The Easter Egg Hunt

by Joannie Kay

  “That Julie Ann had three speeding tickets in the last five months and he promised her the last time that he would spank her if she got another. She got the third one and tried to hide it from him, so he spanked her like he promised, and he gave her lines to write.”

  “Three tickets!” Megan exclaimed in disbelief. “That little brat didn’t tell me she had three of them, or that Jeff warned her he would spank if she got another!”

  “You aren’t upset with Jeff, are you?” Noah asked.

  “No, not at all. I think he stopped too soon, given how testy she was,” Meg answered, and then said, “Did you know that both of our kids know you spank me?”

  “No!” He was shocked.

  “Oh yes, she informed me that she didn’t want to be like me and have a husband who spanked for every little thing!” The criticism hurt her feelings.

  “Do you think I am too hard on you, Meggie?” He reached out to grab her hand in his and force her to look into his eyes.

  “No, I don’t. I know you love me, and spanking is one way you show that. I hope that Julie Ann realizes that Jeff is showing her love, too. I scolded her,” she confessed. “I know we agreed not to interfere, but a part of me thinks we were sent there tonight for that precise purpose.” She shook her head, “I can’t believe he waited until the third ticket to come down on her…!”

  “That was pretty much my reaction, once I realized I didn’t need to stomp him for being mean to our little girl. Jeff had a valid reason to spank Julie Ann.” He held up a basket for inspection and smiled when she nodded in approval. “I’m getting good at this, Meggie,” he boasted.

  “You have a great teacher,” she giggled.

  ********************

  The meltdown came on Thursday, just as Noah knew it would. Megan put so much of herself into making the Easter Egg Hunt and the luncheon/party afterwards absolutely perfect that she made herself crazy with worry. When he came home from work Thursday evening, she threw canned soup and crackers at him for dinner and bade him hurry and eat so she could get to work. When he tried to calm her down, she snapped at him, and when he gently scolded, she lost her temper and picked up his bowl of soup and dumped it down the garbage disposal side of the sink. “I told you I don’t have time for this!” she yelled at him.

  Noah got to his feet and took a wooden spoon from the ceramic jar on the counter beside the stove. He took her hand and pulled her over to the kitchen table and bent her down over its flat surface. Of course, that took a bit of effort since Megan was truly out of control and in no mood for a spanking.

  “No! I don’t have time for this, Noah! Let me go!”

  “You are out of control, Meg, and this will settle you down, just like it does every year,” he tacked on as she twisted and almost freed herself. “Now settle down before this turns into a punishment instead of a reminder,” he warned.

  Megan cried out as the spoon made contact with the seat of her jeans. She was angry with Noah for wasting her precious time, but he held her down and continued to pepper her seat with stinging spanks. She burst into tears of frustration, and Noah continued the spanking, ignoring all of her arguments as to why she shouldn’t be spanked right now.

  Noah knew from experience that a spanking would settle Meg’s nerves. He didn’t need to be harsh, just firm, to get her attention. Finally Megan was saying ‘sorry’ and he asked if she’d had enough. Her reply was ‘yes’, and that quickly the spanking was over. He held her close and let her cry for a few minutes.

  “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t know why I let this get to me every year, but I do, don’t I?” she admitted, feeling very small and very foolish.

  “It was a day later this year.” He kissed her. “Are you all better now?” he asked.

  “Much. Oh, honey, I’m sorry I dumped your dinner! I’ll make you something else,” she offered.

  “No, I’ll call in a pizza, and we’ll work until it gets here. We’ll finish up the baskets tonight, and that leaves tomorrow to color the eggs and load the cars and take everything on site.”

  “You’re right. It will be fine, as long as it doesn’t rain.”

  “It rained a few years ago, and we moved it inside and everyone had a great time. Remember?”

  “Yes. I’ll stop fussing,” she promised, snuggling closer.

  “Did you remember to ask for help setting up the tables and chairs?” he asked, remembering one of the first years she hadn’t done so, and he and Jacob and Julie Ann and her then boyfriend, Jeff, had literally run to get it all set up before others arrived.

  “I remembered!” She giggled. Noah asked her that question every year. “Honey, I do appreciate you so much. I couldn’t do all of this every year without your help.”

  “And you help me with the office Christmas Party, which I couldn’t do without you, either.” He hugged her once more, and then asked, “Veggie?”

  “Sounds wonderful,” she agreed, and then winced when he gave her a playful smack on the butt when he released her to go and pick up the telephone to order their pizza. Her poor butt was smarting right now, but tomorrow there would only be a faint tenderness to remind her that she was spanked. Thankfully, Noah knew she needed to calm down and he took care of the matter without letting things escalate into a huge fight. She loved the man… and she truly hoped her Julie Ann learned to love Jeff in the same way. Although she’d talked with her on the telephone a couple of times since Monday evening, nothing further was said regarding the incident, and Megan didn’t bring it up. After all, it was a personal matter and Julie Ann and Jeff would need to sort it for themselves, just like she and Noah did in the early years of their marriage.

