Raising Laila

Chapter 18 - Dinner Troubles

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storms dont last forever

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February 2, 2018: 2.39pm. 

"Hello?!" 

"Leigh-Leigh!" Jade yelled, throwing the front door open. She had invited Leigh Anne over for the afternoon the other day at the studio, she needed some adult conversation with a person face to face other than when she was at work. 

"Jadey!" she reciprocated enveloping Jade in a hug. Laila knew Leigh Anne was coming, she wasn't thrilled she liked it when it was just her and Jade but Leigh Anne was nice and she had given her some candy at the studio the other day. 

"Laila, come say hello to Leigh Anne," Jade instructed, she wasn't going to have her being rude and ignoring guests. Laila sloped out of the living room where she was playing with her dolls, her favourite toys she liked to play Mummys and Daddys with them. 

"Hello," she mumbled quietly still clutching the 'Daddy' doll. 

"Hi princess Lailee," Leigh smiled, appreciating the fact that the six year old wasn't comfortable just yet. 

"Can I go play now?" she directed the question back at Jade. 

"Do you want to come and do something with Leigh Anne and I in the kitchen?" Jade invited. 

"No," Laila replied bluntly.

"Okay, you can go and play," Jade was pretty sure that she was going to say 'no' but thought she would she would check just in case. 

February 2, 2018: 4.02pm. 

Jade and Leigh Anne had been chatting in the kitchen over cups of tea and biscuits since she had arrived, Laila hadn't resurfaced from where she was playing in the living room.  

She didn't want to be alone, but she also didn't want to be with Leigh Anne, not in a mean way just in a 'I like to be just with Jadey and me' kind of way. She was scared that she was going to be naughty and get in trouble in front of Leigh Anne and then maybe they wouldn't be friends anymore and she didn't want to upset Jade. So she just stuck to playing by herself in the living room with her toys. 

"I better go and check on her, I won't be long," Jade said having realised how long she had been left for. 

"Yeah, you go. Call me if you need anything," Leigh smiled as Jade went through the hallway to the living room. 

Laila, just as she had been for the past time, was playing with a few of her dollies, 'Mummy's and Daddy's' her favourite game. 

"Hey baby, are you alright?" 

"Jade!" Laila said excitedly, reaching up to be held. 

"Hey, what's up?!" Jade questioned not having expected the dramatic entrance. 

"I missed you!" 

"You missed me? I was only in the other room?" Jade giggled. 

"But I missed you! Can you play with me?" 

"Oh, not right now baby. Leigh Anne's here, isn't she? Come and play in the kitchen with us and then we can all play together," Jade encouraged. 

"Oh, no I'll play here," Laila sighed, she just wanted to play with Jade! 

"Baby, Leigh'll play as well. She wants to be your friend," Jade tried, "Why don't you just come and sit in the kitchen with us, you don't have to play with us, just sit in there?" she suggested.