by Twila

Feedback is always welcome: twila@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2008 by Twila. All Rights Reserved.

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“Is she nice?” Lizzie asked Megan as they were making up the bed in the guest room.

“She’s cool,” Megan replied.

“You said she’s in college?”

“Yes, but she’s only seventeen. She started early.”

“And whose sister is she again?”

“Mom’s. Remember she has four and Mama has three.” Megan gave her a grin at the surprised look on Lizzie’s face. “You actually have a very big family now.”

“I see that,” Lizzie muttered trying to process that piece of information. “Megan, what can she do to us?”

Megan looked at her, confused. “What do you mean, Lizzie?”

“Well, Mama said she’s going to baby sit us tonight, not that I really understand why I need a babysitter, but what happens if we don’t listen to her?” Lizzie got out in a rush, her face flaming in embarrassment.

“Oh. Well, when one of our aunt’s watches us, it’s no different than if our mom’s were home.”

Lizzie stared at her in horror. “You mean they can punish us just like Mama and Mom?” she squeaked out.

“Yes.” Megan just gave Lizzie a funny look. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Lizzie was quiet as they finished their task and returned downstairs.

Andy didn’t miss Lizzie’s behavior and pulled Megan aside. After talking with her, she decided they needed to have a chat with Lizzie.

Lizzie was a little nervous to find herself in the study, sitting in front of her parents, especially when they didn’t look too happy.

“Lizzie, tell me what’s bothering you about Heidi coming to watch you?” Allie asked gently, watching her daughter closely.

Lizzie shrugged.

Andy sat forward and lifted her daughter’s chin until she was looking at her. “That’s not an answer, Lizzie.”

“Do I have to have a babysitter? I’m not a baby,” Lizzie practically whined at her parents.

Andy would have laughed except it wasn’t funny at the moment. “Don’t whine, Lizzie,” she warned her. “And yes, you do. We know that technically you are old enough to watch yourself, but even if you were our only child, we wouldn’t leave you without a babysitter yet.”

“Why not?” Lizzie almost yelled, her frustration getting the better of her.

Andy just quirked an eyebrow at her.

“Sorry,” Lizzie muttered.

“Because you haven’t been here long enough, hon. You don’t know the area that well, our house or our neighbors well enough to count on them if something were to happen. That’s why we wouldn’t leave you alone yet,” Allie replied, still gently. “It has nothing to do with not trusting you, Lizzie. It has everything to do with making sure you are safe and protected. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lizzie whispered, really wanting to argue the point, but since there were other kids involved, knew it was pointless.

“What’s really bothering you about this, Lizzie? And I’d like the truth.” Andy demanded although softly, feeling like they were skirting the real issue here.

Lizzie’s mouth fell open. How did her Mama do that? Lizzie must have hesitated too long because her Mama lifted her chin up again and Lizzie didn’t like the look on her face. She decided she’d better come clean. “Can I watch myself with Aunt Heidi here?”

“Why?” Allie asked.

Lizzie just shrugged.

“Elizabeth Ann, just spit it out. What is bothering you about your Aunt Heidi watching you tonight?” Andy had just about lost patience with her daughter.

Lizzie knew she was pushing it, but she just couldn’t make herself tell them. Therefore, she didn’t answer.

“Alright, Lizzie. I guess you’re just not ready to talk to us, so you can take yourself over to the corner until you figure it out,” Andy ordered, maintaining her temper, but barely.

Lizzie’s head shot up at that, mouth open as she stared at her Mama. “No,” she started, shaking her head.

“It wasn’t a choice, young lady. Move!”

Lizzie didn’t like the tone of voice or look on her Mama’s face and quickly obeyed her. She hated the corner though and really didn’t want to stand here. It was embarrassing.

Allie hugged her wife as she watched Lizzie. She leaned into her shoulder and whispered in her ear. “I’m not sure that’s going to help, luv.”

“It was the lesser of my choices,” Andy admitted.

“I know. She hates it though.”

“That’s the whole point. Something’s up and maybe the corner will hurry her confession along. I want to have time to deal with it properly before we have to leave.” Andy gave her wife a quick squeeze and stood up, walking over to stand behind Lizzie. She put a hand on the wall and leaned forward slightly until she could talk softly in Lizzie’s ear.

“Baby, I know something is bothering you and we want to help you with it, but we can’t if you won’t tell us what it is. There is nothing you could say that would make us love you any less. We really need for you to talk to us. When you think you’re ready, you can come out of the corner. Okay?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lizzie whispered.

Andy kissed her on the head and returned to her seat. She was very pleased when Lizzie almost immediately followed her, returning to her own seat, but starting at the floor. Andy decided that maybe she could make her more comfortable to talk to them. She reached forward, lifted Lizzie off the table and resettled her on her lap, hugging her as she did. Lizzie relaxed immediately into her arms.

“Okay, baby, now tell us what’s wrong,” Andy said gently.

It still took Lizzie a minute to get it out, but she did, burying her face in her Mama’s chest as she did.

Andy and Allie stared at each other a minute, shaking there heads, before taking a deep breath and addressing their daughter’s concerns.

“Aunt Heidi can send you to your room or take away privileges, baby. That’s it as far as you are concerned. Okay?” Andy assured her. When Lizzie nodded, she sat her forward and lifted her face up until she was looking at Andy and Allie. “We expect you to be on your best behavior and not give her any trouble, young lady. Understood?”

Lizzie swallowed at the warning. “Yes, ma’am.”

“If there is something that happens that you don’t understand, then call us. Heidi is in charge tonight, baby. She’s us tonight. Moreover, you don’t get to act different if we’re home just because you are thirteen. You’re not going to act different with her.” Andy let that sink in before speaking again. “Any questions?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay. If you think of any, just call us, anytime.”

“Thank you.”

Andy and Allie hugged Lizzie before Andy scooted her off her lap and sent her back to the kids. She turned to look at her wife. “What do you think? Think she’ll be okay?”

Allie shook her head. “I think she really hates the idea of a sitter, but doesn’t want to tell us that. I guess we’ll just have to see if they butt heads or not.”

“And if they do?”

“Heidi is the adult tonight, no question about it. Lizzie is just going to have to accept that fact and deal with it.” Allie stated. “It’s not going to be any different if one of her other aunt’s watch them. We’re not making exceptions just because Heidi’s the youngest. Agreed?”

“Oh definitely,” Andy assured her. “I just wanted to make sure you and I were on the same page.”

Allie smiled at her. “We’re always on the same page.” She gave her wife a kiss.

Andy returned the smile and the kiss. “I love you.”

“Mmmm, love you too. Let’s go finish packing. I can’t wait to have you all to myself with no chance of being interrupted by little ones.”

Andy readily agreed with that too. Some part of her mind was still worried about Lizzie, but she hoped they had given Lizzie not only answers, but an option if something came up. Andy only hoped she called if she had questions. She would make sure and reiterate that to Lizzie before they left.

Continued in Part 12

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