Chapter 7: A trip to Grandma's Brings a Surprise
They pulled up in front of grandma Bernie's house. Maureen quickly opened the door and dashed for the front door. Kat was getting antsy waiting for her father to pull the middle row of the SUV forward. As he did, Kat jumped out and raced behind Maureen. Elliot got the twins out as Olivia grabbed Eli's car seat with the sleeping baby inside.
Twins: Gamma Gamma Gamma!
They screamed as they saw her at the threshold of the door.
As everyone entered the house, Bernie brought out her famous fresh baked cookies and milk.
The kids ran around in excitement.
Maureen: Isn't Eli so cute.
As they admire the new baby.
Bernie: Yes, he is. He looks just like his daddy.
Maureen: He isn't a brat like Richie. He's a good boy.
Bernie: Maur!
They all chuckled.
El: Ok guys, we have some announcements to make.
Kat: Like what?
El: Guys, we are moving.
Maureen: NO! I'm not going to see my friends from school again.
Liv: It will be okay, you will meet new friends and we can always have your friends from queens over to the new house.
Bernie: Friends from queens? You guys are moving out of queens.
El: Yea Ma, I think it is the best thing for us, we want to start over and we need more space.
Maureen: You don't want a new start; you want us to forget Mommy.
Liv + El: Maureen!
They called her name as she ran out of the room crying.
Liv: I'll go talk to her.
Liv ran after her to find the little girl on the back porch of her grandmother's home.
Liv: Maureen, we are not trying to make you forget about your mom. We always want to keep her in your memory but we need more space, with the new baby there is no more room in the house.
Maureen: That house is where I had all my best times with Mommy, you just want me to forget them.
Liv: No baby, not at all. We all loved your mom and she loved us. She would want us to be happy.
Maureen: So you are not trying to take her place.
Liv: I could never. I loved your mom like a sister; I am doing what she would have wanted me to do, which is taking care of you and your brothers and sisters.
Maureen: I'm sorry for treating you badly I didn't want to forget mommy.
Liv: Its ok we will get through this together.
They hugged and entered the house together.
Maureen and Liv entered the living room holding hands.
Everyone was oddly quiet, Liv went over to Eli's car seat to pick up the fragile newborn, between his little legs cradled a little black velvet box.
She looked down, stunned she looked up at Elliot.
El: So are you gonna open it?
She slowly cracked the stiff box open, revealing a stunning engagement ring. The face was a perfect rounded square, set with rows of glittering diamond shaped stones. The band was white gold, delicate and narrow. The white gold made a fragile web around the diamonds.
She could not speak she just stood there in silence.
He took the box from her hand and went down on one knee with his children around him. We love you so much and you have been there with us through the thick and the thin. I love you. Will you have us?
Liv: Yes!
The children around them squealed as they leaned in for a kiss.
After hanging out with grandma for another hour they decided to head to the restaurant to meet up with their friends and introduce Eli and make some announcements.
El: Ok Stablers, Head out!
The kids jumped on their grandmother showering her with kisses that marked their good byes.
Bernie: Bye guys, have fun.
