Falling into Place - Forbidden Heart Series

24| Motherly Deathmatch

This wasn't good. This was so not good.

"We can't do a veggie plate and finger foods! What do you think this is? A hoe down?"

"Last time I checked, Priscilla, it was a baby shower for Danielle. And Jamie and I were in charge of the food and dessert."

"And you call this--" Priscilla held up the sheet of paper. "--suitable food and dessert ideas?"

Cherise crossed her arms over her chest. "Listen here, Mrs. Hale, you're kind of new around here. Before a week ago you didn't even want to be involved."

"Should we break them up?" My mom asked quietly from beside me on the plush cream-colored couch.

Jamie scoffed. "Good luck with that. Those are the two most stubborn women on the planet. It's kinda like. . ."

"Godzilla and Mothra." I finished for her.

"Exactly!" Jamie agreed. "Best to just stand out of the way and let them go at it."

"And pray to God they make it through this alive," I muttered. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried."

Jamie leaned back against the sofa and waved my concern away. "Please. My mom can hold her own. She raised in Brooklyn for crying out loud."

"I was talking about Mrs. Hale."

When Ryan's dad suggested including Mrs. Hale with the baby shower preparations, I couldn't really say no. It wasn't that I didn't like her, it was just. . . this. When I assigned tasks for my shower to my nearest and dearest, Priscilla wasn't included -- and not by my choice. She's barely spoken two words to me since Ryan and I eloped and ruined that whole arranged marriage thing with Harper and her family.

But I wanted to make Ryan happy and we were all trying to mend fences and be one big happy family. So here we were. All Jamie, my mom, and I were missing while we sat on Jamie's couch and watched this motherly Deathmatch with popcorn.

"Listen, Cherry--"

"It's Cherise. And everyone knows that I make the best desserts in all five boroughs! So we aren't going to have any desserts that the Queen would eat and we weren't having any snails or octopus to eat. I'm making the menu."

When Mrs. Hale's eyes narrowed, I knew shit was going to hit the fan. I got to my feet immediately and walked over to the two moms.

"Ladies, back to your concerns. Please." I waited until both women turned their gazes to me. "Now this is my baby shower and I'm going to pick the menu." I turned towards Jamie's mom. "Cherise, you're right -- you do make the best desserts out of everyone in all five boroughs. Probably the world. I would like you to focus on that."

I turned towards Priscilla next. "Mrs. Hale, I would love for you to take care of the food. But there are certain things I like and don't like. I can make you a list and you can-choose what to bring." I looked back and forth between the two of them. "We all good with that? I'm six months pregnant with my daughter and I don't want to have to worry about playing referee with you two. Agreed?"

"Agreed," they both said at the same time.

With a satisfied smile, I walked back over to my mom. She and Jamie both rose from the couch when I got close.

"Jamie, I know you originally were supposed to help your mom, but I was thinking about you helping me out with something else."

"Anything you need, D. I'm happy to help."

"And me too." my mom added with a smile that lit up her whole face.

She and I had a long talk when I told her I found out the sex of the baby. I'd been dreading it before, worried that it would upset her since it went against our 'family tradition'. But she was gracious and accepting about it.