Chapter Seven
Beck
“I’m so nervous.”
“Why,” my best friend sighed and not for the first time today. I think I was making Jobe crazy. “You’ve talked to them on the phone many times.”
“I know, but meeting Daddy’s family in person is a big deal.” Right? It had to be, or so I guessed.
“You’re overthinking it. Just be yourself and they’ll love you. You know you’re adorkable. Now come on, I have to get this new line of littles wear done and submitted before you leave for your trip to Cali.”
Overthinking…the only time I didn’t was when I played with my toys. Ugh…I needed a tea party break.
On autopilot, and far too comfortably, I stood there in nothing but my undies while Jobe dressed me in outfit after outfit, making adjustments where he saw fit. It was kinda like being in a hazy dream state.
“Okay, what do you think about this one?”
“Huh?”
“This is my first try at making an adult onesie. Tell me how it feels.”
“Hmm,” I bent over and the snaps stayed snapped and the material moved comfortably with me. “I like it. It doesn’t bunch or pinch me. Did they really tell you that you had to submit two of everything? That’s a lot of work, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Jobe reached down and unsnapped it.
“But if they pick up the line it’ll be more than worth it.
Okay, let’s try the crop top next.” Over my head it went, then shorts and whatever else he made.
My brain wasn’t in the game today and I missed my Daddy.
I’d been with Jobe and Daddy Stanley for three days now with two more to go.
Daddy called each night and read me a story, but it was so much better when I got to curl up with him while he read to me.
Stupid passport.
“You are so not with me today, Beck. Set up your tea party and I’ll get your sippy cup and cookies.” I felt bad, Jobe was paying me for this, but my brain was all over the place and not where it should be.
I need my Daddy.
“Beck, honey, what’s wrong?” Jobe hurried to my side and pulled me onto his lap as soon as he sat the cup down.
“I-I’m messing,” sob, “everything,” sob, “up.”
“Oh. My. Goddess. And they say I’m the drama queen,” Jobe rolled his eyes and grinned.
“Sweetie, you haven’t messed anything up.
” Jobe reached over and pulled a tissue from the box on his desk.
“Blow.” He wadded it up after I did and made a yucky face and tossed it in the trashcan.
“There’s my sweet BFF,” he said when I giggled. “Now, explain.”
“I just…” I huffed, frustrated with myself. “You pay me to model and I’m off chasing squirrels. I’m meeting Daddy’s family and am afraid they won’t like me. I finally have a family of my own and I’m afraid of fucking it up. I have so much to live for after never having anything at all.”
“One,” he raised a stern finger, “you’ve modeled just fine for me and this week I’ve worked you hard since you were already here.
Two, there is no way in the world they won’t love you like we do.
Three, I can’t believe you just said fucking,” I giggled again.
“You hate cursing, so that tells me this runs deeper than tears. And four, you will never lose us as your family. We love you and all your adorkableness.”
More giggles, but at least I was feeling better. “I don’t think that’s a real word.”
“Neither is adorkable but it fits us so it’s staying,” he hugged me tighter. “Now, I think a tea party is just the break we need and maybe you can nap on the bean bag chair while I finish up afterwards.”
Bun-Bun and Daddy Bear were already tucked in and waiting patiently for me to join them under the super soft blankie Jobe bought me.
“’Kay.”
We moved over to my little table and chair set, it was so funny to see Jobe in the tiny chair. “Um, I don’t think you have wine at a tea party?”
He took a sip of his and sighed. “The hell I don’t. If I’m putting carbs into this finely tuned machine, then I’m washing them down with a shot of vino. Now hush up, serve the cookies and drink your chocolate milk,” Jobe winked.
Jobe was Mr. Sassy Pants, but I loved him to the moon and back.
“Why so sad, Bunny?” Daddy asked me during our nightly phone call.
“I dunno.”
“Are you fibbing to your Daddy? Did something happen?”
“No, nothing like that. Jobe said I’m just being a worry wort.
” I knew Daddy wouldn’t give up until I spilled the deets.
