Page 21 of Mommy Calls Me Princess

“What did you decide on?” I found her with a bucket set at her feet and a stuffie in each hand.

“I can’t decide between the seal or the koala.”

“Hmm, me either. Let’s take both and do mommy a favor and grab that tube of sea creatures.” That way she’d have tubby toys while we’re here.

“I have money, too, Mommy. I can pay for the extra stuffie.”

“Nonsense, this trip is mommy’s gift to her girl.”

“You spoil me, Mommy.”

“Of course I do, you’re my Princess.” We might be back later for a new piece of luggage given my inability to say no. But I’d keep that secret tucked away. In the interim, I purchased a reusable tote to put her dirty sand toys in afterward.

Out through the doors and into the warm sunlight. Oddly enough, the heat felt wonderful, and the view was nothing short of breathtaking. Darcy ran straight for a pair of empty lounge chairs and hollered, “Dibs!” Her enjoyment for the great outdoors had ideas for future vacations swirling through my mind. Beaches and sand, Darcy was my kind of girl for sure.

“Sunscreen before you play, little girl.” Her face couldn’t decide between pouting and hurry up, Mommy. Quite the conundrum ran through my girl’s brain. After I was satisfied I’d applied enough, I handed her the bucket and sent her off to fill it with water. She returned, singing a silly song then plopped down in the sand and began her voyage into oceanic construction.

For a few moments I sat and watched as she concentrated hard, setting up a solid foundation for what I assumed would be a sandcastle to rival all others. Or maybe that was just a proud, biased Mommy projecting how amazing her girl was. As she steadily built, I lay back and emersed myself in my latest literary obsession, dragons. This new series, Primordial Protectors, from authors Layla Dorine and TL Travis was both humorous and enthralling.

“Mommy, I’m thirsty.” Must’ve been deep inside the author’s creative minds because when I glanced over at my girl, her castlewas three stories tall. How she managed to get it to stand was beyond me.

“Nicely done, Princess.” She preened at the compliment. I reached into the bag and handed her a bottle of water and snack size bag of pretzels. “Here you go.”

“Nummy. Thanks, Mommy. Whatcha reading?”

“Dragon shifters.” She turned her head from side to side. “Something wrong?”

“Never pegged you for a fantasy reader. I love dragons and shifters and fated mates and mpreg.” She got this dreamy faraway look in her eyes. “Nothing better than escaping reality into another realm, so to speak.”

“Such a smart, deep girl and I totally agree. I feel like I’ve missed so many good books these last few years. It’s nice to take a break and escape the real world for a bit as you said.” I checked the time and realized just over an hour had passed. “Want to cool off in the water?”

She shivered. “It’s super cold. When I filled the bucket, the water got me. But maybe only up to our knees would be okay.”

After she guzzled down some water we walked hand in hand down to the water and damnit if the girl wasn’t right. That water was fucking cold!

“Race you back to the chairs!” Silly girl took off at a run like I’d do the same. Not happening. “I won!”

“Always, sweet girl.”

Chapter Seven

Darcy

“Here, Mommy.” I’d pressed my rosy, red lips to the piece of paper mommy handed me after I put on the new lipstick she bought. No idea why she wanted that, but it was kinda cute to see. Red lipstick wasn’t my color of choice, but it made the pretty picture nice and bright.

Mommy laughed. “Thank you. I can see you’re not fond of the lipstick, go ahead and wash it off.”

“’Kay.” I scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed, but it stained my lips anyway. “Ugh, stupid lipstick.”

“Well, I hope you’ll think it’s worth it when you see why I asked. Let’s head down the boardwalk.”

We’d just dropped off our bags at the room then Mommy said we had somewhere special to go. Don’t think she realized but since she saved me from myself my life has been one big specialday. It was so nice out on the beach, playing in the sand without a single worry. Just me and mommy. When had my life ever been worry free whether it was finding food when I was younger to getting my first job at sixteen so I could buy my own food. The answer was easy – never, until mommy came along.

Sarah did as much as she could, which was great and I appreciated everything she did for me, but she and Vale weren’t rich either and taking on another mouth to feed wasn’t cheap. Point being she wasn’t my birth giver, and she shouldn’t have had to take on the responsibility of another child, but she did and never once complained. I owed her and Vale so much. They were my true family and now we had mommy and Daddy Jack too.

“Ah, here we are.”

I’d been lost in thought as we walked along. Thinking and watching everything, paying no mind which direction we headed until Mommy stopped. In front of a tattoo parlor.

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