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Laughing, she swats at my arm. “That was cheesy, even for you.”
“Maybe, but it’s the truth.”
“Mmm.”
Silence fills the cockpit for a few more minutes before she speaks again. “I want to keep her, Graham.”
There’s such desperate hope in her voice that even if I felt differently, I wouldn’t have the heart to deny her. “Then we’ll keep her.”
It is, as far as I’m concerned, as simple as that. And if Kerry disagrees, well, we have plenty of tools at our disposal to ensure she changes her mind.
Kerry
It feels like forever before the seatbelt sign turns off and I’m free to get up out of my chair. As soon as the buckle releases, I drag in what seems like my first easy breath of the morning and pop to my feet. I desperately want to get to the bathroom and get cleaned up, even if I can’t change into clean clothes.
But I’ve only taken a couple steps when a stern voice stops me in my tracks. “Where do you think you’re going, little girl?”
Whirling around, I instinctively shove my hands behind me to protect my bottom. “Um, the bathroom. I need to freshen up.”
One eyebrow raising, Celeste pins me with a look that would have even the brattiest Little trembling in their boots. “And what did Mommy say would happen if you left your seat before you were given permission?”
Oh, fuck. “I-I thought you meant before the seatbelt sign switched off.”
That damn brow lifts even higher. “And is that what I said, Kerry Addison?”
An apology burns on my tongue. I’ve always tried so hard to be a good girl, obedient and respectful and all the things I thought Mommies and Daddies wanted.
But already, my small rebellion last night has proven that I was very, very wrong about what I thought they wanted.
Ignoring my instincts, I roll my eyes. “It’s not like I can run away. We’re on an airplane. In the sky. Remember?”
Something that looks suspiciously like excitement flickers in Celeste’s eyes, confirming my thoughts about this impromptu experiment I’m running. “Is that how a good girl talks to her Mommy, Kerry?”
“I already told you, you’re not my Mommy.”
Whatever I’d been expecting, it wasn’t for her to reach out and take hold of my ear. And when she gives my lobe a sharp twist, I can’t help but yelp at the stabbing pain.
“All right, little girl. I guess we’re doing this the hard way.”
Keeping my ear firmly locked in her vice-like grip, she marches me through the cabin. As tall as I am, she’s taller still, and I have to hurry to keep up with her as we make our way toward Mr. Stone and a wide-eyed Victoria.
Humiliation threatens to burn me alive as Celeste pauses in front of them. “Maxwell. Where do you keep your implements?”
“You’re in luck,” Mr. Stone says with a chuckle. “We just added a closet full of them beside the bathroom. Enjoy.”
“Mr. Stone, please. I’m sorry I was late and I said a bad word; please don’t let her do this!”
But Mr. Stone only shakes his head. “You’ve needed this for a very long time, Kerry. Be a good girl and listen to your Mommy.”
Betrayal burns inside me. What does he mean I’ve needed this for a long time? I’ve never been anything less than perfect for him and anyone else who flies with us. “She is not my Mommy!”
Victoria giggles. “Um, I don’t think anyone has told her that.”
Before I can say something that would probably cost me my job, Celeste gives my ear another sharp twist and I’m forced to follow her to the bathroom. She pauses at what, to anyone else, would look like a normal linen closet and pulls it open.
Inside hang multiple paddles, wooden brushes, straps, and canes in various shapes and sizes. Despite the closet only having been added in the past couple months, I’ve seen several of these implements in use and I am not looking forward to having even a single one applied to my bottom.
“Perfect.” Reaching into the closet, Celeste grabs hold of a thick paddle that’s roughly the same size as the hairbrush Ms. Montgomery keeps in her purse.
