Page 2 of Hearing Little Hadley

“Be a good girl. If you need me, text me, okay?” Hadley hated to text because people expected more than one word answers and emojis were so confusing. Like the upside- down smiley face. What did it really mean? She was compliant, though, and if people asked her to communicate that way, she would.

Flipping, she found herokaycard.

“What’s the rule?” he asked again.

Flipping through her cards once more, she found the one labeledno.It had an image of a big red x on it.

“That’s right. We don’t shut the door. Why?”

Findingsafe,she held it up.This time an image of a little girl sitting with her hands in her lap was displayed.

“Correct. I want to keep you safe. If something happens like you get hurt, or even if you drop into a very small headspace, I may not be able to hear you if the door is shut. Leave it open for me, okay?”

She tappedokayagain.

“Good girl,” he praised. “Are you a big girl or a Little girl right now?”

Little.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. How about you come with me? We can even stop by the candy store on the way home.”

She perked up at the idea of her favorite freeze-dried candies.

Yes.

“Good deal, Peeps. Grab some shoes and I’ll help you put them on.”

She ran to her closet and grabbed her favorite black fuzzy boots. The outside was covered in the sparkliest glitter.Hesitating, she reached up and grabbed a black sweater withNaughty or Nicestitched in red and green on it. The sweater was one of her newer designs. After rushing back to Finn, she obediently let him put it on her before she plopped down on the floor and lifted a foot. Finn worked first one boot and then the other onto her feet before stepping back.

“Such a festive Little girl,” he teased. “Do you want to bring Blu Marble?” he asked, referring to her baby doll.

She nodded and he grabbed her from the dollhouse.

He held out his hand and once she took it, he helped Hadley up, keeping hold of it even once she was standing.

He did things like that for her often. He led her from the playroom, out the front door and down the steps. “Hold the railing, Peeps,” he reminded.

She did, enjoying the way the velvet Christmas bows she’d placed on the metal felt in her hands. She was rewarded with a soft “good girl” for her obedience.

Finn helped her into the vehicle and buckled her seatbelt. “We’re going to have a good afternoon, Hadley. We’re going to do whatever it takes to erase those yucky feelings. You’re a good girl and you deserve all the good things.”

Chapter Two

Finn Williams parked the car in front of the brightly painted candy shop, smiling when he heard Hadley gasp at their new inflatable Santa. He hoped he could cheer her up even if it was just a tiny bit. Fury rolled through him when he’d read Noelle’s messages. He’d always suspected she might have only befriended Hadley because of her financial status.

Hadley’s parents, both actors had been killed in a plane crash when Hadley was just eighteen. She’d inherited all of their assets and would be set for the rest of her life. People knew that and were jealous when they saw a twenty-three-year-old woman who didn’t blink when it came to finances. Noelle had wanted to grow her online platform and Finn was sure she’d hoped Hadley’s money and influence would do that for her.

He helped her out of the car and smiled when she obediently held his hand. She really was a good girl. She held her beloved baby doll under her arm.

“What kind of candy are we getting today, Peeps?”

He chuckled as she pulled him along. She tugged open the heavy door and beelined for the back wall where he knew her favorites were.

He took a plastic bag from the shelf and held it open while she scooped out the freeze-dried Skittles, smiling as she tried to mostly scoop the blue ones out. When she was done, she set the scoop back into the container and waited for him to tie the bag.

“Anything else?” he asked.

She tapped her chin as she thought. Brightening, she flipped through her cards and held upice cream.

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