Page 3 of Mommy Calls Me Princess (Mommies and Littles #1)

“Well, what do you want to know?” Sarah’s voice startled me.

I’d not heard her come in. “Her mother is a selfish piece of shit. Claims she worked two jobs but never came home, never left anything more than a couple microwave meals for the girl to eat. Now she has the audacity to come to Darcy for money. Poor child still craves her acceptance and gives it to her.”

That confirmed my worst fears. “I’m tempted to get whatever she has left at that apartment and move her into my place.”

“I got one question for you,” my brow rose at Sarah’s question, fearing what she may ask. The woman clearly had no filter. “Do you love her.”

“With all my heart.”

“I’ll show you where they live and I’ll go with you and play referee. Let’s get her out of there once and for all.”

“Sarah, I don’t know you very well, but I already love you.”

“You take good care of my girl, and we’ll have no problems.”

“I can promise you that. Will this require a moving truck?” Phone in hand, I was ready to put in a few calls to get the ball rolling. “I’d like to have it done before Darcy boards the ship on Saturday.”

Three very long months apart.

“No, she didn’t have much. What’s there may not be worth the drama to get now that I think about it.

That mother of hers isn’t right, never has been.

Darcy pretty much lives out of suitcases.

Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised to find her piece of shit mother had moved and not left a forwarding address.

” Sarah shook her head. “Some people should’ve been struck with the do not pro-create button at birth.

” Words escaped me. How could anyone be so cruel?

“Yes, but then we wouldn’t have Darcy.”

“True. Well, whatever you and Darcy come up with your family will be here to support you.” Sarah’s words nearly drew me to tears.

“Let me talk to Darcy tonight. If there is anything to get I’ll let you both know. Thank you for being there for her, Sarah.” Was it fast moving her in with me? Yes, but given this information and Darcy’s anxiety attack, my gut told me she’d be ecstatic.

Sarah nodded. “Got any more wine, son?”

Goddess, I loved this woman and from what I saw so did Jack.

“You know you can count Vale and I in for whatever you two need, V.” Jack filled our glasses then pulled the marinating steaks out. “Let’s get the grill going. Vale and Darcy are probably hungry.”

Linda came in and she and Sarah got the side dishes together while Jack and Jackson manned the grill.

My mind wandered to renovating the loft while Darcy was at sea.

Now that I was in a relationship, the openness of my place felt less personal, not as private though I rarely entertained.

My life truly had revolved around the club and not much else.

My princess deserved a playroom befitting of a princess, and I intended to give her that and so much more.

A second bathroom with a tub would be great. Two thousand square feet of open space was all it was now. It was time to finally make it into a home, and not just a place to lay my head.

“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Darcy snuck up on me and I pulled her onto my lap.

“Absolutely nothing.” I rubbed my nose along her neck.

“That tickles, Mommy.” She giggled and wiggled around, but didn’t pull away.

“I know, that’s why I did it. Are you having fun with Vale?”

“Mmm, hmm,” her head bobbed up and down. “He has the coolest toys.”

“I bet he does. His daddy spoils him rotten.” Vale was the perfect boy for Jack. They adored each other and Vale wasn’t a naughty monkey though he was a barrel of energy. Truly a sweet boy and my dear friend was beyond smitten with him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t put a ring on it soon.

“Dinner’s ready,” Linda called out as she and Sarah set the sides on the patio table. One thing my loft lacked was outdoor space. More of an excuse for Darcy and me to get away a couple days a month. As it was, Jack had a bedroom designed just for us with our own bathroom and a two-person tub.

As we dined we watched the sun set, and it was nothing short of amazing.

As the dark descended, the outside lighting came on.

Jack had the perfect balance of soft lighting.

The islands in the Puget Sound had the best views all around.

Quaint, not packed as Seattle proper was.

You could breathe here without the stressful sounds of sirens and honking horns.

As soon as we drove onto the ferry I swear, my entire body relaxed.

With dinner done and the leftovers cleared away, the parents said goodnight and returned to their homes. Vale and Darcy headed to the monkey room, Vale’s playroom, though with their full tummies and given how much they’d already played it wouldn’t be long before the yawns would descend.

Jack had some emails to answer so I took the break to unpack and settle Darcy and I into our room. I’d just started her bath when she came around the corner. Her face spread in a huge yawn.

“Ohhh, tubby time.”

“Yes and I even brought your tubby toys but if you open the cupboard under the sink I believe you’ll find a gift from Jack and Vale.” I spotted it when I grabbed the bubble bath.

For being as tired as she was she sure did move fast. That girl had that cupboard open and the container of new tubby toys out and into the water before I had a chance to glmpse what was in there.

“Silly Princess, what did they get you?”

She shrugged. “I dunno. Was too excited to play with them to check.”

Getting an excited, fidgety little undressed and in the tub was quite the challenge. But in the end we persevered.

“Mommy! Mommy! They got me a mermaid Barbie!”

“How in the world did you miss that when you grabbed the basket?”

“Vale must’ve buried it under all the duckies, and boats, and look Mommy, seals!”

I smiled as the silly girl giggled and played. How had I survived so long without this kind of happiness in my life?

“Princess, Mommy has something serious to ask you.”

She sat the toys down and gave me her undivided attention. “Yes, Mommy.”

“Mommy would like for you to move in with her.”

Darcy let out the biggest squeal and all I saw was a flurry of bubbles and water when she jumped up and drenched me.

But just as quickly, she stilled. “Really, Mommy?”

“Really, Darcy though with the baptism by bath water I’d say it’s a done deal.”

“I’m so excited and it’s an easy move. Everything in my suitcases is all I have.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.