Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
She shook her head. Even though she was cradled in his arms, she lifted her fingers in front of her, thinking to bite or pick on her nails.
Daddy wrapped his hand around both of hers and tugged them away from her line of sight. “No one mentioned this nervous habit you have at The Center. I’ve never noticed it, nor did Dr. Fuller or Dr. Farwell. None of the nurses.” He tucked her wrists into one of his hands and held them against her tummy before he lifted her chin.
She licked her lips. “I don’t know, Daddy.”
“Mmm. So, you’re not afraid of heights, and I don’t think crowds bother you. You played in the sandbox just fine with the other Littles. You didn’t seem agitated inside the nursery. Are you stressed right now?” He frowned.
She squirmed, giving her hands a tug and coming up short, unable to extract them. That calmed her. “No, Sir,” she whispered.
Daddy glanced down at their combined hands and hesitated. “I have an idea.” He rose, holding her in his arms.
She was surprised when he carried her first to the nursery where he grabbed a few items and then to his bedroom. After laying her down near the headboard, he spread out a soft blanket. When he picked her back up, he settled her in the middle of it corner to corner.
She wiggled, feeling anxious. Uncertain what his intentions were.
The next thing he did was lift one of her hands. After kissing her fingertips, he pulled a mitten on. It wasn’t an ordinary mitten. Not like the kind someone would wear in the cold. It was tighter.
“Make a fist, Baby girl.”
When she curled her fingers into her palms, Daddy tugged the mitten the rest of the way into place and secured it around her wrist with Velcro. He did the same to her other hand next.
Annie squirmed as she held her hands in front of her to examine them. “Why do I need mittens, Daddy?”
“Sometimes Little girls need mittens to keep from scratching themselves or touching themselves or biting their nails.” He set his hands on either side of her head and bent over. “Sometimes they just make a Little feel more secure. Sort of like restraints.”
Annie squirmed. The mittens made her feel helpless and…younger.
Daddy tucked her mitted hands against her sides and pulled the blanket around her, folding her into a burrito. She could hardly move when he was done.
“There. Swaddled. How does that feel?” he asked as he lifted her into his arms again. He held her against him as he carried her to the nursery and sat on the rocking chair.
Annie squirmed, unable to free herself. She wanted to argue or panic, but neither emotion came to the forefront. She felt…so very young. Peaceful. Content. “Can I have my paci, Daddy?”
“Mmm. Let’s talk first.”
“Why?”
“Because you use that pacifier to hide and avoid communicating, Baby girl. And that’s probably okay in the long run, but first we need to figure out why that appeals to you.”
She sighed, loving the way he patted her bottom while he rocked.
“I’ve helped a lot of Little girls and boys go through the program at The Nurturing Center and find forever homes. Do you know what Littles start begging for as soon as they have the chance?”
She shook her head. “No, Daddy.”
“Freedom. They want to rush the process. They want to walk and run. They want to eat in the highchair. They want to feed themselves. You haven’t asked me for any of those things.”
Her face heated as she considered his words. “Is something wrong with me?” she asked, her lip trembling.
He smiled and tapped her nose. “Not at all, Little one. You know what I think?”
She shook her head again.
“I think you aren’t too interested in moving into the next stage of development. I think you like being younger. We knew from the day I met you that you liked to be restrained, and you still do, but I bet the restraints keep you in a state of helplessness. The muscle relaxants did too. Both methods force you to remain in a regressed state.”
She started to cry. The tears came and she couldn’t stop them. She also couldn’t wipe them away. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
His eyes widened. He lifted a hand to wipe away her tears. “Why are you sorry, Baby girl? Nothing to be sorry about.”
She couldn’t keep from crying though. The dam broke, and she started sobbing. All the while, Daddy held her and rocked her, keeping her close. After glancing around, he even pulled his T-shirt off over his head and used it to wipe her face.
When she was finally done sobbing and reduced to simply sniffling, she closed her eyes and thought about what he’d said. He was right. That was it exactly. She liked being a Baby girl. She liked being his Baby girl.