n chuckled. “I remember that. I had a little girl like you once, Shelley.”
His eyes grew sad and Michelle immediately wanted to comfort him. She reached out and patted his cheek. He smiled.
“Where is your little girl?” she asked.
“I’m afraid my little girl left. When your Daddy mentioned you, well, I just had to meet you.”
Michelle had, of course, met Jon many times. But she knew what he was talking about. He’d wanted to meet baby Michelle.
“Speaking of diapers, I’d better check yours, little girl,” Rick said. “Lean forward.”
Michelle gaped at him. “Daddy,” she complained.
“Shelley, do you another spanking?” Rick growled.
Blushing wildly, Michelle leaned forward as Rick pulled her diaper away and peered down her bottom. He then reached around and pushed a finger between her thigh and diaper.
“Ahh, just as I thought, she always pees a lot in the morning. Please excuse us while I changer her. Shelley gets rashes easily and I don’t like to leave her in a wet diaper.”
“Of course,” Jon said with a smile and stood back as Rick picked Michelle up and carried her to the change table in the bedroom.
He laid her down and undid her diaper, wiping her clean.
“Hope you don’t mind, sweetheart,” he explained. “But Jon mentioned his wife and how she used to be his baby girl. I could see how sad he was, and well…” Rick shrugged. Michelle grabbed his hand, squeezed and smiled, letting him know she understood and approved. He smiled back and did her up in a new diaper. He brushed a kiss across her tummy then carried her back into the living room and put her in the playpen.
“The washing machine is this way,” he directed Jon.
Michelle didn’t know how long they were gone, but she was busy playing when they returned. Jon brushed his hand over her hair.
“What you playing there, little one?” Jon asked her. Michelle liked the way his voice sounded, soft but masculine.
“Tea party. You wanna cup of tea?”
“I would love a cup of tea,” he said.
“Here, baby, you can play outside the playpen while we’re having a coffee. How do you take yours, Jon?” Rick asked as he lifted her out and moved her tea set as well as her teddy and two dollies.
“He doesn’t want coffee, Daddy,” Michelle explained patiently. “I’m making him tea.”
Jon smiled at her indulgently while Rick just shook his head.
“I thought I might have both, that okay with you, little one?” Jon asked her.
“Okay,” she said. “But it seems kind of greedy.”
“Michelle,” Rick scolded, but Jon just laughed.
“She reminds me so much of my little girl, I miss her so much.”
“Where did she go?” Michelle asked bluntly.
“Michelle, that’s enough!” Rick barked. “Sorry, Jon.”
Jon waived his apology away. “It’s okay. Little girls are curious. My little girl died in a car crash, sweetheart,” he told her.
“Oh.” Michelle bit her lip then got up and waddled over to him, patting his hand gently. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” His eyes were sad, though and she felt bad for bringing it up. “Want a hug?”