“Could I look at the rest of my gifts?”
“Absolutely!” he said, standing and clapping his hands.
As badly as Palmer wanted to look, she couldn’t. Anxiety and fear weighed her down so much that she couldn’t lift her head.
Thankfully Beau understood–he always understood. He startled her by picking her up, that time settling her on his hip. Palmer didn’t know that she’d ever been held like that.
“Wrap your legs around me, pretty baby.”
She did.
He supported her with an arm under her bottom.
“Let’s see,” he said, looking over the items. “Oh, let’s start here.” He picked up a pink dinosaur backpack with lavender straps. Tucked neatly into the side pocket was a matching water bottle.
“It’s so cute!” Palmer loved it!
“Well, I think since you’re my Little girl, maybe you’d have lots more fun at preschool, so I got you a pretty backpack for your first day.”
“Preschool?” Palmer’s eyes widened.
“Preschool,” Beau confirmed.
“Because I’m a Little girl?”
“Because you're Daddy’s Little girl,” Beau said, kissing her nose. “And that’s absolutely okay.”
“Is okay,” she agreed.
“And I thought you might like a pacifier especially if you’re nervous.” He pulled out two from the package. “I tried to match them to your blanket.”
Palmer put her hands to her cheeks in the most adorable way. “They’re so pretty!”
He picked up a tan and brown puppy dog. “I can clip one to this lovie so you can hold something soft while you suck and I can attach the other to this beaded clip and secure it to your shirt so you don’t lose it.”
“One for your room and one for Palmer’s room.” Master Beau was so smart.
“Well, actually I was thinking maybe you could move into Daddy’s room.”
“Move in?” Palmer blinked, certain she’d misheard him.
“Yes, pretty baby. Move in with me.”
He seemed more amused by her bewilderment than annoyed. She was so grateful he was a patient man. “Y-you want me to… live with you?”
“I do. Very much.” He stroked his thumb across her face gently.
Excitement filled her belly. “Really?”
He chuckled. “Really.”
“But what if I’m too much? You like me right now, but I haven’t been too loud or talked too much or… or…” She trailed off as her mind tumbled over all of the ways she was bad.
Beau cupped her face in his big hands. “Hey, Palmer, look at me, baby.”
Blinking her eyes a few times so she could focus, she met his concerned gaze. “I’m sorry.” Shame heated her face. She hadn’t even moved in yet and she’d already messed up. “See, I’m so much.”
Pulling her into his chest, Beau took a seat on the edge of the bed and rubbed her back. “You’re not too much now and you’ll never be too much for the right person.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he continued, “I love the idea of you living with me.”