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To my surprise and delight, the closet in my nursery—which is roughly the same size as my actual bedroom in my apartment—is already stocked with plenty of clothes, as promised. According to Mommy, Mr. Stone had my measurements from when he had to order me uniforms so Mommy and Daddy ordered me a few things to get my wardrobe started.
But now, I get to go pick out a bunch of new clothes with them, which I am actually very excited about. Not only do I love Solene’s clothes, but she is one of my favorite people on the island. She’d only been here a couple weeks before Mr. Stone hired me, and since I didn’t have a Mommy or Daddy of my own at the time, Miss Myra let me spend plenty of time hanging out at their place when I wasn’t working.
Which means I’ll somehow need to keep up my ruse, without Miss Myra figuring out what I’m up to.
Easy-peasy.
Not.
But those worries fly out the window when we pull up to the curb in front of Solene’s. Excitement takes over and I dive for the door handle.
Only to be yanked back at the last minute against a hard, muscular chest.
“What do you think you’re doing, little girl?” Daddy growls in my ear.
“Getting out of the car.” What does it look like I’m doing?
Across from us, Mommy frowns, her disappointment stabbing at me like a knife. “Little girls don’t get out of the car without a grownup. It’s too dangerous.”
Right. I’m meant to be a Little girl. Too Little and too irresponsible to take care of myself.
Ugh.
“Sorry,” I mumble, letting every bit of sulkiness I feel at the moment color my tone and hoping they’ll assume it’s just from being scolded and not because I hate this charade I’ve entered into.
Mommy’s expression softens. “It’s all right, angel. You didn’t know any better. But now you do, so if you touch that door handle again you will be punished. Understood?”
“Yes, Mommy.”
“Good girl.” The door opens, flooding the interior of the car with sunlight and Mommy grins. “Come on, let’s go find you some pretty new clothes.”
My excitement, which had nearly vanished during their lecture, comes flooding back as Mommy takes my hand and helps me out of the car. It’s all I can do not to go running into the store, but the last thing I want is a spanking in front of Solene and Miss Myra so I stay by Mommy’s side as we wait for Daddy to climb out of the car so we can go inside.
“Kerry!”
Solene’s happy squeal splits the air as soon as we step into the shop, and a colorful blur rushes at me, nearly knocking me over as she tackles me with a hug.
“Careful, little elf,” Miss Myra scolds gently, but when I look up her eyes are dancing with amusement. “You don’t want to hurt your friend.”
“Sorry.” Pulling back, Solene smiles sheepishly. “I just got excited. You haven’t been by in forever.”
Behind Solene, her Mommy rolls her eyes. “She came over for a play date two weeks ago, Solene.”
“Exactly. For-ev-er.”
Slipping easily into my Little space, the way I always seem to be able to with Solene, I giggle and grab her hand. “Show me all the new designs I’ve missed since I haven’t been here in forever.”
“Okay!”
At the last second, I remember I didn’t come here alone and I turn to look up at my chaperones. “Can I go with Solene?”
“Of course, angel,” Mommy says. “But be careful. If you need help with anything, let one of us know.”
“I will, Mommy!”
“Good girl.”
With permission granted, Solene and I hurry toward the back of the shop where Solene’s workspace is. Slipping inside, we shut the door behind us and Solene whirls on me, her face bright with anticipation.
