“I’ll stay in the stroller,” Leah says.
“Hmm. Okay, then. But a baby that stays in a stroller the whole time she’s at a park wouldn’t be wearing a pull-up,” Tina says. Leah groans. “You’re the one who wants to practice her acting.” Tina takes a changing mat out of the diaper bag, lays it on the bench, and then transfers Leah to the changing mat.
“Keep sucking that pacifier, sweetie,” Tina reminds Leah as she removes Leah’s clothes and training pants. Leah suckles urgently, yearning for some form of comfort while being publicly changed into a diaper. Thankfully, the change is fast and easy, and Leah is buckled back into the stroller.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Tina says suddenly. She gets up and begins to push the stroller around the park. They pass by a woman breastfeeding her child. Leah’s stomach picks that exact moment to rumble. The woman looks up and beams at Leah.
“What an adorable little girl!” the woman coos. Tina beams.
“Thank you. Unfortunately, she ate through everything I packed already. And I don’t know if you heard, but-”
“No, I heard her tummy rumble,” the woman says with a laugh. “Here.” She digs a bottle full of milk out of her diaper bag and holds it out.
“I can’t take that,” Tina says politely.
“Nonsense! I have too many bottles and too much milk. I swear, I’m like a cow, I make so much milk. Please, feed your baby girl.”
“Thank you so very much,” Tina says, taking the bottle from the woman. “I feel like I owe you a conversation now.”
“Oh, that would be great. I’m still brand-new to this mothering thing, so I’m stuck with the kid all day and miss adult conversations.”
“I’m more than happy to oblige.” Tina removes Leah from the stroller and joins the woman on the bench. She holds Leah in her lap. “I’m Tina.”
“Laura. This is Benji.”
“My daughter’s name is Hailey.”
“Hello, Hailey,” Laura coos at Leah. Leah forces a weak smile. “Adorable.”
“Thanks.” Tina removes Leah’s pacifier and puts the bottle nipple in her mouth. “Act,” Tina whispers into Leah’s ear. Internally cringing over consuming a stranger’s breastmilk, at fifteen no less, Leah drinks.
Tina and Laura chat for what feels like hours. By the end of it…