Page 44 of Lilly's Little Labor Day

In a way, it helped having Edward around for the experience. He’d always had such a calming effect on her.

She just wished it could last.

That uneasy feeling spread in the pit of her stomach once again.

Don’t think about what can’t be. Think about what is. Right now. Even if it’s temporary, it’s still amazing.

“Want to play dress up?” Halle asked.

Among the other amazing things for Littles to do in the playroom, there was an area set up with costumes, dresses, and other accessories along with a vanity.

“That would be so fun!” Lilly said, forgetting about those thoughts that had troubled her only moments earlier.

Those thoughts came back, though, as soon as Halle asked, “So how did you meet your Daddy?”

Oh crap! Is she really asking that? What do I say?

“Well, it’s kind of a funny story,” she said.

Did she hear the uneasiness in my voice? Don’t act all weird over this. If I act weird, she’ll think it’s weird.

It kinda is weird.

See? This is why the two of us can’t ever be together.

“He’s actually not my Daddy,” she said. “He’s just my Caregiver while I’m here at the Ranch. I mean, we knew each other before we came here, but we aren’t… together together. Know what I mean?”

“I gotcha,” Halle said. “That’s cool!”

It seemed as if she was genuine.

Whew, Lilly thought. Crisis averted. For now.

A few minutes later, the Littles were lost in play. Lilly tried on a light blue dress, put a tiara in her hair, and twirled around the playroom while holding a star-topped wand.

“You look like Cinderella,” Halle said while clapping.

“Thank you,” Lilly said.

She continued to spin all the way to where Edward sat. She had noticed him eyeing her several times. She stopped before him and offered a curtsey.

Edward’s eyes twinkled.

“I see you’re having fun.”

“Uh-huh. I’m a princess.”

“Yes, you are,” he said.

She giggled before spinning away to rejoin Halle.

“Look at this dress,” she said, picking one up from the collection. “It looks like Snow White! You could wear it and we could be princesses together.”

“Then we could pretend we have a magic castle,” Halle suggested.

That’s exactly what the women did. Fifteen minutes later, they were still giggling as they shook free of the costumes.

“Looks and sounds like you two are having a lot of fun,” Roman said, approaching with Edward.

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