Page 104 of Daddy P.I. 3.0

Whatever the circumstances, the tangible memory of wolfy Daddy keeps me smiling. Daddy’s mood isn’t as buoyant as mine. I thought we’d stay the night at Blunts after the party but Daddy wants to leave as soon as most of the littles and their caregivers do.

I’m nottoodisappointed. Despite the hiccups, I still think the Grand Opening was a success.

Before we leave, I get to see the second floor of the Nursery. It’s even better than I imagined. The magical tree comes up through the hole in the floor and I can stand on the plexiglass and wave down at my friends on the lower floor. There’s a corner with a dollhouse, a corner with puzzles and games just like my little room, and a red-carpet corner for dressing up with a brightly-mirrored vanity built into the wall and a catwalk that’sgoing to have to host a fashion show sooner rather than later. I text Cynnie with fashion show ideas; she drags Max upstairs to see the red-carpet area. We huddle for a few minutes, making plans, before Daddy and Max pull us away. There’s a very small part of me that wants to protest leaving before my bedtime, when there’s still fun to be had. But Daddy’s had a rough night and needs TLC. A little takes care of her Daddy, too, and tonight he needs lots of snuggles and reassurance and a few of the red-velvet cupcakes he likes so much that I squirrel away for a rainy day like this.

As we take a taxi home with Mac and Brenna, the Littles Army chat blows up. Sammi demands a full day of play in the Nursery, unsupervised by Bigs. Imagining him swinging from the tree and then launching himselfintothe wet play area with its beautiful fish tank, I propose an outing to the Aquarium instead followed by a few hours at Blunts playing mermaids in the pool and then napping in the Nursery.

I know just what to wear and it’s a plan that can accommodate Livvy, too. Although I know Manny and Jen will take good care of her tonight and I’ll see her in the morning, I’ve missed her.

As I cuddle against Daddy in the taxi, I voice that thought.

Daddy kisses my temple. “We’ll see her in the morning.”

“I know but I’ve missed her. Have you?”

Daddy sighs. “I honestly haven’t thought about her very much, baby. I’m not sure what that says about me as a parent.”

“Nothing other than you have a lot on your mind, Daddy. Maman was a parent who always said she lived for her kids. Even when Iwasher kid, I could see that wasn’t healthy. We’d call it a helicopter parent now, always hovering. She spoiled Frances rotten and gave me anxiety and body dysmorphia. I’m not going to repeat her mistakes. I want to fold Livvy into our lives instead of focusing our livesonher. If we do that, it’snatural there will be times we don’t think about her as much because we have other things going on. It doesn’t mean we love her less. You’re a wonderful daddy to me and you’re a wonderful daddy to Livvy. Don’t ever think otherwise.”

Daddy squeezes my shoulders. “Thank you, baby doll. I’m sorry I’m distracted. You still enjoyed the party, didn’t you?”

“I did. Everyone did but you, I think. I’m sorry, Daddy. It should have been fun for you, too.”

He kisses my temple again but doesn’t answer. The party wasn’t fun for him after the Hunt. I love and respect my Daddy but sometimes he sees the world in black and white. It’s not a terrible quality in a daddy. It makes him a stickler for rules and I need that. But it also means that when something goes wrong and Daddy’s mood goes south, it can be hard to turn around.

While I’m mulling over ways to help that exceed the restorative power of red-velvet cupcakes, Mac starts talking quietly to Daddy. Brenna’s got her head down on Master Mac’s shoulder and seems asleep—they did a whipping scene in the Stables while we were in the Nursery that I gather was super-intense—but Mac is awake and looking as troubled as Daddy.

“Think we have to accelerate our timeline, son,” Mac says.

“I’m thinking that, too. The committee’s not scheduled to meet until the first week of December. There’s a provision in the by-laws for emergency meetings, though. I think I should call one with a motion to remove Drew and Emmett as members. If Chess refuses to schedule an emergency meeting, then maybe the meeting we call is a vote of no confidence in his chairmanship. I thought I had enough votes for Maude to take his place but after tonight I’m not so sure. I sent Bull a picture of Maude and Twitch taking care of Georgie during the party and he’s left me on fucking read. Even if he’d sent back a ‘fuck you’ or something, I’d feel better. Ignoring me? That’s not like Bull. I’m worried I’ve fucked a friendship tonight.”

I blink up at Daddy, trying not to let my shock show. I knew he was worried about Masters Drew and Emmett after talking to Shannie and Annabelle, although he hasn’t told me everything they said but I didn’t realize it was that bad. And removing Master Chess as the chairman? Master Chess is as much a Blunts institution as Master Javier. What will be left of Blunts once Daddy’s through cleaning house?

I quietly take out my phone and thumb over to my message string with Queen Twitch.

Serious poop going down. We need to talk and help fix this.

A response immediately pops up.

Girl, I was just going to message you! It is a shitSTORM. Lunch tomorrow without the boys?

I send back a string of thumbs-up.

When we get home, Master Mac carries Brenna upstairs, which I’ve never seen him do before. She doesn’t even argue, just curls into him and loops her arms around his neck. It’s getting close to my bed-time and I’d really like a bath because I’m still a little sticky, even though I did clean up after wolfy Daddy had his way with me. But taking care of my Daddy tonight is more important, so I head into the kitchen, take some frozen cupcakes out of my secret stash in the freezer, and give my kitty some overdue attention while they defrost in the microwave.

My phone buzzes non-stop with messages. I’ve been added to a new “dragon + princess chat” with Laurel, Aggie, Sammi, Matty, Yummy, Amy, and Cynnie. I barely got to see Laurel and her Dom tonight. They had a family obligation earlier today so they flew up late for the party but they’re staying for three days, so I’ll have a chance to catch up with them. Turning the guest bedroom into Livvy’s room means we can’t offer them a place to stay anymore but Jiro told Daddy he didn’t mind and was happy to stay in a hotel.

It occurs to me that they’re staying at the same hotel as Miranda, which makes my eye twitch a little as I think about it. It’s the closest hotel, so there’s nothing sinister about it. Well, nothing beyond the Mir-witch’s base level of sinisterness. Still, ugh.

Daddy joins me in the kitchen as I’m reading through the dragon plus princess chat and smiling at the enthusiasm for the Nursery. Everyone really did have a great time tonight except Daddy.

“Master Theo asked Amy out,” I tell Daddy as the microwave dings.

Daddy smiles but it’s a strained smile. “Glad something good came out of tonight.

I plate up the cupcakes on a pretty, flowered, China plate that Cynnie helped me thrift and take it over to the breakfast table. Daddy follows like a blood-hound. I swear, he’s sniffing the air.

“Are those cupcakes for me, little girl?”

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