The Edge of a Dream

by Kadi

Rated M

Disclaimer: This is not my sandbox. I only enjoy playing in it.

Chapter 14

By Sunday, both of the kids were feeling better. The cold had run its course, and neither of their parents had gotten it. Sharon and Andy had taken both of them to early Mass, along with his parents, so that they would have time for the small Easter egg hunt and dinner that they had planned. They didn't organize a big gathering, but it was their first holiday in the house, and as a real family, and they wanted to celebrate it.

Andy grinned as he walked through the house toward the kitchen. That was where all of the activity seemed to be centered. His parents were having coffee at the breakfast table, while Sandra stood at the center island with Sharon. Charlie's mom had gotten home the evening before, and they had invited her to join them for the day, rather than just showing up after everything was said and done to take Charlie home. His ex-wife was peeling potatoes while Sharon got the ham ready to go into the oven.

"Hey honey," he laid his hands on Sharon's shoulders. "I got you something."

"Hm?" She looked up, and when he turned her toward the door, her eyes widened. "Mom!" She spotted her mother first, and dropped the pineapple slices that she was arranging. Sharon wiped her hands quickly before hurrying across the kitchen. By the time she reached the door, her father had appeared too. "I thought you weren't coming until Tuesday?"

"We flew in last night." Joseph waited until his wife had stepped aside before he drew his girl into a hug. "We wanted to surprise you."

"Well you succeeded." Sharon stepped back. Her bright smile only grew bigger when her mother took her hands. "How did you manage to keep Andy from spoiling the surprise this time?"

"Hey." He scowled at her. "I didn't spoil the surprise last time. You drug it out of me. What's a guy to do?"

"I promised to make my macaroons for him while I'm here. His need to tell you everything is only surpassed by his sweet tooth," Genevieve told her. She held Sharon's arms out. "Now let me see you." They had visited at Christmas, before any of them knew that Sharon was expecting. It was much easier for them to come to Sharon, especially now. Her girl looked lovely in her pale lavender sundress. It was sleeveless and straight, a crochet layer over soft cotton that almost reached her knees. Her little bump was only just visible. "You are absolutely glowing. How are you feeling?"

"Better." Sharon assured them both. "I'm finding that I have a little more energy now, but I know what to expect this time." She had felt more overwhelmed last time. Emily had been unexpected too, and Jack wasn't as pleased about it as she was once she got used to the idea. This time was a lot easier, for many reasons. She was able to enjoy being pregnant in a way that she couldn't with her first.

"Speaking of," Joseph looked around the room. "Where's our girl?" He spotted her, seated at the table on Michael's knee and held out his arms. "There she is!"

"Pop-pop!" Emily bounced to her feet and trotted over. She laughed when she was lifted high.

Joseph swung her around before drawing her into a hug. "Aren't you a vision? That's a very pretty dress, Miss Emily." He wasn't surprised to see her in a pale yellow version of her mother's dress, although this one had a bow at the back, and a couple of small flowers adorning the bodice.

"Alright, that's enough, Joseph. We've discussed this. You're going to have to share her." Genevieve held out her arms for her granddaughter. She wasn't moved at his pout, or his scowl. When Emily was finally placed in her arms, she hugged her tightly.

"I'm so sorry, my manners are terrible." Sharon turned where she stood and gestured to Andy's parents, who had stood during their reunion. "Mom, dad, this is Carla and Michael Flynn, Andy's parents." She clasped her hands in front of her, eyes still sparkling brightly. "Joseph and Genevieve O'Dwyer," she told the other couple.

"Genevieve," Carla said, a bit curiously, as the two women shook hands. "That's French, isn't it? I thought Andy said that your family is Irish?"

"It is." She smiled politely. This was the woman who had her daughter in tears at least twice that week. She reminded herself to be polite. "I'm French on my mother's side of the family. Genevieve was my grandmother's name, but everyone just calls me Vivy. I'm afraid that the full thing is a bit of a mouthful. Especially for young Charlie here, isn't that right?" She held out her arms when he approached. "You've gotten so big," she exclaimed as she hugged him.

Joseph held Emily on his hip as he greeted his new son-in-law's parents. His daughter and the young man may not be married yet, but that was only a formality as far as they were all concerned. "It's nice to meet you both," he told them. "Charles, my boy!" He held out a hand. "You've grown at least two inches since Christmas."

"That's probably true." Sandra chuckled quietly. "I know he's sprouted at least half an inch since we bought that suit. He takes after his father."

"In more ways than one," Andy acknowledged with a grin. He ducked when she threw a potato peel at him. "I'm just being honest, Sandy."

