“Mommy, please,” I whisper, my voice tight with agony. “I can’t hold it. I’m gonna die.”
“You aren’t going to die, little one.” Her tone is surprisingly gentle as she gives my thigh a soft pat. “I know it hurts, but you’ll feel so much better when it’s all done.”
“I won’t feel better if I’mdead.”
“Gavin, take over here for me, please.”
There’s some shuffling as she and Gavin switch places, but then she’s standing right beside me, her soft hand brushing my hair from my sweat-and-tear-soaked face. “Look at me, Alexis. Look at me, and listen to what I’m about to tell you.”
It takes every ounce of strength I have, but I manage to lift my gaze to hers. “Y-yes, Mommy?”
Her lips curve again, but this time it’s warm, almost… comforting. “That’s right, baby. I’m your Mommy. Which means that I will never, ever let anything truly bad happen to you. I will protect you from harm with my very dying breath. Do you believe me, little imp?”
Nobody is more shocked than me to realize the truth.
“Yes, Mommy. I believe you.”
“That’s my good girl. Now, let’s get you to the potty so we can get you all cleaned out and cleaned up for Doctor D.”
Chapter Ten
Catharina
By the time we’re through with the enema and her bath, my little imp is thoroughly exhausted, enough that I was tempted to call Doctor D and reschedule. But that would mean we’d have to go through the entire process again in a few days’ time, so as hard as it was for both of us, I had to quell the urge to coddle her. Curled up beside me in the back of my car, she whimpers softly every time she shifts, likely due to the lingering effects of her painful morning.
My heart twists at the pitiful sounds and I press a kiss to the top of her head for comfort. I wouldn’t change a thing about this morning, but I do feel… not guilty, I don’t think, but perhaps regret that my Little girl has had such a difficult time over the past twenty-four hours. As much as I have enjoyed punishing my naughty little one, Idowant her to be happy here.
Tapping her arm gently, I point out the window as we enter the downtown area of our little island. “Look, baby. There’s Solene’s. And the cafe, where we’ll go to get something to eat after your appointment.”
With a quiet sniffle, she sits up and rubs at her watery eyes. “Is that a toy store?”
“It is. If you’re a very, very good girl for Doctor D, Mommy will take you to pick out some new toys if you want.”
“What kind of toys?”
“Whatever kind you would like. There’s an entire section dedicated to nothing but stuffed animals. All of the other Littles on the island have their own. We could pick out a special one, just for you.”
“Really?” Eyes bright with excitement, she bounces excitedly in her seat, the winces and shifts up to her knees, taking the pressure off her sore bottom as she stares longingly out the windo. “I haven’t had a stuffed animal inforever.”
My heart twists at the thought of my sweet babygirl being deprived of anything, but I set that aside and smile at her. “Really, baby. As long as you behave yourself for Doctor D, you may pick out one stuffed animal and one other toy at the store.”
“Okay, Mommy!”
There have been a few moments since yesterday where I’ve wondered if she’s just been putting on a show for my benefit. But right now, seeing how excited she is over a new stuffed animal, I know deep in my soul that even if she’s not ready to admit it, there is a Little girl hiding inside my Alexis Paige.
And I am just the woman to bring her out and give her all the love and discipline she needs to flourish.
Alexis
The car rolls to a stop in front of a building with “Doctor’s Office” printed on one window. All around the words are drawings of rainbows and suns and what appear to be unicorns.
Maybe Doctor D isn’t so bad, after all.
That thought is dispelled the second we step inside the lobby. A pretty blonde woman is bent over the front desk, sobbing loudly as the man pinning her down smacks her bare ass with what looks like a wooden ping-pong paddle.
Bells ring above our heads, alerting them to our presence, and the man pauses to smile at us. “Catharina. Lovely to see you again. I just need a minute with my naughty Little girl and then Camilla will take you back to your exam room.”
“Of course, Doctor D. Take all the time you need.” Catharina crouches beside me as the doctor swings the paddle again and the woman’s loud cries echo around the room. “There are some toys over there in the corner if you want to play while we wait, babygirl.”
