleaned up before the real threat comes home.
“Your madre?” Tess asked, still shaken by Rory’s promise.
“Si, mi madre,” Bridget laughed.
* * *
The girls had the mess cleaned up before Maeve came home and shooed them out of the kitchen.
“Bridget, what in heavens name is in your hair? You best be gettin’ in the shower before it dries.
Tess, lass, you look a little flushed,” Maeve remarked, putting her hand on Tess’s forehead to check for a fever.
“Do you feel all right? You should go sit on the swing for a bit, it’s not likely this mild weather will be stayin’ much longer.
Go and get yourself a little fresh air.”
Nodding, Tess made her way from the kitchen, grabbed her sweater from the front hall closet and settled on the porch swing.
Rory’s truck was gone, so he had probably gone home to change.
God, Bridget never knew when to shut up.
She and Tess had become quite good friends but if Tess ended up getting a free trip over Rory’s knee, Bridget was going to get …
get what? It’s not like Tess could do anything about it.
Telling Bridget would be like taking out an ad in the local newspaper.
Hopefully, Rory would cool down after dinner.
His Madre’s cooking always seemed to put everyone in a fairly good mood.
Sighing, Tess closed her eyes and set the swing to swaying gently.
Hearing Bridget running down the stairs followed by the screen door slamming shut, Tess braced herself. Sitting up she watched as the small, golden haired tornado approached and plopped down on the swing beside her.
“So, what’s going on?” Bridget asked, tucking her legs under her and pinning Tess with her green eyes.
“I cannot tell you,” Tess told her firmly.
“Why not? Aren’t we friends?”
“Yes, we are friends, but you, my friend, have a big mouth.” “Moi?” Bridget asked with an offended look on her face.
“Yes, you,” Tess answered, not buying the innocent act for a moment.
“I don’t know how you can say that. Haven’t I always gone out of my way to make you feel welcome here?”
“Yes, of course you have.”
“Haven’t I tried to help you every time you get in trouble?”
“Yes, you have,” Tess admitted, remembering last week when Rory had been looking all over the house bellowing her name. Bridget had taken her hand and pulled her down to the cellar until he had given up.
“If I promise not to tell a living soul, will you please tell me what’s wrong? I only want to help you, Tess,” Bridget told her truthfully. “I’m sorry about the stuffing thing. If Rory starts with you, he’ll have to go through me to get to you.”
Tess smiled despite herself. “Like picking you up and setting you out of the way would be a hardship on someone as strong as Rory.”
“It doesn’t matter. I can kick and scream loud enough to bring the whole family running. Believe me, I might be small, but I’m powerful,” Bridget continued flexing her arm muscle and wiggling her eyebrows until Tess laughed.
“All right, I will tell you, but you must swear to me that you will never tell another.”
“I swear,” Bridget told her, hand over her heart.
Tess took a deep breath. “I think I have a crush on your brother,” she said quickly before she could change her mind.
“Oh God,” Bridget responded, uncurling her legs and flopping back on the swing. “I was afraid it was something like that.”
For several minutes, only the tiny squeak of the swing could be heard. Finally, Bridget sat up and turned sideways to face Tess.
“Rory, I hope? Well, actually I don’t hope, but it would be better than if you had a crush on Patrick.”
“Of course, Rory,” Tess replied shocked. “Patrick is married. Mi madre would be rolling over in her grave.”
“Okay, sorry, sorry. Look, Tess, I really care for you and I would like for you to be my sister, but the men in my family, they’re well …
different. Oh, I know they’re attractive in a caveman sort of way.
No, not that. What I mean is if you like tall, strong, big men, then I suppose they would appeal to you.
No, what I mean is … they all have a very a … dominant nature. Sort of.
“Oh, I’m not saying this very clearly at all,” Bridget continued, watching the panicked expression on Tess’s face.
“Okay, I’ll just spit it out as best I can and then you can ask me any questions.
They have this antiquated notion that the ‘husband’ should rule the house,” Bridget continued, taking Tess’s hand.
“Tess, they spank their wives.”
“All of them?” Tess asked in disbelief.
“Yes, that’s what I’m trying to tell you, all of them, even the ones who aren’t related except by marriage.”
“Even Nick?”
“Yes, Nick, Mason, even Noah. I know. It’s hard to even wrap my brain around it.”
“Why? Why do they do this?”
“I don’t really know. They think the husband should be the head of the household and that the wife should … God, it’s hard to even say the word, but they think the wife should obey.”
“You are kidding with me, right?”
“No, Tess, I’m not. That’s why it’s very important you understand if you already have a crush on Rory.”
“And the wives, they are okay with this … this spanking?”
“No, I don’t think so, but what can they do? They love them.”
“I am trying to understand this, Bridget. Molly, she too lets Patrick spank her?”