She threw another peel at him. "I hate that name," she groaned. He knew it too. Her eyes narrowed. "Sharon, deal with him before I'm forced to. I won't be as nice."

"And you think I will be?" She turned to fix her fiancé with a look. "Be nice, Andrew."

"Yes dear." He bowed his head, but his eyes were still sparkling with mischief. He picked up the potato peel, and as soon as she turned back around, he chunked it back at Sandra.

"Andrew." Vivy arched a brow at him. "Sharon didn't see that, but I did." She shook her finger at him as she walked around the island. "Sandra, you're looking lovely, if a bit tired. How is your mother?"

"She's doing much better." She placed the potato in her hand on the counter and turned. "She'll be sending you a note, but she asked me to pass along her thanks. The flowers that you sent were absolutely beautiful. They really cheered her up. Thank you."

"It was the least that we could do." Their daughter had been seeing Andy for a couple of years now. There was going to be a marriage and another child. Their families were linked, and Charlie was a nice boy. She and Joseph were very fond of him. "I brought gifts for both the kids," She touched Sandra's hand, ever mindful that the other woman was still Charlie's mother, "I hope you don't mind?"

"Of course not." Sandra chuckled. "I'm sure he'll love whatever you brought." She was grateful that Sharon's parents were so generous where her son was concerned. They all went out of their way to make sure that he was treated equally to Emily. Sandra had heard horror stories of combined families, and she saw a little of it in her teaching, so she was thankful that all of them were able to compromise so well. She and Andy still had their disagreements, of course, and it had taken her a long time to get used to Sharon being in her son's life, but everyone was committed to doing what was best for the kids. Sandra inclined her head. Joseph had a mischievous look about him. "Unless it's another Cubs jersey."

He bounced Emily on his hip and held up his other hand. "I have learned my lesson. Charles is a Dodgers man, through and through." He looked at his granddaughter. "What about you? Dodgers or Cubs?"

Emily fluttered her lashes at him. She offered her prettiest smile. "Mets, pop-pop, Mets."

"Ha!" Andy threw his arms in the air. "That's my girl, Emily Marie." He pointed at her. "There's an extra chocolate bunny here, somewhere, just for you."

"Stop it." Sharon smacked his chest as she walked past him. "You're brainwashing that child." She shook her head at him. She had to admit, it was cute to watch Emily curl up in his lap to watch a game, and she doubted the child really understood anything that she was being taught, at least not yet, but she was going to have to find a way to counteract the education her daughter was getting.

"No," Andy drawled. "I'm teaching her right."

Joseph sighed. "My work is cut out for me. We're going to have to visit more often, Vivy. Our girls are learning terrible, New York habits."

"You might have thought of that," his wife said, "before you sent our daughter to New York to go to school." She took Emily from him and hugged her again before setting her on her feet. "You have only yourself to blame, Joseph William O'Dwyer."

"There's probably some truth to that," he agreed. Joseph draped an arm around his wife's shoulders and drew her close. "Sharon, Andrew told us that you were planning to have a small hunt for the kids here, before dinner?"

"Yes." She went back to prepping the ham. "We thought we'd avoid the larger event at the church while they're still recovering, and it's nice to have the family together in the new house. I'm really glad you could both be here too."

She was practically beaming. Andy grinned as he moved behind her. His arms moved around her waist. Andy kissed the side of her head before leaning against her back. "It's turning out to be a pretty good day."

"Yes it is." Sharon's eyes narrowed. He wasn't usually so amorous in front of his parents, or his ex-wife. It didn't take her more than a second to realize that he was up to something. "If you touch even one of those pineapples, Andrew, you will lose that hand."

"Damn." He couldn't say that he hadn't tried. He looked across the counter at Sandra, who was watching them. He winked at her. Then he reached around Sharon and grabbed a slice of pineapple anyway. He dodged away quickly, but he wasn't quite fast enough.

"Okay, that's it. You're done." Sharon smacked his arm. She ignored the laughing of the others and began shoving him toward the door. "Out of the kitchen. Go on. Go find something else to do, you big baby. Take the kids with you."

"It was worth it." Andy hurried away from her before she could smack him again. "Come on kids, let's see what kind of trouble we can get into out here. Oh look, presents!"

"Andy!" Sharon rolled her eyes at him. "We were going to wait until after dinner was in the oven." She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. He had gone and gotten the rabbit out of the car, along with the remote control car that he had gotten for Charlie, and the baskets they had made for both of the kids.

"Yeah, well," he shrugged at her. "I changed my mind." He flashed his most charming, boyish grin at her. "You said to play with the kids, I'm going to play with the kids. Come on honey, don't be mad."