  She hurried upstairs and starting working, and Noah joined her as soon as he called in their pizza order. They worked companionably while they waited, and when they heard the doorbell, Noah ran downstairs and paid the delivery person and tipped him well. He carried the box upstairs, along with paper plates and napkins and cans of orange soda. He brought one for Megan, too, even though she rarely indulged. But, they both loved soda with their pizza, and since her sugar was under control, he thought it would be acceptable.

  “You do spoil me, honey.” She smiled in satisfaction as they stopped to eat. “Thank you.”

  “You’ve been doing so well staying out of the candy, Meg. I’m proud of you,” he admitted. “I know it’s not easy to prepare all those eggs and all those baskets and not indulge.”

  “I’ve been really tempted a few times,” she admitted. “I just think of you and how much you love me, and it helps.”

  He smiled, and offered her another piece of their pizza.

  They finished up the baskets, and Megan insisted they recount to make sure there were enough, and each one had a family name on it. Megan asked him to do the counting and read the names and she checked them off the list, smiling when they were done. “Only one mistake, and it was a double, so we are fine, Noah. I’m so relieved. The eggs are stuffed with candy and money in a few. There are three special eggs… and all we need to do now is boil the eggs and let them cool so they can be colored and decorated tomorrow. Do you think that Julie Ann and Jeff and the girls would like to help color eggs?”

  “Call and ask, and maybe Jeff will help haul this stuff over to the site,” Noah answered.

  Megan called and Julie Ann asked Jeff if they could help out and he readily agreed. Noah heard Meg promise McDonald’s for dinner, and he grinned. Nothing like bribery…! She called Jacob next and asked about his plans and promised him McDonalds, too. “We have reinforcements, Noah!” she smiled happily, and he knew it was the prospect of family time that pleased her so much. Of course she always planned an Easter celebration for all of them on Sunday after church, complete with an Easter Egg Hunt for the little girls, and baskets for the adults. Megan loved Easter, and the house was decorated, inside and out, to reflect that love.

  The kids all arrived early and Noah was there to greet them. “Mom is on her way; she’s picking up dinner,�
�� he added.

  “Did Mom go overboard as usual?” Jacob asked with a grin.

  “Of course she did,” Julie answered. “It’s Easter!” She looked at her father and asked, “Dad, she didn’t get the girls a lot of candy this year, did she?”

  “No, honey, she didn’t,” Noah answered.

  “Really?” It was obvious Julie Ann didn’t believe her Dad. “I’ll be happy if she simply cuts it in half,” she added.

  “There’s Mom now,” Jake said, and went to help her carry in the McDonald’s bags.

  “I’m glad you’re all here.” Megan smiled happily. “Noah, will you get paper plates?”

  “Gramma, I want nuggets,” Rachel announced.

  “I know you do, sweetie,” Megan said, and Noah was once again amazed that she knew exactly what everyone liked best, and even remembered to leave the ketchup off their daughter’s sandwich and get extra cheese on Jeff’s double cheeseburger. Jacob was happy she got him extra fries and a milk shake and Noah noted that the little girls loved their Happy Meals.

  “Are we having ham for Easter, Mom?” Jacob wanted to know.

  “Yes, honey, we are.”

  “Will you have extra?” he asked and Noah immediately realized he was trying to ask his Mother something else that had nothing to do with the ham.

  “Do you have someone you would like to invite to dinner, Jacob?” Megan asked her son.

  “If it’s all right,” he replied. “I’ve been seeing someone for a while now and I thought it might be a good time to introduce her to my family.”

  “Of course she is welcome, son,” Noah spoke up. “What is her name?”

  “Carrie Lake. She works in another department at the hospital, but we’ve been having breaks at the same time, and I asked her out to a movie a few weeks ago. I really care about her and would like for you all to meet her.”

  “Have you met her family yet?” Julie Ann wanted to know, feeling protective of her ‘little’ brother.

  “It’s just her Mom. Her Dad died when she was little and Cyndi hasn’t remarried. “Carrie doesn’t have any siblings.” He looked at his sister and said, “Carrie lives at home, so yes, I’ve met her Mom. She’s a nice lady.”

  “Of course you can ask Carrie to dinner, but won’t her Mom be lonely?”

  “No, she has to work Easter. She’s a nurse, too, and works in the ER.”

  “I was going to tell you to bring her along,” Megan said.

  “That’s nice, Mom. I’ll tell Cyndi you said that.” Jake was obviously pleased.

  “Is there any subjects that are off limits for discussion?” Meggie wanted to know.

  “Gosh, did you worry about that the first time I was going to come to dinner?” Jeff teased.

  “Mom worries about everyone!” Julie Ann smiled. “She didn’t want to scare you off,” she added.

  “Jules told us not to mention spinach at the table unless we wanted to see you barf,” Jake supplied, his dark eyes full of humor.

  “Mom, we’ll get out all of Jake’s baby pictures,” Julie Ann suggested with a wicked laugh.

