Page 26 of His Little Garnet

ChapterEight

Chadka

My goodness my Little girl is stubborn. It’s been a week since our big talk on the morning she first got her voice. She hasn’t done anything blatantly defiant. She takes her bottles when I offer them to her. She doesn’t say a word when I change her. She lets me hold her and rock her and even read to her.

But she’s quiet, reserved, and inside her head. She’s stubborn. I know she heard me. She’s thinking about everything I’ve said. Processing in her own way.

We have a new problem though. She’s not doing what she needs to in order to get stronger. When I place her on the floor on a blanket in the living room, she just lies there. She should be rolling over and trying to come up onto her arms and knees by now. She should be crawling and starting to furniture surf.

I’m a doctor. I know all of this. I’ve personally seen to most of the other Little girls who live in my community. I know the timetable. If I were any other Papi, I would take her to the doctor. But in our case, I am the doctor.

I do have a partner though. Thabo. Olivia hasn’t met him yet because I haven’t taken her out of the house. Not even into the clinic that is attached to the house off the front. It’s conveniently linked between my home and Thabo’s.

It’s time to take her out of her comfort zone. I’ve let this go on long enough. I don’t think she’s depressed. I think she’s obstinate. Maybe forcing her to meet other people will help shake her out of her funk.

I also haven’t pierced her skin since that day. I did it to remind her what affect I will have on her when my saliva gets under her skin. It worked. She remembered. I could see the affects in her wide eyes and open mouth. She said nothing, but when I set her in her bouncy seat a few minutes later, she spent quite a bit of time squirming and fidgeting. Her pretty nipples were hard for the rest of the day too.

It's morning. I’ve fed her and changed her and taken her vitals like I do every day. Now I’m leaning against the kitchen counter drinking a smoothie and watching her lie on the floor where she makes no attempt to roll over or even lift her arms and legs to stretch them.

She’s adorable. Every inch of her. But I want her to thrive, mentally and physically. I also want to know what in the universe she wants to read so badly that she doesn’t want me to know about it? My curiosity is piqued. I’ll eventually find out, of course, but for now I’m left wondering.

Time to take action. I’ve spoken to Thabo and let him know I’m coming into the office today and bringing Olivia. This part isn’t odd. I have every intention of eventually returning to my practice at the same level I worked before I left over a year ago to find my mate. However, my Little girl will go with me.

I haven’t explained all of this to her yet, but we need to establish a routine soon because it’s Thabo’s turn to head to Earth. We flipped for it. We couldn’t both be gone at the same time, but I won the proverbial coin toss. I know my partner is chomping at the bit to go find his own mate though. I won’t keep him waiting much longer.

With a deep breath, I place my empty cup in the sink, shove off the counter, and head for my Little girl. “Guess what, Baby girl? We’re going to my office today. It’s time for Papi to get back to work.”

Her eyes go wide as saucers, and she squirms in my arms when I lift her. “What? I don’t want to, Papi.”

I roll her chest against mine and rub her back. “It’s time, Olivia,” I inform her firmly.

“Where’s your office?”

“It’s connected to my home.” I point to a door catty corner from the front door. One we haven’t gone through yet in ten days. Without hesitating, I head that way, open the door, and step into the short hallway that leads to the waiting room.

Olivia wiggles in my grasp. “No. Please.” She tips her head back. “Please can I have a shirt?” She bats her eyes at me. “People will see me naked.”

I smile and kiss her head. I’ve been too soft with her, and it’s done her a disservice. “We don’t own shirts, Baby girl. No one else will be wearing one either.”

“No one?”

I nod. “Not a single person.” I step into the waiting room. We’re not open yet, so no one is here, but Thabo is standing at the front desk with Jeikin our receptionist.

Thabo looks up and smiles broadly. “Hi. So glad you’re here. We have a full patient load today.” He’s coming toward me the entire time.

Olivia has her head buried against my shoulder.

“You must be Olivia. I’m so glad to meet you.” He glances at me, and I nod before he strokes her leg.

“Baby girl, can you say hi to my partner?” I encourage. I’m winging it here. If she’s defiant, I’m going to have to discipline her. Enough is enough.

She slowly turns her head—only her head—and glances shyly at Thabo. “Nice to meet you.” And then her head goes back into the crook of my neck.

I almost laugh. I can see Thabo’s eyes are dancing too.

Thabo clears his throat. He’s well aware of my issues. I’ve filled him in entirely. “Since you’re not fully mobile yet, I’ve set up a stroller for you. It will prop you up so you can see all around you. I bet it will be much more fun than spending all day alone with your boring Papi inside the house.” He’s teasing, but Olivia flinches.

“Papi isn’t boring,” she whispers.

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