Heart Song Anthology

by Carolyn Faulkner

  Ike saw Sally give her friend’s arm a squeeze before she left the two of them alone. The smell coming from under the shiny chrome food covers was making his mouth water. It had been so long since he had eaten anything but hospital food. He stood and hobbled to the table, then lifted the lids taking a peek underneath.

  Roast duckling in an orange glaze under the largest. Fingerling potatoes with sautéed leeks under another. Next, there was roasted butternut squash artistically drizzled with a balsamic reduction. And, finally, dessert: a decadent chocolate cake garnished with berries and whipped cream. An ice bucket chilling a large bottle sealed with a gold foil top was placed on the table. The waiter took all the lids and put them on his cart before asking, “Shall I open and pour for you, sir?”

  Ike pulled out Mindy’s chair, helped her into it and pushed it in before taking his own. He looked at him with a smile. “Yes, please, and then you can take a break. I will let you know when we are finished.”

  While the waiter went about the mechanics of opening the bottle, Ike filled Mindy’s plate, making sure she had a little of everything but dessert, before he filled his own. With the flutes of golden liquid placed in front of them, the bottle returned to its icy bath, and the waiter discretely slipping from the room, they began to eat. Ike was pleased his choices met with her approval when he saw Mindy roll her eyes in delight. She took a sip of champagne and giggled as the bubbles tickled her nose.

  “Mmm, this is so good. Not that I am complaining about the hospital food, but this is wonderful.”

  Mindy felt like she was in a dream. She knew there was no comparison between this food and what she was used to; it had been so long since she had eaten out. Never had she had food like this. Eating out to her was a burger or chicken. She savored every bite until her plate was clean, then finished her drink. Pushing her chair back she patted her full tummy with a happy sigh.

  Ike loved the look of happiness on her face. She was so pretty and innocent, which brought him back to the topic he wanted to discuss. He poured them each a cup of coffee before he began. “Do you know what a Little is, Mindy?”

  Mindy looked up, shocked at the question. She hesitated before she answered. “Yes, I looked it up on the computer a while back. Sally and I both decided that we would like to try the lifestyle. It seemed to click with both of us.” Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened. “Please don’t say anything to Sally. It is her story to tell. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  Ike blew across the top of his cup to cool it. “I promise to keep it our little secret, but, little one,” he stopped to think before he went on, “it is written all over both of you.”

  Mindy’s mouth formed a perfect O. “I didn’t realize. You see, neither of us had parents, really. We are both orphans brought up by others. My grams in my case. Her aunt in hers. We have been struggling on our own for quite a while now. I read about Littles in a book and curiosity got the best of me. So, I decided to do some research. I never thought I would be lucky enough to find a daddy.”

  Ike nodded his head. “Well, little one, I am a daddy dom. I have been looking for my own little girl for a long time. I had pretty much given up hope of finding her. My friend Shaun, who is coming tomorrow, is also a daddy dom. Tell me, Mindy, would you be willing to try being my little girl for a few weeks, to see if it works for us?” He saw the fear enter her eyes and quickly added, “If I am going too fast, I apologize. I am just so excited to finally find someone to share my life with. Since we’re being medically discharged from the service, and it’s a new year, it seems like a good time for a new beginning in my life. I know it seems too soon, but I know in here,” he tapped his chest above his heart, “I have found someone that shares something special.”

  Mindy tapped her lips with her finger. She was so excited, but also afraid. “I don’t know much about you, Ike. Maybe we could get to know one another a little first.”

  “Agreed. How about we spend the next week having dinner like this and just talking?”

  “I would love that, but you must remember that during the day I have a job to do and you may not like it.”

  “I understand. Now let’s get to know one another before you have to go. The doctor promised me I could be home next week, if I have help at home. Would you be willing to be my nurse? I would pay you very well and I will get you a couple weeks leave from your duties here.”

