*Abigail's POV*
The elevator dinged as the doors slid open to reveal Savannah's stunning penthouse apartment. Beyond a small foyer with some artwork on either wall, the apartment was all open concept. To the left of the foyer was a sleek-looking kitchen. To the right was a fancy sunken living room that had a comfy-looking couch, a fireplace, and a huge TV! That's what I was most excited about. A staircase was straight ahead that led to what I was assuming to be the bedrooms.
I smiled in awe of Savannah's amazing home. She saw my look of bewilderment. "What do you think, sweetheart?"
"It-," I stuttered, "It's beautiful, Savannah," I replied. My state of wonder was interrupted when Savannah asked me a question.
"So, what would you like to do tonight? We can watch a movie, play a game, bake some cookies even. It's all your choice, sweetie." I thought about it, but it was hard to make a decision. I was never good at those.
I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know."
"Well," Savannah continued, "you still have a couple of hours before bedtime-"
"Bedtime?!" I questioned with disapproval.
"Yes, honey, bedtime is 10:30 on the weekends," she answered, her trademark sternness starting to enter her voice. My eyebrows furrowed at the thought of being sent to bed so early on the weekend. That's so not fair! I could easily stay up until 2, even 3 am. There's no way I'm going to bed that early.
"But, bu-," I began to respond before Savannah cut me off.
"No 'buts,' sweetheart. If you keep talking back you can spend a good chunk of that time before bed standing in the corner. Is that what you want?" The sternness had returned in for with that last question, making my face flush with embarrassment.
"No," I huffed, letting out a sigh of frustration. I crossed my arms and kept my gaze to the floor, still unhappy with the news that I would be put in bed at such an early hour. This is so not fair.
"Oh, lovebug, stop with your pouting," Savannah said, pulling me into her comforting embrace. I was able to uphold my sulking façade of discontent only until I felt a kiss on the top of my head. Then, I couldn't hold it anymore and let out a giggle that signaled to Savannah that I was finished pouting. "I'll tell you what," she continued, "if you behave until bed time, I'll read you a story before you go to sleep. How does that sound?"
My eyes lit up at the offer. I had never been read a bedtime story before! My parents told me that bedtime stories were for babies and that I was always too old for them. But Savannah's deal was not something I was going to pass up. I nodded excitedly, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Savannah laughed as I bounced up and down happily in her arms.
"Okay sillyhead, I think we have a deal," she said laughingly. "Now, how about we watch a Disney movie?" My excitement only grew at her suggestion. I love Disney movies!
"Ooo ooo ooo, can we watch Moana?!" I asked enthusiastically. "It's my favorite!"
"Well of course we can, honeybun!" She answered, matching my childish enthusiasm. "Go get it loaded up on the TV and I'll make us some popcorn."
"Yay!" I shouted as I ran into towards the living room. But I was a bit too excited because I had forgotten that it was a sunken living room, meaning there was two stairs to step down. In my over-excitement, I had overstepped the stairs and fell down. Though the floor of the living room was a soft carpet, I landed hard on my hands and knees. I didn't feel any serious pain in that moment, but the whole thing really scared me. Still on all fours, my eyes started to well up as I felt a full sob starting to form.
My bottom lip began to tremble as Savannah ran down the stairs and knelt down to check on me. "Oh my god, Abigail, are you alright?" I picked my head up to meet her gaze, and that's when the waterworks started. I crumbled into her arms, sobbing my eyes out.
"Mama, I falled," I wailed. I wasn't even sure why I was crying. My knees were a bit sore but nothing more. It had just frightened me so much that I couldn't help but cry as much as I was.
Savannah did her best to calm be down. "Shhhh, I know baby. That little spill scared you, huh?" I nodded but the tears kept coming. How many times was I going to cry in Savannah's arms today? "It's okay, let it all out, sweetheart." She said soothingly. Her voice alone was enough to make me feel calmer. It brought me a serenity that I've never felt before.
Soon enough, my sobbing was reduced to occasional whimpers. She lifted my chin to meet her eyes. "Abigail, this is why we don't run in this house. Do you understand?" She said in her soothing tone that had a subtle yet noticeable sternness to it. I nodded, still sniffling. My face was puffy from the tears but I started to feel much better once Savannah picked me up and put me on the couch.
Once I calmed down a bit more, I picked up the TV remote and searched for Moana on Disney+. I've loved that movie ever since it first came out. She instantly became my favorite of the Disney princesses. She's so smart, and brave, and beautiful. And I love the songs!
"Are you ready for the movie, sweet pea?" Savannah asked as she returned to the couch with a big bowl of popcorn. I nodded excitedly and pressed play. It cheered me back up right away and I started singing along to the songs. Savannah even knew some of them too!
About an hour into the movie, I started to feel really sleepy. I didn't know why, I'm never tired this early. But I guess it had been an eventful day. Well, I guess "eventful" is kind of an understatement. It was a really tough day and a super amazing day all in one, so it makes sense that it tuckered me out.
I laid my head on Savannah's lap as she started to run her fingers through my hair. This only made me sleepier. Once I started really feeling myself drifting off, I heard Savannah shut the movie off and move to pick me up off the couch. I whined at being moved from my comfy position of near-slumber. But Savannah picked me up and carried me on her hip. I buried my half-awake face into her neck.
Too tired to open my eyes, I felt Savannah walk us upstairs. She put me down in a bed and pulled the covers over me. They were so soft and warm, I felt like I was laying in a pillowy cloud. As I felt sleep starting to set in, I whined tiredly, "What about bedtime story?"
Savannah chuckled. "I pinky promise I'll read you a bedtime story another night when you're not so sleepy, okay?" I nodded, too drowsy to contest her decision. "Goodnight, Abigail."
I felt a gentle kiss on my forehead, as I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
YOU ARE READING
Her Little Helper
Romance**THIS STORY IS UNFINISHED AND WILL LIKELY REMAIN UNFINISHED** Abigail Lawson has never been much of a people-person. Moving to the city to force herself out of her comfort zone, she has been trying, and failing, to land a simple IT job. However, Ab...
