Page 4 of His Love

She gave a brief smile, even though her skin was flushed pink and she wouldn’t make eye contact.

“Did you know I had a wife for a long time?” I asked, hoping to relieve some of her anxiety.

She nodded and played with the hem of her pink princess shirt. “The Littles say you don’t talk ‘bout her much and we shouldn’t ask about her.”

A wave of guilt tore through my stomach and squeezed my heart. I didn’t talk about Junie a lot. It was just so damn hard. She’d been my biggest blessing, but I didn’t want the Littles to think we couldn’t talk about her. Paisley had never met her and I was sure she was curious.

“If the topic ever comes up again, you can tell the other Littles they can ask me as many questions about Junie that they want. I miss her very much and it can be hard to talk about her, but I never meant for them to feel like it was a closed topic.”

“Was she your Little girl?”

I smiled at the memory of Junie running to me and climbing up in my lap whenever she could. She always had a bow in her curls and was always holding her stuffed flamingo, Fancy.. “She was my entire world for eight years before her death.”

“What happened to her?”

“One day while working, Junie had a brain aneurysm. After fighting hard for several days, she passed away.”

“I’m sorry. You must miss her so bad.”

“I do miss her every day, but you and the other Littles help. It does my heart good to see you living your best lives being free and happy. I like to think of Junie living that way too, free and happy.”

She rested her head on my shoulder and I couldn’t resist leaning down to plant a soft kiss on the top of it.

“Were you grumpy with her too?” she mumbled in a completely sassy tone.

I tossed my head back and laughed, the sound echoing into the small waiting room. “I have always been a grumpy asshole, but I was probably nicer with her in my life.”

We sat in a comfortable silence until she asked, “Do you think that Uncle Onyx was able to feed Angel?”

I winced at the mention of her cat. From what I’d heard, ‘Angel’ was anything but. “He probably managed just fine.”

“I hope he doesn’t scare her; she frightens easily.”

I didn’t comment, but I didn’t think she should have been worried about the cat managing. I was worried for Onyx.

A nurse called us back, and I stood to push Paisley back to the triage area.

“This wheelchair is so stupid. I can walk… maybe.” The look on her face told me she was lying her behind off, but she was too stubborn to admit it.

I laughed at the words and the petulant expression on her face when she delivered them. She was so cute.

***

After the hospital trip, I gently carried Paisley into my house and up to the nursery. My housekeeper, Ruth, cleaned this room out as well, but I seldom went in. It had been Junie’s safe place and seeing the room without her smile lighting it up hurt in a way I could never describe.

The pain was still there, but Paisley needed help while she healed and I couldn’t imagine letting her be with anyone else during that time. I didn't want to think about anyone else taking care of her. I also didn’t want to think about what that feeling meant.

Lowering Paisley into the white crib, I positioned her with a pink pillow under her foot. She whimpered in her sleep and I rubbed her belly softly. Poor baby. I imagined even with the pain meds, it still hurt. Her ankle had been broken. Seeing an orthopedic doctor was our first step in the morning.

Elliot had been off when Onyx called, but he’d come in just to help with Paisley. He’d wrapped her foot until we could get it casted and gave me detailed instructions on what to do for her. I wouldn’t bother with changing her into pajamas. She would be comfortable enough in her leggings and oversized shirt.

I looked around the room and spotted Fancy, Junie’s beloved stuffie, sitting in a rocking chair. Ruth must have put her there when she cleaned last. The sight of the well-loved flamingo brought a fresh wave of grief through me. I walked over and picked it up. Pressing my face into the soft body, I breathed in the smell. Fancy didn’t really smell like Junie anymore, but it didn’t matter. The silly pink bird served as a reminder of happy days with my love. “I miss you, babygirl,” I whispered into the room.

I placed Fancy in Paisley’s arms. She immediately pulled the stuffie close, causing me to smile. “Thank you for sharing, Junie-Bug,” I knew she would want Paisley to have the flamingo.

I soaked in the sight of her asleep in the bed. Her pale pink curls covering part of her face, and her chest rising slowly painted the sweetest image. I hated that she was hurt, but I would admit it was nice to have a Little under my roof again, even if just for a few days.

***

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