Aldric
A noise in the hallway makes me lift my head to see who’s outside my office just as Juliet steps into the doorway. “Hey, baby girl.” I stand and round my desk to come to her. We’re in between classes, so there’s no one else in the building.
She’s grinning mischievously. “Hi, Daddy.” She hugs me and then steps back and takes a breath. “I’m going to make dinner tonight,” she declares.
I lift a brow. “Is that so?”
She nods. “Yep. Grilled cheese and tomato soup.”
I glance down to see she has on shoes. She’s also carrying her coat. “Are we out of any ingredients? Do you need me to take you to the store?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. I’m going to go alone.”
I swallow.
She stands taller. “We’re out of sliced cheese and I wanted to use white bread.”
“Okay.” My heart is racing. I’m both nervous and excited at the same time. “You sure you don’t want me to take you?”
“Nope. I can do it.” She pats her front pocket. “I’ve got my ID and my credit card.” She holds up a reusable bag. “I even remembered a bag to put the groceries in.”
My God, I love her. I cup her cheek and lean down to kiss her gently. “You have your phone on you so I can track your location, right?” I know the fact that I can see exactly where she is calms her.
“Yes, Sir.” She pats her other pocket.
“You’ll look both ways when you cross the street, right?”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Hey, now. Don’t get sassy with me, baby girl. I want to make sure you’re safe.”
“Sorry, Daddy. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure Dirks Kincaid will be working at the checkout. If you need help finding anything or you need anything at all, you’ll ask him, right?” Dirks is an older gentleman with a kind heart and a radar for Little girls. He’s lived here his entire life, and he would do anything for a Little in trouble.
“I know, Daddy. I’ll be sure to go to his lane when I check out.”
I smooth my hand down her hair. It’s in a single braid today. Only a discerning Daddy would recognize the Little in her.
“You’ll go straight there and come straight back. Don’t dawdle or Daddy will worry.” I know the strict guidelines will help her feel more secure.
“Yes, Sir.”
“I’ll probably be teaching a class when you get back. Please peek inside so I’ll know you’re safely home.”
She nods. “Yes, Sir.”
“And be careful using the stove. Don’t set the flame too high and keep a close eye on the sandwiches. If they burn, the smoke alarm will go off and scare Daddy to death.”
“I’ll be careful, Daddy.”
I take her coat from her, help her into it, and zip up the front. “Gloves?”
She pulls them from her pockets and hands them to me so I can put them on her. My heart is bursting as I kiss her lips and look into her eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
I’m proud of you too, I think to myself. I don’t say it out loud because I don’t want her to think my love has anything to do with her ability to take this huge step.
“Be back soon,” she announces as she turns and steps out the back door.
I follow her and watch as she walks down the sidewalk. If I stepped outside a few yards, I could watch her all the way to the front of the store until she disappears inside. But I won’t.
I’m grinning from ear to ear though as I duck back into the hallway and close the door. So fucking happy.
Juliet has made huge strides lately. She’s trying hard, and I seriously couldn’t be more proud and relieved. She’s started teaching the morning classes with me every day. It’s a godsend. I needed the help. She loves it. Her face lights up every time she helps a child improve their skills.
Her business is growing too. She has enough clients to keep her busy most of the day. It boosts her self-esteem when she creates designs that her clients love.
The biggest step of all is that she’s seeing a psychologist. I drive her there and wait for her, but I don’t ask questions. I don’t need to. I can see the results. Juliet is rejoining society bit by bit. This trip to the grocery store is huge. It was probably a task her psychologist gave her for the week.
I’m not worried about our age-play dynamic. No matter how much counseling she gets to help her engage and leave the house without panicking, she will always be my Little girl. Structure and rules help her stay on track.
She’s thriving. And she’s mine.
“Dinner was amazing, baby girl,” I tell her as I stand in the doorway to her Little girl room after cleaning up the kitchen. I sent her in here to wind down for a bit. Her trip to the grocery store was successful and without incident, but I know it was stressful and took a toll on her emotionally.
“Thank you, Daddy.” She’s sitting on the floor and she lifts her gaze to meet mine.
I glance at the box in front of her. “What’s in the box?” I don’t recognize it.
She grins broadly. “Special things.”
I narrow my gaze. “What special things? Did you order more sex toys, naughty girl?” I squat down next to her, but she’s guarding the contents of the box by holding the flap over the top.
“No, silly. Not those kinds of things.” She points at the bookcase in front of her where I see she’s cleared off a shelf. “Just some things I want to put on the shelf. That’s all.”
“Where did you have them before?” My curiosity is piqued.
“In the back of the closet.”
“Why? If they’re special, why weren’t they on the shelf already?”
“Because I didn’t want you to know I had them.” She licks her lips and bites into the corner of the top one.
I lift my brows in confusion. I can’t fathom what Juliet might have kept hidden in the back of the closet that she didn’t want me to see.
She leans the flap back, reaches in, and pulls out one item. As she sets it on the shelf, I gasp. It’s a snow globe with Times Square in it. A silly plastic souvenir from New York City. I know it well because I gave it to her one time when I came for a visit while I was performing in New York.
She reaches into the box again and lifts out a stuffed bear holding a heart. I sent her that for Valentine’s Day one year when she was probably seven.
The next item is a keyring from Hollywood. It lights up. I gave her that for her sixteenth birthday. My heart is going to explode. I can’t stay in this crouched position. I drop onto my butt and cross my legs. I’m speechless as she pulls out one item after another. All silly things that only cost a few dollars. Every single thing I ever sent her or brought her.
I don’t realize I’m crying silent tears until she’s finished and turns to me. She’s on her knees. “I told you I loved you since I was five.”
I lurch forward, snag her, and drag her into my lap so she’s straddling me. I kiss all over her face, finishing with her lips. A sweet, delicate kiss before I pull back and hold her gaze. “I love you more than anything in the world, baby girl.”
“I love you too, Daddy. Forever and always.”