Katie's New Daddy

by Allysa Hart

  “A chat with words, silly girl.” Rose smiled and shook her head. “Do you remember how naughty you were yesterday? How worried I was? And how much trouble you got into after?”

  Nodding and averting her eyes, Katie gulped in acknowledgement.

  “Well, little miss, if you do anything like that today, if you put yourself in danger or get yourself lost, last night will look like a cakewalk. Capiche?”

  Katie’s stomach dropped to her toes.

  “But that’s not going to happen, is it?” Rose softened. “You’re going to be a good girl for me today, aren’t you?”

  “Yes ma’am,” she agreed, knowing it was true. In her current state, she was far too Little to be blatantly disobedient.

  “That’s my girl.”

  Rose hugged her and stroked her hair, and Katie melted against her, thankful for all that had transpired between them.

  When they parted, Katie stepped back. “So…?” she hedged, bouncing on her toes in anticipation.

  “Come on, little one. Let’s go to the fair!”

  “Look, Auntie. They have a Ferris wheel!”

  Katie smiled when she saw her Auntie cringe and shake her head. For reasons Katie didn’t understand, Rose hated Ferris wheels most of all.

  “Please. I don’t wanna go by myself,” she begged, throwing in a pitiful pout for good measure.

  “You are something else and too cute for your own good! I will think about it.” Rose sighed.

  Katie smiled in satisfaction and got out of the car, heading for the ticket line. Usually if she got Rose to the point of “thinking about it,” she could get her way.

  The line was long, and the sounds and smells coming from inside the fair had her bouncing on her heels in excitement as she waited for it to be their turn. Her view was limited, but that meant there would be a ton of surprises to explore and discover.

  Finally, they had wristbands and were ready to play. Rose had a strong grip on her hand, which was a good thing because she was overwhelmed with excitement. Her head swiveled from side to side as she turned in a circle, trying to decide where to go first. Food, rides, games, and animals. She wanted to do it all.

  Finally, her eyes fell on a pen with a large sign that said Petting Zoo, and she made up her mind. “Look, Auntie, baby animals!” she cried, pulling Rose toward the gate. “C’mon!”

  Rose laughed at her exuberance and allowed herself to be pulled along into the pen that housed dozens of baby animals.

  Katie sat, fed, and cuddled a baby goat for as long as she could before the handler told her that her time had expired. With one last nuzzle to the animal, she dusted herself off and joined Rose. “Do you think Uncle would let me get a baby goat?”

  “What are you going to do with a goat? It won’t stay little forever, you know?”

  Katie stayed silent, knowing Rose was right.

  They moved on to the ride section where the Ferris wheel took the spotlight. She could see the apprehension in Rose’s eyes.

  “No, not now.”

  Katie sighed. “Fine, but we are riding that before we leave. Promise me.”

  “I will make no such promise. Pick something else.”

  Katie turned in a slow circle, looking for something equally fun, when she spotted the carousel. It was perfect. She grabbed Rose’s hand and pulled her in that direction. “Okay, I picked. Let’s go!”

  After coaxing Rose onto a couple of rides, Katie felt her tummy start to rumble.

  “I guess I’m getting hungry. How about you?”

  They chose a huge fried blooming onion, milk shakes, and walking tacos and found a spot to sit next to a stage where a cover band played country music. A crowd of people line danced, and Katie followed along in her seat as they ate.

  “Let’s dance, Auntie!”

  “Sure, let’s,” Rose agreed. Katie knew she would do anything to prolong going back to the rides.

  They jumped in line and joined right along, laughing at themselves and one another as they tried to learn the moves. Rose tapped Katie and motioned she needed to take a phone call. Katie rolled her eyes and kept dancing as Rose moved away from the stage.

  She stayed for one more song before heading back to their spot for a break. She looked around but didn’t see Rose. Sitting at the table, she decided to wait.

  After a couple of minutes, Rose came back with a big pink cotton candy in her hand. “Sorry, sweetie. That took way longer than I thought. Thank you for staying where I could find you.” She held out the cloud-shaped treat.

