We’re deep in our game when Catharina calls for us. “Girls, Gavin brought lemon bars and milk if you want some.”
“Yay!” Abandoning her doll entirely, Victoria jumps to her feet and races over to the whimsical little serving cart that’s been arranged in front of one of the couches. I watch as Uncle Max lifts her onto his lap and holds up a lemon bar for her to nibble on.
“Alexis? Don’t you want a treat, little imp?”
I don’t, at least not a yucky lemon bar. But I also don’t want to tell her that and risk upsetting her, so I nod and force myself to my feet and drag my way over to the couch.
“There’s my sweet Little girl.”
Her purring praise helps to ease the heaviness in my chest as she pulls me onto her lap. I’m still not convinced I’m not too heavy for her, but the last thing I want to do is cause a scene in front of our supposed family, so I let my weight rest on her leg.
Either she really is stronger than she looks, or she’s doing a very good job of hiding how much I’m hurting her. Either way, she doesn’t make a sound as I settle on her lap, but only reaches across me to pluck a lemon bar from the tray and hold it to my lips.
Again not wanting to make a scene or give her any reason to be disappointed in me, I open my mouth and let her slip the gooey treat past my lips.
And I immediately gag as the tart, bitter taste of lemon explodes over my tongue.
“What’s wrong, little one?” Worry coats Catharina’s tone. “Are you choking?”
I shake my head, trying to wave off her concern. But tears have begun running down my cheeks and I can’t force myself to swallow the gross pastry still sitting in my mouth.
Grabbing a napkin from the cart, she holds it up in front of me. “Spit it out, Alexis.”
Equal parts grateful and mortified, I spit the chewed-up bit of lemon bar out onto the napkin. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please don’t be mad!”
“Shh, come here, little one.” Wrapping her arms around me, Catharina cuddles me close, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “Mommy’s right here, baby. Nobody is mad at you.”
As I sit there, cradled in her arms, embarrassment starts to creep in. Why couldn't I just eat the stupid lemon bar? It wasn’teven that bad, I just had to be dramatic, like always. My actual mom was always telling me I overreacted to things and made them so much worse than they really wore, and not for the first time in my life, I find myself thinking she was right.
“There now.” Nudging me to sit up more fully, Catharina wipes my face with the clean napkin Uncle Max just handed her. “Tell Mommy what happened, little imp.”
“I don’t know.” The lie tastes just as bitter as the stupid lemon bar.
“Was there something wrong with your lemon bar? I swear, if Gavin pulled one of his pranks?—”
The thought of someone else getting in trouble on my account nearly makes me sick to my stomach and I rush to tell her the truth. “No! There’s nothing wrong with them. I just… I don’t like lemon.”
For a moment, Catharina only blinks at me. “You don’t like lemon? At all?”
“No. I don’t even like it in my tea. It’s gross.”
“Well why on earth didn’t youtellme that?”
“I didn’t want to upset you.”
The moment the words leave my lips, I can tell I grossly miscalculated. Her expression hardens, and her eyes glint with a determination that has my bottom clenching. “Mommy will never be angry with you for being honest about what you like and don’t like. But lies, even little ones meant to spare my feelings, will always end with a sore bottom for you. Am I making myself absolutely clear right now, Alexis Paige?”
If I’d thought I was embarrassed before, it’s nothing compared to the humiliation that floods my body as she scolds me in front of Uncle Max and Victoria. I actuallyfeellike a Little girl, a child being taken to task by her Mommy while her friend watches on in uncomfortable fascination.
“Yes, Mommy,” I manage to whisper despite the tightness in my throat. “I’m sorry, I was just… trying to be polite.”
Everything about Catharina softens with a sigh. “I know, baby. And I appreciate that. But I expect nothing but honesty from my Little girl going forward. All right?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Good girl. Now, let’s get Gavin back in here and see what other treats he has that you might enjoy.”
Catharina
