Live-In Position

by V. S. Tice

  What the...?

  He nestled into my body, his hand slipping up the exposed skin on my side. I bit back a moan and squirmed.

  Snap out of it, Soph, he’s the Antichrist. His hair was messy, and stray strands escaped over his forehead. But he’s so pretty and smells so…

  After mentally slapping myself from the lustful haze, I grabbed his hand and pushed it away.

  “Dr, Bishop,” I nudged him. “Dr. Bishop, Victoria will be up soon. I need to get up.”

  All I got was a groan as his hand left my hip for his hair. I slipped off the couch and landed on the hard floor.

  “Ow!” I growled and rubbed my butt, standing.

  “M-Miss Ashwood?” I grimaced before turning around. Time to face the repercussions.

  “Yes, sir?” I squeaked.

  “What, why, how did I–?” He sat up quickly. Groaning, he put his head in his hands. “Did I, did we–?”

  “Nothing happened,” I quickly clarified.

  “Thank God,” he groaned.

  “Exactly what I was thinking,” I snapped in retaliation. Maybe I’m not the beanpole harpy he’s pined over for years, but really am I that disgusting?

  His shoulders stiffened.

  “What happened?” He resurrected his stoic demeanor.

  I sighed. “You showed up drunk and passed out.”

  He looked up, brow raised. A hint in his eye told me he knew I wasn’t telling him everything.

  “Is that all?”

  “Yep.” I looked to the clock. “You should get out of here before Victoria wakes up and comes barging in.” I walked over to the small refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. I held it out to him. “Here.”

  “Thank you,” he said curtly, taking the bottle. He climbed to his feet and followed me to the door. I opened it. He walked out, pausing just outside.

  “Miss Ashwood?” He didn’t look back.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “I apologize for my behavior last night.” He didn’t give me a chance to say anything. He just walked away and disappeared down the hallway toward his room.

  Closing the door, I slid down to the floor and released a relieved breath.

  Things reverted to their pre-Grace state with the exception of Dr. Bishop receiving multiple courier messages from the law office of Stryker and Tepues. I assumed it was in relation to Victoria but didn’t communicate with Dr. Bishop about it until necessary.

  My music was blaring in my ears while I loaded the dryer. I had the house to myself; even Mrs. Baker was away. I was singing quietly and swaying to the song. I closed the dryer door, picked up my empty hamper and spun around to take it back up to my room.

  “Shit!” I screamed and bounced back off the dryer. The hamper dropped from my hands and tipped onto its side at my feet. My fingers clenched into my chest as I tried to catch my breath.

  Dr. Bishop leaned down and picked up the hamper, handing it back to me. His mouth was moving, but all I could hear was the start of the next song. Gripping the white wires, I tugged on them. A half grin spread across his lips when he realized why I hadn’t heard him enter the laundry room.

  “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He almost sounded playful.

  I nodded. “Did you need something?” I released my hand from my chest.

  “Yes.”

  His eyes roamed my body. I moved the hamper to cover my barely there cotton shorts. Internally groaning, I hoped he didn’t get all ‘Thou shall not show skin.’

  “Victoria has an appointment with her doctor tomorrow afternoon. She’ll need to be arranged for an early dismissal.”

  I nodded and started to inch out of the room backwards.

  “You’ll need to bring her to the hospital instead of his office.”

  I nodded again.

  “The appointment is at one.”

  “Okay. I’ll have her there.”

  He cleared his throat. “I will, uh, be at the hospital at that time.”

  “Oh-kay...” I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with that information.

  “Please see that the nurse informs me of your…her arrival.”

  I nodded.

  “They’ll be doing a mouth swab and drawing her blood.” For a moment his concern about the test results flashed over his face. He cleared his throat again, and the moment passed.

  “Grace is supposed to arrive in the morning to provide her...samples for testing purposes, but I just wanted you to be aware of her possible presence.” He sounded like he was requesting surgical tools to be handed to him.

