“Hey, ouch! What was that for?” She gaped up at him.
He drew her back, giving her a stern look. “That was just a small reminder that you’re not to break Daddy’s rules for you.”
She rubbed at her bottom. Okay, those smacks didn’t really hurt. In fact, her body was kind of lit on fire, wanting more. But she thought she should make a token protest. Daddy grabbed hold of her hands. “No rubbing.”
“You’ve got lots of mean rules, Daddy.”
“I know, Daddy is just a big old meanie. But you know how to avoid being spanked, don’t you?”
“I suppose so,” she muttered.
He led her over to the sofa. “Sit.”
She sat. She didn’t want to push him too far. And really, she was getting what she wanted. He placed a blanket that had been lying over the end of the sofa over her bare legs. Then without a word, he went searching in the chest where the board games were kept.
When he returned, he held a pad and a box of colored pencils and is hand. He placed them on her lap.
“What is this?” she asked.
“I thought you could draw me a picture.”
“Of what?”
“Of anything you like, baby. I’ll get you a drink and a snack.”
He moved away from her without another word. Adult Ellie warred with her Little side. She hadn’t drawn a picture since she was in kindergarten. But what else did she have to do?
She started drawing. She barely noticed him putting the snack and drink, still in the sippy cup, on the coffee table in front of her.
“Eat your snack, baby girl,” he said to her.
She glanced up and over to see a couple of chocolate chip cookies on a plate.
“Yummy!” She reached over and grabbed one.
Bear sat on the other end of the sofa with a book in hand. “Don’t expect it all the time. I know little girls tend to have a sweet tooth, but I don’t want you getting holes in your teeth.”
She was too busy munching on the cookie and drawing to pay attention. When she finished her masterpiece, she held it up to him.
“What do you think, Daddy?”
He looked over at her then studied the picture. “Looks great, baby girl. Is that you?” He pointed at the figure dressed in a yellow dress with ruffles.
“Uh-huh. And I’m holding Jeremiah Bear. We’re going for a walk along the river to have a picnic. See, this person is you waiting for us.” A man stood in the distance with his arms open.
“I love it,” he said softly, reaching for the picture. “I’ll have to hang it on the fridge.”
“Really?” She smiled wide. “I’ve never had a picture up on the fridge.”
A funny look came over Daddy’s face, but she didn’t pay much attention. She was already starting another picture. This was fun.
“You miss Jeremiah Bear?”
“Uh-huh,” she replied. “I used to hug him at night when I got scared.”
“Do you still get scared at night?”
She frowned, not liking these questions. “Sometimes.” She looked up at him as he sat down next to her once more.