Page 38 of Hearing Little Hadley

Hadley nodded.

“I’m so glad. We missed you,” Nanny J said, hugging her tight.

“She missed everyone too. She asked about her friends often,” Finn said.

Hadley had. She’d asked her Daddy to find out if Lori was Nurse MacIntosh’s Little girl. When he’d informed her that she was, indeed, Hadley felt a moment of embarrassment at what had happened in the infirmary. Her Daddy had reminded her that there was never anything to be embarrassed about when one was sick. Big or Little didn’t matter when help was needed to feel better. With that bit of wisdom tucked away, she’d relaxedand looked forward to playing with Lori and her other friends instead of fretting.

She’d also wanted to know what everyone was doing. She’d waited a long time to make friends and she didn’t want to miss one second with them.

“Hi, Hadley!” Nate said, running to the door. One firm look from the stern teacher had him skidding to a halt. “Sorry, Nanny J.”

“That is the second time today I’ve told you to stop running inside. Go,” she said, pointing to the naughty stool in the corner.

Nate begrudgingly made his way to the stool and sat down with his arms crossed.

“You would think with Santa coming in two sleeps, certain Little boys would be much better behaved.”

Finn nodded. “You would think,” he said looking at Nate. “You need to try really hard to stay on the nice list, buddy.” Hadley tried not to giggle at Nate’s worried face. She wasn’t sure he even tried to get into trouble. It just kinda found him.

Nate nodded, looking more determined.

“Hadley and I believe in you, right, Hadley?”

She nodded super big so Nate would know she was sincere.

“Daddy will be back after lunch, okay?” Finn told Hadley, before bending and pressing a kiss to her forehead. She tipped her head up and pursed her lips.

He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I love you, sweet girl.”

“Oh, we’ve had a development, huh?” Nanny J asked.

“We did. This Little one had mercy on me and agreed to be mine.”

“Good, it makes me happy to see the Ranch working its magic.”

“I’m very thankful for its magic,” Finn said.

Hadley tapped his chest three times. She loved him and wanted to make sure he knew before he left. Flipping through her cards, she tappedgoodbefore tappingday.

“I hope you have the best day too, Little one.” He pressed another kiss to her forehead, before sending her into the Caterpillars Room with a pat to her diapered bottom.

“Welcome back, Little one,” Miss Phoebe said as she helped Hadley put her backpack in a cubby and her lunch bag in the fridge.

“Did you already have breakfast?”

Hadley nodded.

“Alright, sweet girl. What would you like to do while we wait on everyone else to join us?”

Hadley pointed to the crayon basket.

“You want to color?”

She nodded.

Miss Phoebe reached up and grabbed the basket from the top of the shelf and handed it to Hadley. “Can you take this to the table and I’ll bring some coloring pages over?”

Hadley nodded and carefully carried the basket over to the table. She looked up when two men came in with a Little girl clinging to their legs.

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