Her Little Helper

Chapter 11

*Savannah's POV*

"Don't be nervous, Mama. I be right here with you the whole time." Said the adorable little voice of Abigail beside me as we pulled in front of Samuel Baxter's townhouse. Even in her little headspace, she is the sweetest and kindest girl in the world. How did I get so lucky?

"I'm trying not to be nervous," I replied, turning my head to look in her innocent blue eyes. "But it's hard not to be sometimes."

"I know." She responded. "Do you wanna know what I do when I feel nervous, Mama?" 

I couldn't help but chuckle at her attempt to make me feel more comfortable about the situation we're about to walk into. 

"What is that, sweetheart?" I asked, curious as to what her cute little mind would come up with.

"Well, first I close my eyes. Then I put my hands together like this," she said as she interlocked her fingers. "And then I squeeze with my right hand a few times. It makes me feel like you're the one squeezing my left hand and so I feel safe."

My eyes started to well up at her piece of advice. I had to admit, I wasn't expecting such an answer to come from her when she's so deep in her little headspace. She's been hovering around the 2 to 3-years old range for the better part of this week, and I've loved every second of it. 

"I'll certainly have to try that, lovebug." I said as I blinked away the tears before they had the chance to fall. "You're the best little girl in the whole wide world, you know that right?"

"The whole wide world?!" She screeched excitedly, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"Yep, the whole wide world." I responded with a laugh. "So if anyone tries to tell you differently, you tell them Mama said it's true." 

Abigail nodded with a big smile and the cutest of giggles. 

"So," I began, the nervousness creeping into my voice. "Are you ready, pumpkin?"

"Yes, Mama." She replied, somewhat matching my nervous energy. We exited the car and began the short walk across the tree-lined sidewalk and up the stone steps of the townhouse. From the outside, it stood three stories tall and stood in a long like of townhouses that stretched wall-to-wall down the whole block. This was certainly a fancy neighborhood. 

A few seconds after we rang the doorbell, the door sprang open and Samuel greeted us with his big bright smile. 

"Hello! Welcome, welcome! Come in!" He announced excitedly. He was wearing a maroon button-down shirt with jeans and brown leather shoes. Not quite as professional as the last time I saw him, but still well put together. 

I forced a smile, trying not to look as miserably anxious as I felt on the inside. As much as I hated to admit it, Samuel's house was quite tasteful. It had a beautiful hardwood staircase straight ahead from the front door, with an elegant rustic-contemporary kitchen to the right and a beautiful living room to the left that was fit with bookcases, sofas, and a fireplace. It was all very similar amenities as I had at home, just in a more rustic or vintage style. I would never admit that I thought it was quite the amazing house. 

"Hello, little Abigail, how are you?" Samuel asked, bending down a bit to meet my little's eye line. 

"Good." She said, blushing with shyness as she squeezed my hand and turned to stand a bit further behind me. She is so adorable when she gets shy. It's one of my many favorite sides of Abigail. 

"Savannah, it's lovely to see you as always." He said, turning towards me with a slight bow of his head. 

"As always?" I asked with a sarcastic chuckle. "I seem to remember us having some not-too-lovely interactions in the past."