"You're driving me crazy," she told him. Sharon turned away from him. She walked back into the kitchen shaking her head, and had to dodge the kids as they ran past her. There were other gifts for them, the things that her parents had brought, and she knew that Sandra had gotten them something too. They would open those later, before going out to hunt the eggs, but for now, she would let Andy have his fun with them.

"I think that's our cue," Michael stood up. "Joseph, what do you know about large, yellow bunny rabbits?"

"I've heard they make little dancing girls very happy. We should check this out." Choosing the better part of valor, he kissed his wife before joining the other men in the living room.

"I tried to warn you." Sandra continued peeling potatoes. "It's like he's twelve. The question that you really have to ask yourself, is how many times has he put batteries in that car because he had to try it out first?"

"Oh my god." Sharon stared at her. "That's why he's been spending so much time in the garage. I thought he was just enjoying his magazine collection," she drawled with a smirk.

Sandra chortled happily, and almost cut her finger. "Well that's probably in there too," she snickered.

"Oh honestly," Carla shook her head at them. "It's Easter, for crying out loud." She left her chair at the table. "I think I'm going to help Andy keep the kids occupied until we all go out."

Sharon folded her lips together as she watched her mother-in-law leave. She waited until she was certain that the other woman had left the kitchen before rolling her eyes at Sandra. "It's been like this all week," she whispered.

Sandra's brows were arched. She leaned closer, voice pitched low. "What did you do?" She expected Carla to be difficult with her, considering how her marriage to Andy had fallen apart. Both Andy and Sharon had mentioned that his mother wasn't pleased with his new relationship, but she thought they were exaggerating. She was seeing for herself that they weren't.

"I'm breathing." Sharon lifted her hands, completely at a loss. She glanced at her mother, when Vivy joined them at the island. "I'm too hard on Andy," she said quietly, "or I should be more strict with Emily, and not too strict with Charlie. We won't even discuss the part where I am, apparently, breaking some cardinal rule by continuing to work while I'm pregnant." Sharon held up her hands. "I understand that you stayed home after Charlie was born, and I respect that, I would love to do the same, but you were teaching until he was born."

"Yes, for the most part. I finished the year, but I didn't go back in the fall." Sandra shook her head. Charlie was born in the fall, and she had known she wasn't going to continue teaching until he was old enough to be in school too, so she had resigned that May, when the school year ended. She wasn't very far along at the time. "For me, it was just a matter of timing, but yes. If I had been due later in the year, I would have taught that semester too."

Vivy stroked her daughter's arm. "I'm sure that she means well, sweetheart. You can't let it get you so worked up. It isn't good for you." She wasn't entirely pleased with the situation, but she hated to see Sharon so upset. "I'm sure that she's probably just looking out for her son, in the best way that she knows how."

"That's probably true," Sharon replied, "but you manage to look out for me without being harsh. You treat Andy with respect, especially in his own home, and you've never criticized his parenting." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I sincerely wish I knew what I had done. Other than the fact that I'm not his first wife."

Sandra snorted quietly. She began peeling with fervor. "She didn't like me either. Don't let her fool you. She wasn't quite so blunt about it, but I was not her favorite person. Not by far. I wasn't Catholic enough, for one thing. I'm very lapsed," she told Vivy, "more of an Easter Catholic, but barely that. I didn't like the New York winters, but I stuck it out long enough to get my degree. I went to NYU because I wanted to be a writer, I changed my major sophomore year, but just when I was thinking very seriously about transferring back home to UCLA, I met Andy. I was a very nice girl as long as we were dating, and I was local. The minute that we started talking about wanting to move out here, marrying me was probably not the best decision that he could make."

"Really?" Sharon placed both of her hands on the counter. "I don't believe it." She rolled her eyes heavenward. "The only thing that Andy has heard for years now, is that he should be back with you. The night he asked his dad for the ring, his mother called him five minutes later to talk him out of it. When he told his parents about the baby, you know what she asked? If he was sure that it's his, and by the way, isn't it convenient that I managed to get pregnant just when he's considering marriage."

"Ouch." Sandra winced. "Brutal." She put the last potato down and wiped her hands. She carried the bowl of peeled vegetables to the sink to rinse them. "I don't know what to tell you, girl. She was never quite this bad with me, so it may have something to do with how things turned out. She may be worried that you're going to drive him back to the bottle. I just dropped him off there."

"Girls." Vivy shook her head at them. She didn't believe that they were entirely wrong. She took the ham from her daughter when it appeared to be ready, and walked it over to the oven. "Maybe what you need is a little more patience. It's difficult watching your child learn to depend on someone else." When she turned back around, she found both women staring at her. "Okay, you're right. She's being unreasonable. I don't know what to tell you, Sharon. I wish I could make it better."

