Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 160192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 801(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 534(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 801(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 534(@300wpm)
He might act like it was nothing, but North had put a lot of thought into this room.
There was even a set of whale stationery on the desk. A pen with a whale on the end and a pad with whales swimming along the top.
Yeah, he’d put thought into it.
For her.
Even though he wasn’t a Daddy. Wasn’t her Daddy.
He was still taking care of her. Without thinking, she turned and walked over to North, wrapping her arms around him.
He stiffened and didn’t return the hug. But that was okay. He didn’t have to hug her back. And she wouldn’t cling to him. Moving back, she smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
“You like it? Even though it’s not finished?” North asked.
“I really do. It’s so kind of you to do this for me.”
“It isn’t kind. I just thought it was something you needed.”
He might choose to think it wasn’t kind, but she knew better. And it wasn’t something she needed, but she very much appreciated it.
“I will bring up the other things. If you make me a list, I will get you anything else you need. And I’ll start looking at ways to take care of Antony.”
North left before she could say anything. She glanced over at Jared in worry. “Is it because I hugged him?”
“Yes,” Jared said.
Shit.
“But I think it’s a good thing. Sometimes, we need to be pushed out of our comfort zone. It’s healthy and North rarely allows that to happen. Now, do you like where everything is or shall we move it?” Jared asked.
“I like where most things are. The chair is in a weird place, though.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Why? Is it to look out at the view?” She walked over and sat on the chair. She couldn’t see anything but the sky.
“No,” he said as he laid his hand on the back of her neck. “It’s so Little girls can reflect on their naughty behavior. It’s a timeout chair.”
“Oh.” She jumped out of the chair and he removed his hand. “I won’t need it. I’m a good girl.”
“Of course you are,” he agreed. “But even good girls are naughty sometimes. In fact, there has been quite a lot of naughty behavior from you lately.”
“No, there hasn’t!”
“Hmm. Let’s see. Talking badly about yourself. Lying to Daddy. Those are both big no-nos. Oh, and trying to climb out the window, which is endangering yourself.”
“I wasn’t trying to climb out, I was just looking. And anyway, we haven’t talked about the rules.”
“Very true. Let’s get some rules sorted and written down.”
“There’s a whiteboard in one of these containers.” North walked in, holding two containers. “I’ll go get the clothes.”
“All right, sit on the rug, baby girl and we’ll get these done.” Jared led her to the rug and she sat with a pout.
“I think it’s pointless to have rules, Daddy,” she said.
She was kind of surprised by how easily she was slipping into Little headspace.
Maybe it was Jared’s supreme confidence in his ability to take care of her, to be her Daddy.
Or perhaps it was just because this was something she desperately wanted.
She wasn’t sure.
But she wasn’t going to keep second guessing it. Because all that meant was that she’d talk herself out of this.
Just relax.
“Everyone needs rules,” Jared told her. “Otherwise there would be anarchy.”
North walked in with piles of clothes in his hands.
“North, can you find something for Angie to play in? Maybe a onesie?” Jared asked casually as he found the whiteboard and sat down on the rocking chair to write on it. She moved over to the open container.
Hmm. There was a really cute tea set. Oh, and a doll. She’d never had a doll of her own. Every Christmas she’d asked for one, but she’d never gotten one.
Occasionally, she’d get given gifts from school or the local church. But never a doll.
This doll was dressed in a cute pale pink tutu skirt and white top and her hair was in braids.
Angie drew her out and touched her carefully. Then she set her aside, not wanting to hurt her.
“Do you not like her?” North asked. “I can find you a different one. Or do you not like to play with dolls?”
“You can’t replace her!” She crouched over her, protecting her from North.
Although he hadn’t actually moved. In fact, he was just staring at her strangely.
Right.
She was acting like a crazy person. She sat back on her haunches and stared up at him, then over to Jared.
“What’s wrong, baby girl?” Jared asked. “If you don’t like the doll, it’s fine. You can tell us.”
“But I do like her. I like her so much. She looks like me. I want to name her Miss Melanie.”
“Miss Melanie?” North asked. “Why Miss Melanie?”
“That was the name of one of my teachers. She didn’t like her last name so we called her Miss Melanie. She was really nice to me. Once, I fell over and skinned my knee. I didn’t cry or anything. I’d learned not to cry as that just annoyed my dad. But she picked me up and hugged me. It was the first time I can remember anyone hugging me. Then she cleaned it up and gave me a piece of candy. So I’m going to name her Miss Melanie.”