Backdated Log: Do you have something to tell me? You never call. You never write.
Who: Quinn and Millie
When: Saturday December 4, 2018
Where: Judy Fabray’s and the drive over
What: News for Judy
Millie cursed the butterflies in her stomach as she made her way to Quinn’s car. Quinn had asked her to go with her to Judy’s in order to provide support while Quinn told her she was going to be a grandmother again. Even though she was dreading this “visit”, there was no way she would have said no and left Quinn to fend for herself.
Two bottled waters in hand, she pulled the car door open. “Hey, little sister. You ready to go see the dragon lady?” She teased with a wink as she unceremoniously plopped her self into the passenger seat.
“Am I ever?” Quinn grumbled, climbing into the drivers seat. She’d been dreading this for a few weeks now, but she needed to tell her mother she was pregnant again.
Millie chuckled lightly and offered Quinn one of the waters. “The situation calls for more than this, but given the news we are looking to lay on her, it will have to do.” Meeting with their mother rarely went well and was tolerated at best. “So, in and out in less than 30 minutes? What do you think?”
“God willing,” Quinn answered with a chuckle.
“We never stood a chance at being normal did we?”
“Normal is overrated.” Millie scoffed playfully before buckling her seat belt. She hated that Quinn looked so tired and wished there was more she could do. “Has the morning sickness let up yet?”
Starting the car, Quinn angled her body so that she could twist around and see as she backed out of Millie’s driveway. “Some, but mostly I’ve just been exhausted and watching Rachel is like a full-time job.”
“Is there anything more I can do to help? I can come over and hang out with Rachel while you nap at my house or whatever you need, Quinn. Well anything except cooking, of course.”
Without being overbearing and inserting herself at will, Millie was looking to Quinn to tell her what she needed. Their relationship had grown so much since she moved back, but she struggled to balance her desire to be helpful and supportive against Quinn’s independent nature and years of taking care of herself.
Quinn’s lips quirked at the comment about cooking. “I don’t need time away from Rachel, but it would be nice if maybe she had some other mental and verbal stimulation that wasn’t provided by me. Santana being around has helped. I just know she hates bedrest and I hate that she’s so unhappy.”
Millie chuckled lightly. “I think that might be an understatement. Rachel has to be almost climbing the walls about now. She and I talked the last week about watching Castle. I’ll call and set something up. I have the doppler from my midwife courses, do you think she would like to hear the twins’ heartbeat?”
Smiling gratefully, Quinn nodded. “Yes, she’d definitely love to hear the babies’ heartbeat.” She shifted lanes and slowed at the stoplight. “Maybe you’ll be around when I get home and I can listen too.”
Millie shook her head, deadpanning “Nope. Just Rachel. And I have to make sure we talk about you a lot too.” She couldn’t maintain a straight face and smirked at her sister. “You are far enough along that we should be able to listen to him or her too.”
Quinn cradled her stomach with her free hand as she made a left turn. “That’d be nice too.” She sighed as they drew closer to the house. “Mom’s going to hate this. She just better not say anything about having a biracial child or I may lose it.”
Millie’s chest tightened and she balled her fist, drumming lightly on her leg with nervous energy. The knot in her stomach tightened at Quinn’s words. “She is going to hate this because that is who she is. And she might try to convince you to go back to Mike. And … no, I could conjecture all day and not know what little thing she will decide to harp on.” Millie swallowed against the tension in her throat. How can visiting your own mother throw your emotions into such a spin that you want to vomit rather than knock on her door?
She closed her eyes and inhaled slowly before turning to Quinn. “We are here to tell her that she is going to be a grandmother again and to get a few things from the attic. What she says or thinks is irrelevant, Q.”
Quinn nodded even though it wasn’t true. Their mother’s opinion would always matter even when it shouldn’t. She parked in front of their childhood home and opened the door. “In and out and then we can get lunch. At least I can use the baby as an excuse to leave.”
Millie nodded back and sighed heavily as she reached for the door handle. She turned back to Quinn and in her best six-year-old voice asked “Will there be a cookie? I think we need cookies.”
