Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
After driving to the rear entrance of a pizzeria, Tom loaded their order on his dolly. Buzzing for entrance, he waited for someone to answer. A few seconds passed by and he heard nothing from inside. Abandoning the crates, he walked around the store and looked into the darkened interior. Whoa. They weren’t open.
There was a small sign on the door announcing the shop was closing permanently two days earlier. Tom’s path never took him in front of the pizza shop. He’d had no idea this was coming and none of the employees had mentioned it. Apparently his delivery luck for the day had run out.
Retracing his steps, Tom reloaded the crates of produce and closed up the back. He climbed into the cab and called his dad.
“Bad news.”
“Your Little’s gone?” His dad sounded upset.
“No, Dad. She’s okay. Elizabeth just got spooked last night. Mom helped a lot. I owe Mom a few gazillion thank you’s for sharing her story with Elizabeth.”
“Your mom and I would do anything for you, Tom. I hope you know that. We’re also very excited that you’ve found your Little. Congratulations. She seems amazing.”
“She is incredible, Dad.”
“So, what’s the bad news?”
“The Golden Crust is closed. There’s a sign on the door and no one around. Did they cancel their order with you?”
“No. Let me pull it up on the computer.”
“Thanks, Dad. You may wish to check if they have an outstanding balance,” Tom advised, expecting the worst.
He heard a murmur of voices and knew his mom was in the office with his father. A few seconds later, she came onto the line.
“Elizabeth is okay?” she asked without any pleasantries.
“Thanks to you,” Tom answered simply.
“I just checked where I would have gone if my heart was breaking. You have a nursery in your home?” she probed.
“I do. Thank you for talking to her. I’m going to make sure she gets some time to spend with other Littles. I don’t think she’s had that opportunity.”
“That would be good for her. If she has any questions, I’ll be glad to talk to her more.”
“Thanks, Mom. I think she’ll be ready for that eventually. Right now, she needs to get comfortable with others knowing she’s Little,” Tom suggested.
“You know her best. I really like her, Tom. You chose well. I hope you’re as happy as your father and I are.”
“I’ll be an extremely lucky man when that wish comes true. I’m going to make sure it does.”
“You do that. Drive safely. We’ll deal with the Golden Crust.”
Tom saw his phone disconnect, and he smiled at the device. If there were awards for great parents, his would get first place. They’d never been like his friends’ parents for many reasons. Their family was close and actually enjoyed each other’s company.
There had been something more that he’d not understood until he’d matured and grasped his own dominance. His mom was a force to behold—strong, hardworking, and tender, all wrapped into one. And his father? Tom stopped to consider what adjectives he’d use to describe him and kept coming back to the same ones, just with an entirely difference essence—a Daddy instead of a Little. He appreciated that his folks lived their own truth while raising their children to make their own choices in life.
Putting the truck into gear, he headed for Nibbles & Bites. He couldn’t wait to see Elizabeth and make sure she was okay. Last night had scared him. It had also taught him how important she was.
Pulling up in front of the darkened restaurant, he picked up his phone to call to let his Little girl know he was there. A familiar figure exiting Little Cakes caught his attention. A smile spread his lips as he watched Elizabeth walking carefully with a large box of cupcakes as if they were the most precious cargo ever.
Tom jumped from the truck and jogged to her side. He pressed a light kiss on her lips even though the thought flashed through his mind to devour her like the sweet treats she held. After lifting his mouth from hers, he offered, “Let me carry that for you."
“Maybe I better hold on to it. I don’t want to crush the frosting,” she said before biting her bottom lip.
“This is a lot of cupcakes for you and me, Bunny.”
“These are for your family,” she explained. “I hoped we could drop them off there as a thank you and a sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for, but I have a feeling they’ll love these. Sweet Tooth?” he guessed.
“Yes. The frosting is just so pretty and the cake—mmm!”
“I agree. It’s a great choice for our family.”
“Our family?” Elizabeth echoed.
“I think they’ve adopted you. It’s a good thing you like me,” he teased and loved her sweet giggle. “Come on, Little girl. Let me hold these while you hop up into the cab.”