  The next afternoon, we arrived at the hospital and walked toward the doors where Dr. Bishop was waiting. They swabbed Victoria’s mouth and placed the sample into a plastic bag. Then they rolled up her sleeve. When they began to prepare the needle, she gripped my hand tighter and squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

  “It will be over soon,” I whispered into her ear. “And remember what I said after we leave?”

  “My surprise?” She opened her eyes to look directly into mine. Her body relaxed.

  “Yep.”

  “All finished.” A nurse was putting a Band-Aid on her arm.

  Victoria’s head snapped over to look.

  “That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

  My eyes shifted. Dr. Bishop was watching me closely. I straightened up and helped Victoria down from the table. As usual, I had a hard time shrugging off the intensity of his eyes.

  “Can we go now?” Victoria was almost bouncing.

  I held my hand out for her to take. She quickly grabbed it and we started to leave.

  “It will take about three days for the blood work and about a week for the swab test to be returned,” I overheard.

  “Huh...oh, yes, of course.” Dr. Bishop sounded caught off guard.

  “Can I get a hint about where we are going?” Victoria interrupted my eavesdropping.

  “Hmmm…” I tapped my chin.

  “Please, please, please...” she begged.

  “Okay, okay. What would you say to triple scoop ice cream sundaes?”

  She stopped in her tracks. Her smile was priceless.

  “Three scoops? Like one, two, three,” she counted on her fingers, “scoops?”

  I nodded and laughed.

  “Yes!” she yelled.

  “Victoria, keep your voice down. There are patients.” We both jerked around. Dr. Bishop walked toward us.

  “Sorry, Daddy,” she mumbled.

  He seemed to falter at the change in her face.

  “We don’t want to disturb anyone, that’s all.”

  She nodded again.

  “Victoria?”

  I was shocked at the softness of his voice.

  “Yes?” she said in a low tone.

  “You were very brave today.” His tone wasn’t as soft as before, but his words were enough to make her face light up. She smiled. “Alright then.” The professional doctor persona was back. “I’ll see you both later. I will be home in an hour or so.”

  “Daddy, Sophia is taking me out for ice cream.” She smiled up at me, then at him. “Since I was so good at the lab she’s –”

  “I see. Well, then –”

  “Want to come with us?” Victoria blurted.

  “Oh, uh, Victoria, I’m sure your dad has a lot to do and –” I didn’t know what else to say.

  Dr. Bishop’s face was contorted in what appeared to be anger.

  “Perhaps another time,” he nodded to both of us and walked away stiffly.

  The week went by quickly. Soon it was the end of May and the last week of school. Victoria’s dance recital was this weekend. As we left the dance studio after picking up her costume, she was bouncing from excitement.

  “Did you like the costume? Was it really pretty? Do you think ours will be the best?”

  “Calm down.” I hung the garment bag onto the hook above the rear passenger side window. “You looked fabulous, and you all will look amazing on stage together.”

&n
bsp; She was ecstatic the entire way home.

  When we walked through the door, the entire Bishop family met us. They were sitting in the room next to the foyer, looking rather grave, and I immediately worried Grace was telling the truth.

  “Victoria, could you please come here?” Dr. Bishop sounded tense.

  She was stuck to my side so I gently nudged her. She walked slowly toward him.

  “Don’t dawdle, child,” Ilene quipped.

  I imagined slamming her head onto the antique coffee table in front of her. Victoria picked up her pace. I swallowed thickly and began to make my way toward Victoria’s room to hang the costume in her closet.

  “Stay,” Dr. Bishop instructed.

  “Why do you need her to –?”

  “Allison...” Larissa hissed.

  Looking toward Victoria, Dr. Bishop pulled her directly in front of him. He held her in place with his hands on her shoulders, looking intently into her eyes. Different emotions flashed across his face. His brow furrowed, and then he released a breath, lowering his head.

