“I suspect she’s going to be grounded for the rest of the day for her sassy attitude.”
I suck in a breath. “Does she get in trouble often?”
He shrugs. “She was just coming into her own when I left for Earth. I hardly know more than you, but I do know she likes to push Chadka’s buttons and test her boundaries.”
I grin. “That’s Livy.”
“What about you, my Little cherub? Are you going to test Papi every step of the way?”
“Depends. Are you going to spank me when I do?” I taunt.
He laughs as he unfastens me and lifts me from the special seat. “Let’s get you down for a nap.”
ChapterEleven
Thabo
I can’t stop jiggling my knee as I sit on the sofa, reclining back, trying to look nonchalant. Why must she learn how to walk? I was far more relaxed when she was strapped in her bouncy seat, and I didn’t have too many heart attacks as she started to crawl.
Now she’s been furniture surfing all morning, and she’s just let go of the armchair to toddle toward me. She’s going to fall on her bottom any second, and my heart can’t take it.
She’s so damn adorable, every inch of her. I’m incredibly lucky. She hasn’t given me nearly the amount of grief Olivia gave Chadka when she first arrived.
My Little girl is adjusting quickly and determined. She’s been here nine days. I’ve never known a Little girl to advance as quickly as her, but she’s been determined from day one, and she’s shown us all that she means business.
I grit my teeth, trying not to call out to her.Be careful. Slow down. Watch the corner of the table.
Stop rushing through the stages.
Logically, I don’t want to hold her back. I want her to be fully mobile and have all her motor skills. But I kind of liked the helpless Baby stage too. I like that she had no choice but to let me take care of her.
I’m in love with her. I haven’t said it out loud yet, but it’s on the tip of my tongue. She makes my heart beat. She’s my life. I’m the luckiest Papi on Eleadia. I’m going to be overprotective like a neurotic Papi.
I probably rolled my eyes in private dozens of times in the last few years when other Papis brought their Little girls into the clinic. Many of them seemed excessively overprotective.
Now I get it. I’m in their shoes, and I’m worse than all of them combined.
She waddles toward me on unsteady feet, made unsteady partly because of her diaper. She had about a day to practice walking with the thick padding before we left Earth, and she did pretty well toddling around behind me, but she doesn’t have full control over her legs yet.
I keep my mouth shut and feign indifference, holding my breath all the while. I don’t let it out until she reaches my knees and grabs on.
She tips her face back, her expression triumphant. “I did it, Papi!”
“You sure did, Baby girl. Please don’t practice walking unless I’m watching you, okay?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m fine. I told you I would walk in less than two weeks. Aren’t you proud of me?”
I cup her face and lean down to kiss her lips. “I’m so proud of you I could burst, but you need to obey Papi when I tell you to do something, understood?” I try to sound firm. I need her to take my rules seriously.
“Yes, Sir,” she responds, “but you don’t need to worry so much. I’m not going to fall and die walking across a room.”
I grab her waist and lift her up to settle her on my knee with her legs between us. Even her tiny feet are cute. I reach down to tickle one because it makes her giggle, which is my favorite sound in the world.
I need to have a serious conversation with her. I hold her small feet in my hands and meet her gaze. “Why are you in such a rush to be so mobile, Baby girl?”
“I don’t like being so needy, Papi. I want some independence.”
I was afraid she might say something like that. “There’s not a lot of room for Little girls to be independent on Eleadia, Janie.”