Laughing, Quinn stood from her seat and smoothed her clothing. “God willing...” she mumbled before squaring her shoulders and heading to the door. She rang the doorbell and took a step back, holding her breath as she waited for her mother to answer.
Mills placed her hand on the small of Quinn’s back gently rubbing as they waited for the door to open. “It’s you and me against the world, Q.”
Judy checked her hair in the foyer mirror. Satisfied with her appearance and that everything was in place, she pulled the door open. “Hello, Quinn, Amelia. Please do come in.” She motioned them formally to the living area.
Quinn stepped into the house first, shivering as the familiar, cold, unwelcoming feeling settled around her, transporting her back to childhood. “Hello, we’re just here to pick up a few of Abby’s baby things from the attic.”
Millie followed Quinn inside, her dread increasing with each step. She felt the tension rolling off of Quinn at their mother’s stiff tone and fought against the urge to put her arm around her sister’s shoulder and lead away from this place.
“Oh.” Judy pursed her lips in equal parts disappointment and disdain. “I had hoped we could sit and have tea. I never see either of you and hardly know anything going on with my granddaughters.”
Turning to her older sister, Quinn shrugged. “I guess we could do that. I have...news for you anyway.” She shifted uncomfortably. There was a lot that had happened in a short amount of time. She didn’t even know where to begin.
Millie nodded at Quinn, willing to follow her lead. “Sure, mother. Let’s have tea.” This was what she hated most. The pretense that everything was normal, that sitting in the formal living room sipping tea with her mother and sister was as casual and natural as the boisterous Christmas gathering had been. But there was nothing natural about this. It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop, for her mother to hurt Quinn or herself with one judgemental comment or another.
Quinn hated how formal they all were. It hadn’t always been like this. She hated to think that her first pregnancy was responsible for all of this, but she knew that for the most part, that was true. She had to admit that her mother tried. She really did, but she couldn’t help who she was.
Judy Fabray led the way to the living room, not sure of what to say or how to act. She hated feeling like this. Like she couldn’t reach her girls no matter how hard she tried, but she was still happy to see them. “What type of tea will you be having, Amelia?”
“Earl Grey, please. But allow me to get it.” Millie offered a half smile before moving toward the serving tray and beginning to pour hot water into the tea cup. The tray was impeccable with a selection of teas in their wooden boxes as well as sweeteners and teaspoons. As a bonus, Judy had a small plate of butter cookies. That had been her favorite part of afternoon teas. “Can I get some for either of you?”
“Is there any white or decaffeinated tea over there?” Quinn asked, shifting a little in her seat. She could feel her mother’s eyes on her, but she didn’t meet her gaze. “And I’ll take some honey instead of sugar.”
“Are you feeling all right, Quinnie?” Judy asked, her voice full of concern.
This drew Quinn’s attention. She nodded slowly and subconsciously let her hand fall to her stomach. “I’m fine.”
Millie flipped through the tea box and found a white tea and held it up for Quinn who nodded her assent. She poured hot water in a second cup and added the tea bag to let it steep, handing the cup and the honey to her sister. “And for you, Mom?”
“Earl Grey, please. Thank you, Amelia.” Judy smiled politely at her older daughter. She folded her hands across her lap as she sat at the edge of the arm chair. “So how are my granddaughters? I was sorry to hear they could not come along with you as I would have loved to see them.”
“Finn took them to the movies after Abby’s dance class.” Quinn turned so that her back was firmly against the stiff couch and she could cross her legs. “Abby’s doing well. She got four A’s and one B+ on her last report card.”
Judy smiled gratefully as Millie handed her a mug and saucer. She took a sip of her tea and smiled that Millie had managed to get it just right, like always. “That’s great. You were always getting all A’s at that age. Of course, I was home with both of you, but I’m sure that isn’t the problem here.”
Quinn bristled and her smile grew tight. “Between Finn and I, Abby gets all of the attention she could ever want. She just didn’t do as well on her science project as she would have liked.” She was not going to get defensive. She wasn’t.
The older woman fixed her daughter with a look. Quinn had always been so willful. “I’m just saying, dear. If he was going to step in to be a father, I don’t understand why he didn’t also step in to be a husband.”