  Mindy knew the money would come in handy. It would help her get out from under some of Gram’s debt. She could take a paid vacation from the hospital and get paid from Ike too. She rubbed her hands together at the thought of the extra money. “Yes! And if we know one another well enough I would love to try being your little girl at the same time.”

  “Good deal.” He hit the nurse’s button and the two men came to clean the table of everything but the coffee and the delicious double chocolate cake. Ike could see Mindy’s eyes going back to it several times like she thought it would disappear. It made him feel so good to be able to make her happy. It also made him wonder how hard she struggled. It took so little to make her happy.

  They spent the evening sitting in the two plush lounge chairs that Mindy had brought in days ago when he first was able to leave his bed. They talked about themselves, their likes and dislikes, their pasts and what they hoped for the future. Ike also had a chance to talk to her about what he expected in a little girl. He explained some of the rules he had. “I won’t tolerate lying in any form. That hurts our relationship. Do you understand?”

  Mindy nodded her head, sending her curls dancing around her shoulders. “Yes, sir.”

  His cock twitched every time she called him sir. “I will not allow you to disrespect me or any grownups or put yourself in any danger. Those three things will earn you a spanking on your bare bottom, young lady.”

  Mindy felt her pussy tingle at the sound of his deep voice calling her young lady.

  He could tell it made her wet. Yes! he told himself. They would make a beautiful couple. He couldn’t wait to make her his very own. “Do you have any questions for me?”

  “Um, what about my job? I cannot be little all of the time. There will be times I will have to be in charge of your safety.”

  “I understand you are a grown up sometimes, Mindy. You have a career you have worked hard for. I will let you choose when you are feeling little. Just give me some kind of signal. Like holding your dolly or coloring in your coloring books. I have an entire room for a nursery. I have been building it and adding to it just in case I found my own little one. I will show you when I return home. You will also spend time in my room.”

  “Will you expect sex too?”

  “Of course, I am not a monk, but not while you are little, only when you are a big girl. I will, however, punish you when you are big or little.”

  “What kind of punishments?”

  “Corner time, writing lines and I will spank your bottom with my hand or if you deserve more with a paddle of belt.”

  Mindy’s eyes grew wide. “But that will really hurt.”

  Ike smiled at her, pulling her onto his lap. “It will, but I pride myself on never giving you more than you need. I will never punish you in anger. I will punish you just enough to learn your lesson, get rid of guilt and the icky feeling you get when you are naughty. I will never harm you. When we are finished you will be forgiven, and we will never bring it up again. Unless you repeat the offence. In that case I will think I didn’t do a good enough job the first time and will double the punishment.” He pulled her close to his massive chest. “I will hold you after your punishments so you know Daddy loves you, even if you are naughty. I will also punish you when you are a big girl. The same as when you are little.” He kissed the top of her head before he let her up. “I will let you think about it this week. I will want an answer by then. Is that reasonable?”

  Mindy nibbled on her bottom lip. She wanted this so badly. She nodded her head and Ike stood, leading her back to the table and the dessert. They spent
the last half hour telling funny stories about themselves when they were younger and enjoying the cake, when suddenly Mindy looked up at the clock.

  “Oh my God!” Panicked, she stood and looked around for her coat. “I have to leave. Peanut must think I have abandoned her.” The thought of the strange man breaking in and hurting her cat or Pooky shook her to her core. She quickly put her coat on and looked wildly for her purse.

  “Mindy, what is wrong? I have never seen you like this.”

  Just then Sally walked in with the two waiters who finished cleaning up the table and left. Sally stayed behind and looked at Mindy with concern. “Did you tell him what happened?”

  Mindy shook her head, her eyes begging her friend to not say another word, but Sally was too worried about her friend to heed her warning. She turned to Ike. “Mindy lives in a bad neighborhood. There are drug dealers on the corner and one of them scared her tonight.” She heard Mindy moan.

