Page 10 of Hearing Little Hadley

“I had a lot to learn about kink and overcome some lies I’d been told. I didn’t have any friends when I was sent here and no family to provide comfort or gain advice from. The one person I trusted had done something super bad to me, and I didn’t know what I was going to do.” Sadie reflected.

“It’s true, but things turned around for you, didn’t they, Sadie?” Derek asked.

“Yes, I found out what I really needed in my kink life and I met my Daddy and made lots of friends. I finally have a family here.”

Hadley flipped through her cards.Friend.

Sadie hesitated.

“She wants to hear more about your friends. Hadley’s hoping to make some friends too.”

“Oh. I have the best friends. Wren, Quinn, Hayleigh, Pippi, and so many others. You’re going to make the bestest friends here too! I promise.”

Hadley flipped through some more cards.Nonverbal.

“Are you asking if they’ll care that you don’t talk?”

Hadley nodded and bit into her fry.

“No, they won’t care. A good friend wouldn’t mind if you never talked. Or if you did weird things like wear your pants backward. A good friend will love you for you.”

Hadley froze on Finn’s lap and he was worried, but just a second later she relaxed and tapped,Yes.

“Hadley agrees with you,” Finn translated.

“And I know some of the Littles ones in the Caterpillars Room. They’re very nice,” Derek added.

Hadley smiled at him and nodded.

“Hadley, can I ask a personal question?”

Yes.

“Do you ever talk, or do you choose to be nonverbal all the time?” Derek asked.

Finn wished he’d asked him this privately. He didn’t like for Hadley to be put into situations where she may be uncomfortable, but too scared to tell him.

Hadley looked at him and then tapped him three times.

“Hadley is asking me to answer. She can talk and she has talked in situations where she’s comfortable, but she doesn’t care to. Talking isn’t something she’s comfortable with.”

“Thank you both for answering. I know sometimes these things are hard to discuss and please know I’m not judging in any way. I just want to make sure we take the best care of you here at Rawhide Ranch.”

Hadley nodded and ate a grape. Finn rubbed her back softly, letting her know he was here with her.

“Did you sign up for any of the Christmas things?” Sadie asked after she took a bite of her dinner.

Hadley nodded and tapped Finn again, making him chuckle. He was so damn fond of her.

“She is signed up for cookie-decorating, a carriage ride, and to be on the Reindeer Team.”

Hadley tapped his arm and then took his face in her hands, frowning. He thought over his words.

“What am I missing?” he asked her.

Pressing her forehead to his, he lifted his head and kissed her nose. “I can’t remember, Peeps, I’m trying.”

She flipped through her cards until she found a horse. She frowned as she studied it but held it up anyway.

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