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Of all the people I could have imagined showing up on my doorstep, Leona Ashton is the last one I was ever prepared to see.
“Uh, hello.” I open the screen door of my grandmother’s condo and step onto the porch.
Leona has given her son so much of her looks, except this refined older woman has a wiseness in her eyes that can’t be passed down without the knowledge to get there. She is in a beige linen set, looking like the ultimate coastal chic grandmother, holding a basket full of what smells like cookies that make my mouth water.
Leave it to my baby daddy’s mother to show up and produce the one food that has yet to make my pregnant stomach roll with nausea. The irony.
“Gabrielle, I hope I’m not intruding. Liam told me you were over here today and I thought you could use some help.” Her smile is warm and without judgment, which makes me feel even more off-kilter.
With the bookstore pack-up near completion, and the production at the playhouse fully performed and underway, I decided to take some time this week to finish cleaning out my grandmother’s condo. Liam and I haven’t officially decided what our living situation will be once the baby is here, but we know it won’t be apart. Getting Grandma Lucy’s things packed, sorted, and donated is a heavy lift, but I want to be the one to do it. Honoring her and the life she unknowingly gave me by calling me back here is one thing I can give back to her, so here I am.
Having Liam’s mother come to help me wasn’t on my bingo card for today or even this year. While the Ashtons know about our baby on the way and seem genuinely thrilled for Liam, I haven’t spent much one-on-one time with the women of the bunch aside from Cassandra. Even if I am a grown woman about to become a mother, I’m still a little petrified of spending alone time with Leona Ashton. It feels like I’m trying to pass a test I don’t know any answers to.
“That’s so thoughtful of you, of course. Would you like to come in?” This fever dream feels real, and I realize it is, so I should probably invite her into the house and not leave this important woman standing outside.
“I would love that.” She gives me a small grin and a nod, as if she knows she has to steer the direction of this encounter.
“Don’t mind the clutter, there are boxes everywhere to both keep and donate,” I apologize for the mess as I lead her into the kitchen.
In a fit of early nesting, I went on a cleaning spree to boot, and now there is stuff everywhere. While I’ve wrangled most of the upstairs, the downstairs and basement need work if we’re going to list this house.
That only leads to my heart beating double time because it makes me think about moving in with Liam. About creating a home together, the place where we’d raise our son or daughter. I want it so badly I can practically taste it. Through the nausea, of course.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I raised three boys, I know a mess.” She sets the basket on the counter and unwraps it. “These chamomile chocolate cookies were the only thing that got me through my pregnancy with Evan, so I thought I’d make some and bring them over.”
My heart melts at the sweet gesture, probably because my mother would never be so thoughtful. Delicately, because I don’t want to look like a ravenous lunatic, I accept one and take a bite.
“Holy crap, those are the best things I’ve ever eaten.” I gasp and sigh as the gooey cookie sinks into my tastebuds.
Leona takes one too. “Mm, this reminds me so much of when I had my babies in my belly. I miss it, even as an old woman. There is something so special about this time in your life. You’re so connected to this tiny human you’ve created.”
Smiling, because she’s exactly right, I palm my growing bump. “It’s both alien and amazing at the same time. A woman’s body is incredible, even if I’m starting to feel like a small blimp.”
Liam’s mother chuckles and rubs her hands together. “So, what can I help with? I recently cleaned out our basement, and Thomas is a bit of a hoarder, so I’m primed and ready.”
“You’re too kind. You really didn’t have to come over here, I’m just tottering about, picking things up and deciding what to do with them.”
She waves me off. “Of course I want to help. You make my son very happy, and that, in turn, makes me thrilled. I want to do all I can to show you that our family is yours now, no matter what. So, tell me where to start.”
If I address that, I’ll burst into sobs. The care these people have shown me in mere months seems to be healing some childhood trauma I boxed up in the back of my brain.
“The kitchen could use a thorough purge, so if you don’t mind, we can tackle that?”
“Let’s do it.” She winks at me conspiratorially.
It’s surreal having Leona Ashton help me pack up my grandmother’s kitchen. We work in tandem for about forty minutes, wrapping dishes and cookware to donate to local shelters or families. Every once in a while, Leona will ask me about a certain knickknack or decorative item to see if I want to keep it. My back strains from the work, but it feels good. This is the first week I don’t feel too nauseous. I finally have some energy to get up and do things, and this early nesting kick has hit me hard.
“You’re so happy, you’re glowing.” Leona’s voice across the room has me looking up as I pack some pot lids into a box.
I blink, trying not to tear up. Everything makes me emotional these days, and when a mother figure says I’m glowing from a pregnancy I never thought I’d have, that’s going to get me every time.
“There were many times in my adult life that I didn’t think this would happen for me. That I doubted whether I’d have children or a family. Even with the morning sickness, I wouldn’t trade this for the world. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Not to … well, it’s probably weird to say this to his mother, but Liam is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
She grins. “I always knew that boy was going to make someone feel very special. I’m so happy it’s you. You both deserve this.”
Worrying my lip between my teeth, I have no idea what causes me to say what I do next.
“Sometimes I wonder if that’s true. This isn’t the most on-track situation. We’ve had a ton of hurdles, and it wasn’t like this was planned.”
