Page 18 of Their Little Foursome

Lori giggled and tucked her free hand into his as they walked to the house.

If Gordon had any trepidations about what he’d told his Little about Sadie, they evaporated the moment the front door swung open. A happy squeal of delight was issued by a bouncy brunette, her hair in high pigtails complete with large bows, one purple and one pink.

“Hi! I’m Sadie!” she said, “I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve been waiting like forever to meet you!”

Every sentence ended in a high note and yet Gordon had no doubt of her sincerity. He opened his mouth to introduce himself and Lori, but his Little shocked him by beating him to it.

“I’m Lori. I love your ribbons. Oh, and this is my Daddy, his name is Gordon.”

Speechless, all Gordon could do was watch as the two girls linked hands and began to chatter as if they’d known each other their entire lives rather than less than twenty seconds.

“Wow,” he muttered when he was able to speak.

“Yeah, I get that reaction a lot,” Derek said. “Come on in.”

Gordon did and fully expected to see Lori in the living room where Jared and Erika were seated, but as he looked around, Jared chuckled.

“Littles are sort of like those bubbles they love to blow in your face. One moment they are bouncing around you and you close your eyes to avoid getting soap in them when they pop, but when you open them again, they’ve evaporated into thin air.”

“What Jared is saying so eloquently, is that Sadie has already dragged your Lori away to her room. We’ll see them at dinner. What are you drinking?”

“Scotch?” Gordon said, then realized he sounded a bit unsure of himself.

If Derek noticed, he didn’t mention it, instead, asked, “Neat or on the rocks?”

“Neat.” Accepting the tumbler, he lifted it in salute to his host. “You have no idea the magic your Little just managed.”

Derek chuckled. “I believe I do. That girl has never met a stranger and will defend her friends to the death.”

“Or from Mommies and Daddies if caught participating in one of her famous pranks,” Erika offered.

The four of them enjoyed their cocktails and when a timer buzzed, Derek motioned to the stairs. “Gordon, how about you call the girls down for dinner? It will give you a chance to see for yourself that your Lori is going to be just fine here.”

Appreciating the fact that Derek understood, Gordon set his drink on the counter and climbed the stairs. When he’d reached the landing and still heard not a single peep, despite the assurances he’d given Lori, his anxiety began to creep back. He remained quiet as he walked down the hall to an open doorway. At the threshold, he stood frozen, simply taking in a sight he’d hoped to witness for a very long time.

Lori was sprawled on her tummy, her knees bent, her ankles crossed in the air, the tip of her tongue held between her teeth as she concentrated on performing what appeared to be the removal of the wishbone from the patient. When she held up the tweezers, the small white bone in its grip, the silence was shattered.

“You did it, Dr. Lori!” Sadie squealed, grabbing Lori’s hand and pulling her up so the two could do a very cute, and very uncoordinated happy-dance.

Their giggles were the sweetest sound Gordon had ever heard and when they both shrieked when spying him, he clapped his hands. “Well done, both the surgery and the dance.”

“Daddy, you scared us!”

“I didn’t mean to,” he said sincerely. “I came up to let you know dinner is ready.”

“But it’s Sadie’s turn. She has to remove the heart!” Lori said, pointing at the game.

“That’s okay, we can finish later.”

Gordon was grateful for Sadie’s intervention as he really hated breaking up their party. When Lori still looked doubtful, he said, “Besides, I haven’t heard the helicopter landing yet.”

Both girls looked at each other and then up at him.

“What helicopter?” Lori asked.

“The one bringing the heart for the transplant, of course,” Gordon said. “After all, if you don’t have it before taking out the one that’s damaged–”

“He’s right! We’re gonna need a new heart,” Sadie said.

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