Done Adulting Vol. 1 Ch. 105

From the car, the lodge appeared in a state of elegant decay. The main building looked to be at least fifty years old, and the paint was weathered to a rustic chic across the lattice wrapping around the porch. On either side were activity buildings, and beyond those, cabins stretched out in a horseshoe around the cove of the lake. There were people walking around the grounds, but it didn’t seem all that busy, more a last weekend hurrah for the hangers on who wouldn’t let the best part of autumn go yet.

Jamie waited with Mel and Manda in the car while Becky checked them in, returning with the keys and navigating slowly along the drive that ran behind the cabins until she reached theirs.

“Since you did all the hard work, Mom, why don’t Mel and I unload the car, and you can get Jamie situated? I promised him a bubble bath after that nastiness.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” Becky took Jamie and his diaper bag into the cabin. It wouldn’t win any prizes, but there was a warm, homely tone to the rustic decor, and though it wasn’t the latest style, everything was clean and in good repair, certainly nicer than anything Jamie had ever stayed in on vacation. Becky stuck her head into two rooms before finding the one with the crib she had requested. “Wadduya think,” she asked.

“It’s nice,” he said, “Thank you for bringing us here.”

“You’re welcome.” She loved how polite Jamie always was, or almost always was, his “please’s” and “thank you’s” and “May I’s”. He had manners, and which isn’t true of many regressed littles, and they’ll never learn them.

She set the diaper bag down and took the pack of wipes out, then carried him back through the living room. They passed Amanda and Mel going out for another load. Becky’s suitcase was already in the master bedroom. She deposited him on the lid of the toilet and began running water in the tub, putting some complimentary shampoo in to make bubbles. She stepped out came back a minute later wearing a robe and carrying her toiletry kit. Something else she wouldn’t be able to do with a regressed little – leave him alone next to a tub of water, though it had taken her some time to accept it wasn’t a risk.

“Stand up for me.” He did, and she undressed him, closely inspecting his footies to make sure Amanda hadn’t missed anything, and then wiping down his entire diaper area until the thick layer of rash cream Amanda had spread on him was gone before cleaning his lower back and down the backs and insides of his thighs. “Up you go,” she said as she lifted him into the tub. He sat down and instantly untensed at the feel of the hot water.

“Scoot over for me,” Becky said. Jamie did. “Sorry, I meant the other way.”

Jamie’s eyes went wide. “Why are you taking your ...”

“Because I want a bath with my Baby Bear.” He didn’t know how he felt about that, and he sat quietly, too bashful to speak up or look in her general direction.

Becky disrobed and got into the tub behind him, pushing the water up to Jamie’s arm pits when she sat down. He was thankful for the bubbles. Still, he was careful where he put his eyes, not that there was much to see. It obviously didn’t bother Becky, reinforcing Jamie’s understanding that in some ways she saw him as just a toddler, and Jamie knew sometimes mothers take baths with their toddlers.

“No need to be embarrassed,” she said in a gentle way, a reminder more than assertion She reached over and gently guided him toward her, turned him over so he was facing away from her, and pulled him back so he was resting against her, his front still underwater. He let himself relax against her and sighed.

“I’m glad we’re on vacation together, Baby Bear.”

“Me, too,” he yawned.

“Did you not get enough sleep in the car?”

“It’s the water. And you.”

“And me?”

“Mhmm.”

“Then you just relax.” She unwrapped the hotel soap and started to wash him from his neck to his feet. He just squirmed under the sensations of her hands, slick, firm, soft, and ticklish.

Amanda gently knocked on the door and entered without pausing, expecting only one of them to be in the tub. When she saw, she quickly turned around and said from outside the door, “I was just seeing if you needed me to do anything.”

“Do you mind bringing a diaper and one of his shirt’s to my room? He and I are gonna take a little nap.”

“Sure,” Amanda said. She went back into the room she was sharing with Mel after dropping off the things for her Mom.

“Why are you so red,” Mel asked. She was already flopped on the bed with her shoes off.

“Just walked in on Mom in the tub with Jamie.”

“So?”

“So she was naked. Perfectly natural for a little, but too much of an eyeful for me.”

“Not a big deal.”

“No,” Amanda said as she unpacked. “Which half of the dresser do you want?”

“We’re only here for four days. Why unpack?”

“To not be wrinkled? To have a cleaner room?”

“Meh.”

“Slob.”

“Goodie two-shoes.” Amanda finished putting her things away and put Mel’s away for her.

“Thanks, Mom,” Mel teased.

“I’ve shared a room with you before. Can we keep the piles on the floor to a minimum?”

“See? This is why you’re such a great big sister. I don’t even put my laundry away.”

“You’d make a great big sister.”

“Not a superstar like you.”

“I am not. There’s no such a thing.”

“Wanna go see what’s in back?” The living room, with its tall windows facing the lake, opened on to a screened-in porch with a breakfast table and a bench swing. The sidewalk from the cabin connected to the longer sidewalk leading toward the far end of the cove where a boathouse stood and in the other direction toward the lodge. In their backyard was a firepit with a grill surrounded by four Adirondack chairs. A cord of wood was stacked inside the porch.

“What else is here,” Amanda asked knowing Mel had been here before.

“Boats, a game room, activities in the lodge. A bigger firepit up there, some hiking trails. Sing-alongs at the campfire. I don’t know if they have all the outdoor activities during the off season. I’m pretty sure they have a little care and some activities just for littles,” Mel told her.

“I doubt we’ll be using them. You know how Jamie is.”

“Does that bother you? That he doesn’t like little care?”

“It doesn’t bother me that he doesn’t like little care, but I would like it if he did. Just, ya know, enjoy stuff for littles more, connect with other littles. He doesn’t do so good around little-only things. Plus we might want to come back here someday, and that won’t work so good if Jamie gets himself thrown out of their little care,” Amanda quipped mostly jokingly.

“He doesn’t seem to have a problem being littler around me.”

“I know. Even more so than with Mom and me in some ways. You’re just special to him.”

“I never understood exactly why.”

“Promise you won’t tell?”

“Yeah.”

“Two reasons. First, you treat him like a person, not just a little. Second, you have red hair.”

“Seriously,” Mel laughed.

“Seriously. He’s infatuated with you. And you let him know he’s special.”

“That’s so cute.”

“It is,” she said. “I had a camper that one summer who told everyone he was gonna marry me. It was sweet.”

“Don’t tell Donna. She’ll dye her hair,” Mel joked.

“So what do you want to do this afternoon?”

“Nap until dinner time?”

“We both slept on the way here.”

“Must be the fresh air. And not having to do any schoolwork.”

“Fair point,” Amanda yawned. “Which side of the bed do you want?”