“Because, Mother, I wasn’t looking for a husband. I had one of those and when I couldn’t play the doting wife, pretending to be happy, he bailed.” Quinn practically yanked the cup from Millie’s hands as she held it before her.
Ignoring the obvious shot that Quinn was trying to take at her, Judy sipped her tea. “No, of course you weren’t. Instead, you settled on the stability of a boyfriend. How is Michael?”
“He’s fine. We broke up,” Quinn ground out, not liking the tone her mother took when she asked about Mike.
“Broke up? Two years of no serious commitment and you broke up? I can’t say that I’m surprised,” Judy said, letting her words trail. She would’ve never divorced their father if she’d known it would encourage this. This wasn’t the life she wanted for either of her daughters.
“Of course you aren’t,” Quinn mumbled. She met Millie’s gaze and silently begged her to step in so that she could calm down.
Millie gently tapped her hand on Quinn’s leg as she settled onto the couch next to her catching the look her sister gave her. “And Julia is doing fine is school too.” She hoped a change back to the topic of the girls would drop the tension level a little and give Quinn a little time to settle. “Her kindergarten teacher would like for her to speak up a little more in class and be a little more outgoing with her classmates, but she pays attention and generally does well on her school work. Julia completely adores Abby and looks forward to hanging around with her. Abby has been trying to teach her to play guitar, but so far it has ended in giggles.”
Millie sipped her tea and then leaned in close to Quinn, whispering in her ear. “You can always threaten to hold your breath until you turn blue. You know just to see if it still works as well as it used to.”
Quinn smirked and shook her head. “Abby’s gotten pretty proficient with the guitar. She even had a solo in the Thanksgiving play at school. It was great.” She smiled brightly. Abby always made her so proud.
“Well, I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t invited,” Judy said, her ire rising. Her daughters had made it abundantly clear they didn’t want her involved in their lives, but she hoped, with time, that would change.
“Mother,” Millie admonished Judy in as non-threatening a tone as she could manage. The situation did not need to escalate from here or it would get really ugly. “I think I have a video clip from the night that Abby stayed over and played for Julia and I, as we were not able to go because of the auditorium size. I will send it to you when we get back home.”
“I suppose that will have to do,” Judy sniffed. “I’d just like to spend some time with my granddaughters. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.” Picking up a cookie, she took a bite to keep from begging for the opportunity. “In fact, I’d like to spend a day with them just the three of us.”
Millie looked down at her cup, her hands a little unsteady. She knew what her mother was asking for and even that she meant well enough, but she struggled with putting Julia in that place where she had to make excuses for the things Judy said without meaning them in that way. “We’ll see, Mom. It is a busy time of year.” She shook her head, knowing how lame that excuse sounded even as it came out of her mouth.
Quinn nodded quickly. “Abby’s got a ballet recital to get ready for, but you’re welcome to come to that, I guess.” There, she’d done her part to extend the olive branch, she thought as she took a bite of a cookie.
“Do you still have that box of things you saved of my elementary school projects and things I did through that period? I wanted to share some of it with Julia.” Millie was a little surprised at the invitation Quinn extended but it was probably the right thing.
Judy clasped her hands together in front of her and a smile made its way to her face at the invitation. It might not seem like much, but it was something and she would gratefully accept.
“I believe that I do, Amelia. There are a few boxes of your childhood things, a few of Quinn’s, and some baby things of Abby’s up in the attic. After tea, perhaps we can look.”
A wave of nausea hit Quinn as she took the next bite of her cookie. The mug in her hand rattled against its saucer and her eyes grew wide as she shook her head. Fuck! Hold it together, Q. She set her the china down on the table and stood, running from the room abruptly.
“Quinn, are you ...” Millie called after her sister making a move to stand up before she realized Q was fighting nauseousness and let her go. She settled back into the couch; her hands fidgeting in her lap.
Judy’s gaze followed her youngest daughter as she fled from the room looking like she was going to be ill. Her concern was mounting and she wanted some answers. Turning back to her oldest daughter, her voice was slightly demanding as she addressed her. “Amelia, what is going on with Quinn? Out of the blue, she calls and asks if the two of you can come by to get some things from the attic. She made a point to ask for decaffeinated tea and now has run out of the room clutching her stomach.”