  Katie crossed her arms and glared at Rose. “Really? You leave me here where I can’t find you and then come back and try to bribe me with sweets? If I had left you like that, I would have gotten my butt spanked. Do I get to spank your butt for it?”

  Rose chuckled. “That’s not how it works, little girl. I am sorry for leaving you. The music was too loud, and I had to take a call from my boss. I am supposed to be at the conference today, remember? I brought you a treat for staying put like I asked. Would you like it or should I give it to some other well-mannered little girl?” Rose teased. “I’m sure there’s one around here somewhere.”

  Katie grabbed the cotton candy. “Now, let’s not get hasty. I didn’t say I didn’t want it, but don’t think cotton candy is going to buy my forgiveness.”

  “How about we win you some stuffies? Will that make it better?”

  Katie smiled at the offer. “Definitely.”

  Game after game, they played and won prizes to take home. Katie giggled as she watched Rose argue with one of the vendors about her ball hitting the target while his attentions were on a scantily clad passerby. He gave in and told Katie to choose a prize. As the sun started to set, she remembered the Ferris wheel.

  “Please, please, please,” Katie whined, pointing up to the sky and tugging Rose’s hand.

  Rose gave her the side-eye and turned toward the Ferris wheel, looking slightly green around the gills. Katie loved Ferris wheels, and her heart had been set on it since she had seen it from the parking lot. She would ride by herself if she had to, but she shot one last pout at Rose in an attempt to get her way.

  As hoped, Rose gave in with a groan.

  “Okay, but you listen to me, little girl. This is the last thing we are doing.”

  Katie nodded, and they headed for the line.

  Once seated in their cart, Katie scooted as close as possible and snuggled into Rose. Watching the sunset as the wheel made its slow journey, Katie smiled in pleasure. “Thank you for a really fun day, Auntie.”

  “My pleasure, baby.”

  “Hey, little dude. It’s just you and me this afternoon, huh?” Jeff picked up the smiling child. It was the first time he had been left alone with Noah, and he was excited to spend some one-on-one time with the growing boy.

  Taking him to the kitchen, he sat him in the high chair. “How about some dinner?” He opened the fridge to retrieve one of the jars of homemade baby food. “Mmm, apples and squash.” He cringed at the combination. Noah saw the jar and started cooing and bouncing in his seat. The boy loved to eat, and his schedule was like clockwork. It made taking care of him even easier.

  “Are you hungry, little dude?” Noah continued his bouncing. His chubby arms stuck out straight, and his hands moved a mile a minute. His exuberance made Jeff laugh. “Okay, okay. It’s coming. Let’s get you covered first.” Putting the bib around his neck, he proceeded to feed him and carry on a one-sided conversation. He told Noah about his morning and what he was fixing at the house. Asked him what color he would like his room to be and all kinds of questions he answered himself.

  As he ran out of topics to talk to a four-month-old about, he spooned the last bite into his mouth. “Well, that’s all we got. How about a fresh diaper?”

  He cleaned him up and looked at his watch. They had about an hour before Keith got home, so he collected some toys and lay down on the living room floor on his stomach to play with his little buddy. He could get used to this dad life
.

  Back at the hotel, Katie decided she was not ready to call it a night.

  “C’mon, Auntie, the pool doesn’t close until eleven. Please,” she begged.

  “Sweetie, I have an early morning, and I’m tired. You can go to the pool while I am working tomorrow morning. Maybe it will keep you out of trouble?” she answered with an arched eyebrow.

  “I don’t wanna go by myself. It is no fun to be all alone at a pool. Who will I splash?”

  Rose let out a laugh, “Oh it’s like that, is it?”

  Katie nodded with a satisfied grin on her face and Rose shook her head. “Fine, you little weasel. You are so lucky you’re cute. Go put on your suit!”

  Katie squealed and ran into the bathroom to change.

  The late hour left the pool empty, giving her total freedom to enjoy her Little space. She dropped her towel, kicked off her shoes, and ran to the pool, entering with a very ungraceful cannonball. When she came up for air, she spotted Rose carrying her things to a chair, smiling and shaking her head.

