Silence greets my question, followed by a deep sigh. “As far as I can tell, it’s because she used to work for you. The girls are all rather put out by her role in your exams.”
Pain stabs at my chest. They hurt my Little girl because of me?
“Perhaps it’s best if Millie doesn’t return to school, then.”
“No, they need to learn that they can’t treat people the way they treated Millie today and pulling her out just gives them what they want. Send her back tomorrow. I promise they’ll be on their best behavior.”
“All right. If you’re sure.” But even as I agree, I make a mental note to stay close by, just in case.
“I’m very sure.” There’s another pause, not quite as weighty this time but still filled with meaning. “Cat said she mentioned our, ah, family dinners to you.”
“She did, but she was rather vague.”
“I see. Well?—”
A whimper comes through the monitor, drawing my attention away from the call. “I apologize, Maxwell. Camilla is up from her nap, I need to see to her.”
“Of course. I’ll explain our traditions when I bring Victoria over this evening, if that’s all right with you.”
“Give me a few hours. I still need to have a discussion with my own Little girl about leaving school without an adult. See you this evening.”
Ending the call, I head straight up the stairs to Camilla’s nursery. She’s sitting up in her crib, her blue dragon gripped in one hand while the other rubs at her still-swollen eyes.
“There’s my sweet Little girl. Did you have a good nap, sunshine?”
The only answer I get is a shrug, and worry twists in my chest. Camilla has always been so bright and bubbly, seeing her so sad breaks my heart.
Reaching for the switches on the crib, I lower the side railing and lift her out to carry her over to her changing table. “Do you need to potty, baby?”
“Uh-huh.”
I lay her on the table and press on her stomach, hoping to help things along. Camilla squirms under my touch, whining a bit as she tries to escape the pressure I’m applying to her bladder. “Be a good girl and use your diaper for Daddy.”
Red colors her cheeks as she whips her head from side to side. “Don’t wanna.”
“Camilla. I don’t want to keep having this fight with you. It will be easier on everyone if you just use your diaper instead of forcing me to use the catheter every time.”
Sniffling softly, she stares up at me, her bottom lip trembling and her eyes still glazed with tears. “Can I please use the toilet? I have to go.”
“Little girls don’t go potty on the toilet, you know that. They go in their diapers.”
The red on her cheeks darkens. “I know but… I really have togo.”
There’s an urgency to her voice I haven’t heard before. And when her tummy rumbles loudly, I realize what she means.
Obviously the suppository is doing its job. “It’s all right, little one. Relax and just do what comes naturally and Daddy will clean you up after.”
Tears slip down her cheeks, and the look she gives me is so broken I nearly give in. “Please, Daddy? I can’t… I’ve never… it’s too embarrassing.”
Maybe she’s playing me for a fool, but hearing her beg, while calling me Daddy, softens something inside me and I sigh. “All right. Butjustthis once, little girl. And only because you’ve already had a very hard day.”
Relief flashes over her face. “Thank you, Daddy!”
Scooping her up into my arms, I carry her to the bathroom. The moment I set her on her feet, she starts to dance from side to side. “Hurry, Daddy, hurry!”
Camilla is, it seems, fully in her Little space. More fully than I can ever remember seeing her, and I can’t help but chuckle at how adorable she is. “I’m trying, but a certain Little girl is being very squirmy.”
With an impatient huff, she stops moving, but she continues to bounce in place. I finally manage to get the diaper off her and help her onto the toilet.