  “Please, Sally, enough. I was not frightened, just shaken a little.”

  Ike looked at her. She was frightened of something. He nodded to Sally to leave, but before she got to the door he stopped her. “Please come back and talk to me after I have taken care of this, Sally.”

  Sally nodded sadly and closed the door firmly behind her.

  “Mindy, come here please. Come sit on Daddy’s lap and talk to me.” He saw the tears forming in her eyes. Something was very wrong.

  She slowly walked to him and sat on his good leg.

  “Now tell me what happened and don’t leave anything out. Then I want an explanation as to why you didn’t tell me the truth when I asked you earlier.” He covered her hands with one of his large strong hands. The other wrapped around her waist as he waited patiently for her to begin.

  Her lip trembled as she gathered her courage.

  “Sally is right, I live in a bad neighborhood.” She looked up at him to gauge his mood. “There is a drug dealer on the corner and prostitutes a couple blocks down, but I hurry in and lock the door. They never bothered me before. Tonight, I was late leaving and there was another man in a new SUV. He was the one that called to me and pounded on my car window as I hurried to leave. I am afraid he will hurt Peanut and Pooky. I have to get back and protect them!” She wailed the last sentence.

  Ike felt her tears burn his skin like fire as they landed on his hand. Anger at someone trying to hurt his little Mindy felt like bile in his throat. He took a minute to calm down before he asked her, “Why didn’t you tell me, little one?”

  “I didn’t want you to know how poor I am. I can’t afford to live anywhere else. I am paying my gram’s hospital bills. I thought you wouldn’t want me.”

  Ike briefly stiffened at her words, before he lifted her off his lap and stood her in front of him, between his legs. He lifted her face to look at him. “I don’t really know how to take that, little one. Have I ever given you any indication I was a snob? That you wouldn’t trust me with such basic information, and doubt me, cuts deep, that you think so poorly of my character. I know we don’t know one another very well, but Mindy, you should know me better than that. Have you ever seen me treat anyone with anything but respect, no matter if they are the janitor or laundry lady or doctor?” She had hurt him badly, but he had to protect her first. He would sort the rest out later.

  Mindy turned her head and stared at the floor. She couldn’t look at the pain she’d caused him with her stupidity. She was the snob. She shook her head sadly as he reached for the phone.

  “Yeah, Shaun, I know it’s late, but I need a favor. Can you come to the hospital? Thanks man, I owe you one.”

  “Shaun will come and take you home to pick up some clothes and your pet and Pooky. Then he will take you to my penthouse. I will call my housekeeper after you leave. She will get you settled. You need to get some sleep. I will see you tomorrow. Shaun can pick you up and bring you to work tomorrow morning. I want you to think if you want this or not. From where I am sitting, I am not sure I am the right man for you, since you didn’t trust me enough to share such an important danger. I will give you a week to decide if this is what you really want. If you say yes, I am going to punish you severely for lying to me and not telling me you were in a dangerous situation. If you don’t want this, I will consider it no harm, no foul. I will pay your grandmother’s hospital bills and see to it you get a place in a better neighborhood.”

  Mindy shook her head. “I can’t take anything from you, sir.”

  “You have helped me recover, and while I know it is your job, you have done an excellent job putting up with me at my worst. I can and will pay for your gram’s hospital bills and move you where I won’t have to worry about you.”

  “But why would you help me? Any nurse would have done the same.”

  “I feel the need to take care of you and before you say another word, it is not a hardship for me. I have plenty of money. I will let you think about it.” He turned his head to the door, as Sally came in with tears in her eyes.

  “I am so sorry, Mindy. Please forgive me.”

  “She will be fine, Sally, and thank you. My friend will be coming to take her back to her house for a few things and her pets and then he will take her to my penthouse, where she’ll stay until I can get the hell out of here. Will you see him in? Remember, I would still like a word with you later.”

