“Why are we at Babieth R Uth?” Kaitlin asked.
“I only have a few diapers and pullups from when my nieces visit,” Anna said, pulling into a parking spot and turning off the car. “If I’m going to be taking care of you two, I’ll need more supplies.” She looked at Laura in the rearview mirror. “Especially since you’re such a stinker, Laura.” Laura turned red.
Anna and Kaitlin both got out of the van. Laura held her arms up, waiting for Anna to free her from the car seat. Anna smiled and unbuckled Laura, then picked her up.
“Laura’th thtinky thtill,” Kaitlin complained.
“Of course she is, I haven’t changed her yet,” Anna said. They walked over to the cart corral. Anna placed Laura in the baby seat of the cart. “I’ll do that when we get inside.”
Laura fidgeted as they headed for the store entrance. The initial warmth of the pee and poop had faded, leaving her diaper clammy, smelly, and mushy. She sucked on her pacifier for comfort.
“Tho you have nietheth?” Kaitlin asked finally. Anna nodded.
“Yes. I love them to bits, especially since I don’t have any kids of my own yet. So I keep things around for their visits. You’re lucky. They were supposed to visit this week, but those plans fell through.” Kaitlin digested this information.
“You want kidth?” she asked after a moment. Anna nodded again. “Boyth or girlth?”
“Girls would be best. I love the cute little dresses and hairdos,” Anna replied. A foot from the entrance, she stopped the cart and looked back and forth between Laura and Kaitlin. “In the store, you two need to act like regular kids, okay?” Kaitlin and Laura nodded. “Good. Don’t worry, this should be fast.” They entered the store.
“Welcome to Babies R Us!” chirped the greeter, a cheerful looking young adult. She smiled at Laura. “Smells like someone made a stinky.”
“I poopoo,” Laura mumbled around her pacifier.
“Yes, she had an accident on the way here,” Anna said. “Where’s the bathroom?”
“Back of the store,” replied the employee.
“Thanks.” Anna pushed the cart towards the back of the store, Kaitlin following close behind. When they reached the bathroom, Anna removed Laura from the seat. “You stay out here, Katie. I’ll be right back.” Kaitlin opened her mouth to respond, but Anna had already disappeared into the bathroom.
Kaitlin sat on the bench outside the bathroom, thinking deeply about what Anna had said. She wanted daughters of her own. And two potential daughters had just been dropped in her lap.
Before she could mull on this further, Anna emerged from the bathroom.
“Katie, hold your sister while I use the ladies’ room, okay?” Anna said.
“Okay,” Kaitlin mumbled. Laura was handed over to her. Anna patted Laura’s head.
“Be good, Lauren.” She went back into the bathroom.
“I not Lauren,” Laura said grumpily. Kaitlin nodded.
“And my name’th not Katie. Why won’t the call uth by our nameth?”
“No know.”
“I might have an idea,” Kaitlin began. Anna returned. She took Laura from Kaitlin and set her back into the baby seat.
“Okay, girls, let’s get what we need and head out.” Anna set off. Kaitlin followed. “We have some big plans today.”
“What planth?” Kaitlin asked. Anna began to grab things off the shelves. Kaitlin scowled at the huge package of pullups that was placed in the cart.
“We’re going to go to that mall where you lost the dice and try to track them down. Whether we find them or not, we’ll then go to the magic store and see if we can reverse what happened.”
“And if we can’t?” Kaitlin asked quietly. Anna paused.
“We’ll sleep on it and try to figure something out,” she said after a moment. In record time, they had gotten all the items Anna thought they needed and headed for the checkout.
“Aw, what a cutie,” the cashier said, cooing over Laura. Anna smiled.
“Thanks.”
“What’s her name?”
“Lauren. Her sister Katie is right here.” Anna pointed Kaitlin out. The cashier smiled at her as well.
“She’s adorable. You have beautiful daughters.”
“Thank you,” Anna said. The cashier placed the bags in the cart and waved at them as they left. At the car, Anna first put Laura back into her car seat before putting the bags in the trunk. Kaitlin stood nearby, her arms crossed.
Anna looked over at her. “What?”
“Tell the truth. You jutht want uth to be your daughterth.” Anna closed the trunk. She turned around to face Kaitlin. “Why elthe would you buy all thith baby thtuff?”
Anna took a moment to reply.