Page 37 of Ace

“H’llo?” he muttered into the receiver, licking his lips to get the dryness out of his mouth so he didn’t feel or sound like he was sucking on sandpaper.

“Ace, I think he’s going to do something. He keeps driving by, or parking for hours across the street. I called the police but they won’t do anything because they said the restraining order is no longer in place since he was cleared of all charges.”

Ace sat up in bed, swinging his legs over the side as he recognized the harried, distressed voice of Angela’s mother, Christine.

Before he could respond, she kept going.

“Angela is at a friend’s house, but she’s going to come home soon. I already called and asked if she could stay longer, but they are going out of town for a family thing. I don’t want to tell her to go somewhere else after she leaves there, because I don’t want to worry her. Her anxiety is already through the roof. She’s a shell of herself since the trial. Barely eating, not sleeping, only leaving the house to go to school and only if I make her. Sometimes I don’t because I just can’t imagine. I wept with happiness when she asked to go to her friend’s house today. I thought maybe, just maybe I’d start getting my girl back, but if she comes home, and she sees him… well, I don’t know what will happen.” Christine’s voice cracked. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I didn’t know who else to call. Ace, what do I do?”

Ace was already pulling on his jeans. “Christine, you did the right thing. Just sit tight. I’m coming over.”

It took him a few minutes to get dressed and pulled together. In the bed, Lizzie was still snoring softly. The bottle had fallen from her mouth, but in her sleep, she’d replaced it with her thumb. He hated to wake her, but he had no idea how long he would be gone, and he owed her an explanation for messing up their plans. Besides, she knew the family so her presence could be a comfort.

Decision made, he leaned over and shook her gently. “Lizzie, Lizzie baby, wake up.”

She groaned, rolled onto her back and stretched before her eyes popped open. “Daddy,” she mumbled sleepily, “come back to bed.”

Ace sat down beside her and caught her attention. “I can’t, sweetie. And we have to postpone some of our plans for the day. I had an emergency pop up and I need to go take care of it.”

She blinked and finally seemed to notice that he was fully dressed.

“It’s okay, Daddy.” She laid her hand on the side of his face. “You go do what you need to do. I’ll still be here when you get back.” She yawned deeply. “Heck, I might even still be asleep.”

“No, sweetie. I need you to come with me. You need to get up.”

He lifted her with his hands under her armpits and carried her to the changing table. He could tell her diaper was wet from looking at her so he laid her down on the table and got to work.

“You’re wet,” he observed.

Her cheeks flushed and she lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Ace bent to retrieve a fresh diaper and wipes as well as baby powder then shook his head. “There is no reason to be sorry. We’re going to go ahead and put you in panties and Big-girl clothes for our errand,” he informed her as he unfastened the tabs on the wet diaper and wiped her pussy clean.

“I don’t have Big-girl clothes,” she whispered, panicky. “I didn’t bring any. Well, except my work clothes, I guess.”

“Your work jeans will work, and one of your cartoon T-shirts will be fine. I just don’t want you to feel uncomfortable or out of place where we are going and dresses and motorcycles don’t always mix.”

He retrieved her panties from where they’d been discarded, and slid her legs through the holes, gliding the thin fabric up her calves and thighs, lifting her bottom when he pulled them over her hips.

Her eyes closed and she smiled a calm, content looking smile. “I didn’t hate the diaper as much as I thought I would, but the panties feel so much better on my bottom.”

“I’m glad. Your bottom is still very red and warm.”

“It hurts.”

“Well, hopefully the pain will help you to remember the lesson.” He helped her up into a sitting position and set her on her feet on the floor. “Get your jeans and one of your shirts.”

While she was doing that, he retrieved his vest and tugged his boots on, and when she came back with her ripped, worn jeans and her Care Bear T-shirt in hand he helped her into them and frowned. “This might be a little cold.”

Walking to the closet, he pulled it open and grabbed his softest flannel from the hanger. The yellow and gray fabric complimented the sunshine bear on her t-shirt. Handing it to her, he helped her pull it over her tee, and smiled as he stepped back and admired the picture she made. She looked fun and cute, but not overtly Little. That wasn’t what they’d planned for the weekend, but it was for the best. Hopefully, he’d be able to scare the asshole off and continue their day as planned.

“Where are we going, Daddy?” she asked as he took her hand and led her to the door.

He thought over the repercussions of answering versus not answering as they made their way down the stairs, out the door and to the parking garage where he kept his bike. He helped her into his motorcycle jacket, and extra helmet before putting on his own. He’d thought about surprising her, but honesty was always the best policy.

“I have to go to Angela’s. Her mom called, and that bastard’s trying to cause trouble.”

Lizzie