Lightning pulled into Flo’s V8 cafe, looking stressed. “He won’t stop crying. Flo, what do I do? He won’t stop crying!”

Flo stopped what she was doing and look at him inquisitively. “You mean Nevan?”

“Yes Nevan! I can’t get him to stop!” He moved out of the way, allowing Flo to move closer to the bassinet. “Tell me what’s wrong with him.”

Flo looked down at the baby in the bassinet, crying loudly and working himself into a fit. “Well he’s probably hungry. When was the last time you fed him?”

“I’ve never fed him!” Lightning said, but paused when he saw the look on her face. “Yeah, that didn’t come out right. Sally- uh, Sally’s the last one who would’ve fed him, and she’s gone back to California!”

“Then he’s hungry. I take it Sally must’ve left you bottles and some formula, right?”

“Yeah, I brought them, they’re here somewhere.” Lightning frantically looked around in the bassinet. He quickly retrieved a bottle, which was already filled with formula and showed it to Flo. “Here, here it is.” He placed the bottle in front of Nevan and waited for him to respond. “Here, just take it...” He nervously nudged the bottle a little closer to the crying infant.

Flo watched as Nevan stayed where he was, screaming and oblivious. “You have to feed it to him.” She said.

Lightning turned to Flo. “How am I supposed to do that? I don’t even know how to hold a baby!”  

Flo sighed. “Give me the bottle.” She said, taking the bottle from Lightning before putting her tire around Nevan and scooping him up. “This is what you do.” She said, placing the wiggling infant in front of her and sticking the bottle in his mouth with the other tire, silencing him. She bracketed the baby and the bottle between both of her front tires, holding the bottle steady at an angle.

Lightning and Flo both watched as Nevan gulped down the formula, looking up at Flo intently. Flo looked back down, meeting the baby’s gaze with her own. She pursed her lips, suddenly feeling a rush of pain and emotion coming back from years before. She never thought she’d see another baby again in their lifetime in such a deserted town but here she was feeding one of all things. Tearing her eyes away, she looked up to see Ramone emerge from the body shop. It was the usual time when he decided to come over for supper, save for any lingering customers.

“Heh, finest formula in fifty states too I guess.” Lightning said, attempting to make light of the situation and take the focus away from his apparent ineptitude. “You really know how to feed everyone Flo.”

“Yeah.” Flo said, taking another quick look at the infant before placing him carefully but quickly in front of Lightning. “You can take him back now.” Her voice almost sounded choked with tears as she said it, and she turned quickly and left before Lightning could say anything else.

Ramone approached in time to watch the scene unfold. “Flo-” He started to say as she passed him.

“No, just... don’t. I don’t want to talk about it.” She replied, sensing the worried look he was giving her even from behind. “Not now.”