“I’m not myself this week. I keep messing up, even though Jobe says I’m not, and I’m super obsessed about your family not liking me.
Then I’ll lose you and…and…” And the sads hit and more tears fell. “Stupid tears.”
“Sweetheart, if you messed up, you and I both know Jobe would call you out on it. So, the fact that he said you didn’t really means that you didn’t.
As far as my family goes, I wish I could erase those thoughts from your head.
They already adore you and we’ve had this conversation a couple of times already, but nothing Daddy says seems to help.
Besides, if, and that’s an if that isn’t real, if they didn’t, there is nothing, and I mean nothing in this world, that will take me away from you. ”
What’s wrong with me? Why am I so dang insecure? If anything ruined our relationship it would be me and my inability to believe I was worth loving.
“Bunny, did I lose you?”
“Sorry Daddy, I was stuck in my rambling brain. Can we have story time now?” Not that I’d sleep through the night without Daddy by my side or my mind working overtime. But at least I’d get to hear his voice for a little while longer.
“Tonight, I’m reading a new story called, When Bunny hopped into his life.
Once upon a time, there was a very sad daddy who worked all the time to forget how badly his heart hurt.
One day, Daddy’s friend called and invited him out to dinner.
Daddy hemmed, and hawed, contemplating if it was worth the effort to get dressed.
Finally, in the end he decided to go. He was happy for his friend and looked forward to meeting his friend’s new boy.
Then out of the car stepped the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. ”
Was this new story about us?
“This little bunny hopped into this lonely daddy’s life and right into his heart where he’ll stay forever.”
“I’m that bunny, Daddy!”
“Yes, you are, sweetheart and there is nothing and no one who will ever take my bunny away from me.”
Daddy always had the right words to fix my sads.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too, Bunny, with my whole heart. Sweet dreams, my love. Daddy will be there holding you soon.”
Two more sleeps until that was true.
“Goodnight, Goldie,” I turned off the light on her travel tank. “Daddy said he will be here soon to get us.” Our knight in Daddy armor. That was funny ‘cause Daddy’s last name was Knight.
Jobe checked the messages on his phone and smiled. Must’ve been from his daddy. “Okay, let’s get this last one fitted, then we can do a show for Daddy.”
“With music and dancing?” I missed dancing. Not for yucky men and tips, but just in general. Sure, I danced around the house but mostly for myself. When music played my body had a mind of its own. He-he, that was funny to think.
“Absolutely. The hallway will be your runway, then you’ll stop in front of the living room where he’ll be waiting.” He made a couple of adjustments to the dungaree overall shorts I had on with cute little bunnies and eggs and poofs of grass that were printed all over them.
“These are so cute. I want to buy a pair if I can.”
“Hmm, we’ll see. Okay, Squirt, let’s roll.”
Jobe queued up the app on his phone that was tied in with their Bluetooth sound system and I danced my way down the hall and stopped right where he told me to. As I turned and opened my eyes there sat not one, but two daddies.
“Daddy!” I squealed and launched myself at him. He caught me mid-air and swung me around.
“I missed you so much, Bunny.”
He kissed all over my face and I giggled so hard I almost forgot to breathe. “Me too, Daddy. I didn’t sleep good at all.”
Daddy stood me up and eyed my outfit. “Now this is beyond adorable. Nicely done, Jobe.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Jobe curtsied. “We aim to please at Worthy designs and hope our new Knight Littles Collection does well.”
“Wait, what? That’s Daddy’s last name.”
“It is,” Jobe winked at me. “No one better than a daddy to a little to help curate designs made just for them.”
“What does that mean, exactly?” I was so confused. Did Daddy quit his job and go into business with Jobe? I thought he loved what he did.
“What that means, my love, is not only did you model a new line of little clothing, but you now own a piece of each design.”
“All the clothes I modeled are for me?”
“Well,” Jobe said, “One of each. The second set are submissions for the new line. Hopefully, they like them. I have a presentation to give on Monday, and all your modeling pictures will be on the big screen for them to see while they pick apart the samples.”
