Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Skarg
Mercy is completely quiet after we leave the clinic. I know it’s not because she’s upset about the doctor’s appointment. It’s the park. We’re almost there when I stop the stroller and round to the front.
Kafran squats down next to me so we’re both facing our girl. He sets a hand on her knee. “Mercy…”
She’s pale. More so than usual. Her eyes are wide, and her lips are pursed. She’s also shaking. I think she’s literally on the verge of a panic attack. Because of the park?
Mercy has made it clear on many occasions that exposing herself to other people stresses her out. It’s common for Little girls. We understand that. But her panic is more acute than most. It stems from body image issues. Totally unwarranted body image issues.
Even though Thabo just explained to her that there was nothing wrong with her, she’s unable to accept that.
We will be patient, and we won’t ignore her concerns. She owns her feelings. They deserve to be validated. However, in this instance, we’re going to have to insist she face the other Little girls at the park. It’s the only way we will be able to convince her that no one is going to judge her.
“I don’t want to go,” she sobs. “Please just take me home.”
My heart hurts for our Little girl. I hate forcing her to do this, but I know it’s for the best. Some tough love is sometimes necessary. “You need to face your fears, Baby girl.”
She shakes her head, sending her braids flying. Her sob turns into something bigger as she starts wailing. “No no no. Don’t want to.”
I glance at Kafran as she covers her face.
His brow is furrowed with the same level of concern I feel, but I know we have to be firm on this.
Mercy’s crying so hard she can’t catch her breath. Her face is pale instead of pinkened. She’s shaking violently. She’s really in a full-blown panic attack.
“No no no no no,” she keeps muttering in between sobs. Her eyes are wide, but she’s not seeing anything. She’s staring into space.
I reach out and unfasten the buckle at her waist so I can lift her out of the stroller. Standing, I snuggle her against my chest. If only she could see that she’s not large. She’s tiny compared to me and Kafran. She weighs nothing. She’s so perfect to us that it hurts for her to think otherwise.
Kafran pushes the stroller as I continue to walk toward the park.
Mercy wraps her legs around my waist and holds on tight, her body trembling as she continues to cry.
When we arrive, I sit on a bench a bit of distance from where the other Little girls currently at the park are playing. I rub her back and rock her gently. This has to be done, though it hurts me. I don’t like to see my Little girl upset like this, and I know Kafran doesn’t either.
We’ve let her burn off a lot of steam. It’s time to force her to calm down. I nod toward Kafran as he lifts one of her small hands from my neck and brings her fingers to his lips. She doesn’t fight him as he pierces every fingertip.
Eventually her body relaxes against me. “No fair,” she grumbles.
I chuckle as I pry her from the front of my body so I can settle her on my lap sideways.
Kafran opens the diaper bag tucked under the stroller and pulls out a wet cloth. He gently wipes her face. She’s still sniffling, and her eyes are bloodshot, but she’s no longer in a total panic.
“I don’t like that thing in my bottom,” she grumbles, as if she has a long list of grievances, and she’s planning to verbalize all of them.
I kiss the top of her head. “You’ll be glad we used it later when it’s time to take one of our cocks inside you, Baby girl.” I say all of that in a soft tone that doesn’t at all match the actual harsh words. Taking us in her bottom is definitely on the agenda, and I want to be sure she knows that.
She sniffles and squirms on my lap. “Don’t like it,” she repeats.
I hug her close and kiss her temple this time. “I’m going to carry you over to the sandbox now, Baby girl. I see three girls in there playing. I bet you’ll make friends with them in no time.”
“Don’t want friends,” she mutters.
“You’ll be grateful to have them one day, Little one,” Kafran adds. “You’ll get bored hanging around with no one to interact with but your old Papis. You’ll want play dates and trips to the park. Trust me.”
“I’ve been bored for years. I’m good at it,” she argues.
I smile. “But it will be so much nicer to have friends.”
When I stand, she clings to me again. At least she’s no longer screaming. I kiss her forehead as I carry her toward the sandbox.
Kafran takes her from me as we reach the three girls. It’s a smart move. It forces her to be exposed for a few seconds.
One of the Little girls with thin brown hair and big brown eyes gives me a shy wave as she glances from me to Kafran before settling her gaze on Mercy’s back. “Hi. You must be Mercy. I’m Janelle. We heard you had arrived. Do you want to play with us?”
Mercy is too polite to blatantly ignore someone, so she slowly turns her head just enough to make eye contact without exposing her front. “Hi,” she whispers.
Kafran rubs her back. “Mercy is a bit shy. It might take her a few minutes to warm up.”
Admittedly I don’t know the names of these particular Little mates. I’ll let them introduce themselves.
Janelle smiles. “Totally understand. All of us were nervous the first time we came to the park. It’s so intimidating. You have no idea who you might meet, but so far every woman I’ve met has been super kind and friendly. Why don’t you sit in the sand with us?”
I’m hoping Mercy can find the strength to give this a try. I hate for her to hide in our home and never make any friends. I won’t allow it. It would be irresponsible on my part to permit that. Kafran agrees, and he lowers Mercy to the sand, setting her on her bottom.
She whimpers as she lets go of his neck and turns to face the three smiling faces. Please let this go well.
“Your hair is so pretty. I wish I had thick hair like that,” Janelle says as she lifts one of her thin braids, rolling her eyes.
“Me, too,” says the girl next to her. Her braids are very long but also narrow. “I’m Christine, by the way. You’re so lucky. You got great hair and great boobs.” She giggles.
Blessings from heaven. Christine could not have said anything more perfect.
Christine pushes her chest out, causing the sapphires to sway. “I wasn’t sure how Ekert was even going to pierce my nipples since they’re so small,” she jokes.
“Me neither,” Janelle agrees. “I was underweight when I arrived, but even though my body has filled out, the universe did not see fit to give me bigger boobs.”
The third Little girl also giggles. “You can have half of mine. They’re too big.” She turns toward Mercy. “I’m Ava.”
Mercy fully releases Kafran and sits up taller. “Nice to meet you,” she whispers.
I know this will be one of the hardest things Kafran and I ever do, but we need to leave our Little girl in this sandbox and give her some time to bond with the others. I’m extremely confident they will help boost her self-esteem.
I’m aware there are very mean girls on Earth, but somehow Fate does not match any of them up with Eleadian mates. The bonds we form are all with kind Little girls who don’t have a cruel bone in their bodies.
Kafran and I stand. I bend over and kiss the top of Mercy’s head. “We’ll go sit on a bench and let you get to know your new friends, Baby girl.”
She tips her head back to look at me. Her eyes are wide and pleading. I suspect she’d rather we not leave her, but we must. It’s what’s best for her.
With my heart in my hands, I turn and walk away, Kafran at my side.