  “Do, and I’ll make you sorry!” Jake promised. “I’ll tell Jeff all about the time I caught you…”

  “Shut up, moron!” Julie Ann tried to smack Jake but he ducked, laughing his head off.

  “Please tell me it had nothing to do with speeding?” Jeff demanded.

  “No!” Jacob answered immediately. “Sis, you promised you would slow down.”

  “I am driving slower. Jeff insisted.” Her face turned pink.

  “With the flat of his hand on your butt, I hope.” Jake wouldn’t let it go.

  “When did you promise Jake you’d slow down, Jules?” Jeff was looking at his wife in dismay.

  “A long time ago!” she snapped. “I’m done with this conversation,” she warned.

  “Maybe for now, but I guarantee I’ll bring it up later tonight.”

  “Now see what you’ve done, Jake?” Julie Ann glared at her brother.

  “Ut oh… It wasn’t speeding, Jeff,” Jake said seriously. “And Jules isn’t going to tell… and neither am I. You aren’t speeding, are you?” He turned on his sister again. “I don’t want you to end up my patient,” he said without a trace of humor in his voice or in his eyes.

  “How many eggs do we need to color, Mom?” Julie ignored her brother to ask.

  “A lot, so please finish eating so we can get to it!”

  They all worked hard, and had a lot of fun coloring eggs. They made several trips to take everything to where Megan worked, and Noah knew they’d be out at the site very early, hiding all the eggs and directing all the help as they sat up tables, and the caterers who were hired to bring all the food for the luncheon. Meggie would want to decorate the tables and have everything all done before the guests started arriving at 10 AM. The owner of the company always praised Megan’s efforts and said she ‘outdid’ herself each and every year, but it wasn’t the praise that prompted Meg. She truly loved making the celebration special for children and adults alike.

  “You enjoy tomorrow, Mom,” Jake said as he hugged her goodbye late that night.

  “You’re welcome to come, Jacob,” Megan insisted as she returned his hug and kissed his cheek.

  “I’m working a double shift tomorrow, Mom, but I’ll see you Sunday… with Carrie,” he promised, and then leaned close to whisper, “You should see the huge chocolate bunnies I bought for Rach and Nat! Jules is going to flip out!” He chuckled, and then gave his Dad a hug with lots of back slapping before he got into his car and headed home.

  “He’s not going to get much sleep before he has to go in,” Megan fretted. Julie Ann had taken the children home hours ago, and they’d sent Jeff home before the last loads were brought.

  “Neither are we, Meggie.” Noah smiled. “Maybe three hours at the most if I know my wife.”

  “You know your wife well,” she replied with a loving smile, and then stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “Thanks, honey. I couldn’t do this without your help every year.”

  The day started out bad; the alarm wasn’t set properly and went off a full thirty minutes later than Megan wanted. Her hair wouldn’t cooperate and Noah had a bad headache from lack of sleep and was grumpy as sin. He wanted a big breakfast before they left, mainly because he was worried about her having a major sugar drop if she didn’t eat right. Megan wanted to stomp her feet and scream at him there was no time, but knew he would just spank her if she did that, and it was the last thing she needed so early in the morning. It would be quicker to make omelets and toast and pour some juice, which she reluctantly did. They left the house an hour behind schedule.

  Her crew was late to start setting out the tables and chairs, and then they were short-handed. Jeff arrived to see if they needed any help, and Megan gave him a big hug and put him to work. Finally the tables and chairs were arranged and covered with white paper and Megan was able to start decorating. A couple more volunteers arrived to help hide the plastic eggs for the children, and the private lawn was soon covered with colorful eggs. The children were to bring their own empty baskets to fill during the hunt, but Megan always had a few extras for those who forgot. The last thing she wanted was for a child to miss out on the Easter Egg Hunt and cry while other children had all the fun.

  Just when Megan thought everything was going to go fairly smoothly, her cell phone rang and she listened in horror as she heard the terrible news that Ralph Rider was in the hospital and wouldn’t be able to come. “I’m so sorry, Ellen,” she told his upset wife. “Please tell Ralph we’ll keep him in our thoughts and prayers.”

  “He doesn’t want to let you or the children down, Megan. You know this means everything to him!” she insisted.

  “I know, Ellen, and he is the best. I’m sorry he won’t be here today.” She said goodbye to the other woman, and then went to find Noah, who wasn’t going to be happy!

  Chapter Five

  Noah knew immediately that something was wrong. Megan
was practically in tears. “What is it, honey?” He put an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

  “I just had a telephone call from Ellen Rider. Ralph is in the hospital this morning facing an emergency appendectomy.”

  “That’s too bad,” Noah said. “He’s the one who does the Easter Bunny, right?” he asked, and when he saw her nod slowly and look at him hopefully, he shook he head ‘no’. “No, Megan. You know I can’t stand doing that sort of thing. I hate costumes, and I hate making a fool of myself!”

  “Honey, please! I don’t have anyone else who is built the same as you. You’re as tall as Ralph, and I really need for you to do this.”

  “No. I’ll do most anything for you, babe, but I draw the line at being the Easter Bunny!” he said passionately.