I'm back. Another instalment for everyone. Enjoy!
Part 28
Jill sat on the bench and deposited Madison on her lap as she did so. She reached into the side pocket of the nappy bag and retrieved the bottle of apple juice. She cradled Madison in her arms, slipped his dummy out and replaced it with the teat. Madison suc-ked the cool liquid immediately. The sweet diluted taste of apple juice filled his mouth and sent a series of intense taste pulses through his senses. He turned his head towards her chest and guzzled on the cool liquid.
Jill was pleased he had taken it. She felt he didnât need milk at the moment. It was more important to address his thirst.
Madison was happily guzzling the cool juice when the door to the cubicle opened and the young mother emerged guiding her toddler in front of her. He immediately made a bee-line towards Jill and Madison.
âUuuunnnn,â he chortled pointing at Madison.
His mother had just replaced his nappy bag and looked around.
âYes sweetie the babyâs having a drink. Come here darling Mummyâs got a drink for you,â she offered. He turned and toddled towards his mother then stopped and turned to look at the pair.
âBubba,â he murmured.
âYes dear itâs a bubba, just like you. Come here rascal,â she grinned and grabbed the young boy depositing him into his stroller, taking his pacifier out and pushing the teat of a bottle into his mouth. The small boy took the bottle and sat back in the stroller and could be heard drinking the clear liquid. The mother fiddled with the harness until she was satisfied her little boy was safely restrained.
Jill looked down at Madison. Some of the juice had trickled out the side of his mouth. She careful picked up the corner of his bib and wiped it away.
âSheâs a beautiful wee girl,â the young mother gushed. She was standing near Jill looking at Madison. âHow old is she?â
âNearly three,â replied Jill. âYip she is a beautiful wee thing, arenât you darling?â she cooed to Madison. âMind you Iâm allowed to say that,â she laughed. The young mother joined her sharing the joke that only mothers understand. She looked across at her little boy. âHow old is your wee fellow?â asked Jill.
âNearly two,â she replied. âHeâs a good wee boy, arenât you darling?â The boy fidgeted and smiled around the teat. âWell I had better get going plenty to do and not much time to do it,â she remarked as she checked her boy.
âI know the feeling,â responded Jill as Madison started suc-king air.
âTake care,â said the young mother sincerely as she manoeuvred the stroller towards the door. It swished open.
âWe will,â replied Jill and the young mother left. Jill sat Madison up after removing the bottle and depositing it back in the bag. She wiped his mouth then stood turning him into the front hold. As she deposited the bag on the floor Madison belched. âOooo good girl,â she cooed then deposited him into the pram before placing the nappy bag under the carriage. They left the Parent Room and head out into the main thoroughfare.
Jill joined the throng as she wended her way through the large shopping complex. Madison reclined in the pram taking in all the sights. He started to twist around to see more. Jill smiled to herself he was clearly captivated by the environment. She watched as he twisted around until he was kneeling gazing out over the back of the pram. His dress had ridden up exposing his plastic covered nappied bottom.
Madison was spellbound by the sights and sounds around him. He had never been in a place so large and so busy. He was mesmerised by the antics of the people. He felt the front of his nappy suddenly grow warm and wet. He ignored it. Suddenly he spied two policemen walking towards them among the crowd. He stiffened and clutched at the pram tightly.
Jill saw him stiffen and his small knuckles grow white. She looked around to see what would have suddenly brought the change in his demeanour. Then she saw the blue uniforms and caps of the two policemen. They were strolling towards them involved in an animated conversation. Her heart jumped and its beat quickened. She knew she had to remain calm if not herself she had to for Madisonâs sake.
Madison started to shiver in fright. His heart started to pound. Now he was in trouble. This was surely the end of the line. He could visualize what would happen. They would take him with them and arrest his new âmotherâ. He would be back to his father and god knows what he would do. He could almost feel the fists pounding his small frail body. Madison couldnât cope with the possible scenario. His lip started to quiver and he slumped into the pram and started to cry.
Jill stopped the pram immediately. He was distressed that was obvious and she knew why. She knew, also, she had to play this very carefully.
âMadeleine darling whatâs wrong baby,â she cooed in concern coming to his aid. She lifted him into her arms. Immediately Madison drew himself into her almost as if he was trying hide inside her. He cried and cried. âOh baby itâs alright Mummyâs got her little girl,â soothed Jill rubbing his back. âIs my baby hungry is that whatâs wrong angel?â Jill said softly watching the policemen out of the corner of her eye. One looked in her direction momentarily then back to his partner and continued the conversation. Clutching the quivering body of her baby Jill slowly pushed the pram through the mall.