She sighed. "I know." Sharon cleaned up the mess that she had made glazing and prepping the ham. "I shouldn't be talking about this. I don't want Andy or the kids to hear it. He knows, and he's doing his best, but I don't want him to know how much it's really gotten to me this week."

"He knows." Sandra rinsed and drained the potatoes before carrying the bowl back over so she could begin slicing them. They had decided they would mash them, since the kids would enjoy that more. "He told me last night when I called to check on Charlie, that I should probably wear armor today because she's been in fine form."

"I hate that he's worried about this." Sharon reached across the counter and took a few of the potatoes so she could help slice them. "He shouldn't have to defend his relationship with me to his own parents. I feel like…" she sighed again. "I don't know. I'll be glad when they leave. It's terrible. I know that it is, and I feel like the worst kind of person for saying it. Michael has been wonderful. The kids love him, both of them, and he has spoiled Emily rotten. He's almost as bad as Andy and Dad. He's also been very supportive. I just feel like I've been under a microscope, and I would just like everything to get back to normal."

"It will." Vivy reached over and covered her daughter's hands. "Sharon, it will," she promised her. "I'm sure that it didn't help that both kids were sick for most of their visit. I know it's been a hectic few months. Things will get better. Carla may or may not come to care for you, but you can't worry about that. You have this little one to think about, and the two in the other room. Focus on the family that you're building here. She can only choose to be a part of that or not."

"I know." She attempted to relax. "I'm just…" She shook her head. It didn't help that her hormones and emotions were all over the place. "I'll be okay. We should get this wrapped up. If I timed everything right, we can get everything going, take the kids out, hunt the eggs… and they should be winding down from that and opening the other gifts by the time it's all ready."

"If you didn't," her mother told her, "then we will adjust. There's no rush, Sharon. It's going to be a lovely day."

"And if it all goes sideways," Sandra quipped, "we'll just distract the old bi—" She quickly amended her word usage when Sharon's mother arched a brow at her. "er… Andy's mother. We'll tell her that I'm dating again. That's bound to win you points and put me firmly in the doghouse."

"What?" Sharon's brows shot up. "You didn't tell me that!" She cast a quick look at the door before leaning forward. "Does Andy know?" There wasn't much that the two of them didn't tell each other. Sharon was sure that if he had known, he'd have told her by now.

"Of course not." Sandra smirked at her. "How insane do you think I am?" When her ex-husband's fiancée appeared to be thinking it over, her eyes narrowed. "Very funny, Sharon."

They got along well, but they had their moments too. Most people didn't understand how they could have the relationship that they did, but it was hard won. It was the kids that they did it for. Charlie deserved a relationship with his father, and once she got past her initial concerns, Sandra saw that Andy was a very good one. He stumbled. They all did. No one was born with a parenting guide built-in to their brains, but they all did the best they could. That meant swallowing their pride sometimes. Sandra had done that where Sharon was concerned, once she realized the other woman wasn't going anywhere. She came to understand that she had an ally. They could share the kids, and in doing so, they were well cared for. Two years worth of long talks, arguments, and compromises had brought them to this moment.

"You asked." Sharon smirked at her. "Come on, I need details here. If Andy is going to lose his mind, I'd like to be armed with ammunition to help push him over the edge!"

"Sharon Diane!" Her mother clucked her tongue at them. "Both of you are terrible." She drummed her nails against the counter. "Okay, hurry up and tell us, I don't think we have very long…"

"Well…" Sandra's blue eyes sparkled. "His name is David, and he's an engineer…"

The conversation turned toward dating and men as they worked to finish getting dinner on the stove or in the oven. They discussed sex and all of the other dangers and risks that came with playing the field as a single woman. Eventually, the conversation turned toward pregnancy and hormones.

"I almost attacked him this morning." Sharon studied the other two women. "It wasn't like this with Emily. I didn't want to be touched, or I just didn't care. I guess it didn't help that Jack wasn't around much or that he just wasn't enthused by any of it… but now I can't help myself. The man walked out of the bathroom in a towel and my hand to God…" She trailed off when Sandra bent over, laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. "It's not funny! This baby's first words are going to be oh god, yes!" She folded her arms over her chest at the other woman's continued mirth. "Your son just spent days oozing green snot all over me and you're laughing at me. I don't believe this."

