Once they got home, Tina brought Leah into the house.
“All right, Leah, we’re just here so that I can change you,” Tina said, carrying Leah directly into the bathroom. Once in the bathroom, she laid Leah on the counter. “I’ll be right back.” Tina left. She returned shortly with changing supplies and a diaper.
“A diaper?” Leah asked. Tina began to remove Leah’s clothes and wet pull-ups.
“Yes. You might be in a pull-up now, but a diaper will be better at making you seem like a toddler,” Tina said. She wiped Leah down. “Get used to wearing and using them.” She taped the diaper on. “For number one and number two. No more using the potty.”
“O-okay,” Leah said.
“Don’t forget, you were the one that wanted to be treated like a toddler all the time,” Tina reminded her. She finished the diaper change and redressed her stepdaughter. “All right. Let’s go get you ready for daycare.”
“How?” Leah asked. Tina smiled.
“Well, we’ll need to get you a full wardrobe, plenty of changing supplies, toddler-friendly food, even new furniture!”
“New furniture?”
“You don’t think I’d let a girl as little as you sleep in a big girl bed, do you?” Tina asked. To her pleasure, Leah looked like she might be rethinking this already. “We’re going to set up a nice nursery for you.”
“…Okay,” Leah mumbled reluctantly.
“Oh! I should take you to the salon, too. That hairstyle isn’t suitable for a toddler,” Tina added. She brought Leah back to the car and buckled her into a car seat. Leah’s diaper crinkled under her. “Where do you want to go first, Leah?”