Broadway Baby (8 page)

“But you spanked me,” Lily whispered once more. “On stage, a real spanking.”

“I did, and I’ll do it again if I need to. I imagine everyone thinks it was a stage spanking, Lily. Nobody needs to know any differently unless you want them to know.”

Lily shook her head, “No, Mama. I don’t want anybody knowing you really spanked me.”

“Alright, then let’s grab some of those tropical licorice bites you love so much, some water, and use the bathroom before we head back for act two.”

“Mama, I’m sorry for pushing so hard tonight.”

“It’s okay, baby. Come on, we only have about ten minutes left before we need to be back on stage.”

The final curtain call brought a standing ovation for the cast and Lily and Shelby received the loudest applause as they held hands and bowed together. Leaving the stage the women relaxed as they hit the wings.

“Nice show, ladies.” Cally came up behind them. “Great spanking by the way. I had no idea Lily could look so cute getting her tush warmed by her Mama.”

“Knock it off, Cally,” Lily demanded.

“Aw, is the little girl sensitive about Mommy warming her bottom in front of an entire audience?” Steve teased.

Turning on her heel Lily punched the tall man in the gut causing him to gasp. “What the…”

“Knock it off. No more teasing,” Lily demanded as she slipped from the crowd and tried not to run to her dressing room while it became eerily quiet back stage.

Shelby rounded on Cally and Steve causing both actors to step back, “My dressing room, now.”

“Oh shit, we’ve pissed off Mama bear,” Steve muttered as they immediately followed their older co-star.

“Really? What was your first clue?” Cally snipped. “The eyebrow, the mom tone, or the fact that you made Lily punch you?”

“Seriously, you’re gonna blame all of this one me?”

“Children!” Shelby clapped her hands and motioned to her dressing room. “Enough, inside and shut it.”

Both actors did as they were told and took a seat on Shelby’s worn couch as the woman paced in front of them. “I am going to go check on Lily. Do not move from the couch or from this room. We all need to talk, and damn it, it’s happening tonight.”

Cally and Steve watched as Shelby left the dressing room almost slamming the door behind her.

“Damn, we are so dead,” Steve ran a hand through his hair. “Who knew the kid would get so upset over some good natured teasing?”

“You did,” Cally huffed and fell back onto the cushions. “Come on, you know she’s sensitive about that Mama stuff with Shelby. I don’t get it, but then again my folks are great in the grand scheme of things. Hers did nothing but fuck up.”

Steve nodded, “Too true. You remember the first workshop we had with Lily? Her mom is never around and when she is, she’s a stage mother of the worst kind.”

“Yeah, I guess living with Shelby has made them both protective of each other.”

“Especially Shelby. She’s going to tear us a new one, Cally.”

“I figured.” The young actress suddenly snapped her fingers and smiled. “I have it. Why don’t we invite Lily to do something with us tomorrow? You know, as equals. Not drinking, that’s for damn sure, but just something fun where we can make this up to her.”

“And get Shelby off our asses?” Steve asked.

“Exactly.”

“What did you have in mind?”

Cally’s reply was interrupted by Shelby opening the door. “She’s gone and the two of you are going to help me find her.”

“What?” Both adults jumped up and stared at the brunette.

“Lily is gone. Go get changed and meet me back here in no more than fifteen minutes.”

* * *

“Where would she go?” The worry in Shelby’s voice was evident and Cally and Steve had never seen the woman in such disarray.

“Honestly, we’ve hit all of her usual hideouts.” Cally’s voice was soft.

“What about…” Steve trailed off and shook his head. “She wouldn’t would she?”

“What?” Shelby demanded.

“Her mom got back into town a couple of days ago…” Steve stopped again as Shelby nodded her head in understanding.

“Take me there.”

The trio reached the apartment building in twenty minutes thanks to one of NYC’s finest cab drivers. Getting past the doorman was easy since he had met Steve and Cally before. The doorman had even remarked on the resemblance Lily had to Shelby. Also, the fact that he had just let Lily in not ten minutes ago made Shelby’s heart finally stop beating so quickly in her chest.

They had reached the elevator and Steve was just about to push the button when the doors opened to reveal a crying Lily. “She told me to come back tomorrow. That only an ungrateful brat would bother their mother this late at night.”

