My mother, wearing an olive-colored silk wrap dress smiled at me and tilted her martini glass at me. My dad had a cigar in his hand, talking animatedly with Shane. They looked like old friends, not four people meeting for the first time.
“They got here about an hour ago. I called and changed the time so we could get introduced without you two watching us,” Gabby winked. Tate wasn’t amused. In fact, he was rather tense beside me.
My mom, in seeing Cara on my hip, set her glass down and hurried over for a quick snuggle with her granddaughter.
“Aw, Geema’s missed you!” She sighed as the baby smiled and giggled when she started kissing her cheeks. “And her outfit, did you do that?” she asked me. I nodded and she laughed, returning her to me.
“Felicia is upstairs already. I’m going to go drop her off with her and I’ll be back down,” I told the room. Felicia was reading a book when I came up and handed her Cara. I thanked her for joining us and she shrugged it off.
“I really don’t mind. She’s a perfect baby. Plus, Tate’s mom said she’d bring me some food. It smelled delicious,” she laughed.
When I returned, a member of their staff had brought some finger foods into the lounge. I was suddenly starving and grabbed two of the taco shaped… things. I had been having meals at the Whitlock’s home regularly now and I learned not to judge food on its appearance. I honestly had no idea what I was eating, but it was good.
Overall, the mood of the room was pleasant. Our dads had ran through the awkward, “Where do I know you from?” “Porn, you’ve seen me in porn.” conversation and were now laughing and talking about music and different types of cigars. Our moms were discussing high fashion. My mom was all up to date on everything going on in Milan and Paris, since she just got back from there. She had Gabby’s full, undivided attention as she talked about designers I had never heard of.
Tate and I went back and forth between pairs. Eventually we were called to dinner and took to the deck for a fabulous dinner. Gabby really had outdone herself. I told her so as we were letting the main course settle before they served us dessert. She blushed.
“We don’t get much company outside of industry people. It’s nice to have a conversation that doesn’t involve someone getting naked,” she giggled. The wine she’d been consuming was getting to her a bit. My mom nudged her with her elbow and giggled with her.
“Don’t be so hasty. We’ve still got time,” she winked at her.
“Mom!” Both Tate and I said together. The table stopped talking and the foursome stared at us for a moment before we all erupted into laughter. Alright, maybe we were overreacting a bit. After that, neither of us corrected anyone. They were as thick as thieves it seemed, and the sooner we got used to it, the better.
After dinner I went up to check on Felicia and give her a small break. Cara was asleep, so it was a quick check-in and I was back downstairs at the party in minutes. When I returned they were talking about our newest nanny. Everyone was now gathered in the living room. I went right to Tate’s side. He was sitting on a chair facing our mothers. I sat down lightly on the arm of the chair and faced the pair as well. They were sharing the couch, while our dads had taken to stand by the lit fireplace.
Coffee and truffles had been brought out and set on the coffee table. Gabby was stuffing her face with the chocolates. I shook my head. She must work out a lot with how often I see her indulge in wine and dessert. Her and Shane were older than my parents and they both still looked like runway models.
“She’s rather stiff. I mean, she cares for the baby, but you can tell she isn’t a people person,” Gabby was telling my mom. She nodded her agreement.
“That’s hard in her line of work. Especially if they start traveling. Have you guys decided on when you’re going to tour?” She turned to me. My knee jerk reaction was to find Tate. I looked down at him and his lips were pressed together tightly. I followed his eyes and realized that him and his mother were sharing a look. She was caught off guard by my mom’s question.
“Touring? With a baby? Multiple babies? How can you do that to them?” Her voice was tight. Oh no.
“What is that supposed to mean?” My mother’s voice had turned icy in an instant. She pulled away from Gabby’s side and narrowed her eyes. Gabby blinked innocently, not understanding the mood shift. Our dads had stopped talking and were now turned to watch with interest, unaware of what caused the sudden tension.
“Well, it’s just… how would that even work? You can’t bring children to that kind of environment, especially babies.”
“You can if you get someone to help, and if you don’t want to do that, you leave them here with family.”
“Oh, Tate, you wouldn’t. Can you imagine, abandoning your children like that?”
“Abandoning? Is that what you think a touring musician does?” my mother spat. “Leaving your family behind to make a living is not something any of us take lightly. It’s just as hard for the parents as it is the kids. And why do you keep saying children? There’s only one. Unless you have something to tell us.” She whipped her rage filled eyes at me. I shook my head frantically. Her anger went right back to the first Mrs.Whitlock.
Gabby blinked rapidly, as if she was just now realizing how she misstepped.
“Oh, I didn’t mean… I’m sorry. I only meant-” she started babbling but my mom shook her head and stood up.
“No. You don’t get to judge me or my children for our career choices. You of all people,”
“Now now,” Shane interrupted. He came forward with his hand outstretched. “My wife simply misspoke. She’s been drinking.”
“What you say while drunk is what you really want to say sober. I get it. It’s a hard concept. Ethan and I love all of our children, and if you think for a single moment that it didn’t kill us to leave them behind to work, you’re sadly mistaken. If your son and my daughter decide to be touring musicians, we will be there to support them in any way possible. And if you want to be involved in your grandchild’s life then you need to get on board real quick.”
“Is that a threat?” Gabby stood up and moved close to my mom. Her eyes were low slits and her hands were curled into fists. She was easily almost a foot taller than my mom. She could take her on if she wanted, but yet my mom stood confidently, not backing down.
“It’s not a threat, it’s the truth. If you can’t support those two,” she pointed to Tate and I standing there in shock. “Then they will start moving away. They won’t visit because they don’t have time. They’ll be touring more than they’re home, and when they are home they won’t be coming to see people who want to tell them how awful they are at being parents. Now, it may not be the lifestyle you want for your son and his family, but the sooner you accept it the better it will be.”
My mom’s words were powerful. She never let people put her down and if I could have even an ounce of her courage and strength, I’d consider myself lucky. Gabby swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. She then turned to Tate and I.
“Fine. If you take that baby on tour, make sure she’s dressed for it. I won’t have my grand baby looking like a ragamuffin just because her parents are rock stars.”
The tension in the room completely disappeared as slowly laughter took its place. Gabby reached over and hugged my mom, apologizing to her for what she said. My mother hugged her back and smiled back at her.
“You think I’d let my Cara Bear look anything less than the punk rock princess she is? Psh, that little girl is going to have a better wardrobe than both of us.”
