Page 13 of Hearing Little Hadley

“Master Finn, can we go play in the indoor playground?”

“Do you want to go do that, Peeps?”

Hadley nodded.

“Then yes, that sounds so fun. Let’s go.”

Derek slapped him on the back. “I know I’ve given you a lot to think about. I’m always around if you need to talk it out with someone.”

He’d given Finn several viewpoints he hadn’t considered. Finn had been so confident he was doing the right thing for Hadley, but now he wasn’t so sure at all.

Chapter Six

Finn held Hadley’s hand as she walked along beside him. She looked absolutely adorable in her red Christmas sweater monogrammed with her name in green and matching green leggings with red polka dots. He imagined she would get a lot of business for her clothing store once she left the Ranch. She wore soft brown fuzzy boots and a denim jacket with her name on it. Even cuter was the pink dinosaur backpack she wore.

“I want you to be a good girl for Nanny J today, okay?”

Hadley nodded.

“If she tells you to clean up your toys, or come to the carpet for carpet time, I want you to do it, understand?”

She nodded again.

He was really only telling her these things so she was in Little space and didn’t have time to overthink or overanalyze everything. She was a good girl and he knew he would get a good report when he came back to pick her up.

“If you’re a good girl, we will go down to the giftshop and you can pick out three things.”

She perked up at the idea of being allowed to pick out some goodies. Her reaction to him spoiling her was adorable andironic considering she could probably buy out the store if she wanted to.

“Hadley!” a familiar voice yelled.

Both Finn and Hadley turned and smiled when they saw Sadie running toward them.

“Did you have a good first night?”

Hadley nodded.

“We did, thank you,” Finn added.

“I talked to Wren and Master Travis said we could go visit the turkeys tomorrow afternoon if you wanted.”

Hadley looked up at Finn.

“That’s good for us.”

Hadley gave a grin so big, Finn knew he’d spend the rest of his life trying to earn it again.

“Okay, how about after school? We can meet by the stables?”

Hadley clapped before catching herself and stopping. Her face was flushed from embarrassment and a fresh wave of emotion washed over Finn. He hurt so badly for her.

Sadie must have noticed and read the situation before she jumped up and down, clapping too. “Yes, I’m so excited!”

“We’re both very excited, thank you, Sadie,” I said, hoping Santa brought the little sweetheart everything on her list this year.

“No problem, see you tomorrow!” the Little yelled as she took off running down the hall.

Finn chuckled when he saw a woman with a long black skirt and starched shirt scold her. He laughed again when the woman held her hand out and Sadie begrudgingly spit her gum into it.

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