Daddy's Little Princess

by Rachel Burns

  He came back to me and stared at me awhile. “Should I show you your room?”

  I nodded and followed him.

  “This is your room. I had a professional decorate the whole house. I hope you like it?”

  The walls were pink, and the bedding was white with tiny pink flowers on it. The room was really small too. Boxes were piled up in front of the closet. Daddy had bought me lots and lots of dresses. More than what could fit in the tiny closet. I may need to have a garage sale I thought to myself.

  “It is really charming Daddy. The whole house is. Thank you.” I raised my arms up to his neck and hugged him.

  He picked me up and sat us down on my bed with me on his lap. He had his arms wrapped around me. “I was watching TV last night, and a show about – ”

  “You watch TV?” I asked him.

  “Princess, don’t interrupt me. Just because you’re moving out on your own, doesn’t mean that you’re too old to go over my knees.” He sighed a little.

  I didn’t think that he would want to end our relationship that way.

  “I have a TV hidden in my office. I was watching one of those annoying talk shows, but it was about a couple that were getting married, and she didn’t want him to keep his dog. The experts all agreed that if there was no allergy, and the dog was nice, she shouldn’t make him give up his dog.” Daddy looked away from me thinking about that.

  “Yes, but a dog is like a member of the family. I’m just some girl you bought at a slave auction. I’m sure the experts would have said ‘no’ to you keeping me.”

  “How dare you say that?” He moved me, so I was laying face down over his knees.

  “Daddy, no please no. Please don’t do that. Daddy, I’m sorry.” I grabbed onto my dress and held it down by the hem of my skirt.

  “You know that isn’t true. You know it isn’t.” He was shaking me by my shoulders. “You’re so much more. Becky, you know I love you, and that I wanted to keep you.” He stopped shaking me. Becky, what are you doing?”

  “Nothing,” I answered as innocently as I could. “Please let me go, Daddy.”

  “Let go of your dress.”

  I didn’t, and he brought his hand down hard.

  “I said to let go of it.”

  “I have my period, Daddy,” I lied.

  “No, you don’t. You had your period last week.”

  I peeked over my shoulder surprised that he would know that, but I didn’t let go of my skirt.

  “What are you trying to hide from me?” He spoke slowly. I could tell that he was really worried.

  I racked my brain thinking of a better lie. I still hadn’t come up with one when I heard my dress being ripped, and then Daddy gasping.

  “Who? Who hurt you, Becky? Who did this to you?”

  I started bawling. All hell was going to break lose, and it would be my fault.

  Daddy was ripping my clothes off and finding more bruises. I had my hands over my face, and I was trying to block out what was happening.

  “Becky, answer me!” He turned me, so I was facing him, but my hands were securely over my face. He ripped my clothes to threads as he yelled.

  I worried what the neighbors would be thinking of us. This wasn’t the impression I wanted to make.

  He pulled my hands away from my face. “I’m not leaving until you tell me how this happened.”

  I pushed away from him and moved to the corner of the room. I sank down to the floor as I cried.

  Daddy was still sitting on the bed. He was in shock. “Princess, did Amy do that to you?”

  He had asked so nicely that I started to cry.

  “Please, answer me.”

  I nodded my head.

  “I’ll kill her.” He got up and left. I heard the house door slam and his car take off.

  “Nanny,” I called out.

  She hurried in and saw the shreds of my clothes on the floor and my beaten form in the corner. “Oh, Becky, I’m so sorry.”

  “It wasn’t Daddy. Amy doesn’t like me.”

  “Amy beat you? But why didn’t you tell your Daddy. Becky, how long has this been going on?” Nanny helped me to my feet.

  I stood in the corner while she fished through a box to find me something new to wear. “Since Daddy was in Europe. She started right in the next day and then every day since, when Daddy wasn’t home.”

  “Are you okay, Princess?” Daddy was back. He was standing in the door frame with his head hung.

  “I’m so sorry, Daddy. It was all my fault.”

  “How could that be your fault?”

  I hung my head and told him about the first time that it had happened and about the phone call, and why I had lied to him. I told him about the nightmares.

  Daddy pulled me onto his lap, and the truth poured out of me.

  I told him what Amy had all said to me, and I confessed what I had all done too.

  Nanny stood behind me. She had a fresh dress for me in her hand. Her other hand was on my shoulder.

  Daddy hugged me and held me, telling me that he loved me, and that he hadn’t wanted anything bad to happen to me. Once I had settled down, he kissed the top of my head. He was crying when he asked ‘why didn’t you tell me’ again and again.

  “Because I love you so much, Daddy. She can make you happy in ways that I can’t,” I admitted. “You gave up so much, so I could be happy that it was only fair that I do the same for you.”

  That made him cry all the more. He held me tightly until he got up and put me on my feet. “Nanny, please repack the things that you unpacked. I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience, but I’ve changed my mind. Becky will be sleeping in her own bed tonight. I’ll come back for both of you.” He leaned in and kissed me on my cheek. “Don’t worry, Princess, she will be gone by then.”

  “But Daddy, she can make you happy.”

