Page 16 of Tuesday

I tilt my head, looking in her direction. “I didn’t know you had a mom’s group.”

“Well, it’s not really. It’s a get-together-for-lunch-and-spend-most-of-our-time-talking-about- our-kids group.” Blanche answers, rubbing her big, swollen belly. I eye it for a moment because there’s no way it can get bigger. Surely.

“OK. It makes sense that I wouldn’t have been interested before. I mean, kids don’t really interest me. Apart from mine, now that I have one. She seems quite smart too,” I dart my gaze to see what she’s doing. She’s sitting babbling to Chomper, staring intently at his scales. One chubby finger gently touches one of his thicker scales as she pats him gently. Rhodie is sitting next to her, murmuring something, and she nods her head. She’s learning. “Also, I’m sure I’ll be able to get lots of information and pointers seeing as Blanche and Remy have old kids.”

“Thanks,” Remy says, but not in a thankful way. More of a sarcastic way.

“So, what time is lunch?” I ask, glancing back at Rhodie and Laney.

“We like to get there at 11.30, get the good seats before the lunch rush,” Mira says with a huge smile.

My brows pinch in, Mira doesn’t have children so I point out the obvious.

“Pshh,” Mira flaps a hand at me, “I may not have kids, but I like the research. Might need it for a book one day.”

“Fair enough,” I shrug.

“Morning girlies,” Pops greets everyone, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. “So, we meeting same time, same place?”

Tilting my head I stare at Pops for a moment, “Wait, you go to lunch with the Girl Gang too?”

“Of course I do.” Pops gives me a funny look.

“I thought it was a Mommie’s group?” I frown.

“When you lost your parents I became your mommy and your daddy as well as your Pops. Realistically I should have three groups with whom to share my knowledge, yet alas, I only have the one,” Pops laments.

“I’m sure one is more than enough,” Ana says under her breath as she walks over to drop a kiss on Pops’ cheek.

She plops down next to Pops and hands JR over to him before turning and greeting Laney with a big smile and a wave. Laney looks toward her and waves for a second, her attention back on Chomper’s toenails.

“Gus got Marx business?” Lovely asks.

“Gus and Roman business. Roman was pulling in when we were,” Ana answers, taking the plate of scrambled eggs Mama Debs presents her with. “Thanks Mama.”

“Welcome, baby.”

“Welcome, baby,” I echo. I say it once more, wondering if it’s something I could pull off, now that I’m a mom and all. Turning to Laney, I echo the words once more. “Welcome, baby.” She frowns at me so I figure that one is not for me.

“Testing it out?” Pops says, bumping his shoulder with mine.

“Not for me,” I sigh.

“Hey, it ain’t for everyone,” he says.

“I agree,” Vi chimes in, Juno on her hip. “I couldn’t pull it off either.

“I think the only person who could is Lovely,” Remy joins in.

Nat, Mira and Blanche all nod while Lovely turns a little pink in the cheeks. “Welcome, baby,” she says perfectly and it just fits. We all grin at her as she snuggles Bee and whispers it into her dark hair.

I like this. This weird lady bonding. Well, lady and Pops bonding. I mean, they’re my girl gang anyway, but being a Mommy Girl Gang is different. It’s new and kinda exciting. Standing abruptly, they all look toward me.

“I’m going to spend time with my daughter so I will have questions and ideas at lunch. I’ll see you all then. Oh, and Ana? Ask Gus what his meeting was about. I may need to know the details.”

Her brows furrow. “He usually briefs you after every meeting with Marx anyway.”

“Yes but I’m on maternity leave for obvious reasons,” I wave toward Rhodie and Laney, “so I will be multitasking home and work life. Having you brief me at lunch consolidates two things into one meaning I have more time to practice caring for Laney. I’m a little slow to do things at the moment, but Jules said that it’s a good idea to try shaving off a second here or there every day. It’s all practice, you know?” I tilt my head and glance at the Girl Gang.

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