"It looks like someone bought Mrs. Mulligan's house," Alison Kilpatrick called to her mother. "The realtor is taking the sign down."
"I hope it's a nice family," came the reply. "Mrs. Mulligan was a good neighbor. I'm going to miss her." Tom, Jane, and Alison Kilpatrick had moved next door to Mrs. Mulligan twelve years ago. Alison was eight at the time. They got on very well with their elderly neighbor. Tom mowed her lawn in the summer and kept her driveway and steps clear of snow. Mrs. Mulligan reciprocated by babysitting Alison whenever it was needed. It was a mutually beneficial relationship.
Then came that awful day six years ago. A call saying Tom had been in an auto accident, sent mother and daughter hurrying to the hospital. Only to be told, when they arrived, that he had died. Killed by a drunk driver who had crossed the center line. The absence of the love and discipline he provided left a hole in their lives that would never properly close. Though the insurance settlement they received was enough to provide for them, it couldn't replace the husband and father they both adored.
Mother and daughter both were familiar with being taken over his knees for a thorough spanking. Alison much more often than Jane. She could be quite a handful, but Tom knew how to handle her. A good bottom warming followed by loving forgiveness always settled her down. Jane had tried to take his place as a disciplinarian, but her efforts were largely ineffective. Alison had grown into a headstrong and reckless young woman.
"I wonder how long it will be before they move in," Jane said. "Mrs. Mulligan passed away six months ago and that house has been empty too long. It's going to take a lot of cleaning before anyone will want to live there." They didn't have to wait long. A week later, A bright red convertible caught their attention when it pulled into the driveway next door.
"Mama, come look. I think our new neighbor is here." Alison watched as a very fit looking man climbed out of the car. "Oh, my God," she intoned as her mother joined her. "He's gorgeous. I would jump on his pole any day."
"Alison! Shame on you! If your father ever heard you talk like that, he would take his belt to your bare bottom and you wouldn't sit comfortably for a week," It was times like this that Jane missed Tom the most. For her own good, Alison needed discipline, but there was nobody to take her in hand.
"Yeah, well he's not here. So, I don't have to worry about that, do I. Enough about Dad. Let's go meet him."
"Wait." Jane had to stop her from running out the door. "We should take him something to welcome him into the neighborhood. Help me bake some brownies. That will give him time to get settled before we go over." Alison wasn't much help. While Jane did the baking, she spent most of the time peering through the curtains. An hour later. mother and daughter, a plate of warm brownies in hand, were waiting for their new neighbor to answer their knock.
"Hello Ladies," said the handsome young man as he opened the door. "what can I help you with today?"
"I'm Jane Kilpatrick and this is my daughter Alison. We live next door and wanted to welcome you into the neighborhood. These are for you," she said as she held up the plate of warm brownies.
"Thank you very much, that's very gracious of you. They smell wonderful. Would you like to come in for a moment? It will be easier to get acquainted inside than standing on the porch." He held the door for them as they entered. "I'm John Cooper," he said, offering his hand to both women in turn. "Please forgive the mess." He motioned for them to have a seat at the only furniture visible. A dining room table with six chairs placed around it.
"We understand completely. I see you still have a lot to do. You haven't moved much in yet."
"Most of my things are in storage and will stay there until I finish the remodeling. The house is in fairly good shape, structurally, but it desperately needs updated. The kitchen and bathrooms must be totally redone. Besides painting, I'm replacing the windows and all the flooring. The contractors are starting Monday morning. That will give me the weekend to get started on the painting."
"If this is all you have. How are you going to fix your meals?”
"Take out, mostly. As a bachelor, I'm quite used to pizza and burgers."
"I won't hear of it." Jane's instincts as a mother did not like the idea of anyone living on junk food. "You need a balanced diet if you're going to be doing that much work. I want you to eat with us until you're settled in." She held up her hand as he was about to protest.
"It will be no inconvenience. I cook for us every day. Setting a place for you will not be a problem. Dinner tonight will be ready in about two hours. Why don't you come over now? It will give us a chance to get to know each other before we eat." Alison was beaming. Spending the next few hours with this handsome man was more than she had hoped for.
