Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you sure that’s all we need to take with us?” I ask the following Saturday morning as we’re about to leave the apartment. It’s o’dark-thirty, and I’m excited but also more nervous than I’ve ever been in my life.
I’ve been with Eli for two weeks, and it seems like a year. We’ve spent every single moment together when we weren’t working. I know him better than I’ve ever known anyone in my life.
We’re at the door, and the only thing Daddy has with us is a backpack. One of the items in it is my laptop. He says he’ll get me a new one to keep at his cabin on the island, but for this first trip, we’re taking mine.
Apparently he does not travel back and forth with clothes.
He has what he needs for himself in both places.
In addition, he assures me he has everything he could possibly need for me already in his cabin.
All of the homes on the island are equipped with nurseries.
Mine has always been there ready and waiting for Daddy to meet me and bring me home.
I spoke to my boss earlier in the week. It made me very nervous, but I told him I had a boyfriend, and I was hoping to travel with him out of town half the time.
He said he didn’t mind a bit where I work from as long as I’m logged in and ready to take calls and manage patient intake from my location.
I know I’m a valued employee and patients report that they find me more than pleasant and helpful.
That has always been a confidence booster for me.
Maybe there will come a time in the future when I decide I don’t want to do it any longer, but for now, it would be far too stressful for me to also quit my job on top of all my other life changes.
The only thing I’ll need to worry about is being always partially in Little space while I’m working. It’s not something I’ve been able to manage, but I’ve gradually been changing my ways for the past two weeks with Daddy’s help, so I’m confident I can do it.
This is a huge step for me. I’m going way out of my comfort zone.
I’m a hermit. So introverted that I’d rather not leave my apartment.
For some reason, I’m really good at my job and don’t mind taking and making phone calls even though most introverts would say there’s no way they can talk on the phone.
For me, it’s different. My brain tells me that talking on the phone is not the same as looking someone in the eye. I go into my head and pretend I’m someone entirely different. After all, the patient can’t see me. The phone gives me confidence I don’t ordinarily have. I hide behind the anonymity.
Daddy yanks me out of my musings when he tucks his finger under my chin and tips my head back. “Everything you could possibly need is already on the island, sweet girl. We have Archie in the backpack. You okay?”
I nod quickly. “Yeah. I think so.” I wring my fingers together in front of me. I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and I’m well-aware that the jeans are not going with us. They will stay in Daddy’s car at the port.
No matter how excited I am, it’s also scary and unnerving.
I’ve been isolated here with Eli for two weeks.
There will be a lot of people at the port, on the ferry, and all over the island.
I’m not very good with people, but Daddy is aware.
He will do everything in his power to make sure I’m comfortable.
“Ready, Grace?” he asks.
“Yes, Sir.”
He takes my hand and leads me out of the apartment. There’s very little chance anyone will see us on the way to the car because it’s very early in the morning. Plus it’s a weekend. Most people are not out of bed.
Not that I care if anyone sees us. Why would I?
The most handsome man who lives in the building is mine.
No one knows that because they’ve never seen us together, and if they did, they would do a doubletake.
The thought makes me giggle inside. Imagine people in our building seeing us holding hands or kissing.
The majority of the people who live here have probably never noticed me a single time.
I’m certain all of them have seen Daddy.
He walks with his head held high, and he’s memorable.
I keep my face down and move like a mouse.
Daddy threads his fingers with mine as we enter the elevator, and he never releases me until he opens the door to his car to help me climb in. He even reaches across to buckle me before putting the backpack behind my seat and rounding to his side.
As he starts the engine, he tells me, “Most Daddies have car seats for their Littles, but I didn’t want you behind me today. I want to be able to hold your hand while I drive.”
He grabs my fingers and squeezes them. “You’re nervous. Let’s talk through what’s got you in a dither on the way, okay?”