  Ike walked into the bathroom and returned in his PJs and robe to wait for his friend. In a few minutes Sally escorted him in, and Ike told him what was going on.

  Shaun agreed to take Mindy home and then to Ike’s penthouse, picking her up in the morning to bring her to work.

  Ike thanked him and asked for one more thing. “Do me a favor, tomorrow find out what you can about these men.”

  Shaun smiled, he’d enjoy the challenge. He had special computer skills and was the best in his field. They both had friends in high places, Mindy’s neighborhood was about to undergo a shake-up.

  Once Shaun had escorted a contrite Mindy out, Ike crawled into bed. Sally came back in and plumbed up his pillows, so he was sitting up. Ike then had the same exact talk with Sally he’d had with Mindy about daddies. “So, you see Sally, my friend is a daddy too. Would you like to have dinner with us tomorrow night?”

  Sally had the same look Mindy had, but agreed. “I will be right here with you. Just the three of us. I have left Mindy to think about what she wants to do. I won’t lie to you. She thought I would hold her lack of funds against her. That cuts deep. I am letting her think long and hard about what she wants.”

  Sally looked at Ike. “You don’t know what it is like to have people look at you like you don’t matter, that you are less than a human being because you are poor. We, unfortunately, do. We both have missed out on promotions. Not because of our skills - we were both top of our classes in school. But because we are poor; we don’t have the social experience others do. So, I am sorry she hurt your feelings, but we have both felt the sting of discrimination.”

  Ike nodded his head in acknowledgment. “While I understand, I think she should have known me better. Just so you know, Shaun will not care about your funds or lack thereof either.”

  Sally finished her nursing duties and left, giving her friend time to get to her destination before she called and told her everything.

  Chapter 3

  Mindy arrived at the penthouse to be greeted by a plump, friendly, older woman named Etta. She showed her the guest room and where the food was. “I will have dinner ready for you when you get home from work and clean up before I leave at night. Feel free to wander around. Here is my phone number if you need me for anything. I live just a couple floors down. Welcome, Mindy.”

  Shaun had told her he would pick her up in the morning, and arranged her rides the rest of the week before he left her in the housekeeper’s hands.

  After Etta departed, Mindy wandered through the different rooms. This was way out of her class. The living room had floor to ceiling windows and, being on the top floor, she could see for mile
s. She found Ike’s bedroom and took a quick peek inside. Next, she found a locked door. She assumed it was the nursery he’d told her about. She wondered if Etta knew.

  As she returned to her room, her phone rang. It was Sally. The girls talked for about an hour before Mindy took a shower and crawled into bed. Pooky was on the next pillow, and soon after doing her own snooping, Peanut crawled up and fell asleep next to her.

  Mindy thought about how she had hurt Ike. She owed him an apology at the very least. She also knew the hurt look on his face would haunt her until she was punished for doubting him and their relationship. Sally had told her what Ike said about the situation. She also told her about Shaun and their dinner the next night. Mindy would miss the dinners. It would be part of the punishment, she supposed. She would take her time and think everything over this week.

  Every day Mindy continued her regular schedule at the hospital. She spent some time with Ike, as was in keeping with her usual duties. Every morning and night Uber transported her between Ike’s penthouse and the hospital.

  Ike started physical therapy, once the cast on his foot was off. It was hard for him to be patient. Mindy could see he wanted to start building up his muscles again with weight lifting and the other equipment, but every day his therapist would patiently explain to him it would take time. Mindy stood off to the side waiting to take him back to his room, and every day she giggled as he growled at the therapist, remembering when he’d growled at her. She had made up her mind about their relationship, but decided to wait until he was due to be released to let him know.

  Every evening she returned to the penthouse, tired, but happy. Etta would have her dinner almost ready; and after a shower, she’d greet Peanut and Pooky and then go to the dining room where Etta would sit and eat with her. “Just for company,” she explained. “When Ike comes home I will go to my place downstairs and leave you two alone.”