  “What’s wrong, Da—?”

  “Collin, will you please tell us what is going on?” Allison cut off Victoria.

  I imagined her with a coffee table imprint on her forehead, matching her mother’s.

  “The test results are back.” His voice strained, and I could only assume the worst. Reflexively, I took a step forward.

  “She’s mine.” His head came up, eyes filled with tears. “I’m her father.”

  Victoria looked confused.

  “Of course you’re my daddy,” she smiled.

  He grinned back, and there it was – they both had the same crooked smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and they held each other for a long time. I bit my lip and wiped my eyes before anyone noticed my tears.

  “Oh, Collin...” Larissa rushed to him and wrapped them both in their arms. “Of course she is. She has your temper.”

  Dr. Bishop chuckled.

  I was getting Victoria ready for her recital when there was a knock on her door. Dr. Bishop lingered in her doorway.

  “Are you ready?” he called out.

  “Almost,” I yelled from her bathroom. Finishing the last twist and pin of her bun, I wrapped the fake ivy leaves around.

  “There, you look perfect,” I smiled through the mirror.

  “It looks perfect!” she squealed and then hugged me.

  “Okay, fairy princess, let’s get going.” I gave her a shove toward the door.

  She went running out.

  “Look, Daddy!”

  Stepping from the bathroom, I slipped on the shoes I’d left by her bed while Victoria twirled and pirouetted. “Doesn’t it look great?”

  “Yes, it does.” I could hear actual amusement in his voice “It looks,” his gaze landed on me, “beautiful.”

  I diverted my eyes. “Come on, little fairy. You don’t want to be late for your recital, do you?”

  She came bounding toward me and grabbed my hand, pulling me out of her room and toward the stairs.

  “Whoa, slow down. I’m wearing heels.” I gripped the railing.

  She tugged one more time, and that was all it took for my heel to catch in the plush carpeting. The heel remained in place with my foot while my body gave into gravity and continued to move forward. I inhaled a large breath and every muscle tensed in preparation for the fall.

  Warm arms surrounded me, one around my waist and the other gripping my shoulder. He pulled me back against his chest. My breathing hitched.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  There was no response. Victoria was three steps ahead of me, looking back at us with a shocked expression that shifted to impatience. Still, no response from him, and his arms weren’t moving. I bit my lip and started to pull away. His grip tensed and I swear he inhaled deeply. When he loosened his hold, I stepped quickly, but carefully, down the stairs.

  “Let’s go.” I grabbed her hand and pulled us toward the coat closet by the door.

  Crouching, I buttoned Victoria’s jacket over her white leotard and pink tulle skirt. His presence warmed my back. I reached into the closet and pulled out my trench jacket, but Dr. Bishop’s hands shot out and took it from me. Glancing over my shoulder, he held the coat open for me. Smiling nervously, I slipped my arms inside the sleeves.

  “Thank you.”

  His silence was making me nervous. I started wishing he would tell me to cover up or argue that the way I buttoned her coat wasn’t educational, something other than this unusual silence and gentlemanly behavior. When we reached the car, I knew he was going to insist I sit next to him. Luckily, Victoria was so excited she talked non-stop during the drive.

  Arriving to the recital location, I exited the car. As I closed my door, Dr. Bishop stood furrowing his brow at me. Well, I did ask for him to return to normal, didn’t I?

  Turning from his scowl, I opened Victoria’s door and helped her from the backseat. Latching our hands together, she hopped out and pulled me through the theater entrance.

  After touching up Victoria’s make-up, hair, and attaching the wings to her costume, I kissed her head. Wishing her and her friends luck, I walked toward the theater seats. An usher stopped and looked me over.

  “Hello,” he gave a sly grin. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “Um...yeah, my seat.” I cocked my eyebrow at his unprofessional innuendo.