Jill knew perfectly well that her actions and behaviour towards Madison were criminal. She knew all too well that if the law intervened she would be arrested and charged with kidnapping even though Madison had arrived at her house and she had sheltered him. In the eyes of the law that did not matter. It was her responsibility to return him to the authorities so he could go back to his family. Equally she knew that she could not and would not do that. She had made a solemn promise to Madison to protect him. Protecting him meant keeping him safe and away from those forces likely to injure him. She hitched him up with an arm under his bottom as she pushed the empty pram through the complex.
Madison was slumped against her his face close to her neck. She could hear him frantically suc-king his dummy for all it was worth. From the warmth emanating from his nappy she knew he had wet himself. That was not unexpected given the gravity of the situation. She could feel him clutch at her shirt and pull himself tighter. His crying had subsided to a quiet sniffle.
âItâs okay darling,â she said softly and she walked slowly through the mall. âMummyâs got you. Youâre safe with Mummy angel,â she softly assured him.
The policemen drew level with them then continued on their way without even acknowledging their presence. Sure they would have been seen that was the nature of these people. It was their job to scrutinize people as they patrolled the complex but a mother and baby did not rate on their radar. They were not least bit interested in them. Jill had done the right thing in carrying Madison. It cemented the mother and baby picture.
Madison looked past Jillâs head and watched the two policemen saunter down the concourse. He was relieved that more distance was being put between them and him. He felt Jill pat his bottom in a reassuring way. Madison continued to grip her shirt. He was still unsure and nervous. Just because they were walking away did not necessarily mean they wouldnât come back. Jill half turned and watched the pair disappear.
âItâs okay sweetie theyâre going. See, they didnât take any notice of you. I told you they wouldnât see that boy, didnât I?â she said softly in his ear.
âAh huh,â he murmured.
âAll they saw was a gorgeous baby girl with her Mummy, didnât they?â she went on.
ââPose so,â he mumbled.
âOf course they did darling. You continue to behave like a good baby and everything will be fine. Iâve got you. Youâre safe with me,â Jill reaffirmed. She had to reinforce his predicament. He was a baby pure and simple. He would always be baby. Thatâs where his destiny lay. And slowly, ever so slowly Jill was moulding him in that direction. Madison nuzzled her neck. Jill smiled to herself.
Jill continued to walk through the vast shopping complex carrying her baby and pushing the stroller. She headed for a large coffee shop. It was necessary to get out of the âpublicâ and into somewhere more discrete. In addition she needed a break and a chance to gather herself. Inside she was fluttering away, her heart was pounding and she was sweating slightly. It had been a close call. Jill felt the nervous tension just as much as her baby after all her very existence was on the line too. She knew very well that she would have been up for a kidnapping charge regardless of the circ-umstances. Madison was not legally her baby that was the reality.
Jill managed to steer the stroller in the cafĂ© and up to the counter as these thoughts and realisations bounded through her mind. While Jill waited she rubbed Madisonâs in a reassuring manner. She could still feel his small body trembling. She could tell by the warmth radiating from his bottom that he had wet his nappy in fright. That she could understand because after all the situation had been disconcerting for her but it had to be more so for him. His existence would have been seriously under threat had those policemen been really on the prowl for him. They obviously hadnât and that was in some way comforting.
The customer in front moved on and Jill approached the counter and the mild aged woman behind it. She eyed Jill and Madison up and down then smiled broadly.
âHow can I help madam?â
Jill quickly ordered a muffin, two glasses of water and tea for herself. After she paid the bill she hitched Madison up and looked a bit uncomfortable.
âAnd I was wondering if I could feed my baby in here?â inquired Jill a little tentatively.
âSure madam. If you need a bottle warmed I can certainly do that, itâs no problem,â the woman responded.
âOh no itâs not that,â Jill replied looking for the right words. âI mean âfeedâ her,â she emphasised. The woman looked puzzled momentarily then the implication of Jillâs question hit.
âOh you mean breast feed,â she asked. Jill nodded. âOf course madam, feel free. In fact if you sit in the nook down the end of the cafĂ©âŠâ and the woman leaned over the counter and point down to the end of the room to a set of comfortable chairs. âIf you go down there and make yourself comfortable Iâll bring everything to you,â she stated. âAny way why should you ask?â she finished.
Jill was relieved and starting patting Madisonâs back as he started to nuzzle her neck again and whimper slightly. âOh I thought Iâd ask because I know some places frown on mothers feeding their babies. They say it offends the customers,â she described.
The woman nodded in understanding. âHave no fear here madam. We donât have a problem with that. Any mother can feed their baby and if anyone complains you direct them to me and Iâll sort them out,â she responded in a caring way. âWe have an open door policy here so if your baby needs a feed you feed her,â she said looking affectionately at Madison. She stroked Madisonâs hair. âSheâs a gorgeous wee thing, isnât she,â she bubbled. Jill smiled broadly and relieved then looked at her baby.
