Learning to Be Little Again(62)

Samantha continued. “As much as I think Robert has treated you unfairly, his heart was in the right place. He wanted to do everything for you because he almost lost you once, and he was scared that he would lose you again.”

“Lose me again? I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know that, and you know that. Heck, even Robert knows that, but it shook him to his core to see you lying in that hospital bed. In his mind, if you even tried to move to go to the bathroom, you could get hurt again. All he wanted and all every daddy wants is to protect their little girls from getting hurt.”

Suddenly, everything made sense. Robert was afraid I would get hurt if I tried to do something by myself. He was just trying to avoid that. I shook my head. My stupid boyfriend.

“Okay, now that we have that figured out, how do I not lose him? I called him Boyle on accident this morning.”

“Thank gosh you did. That’s what woke him up out of his Neanderthal trance. If you hadn’t done that, he would still be acting crazy.”

“Okay, so then, how do I prove to him I won’t get hurt? I-I want to make him happy, but I don’t think that I’ll ever be able to act as a one year old.”

“That’s okay. Everyone is different. Personally, I love acting as a one year old sometimes, because for me, it’s the ultimate way to relax. You don’t feel the same way and that’s perfectly fine.”

“Well,” I felt myself begin to blush, “I didn’t mind sucking on a pacifier that much. It was just using the diapers. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to use one.” Just the thought of having to use one again made me feel sick to my stomach.

“You have to tell Robert that. He isn’t a mind reader. Being in this type of a relationship requires both people to be brutally honest with one another. He might like something you don’t and vice versa. Also, what you like and dislike might change the more you guys role play with one another.”

“I know that now.” Just thinking back over the past twenty-four hours, I knew if I had been honest with Robert, it would have saved us both so much grief.

“So, are you good?”

“Yes. I’m good,” I said, smiling. I was so lucky to have Samantha as my best friend. It was nice knowing I always had someone who would be there for me, someone I could talk to about stuff without fear of being judged.

“Great! Then we can play,” she said, bouncing off the bed and running out the door. She came back a minute later carrying an armful of the dolls and stuffed animals that were in my little room. She went back two more times to make sure that we had every stuffed animal and doll I owned.

She arranged everything so that we were surrounded by dolls and stuffed animals. With Molly in her arms and teddy in mine, we pretended we were on a boat, sailing to the Princess Island with all of our friends.

We got so lost in our fantasy that neither of us noticed Jackson and Robert watching us until Jackson finally knocked on the door.

“Oh. Hi, Daddy! We’re on a boat traveling to the Princess Island,” Samantha said as she smiled up at them.

“That sounds like fun, sweetie. Robert has to talk to Juliana, so why don’t I take you to the bathroom to wash your hands before breakfast,” he said, walking over to her and holding his arms open.

“Okay!” she giggled, jumping into his arms while still carrying Molly. They left the room, leaving me alone with Robert.

“Hi,” I said shyly.

“Hi,” he said, not moving from the doorway.

I picked at the blanket covering my legs, all of a sudden feeling shy. Samantha said I had nothing to be worried about, but I didn’t think she was right about that.

“Juliana… baby girl… I want to say I’m sorry. I had absolutely no right to treat you how I did. I promised you when we began dating and role playing together that I would never break your trust. Yet, that’s exactly what I did. I know I messed up, but I’m here to beg you to give me another chance.”

I looked up at him, stunned. He was begging me to give him another chance? Here I thought it should be me begging him not to leave me.

“Please, Juliana,” he said, coming closer and kneeling down on the hardwood floor and taking my left hand and squeezing it. “You’re perfect for me. You’re smart, beautiful, and so brave. Any man would be counting his lucky stars to have you. I know I haven’t shown it to you these past couple of days, but I love you, Juliana. I think I’ve loved you ever since I saw you.”

My whole world stopped. He loved me? He loved me. He loved me!

I couldn’t help the tears that once again began to fall down my face.