My heart swells to the point of bursting at her quiet acceptance. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I'm aware her surrender was far too quick, too effortless. It’s quite likely my Little one is up to something, and the easy capitulation is nothing more than an act. But her sweet voice tugs at my heartstrings and for now, at least, I'm willing to believe her. “That’s my good girl. Now, let's get you on the potty and into the tub.”
When I reach for the snap on her onesie, she bats my hand away, her cheeks flaming as she takes a step backward. “I can use the bathroom myself.”
“Isabella Grace. That was very naughty.” Taking her hand, I lightly tap her knuckles, a gentle reminder to keep her hands to herself. But from the way her face falls, fresh tears welling in her eyes as her bottom lip trembles, one would think I’d done far worse than simply popping her on the hand.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her voice so quiet I barely hear the apology.
“It’s already forgiven, my little doll. Now, are you going to let Daddy undress you so you can potty?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Say ‘Yes, Daddy’.”
Her bottom lip firms up, and a hint of defiance flashes in her eyes. But it fades almost immediately as her shoulders slump forward. “Yes, Daddy.”
Nothing could have prepared me for the sheer joy of hearing my Little girl calling me Daddy for the first time. I’d thought having my nieces around, referring to me as Uncle Gideon would help, but it’s nothing compared to hearingDaddyfrom my sweet little doll’s perfect mouth.
“Such a good girl,” I praise her as I reach again for the snap on her onesie. This time she doesn’t move, barely even breathes, as I unsnap it and pull the pretty green material up to her hips.
Isabella looks down, her mouth falling open in shock at what’s beneath her onesie. “Is that… is that adiaper?”
“It is. You’ll learn to use it soon enough, but for this morning you can use the potty like a big girl.”
“I don’t want to use a diaper. Please don’t make me.”
So polite, even under what are very distressing circumstances. “Don’t worry yourself about it, little doll.” Popping open the clasps on her diaper, I strip it from her and toss it in the diaper bin. Even though it hasn’t been used, she’ll need a fresh clean one for the rest of the day.
With that taken care of, I once again pick her up and lift her onto the toilet. Isabella grips the seat, eyes wide in her pale face as she looks up at me, her plea clear in her eyes.
“May I have some privacy, please, Daddy?”
She even remembered to call me Daddy. What a precious little thing. “No, little one, I’m sorry. Daddy needs to stay with you.”
“But it’s embarrassing.” Just like before, her bottom lip trembles, and I’m almost tempted to give in just to save her the distress.
As Maxwell would say, however, it’s important to begin as I mean to go on. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed by, Isabella. You have nothing to hide from your Daddy.”
She sighs quietly, scrunching her eyes closed in the most adorable expression I’ve ever seen. A moment later, the sound of her bladder releasing into the toilet fills the room, and red blooms on her cheeks.
“Do you need to poop, little one?”
“Oh my god,” she groans, covering her face. “No! I don’t need to poop!”
“All right. Stand up so Daddy can wipe you.”
“I can wipe myself!”
“Isabella.”
I put enough steel behind her name to ensure she recognizes it for what it is. A warning that she can either submit or be punished.
Luckily for her, she heeds the warning and slowly rises to her feet. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I grab some toilet paper and clean her up, flushing the toilet when it’s all said and done.
“There, now. That wasn’t so bad, was it, little doll?”
Sniffling loudly, she nods, her expression full of misery when she looks up at me. “It was awful! Please don’t make me do that again!”
There are far more embarrassing fates awaiting her here on the island, but I don’t want to overwhelm her, so I keep that thought to myself. Perhaps it’s a good thing Doctor D is away at a medical conference and won’t return until tomorrow. Usually we aim to get our Little girls examined as soon as possible once they’ve arrived on the island, but it will be good for Isabella to get settled in a bit before she’s put through Doctor D’s rigorous examinations.