“Squee!” I dove for Jobe, then back to Daddy, then back to Jobe. I was so excited. “I’m so happy for you. And for me. They were so comfy and cute and fun!”
“Every piece was designed with you in mind, Bunny.” Back in Daddy’s arms I went. “Does this mean Daddy works with you now?”
Daddy chuckled. “No, my love. I merely paid for the materials so you could have special clothes just for you and as part of the deal Jobe decided to name the line after us.”
Us? What was I missing.
“Your one-piece bunny suit was a big win too. They’ve asked me to make them in various animals and in a few different configurations. So, after you do the whole meet the family scene, we will be hard at work.”
“As will I,” Daddy sighed. “The merger meeting went very well and while there will be additional hours for me to put in, I promise not to work any later than you two do. Spending time with my Bunny comes first.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” It was nice to finally come first instead of being an oh, yeah, guess we better feed him too, last one thought of again.
“Let’s get you packed up and head home, Bunny. We’re leaving for Cali in the morning.”
Ugh…could’ve done without that.
Daddy and Daddy Stanley were talking so Jobe and I went back to his office so I could get my stuffies.
“Hey, trust me, this weekend will be great, I promise.”
“Have you met them before?” Jobe was way too sure about this.
“No, but let’s just say I have a good feeling about it.”
There was no use freaking out, it was happening whether I wanted it to or not.
We got all my stuff together, then I hugged and thanked Jobe and Daddy Stanley for everything, and we headed home.
“Bunny, you can’t still be worried about my family.”
“A little bit. More confused about you and Jobe going into business together. I guess, I just don’t understand what it means. I thought you liked your job?”
“I love my job and I’m not going into business with Jobe,” Daddy winked at me. “Right now, I’ll have to go into the office every day for a couple of weeks, but after that I plan to hire a new manager so I can step back and have more time with you.”
“Really?” Did he answer my question? Wait, what did I ask him exactly?
“Really. What’s the use in having a partner if you spend all your time away from them?”
I was someone’s partner. Not just a boy to a daddy or a little with a daddy but a real-life grown-up partner. Now it was time to act like one and quit whining about meeting Daddy’s family.
“Help Daddy take the bags in then I have a surprise for you.”
I loved Daddy’s surprises. They were the best.
“Are you ready?” he asked as he put his suitcase in our closet.
“Yes, Daddy.”
He stopped in front of the playroom door and unlocked it. “Surprise!”
“It’s done! It’s done!” I ran inside and spun around, taking it all in.
“Look Daddy, look, a bunny hopscotch mat. One, two,” I hopped across the squares.
“Oh. My. God. Bunny footprints, look Daddy!” there were little bunny toe beans all over the floor, up over the walls, and on two of the walls the most cutest pictures were painted.
“Daddy! Daddy! There’s a big bunny holding a little bunny’s hands and the little bunny’s eyes match mine! ”
“Yes, my love. On purpose. One of my painters is an artist and designed and painted it just for you. Do you like it?”
“I love it! Look at all the toys.” Bins lined the shelves and I couldn’t wait to dig into them. “Daddy, you did too much.” There was a cute table in the shape of a bunny head and the seats where you parked your tushies were shaped like the pads of their feet, toe beans included.
“Sweetheart, there is never too much where you’re concerned. You have a dresser for your little clothes, and the new ones Jobe made you will fit nicely in it. You can hang the dungarees and your costumes in the closet. Now you have your own special space within our house.”
“Like you have your office?”
Daddy laughed, “Kind of, but your room is way more fun than my office is.”
“Can we get more pull-ups, Daddy.” I’d meant to ask a few times but forgot and I’d been out for a while.
Sometimes I was too tired and didn’t feel like using the big boy potty, but Daddy and I hadn’t ever talked about me actually using them before.
Blurting it out now was just sorta how I did things.
Jobe called it without a brain-mouth filter.
“Absolutely, sweetheart. Why don’t you play while daddy gets our laundry done and our bags repacked for our trip tomorrow.”
I ran over and hugged him. “Thank you, Daddy. I love it and I love you.”
“Ditto, little Bunny. Now, go play and have fun.”