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Pleasure flutters in my stomach. “Really?”
Jasper laughs, that deep, throaty sound I love so much. “Would your Daddy ever lie to you? Come on, let’s go down and meet your Uncles and your Auntie Cat. They should be here soon.”
Hand in hand, we make our way downstairs, followed closely by Uncle Max and Victoria, the latter of whom doesn’t look any worse for wear after the diaper debacle.
Sure enough, Uncle Gideon is already waiting for us in the living room. He looks up from his phone, a smile stretching across his face when he spots us. “There’s my favorite nieces.”
Hoisting me up into a giant bear hug, he spins me around just like Uncle Max did early, surprising a giggle out of me. “Aren’t we youronlynieces?”
“True, but that doesn’t stop you from being my favorites.” With me still wrapped around him, he leans over to press a kiss to Victoria’s cheek. “How’s my sweet little Tori?”
“Good.” Her smile turns impish. “Did you bring me a present?”
“Victoria Rose!” Uncle Max frowns at her. “Don’t be rude.”
“As it happens, I have something for both of my girls.” Setting me down, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out two small, carefully wrapped boxes. “Ask your Daddies before you open them.”
It’s a good thing he reminded me because I was ready to simply rip the wrapping off. “Can I, Daddy?”
“Go ahead, princess.”
Uncle Max gives Victoria the all-clear as well, and we both tear the wrapping off our gifts, tossing it carelessly on the floor. Underneath all that pretty paper is a simple black box and when I open it, I find the most beautiful locket I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s a silver heart, with a beautiful J engraved on the front. And when I flip it over, my heart constricts in my chest at the message etched into the back.
Daddy’s Little Princess.
“Gideon, it’s beautiful.” Jasper’s voice is suspiciously thick, like he’s holding back tears. “What do you say, princess?”
“Thank you, Uncle Gideon,” I manage to whisper past the tightness in my own throat. It is a beautiful necklace, but it feels like more than that. It feels like a branding, somehow, and when Jasper lifts it from my hands to clasp it around my neck, it feels so much heavier than it actually is. Like the weight of all their expectations for me, hanging like a millstone around my neck.
The front door opens, and Uncle Evan’s voice rings out in the entryway, breaking the spell that’s been woven around me. But in the back of my mind is that little voice whispering that it’s all a lie. Reminding me that no amount of pretty things can make up for the life I left behind. The life I’m still determined to return to.
And that voice breaks my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jasper
Gathered around Maxwell’s table, talking about our future plans for the island with my own Little girl seated beside me is everything I could have dreamed of and more. Even if Juliet does seem rather quiet, I chalk it up to her being tired. She missed her nap today, and I wouldn’t be surprised if all her play with Victoria has simply worn her out.
“What do we think about a school?” At the head of the table, Maxwell holds a bite of chicken up for Victoria, who makes little yummy sounds as she eats. “I know the girls won’t necessarily need any more education, but I was thinking it might be good to give their days a little more structure. Especially as we bring more little ones to the island.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Gideon says, leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Like you said, they won’t need the education, but it would help to keep them from getting bored. And while our Tori and Juju have gotten along rather well, it would be naïve to expect the same of every Little we bring to the island. Putting them together, forcing them tospend time as a unit, could certainly help bridge that gap. Did you have anyone in mind?”
“I do. She’s rather strict, but I think the more rules our little ones have the better.”
Laughing, Cat reaches for her wine. “Maxwell hiring a strict teacher to keep watch over his Little girl. Color me shocked, everyone.”
“Don’t be a brat, Catharina. It’s unbecoming on you.”
Cat responds exactly as you would expect a brat to, sticking her tongue out at him, and laughter ripples around the table.
“What if I don’t wanna go to yucky school?” Wrinkling her nose, Victoria crosses her arms over her chest and slumps down in her chair. “Ihateschool.”
“You can’t say you hate something before you try it, Victoria. And I suggest you fix this attitude right now, little girl.”
“Sorry, Daddy,” she mumbles, red coloring her cheeks. “But it sounds awful. Why can’t I just stay with you all day like I do now?”
“Because Uncle Gideon is right. You need something to keep your mind and body active, and you know I can’t be with you all day every day as much as I would love to.”