A Father's Love, Chapter Thirteen
#13 of A Father's Love
"What are you doing?" Mr. Bridshaw asked.
I put his robe over my shoulder and pulled back the curtains to let some sunlight in. It was a beautiful day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
I crossed the room to Mr. Bridshaw's bed and tucked the ends of the sheets under the mattress and smoothed the quilt. I folded his robe and laid it on the edge of the bed.
"I'm just making the bed," I said.
I fluffed one of the pillows and Mr. Bridshaw took my paw in his and kissed it.
"I have people here to take care of that," Mr. Bridshaw said.
"I just want to help," I said.
I went back to fluffing his pillows. Mr. Bridshaw just smiled and tapped my nose with his finger.
"You don't have to lift a finger as long as you're here," he said.
He kissed my forehead.
"I think I saw Will outside in the garden feeding the birds," Mr. Bridshaw said.
"When is your birthday?" Will asked.
I sprinkled some bird seeds over the grass.
"Why?" I asked.
"When is it?" Will asked.
"Did Mr. Bridshaw put you up to this?" I asked him.
"No," Will said.
He was lying.
I sighed.
"The third, of September," I said.
"That's not very far away, how old will you be?" Will said.
"Sixteen," I said.
I watched the birds gobble up the seeds and sprinkled some more seeds on the grass.
"I've never had a birthday," I said.
Will's ears twitched.
"Never?" he said.
I nodded.
"Well, not a party," I added.
"Well that isn't right," Will said.
"I've gotten used to it," I said.
"You shouldn't be," Will said.
My hands shook and dropped a little, the plate of seed tipped forward a little and most of the seeds spilled onto the grass.
"Oh, there's a little blue bird in the bird bath," I said, trying to change the subject.
I took a few steps toward the bird bath, not too close, I didn't want to scare the little bird away.
"Everyone deserves a party on their birthday," Will said.
I turned to face him.
"Please don't tell Mr. Bridshaw," I said.
"Why not?" Will asked.
"Because..." I began.
"Because..." Will echoed.
"I don't want to cause any trouble, I don't want to burden anyone," I said.
"It's no burden, we'd be happy to give you a party," Will said.
"You don't have to," I said.
"We want to," Will said.
"But you don't have to," I said.
"Don't you at least want a cake?" Will asked.
I felt my mouth water and my knees felt a little weak. Will smiled. He stepped a little closer.
"A cake, with frosting," Will said.
"That... That does sound nice," I said.
"A cake with white frosting and blue roses," Will said.
I blushed a little and Will tapped his nose against mine.
"You still don't want a party?" Will asked.
I nodded.
"No party," I said.
At that moment Molly came rushing up to us.
"Miss Dane! Miss Dane!" she called.
When she reached us I saw her face slightly flushed.
"What is it?" I asked.
"You... best come... quick. Your parents... are here," Molly panted.
Oh damn. I thought.
When we got back to the house Daddy was shouting at Mr. Bridshaw. Mammy, Miss Bailie, and David were standing behind them.
"She is my daughter, I am taking her home," Daddy shouted.
Mr. Bridshaw just stared at him calmly, then he said, "I think that is for Camile to decide."
Then Miss Bailie saw me.
"Come here Camile," she said, holding out her paw.
I shook my head and stepped behind Will.
"Come here now Camile," Mammy said.
I shook my head.
"Listen to your mother Camile," Daddy said.
"No," I said.
"Let's all go to the living room and have a cup of tea," Mr. Bridshaw said.
Will and I sat on either side of Mr. Bridshaw, and Mammy, Daddy, Miss Bailie and David sat across from us. Henrietta brought us tea and little cakes. She paused and looked at me as she set the tray down and flashed me this frightening smile.
Henrietta served Mr. Bridshaw first, then me, then Mammy, then Miss Bailie, then Daddy, then David, then Will.
