Maddy was sitting on the edge of Janice’s desk, kicking her feet idly while Janice finished up a bit of work that she had put off to go change Maddy’s diaper. Maddy had noted that quitting time had already gone and past, so she was anxious to leave, but she didn’t pester her girlfriend. After all, she was the reason they had to leave a little late. With a confident exhale Janice dramatically closed an application on her computer, she looked to Maddy with a smile and Maddy smiled back getting the message. Janice motioned with her hand and Maddy grabbed it as the two made their way out of the office. They entered the elevator and took it down to the company’s underground parking garage.

“Ugh this week feels like it has gone on forever,” Janice complained as the two exited the elevator to the industrial garage.

“It went by pretty quickly for me,” Maddy mused.

“Because you’ve been spending the whole time working on that ‘side project’ of yours. What is that about anyway?”

“It’s just something I wanna do,” Maddy explained vaguely, blushing a bit as she did. “I wanted to present it at the board during the conference trip.”

“That conference trip that’s supposed to be our free vacation?” Janice asked pointedly. Maddy chuckled guiltily.

“It’s just one meeting over the whole weekend, then we can go back to the beach.”

“And it’s a board meeting? Did your mother get you that spot?”

“Yeah,” as soon as Maddy said this Janice returned a suspicious look. The look said everything without words having to be said. It said, “What ulterior motive does she have for this.” “Whatever reason she has,” Maddy continued somewhat ignoring the look. “A board meeting is a board meeting. It’s a chance for me to show I’m worth something, and I have a good idea. I’ve done my research. They can’t ignore it just because I'm the one giving the idea.” Janice did not look entirely convinced.

“Well as long as it’s just the one meeting, I guess,” Janice relented. The two were silent for a bit as they rounded a corner in the garage.

“I thought I heard you over there,” An older melodic voice called out as the couple rounded a corner. The source of the voice was none other than Marie Schwartsman, standing a few feet away from her car, a bulky luxury S.U.V. with a driver waiting by the front.

Marie was not dressed professionally exactly. The large bulky coat she was wearing didn’t look as sharp as Janice’s blazer for example, but it did look comfortable. It was thick and furry and cinched at her waist with a large belt, whatever she was wearing under the coat couldn’t be seen. Marie’s hair was appropriately a similar shade of blonde to Maddy’s, but with a few hints of grey.

“Hello mother,” Maddy said with a notable change in her tone.

“You must have been working late Janice. Good to see that initiative.”

“Yes ma’am,” Janice said professionally.

“Was there something you needed?” Maddy cut in with notable tension.

“No, it’s just rare I get to see you these days,” Marie smiled, though there was a subtle undercurrent of chastisement to what she was saying. “I’m sure your busy with Janice. I do hope she’s taking care of you.”

“I do my best ma’am,” Janice responded quietly.

“We’re doing fine mom,” Maddy said a little too loudly. Marie didn’t let it phase her and smiled gently while her daughter wore an obvious frown.

“Well, we do have plans Miss Schwatsman,” Janice said interrupting the silence and moving things along. “I hate to cut the conversation short.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it dear. I just heard you two and wanted to say hello,” Marie waved the two on with a smile. “I won’t keep you. Enjoy your weekend.” With that Janice took Maddy’s hand and the two began walking off. “I hope you’re still using your car seat,” Janice winced a bit a what Marie added.

“You know I don’t need to ride in a booster seat, right?” Maddy responded.

“Nonsense. You’re still wearing diapers, right? Then you need to be riding in a car seat.”

“I’m thirty-two. I have a job. How exactly would I get to work if I had to ride in a booster seat?”

“You have Janice drive, don’t you?”

“That’s not …” Maddy struggled to find the words to respond to that.

“I’ll make sure she does Miss Schwartsman,” Janice said before Maddy could respond.

“Thanks Janice. I’m glad you’re there to take care of my daughter,” Marie said thankfully. Maddy made a move to say something back, but Janice pinching her arm subtly got her to stop. “I know she can be a handful.” Janice had to pinch Maddy again.

“She’s not. I promise,” Janice responded kindly. “I enjoy spending time with her. If you don’t mind, we’re eager to get to that.”

"Right sorry," Marie bowed apologetically. As Maddy and Janice walked away they could hear Marie’s doors opening and closing before the engine started.

“I know,” Janice said preempting what Maddy was about to say.

“She can be so frustrating,” Maddy complained anyway. “I mean does she really think about what she says? If I really had to ride everywhere in a booster seat, how would I get anywhere? How would I get anything done on my own? I’m perfectly capable of driving myself. Just because I wear diapers doesn’t mean I can’t drive. Well, I could if I got my license, but you know what I mean.”

“I know I know,” Janice said soothingly. “She can be very old fashioned.”

“It’s not even old fashioned it’s just …”

“Yeah,” Janice said agreeing with the word Maddy couldn’t think of. “But we’ve got a whole weekend without her,” Janice playfully elbowed Maddy in the ribs. “We’re still going to pick out beach outfits tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah,” Maddy said smiling a little more. "Gotta find you a hot bikini."

"And you a cute sun suit," Janice responded quietly. “Come on,” Janice picked up the pace as they walked to her car, a more modest sized sedan especially compared to Marie’s S.U.V. Janice attempted to open the back of her car without causing a fuss, but as she looked back at the pouting Maddy she knew her hopes at going without a fuss were dashed.