  “Couldn’t wait ten more seconds, huh, love?”

  “No way! Hurry up. The water is nice and warm!”

  “Give me a second. I’m coming.”

  “Rose Harris, you get in this pool right this instant.” She raised her arms and splashed them down hard.

  Rose set down her towel and moved toward the water. “You don’t have very much protection in the suit to back that tone, young lady. Are you sure that is the route you would like to take?”

  “You don’t scare me,” Katie lied as she moved deeper into the water for safety.

  A smile spread across Rose’s face, and she laughed out loud. “Ha. We’ll just see about that now, won’t we?”

  Katie swam to the pool wall, pulled back her arm, and let it fly just below the surface, creating a spray of water that hit her target spot-on. Without missing a beat, Rose dove in with perfect grace and swam toward her. Katie giggled as she tried to scramble up the wall, but Rose’s hand closed around her ankle and tugged her under before she could escape. They both came up for air at the same time, Rose laughing and Katie sputtering.

  “That’s not fair, she protested, pushing the hair out of her face.

  “What’s not fair? It’s not my fault you forgot I was on the college swim team.” She winked.

  Katie slapped herself on the forehead.

  They spent the next half hour splashing and chasing one another. Katie kept trying to dunk Rose, but it always ended up with her head under the water.

  After about half an hour, Rose called it quits and climbed out. “You have successfully exhausted me, little girl. Let’s head back upstairs and get ready for bed.”

  “Awww, Auntie, do we have to?”

  “Yes, we have to. Time to get out. Let’s go.”

  “Help me get out?” Katie pouted, reaching up for assistance.

  Rose leaned down and took her hand. Katie smiled at her and yanked. Rose toppled over her head right into the water then popped back up and wiped her face. “Happy you got some revenge?” Grabbing Katie’s sides, she tickled her mercilessly.

  “I can’t believe you fell for that!” Katie choked as she moved as quickly as possible to the steps, trying to escape.

  “Me, either.”

  Toweling off they went back to their room, each with a huge smile on her face.

  Katie jumped out of the car as soon as it was in park. The drive home had been pretty uncomfortable on her sore butt.

  “Where’s my baby?” she demanded as she flung open the interior garage door.

  “I’m right here,” Jeff teased, looking at her over the couch.

  She put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. “Not you, butthead.”

  “Butthead, huh?” Jeff chuckled, rounding the couch toward her. “Why don’t you come closer and call me that again?”

  Still in a playful mood, she took off running down the hall, giggling and yelling, “Butthead!”

  Taking her cue, he gave chase and caught her around the waist before she reached her bedroom door. Katie wiggled and kicked, halfheartedly trying to get away, but when Jeff’s lips brushed her neck, she froze and melted into him. Starting at the base of her neck, he kissed and nibbled all the way up to her ear.

  “I missed you,” he growled.

  The vibration of his voice gave her goose bumps. “I missed you, too,” she admitted.

  Turning her in his arms, he grasped her ass with both hands and squeezed. She hissed and went up onto her toes as the pain of her sore posterior registered.

  Letting go, he regarded her with concern. “Are you okay?”

  Katie rubbed and nodded, unable to look Jeff in the eye. “Yeah, just sore. Where’s Noah?” She changed the subject, hoping he would let it go for now.

  “He’s asleep, but he should be up any minute. I bet you missed him.”

  She gave a soft smile. “I really did, but I think it was a good break.”

  “I would have to agree.” Jeff lifted her chin to place a chaste kiss on her lips. “I’m glad you had fun, beautiful, but I’m more happy that you’re home.”

  Katie nodded and reached for more kisses as a throat cleared behind her. Turning around, she saw Rose at the mouth of the hallway, carrying both suitcases.

  “Let me get those.” Jeff quickly went to relieve her of the load. “Where do they go?”

  “The gray one is mine, and the purple is Katie’s, thank you.” She sighed. “I swear I could sleep for a week after that trip.”

  Jeff laughed as he went to drop off the luggage in the respective rooms.

  Katie smiled and went to Rose for a hug. “I had so much fun, Auntie. Thank you.” She squeezed tight, trying to infuse her gratitude into the embrace.

