When your mother calls you, Baby

"What?" Tristan drew a blank when he heard his mother's voice. He'd meant to call Nic. But he couldn't tell her that. Especially after she told him she'd been thinking about him.

"Thinking about me?" He laughed. "It's Liv you should be worrying about."

He did his best with his I'M FINE situations. No way was he going to try to explain the Dale (Delia) situation. She was off to Miami. She'd gotten on at a news station out there. It was golden. Everything she ever wanted, and Tristan had been left behind.

"How's Dale?" His mom said.

"Dale? Oh, she's fine." 

His quick reply only gave his mother more questions. If she were pregnant, when was that going to happen?

He hated to tell her never.

"Oh, Ma..you know there is no baby. She..she is focusing on her career." 

Tristan did his best to smile, thinking his mother could feel it. Know it, perhaps. "Everything is fine." 

He used the sweetest tone he could when he never thought Dale could leave so quickly, but she would be on the six o'clock news. She'd always wanted to be on the six o'clock news, and he knew he had to let her go.

"Oh, baby, tell me what's happening?" She cried back as if he were her one and only.

"I'm fine. Everything is fine."

He didn't want to ruin this for Liv. "This is your time with Liv. You have to make the most of it. Don't let it be a regret. I want you to be with Liv right now. Stop worrying about me. Everything is fine."

Now, if he could only believe it. But he knew he couldn't keep Dale here. He wanted her to have that dream job. That was all that mattered.

Mystical. Magical. It was on my mind

 

Trish kept saying how she was worried about Kenny. It was a shame to leave him right now. How could they have done such a thing? 

"Don't worry so much, babe, Carmen's there," Her husband kept reminding her on the plane trip. Still she worried in the stuffy airplane. She felt as if she couldn't get enough air. All the while, he was losing her hearing.

Trish kept remembering how Carmen cried when she was leaving. Trish had never felt this kind of mother instinct before. She would be missed, and it was stuffing up her nose. It was so hard to breathe. Maybe it was a panic attack. What was she thinking? Going all the way to Seoul to see the daughter she gave birth to. Right, she would be a grandmother soon.

 Trish had never gotten such an affirmation from Liv. Maybe there was something wrong with that girl after all. Maybe that was why they could never have the mother-daughter relationship she'd hoped for.

Carmen was heavy on her mind. Even after she had one of those bar drinks that Kang got her. He said she needed to chill. Maybe she did. 

It wasn't long after the white noise of the plane and the heavy-duty cocktail knocked her out. She thought of Carmen, but in her dream, Carmen was with Tristan. Oddly, Trish couldn't even remember Tristan's significant other's name. It was just Tristan and Carmen.....

And they were going to have a baby. 

It thrilled Trish so much. She must have laughed in her sleep because somebody almost woke her, but she couldn't wake up from this delightful dream that had her crying tears of joy. 

She was at peace. Finally. Tristan was done with that News girl who didn't want to have kids. 

Of course, even in the dream, she wasn't quite true if Carmen was actually with Tristan, but she knew the baby was his. 

Carmen went on and on how Tristan was so distraught. "I helped him anyway I could." She'd said.

It made Trish laugh all the while. And she was happy when she awoke. Trish and her husband would be landing in Seoul soon.

And then her cell went off. It was Tristan. It was as if she already knew what had happened.

Maturing is realizing how many things don't require your comment

 Chewy didn't like the idea that Chai wanted to do so much for Daisy's mother on Mother's Day.

"I don't know why you even try?" Chewy said ever so sarcastically. Although he knew it wouldn't do much good that it might bring Chai closer to him. Of course, maybe getting a box ready to send to Shanghai was keeping Chai from thinking about the job he was waiting to hear back about. 

"I just don't want Daisy to forget her," Chai sounded certain that some day Daisy's mother would come back into her daughter's life. He planned to call on Mother's Day and let Daisy do all the talking. Meanwhile, they sent some of Daisy's artwork and a few things like body wash and lotions to her mother, even a cute Mother's Day tee-shirt that Chewy doubted she would ever wear. He was certain she didn't want anyone to know she had a daughter.

It was a thoughtful gift, but Chewy doubted it got them anywhere. He felt the woman was selfish. Always had been, long before Chai or Daisy came into her life.

