@halessinclair
“It’s okay, buddy,” Chelsea bent to scoop Jack up and out of his stroller. Stood and bounced him in her arms while she waited for Haley to arrive at the Black Sea Grill. She rubbed circles into his back. He wasn’t crying yet--but his fussing was getting there. It’d been an abnormally hard afternoon. He was usually a quiet boy. She’d gotten his cries down pat -- hungry, tired, uncomfortable, sad. This was something different. Maybe he was getting sick? She wasn’t sure, but she worried. Walked around the table, jiggling the little boy on her hip, to soothe him. Didn’t even notice it when Haley walked in until Jack reached a hand out to grab the woman.
Her face softened. Patting Jack on the back, Chelsea moved to plant a kiss on Haley’s cheek in greeting. “Hi, honey. Thanks for meeting me!” Hesitant to put Jack back into his stroller, Chelsea decided to sit down at their table and balance him on her lap. “How are you? Hungry?”