Palmer reached up and wrapped her fingers around his own, locking them together. Much too soon the bottle was empty and Beau shifted her to rest against him, chest to cheek. He patted her back gently and she giggled at the absurdity of being burped.
He pulled her away from him, his eyes twinkling with humor. “You can never be too careful. I needed to make sure my Little one didn’t get trapped air from her bottle.”
Palmer giggled again. He was so silly.
“Let’s brush your teethies and then we’ll get you tucked into bed,” Beau said, standing with her and carrying her into the attached bathroom.
“Daddy?” Palmer’s tummy tightened with nerves. He’d already given her so much and she almost felt bad asking for more, but there was one more tiny thing that could make her day perfect.
“Yes, babygirl?”
“Story?”
Beau set her on the sink and ran her toothbrush under the tap. He smiled at her, not looking burdened or rushed by her request at all. “You want a story before bed?”
“Please?” she asked, pouring extra cuteness into the moment. She clasped her hands together and placed them under her chin, batting her eyes innocently.
Laughing, he nodded. “Well, how could I ever say no to someone so damn cute? I will be glad to tell you a story before bed.” He squeezed toothpaste on her toothbrush and eased it into her mouth, gently brushing each tooth. After he was done brushing her teeth more thoroughly than she probably ever had, he gave her some water to rinse out her mouth. “Go ahead, rinse your mouth,” he said, watching her carefully.
Palmer swirled her mouth thoroughly making sure she was being so super obedient, spit the water, and allowed Beau to wipe her face.
“Do you need to potty before bed, babygirl?”
“No, Sir.”
“If you need to get up and go potty during the night, I want you to wake me, okay? You’re far too Little to be wandering around at night by yourself,” he said kindly, but sternly.
Palmer’s bottom clenched. “Yes, Sir. I will wake you, Daddy.”
“Good girl,” he praised, scooping her off the counter. Beau carried Palmer to the big bed, keeping her snuggled against his chest.
Her eyelids were so heavy but she didn’t want the moment to end.
“Time to get you cozy, pretty baby,” he whispered, setting her down gently. He pulled back the blankets and tucked her legs under them. Then he pulled the blanket carefully over her belly and over her arms, before tucking her in on each side, making her a Palmer burrito. “Snug as a bug in a rug,” he said, brushing a curl from her forehead. “Nice and cozy.” He grabbed her baby doll and her floral blanket from the table beside the bed and laid them next to her.
Palmer wished her arms weren’t tucked so tightly so that she could wrap her arms around his neck and hold him close. He was so thoughtful.
Beau placed his open palm on her chest, applying just the right amount of pressure to help her feel grounded. “Are you ready for your story now?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Smiling, he pressed a kiss to each of her cheeks before slipping her pacifier back in her mouth. “Once upon a time, there was a princess named Palmer,” he began. “Palmer lived in a land of darkness and despair. She was surrounded by evil kings and queens.”
Palmer gasped. That was a super spooky start!
“The princess was kind, and smart, and so very brave. She didn’t like what the wicked kings and queens did and she knew she wanted to leave the evil town forever, but she was so veryscared. What if nothing better waited for her outside the city gates? What if she never found her happy ever after?”
Pulling her pacifier from her mouth, she dared to ask, “What did she do, Daddy?”
Beau chuckled and guided her pacifier back to her mouth. “One night, after a particularly hard day in the town where the evil kings and queens had said terrible, untrue lies to the princess, she packed all of her belongings and she decided to leave the bad town.”
Palmer sucked her pacifier harder, waiting anxiously on what the princess would do. Would it be better for her? Would people be nicer to her in a new town? Would she find a family?
“The princess waited until the whole town was asleep and all the evil kings and queens were snoring loudly in their dark and twisty castles.”
Palmer’s eyes stayed wide as she listened, her pacifier bobbing a little.
“Princess Palmer carried her small bag of belongings over her shoulder and crept past the city limits and out onto the only road that could take her away from the bad place.”
