Emily propped Isadora against her shoulder, gently tapping her back to make her burp. Wordlessly, Erik approached behind her to wipe the spit up off the baby's chin.
He leaned down to kiss the top of Emily's head. Then, murmured by her ear, "I think you should reach out to your mother."
Her stunned silence extended for what felt like hours. "What?" she finally asked, deadpan. "Why on Earth would I do that?"
He circled in front of her, kneeling down to meet her eyes. "Emily..."
"Erik," she said pointedly, "She never called to check on me – not even once – while I was pregnant."
He just kept staring at her, that same expectant look in his eyes.
"Erik," she said again, more desperate. "She's never even pretended to like you and she barely tolerates me, what makes you think a baby is going to change anything?"
"She has a right to meet her granddaughter," he said reasonably.
"Why? She was a terrible mother, what makes you think she'll be any different as a grandmother?"
Erik gently stroked Isadora's head. "Em, your mother is the only blood relative she has. Don't you think she deserves to know her?"
She heaved a sigh, staring down at the baby's sleepy face, knowing in her gut that he was right, but hating to admit it.
"Fine," she conceded at length. "I'll call her."
"It'll be fine," he assured her, easing the baby from her and setting her in the crib.
"We'll see," she said darkly.
Emily hadn't actually expected her mother to pick up the phone, let alone be eager and willing to come meet her granddaughter. Elizabeth wasn't exactly known for her comfort around babies – or children of any age, really...so Emily was rather mystified by her sudden enthusiasm.
But, knowing that it was important to Erik that Isadora know her family, she'd invited her mother to lunch so she could meet the baby.
That didn't mean she was excited or even remotely looking forward to the meeting, though... She watched the restaurant door, looking more like she was anticipating an armed gunman than her own mother.
"Would you relax?" Erik said gently, "It's not going to be as bad as you're expecting."
"How can you be so sure?" she deadpanned. "This is the woman who once told me I was dressed like a whore – I was eleven..."
He tried not to laugh at her pointed expression. "Well," he conceded, looking for a bright side, "At least she's paying for lunch..."
Emily snorted with laughter, though it was short-lived when she spotted her mother's approach.
"Hello, Emily," Elizabeth greeted primly. She glanced over at Erik, looking like she'd tasted something sour. "Mr. Lensherr."
Emily sighed audibly.
Elizabeth obviously heard it, but failed to react. "And this must be my granddaughter," she said, nodding to the carseat where Isadora was sleeping.
"She had a terrible night, so she's still napping," Emily explained. "But she should be hungry soon."
Elizabeth nodded, took the empty seat next to Emily. "So, how have you been faring as a new parent?"
Emily couldn't help but smile as she glanced down at the baby. "It's been wonderful – she's such a well-behaved little baby. We had a bit of a rocky start in the hospital, but now she's nursing like a champ."
"Oh. You're nursing?" she asked with obvious distaste.
She rolled her eyes. "Nursing is scientifically proven to be the best thing for an infant's health."
"You were formula fed," Elizabeth pointed out. "And you turned out fine." The way she said it made it clear she'd taken the comment as a personal slight.
"Yes, well, I've decided to nurse my baby." Anything further she might have said on the matter was interrupted by Isadora waking and fussing shrilly. "Hello, pretty girl," Emily cooed as she lifted her from the carseat. "You must be so hungry in that little tummy." She tickled the baby's belly.
Elizabeth pointedly diverted her gaze as Emily pulled up her blouse so the baby could latch on to her breast.
"Does she take after her father?" Elizabeth asked, staring deliberately at the menu to avoid the apparently scandalous sight of a baby breastfeeding.
Emily knew what she was asking, but pretended she didn't. "Her hair is still light, but I have a feeling it will turn red as she gets older. She already has his beautiful blue eyes."
Elizabeth sighed in irritation. "You know that's not what I was asking..."
"Does it matter?" Erik asked, seeing the way Emily's temper was rising and hoping to head off the oncoming argument before it started.
Elizabeth's gaze finally landed on him again as if seeing him for the first time. "I only want what's best for her."
"Mother, it doesn't matter," Emily said without raising her voice as she stared down at Isadora, stoking her cheek with one finger. "I couldn't care less whether she has a mutation or not. She's my daughter and she's perfect as she is.
"Here's the thing, Mother: growing up, I never felt like you accepted me for who I was and that's not a mistake I intend to make with my daughter. And if you intend to be a fixture in our lives, you're going to have to get on board with that because honestly, I don't need anything from you anymore."
For several moments of what seemed an interminable length, there was stunned silence. Finally, Elizabeth nodded once, in concession. "I'll do my best," she said.
Isadora, now fully sated, pulled away from the breast, looking about with inquisitive eyes.
"Would you like to hold her?" Emily offered, extending the baby towards her mother.
Elizabeth took the baby, though she looked a little dubious about it. "Hello, Isadora," she greeted.
Isadora returned her grandmother's greeting by promptly spitting up all over the front of her formal blazer.
Emily winced, bit down on a smile that threatened to burst forth. She passed her mother a burp cloth, while exchanging a smirk with Erik.
Dabbing at the spit up, Elizabeth didn't seem to know how to react. Emily reached to take the baby back, but her mother stopped her. "It's fine," she insisted. "It's what babies do."
That surprised Emily. "Really?"
She nodded. "I know I wasn't the best mother, but I want to do better – to be better. I'm going to try harder, okay? And I suppose that might involve getting a bit of curdled milk on my blouse." A pause. "And I believe I owe you an apology, Mr. Lensherr – Erik. I know I haven't always been the kindest person, bit you're my daughter's husband, so you're obviously not the person everyone makes you out to be. I hope to get to know the person she sees."
Emily smiled, perhaps a little watery. "Thank you, Mother. That's all I ask."