Page 45 of Hearing Little Hadley

Maybe she should get up just in case.She popped up off the floor and wiped her eyes.

“Are you ready to be my sweet girl now?”

She nodded.

He wiped her face with a baby wipe and kissed her forehead. “I promise tonight will be the best night ever.”

She really doubted it, but she took his hand and let him lead her out the door. She was probably going to lose Rudolph and wind up on the naughty list forever. Hadley Bright, a recipient of lumps of coal in her stocking for the rest of her life.

“You look so pretty!” Sadie yelled as she ran across the room to Hadley. Hadley giggled at the way the pigtails flew around when she ran. She really did feel so pretty tonight with her sugar cookie Christmas dress on. She’d passed out so many cards to her online store since she’d been here and already had a lot of new orders pouring in to her website.

“Sadie,” Master Derek bellowed from behind her. The Little girl froze. Her Daddy made his way to her, grabbed her arm, and all but dragged her from the room. Hadley’s bottom clenched at the thought of the spanking she knew her new friend was facing, but Master Derek had already warned her about running twice since the party started. Hadley guessed she’d run out of warnings.

“That was almost you earlier, little one,” Finn whispered in her ear.

Hadley flushed and looked down, making him laugh. He pulled her close and kissed her cheek.

“I’m sorry I was whining earlier, Daddy. I just wanted to stay with you,” she whispered.

“I know, baby. Daddy would rather be with you too, but sometimes we have to do hard things.”

Hadley nodded and hugged his middle.

He kissed the top of her forehead.

“Which friend are we looking for again?”

Mindy.

“That’s right. Daddy met her the first day.”

Hadley nodded.

“What about the naughty Little guy?”

Nate.

“Yes, Nate. Is he coming too?”

She nodded and waved as Lori walked up holding the hand of a Little boy. She was wearing a red Christmas sweater with a gingerbread girl on the front with the words Little Sister written in what looked like royal icing underneath the cookie. The Little boy was dressed in a green Christmas sweater with a gingerbread boy on the front with the words Big Brother written on his. “Hi. Can I give you a hug before I go help with the reindeer?”

Hadley nodded and hugged the Little.

“Hi, Master Finn!”

Finn waved at the Little girl, appearing unsure of her name. “Hi, sweetie.”

“Have a good time with your Daddy!” Lori yelled before walking off with the Little boy.

“Was that Baby Lori?”

Hadley giggled and nodded knowing her cards couldn’t speak this time. “Yes, and the Little boy is her big brother, Blake. I met him when he came to bring her paci she’d forgotten one day,” she said softly.

Finn smiled. “Sounds like he’s a very good big brother.”

“He is, though Lori said he’s still made out of snails and puppy dog tails like Nate.”

“And she sounds like the typical sassy little sister,” Finn said with a chuckle.

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