Frank allowed the boy his other arm that went straight to rubbing his sore cheeks. Unfortunately it would do him no good. "Now, I'd like to take care of what I came up here for in the first place."
Jamie shuddered as his father walked back to the bed.
"You better come over her now, Jamison." His dad commanded.
Finally accepting defeat, Jamie shuffled to stand in front of his father with sweats and underwear still tangled at his feet. "I am real sorry dad." Jamie tried to sooth the tension.
"I'm glad to hear it and I think you might actually mean it." The idea that his dad didn't believe his apology stung just as bad as his backside. He decided then that he would take his punishment. If nothing else, just to be done with this for both their sakes.
"I think we have covered the reasoning behind this spanking enough for the night, but know that I care more about you than myself. You need to start caring more about you. You're 26 and too young to have a heartache or any other complication from not taking care of yourself now. Plus I know you can see the effects your lack of sleep is having with your relationships." Frank had to catch himself from laughing aloud.
"You know I'm reminded of the headaches you gave your momma when you didn't get your nap. For whatever reason, you always need more sleep than anyone else. You had to have a nap up until you started grade school and even then you'd come home from school and we'd find you asleep on your floor before dinner." Jamie remembered those memories.
"You better start getting some sleep and stop chugging those stupid energy drinks. They're hell on your body."
"How'd you know?" Jamie asked surprised.
"For the last three Sundays, you've come in throwing one back before Sunday dinner. And I've seen their skeletons in your car."
A weighted pause came next as both men thought of the impending doom. Finally Frank didn't say anything, just reached for Jamie's wrist guiding him over his lap. The bed supported Jamie's upper body while his dad adjusted him over his broad lap.
Frank thought of any words that needed to be spoken, but didn't have it in him for a long lecture. He'd used all his words today. Instead, he tightened his grip around Jamie's waist and placed his hand on Jamie's radiating bottom. "Jamison Henry, no more. Understood?"
He knew what his dad meant. In those two words, he meant no more side job. No more disrespect. No more treating his body like crap. No more lies. No more doing things that ended him up across his father's lap. "Yes, daddy."
Jamie knew he was defeated and if he ever wanted to have the privilege of sitting again, his brain better listen to his dad and catch up. His backside had paid the price over and over again today.
If Frank's heart could have broken, it would have shattered in a million pieces. Jamie hadn't called him daddy in ages. He gritted his teeth and prepared himself for possibly one of the hardest spankings he'd ever have to force himself to give. If he could, he'd forget it all and pull Jamie up and into his arm. But he couldn't.
His hand landed on the right cheek first. Jamie umphed with the first few strokes. The ows came soon after. Tears ran freely as Frank set into a steady pace. He wasn't going to give Jamie a long hand spanking, but he wanted to toast the boy up before the hairbrush came.
With a short pause, Frank reached over to where he'd placed the hairbrush. It weighed a ton in his hand. Jamie wouldn't need many to drive home his point. He tapped Jamie's behind which caused him to flinch.
The strike that landed nearly made Jamie's scream his head off, but he suppressed into the comforter of his bed. His father was striking low on his butt. He'd feel this for days. The belt hurt in the moment, but the pain faded fast. The hairbrush not only hurt in the moment, but left the skin tender for days to come. Jamie knew that anytime he sat down, he'd feel the results of this spanking.
Frank had decided on a number of strokes before he started with the hairbrush knowing how difficult it would be to get there while listening to Jamie's cries. He decided a good dozen would teach him his lesson.
By the halfway point though, Jamie's strangled cries could be heard downstairs. Danny's head shook as he listened to the cries of his baby brother. Dad was sure taking it to Jamie. He hadn't heard Jamie hollering that badly since he'd left the house. Linda came to his side after finishing up with kitchen.
"Oh my. Is that Jamie?" She heard a particular loud scream. "You'd think Frank was stringing him up."
"That brush is nasty."
Linda, like the others, had realized something off about Jamie weeks ago and she always wondered in the back of her mind when it would come to head. She never expected to have to hear the outcome of it. Slowly, she walked back towards the kitchen and swung the door shut. Erin, who had joined Nicky and the boys at the table gave her a weak smile.
Danny scooted over as Linda joined him on the stoop. "How long has been hollering like that?"