“Really?” Maddy looked offended. The reason for her offence was in the back seat of Janice’s car.

Marie wasn’t totally wrong earlier. It was common convention that, until they were potty trained, children rode in booster seats with five-point harnesses regardless of the age. Since most people weren’t potty trained until they were around twenty-one, there were cars made to accommodate the fittingly large booster seats they required. Having two kids herself, Janice had one such car. The back had no seats by default, only places to attach the said large booster seats. Janice’s back seat was made up of two such booster seats, leftovers from her kids which were now potty trained and away at college. She kept them though. Not only because buying a new car was expensive even for her, but also because as soon as her two diaper dependents left her household, another one came in.

“Maddy …”

“Don’t ‘Maddy’ me,” Maddy said pouting. “You really think after I just got done complaining about it, I’d want to ride in a booster seat?”

“Well yeah,” Janice wasn’t wrong to think this. Most of the time Maddy did ride in the car’s booster seat. Part of it was just being used to it, but really, it was her preferred seat, even if she was reluctant to admit it.

“Ugh unbelievable.”

“Maddy,” Janice spoke calmly and grabbed Maddy’s hands. “You ride in your booster seat all the time.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to right now.”

“I don’t think that’s true. You’re just mad at your mother,” Maddy glared at Janice. “And that’s warranted I’m not arguing with you. She can be very disrespectful and dismissive of you. You have every right to be mad.”

“And you’re making me use the stupid car seat anyway!” Maddy cut in through gritted teeth.

“I’m not making you do anything,” Janice quickly defended. “I’m not going to make you ride in the booster seat and I’m not suggesting you ride in it because I think you’re a child. I just know that you prefer it and I would hate for you to be uncomfortable just because your mom made you mad.”

“I don’t prefer it,” Maddy said looking away and blushing.

“Ok, well I like it when you ride in a booster seat. I think you look cute,” Janice was exaggerating a bit here, but not as much as she thought. Still the comment made Maddy blush in a different way. “Let’s not think about your mom or work, ok. We’ll get you in your comfy seat, stop for ice cream, go home and get cozy, and work on our Road of Champions campaign. That sound good?”

“Yeah,” Maddy admitted quietly.

“Good girl.” Maddy sighed as she sat in the booster seat.

The booster seat was very childish looking. The versions made for teenagers were essentially sized up versions of the one’s toddlers used. The one Maddy used belonged to Jill, Janice’s daughter, which fit Maddy’s style sense more than Josh's, her son’s. It didn’t help the childish vibe though. The seat was large and covered with soft, thick material. This one was decorated for girls which meant purple with pink flowers and butterflies dotted around it. The five point harness straps was pink to match to coordinate with the fabric which was a fairly unique aspect.

“I got it!” Maddy complained as Janice reached in to help. Janice decided to let Maddy have this one. She knew she pushed to get her into the booster seat to begin with. Maddy expertly buckled herself into the booster seat while Janice got in the driver’s seat. Two straps went over her shoulder, two across her lap, and one over her crotch, all connected with a buckle located at Maddy’s navel. Additionally, an extra buckle connected the two shoulder straps right below her neck.

Janice looked back at Maddy once she had fully buckled in. It was a sight she had seen a lot. After all, they carpooled to and from work every day, and usually with Maddy in the booster seat. Still, the sight of Maddy in her office attire strapped into the childish car seat never ceased to give Janice a smile. Now was one of those times where the straps of the booster seat's harness caught on Maddy’s skirt showing her diaper off, completing the baby playing at being adult look, which was a descriptor Janice dared not use right now. Not until Maddy got her ice cream at least.

“You good up there?” Maddy questioned, leaning forward as much as the booster seat would allow.

“Oh, sorry, just spaced out for a sec,” Janice lied as she backed the car up and moved out of the garage. Janice caught a glimpse of Maddy looking at her phone in the back. No doubt thinking about how close to pull-ups she was. Janice didn’t have the heart to tell Maddy that she probably wasn’t going to have another success.

For as long as Janice had known Maddy, she had struggled with her potty training. In Janice’s opinion, Maddy should have stopped trying at some point. She was way behind even the latest bloomers. Janice was something of an expert after having put two kids through potty training herself. Her daughter Jill was one such late bloomer. Janice could tell the difference between Jill and Maddy. Jill really was immature, Maddy was certainly not. There was something else keeping her from potty training, she likely never would be and it wouldn’t be at all her fault.. To say that was a sore subject with Maddy, was an understatement. It was clear Marie was of the opinion that people who just couldn’t potty train didn’t exist. She thought that the reason a person couldn’t potty was immaturity or lack of trying. Maddy had the same opinion, likely formed by proximity to her mother. So, she was stuck, forever attempting potty training she was doomed to fail. She never lacked for optimism though.

“Ice cream!” Maddy said happily as Janice pulled into a fast-food restaurant's drive through.

“Let me guess: the chocolatiest thing they have?” Janice asked knowingly.

“You know it!” Maddy smiled. Janice smiled as well as she rolled her eyes and pulled into the drive through line.

AUTHORS NOTE: Here's the next chapter everyone. We're still in the introductory stages, and now we're meeting Maddy's mom. Complicated relationship there for sure. Stick around to see more. You can read chapters a week early over on ream https://reamstories.com/bigred0603 or subscribe star https://subscribestar.adult/bigred0603