Chapter Text
As they chat about the upcoming new addition to the family, Nat comes in, walking a bit spraddle-legged, and pulling
futilely at her sagging cloth diaper. She was already whimpering when she called, “Mami…I boo-boo, Mam. Don’t gi’ me<>br />
pa-pow, OK?”
“I won’t Mama; it’s OK.”
“Come to Granny, Baby,” interjects Mrs. Reade. “May I have a diaper, please, Tasha?”
"Oh, Mom - please relax: you're a guest here!" -Tasha tried to protest. "Nonsense!" Marie scoffed before taking custody of her
grandaughter. "Oooh, Ma'am!" the loving Grandmother cooed, " you certainly DID boo-boo, you little devil." She peeled back a
corner of the diaper and murmuring a tune from her girlhood, and sponged the baby's little bottom with name-brand baby wipes,
applying aloe and a fresh cloth diaper from the package, her daughter-in-law provided. "There we are!" Edgar's mother chirped.
"Ahora si !" Natasha added. You DICKENS!" kissing baby heartily. "SayyEkkota!" Natalia yelled suddenly.
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The women shared a laugh before plopping the chubby little girl into her playpen, where she rolled onto her back, staring at and
playing with her toes. Zapata served tea and slices of lemon cake, and they chatted easily for a time before Marie stated, "Not
long now", indicating her DIL's pregnant abdomen.
The Latina swept a hand across her belly. "Not long at all, Ma'am," she answered happily. "Two weeks, give or take."
"How's NAT taking the news?"
Glancing at her baby, who's now studying a fly on one of her toes, Tasha answers simply, "Oh - Mom, she was HOT at first; now
she kisses my belly and talks to the baby...who knows how long THAT will last."
Marie nodded. "Mmm."
Gathering her courage, the younger woman spoke up: “Ummm…Mom, Eddie, and I agreed to help my GrandMother with a large tax
debt she has from when my Grandfather passed, I guess you are aware of that already…I just wanted to assure you that we will
try to get our situation resolved, as far as marriage, as soon as we’re able.”
Mrs. Reade is more than understanding. “That’s between you and Edgar, Baby; his Father and I understand that life happens, and
though marriage for the three - soon to be FOUR of you - is what WE prefer, it may not be ideal. In your case. You and our Son have
our complete and total support, in whatever you decide-ALWAYS,” Monica Reade assures her. "His father and I are from the 'old school',
we have certain values, which include marriage before children...on the reverse of that, the two of you have to decide how best to navigate
how best to navigate this modern-day relationship landscape." She shrugged. "It's not for us to decide."
Tasha goes to the older Woman and hugs her tightly. “I LOVE YOU, Mom.”
“I love MORE.”