  “Of course,” he winked and put his hand out. I handed him my ticket. He looked it over and then looked back at me. “Do I get a kiss if I show you your seat?” He tapped his cheek.

  I leaned in close to his face, distracting him. “No.” I snatched my ticket from his hand and walked around him.

  “Errggh,” he groaned and started to follow me. “I’m sorry.”

  I glanced back and shook my head. “It’s fine. I’ll find my seat. Thanks.”

  “Is there a problem?” My head pivoted to the sound of his voice.

  “No, no problem.”

  He approached and kept his eyes on the usher.

  “Our seats are over here.” His stern tone was actually directed to someone other than me.

  Nodding, I followed close behind. Once we reached the correct aisle, Dr. Bishop stopped, moved to the side and placed his hand against my lower back leading me into the row. With an internal groan, I realized he was putting me between him and Jonathan.

  Jonathan rose from his seat in greeting. Allison huffed at his gesture. I took my seat between the two men and thought perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad, quietly releasing the nervous breath I’d been holding as the lights dimmed and the spotlight hit the stage.

  Victoria wasn’t scheduled to go on stage until the fourth act and the finale – two hours into the recital. By act three, I was fidgeting with anticipation.

  When her group tiptoed onto the stage in the tutus, leotards, and fairy wings, I nearly squealed out loud. I covered my mouth to contain myself. I heard a chuckle but couldn’t tell if it came from Dr. Bishop or Jonathan.

  Victoria’s performance was fantastic. It wasn’t until she was off stage I realized I’d inched up in my seat. As I sat back, I could feel him rubbing the side of my forearm. The shock of it caused me to panic. My brain made excuses: It was an accident. He didn’t realize what he was doing. It didn’t make sense for me to think he did it on…purpose. Finally, I pulled my arm away from the armrest and glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He was looking at me and smirking. Swallowing hard, I bit my lip. He leaned toward me and I backed away. His hand moved down onto his seat, but his finger stretched out and grazed my thigh. My eyes widened. There was no mistaking Jonathan’s intention.

  I furrowed my brow and shifted away from him. He backed off and settled into his own seat, but for the rest of the night I was on guard. Every time he moved, even slightly, I was aware and jumpy. I practically sprinted over Dr. Bishop’s lap when it was time to get Victoria from backstage.

  When I reached her, her little face was lit u
p with pride.

  “You were fantastic!!” I shouted. Picking her up, I spun her around.

  “I agree.”

  I looked over my shoulder. Dr. Bishop held a single red rose out to Victoria. She beamed.

  “Thank you, Daddy!” She hugged his leg.

  “Let’s get going. Aunt Allison and Grandma are waiting on you.”

  She nodded.

  “We also need to get to our reservation at the restaurant.”

  They walked hand-in-hand out the doors to the theater with me behind them.

  Great, another dinner.

  Dinner this time wasn’t as rough, mostly because I was ignored. The one time I was asked to pay attention was when Allison instructed me to have Victoria and myself packed and ready by June 5th to leave for Whidbey Island. I simply nodded in acknowledgement and made a mental note.

  Vacationing with the Bishops meant Jonathan would be there as well. That thought alone made me cringe.

  Chapter Eleven

  RIGHT AFTER HER last day of school, we started to go through Victoria’s summer clothes to pack for the getaway.

  “You know most of these are going to be too small.”

  “Does that mean we can go shopping?”

  “I think it does,” I said as I headed towards the kitchen with Victoria on my heels.

  She cheered, “We’re going shopping,” over and over as I poured myself a cup of coffee.

  “You two going shopping today?”

  Both of us looked over at Dr. Bishop

  “Yep, I’ve grown out of my summer clothes from last year,” Victoria boasted.

  He smiled and poured his coffee.

  “I’m going to go get dressed,” I said to Victoria. “You finish your breakfast.”

  She nodded and took a large bite of waffles.

  Victoria met me at the front door. I slipped on my shoes and grabbed the coat closet doorknob.