When Worlds Collide

Katherine & Maya

Carina and Liam walked into the living room to find Maya buzzing around tidying things up.  They both stared as Maya kept rearranging the pillows and checking the coffee table books.  Liam let out a raspberry and Carina nodded and chuckled.
"La mamma e nervosa.  E cosi che lo affronta."
Maya stopped and looked at them.
"I'm just making sure everything is picked up."
"My love, this is your mom who's coming, not that stronzo.  And if you think you are this nervous, I promise you she is even more so."
The doorbell rang and Maya stiffened before sucking in her breath.  Carina put a hand on her wife's arm and squeezed gently.
"Breathe Maya...I'm right here with you."
She let go and walked across the room to the door and opened it.  Katherine smiled nervously at Carina before reaching out and grasping onto Liam's hand.  He laughed and held her finger tightly as Carina backed up to let Katherine in and turned to look at her wife.
"Come in Katherine, it's good to have you here."
"Hi Mom."
Maya stood still and looked at her mother.  She had been a bit irritated when Carina had told her that she had invited Katherine over and even more anxious that her mom had already met Liam.  But Carina had also explained the visit and confession of wanting to finally break free and hopefully be able to repair some of the damage done by Lane for so many years. Maya was hesitant to believe that her mom really was ready to leave her dad, mostly because there had been so many false starts in the past.  But if there was one thing that Maya had come to realize it was that her wife had an uncanny ability to read people.  So she had agreed to this meeting.
"Maya, you look much healthier, I'm so glad.  How are you feeling honey?"
"Better thanks.  Can I get you something to drink?"
"I'll take whatever you have, if you don't mind."
Carina stepped between them and handed Liam to Katherine before turning and putting her hand on Maya's shoulder and pushing her down on to the sofa.
"Liam can sit with his Nonna, I'll get it. Why don't you both talk, capire?"
Maya gave Carina the eyes that said 'don't leave me alone' but Carina simply smiled and kissed Maya's cheek before disappearing into the kitchen. Turning her attention back to her mom and son, Maya watched silently as Katherine interacted with Liam. After a few moments, Katherine spoke up.
"Were you part of that wildfire scene?"
"Uhh, yeah, actually we both were.  Carina had volunteered to help in the medical tents and then delivered a baby with one of my station's firefighters."
"Oh? That sounds dangerous.  Where was Liam?"
"He stayed with friends of ours.  Carina had delivered their baby and she has remained close with them."
"I'm glad that neither of you were hurt, it sounds like it was very dangerous."
Maya cleared her throat and started spinning her wedding ring.
"Well, actually Mom, I-"
"Here we go! I made some lemonade."
Carina looked at Maya and shook her head.  She took a seat next to her wife and laid a hand on Maya's knee to stop it bobbing. 
"So Katherine, have you had any luck finding a place?"
Katherine had been sipping her lemonade but placed it on the coffee table and shook her head.
"It hasn't been as easy as I hoped.  Lane has been watching me like a hawk.  I had to lie and tell him I was going to the gynecologist today.  I don't want him to know I'm here. I-I just...well...I-"
"It's fine Mom, just say it.  You aren't really ready to leave him yet."
Carina dug her nails into Maya's kneecap but stayed silent.  Katherine stared at her daughter intently.
"Maya, I know that I have been a terrible and weak mother to you and your brother, and I truly hope you never have to feel like I do with your own son.  But if you think it's been a struggle for you to break free of your father's cruelty, then imagine how it is for me.  I don't have a spouse who I can trust.  I don't have a job that treats me like a family.  I can't erase the past, all I can do is apologize and hope that you can one day forgive me.  I told Carina, I want to repair whatever I can with you...and with Mason, if that's even possible."
Maya blinked and opened her mouth, then stopped and took a deep breath before continuing.
"Mom, I want to believe you, really I do.  And I want you to know our chil-son...but I'm not going to allow Dad or Mason anywhere near my family.  I've been in therapy for a while now to work through the abuse, but I still struggle with 'eyes forward' and I still worry that I'm carrying shit inside me that might ruin my marriage.  But Mason?  He's worse than Dad right now. He is carrying misplaced and dangerous anger and hate toward the community Carina and I belong to.  I can't risk exposing him to my family.  All I can tell you is that he isn't homeless any longer and he looks like he's been clean for a while now."
The SFD alert went off on Maya's phone and she stood up to grab it from the desk.  As she looked up, Carina's phone started ringing.
"Hello? Miranda?...WHAT? I'm on my way!"
Maya was getting her shoes on when she looked at her mother and then at Liam before turning and looking at Carina.
"Ummm..."
Carina stopped mid-way putting her jacket on and looked at Maya and then at Katherine.
"I'm so sorry, there's been an incident at the hospital.  It's one of my patients and I have to get over there."
Maya chimed in as her mother stared at them both.
"The incident is involving a fire as well Mom and I've been called in.  Is there...is there any way you can watch Liam until we can call our sitters to come and get him?"
Katherine smiled through her confused facial expression.
"I would love to! Go and be safe both of you...and girls? Thank you. Thank you for trusting me with him.  I'll keep him safe, I promise."
As they hurried out of the house, Maya could hear her mother talking softly to Liam.  Once they were in the car and backing out of the driveway, Maya took a sideways glance at Carina.
"I hope we didn't make a huge mistake."
"I don't think we did Bambina...just have a little faith."
"Yeah, but all the same can you please call Peggy and get Liam picked up?"
Carina smiled and nodded, pulling her phone from her purse as Maya raced toward Station 19.