Page 36 of Gideon

I didn’t know what to do. I had no job and in two days I would be homeless. Although, that wasn’t exactly fair. I knew Daddy wouldn’t throw me out, but how could I stay when I knew he didn’t want me anymore?

“Baby girl?”

I really wanted to pretend I was asleep, but Daddy had told me I mustn’t ever lie, so I opened my eyes. He gently wiped away the tears under them, then bent and kissed my lips. I couldn’t stop another tear because it felt like he was saying goodbye. I shook my head. “I still have today and tomorrow.”

He smiled and held his hand out. “Come on baby, I have something to show you, although I think she needs a bath.” I was just trying to puzzle that out when he mumbled, “So does Max.” Which didn’t make sense either.

I took his hand and stood, then waited while he carefully bent and put my slippers on even though I already had socks on. Then he took my hand again and led me from the playroom and into the kitchen. I saw Max and smiled, but then as I rounded the corner, I came to a dead stop.

“Poppy?” I whispered in disbelief. She heard me, nearly yanking Max off his feet in a mad scramble to reach me. “Poppy,” I cried and dropped to the floor, opening my arms wide and in less than a second, I had them full of a golden fur-ball. I heard Max murmur something about ruining a good pair of Stefano Ricci’s before he left, but I was too busy loving on Poppy.

Eventually, though, doubts and questions crept in, and I lifted my gaze to Daddy, who was watching me with a huge smile on his face. “But she might ruin your suit.”

Daddy chuckled. “Probably.”

I fiddled with the cheap braided collar I knew the shelter would have sent with her. “Why did you get a dog?” Because that seemed the important question.

“I didn’t get a dog,” Daddy said solemnly.

“Oh,” I said in a tiny voice and tried not to cry. “Is she going back in two days as well?”

Daddy shook his head and, seemingly uncaring of dog hairs, he sat on the floor and lifted me and most of Poppy into his lap. “We got a dog. Not me, not you, butwe. And she’s going to live out the rest of her life with us. I sent Max to go get us some supplies. She’ll need her own bed in the playroom, a decent collar. She’s microchipped, but I can’t see her running away. Max is getting the basics for her, but we can go shopping tomorrow and get her some toys and some things from the vet.”

I looked up at Daddy and pressed my lips together. “She wouldn’t ever run away. Not if she has a home for real.” My tummy fluttered.

“Oh, and the two-week trial nonsense is over. I’m keeping you, and we’re both keeping Poppy. When we go on vacation, Dion will let her play with his dogs, or Margaret will stay here.”

“We’re keeping her?” And I knew Daddy knew what I was asking. He nodded and set me on my feet, then stood up.

“I’m going to get her some water and make sure she’s settled in the mudroom while we’re busy. I want you to go into the playroom, take off your shorts and panties, and go sit on your naughty stool.”

I gaped. “But—”

“Now,” Daddy said in his stern voice, “Unless you want more than five smacks on your bottom?”

I gulped and shot into the playroom, but as usual, my eyes settled on my clock, and I was immediately distracted. I walked over and took my precious list from the back of it. It was hard to read because it kept going all blurry, butDaddy keeps me foreverwas written on my heart.

I scanned the list that mentioned things like sitting on Daddy’s lap for mealtimes and putting my pictures up on the fridge and having morning and bedtime cuddles. I quickly found a pencil and in my best handwriting wrote,Goes for walks with Poppy.

“Abby?”

I spun around and, flushing, pushed the paper back in my clock, then realized I hadn’t done what Daddy asked, and fumbled getting my slippers off. Of course, Daddy helped me and soon I was standing with a very bare bottom. I took a step to the stool, but Daddy snagged my hand. “We’ll skip that.” He sat on the edge of the bed and patted his knee. I knew what he wanted and wasn’t sure it seemed like a good idea.

“Abby, I will add one smack for every minute you delay.”

So I shot forward, and Daddy laid me down across his lap. I wriggled and then gasped as I got a smack to stay still.

“Why are you getting punished?”

I had to think. I hadn’t eaten all my vegetables last night, but I didn’t think that was it. They were green and Daddy knew I didn’t like green. Was it because I shut the bathroom door when I went to potty this morning? “I don’t know, Daddy, but I thought I’d been a good girl.”

“Do you remember when I asked you if you knew what a Daddy was, and you told me it’s someone who always looks after a Little?”

I nodded. “And has her best interests at heart,” I added primly, wondering if that would get me out of the spanking.

“And when I asked you how he was supposed to know what they were, you said because she tells him.”

“And if she doesn’t, she gets into trouble,” I murmured because I suddenly knew where this was going.

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