The next day, Amelia found her mother standing at the kitchen counter.
"Mom! What are you doing?"
"I'm just trying to decide what to do about breakfast."
"I'll take care of breakfast. You take care of yourself." Amelia guided her mother to the kitchen table.
"You sure are bossy."
"You can thank yourself for that."
Eden walked in with Jeannie in her arms, "Amelia, could you try to not leave your things in my room?" she joked as she held the toddler out to her sister.
Amelia laughed, "you snuck into Aunt Eden's room didn't you?"
The little girl laughed at her mother, "I still can't believe that someone so sweet came from you," Eden said.
"I guess that means your children will be terrors."
"Way to talk me out of wanting kids." Eden lifted Jeannie onto her lap when the little girl walked over. "Maybe I should just take this one?"
"Nice try," Amelia said.
Regina could tell that her granddaughter wasn't comfortable with her. "Since you appear to have this under control, I'm going to go sit on the couch."
"Do you need help?" Amelia asked.
Regina eased herself up, "no, I'm good. Thank you, though." Regina began to walk out of the kitchen but fell.
"Mom!" Amelia ran to her mother. Eden put Jeannie down and ran to her mother as well.
"I'm okay," Regina said as her daughters helped her up.
"Are you sure?" Amelia asked.
"Yeah, I lost my balance. It happens," Regina said casually as her daughters helped her back to the table.
"Just sit here for a moment," Amelia said. She began to check her mother to make sure nothing was broken. Regina was shocked by her daughter's gesture and it warmed her heart. "Everything appears okay. Do you still want to go to the couch?"
"Umm," Regina looked at Jeannie, "I guess."
Eden had picked up Jeannie and sat back at that table with her. Amelia turned towards them and looked at her daughter, "Jeannie, grandma thinks that you don't like her."
"Amelia," Regina groaned.
The little girl shrugged, "stwangor."
"Is that all? I promise I won't be mad. I just want to make sure you're okay here," Amelia told her daughter.
The little girl nodded, "cuhwer?"
"Sure," Amelia went to retrieve her daughter's coloring book and crayons.
Once the toddler had her things, she looked at Regina, "gwama cuhwer?"
Regina smiled, "sure," the woman noticed her granddaughter was using one color, in particular, a lot. "I'm guessing that your favorite color is blue." The little girl looked up and smiled. "Mine is blue too." That appeared to make the little girl excited. She had something in common with her grandmother. Now, to Jeannie, grandma wasn't a stranger.
"Amelia, when is Alex arriving?" Eden asked.
"Christmas Eve, but we have to find a storage unit for our things and a hotel room."
"Why?" Regina asked.
"Well, we don't have a house yet."
"I thought you were just going to stay here for now."
"Mom, we can't impose."
"Who's imposing? It's your home."
"I don't know."
Regina turned to her granddaughter, "Jeannie, do you want to stay with me and grandpa?" The little girl smiled and nodded, "it's decided."
Amelia chuckled, "really?"
"What my granddaughter wants, my granddaughter gets."
"Thanks, mom," Amelia walked over and hugged her mother.
"You don't have to thank me. I'm just happy you're home."
By the time breakfast was ready, Carl was downstairs. Everyone sat together and ate. "Eden, I thought that I would give you a break for a while."
"A break from what?"
"Taking care of mom. I mean, I don't have a job yet and it's long overdue."
"I don't know."
Regina looked at Eden, "don't feel guilty. That's what you have always told me and now I'm telling you. Start living and figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Hang out with friends and have fun."
"Okay," Eden agreed and turned back to her sister, "Thanks, sis."
"Anytime," Amelia smiled at her sister.
"So, what does Alex do for a living?" Carl asked.
"He went to school for business. He doesn't have a job yet either."
"Is he going to open a business here?"
"He doesn't know. I mean he was going on interviews in England, but nothing felt right. I told him to not take the job if he wasn't going to be happy there."
"Well, there are plenty of people here who can help him figure that out."