“I don’t want them to be jealous,” Coco told him.
“Be careful. Lying will get your bottom spanked.”
She swallowed hard. Her Daddy didn’t mess around with spankings. If she earned one, Coco would feel it for a day at least. “Okay, maybe a smidge of envy would be okay.”
“I’m sure they will love your room. Do you want to play pin the tail on the Siamese cat before or after dinner?” Roman asked.
“Before, Daddy. Then we can eat. Then dessert. Followed by another game.” Coco listed off the evening’s events on her fingers.
Before she could get to her pinky, Roman reminded her, “Everyone has bedtimes, Little girl. You can’t plan things too late.”
“But it’s Friday night, Daddy.”
“Coco…” he said, drawing her name out in an unspoken warning.
The doorbell ringing saved her. Coco walked as fast as she could without bouncing Muffin around in her sling.
“Let me answer the door, Little girl.”
Sighing loudly, Coco stopped in the foyer and waited for her Daddy to join her. As he walked by, Roman popped her a sharp swat on her bottom. The sting made her wipe the impatient look off her face. She hovered at his elbow when he opened the door.
“Hi, Roman,” the twins greeted him before sneaking past to hug Coco sideways to avoid squashing Muffin.
“Come in, Sofia, Isabella,” Roman teased since they were already inside.
“My apologies. They’re a bit excited,” the man with them said.
“Coco is, too.” Roman stepped back and waved him inside. “You must be the brilliant Noah Sandoval, the inventor of PLAYTIME.”
“I don’t know how brilliant I am, but the program seems to work,” Noah said, holding his hand out to shake Roman’s. “You’re Roman?”
“Yes. Thank you for helping me find my Little girl,” Roman said quietly.
“I’m glad it matched you two. Coco looks happier and healthier every day,” Noah told him.
“Thanks. I worked hard to figure out what she needed,” Dr. Richards said with a laugh from the open doorway.
“Dad-dy.” Zoey drew that word out to at least two syllables. There might have been four there. Coco, Sofia, and Isabella giggled as Zoey joined them.
Coco rushed forward to hug Zoey. After the petite blonde oohed and aahed over Muffin who wiggled with excitement in her sling, Coco said, “Come on. I was just going to show Sofia and Isabella my nursery.”
“Ooo! I can’t wait to see it.” Zoey turned and waved goodbye to her Daddy before taking Coco’s hand.
Dr. Richards’ voice followed the Littles down the hall. “And just like that, we’re forgotten…”
“Daddies are so silly,” Isabella said.
“I’m glad they have each other. Everyone needs friends who understand,” Zoey shared.
“I’m so glad you’re all here. I need friends who understand, too!” Coco said.
“We have lots of Littles here. And they’re all amazing. I’ll get my Daddy to have a big party for the whole group soon so you can meet everyone. It can be a lot to have everyone in one big group if you don’t have friendly faces to welcome you in the beginning,” Zoey shared.
“We’ll introduce you to the Littles,” Sofia assured her as they stepped inside the nursery. “Oh, Coco. I love this room. It’s beautiful!”
“That crib looks so comfortable!” Isabella exclaimed.
Zoey turned in a circle with a smile. “There’s a lot of love in this room.”