Pulling Lily into her arms Shelby fought all instincts to go and give Cora Prescott a piece of her mind. “Let’s go home, baby.”

“Shelby?”

“Go home, you two. We will be talking though.”

“Night then,” Steve and Cally waved their goodbyes before heading into the night.

“Could you hail us a cab please?” Shelby addressed the elderly doorman and the man gave her a toothy grin.

“Anything for you, doll,” he returned shortly and tipped his cap at Shelby. “I managed to flag down a cab for you. Not as easy as it was in the old days, but I still have the magic touch.”

“Thanks so much.”

“For that smile, anytime,” he flirted as he walked to the cab and opened the door for Shelby and Lily. “Have a good night ladies, and stay safe.”

* * *

Lily had been too quiet on the drive home and hadn’t protested one bit when Shelby got her into their apartment and helped her into a clean pair of pajamas. Leaving Lily in her bedroom, Shelby had gone to hers to quickly change and returned to find her curled up on the bed holding Albie.

“Come sit with me, baby.” Shelby’s voice was gentle and Lily moved to curl into the woman’s lap when she sat in the rocker.

“Am I in trouble, Mama?” Lily asked after tucking her head under Shelby’s chin and snuggling into the woman.

“A little bit,” Shelby admitted. “I do want to talk about what happened tonight, Lily.”

“I got mad.”

“And?”

“And I decided that I wanted to go and see Cora. Ask her why she hasn’t called or asked to get together or anything since getting back.”

“How did you know she was back?”

“One of the stage hands saw her on the subway a few days ago.” Lily sighed. “Not one word, Mama. Nothing. Then I get there tonight and she was mad to see me because I interrupted something she was doing and hadn’t called ahead to see if she was available. I shouldn’t have to make an appointment to see my own mother!”

The anguish in Lily’s voice caused Shelby to hold her even tighter and rock her slowly. “You’re right, Lily. You shouldn’t have to make an appointment to see your mother, but for some reason she wants your relationship that way.”

“It’s not fair and it’s not the way I want it,” Lily sniffed.

“You’re right, it’s not fair, but it’s the way it is for now.” Shelby began to hum as she rocked allowing Lily her tears. Hearing silence Shelby looked down to find the young teen asleep.

Standing Shelby carried the teen to the bed in the room and laid her down. Managing to pull the covers out from under Lily, Shelby tucked her in and watched as Lily slept. Her heart broke for Lily and the sadness Lily felt at not having the mother she wanted growing up or even now. Shelby couldn’t imagine growing up without the supportive parents she’d had and hoped that the relationship she and Lily were developing could help the woman in front of her experience the joys of feeling loved unconditionally.

* * *

Opening her eyes Lily frowned at finding herself alone in bed. Turning over she noticed the clock on her nightstand flashing two-thirty a.m. “Let’s go find Mama, Albie.” Tucking the bear under her arm Lily slid from the bed and made her way to Mama’s bedroom. Smiling when she saw the woman asleep in the middle of the large bed Lily crawled next to the woman. Bending down near Shelby’s ear Lily decided it would be a good idea if Mama knew she was there. “Mama!”

Giggling as Shelby started Lily tried again, “Mama, I’m here!”

“I see that,” Shelby’s voice was thick with sleep. “Scooch so you can get under the covers with me.”

“I’m not tired anymore.”

“Lily it is in the middle of the night, I am very tired. Come on, keep me company while I get a little more sleep.”

“Do I have to sleep?” Lily’s question was followed by a large yawn.

“I just want you to keep me company, Lily. Come on, snuggle with me,” Shelby encouraged.

“Okay Mama, but just so you don’t get lonely.”

“Thank you, baby.” Shelby smirked in the dark as she felt Lily crawl under the covers and curl into her. Giving Lily a kiss to the top of her head Shelby allowed herself to relax once more as Lily’s breathing evened out allowing both to fall into a well-deserved sleep.

Chapter Four

“Mama, I’m hungry,” Lily said as she snuggled into Shelby, her tummy growling loudly.

“A few more minutes, baby,” Shelby muttered.

“Mama, I’m hungry now!” Lily’s whine caused Shelby to fully wake up.

