Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Really. Me, too. It’s like you can read my mind,” Jordi cheered before she stopped to look at him with a worried expression. “You can’t, can you?”
“Read your mind?”
“Yes. You’d tell me if you could, right?” Jordi watched his face carefully as if trying to judge his honesty.
“I can’t read your mind, Little girl. Sometimes, I get hints about what you might be thinking from your expression, but your thoughts are your own unless you choose to share them.”
“Oh, good,” she said in a rush. “Would you like to color while we watch the movie? I could make you a picture for your fridge?”
“I would love to have a piece of original art by Jordi on my fridge. I love to color, too, but I’m not as good as you are. No judgment if I go outside the lines, okay?”
“Deal!” she agreed and dropped her voice to a confidential whisper. “I make an oopsie sometimes too. We’ll just pretend it doesn’t happen.”
“I like that idea, Sunshine.”
In just a few minutes, she had a movie playing for them with the necessary criteria and had selected a picture for him to color. It seemed like some of her skills in organizing jobs and making decisions extended to her free time as well.
When he picked up a purple crayon to color in his tomato, she shook her head, warning him that wasn’t the right choice. “Thanks, Sunshine.”
About ten minutes into the movie, she started swaying to the music and humming along. Callen took a chance and started to sing the words. Jordi froze and stared at him.
“Sing with me, Little girl,” he urged and watched an enchanting blush spread across her face. He continued to sing, waiting for her to be brave. In a whisper-quiet voice, she joined him. He blinked at the beautiful tone of her voice but didn’t allow himself to react. Slowly, she gained confidence and her volume increased. Callen had to fight himself not to stop singing from astonishment. Her voice wowed him with its range and appeal. He could have listened to her forever. Had he guessed why she didn’t like to have others hear her sing, it wouldn’t have been because her voice was too good.
When the song was over, he leaned over to kiss the top of her bent head. “I love hearing you sing. Thank you for being brave.”
“It was fun to sing with you, Daddy.”
“I enjoy singing with you. Do you know the next song?”
She nodded eagerly. “I can teach you,” she offered.
“I’d love to learn.” Trying to keep the stress on her singing low, he gestured back at the picture and picked up a pink crayon. “What do you think? Pink for the grass.”
Jordi shook her head with a sad expression and picked up the green to hand to him. “Try this, Daddy. Here comes the song!”
Callen did his best to sing along with her and watched Jordi relax into her Littleness. She scooted closer to him as she sat on the floor in front of the coffee table until she could lean against his leg to watch TV. He smoothed his hand over her braids.
Too soon, a glance at the clock told him it was Jordi’s bedtime. He didn’t want to end their evening, but her yawns forced him to announce, “It’s time to turn off the movie, Sunshine, and get ready for bed.”
“But the movie’s not over,” she whined.
“I know, but you’re tired. Note where we are in the movie and we’ll finish it tomorrow,” he directed firmly.
“You’ll come back tomorrow?” she asked, perking up from the slouched position she’d sunk into when he’d announced that it was time to stop the movie.
“I will.”
“Will you sing with me?” she asked.
“I would love to sing with you tomorrow. Bedtime.” Callen picked up the remote and turned it off before carefully typing the time stamp of where they were in the movie in his phone. “Let’s put the crayons away.”
“I can do it tomorrow,” she rushed to assure him.
“It’s easier to clean up as we go. That way you don’t have to run around tomorrow getting ready for me. See! All done.”
After yawning widely, Jordi admitted, “All that singing made me tired.”
“I know. Let’s get you in bed. You’ve already taken a shower, so let’s take off your princess dress and hang it up.”
“Will you help me with the buttons?” she asked, turning around.
“Of course.” Callen carefully released the fasteners, discovering she wore a sports bra and shorts under the fancy ruffles. He stood to boost Jordi onto her feet and slid the dress off her shoulders and down to the floor.
As she stepped out of the dress, Jordi shook it out carefully to smooth the wrinkles. “I hang them in the hall closet,” she shared. “I don’t get many guests, so I don’t need a place to hang coats.”