"Oh sweetheart." Vivy rubbed her back. "We aren't laughing at you." Her hazel eyes were light, almost green with amusement. She was having a difficult time controlling her own laughter. "While I don't really need to hear the details, and I'm sure you don't want me to reciprocate, I can assure you, this is absolutely normal."

"Welcome to the second trimester." Sandra pressed the back of her hand against her mouth. She snorted a laugh at the look on the other woman's face. "I'm absolutely laughing at you, just for the record."

Her face was bright red. Sharon covered her eyes. "I'm trying to have a moment here. I cannot believe that you both think this is funny. It can't be normal. Good heavens, if you only knew what we did in the laundry room last night…"

"I told you that you'd like having your own washer and dryer." Sandra reached over and picked up one of the broken slices of pineapple that had been left over. She popped it into her mouth with a smirk. "Enjoy this while it lasts, because it doesn't last long. In a couple of months, he's going to turn into pouting sixteen year old, because you aren't going to want him anywhere near you."

Sharon's lips pursed. "He does pout like a champ," she told her mother. "You know," she pointed a finger at them. "Now that I think about it, that is exactly how I got pregnant to begin with." She hummed. "Thanks, that helps a lot. I should have no problem controlling myself now."

"Sure." Sandra snorted. "For the next hour, at least." She wasn't entirely sure what Sharon tossed at her, but she dodged it.

The sound of their laughter had been echoing into the other rooms for a little while. Andy poked his head into the kitchen to see what was going on, after being elected as expendable by both his father and father-in-law. "Is it safe in here?"

"Probably not for you," Vivy drawled, much to the amusement of the others.

"Oh god," Sharon moaned quietly. She covered her face again when she felt it flush.

He blinked at them a few times. It took a minute for Andy to realize what they were talking about. When he did, his eyes went wide. "You told them!" The words were practically screeched. "Sharon!"

She rolled her eyes at him. Sharon turned and flattened her dress against her middle. "Honey, I think everyone knows exactly what we've been up to."

Sandra tapped her bottom lip. She was studying her ex-husband with narrowed eyes. When he shifted uncomfortably, she looked at his future wife. "Sharon, does he still do that grunting thing where—"

"God almighty! Is nothing sacred?" Andy threw his hands in the air and quickly left the kitchen. The women dissolved into laughter again. Andy shook his head as he strode back into the living room. The others looked at him with puzzled expressions. "It's not safe to go in there. They've all lost their minds."

"Ah." Michael looked at Joseph. "They must be talking about him."

"In my experience," the other man nodded, "you are probably correct." Joseph leaned back in his chair. "We should probably just stay right here until we're called."

"That's a very good idea." Michael nodded. "Andy, you should join us. Trust me son, the kitchen is no place for any of us right now, and most especially not you."

Andy glared at both of them. He had a feeling they had known that before they sent him in there to check on things. He sniffed as he reclaimed his spot on the sofa. He and Charlie were racing his son's new car around the living room. "Son, your old man just got set up. I promise never to do that to you."

The other men laughed. He would. They all did it. Just as they all endured it from those that had come before them. It was a bit of a right of passage.

The dinner preparation didn't take much longer. While the ham browned, and the other dishes cooked, they took the children outside to hunt for the plastic eggs that had been hidden by Andy and Michael earlier in the day. The rest of the day progressed with ease. The children enjoyed themselves, as did the adults.

Sharon's parents had chosen to go to a later mass, so that they could spend the day with their daughter and her family. They left not long after dinner, but would return the following day. They were planning to be in Los Angeles for at least a week, and there would be plenty of time to visit.

In the meantime, Sharon and Andy said goodbye to his parents. Their return flight to New York left early Monday morning. It was with some relief that Sharon got her house back. Her parents would stay at a hotel, which was their preference when visiting. They liked staying on the oceanfront, and would spend their time enjoying the city and each other as much as they would visiting with their daughter.

The low-key visit was exactly what she needed after a week with Andy's parents. She hated to begrudge him spending time with them; Sharon knew exactly how it felt to have so little family nearby. It was just important to her that they feel like their home was theirs, and that they were free to be themselves in it. Thankfully, Andy understood.

The tension with his mother had the power to break them apart. Sharon didn't know what she would do if their positions were reversed. She couldn't imagine her parents not liking him, but she could understand where the potential would have existed. It didn't matter, though. Rather than slide a wedge between them, Andy only held her closer. She didn't know what had gone on between him and his mother while his parents visited. That was the one thing he wouldn't tell her, and she wouldn't press him for details. Whatever it was, he was incredibly attentive after they left.

Sharon could only hope that as they moved forward, building a life together, whatever the ups and downs, and stressors in their lives, that Andy would feel as well loved as she did.

-TBC-