Page 172 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“I didn’t ask if you want help or if you want to rest. I said that is what is going to happen. You’re running yourself ragged trying to fulfill standards that only you think you have to. I am very seriously considering making you step down from the FRG, and sending the boys to the church school to finish out the year.”

Her eyes widened. “No, David! That won't be necessary. I'll take it easy and get help.”

“You’d best. I'm serious, honey, this is your health, and the health of our baby. I'm not putting any of that on the line. Now, you go work with the boys. I'm gonna call Trish and see what time they want us to come over.”

He gave her a peck on the cheek, and she left to go help the boys with their lessons.

She felt simultaneously nervous and excited. It had been a long time since he had shown his dominant side and, as comfortable as she was taking control, she had missed it. She grinned to herself though. At least she was pregnant, and he couldn't spank her.

Tori sat down nervously. She adored the Baxters, but she had a feeling this conversation was going to be mainly focused on how she'd been over-exerting herself. She knew she should slow down some, but with four boys it always seemed like something was getting left undone.

With Cassie watching the boys, it was nice to get a moment to sit without someone needing to be fed, wiped, or disciplined. She leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and sighed.

David came and sat beside her placing his hand on her neck and rubbing. “You doing okay, love? You look beat.”

“I’m all right. Just grateful for a moment of peace. I hadn’t really thought about it, but since you deployed last time, I haven’t even had church to relax because I’ve been keeping the twins in the service.”

David gave her a perplexed look. “Why have you been doing that?”

She blushed slightly and looked away.

Giving her a stern look, his grip on her neck tightened. “Victoria…”

Before she had a chance to respond, the Baxters came in and sat down. Pete chuckled. “Looks like we walked into the middle of something, so let’s start there. What’s going on guys?”

David looked at Tori and she shrugged.

He frowned. “Well, Pete, it seems that my wife has been keeping a lot of things from me. Broken household items and vehicles, medical concerns, a pregnancy, and now something having to do with the twins sitting in service at church.”

Trish opened her mouth, but Pete placed a hand on her leg, and she clamped it shut.

“Why don’t you explain to David, Tori?” Pete said kindly.

She shook her head slightly.

“It wasn’t a question, dear.” Pete gave her a mild look and she blushed even deeper.

“Well, I’ll start with saying, I didn’t tell you because it really isn’t a big deal. The Sunday after you left, the boys got into a fight with another little boy about whose Dad was stronger. Not a big deal at all, but their consequence is not being allowed to go back until they apologize to the other boy. They aren’t permitted to fight, and two on one is just cowardice. They refuse to apologize, so they aren’t going back to class.”

Trisha interjected here. “I was the teacher that day, and that consequence wasn’t handed down by us. We had all three boys sit with their parents for the day and were ready to call it even, but it’s very important to Tori that the boys submit.”

David rubbed his temples. “So, not only did you not think to tell me our boys were in a fight, but their ongoing defiance didn’t warrant sharing either?”

Tori shrugged. “I didn’t…”

“I swear, woman, if you say you ‘didn’t want to worry me’ I will throw you over my knee right here, right now.”

She gulped and shook her head. “I should have told you.”

“Darn right you should.” He looked at her angrily, and then sighed looking up at Pete.

“I don’t even know where to start. I feel like our marriage has gotten all topsy turvy, especially the LDD aspect. I just want to set us right again. But, I’m not sure how to do that with the boys, and life, and her being pregnant…”

“Well, before we get into the practical’s, let’s talk about why she is feeling the need to hide all of these things. Tori, do you believe that David loves you and wants the best for you and the boys?”

She stared at him indignantly. “Of course I do! David’s one of the most hardworking, amazing fathers and husbands that I know.”

“Good. I agree. So, why aren’t you sharing your burdens with him?”

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