"Is Jamie going to get a spanking?" Sean asked breaking the silence.
Ellie couldn't help but smile at the innocence of the question, but as she looked around the table, no one else smiled.
"Because you would spank us, right dad? If we ever said that word." Jack, Danny's oldest, asked from next to his dad.
Linda leaned forward, "Yes and you'd be eating soap for dessert." Both boys cringed at the warning.
Henry quickly picked up on the opportunity to change the subject. "Speaking of desserts. What's on the menu for tonight?"
"There's an apple crisp…" Linda started but was interrupted by the slamming of the back door again. Looking up through the kitchen door, Ellie saw Jamie storming back through the kitchen. She held her breath in anticipation of his return. But he didn't return to the dining room. Instead, the heavy footfalls could be heard pounding up the stairs.
Erin lowered her head in understanding. Jamie was about to get punished for his outburst. She looked between Ellie and Linda. They needed to have a conversation and quick.
The backdoor clicked softly close. Frank arrived in the doorway of the kitchen. "Daniel."
Dread sunk in the pit of his stomach, but he knew to obey. He pushed back from the chair, leaned over and kissed his wife on top of his head and headed towards his dad. Though he knew he and his dad had an understanding, he wasn't quite sure if his dad would uphold his end of the bargain and waited for a swat to his backside.
But it never came. He felt his father's presence as he climbed the stairs heading for Jamie's old bedroom. Entering he found Jamie perched at the edge of the bed. His head hung low in despair, but when he looked up to Danny, his eyes held contempt and anger. "What are you doing here?" He spat.
Danny shook his head and made his way in the room. "Because I told him so." Frank said as he came into the room. "Danny stay here. Jamie with me."
Jamie knew not to obey would bring a world of pain. His legs wobbled under him as he followed his dad out of the bedroom. Down the hall, the bathroom waited. Jamie knew why he was taking a detour to the bathroom and he pleaded earnestly. "Please, dad. I'm sorry. Please." He whimpered.
"Ellie, will you help me with the desserts?" Linda asked once Frank had followed Danny from the kitchen.
Ellie, Linda and Erin made their way to the kitchen where the apple crisp was pulled from the oven. Erin pulled the ice cream from the freezer as Ellie went to the cabinets for the bowls. The three worked in silence as they prepared the dessert. Each lost in their own thoughts.
Ellie took two dishes back into the dining room setting a bowl in front of Henry. She'd been around long enough to know that Henry always got the first serving of dessert. He smiled warmly and lovingly patted Ellie's arm.
Linda brought in two dishes for her sons. She kissed each of them on the head. As she looked up, Jamie sulked through the living room. With a glance to the kitchen where Erin was chatting with Ellie, Linda caught Erin's eyes and mouthed "Jamie" nodding towards the living room. Erin acknowledged she understood and Linda made her way around the table.
Jamie's feet dragged across the Oriental rug as he headed to the dreaded box. It housed the content that caused every Reagan child fear and panic to course through their bodies. Opening it, he saw the three items he knew personally. The ruler, the belt and the hairbrush, which he had been sent down to get.
With soft feet, Linda made her way across to her sweet brother-in-law. "Jamie." He jumped at the sound of his name. "It's just me." She reach out and put her hand out to his shoulder. When he turned around, his red eyes already held so much sorrow.
"Poor thing." She whispered as she pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry about Danny." His head nodded into her shoulder. When they separated, Linda saw the tell tale signs. The front of his shirt slightly damp. Tear stains down his cheeks. A little residue around the corners of his lips. She knew Jamie had indeed ate soap for dessert. She placed a loving hand on his cheek.
"I've got to get back upstairs." Jamie turned back to retrieve the wooden hairbrush.
"Hey Jamie." Linda knew she needed to let him go quickly. "I was going to talk to Ellie if that's alright with you. She's going to find out and I thought as an outsider it might help coming from me."
Jamie hung his head. In the heat of the moment, he had forgotten about Ellie being in the house. As if he could feel any worse in that moment. "Thanks, Linda." He said.
"Jameson." Frank's voice carried from the top of the stairs. Jamie shot his head towards the staircase across the way.
Linda followed Jamie out of the living room and walked as far as the bottom landing. As they passed, Ellie found herself in the doorway watching the two make their way to the stairs. Her strong boyfriend look terrified and like a little boy next to Linda.
She heard Linda call up the stairs, "Sorry, Frank. I was talking to him. My fault." She patted Jamie on the back lovingly as he made his way back up the stairs.
Linda caught Ellie in the doorway. "Hey, how about we sit in the sun room and enjoy our dessert?" She looped her arm around Ellie's elbow.
The three of them grabbed their dishes and with fresh cups of coffee, made their way to the sun room. They overheard Grandpa Henry speak. "Well GGs. I guess it's our night to clear. Let's get to it."
Erin smiled at him as she shut the French doors that divided the two rooms. Now the three sat around enjoying the comfort of the sun in the silent sitting room. "Ok, what's going on?" Ellie finally broke the silence.
"We need to tell you something. Something about Jamie." Linda started.