Childs Play

The hum of the car engine filled the space between us as I glanced over at Kayla, who was fidgeting with the hem of her pastel pink dress. Her excitement was contagious; I could see it in the way she kept sneaking little smiles in my direction.

"Almost there, princess," I said, reaching over to give her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Yay!" she squealed softly, bouncing a little in her seat. "Are there swings at this park, Mommy?"

"Oh, there are swings, slides, and even a big sandpit," I teased. "Plenty of fun for my baby girl."

Kayla blushed, giggling as she looked out the window. "I'm going to go on the swings first!"

"Swings it is," I replied, laughing. "I'll push you so high you'll think you're flying."

The car turned into the parking lot of the playground, and Kayla's eyes widened as she spotted the colorful equipment. The place was a lively blend of laughter and sunshine, with kids running around and parents lounging on benches.

As I parked the car, I turned to Kayla, who was already unbuckling her seatbelt in a rush. "Hold on, baby. Wait for Mommy," I reminded her, grabbing the small backpack I had packed with a bottle of water, snacks, and wipes—just in case.

Kayla pouted but waited, her impatience written all over her face.

"There we go. Let's go, princess," I said as I opened her door and helped her out. Her hand found mine immediately, and we started walking toward the playground.

Kayla's excitement bubbled over as she skipped alongside me. "Mommy, can I go on the swings right away?"

"Of course, sweetheart," I replied, smiling down at her. "Let's see how high you can go."

We made our way to the swings, and I helped her onto one of the seats. The metal chains clinked as I adjusted it for her. "All set?"

"Push me, Mommy!" she demanded with a giggle, her feet kicking impatiently.

"You got it," I said, stepping behind her. I gave her a gentle push, the swing moving forward before swinging back. Kayla squealed with delight, her laughter blending with the distant sounds of other children playing.

As I pushed her higher, I glanced over to the sandpit and noticed two girls sitting cross-legged, building an elaborate sandcastle. They were both deeply focused, their hands working in perfect harmony. A blonde girl was chatting animatedly with the girl beside her, her bright smile lighting up the moment.

"Mommy, higher!" Kayla's voice pulled me back, and I laughed, giving her another push.

"Hold on tight, baby girl!"

After a few more swings, Kayla slowed herself down with her feet, hopping off ungracefully. She turned to me, her cheeks flushed with joy. "That was fun, Mommy!"

"I'm glad you liked it," I said, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. I glanced back at the sandpit, where the blonde girl had now joined a picnic with her parents on a blanket.

An idea struck me. "Hey, princess, how about we go grab some fish and chips for our own little picnic?"

Kayla's eyes lit up instantly. "Yes! Can we? Please, Mommy?"

"Of course, sweetie," I said, taking her hand. "Let's go for a walk and find a place."

Hand in hand, we left the playground, the warmth of the afternoon sun on our backs as we strolled toward the fish and chip shop I'd spotted down the road. Kayla swung our joined hands lightly, her joy radiating like the sunshine.

"This is the best day ever," she said softly, looking up at me with her bright, happy eyes.

I smiled, giving her hand a little squeeze. "It's just getting started, princess."

The sun warmed our skin as Kayla and I strolled down the tree-lined path, her hand snug in mine. The faint sounds of laughter and the occasional squeak of swings faded behind us as we walked away from the playground.

The walk to the fish and chip shop had been light and cheerful, but as we approached, I noticed an old man sitting on a bench outside. He was hunched over, a cigarette dangling between his fingers as he flipped through a newspaper, its pages rustling softly in the breeze. His eyes briefly flicked up to us, then back down, and I felt a chill I couldn't quite place.

"Come on, princess," I said, giving Kayla's hand a reassuring squeeze as I held the door open for her.

Inside, the scent of fried food hit us immediately, warm and familiar. Kayla's shy demeanor returned, and she instinctively stepped behind me, peeking out from my shoulder.

At the counter stood a man in his mid-forties, his apron slightly stained from the day's work. He looked up as we approached, flashing a friendly smile. "What can I get for you lovely ladies today?"

Kayla stayed quiet, gripping my hand tightly, so I answered for us. "Can we please get a minimum of chips, two pieces of battered fish, and..." I trailed off, glancing back at Kayla to see if she wanted anything else.

She hesitated for a moment before piping up, "Potato cake, please." Her voice was soft but determined.

I smiled. "Yes, make that two potato cakes, please."

"Of course, ladies. Coming right up," the man said with a cheerful nod, jotting down our order.