There was an awkward silence. Miss Bailie poked her cake and muttered about how it was dry and crumbly and that the chef should be reprimanded. Mammy just swirled her teacup. David glared at me and Daddy glared at Mr. Bridshaw.
My paws shook, the little porcelain cup rattled on its saucer, and I quickly put it down so it wouldn't spill.
Then Daddy spoke.
"You had no right," he said, and then he added, "You had no right to keep her here."
Then to this, Mr. Bridshaw said, "But you have the right to force her into a marriage she doesn't want to be in?"
"You should have sent her home," Daddy said.
"And then what?" Mr. Bridshaw asked.
"We would have dealt with her," Daddy said.
"How? By beating her?" Mr. Bridshaw asked.
"I do not hit my daughter," Daddy said quickly.
"No, you allow someone else to do it for you," Mr. Bridshaw said.
I could see Daddy's skin turn red beneath his fur.
"We are only doing what's best for her," Daddy said.
Then he added, "If she would just do what she's told-" But Mr. Bridshaw cut him off.
He gently lifted me by the waist and held me close to him. He squeezed my waist with his arm, then without ceremony he lifted my skirt to show my welts to Mammy, Daddy, David and Miss Bailie. They weren't as red but they still hurt. I bit my lip and clung tightly to Mr. Bridshaw's shoulders. My tail curled between my legs, I pinned my ears tightly against my head. My eyes stung with tears of embarrassment. Of course Mr. Bridshaw shouldn't have done what he did, but Daddy wouldn't have seen any other way.
Out of the corner of my eye in the doorway I could see Henrietta covering her mouth, her eyes narrowed. She was smiling. That witch.
I turned my head a little.
I saw a glimpse of Mammy and Miss Bailie turning away. David just crossed his arms and Daddy stuttered.
My toes raked across the carpet and I hugged Mr. Bridshaw tighter as I tried to keep from falling.
"Is this what's best for her?" Mr. Bridshaw asked.
He put my skirt down and set me down on the couch gently. There was a long silence. Will took a sip of his tea. I tried to pick up my teacup but I felt sick. I looked at Daddy but then I quickly looked away when he looked at me. I couldn't look at Daddy, or anyone, after what had just happened.
Then Daddy spoke, "Someone has to teach her how to behave."
"And what is your idea of good behavior?" Mr. Bridshaw asked.
There was another silence. Daddy opened his mouth to speak but then he closed it quickly. Mr. Bridshaw turned to me.
"Do you want to go home with your parents?" he asked me.
I shook my head.
"No," I said.
"Then that's settled," Mr. Bridshaw said.
Then he turned to Will.
"Take Camile upstairs with you?" Mr. Bridshaw said.
And Will took my paw, and I breathed a sigh of relief as we left the room. But I worried about Mr. Bridshaw.
Upstairs Will helped me out of my clothes and into a white shift.
"Cheer up," he said.
I looked at him. He smiled.
"You get to stay with us now," he said.
I nodded slowly. Will took off his jacket and lay with me on my bed.
"You sure you want to lay down in that? It doesn't look very comfortable," Will said.
"What?" I asked.
Will touched my bun. I think he was trying to make me laugh. It wasn't working but I smiled a little anyway, and Will helped me take out my bun. I shook my head to free my hair and lay back against the pillows.
Outside the door, and through the floors, we could hear the muffled voices of Daddy and Mr. Bridshaw. Daddy was shouting and Mr. Bridshaw was still speaking calmly.
"They'll come back for me," I said.
I hugged a pillow tightly to me.
"They'll come back and take me away, they'll take me back to that... that place," I sobbed.
Will stroked my back; he combed his fingers through my hair.
"They won't," he said.
He put his arm around my waist, and said, "We'll protect you."
I heard the sound of the front door closing, then footsteps on the stairs.
Mr. Bridshaw entered and laid next to me, I curled up between him and Will.
"That's over," he said.
He stroked my face and dried my tears.
"It isn't over," I said.