Millie swallowed hard as her mother’s voice rose. This was not her news to tell. She was here for moral support, but she did not want to be the one to tell their mother that Quinn was pregnant. She barely resisted the urge to chew her nails before choking out. “Let’s wait for Quinn to come back, Mom.”
“Amelia.”
Millie hated that tone, the I am your mother and you will tell me what I want to know right now voice that always made her feel like she was five years old again, but she remained silent.
Quinn returned moments later. She’d taken the time to make sure she wasn’t too disheveled before coming back, but as she entered the room, she knew it didn’t matter. Everything was already tense and Millie sat on the couch, looking down at her hands.
“Quinn, sit down,” her mother commanded softly. It was a tone that told her that they’d been caught. She moved and sat next to her sister, but instead of looking guilty, she met her mother’s gaze.
Judy studied her daughter’s defiant look and sighed. Why did everything have to be a fight with Quinn? She cleared her throat and thought of a way to phrase her question without setting her youngest off. “Is there something you came here to tell me?”
“I’m pregnant,” Quinn answered confidently. Gone was the scared teen that had gotten pregnant by mistake and was worried that her parents wouldn’t love her anymore.
Blue eyes blinked as Judy digested the news. Quinn was pregnant again. She couldn’t say that she was happy about the circumstances under which this was all happening, but she was happy to have another grandchild. She just wished Quinn would settle down. “You’re...pregnant? Is it-it is Mike’s right?”
Quinn’s expression hardened. What kind of woman did her mother think she was? “Of course it’s Mike’s. Who else’s would it be?”
“Well given what happened the last time with the Finn and Noah situation, I felt it pertinent to ask,” Judy said defensively. “You don’t have the best track record with this.”
With the news out in the open, Millie felt the butterflies in her stomach begin to calm, even as her ire at her mother’s line of questioning escalated. “Mother, that’s not necessary. Quinn wanted you know you were going to be a grandmother again. Can we please focus on the present?”
Judy nodded at Millie and smoothed her clothing as she composed herself. I’m going to be a grandmother again. She carefully sipped her tea before turning her attention to Quinn. “When are you due? Is everything going well with the pregnancy?”
“Everything’s going well with the pregnancy so far. I’m just happy I kept Abby’s stroller, crib and pack’n’play,” Quinn answered politely, lifting her mug once again and taking a sip.
“Oh that’s good to hear, Quinn. I’m glad it is going well.” Judy placed her saucer on the side table and smiled at her daughters. It was obvious they were becoming closer and no matter what happened with her, they would have each other. “How does Abigail feel about having a sibling?”
Quinn had to stop herself from mentioning the twins. Given what had just happened with her announcement, she wasn’t about to mention Rachel or the twins to her mother. “She’s thrilled. She can’t wait to be a big sister. She’s been wondering if this baby’s pictures will look like hers since she looked like me as a baby.”
“And you told her they wouldn’t, right?” Judy asked with a fond grin. Abigail was adventurous and inquisitive, just as Quinn had been as a child.
Smile faltering, Quinn stared at her mother. “I told her I didn’t know because I don’t.”
“Well clearly the baby won’t look like you and Abby. Michael is Chinese, correct?”
“What does that matter?” Quinn countered, bristling at her mother’s tone.
“As its father is Chinese, it is unlikely that this child will look like either of you. That is all.” Judy’s hands flew up from her lap in exasperation. “Why must everything I say be taken as a personal affront, Quinn?”
Millie clasped Quinn’s hand in hers in support and opened her mouth to answer the question, but stopped short when she felt Quinn grip her hand tightly and shake her head.
“I guess I just need to know if this particular issue is going to be a problem for you, Mother,” Quinn gritted out.
“An issue? I do not make an issue of Abigail’s father being Jewish. This child’s paternity notwithstanding, it is my grandchild.” Judy huffed.
“Good. I’m glad we’ve cleared that up,” Quinn said tersely. “I think we should head up to the attic now.”
Exasperated at Quinn’s tone but unwilling to start an argument, Judy sighed and nodded. “You girls go up and get what you need. I’ll just straighten things up here.”
