Free Moving a Little Heart by Breanna Hayse Page A

honeydew melon.
    "How did you make the melon look like flowers?" Baylor asked, staring at the plate. "It's so pretty."
    "Cookie cutters. In the middle is a Maraschino cherry held with a toothpick. Do you like pretty things?"
    "I've never had pretty things," she said quietly, nibbling on a piece of melon and avoiding Jake's watchful eye.
    "You haven't? Why not?"
    "Don't be insensitive, you jerk," Hayden said. "She told us about how she was raised, and we know her ex was a selfish, self-indulgent wuss."
    "Have you ever gotten your nails done or done any of that stuff that girls do?"
    "Never. I neither had the money or the interest," Baylor said, taking a bite of her sandwich. "It wasn't important."
    "Well, Ladybug, that's going to change. You're going to find some interest, and Daddy Jake and I are going to get you some pretty things. We're also going to take you to some places where you can laugh and play. How does that sound?" Hayden asked, sitting across from her and wiping jelly off her cheek with a napkin.
    "Scary."
    "Scary?" Jake questioned. "Why scary?"
    "I, well," Baylor bit her lip and looked at them, her eyes still glazed from the introductory spanking. "I don't know how."
    "You don't know how to do what?" Jake asked, picking up a piece of fruit from her plate and bringing it to her lips. "Eat."
    She chewed on the melon, allowing him to wipe her chin. "I don't know how to laugh and play. Not really."
    "Just be spontaneous. If you are in your Little mode, you don't worry about the outcome. It's a time where you can just react. Within reason, of course."
    "I don't know if I can do that. Something always stops me. Like just now."
    "What happened just now?" Jake asked, holding up another piece of melon for her.
    "I wanted to do this," Baylor said, nipping his fingers with her teeth.
    "Ow!" Jake pulled back.
    "That's my girl!" Hayden laughed loudly. "You're going to do just fine!"
     

Chapter Five
     
    "You have got to be kidding," Baylor said.
    "Not a bit. Come on, try them on," Hayden urged.
    She looked at Terry. "Are you going to help me here?"
    "Nope. If it was up to me, you'd be wearing a onesie."
    Baylor held the pink dress in the air and held it to her chest. "It's so small. And pink . I never wear pink. Ever."
    "No more wearing black for you, either. You need bright, pretty colors in your life," Hayden declared. "Doctor's orders."
    "A PhD in life experience doesn't make you a doctor," she answered saucily.
    "No more black. Hear me?"
    Baylor rolled her eyes at his 'Mr. Serious' face. "I hear you. Give me a break, guys, I can't go anywhere in this. My ass will hang out."
    "We have these ruffled panties for you." Terry laughed loudly. "Oh my! Look at that face!"
    "Why the hell are you making me do this?"
    "Did you just swear?" Jake asked.
    "The word hell is in the bible, so technically, no."
    "So technically, the five whacks of the hairbrush on your backside won't hurt a bit. Go get it."
    "Ah, Jake—"
    "Hurry now. You know what happens if you fight me. And stop rolling your eyes at me."
    She rolled her eyes anyway and stomped upstairs to his bedroom. Jake had been breathing down her neck for the last three days about 'cleaning up her act', starting with swearing. He promised that she would still be able to maintain her 'dignity'—i.e. keep her pants up—if she retrieved the hairbrush without argument. She was wearing jeans and the brush was plastic, so she was not concerned about it hurting.
    "Here. Happy?"
    "I am. Bend over the arm of the couch."
    "In front of everyone? Jake…"
    "Mind Daddy, little one. We have things to do before Matt comes home," Terry said.
    "This is ridiculous," Baylor mumbled, leaning forward over the overstuffed arm rest.
    "Five strokes for cussing is what we agreed on, right?"
    "Yeah."
    She hopped to her feet and gripped her bottom with both hands after the first stroke.
    "Problem?" Jake asked.
    "That frickin hurts like Hades!"
    "Much better selection of words. Bend over. Four