“…in an hour!”
Laura’s stomach churns. That’s not much time to come up with a plan.
“While you wait, why don’t you play with Dustin?” the woman suggests. She places Laura back in the playpen. The boy – Dustin – looks over at her with some interest. Laura looks away. Suddenly, a bottle is popped into her mouth. Instinct takes over and she suckles hungrily, emptying the milk quickly. “What a good girl,” the woman coos. She carefully pushes Laura closer to Dustin.
“Pway?” Dustin says, holding out a toy to her. Laura looks over at the woman, who is watching. She probably won’t look away until Laura seems to be enjoying herself. Reluctantly, Laura takes the offered toy and begins to play with it. Dustin grins around his pacifier.
Laura plans to pretend to play with Dustin for a few minutes at most, then try to come up with an escape plan. Eventually, it turns into her actually playing with him and enjoying herself. So caught up in the playing, she loses track of time.
She’s brought back to reality when the woman sticks two fingers into the back of her diaper.
“A little damp, but not enough that you need to be changed,” the woman determines. Laura swallows nervously. She hadn’t felt herself go at all. The woman picks her up out of the playpen. “The police should be here soon, so let’s get you dressed!” Laura panics. Having no other option, she starts to cry. “It’s okay, sweetie, I know, you want to be naked,” the woman coos. She pops Laura’s pacifier into her mouth to quiet her. It works.
Laura remains silent as the woman takes her to a nursery and puts her into a pair of shorts and toddler T-shirt. The clothes must belong to Dustin, because they aren’t pink or purple or covered in any girly designs. Just as the T-shirt is pulled over her head, the doorbell rings.
“Oh! That must be the police!” The woman pokes Laura’s nose. “I’ll be right back. Don’t you move an inch!” Laura is set on the floor of the nursery while the woman goes to get the door. Laura’s heart races. This is her best shot at escaping before she gets taken to foster care.