When: Saturday December 4, 2018
Where: Judy Fabray’s and the drive over
What: News for Judy
Millie cursed the butterflies in her stomach as she made her way to Quinn’s car. Quinn had asked her to go with her to Judy’s in order to provide support while Quinn told her she was going to be a grandmother again. Even though she was dreading this “visit”, there was no way she would have said no and left Quinn to fend for herself.
Two bottled waters in hand, she pulled the car door open. “Hey, little sister. You ready to go see the dragon lady?” She teased with a wink as she unceremoniously plopped her self into the passenger seat.
“Am I ever?” Quinn grumbled, climbing into the drivers seat. She’d been dreading this for a few weeks now, but she needed to tell her mother she was pregnant again.
Millie chuckled lightly and offered Quinn one of the waters. “The situation calls for more than this, but given the news we are looking to lay on her, it will have to do.” Meeting with their mother rarely went well and was tolerated at best. “So, in and out in less than 30 minutes? What do you think?”
“God willing,” Quinn answered with a chuckle.
“We never stood a chance at being normal did we?”
“Normal is overrated.” Millie scoffed playfully before buckling her seat belt. She hated that Quinn looked so tired and wished there was more she could do. “Has the morning sickness let up yet?”
Starting the car, Quinn angled her body so that she could twist around and see as she backed out of Millie’s driveway. “Some, but mostly I’ve just been exhausted and watching Rachel is like a full-time job.”
“Is there anything more I can do to help? I can come over and hang out with Rachel while you nap at my house or whatever you need, Quinn. Well anything except cooking, of course.”
Without being overbearing and inserting herself at will, Millie was looking to Quinn to tell her what she needed. Their relationship had grown so much since she moved back, but she struggled to balance her desire to be helpful and supportive against Quinn’s independent nature and years of taking care of herself.
Quinn’s lips quirked at the comment about cooking. “I don’t need time away from Rachel, but it would be nice if maybe she had some other mental and verbal stimulation that wasn’t provided by me. Santana being around has helped. I just know she hates bedrest and I hate that she’s so unhappy.”
Millie chuckled lightly. “I think that might be an understatement. Rachel has to be almost climbing the walls about now. She and I talked the last week about watching Castle. I’ll call and set something up. I have the doppler from my midwife courses, do you think she would like to hear the twins’ heartbeat?”
Smiling gratefully, Quinn nodded. “Yes, she’d definitely love to hear the babies’ heartbeat.” She shifted lanes and slowed at the stoplight. “Maybe you’ll be around when I get home and I can listen too.”
Millie shook her head, deadpanning “Nope. Just Rachel. And I have to make sure we talk about you a lot too.” She couldn’t maintain a straight face and smirked at her sister. “You are far enough along that we should be able to listen to him or her too.”
Quinn cradled her stomach with her free hand as she made a left turn. “That’d be nice too.” She sighed as they drew closer to the house. “Mom’s going to hate this. She just better not say anything about having a biracial child or I may lose it.”
Millie’s chest tightened and she balled her fist, drumming lightly on her leg with nervous energy. The knot in her stomach tightened at Quinn’s words. “She is going to hate this because that is who she is. And she might try to convince you to go back to Mike. And … no, I could conjecture all day and not know what little thing she will decide to harp on.” Millie swallowed against the tension in her throat. How can visiting your own mother throw your emotions into such a spin that you want to vomit rather than knock on her door?
She closed her eyes and inhaled slowly before turning to Quinn. “We are here to tell her that she is going to be a grandmother again and to get a few things from the attic. What she says or thinks is irrelevant, Q.”
Quinn nodded even though it wasn’t true. Their mother’s opinion would always matter even when it shouldn’t. She parked in front of their childhood home and opened the door. “In and out and then we can get lunch. At least I can use the baby as an excuse to leave.”
Millie nodded back and sighed heavily as she reached for the door handle. She turned back to Quinn and in her best six-year-old voice asked “Will there be a cookie? I think we need cookies.”
Laughing, Quinn stood from her seat and smoothed her clothing. “God willing...” she mumbled before squaring her shoulders and heading to the door. She rang the doorbell and took a step back, holding her breath as she waited for her mother to answer.