I nod. There’s nothing to talk through, really. I just have jitters. It’s normal for me. I’m embarking on something new, and even though I’m fully committed and want to do this, change is hard. It’s scary.
“Ask me every single question that comes to mind, Little one,” he adds while he pulls out of the parking garage.
“I’m mostly worried about the daycare. What if the other Littles don’t like me?”
“Ah, sweetie. You’re the nicest person I know. Everyone will like you. I know you have trouble meeting new people. I’ll be with you every step of the way. I promise I won’t just drop you off at the daycare and walk away. I’ll go in with you and make sure you’re fully acclimated before I leave.”
Daddy offered to set me up on a playdate with his friend Tate’s Little girl, Sophia, but I turned him down. I didn’t want to spend any of the last fourteen days with other people.
“Next question,” he encourages.
“Are you serious that all of the bathrooms on the island are locked?”
“Yep.”
“What if we’re out somewhere, and I need to go number two?”
He glances at me. “If that’s a concern or becomes a problem, I’ll give you a suppository first thing in the morning to clean you out before we ever leave the house.”
“What if I have a panic attack at the daycare?”
“Then I will race down the street to help you through it. If you’re not ready to face other Littles at the daycare, you can spend all your time shut in your own private room working. I’ll walk you to the room myself. It’s already reserved. I’ll come check on you during my breaks and at lunch.”
He has an answer for everything. I keep bombarding him with questions, and he patiently responds to all of them. I have never once seen Daddy flustered or upset with me. He’s the most steadfast person I know.
I’m far too stressed to fall asleep during the drive. As if he senses I need grounding, Daddy keeps talking to me the entire time. When we finally pull into the parking lot at the port, I’m not as nervous as I was earlier.
Daddy parks, rounds the car to my side, helps me out, opens the back door, and stands me in the opening.
I glance around to see if anyone is watching while he squats down to unbutton my jeans and pull them over my hips. I hold my breath when he lifts me up to lie me back on the seat and try not to think about my exposure to the universe as he removes my sandals, jeans and panties.
I will him to diaper me quickly so no one sees my pussy. Even though I’m aware that eventually he will undoubtedly expose every inch of me to strangers, I’d prefer that not start this morning.
Daddy makes quick work diapering me and replacing my sandals. The T-shirt I’m wearing is the one I’ll wear all day. He didn’t put a bra on me when he dressed me at his apartment.
“Deep breaths, Baby girl,” he encourages as he lifts me out of the car and stands me on my feet.
He grabs the backpack, shuts the door, and tips my chin so I have to look at him.
“Remember, every Little getting on this ferry will have either already changed or will do so in the bathroom on the ferry. By the time we dock, you will not stand out. I promise.”
“It’s still strange,” I grumble.
He bends down and kisses me. “And I still love you.”
“I love you, too, Daddy.”
“I bet by the end of the day you will have made a friend along the way. You just wait and see.”
I hold Daddy’s hand tightly while we pick up our tickets and board the ferry. I keep my head down so I don’t have to make eye contact with anyone. Same as I do at home. This is no different. Except it’s totally different. I’m wearing a diaper and so are half the people around me.
Daddy leads me to the upper deck of the ferry, and as soon as we take off, I’m so mesmerized by the view of the ocean around me that my nerves ease.
In addition, most of the Littles around me are wearing a harness like the one I know Daddy has in the backpack, so when he pulls it out, I’m mentally prepared.
What surprises me is that I feel calmer as soon as he fastens it around me. This is unexpected. He showed it to me at home. We’ve talked about it. But he’s never strapped me in it. Perhaps he should have. Then I wouldn’t have any anxiety about it. I feel tethered to him, and I like it.
I spend the entire trip to the island standing between Daddy’s legs, letting the wind blow my pigtails around and loving the way the air hits my face.
I don’t look directly at anyone on either side of me.
I’m at peace in my own bubble with Daddy’s hands on my hips and the tight tug of the leash at my back.
This is going to be a wild adventure.