"Ok lovelies, we have to be on our best behavior today at the grocery store," Amber told her children as she put Aurora in the pink fuzzy sweater that Tracy had made for the little girl.
"We'll be good, Mama," Eva, Isabelle and Robert promised.
She smiled and loaded the kids into the backseat of the car, with Eva holding Aurora on her lap. When she arrived at the market, she put Aurora in the cart and the other three children walked beside her while she explored the aisle. Isabelle looked up to find herself staring at a middle aged blonde woman with an ugly scowl on her face.
"Amber!" Velma said, her voice mixed with surprise and just a hint of venom.
Amber felt her blood run cold and she glanced up meekly at her mother. Even after all these years, her mother still held a power over her.
"Mother," she said flatly, afraid to stare into Velma's eyes and be reduced into a petrified teenager again.
"She's your Mama?" Isabelle asked Amber in disbelief.
She had never heard Amber discuss he mother before and as far as her kids were concerned, they had no grandparents through her side.
"Yes…she would be your grandmother," Amber said, almost spitting the last word out in disgust.
Velma's blue eyes flashed and her thin lips turned into a grimace at the mere thought of the word.
"I'm not your grandmother, little girl. I have no idea who you are, who any of you are. I have no daughter," Velma said.
Those words pierced through Amber and she gripped the handle of the cart tightly. She felt those tears sting the back of her eyes. Velma had never been the kind of mother to admire, but those words still hurt. She had been the only mother Amber had ever known and now to have her publicly disown her in front of her children, well it was down right humiliating. Amber used all her will power to not break down in the middle of the market.
"You're a nasty, nasty women," Isabelle told this woman.
"Excuse me? You do not talk to your elders like that, you should respect them," Velma glared down at her.
"You're mean and you don't deserve respect! My Mama is the greatest in the whole wide world and she loves us with all her heart. I'm glad you aren't my grandmother because I don't like you, you are hateful," the eight year old spat at her.
Velma lifted her hand to slap the little girl and Amber stepped forward, grabbing her mother's wrist firmly.
"Don't you dare. If you even think about touching her, I will knock you onto your boney ass," Amber hissed, letting go of Velma's wrist and shoving her back.
Isabelle beamed up at her mother and reached for her hand.
"Come on, Mama, we need to finish the shopping," she smiled, pulling her away from Velma.
Amber let her daughter pull her away. She took hold of the cart and pushed it down the next aisle, feeling proud of herself for finally standing up to her mother. She finished her shopping and returned home, feeling a big power surge move through her body. She gave Isabelle and Eva each a light brown bag to carry through the door while she balanced Aurora on her hip and a heavier bag in other arm.
"I can help too Mama!" three year old Robert insisted.
"Are you sure?" she asked and he nodded his head.
"Ok, well you can take in a very light bag for Mama then," she smiled.
Robert found one and carried it inside for her.
"He's getting too big," Amber sighed, kissing Aurora's cheek as she walked inside.
Corny was sitting on the couch in his red silk reading jacket on as he flipped through a magazine. Amber couldn't help but let out a loud laugh when she saw him.
"What?" he asked, looking up at her.
"You look like Hugh Hefner, all you're missing is the pipe and three blonde women dressed as bunnies," she chuckled.
"Well I have one blonde, does that count?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.
"You're such a bad boy, Corny," Amber scolded playfully as she carried her bag of groceries and Aurora into the kitchen.
"I know, I'll make up for it though," he smiled, hopping up and went to finish unloading the bags for her.
"Daddy did you know that we had a grandma?" Eva asked him curiously.
"Yes, sweetheart, she's my mother," Corny smiled kindly.
"Nu-uh, Mama has a mother too," Eva replied.
Corny raised his head and gave Amber a quizzical look.
"Velma was at the market today," Amber told him softly, avoiding his questioning gaze as she began to boil a pot of water to start dinner.
"She's so nasty daddy, I don't like her," Isabelle said.
"Neither do I," Corny told her honestly.
"She was gonna hit me, but Mama stopped her. Mama is the greatest," Isabelle smiled and Amber felt her heart swell slightly with pride when she heard her daughter say that.
"Why was she going to hit you? You didn't kick her did you?" Corny asked.
"Noooooo, daddy you said kicking was wrong! I just told her she was mean and nasty and I was glad she wasn't my grandma," Isabelle explained.
"Oh well, in this case, I probably wouldn't have minded if you had kicked her," Corny smiled.
"Ugh, daddy make up your mind," Isabelle sighed.
Corny was in the nursery, giving Aurora her bottle before bed, rocking her back and forth gently in the rocking chair. Amber finished giving Robert his bath and put him to bed first. She blew a gentle raspberry against his tummy and he squealed with laughter.
"I love you my little prince," she smiled, kissing his forehead and tucking the covers securely around him.
"Love you too, Mama," he yawned before closing his blue eyes.
She watched him sleep for a few moments before tucking her twins in.
"I love you girls so much do you know that?" she asked them, kneeling between their two beds and holding their hands.
"Of course, Mama," Eva smiled and Isabelle nodded her agreement.
"You're better than…that lady. You're nicer and we love you, you are the best Mama ever," Isabelle assured her, squeezing Amber's hand tightly.
Amber was ready to cry tears of happiness, but instead she pushed them back and kissed her daughters goodnight. She retired to her bedroom, climbing under her covers and finally broke down as she pressed her face into the pillow. She felt Corny join her and lift her into his lap.
"Amber you are an amazing woman. You're a hundred times better than Velma ever was," he told her softly as he held her close and stroked her soft blonde hair.
She gave him a soft smile as the tears rolled down her face and she held onto her husband tightly.