Mills placed her hand on the small of Quinn’s back gently rubbing as they waited for the door to open. “It’s you and me against the world, Q.”
Judy checked her hair in the foyer mirror. Satisfied with her appearance and that everything was in place, she pulled the door open. “Hello, Quinn, Amelia. Please do come in.” She motioned them formally to the living area.
Quinn stepped into the house first, shivering as the familiar, cold, unwelcoming feeling settled around her, transporting her back to childhood. “Hello, we’re just here to pick up a few of Abby’s baby things from the attic.”
Millie followed Quinn inside, her dread increasing with each step. She felt the tension rolling off of Quinn at their mother’s stiff tone and fought against the urge to put her arm around her sister’s shoulder and lead away from this place.
“Oh.” Judy pursed her lips in equal parts disappointment and disdain. “I had hoped we could sit and have tea. I never see either of you and hardly know anything going on with my granddaughters.”
Turning to her older sister, Quinn shrugged. “I guess we could do that. I have...news for you anyway.” She shifted uncomfortably. There was a lot that had happened in a short amount of time. She didn’t even know where to begin.
Millie nodded at Quinn, willing to follow her lead. “Sure, mother. Let’s have tea.” This was what she hated most. The pretense that everything was normal, that sitting in the formal living room sipping tea with her mother and sister was as casual and natural as the boisterous Christmas gathering had been. But there was nothing natural about this. It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop, for her mother to hurt Quinn or herself with one judgemental comment or another.
Quinn hated how formal they all were. It hadn’t always been like this. She hated to think that her first pregnancy was responsible for all of this, but she knew that for the most part, that was true. She had to admit that her mother tried. She really did, but she couldn’t help who she was.
Judy Fabray led the way to the living room, not sure of what to say or how to act. She hated feeling like this. Like she couldn’t reach her girls no matter how hard she tried, but she was still happy to see them. “What type of tea will you be having, Amelia?”
“Earl Grey, please. But allow me to get it.” Millie offered a half smile before moving toward the serving tray and beginning to pour hot water into the tea cup. The tray was impeccable with a selection of teas in their wooden boxes as well as sweeteners and teaspoons. As a bonus, Judy had a small plate of butter cookies. That had been her favorite part of afternoon teas. “Can I get some for either of you?”
“Is there any white or decaffeinated tea over there?” Quinn asked, shifting a little in her seat. She could feel her mother’s eyes on her, but she didn’t meet her gaze. “And I’ll take some honey instead of sugar.”
“Are you feeling all right, Quinnie?” Judy asked, her voice full of concern.
This drew Quinn’s attention. She nodded slowly and subconsciously let her hand fall to her stomach. “I’m fine.”
Millie flipped through the tea box and found a white tea and held it up for Quinn who nodded her assent. She poured hot water in a second cup and added the tea bag to let it steep, handing the cup and the honey to her sister. “And for you, Mom?”
“Earl Grey, please. Thank you, Amelia.” Judy smiled politely at her older daughter. She folded her hands across her lap as she sat at the edge of the arm chair. “So how are my granddaughters? I was sorry to hear they could not come along with you as I would have loved to see them.”
“Finn took them to the movies after Abby’s dance class.” Quinn turned so that her back was firmly against the stiff couch and she could cross her legs. “Abby’s doing well. She got four A’s and one B+ on her last report card.”
Judy smiled gratefully as Millie handed her a mug and saucer. She took a sip of her tea and smiled that Millie had managed to get it just right, like always. “That’s great. You were always getting all A’s at that age. Of course, I was home with both of you, but I’m sure that isn’t the problem here.”
Quinn bristled and her smile grew tight. “Between Finn and I, Abby gets all of the attention she could ever want. She just didn’t do as well on her science project as she would have liked.” She was not going to get defensive. She wasn’t.
The older woman fixed her daughter with a look. Quinn had always been so willful. “I’m just saying, dear. If he was going to step in to be a father, I don’t understand why he didn’t also step in to be a husband.”
