Page 32 of Lilly's Little Labor Day

“Yes, Ma’am. I’m sorry, Miss Phoebe, Nanny J,” she said looking between the two women who ruled this part of the Ranch.

Nanny J smiled. “That’s better. Now clean up those blocks. We have a new playground that was just installed last week on Rawhide Ridge and I think you all will love it.”

“Yay!” Lilly cheered, along with Betty and Mina.

The park’s location was a little ways off, so Nanny J carted the cuties in a golf cart. Lilly looked around as they drove up the mountain a bit and entered a huge grove of trees. The sound of water had her puzzled until the sun’s rays caught the water of a stream meandering through the meadow where a giant, adult-sized playground was waiting. She’d swear the entire scene originated in heaven.

There was a giant red and white, rocket-shaped climbing structure that had multiple slides jutting off the side. Around it, in the bed of soft mulch, was a merry-go-round, two oversized swing sets, and a row of four teeter-totters.

It was everything a Little could want.

“Go play. Have fun,” Nanny J said. “But don’t leave the playground. I’ll be sitting here watching.”

She parked herself on a bench, ready to keep an eye on her charges.

It didn’t take the Littles long before they were hard at play. They’d had a bigger group earlier, but the Daddies and Mommies had checked out their respective Littles for various activities. Part of Lilly was jealous. She was happy for the others, though. Plus, she remembered Master Derek’s exciting news—he had someone in mind for her. A Daddy he thought would be perfect!

“Want to have slide races?” Mina asked.

She was a cute Little who wasn’t very tall. She had short dark hair, matching eyes, and a warm smile. It seemed like she was always smiling. Lilly liked that about her.

“That will be fun!” Lilly said.

“This is the right playground to do it on,” Betty said. “The slides are the tallest and best! Did you know some super rich guy donated this?”

“Really?” Lilly said. “That was nice of him.”

She thought of Edward. He was a super-rich guy. Dang it! She’d been trying hard not to dwell on him. She’d almost gone a full hour without thinking of him.

Thanks a lot, Betty.

She knew it wasn’t the other woman’s fault. Everything reminded her of Edward. If it hadn’t been Betty’s comment, it would have been something else.

The trio ascended the rocket. It seemed so high! They finally arrived at the top and settled near the twin slides.

“You two go on,” Betty said. “I’ll race the winner.”

Lilly sat down and readied herself. Something in the distance caught her eye. She squinted until she realized it was another golf cart coming toward them. For a moment, she thought maybe it was other Littles ready to play. But upon closer inspection, she realized it was just two guys.

“On your mark, get set… go!” Betty yelled.

Lilly pushed off. On the other slide, Mina did the same. They zipped quickly down, the world passing by in a dizzying blur. They both laughed the entire way.

Lilly’s feet hit the soft mulch a half second before Mina’s did.

“You won!” Mina said. “Congratulations!” She was still smiling.

Lilly smiled back. They hugged and then started to go up the rocket again, but Nanny J’s voice cut them off.

“Hold on, Lilly. There’s someone here who wants to meet you.”

“Someone very special,” Master Derek said.

He was out of the golf cart now, standing in front of the other man. Lilly turned to Mina and said, “I’ll catch up to you.”

She then walked toward Master Derek and his friend.

“Remember when I told you there was someone—a Daddy—I wanted you to meet?”

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