“Thirty seconds, more like, will just add another ten swats to that sweet ass of yours. Turn around, bend over and grab ahold of the counter. Do not...let go, and do not miss a count, or I shall start over, understand””Bewildered by the sudden change, but unable to deny the flood of dampness running down her thigh, Izzy turned and did as he asked, bending over somewhat horizontal and holding onto the edge of the counter.Kicking at her feet, Paul continued ‘Feet apart, as far as you can, I want. Our daughter, Emelie, had been chosen to be Lucia in her school and all parents were invited to the traditional Lucia evening at the school. Chris and I went together and I noted that it surprised several parents there who didn't expect couples who had filed for divorce be there together.A few days later Monica came with a real surprise. She suggested we have a dinner together at a small restaurant. I asked if her husband knew about her plans and when she said he did, I accepted. Chris noted. He thought of having a woman who fulfilled him only as much as his job had over the past few years, and he laughed. He’d have been a bitter old man by the time he was thirty. He was feeling alive now for the first time in years, and he had Veronica to thank for it. He allowed himself to wonder if he could continue to go it alone, if Reg managed to steal Veronica from him, and he considered the possibility that he could, and it felt good, and right. Veronica had been a godsend, but if she was. ”“But the kids hate me now,” she whined for the umpteenth time.“Yeah, but school’s done for the week. Worry about that next week.”I didn’t know what else she wanted from me. I was giving her all the fake comfort I could muster. I sat at the edge of the bed holding her, practically cradling her, while she wept softly into my shoulder. We were already so close together, yet she was grabbing onto me, pressing herself into me, while she sobbed, wetting my sweater. And her hand was on my breast.I.