As for John, the afternoon and evening he spent with two attractive women was a welcome change. He was devoted to his career as an engineer. That devotion consumed his time and was responsible for the failure of two long term relationships. The last one ended six months ago and since then he had done little else besides work. Relaxing in their company made him realize how much he missed female companionship.
John was a little surprised when Jane said they were mother and daughter. They resembled each other so closely, he thought they might be sisters. They both had trim figures with ample breasts and well-rounded bottoms. The main difference between the two wasn't physical. Jane's maturity was evident in her attitude. Alison, however, showed all the signs of being out of control. She was not shy about flirting with him. She did everything short of dropping her pants to let him know she was available.
Over the next few weeks, the remodeling progressed on John's home. As each room was finished, he would furnish it with the things he had in storage. On the day he was to bring in the last items, Jane baked him an apple pie to celebrate.
"Take this over to John," Jane said as she handed the pie to Alison who was only too happy to use it as an excuse to see John. After all her flirting failed to produce the desired advance, she was beginning to think he wasn't interested, but she was not ready to give up.
Alison rang the bell, discovered he wasn't there, and an idea came to her. When she was young, Mrs. Mulligan tended to her needs after school until her parents finished working. She had showed Alison how to open the back door without a key in case she wasn't home when Alison arrived. If John hadn't repaired it yet, she would be able to gain entry. She went around back and with a certain twist and a little shake of the doorknob, the door came open.
Once inside, she couldn't resist the temptation to do a little snooping. Alison left the pie on the kitchen table and went upstairs to John's bedroom. She was just starting to go through his dresser when she heard him pull into the driveway. Running down the stairs, she made it to the kitchen just as he came in the back door.
"Alison, what are you doing here?" His tone conveyed suspicion more than surprise. "How did you get in?"
"Mama asked me to bring you this apple pie. I didn't want to leave it outside, so I checked the back door. It was unlocked so I brought the pie inside." John knew she was lying about the door but decided not to challenge her on it.
"I appreciate everything you and your mother have done for me since I moved here and I'm grateful. But this is my home and I'm very protective of my privacy. I must insist that you do not enter my home when I'm not here. You could have taken the pie back to your place and waited until I got here."
"I'm sorry if I offended you," she said petulantly. I only wanted to bring you the pie." She left in a huff. John just shook his head. There was a girl who needed to be taken down a peg.
Alison eventually got over her pout and returned to her attempts to snare the handsome bachelor. Once again, Jane baked a treat for John and was about to take it over herself when Alison intercepted her.
"Mama, let me do it. The last time I took something to him, he wasn't too happy with me. I would appreciate a chance to make things right between us." Reluctantly, Jane gave into her, hoping her daughter had enough sense to keep her pants on.
Though John's car was in the driveway, the front door was locked, and no one answered the bell. Not to be denied, Alison went to the back door and let herself in.
"John," she called as she stepped through the door. “Anyone home?" While she received no answer, Alison cautiously stepped through the kitchen. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she could hear the shower running on the second floor. 'This is too good to pass up,' she thought. Knowing better but doing it anyway, she crept up the stairs and waited outside the bathroom. When the shower turned off, she almost changed her mind and fled, but impetuosity overruled reason and she held her ground. John came out of the bathroom drying his hair, putting on quite a show for Alison as the only thing the towel covered was his head.
"Now that was worth waiting for." Her voice startled him so badly he almost dropped the towel.
"What the hell, Alison! How did you get in? I know the doors were locked." From the look on John's face, Alison knew she had made a mistake. "Get your ass downstairs and wait for me." Alison hastily retreated down the stairs, afraid a line had been crossed that could permanently ruin her chances with John. Anxiety tied her stomach in knots when she heard him coming down the stairs. The anger etched into his expression turned her apprehension into alarm.
"What did I tell you about invading my privacy? You have no right to come into my home like that."
"You said not to come in when you weren't home, and I didn't. You're home so what's the problem." Alison's arrogant defiance was the last straw. John grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the couch.