  “Not another word.” I saw his hands form into fists before he left.

  “Oh Nanny, I didn’t want to get anyone into trouble.” I cried on her shoulder while she went about trying to get me dressed.

  Collin waited in his office for over three hours before Amy came home. He’d had the servants quickly pack up Amy’s things. He had them in the hallway. She had accumulated more stuff than Becky had in her short stay here.

  Amy came in with huge smile on her face and brochures from different car dealers in her hands. She walked over to Collin and wanted to kiss him on the cheek.

  Collin stepped away from her.

  “You’re upset about Becky. Of course you are. But you don’t have to be. Let me think what can we do to help you forget her. I have several ideas, but we should go up to our room first.”

  “Becky told me that when I went to you and told you that she wanted to leave, that you would lie to me and say that she should stay, so I would be happy. She said you would lie because you loved me, and that you would put my happiness above your own even though her presence here was an insult to you. But you didn’t. You were clear that she should leave.”

  Amy ran her tongue across the inside of his teeth as he thought about how to answer that.

  “Becky really loves me, for me. She was willing to give up everything she had here to make me happy. That’s real love. And I almost let it go. That would have been the biggest mistake of my life. My relationship with her may be odd, and others my not understand it, but I understand it, and so does she. If you loved me, you would have tried to understand about her, but you didn’t even try.”

  “Collin. You’re only upset because she is gone. With time it won’t hurt so much. You know I care about her, too. I’m looking forward to seeing her on Mondays. Do you remember I even took care of her when you were gone?”

  “Yes, you seem to take care of her when I’m at home too.” Collin watched Amy’s reaction.

  “Listen, did she get cold feet about leaving and say something odd? Because I’ve never been anything but respectful to her even when she bad mouthed you behind your back. You know she isn’t all sugar
and spice. She can get really sassy too.”

  “So you thought it would be all right to beat her?” Collin balled his hands into fists.

  “Is that what she is saying. No, I didn’t. I gave her a few because I didn’t like the way she was talking about you.”

  Every pore in Collin’s body was telling him to slap Amy, but he fought against it. He wasn’t about to stoop to her low level.

  “Collin, you aren’t really going to let a slut like her get in between us, are you?”

  “Don’t call her that. Rick kidnapped her. She didn’t have a choice, and she tried to get away from him again and again. She even tried to kill herself. That’s how I found out that she was being held against her will. She isn’t like that. Get out of my house. Those suitcases you saw in the hall are yours, and your taxi will be here in a couple of minutes. Just leave. Now.”

  “Collin, give us another chance. We can’t just throw us away like this.” Amy tried to wrap her arms around his neck, but he pushed her away.

  “You did this. I told you how important she was to me, and you hurt her. Get out of my face, out of my house and out of my life.”

  “Collin, please understand.”

  Collin grabbed hold of her and shoved her out of the door of his office. He pushed her down the hall and out of the house.

  Amy was putting up a good fight. She was strong enough to hurt little Becky.

  He picked up the suitcases and set them outside of the door one by one.

  “Collin, I love you.”

  “According to Becky’s definition, you don’t.” Collin was starting to feel really good about getting rid of Amy. It didn’t hurt like he feared it would. It felt somehow good.

  “She is just a little slut. She came on it me again and again. After a while, I had to show her that I wasn’t going to cheat on you with the likes of her.” Amy was so mad that she was spitting out her accusations.

  “Oh look, there is your taxi. Bye. No need to write.” Collin loaded Amy’s things in the trunk and paid the driver. “Take her away, far away.” He turned back to Amy. “If you come back, I’ll call the police.” He walked back to Amy. “Get in, or I’ll shove you in.”

  Collin stood on the stoop and watched the taxi leave. He felt very melancholic when it was gone.

  Would he never find true love? He wanted someone to spend the rest of his life with. Someone he could grow old with, someone who loved him more than his money.

  Daddy had brought me back home, and we lived together. Things returned to normal, but Daddy had a sadness about him that was making me very sad too.

  It had been weeks since Amy left, and Daddy seemed to get worse every day.

  I had ruined his life and his chance of happiness.

  Chapter 18 – Running Away

  It was Halloween. I was helping Nanny and the maids to make treats for the children who would be coming to the house.

  The maid told us that this was a tradition here in town. All the parents at the factory who had children would be coming by, and Daddy would give them their treats personally. A lot of the town’s children came too.

  Daddy went out every night, and he slept in late every morning. He simply wasn’t himself anymore.

  He came in and saw all the candy on the table. At first he looked mad, and then he realized that it wasn’t for me. “Is it that time of year again? Becky you will help give out the candy tonight, won’t you?”

  “Yes, Daddy. But I don’t want to wear a costume.” I looked him in the eye and hoped that he understood that I was too old for that crap.

  “Why not? I can already see you with a crown on your head. You can wear the one from your birthday. People are expecting it.”

  “I’ve worn enough costumes in my life,” I murmured under my breath.

