Chapter 11
A/N I have not forgotten about this story. Work is nuts, and just when I think I can get a break I realize that's not happening. Super sorry for the lack of an update.
Half way to Grimly County they stopped for breakfast and so Ava could change from her PJ's into normal clothes. After breakfast Ava asked Tamsin a question that had been on her mind since meeting Bo.
"Hey, Tamsin?" Ava asked playing with the hem of her t-shirt.
"Yea squirt?" Tamsin replied looking in the rear view mirror.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure"
"Do you love Bo?" Ava asked innocently.
"What do you mean by love?"
"I mean, do you love Bo differently then you love me and mom?"
"Well…I do love Bo, but I also love Kenzi"
"Yeah, but you don't hold Kenzi's hand, or kiss Kenzi, or look at Kenzi with funny happy cartoon eyes. You do with Bo"
Tamsin knew she had to tell Ava the truth, but how did she do that. She finally decided on an age appropriate answer.
"Yeah monkey, I do love Bo, and she makes me happy. Are you ok with that?"
"Uh huh! I like Bo and Kenzi, and Bo makes you happy and I like it when people are happy. I think Bo's pretty cool too" Ava said smiling.
"Tell her that when you see her. I'm sure it will make her day. You know the three of us, and your mom love you a lot right?"
"I know" Ava said turning and looking out the window.
"Good. Just checking" Tamsin said turning on the radio, but all she got was static. She scanned for a station, and a couple seconds later she found a country station that was playing Lady Antebellum Compass. Tamsin glanced at her directions making sure they were on the right track.
Two hours later they pulled into the drive of Bo's childhood home. Tamsin parked behind Bo's car, and she and Ava got out of the truck. Kenzi was standing on the front porch when they arrived.
"Hey glad you made it" Kenzi said.
"Yea, well, my truck decided it needed gas so."
"Whatever, it's cool. We just got her, Bo's inside already. Have you explained to Ava about Bo's mom?"
"Not yet, but I will now"
"Ok, you do that and I'll go tell Bo you're here" Kenzi said turning and going inside. Ava was looking at Tamsin with a confused look on her face.
"So, a couple things you should know about Bo's mom.
Her memory isn't very good. So if she can't remember who you are, or your name that's ok.
If she asks you the same questions over and over, just answer them like it's the first time you are being asked them.
If she calls Bo, Beth. That's ok. Beth was Bo's name before she changed it to Bo.
I think that's it. Any questions?" Tamsin asked looking at Ava. Ava wasn't sure how to respond, so she just shook her head. She hated meting new people.
"Hey. It'll be ok. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry. Bo says she's nice. C'mere" Tamsin said giving Ava a hug and picking her up. Ava rested her head on Tamsin's shoulder as they opened the front door. Bo heard the screen door bang, and went and met Tamsin and Ava in the front foyer.
"Hey you made it" Bo said smiling.
"Yup we did" Tamsin said adjusting Ava on her hip.
"Are you hungry Ava?"
Ava shook her head no.
"She's nervous about meeting your mom"
"Oh. I see. Well, technically, you're meeting my mom too. It's like I'm introducing you to her." Bo said. Tamsin let those words sink in.
"Oh…crap" Tamsin said realizing this was the first time she had ever been in a committed enough relationship to meet her partners family. Bo could see she had a freaked out Valkyrie and a scared baby fae to deal with. She sent a calming wave of charm through each.
"Ready?" Bo asked Tamsin.
"Yeah, ok, lets do this" Tamsin said following Bo to the kitchen. Bo's mom and Kenzi were seated at the table.
"Hey mom. I want to introduce you to someone" Bo said pulling Tamsin into the kitchen.
"Hi dear. Did you go to school with Beth?" Mary asked smiling.
"No, mom. This is Tamsin. She's…a really good friend" Bo replied, deciding if she said girlfriend it might make her very religious mother upset, and she didn't want Ava caught in the middle.
"Hello dear. Who's this little one? Is she yours Beth?" Mary asked looking at Bo.
"No mom. This is Ava, she's Tamsin's." Bo said leaving it at that. Tamsin put Ava down, and Ava went over to Kenzi.
"Hey kiddo, lets go outside" Kenzi said taking Ava's hand and going out to the yard. Bo and Tamsin sat down at the table.
"Mom, Tamsin is more than a good friend." Bo said.
"What do you mean?"
"Tamsin's my girlfriend mom. That's how Ava knows Kenzi." Bo said waiting for her mothers' reaction. She grabbed Tamsin's hand under the table.
"Your girlfriend?" Mary asked.
"Yes Mrs. Dennis. I love your daughter, and she loves Ava, and that means everything to me. Ava is my granddaughter." Tamsin said.
"Are you happy Beth? Do you love Tamsin?"
"I am, and I do. Very much mom. I wouldn't trade anything in the world for what I have now. I am finally happy." Bo said smiling.
"But what about Kenzi?"
"Kenzi is and always will be a huge part of my life. She's my sister. My heart. But Tamsin is who I want to wake up next to every morning, and the last person I want to see before I close my eyes at night"
"Tamsin, do you share these feeling towards Beth?"
"I do, very much so" Tamsin replied, feeling like she was being interrogated.
"Well…then I hope you two will be happy. Oh my. I was so caught up in your visit, that I forgot to bake a pie for dessert. Do you think Kenzi and the little one would like to bake a pie?" Mary asked, forgetting Ava's name.
"I'm sure Kenzi and Ava would enjoy that mom. I'll go get them," Bo said leaving her mom and Tamsin alone.
Tamsin and Mary sat there quietly, smiling and looking at each other awkwardly. Tamsin glanced around the room, and her eyes fell on some pictures of Bo when she was about Ava's age.
"Are those all pictures of Bo? I mean Beth when she was little?" Tamsin asked.
"Oh yes. These were when she won Miss Cherry Blossom, this picture was when she was 7, on and this one, is my favourite, her first smile" Mary said slipping into her own thoughts, while showing Tamsin the pictures.
"She was a cute baby" Tamsin replied looking at the pictures.
"Do you have any children?" Mary asked, forgetting Ava.
"I do, a daughter, and I have a granddaughter, Ava. She came up with us," Tamsin said as Kenzi, Bo and Ava walked back in. Ava was holding Bo's hand, she let go when she Tamsin and went and sat on the blondes' lap.
"You always looked so comfortable around kids. They always loved you when you babysat" Mary said to Bo.
"Thanks mom"
"Hey monkey, do you want to bake a pie with Mrs. Dennis and Kenzi?" Tamsin asked.
"Yes please" Ava replied quietly, as she smiled.
"Wonderful, lets get started" Mary said as Kenzi and Ava followed her into the kitchen.
"Hey Kenz, we'll be packing upstairs" Bo said before Kenzi was out of earshot.
"Sounds good. I'll keep an eye on Ava and your moms"
"Thanks. Oh and Kenz. Please don't burn anything down" Bo said smiling.
"Ouch. That stings BoBo" Kenzi replied as she turned on her heel and entered the kitchen.
Bo grabbed three big flat cardboard boxes and Tamsin grabbed a sharpie and packing tape. The two of them headed off upstairs to tackle packing up Bo's childhood bedroom.