Before Leah can do anything, Tina comes back.
“I’m going to look at the babies, if that’s all right?” Tina says to Riley.
“Sure!” Riley says, then leaves. Leah closes her eyes in dread as Tina walks over to her.
“Hello, Hailey,” Tina says softly. She crouches down. “Or, to use your actual name, Leah.”
“Hi, Tina,” Leah mumbles. Tina sighs.
“What is this? What’s going on?” she asks. Before Leah can come up with an answer, there’s a loud noise. It startles Leah, who, already on edge from being caught, involuntarily pees. Tina hears the hissing sound coming from Leah’s diaper. “Are you having accidents, and you’re just trying to lean into it?” Seizing the lie, Leah nods.
She’ll come up with a better lie later, but for now, the less she has to talk, the better.
“Okay. Well, first, let’s get you changed, okay?” Tina says, picking Leah up and bringing her over to a changing table. She quickly and efficiently changes Leah’s wet diaper. “Now, do you want to come to my work with me? I do work at a daycare, after all. Or, if you want, I can even bring you home.”
Leah considers Tina’s offer. She can see benefits and downsides to all the options.