Page 22 of A Little Spilled Milk

But the stitching was shoddy, and I suggested the more expensive pair, as I was gifting it to him.

He chose a matching hat, and then we looked at PJs. These were for when he was Big, and like the swim shorts, he chose a plain color. Besides, he would have had to order Little pajamas, and there wasn’t enough time.

“Shall we end the excursion with an ice cream?”

“I’ll never say no to ice cream.”

Rather than eating on the go and having the ice cream melt, we sat at a table and people-watched. School kids gathered in groups, giggling at a video on someone’s phone.

I recalled my school days, which after adolescence, were spent trying to fit in but having to isolate myself when milk leaked from my teats.

“I didn’t enjoy high school.” Vinnie licked the ice cream melting down the cone. “I was different from everyone else. Football and basketball weren’t my thing, my coordination sucked, and I was always the last to be picked on a team.”

I placed my hand over his sticky one. “Glad those days are behind us and we found each other.”

That night, we packed, and our packing styles coordinated with our personalities. I rolled my underwear and PJs and placed them in packing cubes, whereas Vinnie stuffed everything in his and sat on it to close it.

I loved his enthusiasm and would never tamp it down, though I had to look away and try not to rearrange his clothes.

“We should go to bed early. We were leaving after work, and by the time we arrived and checked in, ate dinner, and went for a swim, it’d be late.

“Not sure I can sleep, I'm so excited.”

“How about you suckle and I’ll read you a story? Would that help?”

He nodded and chose a book before jumping into bed.

“I’m going to be Big while we’re away, but I might want to be Little when we’re in the hotel room.”

“That’s fine.”

“That’s why my suitcase is so full.” A look of horror passed over his face. “I forgot my stuffie.” He hurled himself out of bed andwent next door, returning with his stuffed toy. “I’m so sorry. How could I forget you?” He kissed the toy a number of times.

It crossed my mind that I should put a tracker on the stuffie. What if it went missing? Vinnie wouldn’t leave the hotel until we recovered it.

“I’ve got a special something for your stuffie.”

I removed the tracker from my computer bag and placed it in the stuffie’s backpack.

“So he’ll never get lost and stay with you always.”

13

VINNIE

Daddy got us the best hotel room—or maybe his work did—but whichever the case, I’d never been in one this nice. It wasn’t lavish like the suites you saw in the movies, where they had an extra sitting room and chandeliers, and it looked more like a mansion than a home. But there was a sitting area with a small table, a huge bed, and the view was spectacular.

When we checked in, I was in awe. The lobby was filled with marble, and I instantly felt underdressed. I’d been so used to staying in the bargain-basement hotels that work got for me. I hadn’t minded, never seeing the point in spending a lot of money when you were only there while you slept. I got it now.

“This is beautiful, Daddy.” I twirled around our room, soaking it all in.

“I’m glad you like it.” He put my suitcase on the bench and opened it up flat for me. “This way, you can get your things whenever you need them.”

I grabbed my tiger and held him close. Daddy had put a chip in his little backpack to make sure we could find him if he ever gotlost. I appreciated it, even if the thought of losing him filled me with dread. I decided this was a case of if I have it, I won’t need it.

The first time I realized it opened, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what would go inside of it. Nothing was perfect, not until today. Apparently, it was for the tracker all along.

I kissed the top of his head and set him on the bed. “There. That’s better.”

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