Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Soon, he brushed her hair thoroughly, leaving a sprinkle of rusty flakes on her shoulders and the floor. The tension in her shoulders eased. “Feel better, Brookie?”
“I can’t wait to wash my hair for real, but this is heaven. You’re really good at this.”
“Want Daddy to braid your hair to keep it out of the way?”
“Yes, please.”
He quickly removed the silicon barrier and finished her hair, giving her the first braid to hold while he did the second. “Okay, sweetheart. Hold the ends of this one, and I’ll go get something to tie around them.”
He was back in a flash with the cotton string he used to tie meat together for smoking. Cutting a couple of pieces, he fashioned small, adorable bows on the end of each braid. “How’s that?”
“Thank you. You’re good at this.”
“Braiding?” he asked with a smile.
“Being my daddy.”
His heart skipped a beat. For years he’d waited to find the perfect Little who matched his style of care. He’d found her. Stepping forward, he hugged Brooklyn tight and picked her up in his arms to settle her on his hip. She rested her head on his shoulder as he swayed back and forth.
Caden could see her eyelids fluttering shut. The flurry of activity had worn her out. He carried Brooklyn to her nursery and tucked his exhausted Little under the soft comforter. “Go to sleep, baby.”
“My friends are coming over,” she protested, yawning.
“They’ll be glad to let you nap for an hour. Then you can play.” He tucked Fluffikins into her arms and smiled as she rubbed her nose in the bunny’s soft fur. When she had settled, he pressed her pacifier into her mouth and rubbed her back until she relaxed and tumbled into sleep.
A quick text to the group chat delayed everyone’s arrival for a couple of hours. The answers popped in immediately. The team would be glad to come when Brooklyn was ready to see them. Her health was most important.
Caden forced himself from the nursery door. He could listen in on the monitor app to hear when she woke up. Carrying his phone with him, Caden headed for the kitchen to make the macaroni and cheese concoction that all the Littles loved. It would be hot and bubbly when she woke up.
Sniffing, Brooklyn blinked away her sleepiness. She rolled onto her back without thinking and yelped. Turning back on her side, she covered her stitches automatically, protecting them a bit too late.
Caden ran in seconds later. Literally raced to her side. Zale arrived right behind him. “Brookie, what’s wrong?”
“I’m okay. I’m so stupid and laid on my stitches,” she said.
“Sleepy, not stupid,” Caden corrected before helping her sit up and turn slightly so he and Zale could check her head. “The good news is you didn’t rip any stitches. You’re fine.”
Zale seconded that assessment. “I’m glad everything’s okay, but I bet that hurt.”
She nodded, trying to be brave. “I don’t want any pain medicine. That makes me too sleepy.” She looked toward the door and saw the entire group clustered at the entrance to her nursery.
“How about if your daddy gets you some juice to wake up, and we put some ice on your head to see if that helps?” Zale suggested.
“Okay.” She swallowed hard and immediately was thirsty. How did Zale know what she needed before she did?
“Come here, Brookie.” Caden carefully lifted her from her crib, supporting her head as he learned to do since her injury. “She’s okay. Just a bit of a headache. Darn stitches.”
Brooklyn looked at everyone and whispered, “Hi!”
The crowd led her back to the kitchen, where Zale grabbed a bag of frozen peas from the freezer. After handing it to Caden, he made himself at home, getting a sippy cup of juice for her while Caden sat down at the table with Brooklyn on his lap.
“Come join us,” he invited the Littles.
Immediately, they swarmed the table. Talking in quiet whispers, they chose their seats. Soon the women had something to drink in front of them.
The cold pack on her head helped almost instantly. After a big drink of the tropical fruit juice, Brooklyn rallied. “Hi, girls. Thank you for helping me.”
“Of course. While the guys are out of town, we always support each other. You don’t have to thank us. Maybe I’ll need someone to bail me out during the next deployment,” Aspen said.
“Bail you out? Like from jail?” Brooklyn asked in confusion.
“Little girl. What do you have planned?” Zale growled.
“No. Not jail, Daddy. I mean, if my car breaks down or I get sad, I’d need you all to come to my rescue,” Aspen said quickly.
“Better,” Zale told her.
“I’ve never been so glad to see anyone, Giana,” Brooklyn spoke up, distracting everyone from their focus on Aspen.
Her new friend mouthed, I owed you one.
“I was glad to see you when you popped that door open and whisked me away from Tom,” Giana said with a shiver. “I’m glad I was on call so I could come ride with you to the hospital. Let’s call it even now.”