"Not long. I heard a lot of yelling earlier, so Jamie's mouth must have fired off."
A small smile crossed his face. His little brother had a mix of him and Joe in him. Joe's sense of righteousness and Danny's lip. He was going to make a great police office. If only his brain would learn.
The screams stopped and Danny breathed a sigh of relief.
Jamie's chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. The brush sat lonely on the bed after completing its task. Frank's large hand that had just brought such agony and pain now softly circled Jamie's back. "You're alright baby boy. Deep breaths."
It took a good five minutes for Jamie to regain control of his breathing. The tears still flowed and he wondered if he would ever stop crying. "I'm going to stand you up." His legs wobbled as he found his footing.
"Boxers only?" Frank asked receiving a small nod of confirmation. The sweats had long been kicked off and laid haphazardly on the floor long forgotten. As gently as possible, Frank pulled out the waistband of Jamie's shorts and pulled them northward.
Jamie's hand wiped at his face attempting to clean the snot and tears away. It was pointless.
"Come here Jamie." Frank stated calmly.
Jamie came into his father's arm and felt them wrap lovingly around him. Hugs and physical contact didn't happen often between father and sons, but Jamie melted into his dad's arms. The stress and weight he'd been carrying the past two months finally broke him. As his dad held him, he felt the guilt and the tension caused by the forbidden truths lift. His body felt tired, his mind overwhelmed. The tears came harder and his chest began to heave.
The two found each other returning to the bed. As only a father could, Frank cradled his son on his lap. Jamie whimpered as his backside made contact. "I'm sorry baby." Frank's hand smoothed Jamie's frazzled hair.
"Why don't you lay down for a bit, son." Frank spoke as Jamie's tears slowly subsided.
As Jamie crawled slowly to the head of the bed, he said, "Dad, I'm sorry I screwed up." He really meant it this time. He was thankful for the way his dad raised him though not thankful for the consequences.
Frank went to his son's side, gently kissed the crown of his head. "You are forgiven. You are a good boy. This doesn't change that."
Jamie nodded into the pillow he clutched.
With a click, the door shut. Frank released the tensed breath he'd been holding. "Mary, I wish you were here." He spoke to his wife's ever presence in their house. His wish for her comfort yearned more than on a regular day.
His footsteps fell on the stairs altering Danny of his father's coming. He looked up. The look of concern colored his face and Frank gave him a heavy sigh. "Your turn." Frank's hand landed on Danny's shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. Linda stood at Frank's side and wrapped her arm around his waist. "You ok?"
Frank took in his daughter-in-law and was thankful for her presence in their lives. "There have definitely been better Sunday nights. Just glad that's over." The two headed towards the kitchen with the rest of the family.
"Hey Grandpa, how's Uncle Jamie?" Jack asked as he laid his last domino winning the game.
Frank, though not completely shocked, took a minute to answer. He figured the house would know how Jamie was being punished. He went to the cabinet and pulled out a glass and the bottle of bourbon. "Repentant." The glass slowly filled with the golden liquor.
Erin went to her father's side and laid her head on his shoulder. With the same comforting hand, Frank smoothed his daughter's head. "He's all right." He comforted her. Erin never took Jamie's whoopings very well. He was her baby brother and ever since mother had passed, she felt the need to be his maternal figure. "Danny's going to him now. Give them a minute and then you can go and coddle the boy."
She gave him a weak smile and hugged her dad tighter. "Deal me in." He said as he claimed a spot around the table.
A soft knock and the change of light altered Jamie someone had entered the room. Danny slowly and quietly padded across the room to the bed. "Hey buddy." Jamie looked up with sad puppy dog eyes to see Danny joining him on the bed.
With legs stretched out, Danny pulled Jamie towards his lap. Jamie whimpered sadly as the adjustment reminded him of the pain behind him. Danny's fingers laced through Jamie's hair. "You'll be ok." He reassured his baby brother. They remained in the dark together for a while as Jamie's eyes became heavier.
Danny listened closely to Jamie's heartbeat and his breathing. They leveled out as the young boy fell asleep.
It had been a while since Danny had joined his kid brother. Linda checked her watch as another game of dominoes came close to an end. Erin knew Linda and the boys needed to get back home as well as her and Nicky. "I'll go check on the boys." She said to her sister-in-law who mouthed a thank you.