Opening her eyes she looked down at the teen cuddled into her side. “I’m awake, Lily and I can hear your tummy from here. I guess you are hungry.”

Lily nodded. “I am really hungry, Mama. I’ve been up forever and you just kept sleeping.”

“I am sorry,” Shelby yawned and stretched. “Let me use the bathroom and I will be ready to make you breakfast.”

“French toast?” Lily asked batting her dark eyes.

“French toast sounds good.”

“Yippee!” Lily bounced on the bed while Shelby moved off to the bathroom. “I’ll wait for you in the kitchen, Mama. I can help.”

“Don’t you get anything out, Lily Anne, wait for me.”

“Okay Mama.”

* * *

“Lily Anne Prescott!”

Shoving another cookie into her mouth, Lily waved to Shelby with one hand while trying to hide the half-eaten package behind her back with the other. The bowl of fruit was still on the floor along with a bag of bagels, where they’d both been knocked off the counter during the cookie rescue mission. Lily’s face was covered in chocolate streaks, and her pajama top was littered with cookie crumbs.

“What are you doing?” Shelby demanded moving forward quickly and taking the almost empty package of cookies from the teen.

Swallowing hard Lily smiled, “Having a snack before breakfast. Those cookies sure were good. You should try one, Mama. They’d take that frown right off your face.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to get into anything or take anything out?”

Lily nodded. “I didn’t get into just anything, Mama. I got into the cookies. I didn’t take anything out for breakfast. You never said I couldn’t take the cookies out.”

Saying nothing Shelby moved to the pantry and placed the cookie bag on the top shelf. “These cookies stay here unless I get them for you. Do you understand?”

“Yes Mama,” Lily frowned. “But those sure are good cookies. Are you sure we can’t have one more?”

Holding her smile Shelby put on the most serious face she had, “I am sure, Lily Anne. No cookies for breakfast.”‘

* * *

“This sucks,” Lily pouted as she faced the corner moments later. Shelby had guided her there without a word and then gave her a good swat telling her to not move.

“Not another word, Lily,” Shelby directed.

A heavy sigh met the direction, and Shelby looked from the stove, where she was putting the finishing touches on a real breakfast, to the corner. Damned if Lily didn’t look too cute for words. Her short-set pajamas gave her the look of a much younger girl, and the fact that Lily had her head leaning against the wall while she waited was, to Shelby, adorable.

Placing the last of the French toast on the plates, Shelby put the food and condiments on the table before asking Lily to join her. She then put a glass of juice at Lily’s seat and a mug of coffee at her own. Shelby couldn’t stop the smile when Lily looked longingly at the coffee in her mug.

“Couldn’t I have just a small cup of coffee, Mama?” Lily asked.

“Juice for you, Lily.” Shelby’s voice was firm making Lily sigh once more.

“Fine, but when I complain of a headache later you’ll only have yourself to blame.”

“I’ll take the risk. Eat up, little girl, you and I need to talk about a few things today.”

“Are cookies part of that talk?” Lily asked pausing from shoving her toast into her mouth. “Because I think we should have a rule that cookies for breakfast can be a very good thing.”

“Yes Lily, I promise you that we will talk about cookies.”

“Goody.” Lily began to swing her legs under the table. “This is the best French toast, Mama. How did you learn to make it just right?”

“Years of practice.”

Lily nodded, “I guess so, after all, you’re almost ancient. I mean when was the last time you jumped on the bed or decided to have cookies for breakfast?”

“Back when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.”

“Wow, did you get to ride in cars like Fred Flintstone?”

“All the time.”

“And did you…”

“Yes, I had a Pebbles hairdo as well,” Shelby teased.

Lily giggled as she put the last of her breakfast in her mouth. “You’re silly, Mama.”

“I try.” Shelby finished her food as well and motioned for Lily to help her put the dishes in the sink. “Ready for a bath before we talk?” she asked turning from the sink and looking down at Lily.

“With bubbles?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll be in the bathroom waiting,” Lily called stripping as she ran through the apartment.

* * *

Entering the bathroom Shelby took a deep breath, “Freeze, little girl.”

Stopping before the bubbles were tipped into the tub, a now naked Lily turned slowly. “I was just helping, Mama.”