“Because, Mother, I wasn’t looking for a husband. I had one of those and when I couldn’t play the doting wife, pretending to be happy, he bailed.” Quinn practically yanked the cup from Millie’s hands as she held it before her.
Ignoring the obvious shot that Quinn was trying to take at her, Judy sipped her tea. “No, of course you weren’t. Instead, you settled on the stability of a boyfriend. How is Michael?”
“He’s fine. We broke up,” Quinn ground out, not liking the tone her mother took when she asked about Mike.
“Broke up? Two years of no serious commitment and you broke up? I can’t say that I’m surprised,” Judy said, letting her words trail. She would’ve never divorced their father if she’d known it would encourage this. This wasn’t the life she wanted for either of her daughters.
“Of course you aren’t,” Quinn mumbled. She met Millie’s gaze and silently begged her to step in so that she could calm down.
Millie gently tapped her hand on Quinn’s leg as she settled onto the couch next to her catching the look her sister gave her. “And Julia is doing fine is school too.” She hoped a change back to the topic of the girls would drop the tension level a little and give Quinn a little time to settle. “Her kindergarten teacher would like for her to speak up a little more in class and be a little more outgoing with her classmates, but she pays attention and generally does well on her school work. Julia completely adores Abby and looks forward to hanging around with her. Abby has been trying to teach her to play guitar, but so far it has ended in giggles.”
Millie sipped her tea and then leaned in close to Quinn, whispering in her ear. “You can always threaten to hold your breath until you turn blue. You know just to see if it still works as well as it used to.”
Quinn smirked and shook her head. “Abby’s gotten pretty proficient with the guitar. She even had a solo in the Thanksgiving play at school. It was great.” She smiled brightly. Abby always made her so proud.
“Well, I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t invited,” Judy said, her ire rising. Her daughters had made it abundantly clear they didn’t want her involved in their lives, but she hoped, with time, that would change.
“Mother,” Millie admonished Judy in as non-threatening a tone as she could manage. The situation did not need to escalate from here or it would get really ugly. “I think I have a video clip from the night that Abby stayed over and played for Julia and I, as we were not able to go because of the auditorium size. I will send it to you when we get back home.”
“I suppose that will have to do,” Judy sniffed. “I’d just like to spend some time with my granddaughters. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.” Picking up a cookie, she took a bite to keep from begging for the opportunity. “In fact, I’d like to spend a day with them just the three of us.”
Millie looked down at her cup, her hands a little unsteady. She knew what her mother was asking for and even that she meant well enough, but she struggled with putting Julia in that place where she had to make excuses for the things Judy said without meaning them in that way. “We’ll see, Mom. It is a busy time of year.” She shook her head, knowing how lame that excuse sounded even as it came out of her mouth.
Quinn nodded quickly. “Abby’s got a ballet recital to get ready for, but you’re welcome to come to that, I guess.” There, she’d done her part to extend the olive branch, she thought as she took a bite of a cookie.
“Do you still have that box of things you saved of my elementary school projects and things I did through that period? I wanted to share some of it with Julia.” Millie was a little surprised at the invitation Quinn extended but it was probably the right thing.
Judy clasped her hands together in front of her and a smile made its way to her face at the invitation. It might not seem like much, but it was something and she would gratefully accept.
“I believe that I do, Amelia. There are a few boxes of your childhood things, a few of Quinn’s, and some baby things of Abby’s up in the attic. After tea, perhaps we can look.”
A wave of nausea hit Quinn as she took the next bite of her cookie. The mug in her hand rattled against its saucer and her eyes grew wide as she shook her head. Fuck! Hold it together, Q. She set her the china down on the table and stood, running from the room abruptly.
“Quinn, are you ...” Millie called after her sister making a move to stand up before she realized Q was fighting nauseousness and let her go. She settled back into the couch; her hands fidgeting in her lap.
Judy’s gaze followed her youngest daughter as she fled from the room looking like she was going to be ill. Her concern was mounting and she wanted some answers. Turning back to her oldest daughter, her voice was slightly demanding as she addressed her. “Amelia, what is going on with Quinn? Out of the blue, she calls and asks if the two of you can come by to get some things from the attic. She made a point to ask for decaffeinated tea and now has run out of the room clutching her stomach.”