âYes she is,â she said softly. Madison whimpered. âItâs alright darling Mummy will give you something soon.â
âThatâs right you attend to her and Iâll bring your order over. Donât worry about a thing. Iâve had little ones of my own and when they want a feed they have to have it. Now you go right ahead,â she said in a satisfied and authoritative manner. âOh and madam if you leave the stroller by the door itâll be safe and itâll mean you wonât have to try and negotiate your way passed tables. In fact can I help?â she offered.
Jill looked at the stroller and realised she would need his nappy bag. âAhhh yes if thatâs no trouble,â she asked hopefully.
âNo problem. Just a minuteâŠâ the woman paused and scanned the area behind her. âAmelia,â she called and a dark haired teenaged girl appeared from a side door.
âYes Mrs Higginson,â she said as she emerged from the side room and removed her rubber gloves.
âAh Amelia can you help this mother with her stroller?â she asked. âAs you can see sheâs got her hands full with her baby,â the lady iterated.
âYes Mrs Higginson,â the girl replied and bustled around the end of the counter.
The lady turned to Jill. âJust go with Amelia sheâll fix everything then Iâll bring your order down.â Just then Madison mewled again but this time there was some agitation in it.
âI know bubby,â whispered Jill kissing the side of his head. âSsshhhhâŠâ she soothed as she followed Amelia.
The young café assistant took the stroller and propelled it towards the entrance and an alcove just inside the door.
âDo you need anything?â she inquired of Jill.
âYes please could you bring her nappy bag itâs in the tray underneath.â
âCertainly madam,â the young girl responded bending down to retrieve the bag. Jill waited patiently. âThis way madam,â she directed and walked ahead of Jill down to the comfortable chairs tucked away in the corner. She stood aside as Jill passed her. âSheâs a beautiful baby,â the girl remarked sincerely. Jill stopped and rubbed her babyâs back again.
âDo you think so?â she inquired.
âOh yes she is, sheâs gorgeous. How old is she?â the young assistant inquired.
âSheâs two,â responded Jill. âArenât you precious?â she said quietly to Madison. He whimpered and buried his face further into her shoulder suc-king vigorously on his dummy. âSheâs a bit fractious at the moment because sheâs hungry,â continued Jill.
The girl nodded. âTheyâre gorgeous at that age. Iâve got a two year old brother and heâs neat, a bit naughty,â she giggled. âBut really cute.â She lifted the nappy bag and placed it in one of the chairs. âIâll put this here and you make yourself comfortable. Mrs Higginson will be along soon with your order,â she remarked and left.
Jill settled herself in the other comfortable chair shifting her baby until he was settled on her lap. She looked around the café as she slowly undid the buttons of her blouse and unclipped the strap on her nursing bra. The café was certainly busy. It seemed to be quite a popular place. There were different sorts of people either engaged in earnest conversations, pawing over newspapers, talking on cell-phones or tapping away in computers. They seemed to ignore the mother and her baby. She got the occasional glance but nothing of significance.
Jill turned her attention to her baby. He was her priority. She cradled him in her arms turning him towards her chest. Madison mewled some more and let out a squawk which surprised him. He wanted her more than anything.
âI know darling,â Jill cooed to him. âMummyâs got some milk here angel.â And she removed his pacifier then gathering her breast in one hand and the back of his head with the other she pushed the soft fleshy morsel into his partially open mouth. Immediately Madison whimpered and suc-ked the nipple in. It started to tease his tongue. He suc-ked hard and warm milk filled his mouth which caused him to swallow. His stomach rejoiced.
Jill sighed as her baby started to ingest the milk. She hitched him closer and more comfortable on her lap. She rejoiced as his firm and regular suc-kling sent orgasmic waves through her body. She loved breast feeding. She kept a soft maternal eye on her baby. She could see his jaw working on her breast. She could hear his audible swallows and watch his throat regularly contract. She marvelled as his free hand softly stroked the soft pearly white skin of breast. To her this was the ultimate maternal experience. As far as she was concerned this made her the best mother in the world. She rejoiced in her ability to satisfy her baby.
She removed her hand from behind his head there was no need to hold it. She wasnât forcing him to feed he was doing it because he wanted too. Jill lovingly shifted a lock of his blond hair away from his eye. She affectionately stroked his cheek with the back of her fingers. Madisonâs deep brown eyes focused on her. To Jill it felt as though he was drawing her into him. The occasional blink did not interrupt his gaze. She leaned down and kissed the side of his head. He smiled at her around her nipple. She could see the milk on his lips. Removing her hand she preened the folds of his dress and inspected the white creases and folds of his nappy inside the transparent plastic pilcher. The silver nappy pins winked at her as they worked to hold the cloth together. The pink tips represented safety and security as they hid sharp tip that could pierce anything and latched the pin tightly shut. She stroked his bottom feeling the soft padding through the plastic and warmth radiating from the wet cloth. She knew he was wet. She was interrupted from her wanderings by a voice.