Page 33 of Mommy Calls Me Princess

“Everything. The music, the way the water waves, when it shoots out really, really hard and fast.” She swayed to and fro as the streams of water had. “It’s magical.”

“As are you, my love.” The flirtatious blush tinting her cheeks was more than worth having an audience for our private moment.

Jackson cleared his throat, breaking my Darcy induced trance. “To the newlyweds. May the love you share today blossom with each passing day. And always remember the golden rule— never go to bed mad.”

Conversation flowed throughout the fantastic meal. No one was left out and as I glanced around at all the smiling faces it hit me how truly blessed I was. Every person at this table loved me and my Princess for who we are, not for what we could give to them.

“Thank you for dinner, Jackson.” Darcy and I hugged him and Linda again. “And for sharing this important day with us.”

“You’re family, Vivenne. Don’t ever forget that. We’re here for both of you just as we are for Jack, Vale, and Sarah.” There are so few true, honest humans left in the world but somehow we’ve found a few.

Jackson and Linda decided to go sightsee while the rest of us went up to our suite to change and decide on our next move.

“Is the Build-A-Bear store still open, Mommy?”

I glanced at my watch then at Jack who gave me the go-ahead in the form of a nod. “I believe it is and it’s halfway between here and Circus-Circus.”

Darcy and Vale squealed. “Please Mommy, please?”

“Please Miss Vivienne?” Vale pleaded.

“It’s Mrs. Vivienne now. I’m a married lady, after all.” I wiggled my ring finger.

“Makes sense, V. Everything else is at the opposite end of the strip so we can spend the day there tomorrow. You coming with us, Sarah?”

“I’ll pass tonight, but I’m in for tomorrow’s adventure.” Can’t say I blamed her. I’m sure tonight’s adventure would be full of screaming kids running around. Not that a little and a monkey wouldn’t wreak their own havoc.

“Alright, put on comfy clothes and shoes. We’re in for a lot of walking.” The happy little and her monkey skipped toward their respective rooms to change. Jack snickered and followed his boy while I went to see what my princess was up to.

“Want Mommy to braid your hair?”

“Yes, please.”

Literally, if we were home I could picture myself sitting for hours on end brushing her hair, mindlessly twirling it around my fingers. It was so soft and billowy. As soon as I finished hers I decided to do mine too. Might as well keep as cool as we could.

The short walk took no time and as soon as they saw the sign the ran straight for the door.

“Monkey, what has daddy told you about running off?”

Vale chewed on his bottom lip. “Not to. Sorry daddy, I just got excited.”

“Remember your manners, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of Vale’s head. “Let’s get your bear and wait in the filling line.

They went one way and Darcy, and I went another. “Which bear do you want, Princess?”

“The pink cuddles with the bride outfit and I want the veil headband for myself. Is that okay, Mommy?”

Not the bear I expected her to pick at all. “That’s more than okay, sweet girl. This is for you, after all.”

“Mommy,” suddenly my girl was nervous. “Can we um, can we get the recording for the bear?”

“What do you mean?”

“They have an option where you can record a message and when you press its paw it says it to you.”

Confused, I turned my head to the side. “What message were you wanting.”

She stared down at her feet, nervously shifting. “I want my bear to say I love you, Princess but it has to be in your voice, or it won’t be the same.”

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