  “Oh Becky, I didn’t think of that. Still, this is a tradition here. I’m going to be a vampire, and I was thinking that you could wear a pretty dress and your crown. That’s hardly a costume. We’ll put a tiny bite mark on your neck, so we fit together. Would you do that for me?” He had sat down next to me and whispered in my ear.

  I nodded at him. I wanted him to be very happy. He had given up everything for me.

  “Perfect, Princess. Nanny, help her pick out a dress when you’re finished here. The first kids start showing up around five, and it goes until nine. After that, I’m off to the club.” He got up and left again.

  I really should be thankful that he wanted to spend any time with me at all.

  Lately, we only talked once a week on Mondays. He took me to the factory where I would sit on the sofa and watch him work, and then he did a bit of shopping. Sometimes, I would buy things too. People in town always talked about us as ‘Becky and Collin’.

  Afterwards, we went to the country club. Sometimes we ate with other couples. I was careful not to address him at those times.

  If I was sick, people asked about me. Daddy would tell me that so and so had said hi, and to get well soon. I often got sick. I was worried about Daddy, and I often had nightmares. Daddy always came when I cried at night. That is, if he was home.

  The door bell rang, and Daddy opened the door.

  I was holding a huge bowl with the treat bags we had made up. We looked at the kids in their cute little costumes and praised them. Their parents stood behind them at the bottom of the steps and beamed with pride. Daddy gave the kids their treats while I held the bowl and made sure that he didn’t forget anyone.

  “Thank you, Mr. Burke. Thank you, Mrs. Burke.” We heard that a lot again and again. Daddy smiled and laid his arm around me. He never corrected them. He just called me ‘Princess’ all night.

  At nine he left for the club. I hated that he still did that.

  Once a week, we spoke, and it was getting harder to think of something to say to him. We ate in silence week for week. Daddy wasn't over Amy yet.

  Today was Thanksgiving. I got dressed in one of my prettiest dresses and waited for Daddy to wake up. I waited for hours with Nanny. He didn’t come.

  I decided to knock on his door and check on him. I told Nanny I had to go to the bathroom and snuck up to his door. I knocked softly.

  He didn’t answer, so I quietly opened the door. He was in bed with another woman.

  I closed the door and went back to Nanny and pretended to wait for him. I didn’t think that he would show up.

  At three in the afternoon, I heard him in the hall with whomever. He came into the living room, and Nanny asked to speak with him privately in the hall. She scolded him, and he told her to quiet down because he had a headache. Then he told her we should eat without him.

  That was when I decided it was time for me to leave.

  Nanny had a doctor’s appointment the next day. Daddy was going to drive her. That would be the perfect opportunity.

  I packed a bag as soon as they left and took off.

  I called a taxi to take me to the city. Then I walked to the park and looked around. I felt like a very naughty little girl who had runaway from home.

  I had left Daddy a letter explaining why I left him. I hoped that he would understand and not be too disappointed.

  Nanny’s heart wasn’t doing so well. The doctor explained to Collin that she wouldn’t live that much longer, a year at the most.

  Collin brought Nanny home and up to her room, so she could rest. He went to Becky’s room to tell her the bad news and explain everything to her.

  He saw the note on her bed and sat down to read it.

  She was gone.

  Collin called the servants together and quickly found out that she had left in a taxi. He called the company and found out where she had gone off to.

  He followed her in his car and drove around the city looking for her.

  Collin called a friend from the club and explained what had happened. He was with the police, and he knew Becky. Minutes later, every policeman in the city had her picture, and they were looking for her.

  Ten minutes later, Collin got a call, tel
ling him she had been found. They had her at the police station.

  “Rebecca Burke. We need to take you in for questioning.” The policemen grabbed my arm and pulled me into their car just as I was about to leave the park.

  At the station they brought me into the chief’s office. I recognized the chief of police right away. I was scared now. Would he take me back to Rick’s club?

  “Your owner signed a contract saying that he wouldn’t let you go. Rick explained everything before he sold you. How dare you try to run? Your owner will be here in a minute. I’m glad I won’t be in your skin.” He ignored me then and went back to his work.

  “You’re a policeman? Aren’t you supposed to help me? Slavery is forbidden. It’s against the law.”

  “Still fighting for your rights, Becca? When are you going to give up? The rules don’t apply to you. They can’t because you’re dead.”

  “But I’m still alive. That’s proof enough.”

  “If you are Rebecca then who was the body in your house. If you’re Rebecca, then I would have to arrest you for murder.” He smiled at me cruelly and then went back to work.

  A few minutes later, he looked up and smiled, “Boy, does he look mad.” He pointed out of the window wall that surrounded his office.

  Daddy was walking swiftly towards us, and he sure did look mad.

  He opened the door and looked at the chief. “Thank you, Paul. I’ll call you later to thank you properly.” Daddy then looked down at me.

  I was afraid that he was going to hit me right then and there.

  He pinched my ear and pulled me along with him. No one stopped him, and no one tried to help me.

  Daddy walked me out to his car that way. He opened my door and pushed me in. He slammed the door and locked the car.

  I watched him walk around the car and get in and then lock the doors again. He drove off quickly.