It didn't help that one of the mature nurses that Chewy worked with had come on to him this week in the breakroom while he was trying to catch up on social media with a black coffee. It gave him the shivers to think about it. He protested and told her he was with someone now.

"I live with him and his daughter," Chewy put her in her place. Even so, nothing was happening with Chai.

 Chewy could have spent Mother's Day weekend with her, and Chai probably wouldn't have noticed. Sometimes, Chewy felt he needed to give Chai a swift kick in the butt, and then he still probably wouldn't care.

Then, late one night, Chai asked him if he was seeing anyone.

This created a riff more than a tiff.

"What!" 

OK, maybe Chewy was the drama king. Even so, he was hurt that Chai would ask such a thing.

"I'm here with you," Chewy practically squinted into a meltdown. 

"I know," Chai sighed back. Then, Chai went into a long story about how he knew he was boring and how he didn't know how to dress or even how to act with all his 'I know it's not you... "It's me, not you" rhetoric.

Chewy hugged himself as if he couldn't believe this. Why was Chai like this?

"You'd just give up, now wouldn't you!" Chewy couldn't help but start in with Chai's long list of woes. "When are you going to stop being like this? Wake the fuck up!"

Chewy swelled into a frown. "I want this. I want this with you and with Daisy."

He thought he might melt into tears.

"I know you two are a packaged deal," Chewy said with a big laugh, but the tears consumed him with emotion.

"I'm sorry." Now Chai wept tears, too. "I just don't know how to be. I never had time to think about..about anyone, really."

Chewy nodded. He understood. He told him he was here for him now. Eventually, they hugged.

be brave enough to be bad at something new

 "Stop, taking all the blame," Louie tilted his head and put one hand on Sunny's shoulder, and brought her in for a hug. "Maybe Liv actually likes you..but it might be hard for her to be close to you, too."

"But..but I'm going to be an Aunt," she was in a pout.

"Remember, it's Liv who's having the baby, not you. She is almost due. We gotta give her space." 

Louie nodded.

Sunny breathed in and then breathed out as if she might need to meditate on this. 

"I'm sure Woo is just as worried."

He hugged her close. After all, they'd done all they could. They helped with a baby shower at their place. Most of Woo and Liv's co-workers came. However, Liv was going strong at work. She could be home now, waiting for the baby's arrival, but she just kept going.

"I think she's nervous about her parents coming," Sunny nodded. There would be three people coming to visit, although one said he'd be staying with some friends. Sunny and Louie had helped get the house in order. They'd put down fresh bedding and made Sunny's old room into a guest room, which would soon be a nursery. But the bassinet was all ready in Liv and Woo's room, even if she kept it in the livingroom.

"Do you think she's really all right?" Sunny practically sat in Louie's lap on the couch. "I mean, does that sound like something I would do if I were in her condition?"

"Are you telling me something I'm already supposed to know?" He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Of course, he remembered how it took them over a month to sleep close together and another before they even dared to touch. Of course, it wasn't long after that that it became a consistent Friday night thing that honed in most of the weekend. He hoped Chewy never knew of their true, awkward lover's moves.

She laughed and covered her mouth. She hadn't liked being on the pill. She hadn't liked condoms. Still, no baby. Her secret was running to that bathroom after intercourse. So far, this consisted of their birth control. Still, he felt deep down she wanted to give someone a cousin. 

it's like this

 "Oh, I wish he wouldn't get so excited," Bren sighed as she hugged herself. She was watching Mona on the couch, who looked as if she should have stayed in bed. Bren wasn't certain who's idea it was for her to be in the livingroom, but of course, Rico investigated the dinner in the kitchen. She knew he was talking with his mouth full as he was preparing a plate for Mona.

Mona tried to smile. "Don't burst his bubble, he's been wanting his dad to get with someone for quite a while now. And since it's Gabe's mom..well, that makes it all the better."

Bren nodded, as she went to find herself a seat before Rico came back with the chicken casserole for Mona.

"This to shall pass," Bren smiled.

"What?" Mona looked at her blankly.

"The pain you feel," Bren said.

"Oh, I feel so much better."

Mona said she hoped she never had to even think of a kidney stone again.

But Mona said she was tired. It seemed she needed more vitamin D. 

"I guess that means we need to go the beach," Rico chimed in as he was practically ready to feed her, but Mona would have none of that.

Bren couldn't help but laugh. "I'm beginning to think you are the most like your Dad."

