He sighed. “Not all of us want hair down to our butts, you know.”
“I don’t either anymore. I’m going to have a haircut later.”
“Are you sure you want to do that right before a show?”
“Yes, I’m sure! I kept my hair like this for Richard, and I don’t have to do that anymore. I can do whatever I want with my hair! I’m going to cut it off and dye it blue and no one can stop me!”
She saw Brock glance at Master Derek, and they exchanged a look. She crossed her arms defiantly over her chest.
“No one’s trying to stop you, little one,” Master Derek said. “We just want to be sure it’s the right decision for you, and not one you’re making hastily. I think that’s all Brock is saying, right?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I meant,” Brock said.
Kyra sent a small, glaring glance his way. She knew he wasn’t trying to cause trouble for her, but she was so unsettled, and being sassy with Brock felt “normal” to her. She didn’t want to think about why that was.
She was saved from any further musings by a petite woman with her brown hair in two pigtails and a red-and-white checked romper that identified her immediately as a Little.
“Hi there! You must be Kyra. Ohmygosh, I am so happy to meet you! You have no idea. And I’m sorry I’m babbling already but I’m so excited and it’s hard to keep it all inside, isn’t it? Oh my goodness, the other girls are going to be so jealous I got to meet you first.”
“Sadie,” Derek said in a chiding voice, “maybe you can manage to keep it on the inside while you welcome our guest and take her out to the patio for breakfast?”
“Oh! Sure, I can!” She turned back to Kyra. “I’m Sadie and it’s very nice to meet you. Want to go eat and talk outside? It’s a beautiful day and there are some fluffy clouds that look just like piglets and elephants I want to show you!”
Just having another Little there made her feel instantly better. “I’d like that.”
“Okay, c’mon with me!”
“Excuse me, little girl,” Master Derek interjected. “Isn’t there something you’re forgetting?”
“Oh!” Sadie turned to Brock. “I’m Sadie and it’s awfully nice to meet you, Mr. Brock.”
His smile was wide. “It’s very nice to meet you, Sadie. Thank you for taking care of my girl.”
His girl? When had he decided that? Or maybe he just meant the girl he was hired to look after? And why did she like it so much when he said it?
Sadie grinned and grabbed Kyra by the hand, half pulling her out of her chair.
“Let’s go eat. What’s your stuffy’s name? I have a pony but it’s a real one and I can take you to meet him later if you want. Do you like horses? Because we have lots here. What do you like for breakfast? Never mind; my Daddy will call an order in for us. I usually get pancakes, but you can have whatever you want. Well, he’ll probably order eggs or something healthy, but maybe there’ll be pancakes, too, or some French toast. Do you like French toast?”
Kyra tried to follow all of her questions as she took her through the double doors behind the desk and onto a patio that was shaded by a big awning. There was a nice set of chairs and a round table set up in the shade where they both found seats.
“What do you think of the Ranch so far?” Sadie asked.
“It’s beautiful here. Everyone is super nice. And I still kind of can’t believe there’s a place that exists for Littles and Daddies and Mommies.” Her head dropped and she played with her stuffy’s tail. “Not that I’ll need it any time soon since I don’t have a Daddy anymore.”
“You don’t? Oh, Kyra! I’m sorry.”
Sadie looked so distressed that Kyra reached across the table to grab her hand.
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s not okay, because he lied to me and cheated on me, and now I don’t have a manager, either, so everything is a mess, but I’m better off without him.”
Sadie’s eyes went wide. “But do you miss him?”
Did she? Richard had been a constant in her life for a long time. Maybe she was more used to him than anything. Life was always so busy she hadn’t really stopped to think about it. But now that Sadie had asked, she realized she was more mad at his betrayal than she was heartbroken.
“I don’t know. Now that he’s gone, I’m remembering all the other times he let me down. He didn’t always call when he said he would, and he’d disappear for hours at a time. Days, sometimes, and now I know why.”
Sadie nodded in sympathy, a small frown on her face. “That’s not right for a Daddy. Maybe you’ll find a better one while you’re here?”