Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Just when she thought she would scream in frustration, he said, “Come here, Cupcake.”
In a flash, she was in his outstretched arms where he sat in the rocking chair. “That was awful,” she whined.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Sometimes, it’s important to stop and think before you react. Do you have anything to tell me?”
“You’re right. It’s not good for me to sit at my computer without taking a break.”
Grayson lifted her easily to sit on his lap. He buried his head in the crook of her neck and squeezed her tightly. Then, sitting back up, he pulled his list forward so she could see it. He’d come up with a bunch of kid’s songs she knew by heart that had movements to go with the words.
“That’s fun. I could rotate through the list,” she suggested.
“I thought maybe we’d put them on pieces of paper and you could pull out one every few hours to sing. At the end of the day, you could scoop up the ones you did and throw them back in the basket to possibly get again the next day.”
“That’s even better. It’s a surprise each time,” she enthused.
“Let’s start with that small change. Will you promise me to take time to have some fun every couple of hours?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“That’s my good girl. Thank you, Cupcake.”
Chapter Twelve
Monday morning, Valerie woke up in her bed and automatically looked to the side that Grayson slept on. He’d left hours earlier that morning to go get his truck loaded and make deliveries. She missed him already. Stretching one hand out to touch the rumpled covers, Valerie marveled at how her life had changed in one week.
Catching sight of the time, Valerie scrambled out of bed and jumped into the shower to wake up. After putting on a loose dress and thong Daddy had set out for her, she headed for the coffeepot.
Valerie stared at the sticky note attached to the device. One cup. Her Daddy didn’t really think she could operate on one cup of coffee. She’d never be able to focus.
An idea flashed into her mind and she decided to interpret his order as a request that she only drink one cup of coffee in the morning. Not total. Valerie chose the largest, oversized coffee mug from the cabinet and giggled. Now she could have one large cup of coffee that she could rewarm over the course of the morning and still follow his directions.
As the beverage brewed, she opened the refrigerator to pull out yogurt to eat. In the middle of the shelf at eye level was a plate of fruit, a yogurt container, and a bowl with granola on the bottom. Humming with delight at the treat, Valerie concocted a much better breakfast than she could have ever envisioned for herself.
Setting down the huge mug of coffee, Valerie turned on her computer and sat down to take a big bite. She wiggled happily in her seat. Before she dived into the day’s tasks that awaited her, Valerie texted her Daddy.
Thank you for breakfast!
Are you being good? One cup of coffee only, Little girl.
Yes, Daddy.
“This morning,” she said aloud to herself as she took a big sip. Humming happily at the taste, Valerie dived into work.
Two hours later her phone buzzed.
Pick a song.
What? Valerie scanned her desk and found the small basket that she usually kept paperclips in now held small slips of paper. How early did he get up to make breakfast, leave an anti-coffee message, and fill the basket?
Pulling one out, she read the task as she walked back to the kitchen to microwave her cup to warm up the remaining coffee. She felt silly as she did the motions as the seconds ticked off. When she was finished, Valerie marveled at the energy rebounding into her mind and body. More flamboyantly, she repeated the fun task, belting it out at the top of her lungs in the empty house. Revitalized, she wandered back to her office with her cup and attacked the tasks that loomed on her schedule.
At lunch a new text appeared and Valerie willingly followed the directions. This added such fun to her day. She loved that he was thinking of her. As she poured a second large mug of coffee, she texted back a series of hearts.
Grinning, she headed back to her computer to finish the last bits of business she wanted to complete for the day. She’d gotten everything done so much more efficiently than before. Her Daddy was a genius.
“What’s this, Little girl?”
Valerie turned to face her Daddy, instantly concerned by his tone as he loaded the dishwasher with their dinner items. He held the oversized coffee mug she’d stored there before his return after his shift.
“That’s my favorite mug, Daddy.”
“I’ve never seen you drink from this before. Where do you store it?”