  Rose squeezed back. “You are so welcome, baby. Don’t forget all the things we talked about and the progress we made, okay?”

  Katie nodded and backed off. “Would you and Uncle mind watching Noah for a bit after I nurse? I want to talk to Jeff before I lose my nerve.”

  “Of course, baby girl. Take as long as you need and just remember to trust.” She kissed her forehead and gave one more squeeze. “You go. I’m going to find my husband and jump his bones.” She winked.

  Katie wrinkled her nose. “Gross.”

  Jeff came back down the hall, and Katie wrapped her arms around his waist. “Want to go for a walk with me, I kinda need to talk to you about some stuff,” she murmured into his shirt.

  “Sure, sweetheart. Do you want to wait and see the baby first?”

  “No, it’s okay. It’s kinda important.”

  He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Is everything okay?”

  “I think so.” She shrugged. “Just let me put on some comfortable shoes.” Slipping out of his grasp, she went into her room, closing the door behind her.

  It’s never good when a woman says they want to talk. The thought played over and over in his head while he waited for Katie in Keith and Rose’s kitchen. It wasn’t a PC thought, and it certainly wasn’t an evolved one, but it was the one he had been trained to have. It was either that, or stand there feeling like a kid sent to the principal’s office. He told himself to stop being silly, but it was a natural human reaction, and he couldn’t seem to curb the feeling of dread that had filled his heart with those four words. All of the negativity went away when Katie entered the kitchen wearing pink Keds and a yellow sundress covered in tiny pink hearts. She looked adorable, and not at all like she was about to break someone’s heart. He expelled the breath he had been holding and smiled at her. “You look lovely. Are you sure you don’t need a jacket?”

  She smiled and rolled her eyes at him, her usual response. “It’s nearly seventy degrees out, silly.”

  “And it’s windy and overcast. It’s going to cool down fast,” he countered. “Grab a jacket.”

  “Okay, okay, fine,” she muttered, opening the hall closet and slipping a thin denim jacket off a hanger. While she shrugged into it, she s
tuck her tongue out at him. “Happy now, bossypants?”

  “Very much so.”

  She held her hand out, and he took it and led her out the front door.

  “Where to?” he asked as they made their way down the short driveway and onto the main road.

  “Ummm, the park?”

  They turned toward the small park only a few blocks away. She didn’t speak at all as they made their way to their destination, and he tensed once more.

  She led him to a picnic table near the entrance.

  Katie never let go of his hand as they sat down on opposites sides of the worn table. She looked more than a little uneasy, and made no move to start the conversation.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked. “You’re making me nervous.”

  “I am nervous,” Katie admitted. “But I know I need to tell you this if I want our relationship to move forward. I can’t keep trying to hide who I am. It’s not healthy.”

  “Hide who you are?” He wrinkled his brow, and frowned in confusion, racking his brain for what she could be hiding, that she was afraid to tell him. Only one possible thing made any sense at all. She remained quiet, doodling circles on the table with her finger, and blushing.

  “Katie, are you talking about your Little side?” he asked gently. Gripping her chin in the crook of his finger, he pulled her face up until her eyes met his.

  Wide-eyed, she gasped. “How did you know?”

  “You mean other than the way your eyes light up when you get a present, and the way you tease and use words like butthead, and bossypants? Your excitement over little things like making popcorn before we watch a movie or the way you haven’t stopped eyeballing the playground since we got here?”

  Her nose wrinkled, and she frowned. Her expression was almost ashamed, and it broke his heart to see her reluctance. “Is it that obvious?”

  “Well, yes. And besides that, Keith told me. Oh, and I saw your room.”

  She hadn’t been expecting that. Her eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks colored, and her mouth opened in an O. And then she got angry.

  “You know, I am really getting sick of everyone thinking they know what is best for me, regardless of my wishes!” she hollered. “I have a Little side! A side! It’s a part of me—it’s not everything. I can be childlike, but I am not actually a child! I am a grown-ass woman, a mother, and before I lost my husband, I was the freaking CEO of a company for God’s sake!”