Page 42 of Daddy's Little Fighter
She still couldn’t believe that those people were spilling their drinks for her. Odd, but also somewhat comforting.
“Everyone spills something in their lives, some more than others, and it doesn’t stop when we grow up,” Rainey explains. “I don’t want you to ever think that when you come here, you have to be perfect and not spill. Yesterday, we had five spillages by various people. It happens.”
“It really does. There are a lot of people who don’t pay attention when they go for their drinks and accidentally knock them over,” a barista chimed in. “We don’t punish them for that. We tell them it’s okay, clean it up, and give them a new drink.”
Frankie’s shoulders dropped as she leaned into Daddy’s embrace. They were all being really supportive of her, and they didn’t even know her. She thought everyone was going to be mad with her.
“I spill all the time,” an older gentleman had his hands on his cup.
“Don’t you even think about it.” Marco stepped into the coffee shop, holding a baby.
Frankie assumed it was baby Levi, their son. He looked so happy in his arms. Just like she wanted to be right now, snuggled up in her Daddy’s arms, where she felt safe and calm.
“Everyone here is going to help clean up the mess that has been made,” Marco declared.
“And we’ll get you a new drink as well,” Rainey added.
The coffee shop customers all nodded and stood up.
“I’ll get the clean-up cloths,” the barista said.
It didn’t take them long to get everything sorted.
“Are you sure you don’t want a new drink?” Rainey asked. “You don’t even have to pay for it.”
“You didn’t let me pay for the first one,” Frankie pointed out. “But I am fine. I want to go home and snuggle with Daddy.”
Rainey placed her hand on Frankie’s arm and gave it a little squeeze. “Okay, that sounds good. You are coming out next week for our usual hangout time. I don’t want to hear it. You are coming out, even if I have to drag you out of the house. Understand?”
“She really will drag you out of the house.” Monroe giggled. “She did it to me one time.”
“Okay,” Frankie replied and smiled. “Thank you again for everything.”
She leaned into Daddy’s embrace and looked up.
“Ready to go home?” he asked.
EPILOGUE
FRANKIE
It had been a month since Frankie had gone to Rainey’s coffee shop to meet the other Littles. So much had changed in a short period of time. Once a week, she met with the other girls, and Daddy sat outside in the car or in the coffee shop as they met.
Frankie was still worried that people were going to point and make fun of her, but no one had. Some people still stared at her when she was out with Daddy, but they didn’t say anything. She was getting better at letting that go and not letting it affect her. It was hard, and she struggled with it, but Daddy was always there with her, helping her be calm and not crawl back to the house and hide.
“What are you doing?” Daddy asked as he rushed to her.
Frankie was standing outside the front door, taking in the sun.
“Are you okay?” Daddy asked. “Why are you out here alone? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I had the courage, and I didn’t want to wait and see if it would leave me,” she mumbled. “I’m sorry.”
She had finally found the strength to walk outside alone. She had thought of calling Daddy, but he was in the middle of ameeting, and she didn’t want to wait. So she just walked outside, and it feltsogood.
Freeing.
Daddy wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She melted into his embrace and let him hold her.
