Page 21 of The Captain's Little Girl

“Can’t it come out yet?” she fussed.

“No. Tell me about your name, baby girl,” Mark suggested, as he swirled the thick thermometer inside her to place it a bit deeper before cupping his hand over the end, resting it on her bottom.

His treatment made her feel even littler. Cricket talked fast, trying to distract herself. “My mom traveled to China when she was a kid with my grandparents. In Asia, they think crickets bring luck and they love their music. She always had glorious adventures traveling. I think that was her favorite trip ever.”

“So, she named you Cricket because it brought back wonderful memories.”

“Yes. And she thought it would be adorable.”

“I think so, too.” Mark leaned over to kiss her forehead.

“Can it come out yet?”

Mark checked his watch and promised, “Soon.”

“Is this a sticker?” Cricket asked before reaching out to test her theory.

“No, Hope painted it for you.”

“Hope did? That’s so sweet. And sneaky. She didn’t tell me at all.” Cricket filed that away to discuss the next time she saw Hope.

“She didn’t want to ruin the surprise. According to the note I found this morning tucked in the vegetable bin in the refrigerator, each of the Littles left you something in the nursery. They wanted to welcome you when I came to my senses.”

“When did they do that?” Cricket asked, trying to look around, but finding herself stopped by Mark’s firm hand holding her in place.

“Settle down. Nothing will disappear before you find it. It appears that they did more than come trash my perishables during our last trip.”

“They’re sneaky,” Cricket said with a grin. She loved them all.

“Their daddies have their hands full. Just like me,” Mark said, patting her side. He removed the thermometer and rotated it to check her temperature. “Perfect.”

He helped her roll onto her back and leaned over to snag a padded item from under the drawer.

“A diaper? I’m a big girl,” she protested as he fastened it quickly around her.

“Most of the time.” Mark released the belt and lifted her into his arms. Before she could protest any more, he carried her from the room back to the kitchen. “Take a seat here, baby girl, and I’ll make you some scrambled eggs.”

Cricket wiggled experimentally on the chair where he’d placed her. It wasn’t uncomfortable. She looked up when he turned from washing his hands to meet his gaze directly. “I don’t have to wear this all the time, right?” Cricket asked, pressing on the padding now wrapped around her hips.

“Only when you need to,” Mark answered before he snagged her T-shirt from the floor and help her into it. She watched as he pulled those revealing shorts back on before opening the refrigerator and pulling out a gallon container.

“I have to drink milk?” she asked, wrinkling her nose.

“Milk is good for a little girl,” he confirmed.

She watched him pour a large glass before asking, “With chocolate?”

“If you’d like.”

“Yes, please,” Cricket answered politely.

As her daddy moved skillfully around the kitchen, she could tell that he wasn’t a bachelor that lived on carry-out. Mark knew what he was doing.

Her diaper crinkled when she moved, grabbing her attention. She pressed again on the diaper, trying to decide how she felt about it. The others seemed to have gotten used to wearing theirs. River didn’t wear one at work. The customers would see it easily under the brief black shorts they wore with their Harbor T-shirts. She suspected the others didn’t wear theirs while out of the care of their daddies either.

“See if this is chocolatey enough,” Mark asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Cricket lifted the heavy glass and took a sip. “Umm! It’s good.”

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