She didn't see that in Rico's brother who was her husband Mario. She'd gotten used to how reserved he was and rather slow-witted, but he would surprise her on occasion. After all, he was taking care of the baby while she was here. He didn't think it was right for him to come with the baby. Mona needed quiet.

Mona looked up at Rico as if she wasn't sure if that were a good or a bad thing. 

"He's a good friend. Cam's been the best to my Dad, Kang."

Although, she did see them as a rather odd couple. Her dad just didn't like being alone even if he had all those ladies at the Korean center ready to be his fan club. He never went out with any of them.  However, this was a sign of things to come. Her dad would probably move in with them if they ever got a house. Perhaps, it was best if he got his own place in the same apartment building. It might keep the peace with her husband and her dad. She didn't want to choose sides.

She would never speak of it, but she knew neither could stand each other. 

"You are such a good friend to Gabe, too," Bren told Rico. "But it might get a little messy if things don't go OK with your dad and Gabe's mom."

"You're just thinking too far ahead," Rico was serious. 

"I guess I've seen a lot things that didn't end well."

Bren didn't mean to look at the glass half empty, but she thought Rico saw a glass that could hold more than it could.

You have the charm

 

"What are you trying to tell me?" Kang looked at Cam, ever so puzzled. "She's gonna live here!"

"Be quiet," Cam hushed him. It wasn't quite seven in the morning. "As long as Siouxie wants to."

"What does that mean?" More questions arose as Kang went to get his coffee. "How serious are you two?"

Cam sighed as if his friend were not to ask. "She just needs a place to stay while her ex is in town."

"What if it's indefinitely?" Kang went to pick through the bacon on the table and grabbed a biscuit while he waited for Cam to make him an over-easy egg.

"Then, she'll stay in Rico's room."

"Rico's room, you know, he didn't show up with his girl at Easter?" Kang gave him the eye as if his youngest might move back in.

"Mona was in the hospital."

"Is she pregnant?"

"No, it was kidney stones," Cam had told him this much already, but Kan looked at him as if it was news to him. He ate his breakfast with delight, and, asked for another egg before he was finished, and Cam said one egg was enough for his cholesterol, so Kang grabbed another biscuit.

"What are you gonna do with a woman in the house?" Kang reminded him he would be off to Seoul soon. "Are you two gonna shack up? I might come home, and you two will be married."

Cam laughed at him as if his friend had truly lost it. 

I hear the voice of rage and ruin

 

Gabe knew his dad wanted to get him alone. Sure, he was the perfect guy when they were all together at Easter. He was sweet to Sammie. Of course, he said he was too young to be a grandfather, but then said, "Just kidding!"

Gabe suspected he was kidding about everything. 

His handshake was strong, and it didn't rattle him to find Gabe's mom with someone new. He'd said, "It's been years," was the only words he announced with that plastered grin. Gabe was beginning to think it was plastic. Oh, he didn't think that was aftershave he smelled on his long-lost Dad.

Gabe knew he'd been drinking, but of course, his dad kept a tight lip, and no one seemed to suspect.

Naturally, he kept addressing Pan and Pete, and even Wade noticed this. Although his dad remained cool when he found out they both worked at the police station. 

Gabe was just glad it was over and hoped he didn't have to go through that again.

"Well, you  guys are having a baby?" Pan looked at him as if this was just the beginning.

Gabe swelled a frown as if Pan was just trying to make things worse. 

"I bet he moves back. Probably already moved into his brother's basement."

Pan hugged himself as if he'd been having nightmares about it already.

"Well, he's not going to go after you," Gabe said, not sure what Pan was getting at. Still, it was good to talk with his brother without anyone else around.

"You don't know that, I saw how he looked at me."

Pan was rather grim about it. "The only good thing that came out of all this..is..is that mom's with Cam now."

"Cam?" Gabe winced. He didn't believe that.

"Yeah, didn't you see how she was? How they were?"

Gabe didn't want to think about it. He was sure Rico was going to call him about it, but he hadn't. He didn't stay too long. Besides, Mona came down with kidney stones and ended up in the hospital.

He went to get his brother some cold water in the fridge. The last few days were forecast of stormy weather, but it was just windy. Still, Gabe knew it would catch up to them. There would a bad storm on the horizon. And it was probably their Dad.