A Little Love

Chapter 16

Lauren ran a hand through her long hair and sighed. She was caught up with some off her students who had stayed back after class to talk to her about the upcoming test they had but was now late to pick up Camila.

"Can we know what the essay question is going to be?" One girl asked hopefully.

"Wouldn't be much of a test then, would it?" Lauren chuckled. "Look, I'm late to pick up my kid, but I'm sure you're all going to do well," Lauren reassured them.

"Miss, you have a kid?" Another student questioned in surprise.

"Got to go," Lauren smiled, escaping the situation as she ushered the students out of her classroom, grabbing her handbag and turning off the lights.

"What's their name?"

"How old is your baby, miss?"

Lauren didn't reply, walking in the direction of the year ten classrooms. She felt a pang of guilt as she looked in through the window of the door to see Camila sat at her desk, the last child left. She was about to open the door when she noticed a series of colourful drawings on the wall. She scoured the wall for the piece with Camila's name on it, quickly locating it at the bottom corner. She frowned at the stark ability difference between Camila's childish crayon drawing of a banana compared to the still life drawings of the other students. She drew her eyes away, pushing the classroom door open.                                                                      

"LoLo!" Camila squealed, running over and hugging Lauren.

"Hi, angel," Lauren reciprocated the hug. "I'm so sorry I'm late," she said, helping Camila into her coat.

"You've had a really good day, haven't you, Camila?" Miss Epseley said, handing her her book-bag.

"Up," Camila instructed, reaching for Lauren.

"You can walk, little Miss," Lauren laughed. "Say goodbye."

"Bye," Camila waved to Miss Epseley as they walked out. "Now carry me, little Miss," Camila smiled mischievously, giggling as Lauren feigned a dramatic gasp.

"Alright," Lauren gave in, bending down and opening her arms for Camila and standing up once she was safely in her arms.

"Good girl," Camila giggled, swinging her legs happily. 

"Feeling sassy, are we?" Lauren smiled. "Doll, did you have an accident?" Lauren asked, feeling the heaviness of Camila's padding. The potty training hadn't been going well since the incident with Serena, which wasn't surprising to Lauren seeing as Camila's mother had responded so negatively to Camila's effort. "It's okay," Lauren sighed. "Let's just clean you up in the car."

"I didn't have an accident," Camila whined, burying her face in Lauren's chest.

"It's okay, baby," Lauren promised as they walked out of the school building. Camila pushed her thumb into her mouth as thoughts of her Mummy came flooding back.

"Aw, your little girl looks just like her Mummy," an older lady said to Lauren with a smile.

"Uh, thank you," Lauren smiled, unsure of how to respond. Correcting her seemed like something that would do more harm than good. "Okay, Camz, I need you to be a big girl for me," Lauren said as they reached her car. "I'm going to lay you down in the backseat," she said, opening the car door and putting down the child in her arms. "No, Camz," Lauren sighed as Camila immediately wriggled off of the seat.

"Not wet," Camila insisted.

"Mila, I'm counting to three," Lauren said. "One...Two..,"

Camila burst into tears.