Millie swallowed hard as her mother’s voice rose. This was not her news to tell. She was here for moral support, but she did not want to be the one to tell their mother that Quinn was pregnant. She barely resisted the urge to chew her nails before choking out. “Let’s wait for Quinn to come back, Mom.”
“Amelia.”
Millie hated that tone, the I am your mother and you will tell me what I want to know right now voice that always made her feel like she was five years old again, but she remained silent.
Quinn returned moments later. She’d taken the time to make sure she wasn’t too disheveled before coming back, but as she entered the room, she knew it didn’t matter. Everything was already tense and Millie sat on the couch, looking down at her hands.
“Quinn, sit down,” her mother commanded softly. It was a tone that told her that they’d been caught. She moved and sat next to her sister, but instead of looking guilty, she met her mother’s gaze.
Judy studied her daughter’s defiant look and sighed. Why did everything have to be a fight with Quinn? She cleared her throat and thought of a way to phrase her question without setting her youngest off. “Is there something you came here to tell me?”
“I’m pregnant,” Quinn answered confidently. Gone was the scared teen that had gotten pregnant by mistake and was worried that her parents wouldn’t love her anymore.
Blue eyes blinked as Judy digested the news. Quinn was pregnant again. She couldn’t say that she was happy about the circumstances under which this was all happening, but she was happy to have another grandchild. She just wished Quinn would settle down. “You’re...pregnant? Is it-it is Mike’s right?”
Quinn’s expression hardened. What kind of woman did her mother think she was? “Of course it’s Mike’s. Who else’s would it be?”
“Well given what happened the last time with the Finn and Noah situation, I felt it pertinent to ask,” Judy said defensively. “You don’t have the best track record with this.”
With the news out in the open, Millie felt the butterflies in her stomach begin to calm, even as her ire at her mother’s line of questioning escalated. “Mother, that’s not necessary. Quinn wanted you know you were going to be a grandmother again. Can we please focus on the present?”
Judy nodded at Millie and smoothed her clothing as she composed herself. I’m going to be a grandmother again. She carefully sipped her tea before turning her attention to Quinn. “When are you due? Is everything going well with the pregnancy?”
“Everything’s going well with the pregnancy so far. I’m just happy I kept Abby’s stroller, crib and pack’n’play,” Quinn answered politely, lifting her mug once again and taking a sip.
“Oh that’s good to hear, Quinn. I’m glad it is going well.” Judy placed her saucer on the side table and smiled at her daughters. It was obvious they were becoming closer and no matter what happened with her, they would have each other. “How does Abigail feel about having a sibling?”
Quinn had to stop herself from mentioning the twins. Given what had just happened with her announcement, she wasn’t about to mention Rachel or the twins to her mother. “She’s thrilled. She can’t wait to be a big sister. She’s been wondering if this baby’s pictures will look like hers since she looked like me as a baby.”
“And you told her they wouldn’t, right?” Judy asked with a fond grin. Abigail was adventurous and inquisitive, just as Quinn had been as a child.
Smile faltering, Quinn stared at her mother. “I told her I didn’t know because I don’t.”
“Well clearly the baby won’t look like you and Abby. Michael is Chinese, correct?”
“What does that matter?” Quinn countered, bristling at her mother’s tone.
“As its father is Chinese, it is unlikely that this child will look like either of you. That is all.” Judy’s hands flew up from her lap in exasperation. “Why must everything I say be taken as a personal affront, Quinn?”
Millie clasped Quinn’s hand in hers in support and opened her mouth to answer the question, but stopped short when she felt Quinn grip her hand tightly and shake her head.
“I guess I just need to know if this particular issue is going to be a problem for you, Mother,” Quinn gritted out.
“An issue? I do not make an issue of Abigail’s father being Jewish. This child’s paternity notwithstanding, it is my grandchild.” Judy huffed.
“Good. I’m glad we’ve cleared that up,” Quinn said tersely. “I think we should head up to the attic now.”
Exasperated at Quinn’s tone but unwilling to start an argument, Judy sighed and nodded. “You girls go up and get what you need. I’ll just straighten things up here.”