We stepped aside to wait, finding a small table by the window. As we sat down, Kayla slipped her hand into mine, her fingers curling around mine like she needed the connection.

The shop was quiet except for the occasional hiss of the fryer and the clink of utensils. We were in our own little bubble, but then the man behind the counter broke the silence.

"You know," he said, his voice awkward and hesitant, "my niece is also a... um, a... lesbian."

The words hung in the air like an awkward shadow, and I felt my body tense. Kayla's hand tightened in mine as I processed what he'd just said.

My face grew hot with anger, and the urge to snap at him bubbled up inside me. What the fuck? I wanted to say, but I held myself back. Instead, I took a deep breath and turned to him, forcing my tone to remain calm but firm.

"You should be very happy she felt safe enough to come out to you," I said, locking eyes with him. "And you should be very proud of her."

The man's face turned beet red as he muttered, "Of course. Of course. I didn't mean... I mean, I—" He trailed off and turned back to the fryer, clearly ashamed.

I glanced at Kayla, who gave me a wide-eyed look. Her cheeks were flushed, but there was a hint of admiration in her expression.

"Mommy," she whispered softly, leaning in close.

"It's okay, baby," I whispered back, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze.

The awkward moment lingered, but it didn't take long for the man to place our order on the counter. "Here you go, ladies. Enjoy," he said, avoiding eye contact as he handed over the neatly wrapped bundle of food.

"Thank you," I said curtly, grabbing the package and leading Kayla out of the shop.

Once we were back outside, the warmth of the sun seemed to dissolve some of the tension. I let out a small sigh and turned to Kayla, who was looking up at me with wide, curious eyes.

"You okay, princess?" I asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

She nodded, then smiled softly. "You're amazing, Mommy."

Her words melted away the last of my irritation, and I leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Anything for you, baby girl. Now, let's go find a spot to eat our fish and chippies, hmm?"

Kayla giggled, and we started walking hand in hand again, the awkward exchange behind us, replaced by the warmth of being together.

As we strolled away from the shop, Kayla's voice broke the silence. "Mommy... do you think it was rude of him to assume we were lesbian?"

I sighed, the frustration from the encounter still lingering. "Princess, it was rude," I admitted, squeezing her hand a little tighter. "Not because it's wrong to be seen as lesbian—because, well, we are together—but because it's not his place to comment on something so personal. It's like he just assumed our entire relationship based on how we were standing there."

Kayla nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I mean... I guess we do look pretty couple-y," she said with a soft giggle, her cheeks flushing.

I couldn't help but smile at that. "We do, don't we? Holding hands like this, the way we look at each other... our chemistry is probably written all over our faces."

Kayla looked up at me, her brown eyes sparkling with affection. "I'm not ashamed of us, Mommy. Not at all. I just... I don't like when people feel like they can comment on it, you know?"

I stopped walking for a moment, turning to face her. I cupped her cheek, brushing my thumb along her soft skin. "Baby girl, I'm not ashamed of us either. I'm so proud to have you by my side. But I get what you're saying. It's frustrating when people feel entitled to make assumptions or comments about us, especially when they don't really know us."

Kayla leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment before opening again. "I guess I just wasn't expecting it. It caught me off guard."

I nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I get that, princess. It's never easy dealing with stuff like that, but you handled it so well. I'm really proud of you."

Her cheeks flushed again, and she leaned into me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Thanks, Mommy. You always make me feel safe."

I kissed the top of her head, holding her close for a moment. "That's my job, baby girl. Now, let's find a nice spot to eat, yeah?"

We walked hand in hand until we found a shady patch of grass near a small garden bed. It was quiet and cozy, the perfect spot to enjoy our lunch. I spread out a napkin on the grass, and we sat down together, setting the fish and chips between us.

Kayla opened the bundle, her eyes lighting up as the smell of crispy fried food wafted into the air. "This looks amazing!"

"It does, doesn't it?" I grinned, reaching for a chip. As I popped it into my mouth, I noticed Kayla watching me, her smile soft and full of affection.

"Thank you, Mommy," she said, her voice quiet but sincere.

"For what, baby?" I asked, leaning in to brush a strand of hair from her face.

"For being you," she said simply, her eyes glistening.

My heart swelled at her words, and I pulled her into a gentle hug. "You make me better, princess. You really do."

We stayed like that for a moment before breaking apart to dig into our food. The earlier tension from the shop was forgotten as we laughed and shared our meal, basking in the warmth of each other's presence.

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