Chapter 294: Motherhood
Monday, January 30th, Evening
Ivy watched the three women exchange bards at each other. These exchanges were all playful, but she could tell that they were only just holding back the venom. If anything, there's respect between them. There is certainly competition between the sisters, for some reason.
"Nothing, just that Izzy teased me about that with Wyatt," Trin said, with a joyful voice, "she got away with it because Nomi wasn't into them."
Ashlyn laughed, enjoying the teasing, "Karma," she said.
Trin almost cackled. "Yeah, bit you on the ass, Izzy," Trin said.
Izzy nodded, almost in defiance. "Yes, karma did bite me on the ass," she said and took a drink from her glass, "And I deserved it."
Trin nodded, almost a bow, acknowledging she didn't shake her older sister. "Well, thank god you didn't make Chase's mistake," she said.
That's new, Ivy thought. "What was that?" she asked.
"Our dear older sister got her nephew Phelan a loud toy for one Christmas," Trin said in a strangely joyous tone.
Ivy looked at Trin, her eyes sending the signal, "really?" "So?" she asked.
Ashlyn laughed, shook her head, and almost pounded her fist on the table. "Karma," she said.
"Kelly got PJ something loud for her birthday," Trin said with a self-satisfied smile.
That's how it's going, Ivy reflected. Kids seem like a new battleground for some of these women. It seems only Trin and Ashlyn are commenting. Could this reflect on this Chase, whom I've not met yet? Ivy mulled over. "Oh!" Ivy said.
"The first rule of gift-giving, never give a loud toy, or you'll get one in return," Trin said.
Ivy nodded. Children seem more complicated than I remember growing up, Ivy reflected. Also, have to factor in Kay; even if we talk about having kids, Kay has a job where she's away. No matter how much the world changes, people don't and add that any child would have two mothers. Izzy is looking at me with that penetrating gaze, Ivy reflected.
"Ivy, what's bothering you?" Izzy asked, concerned.
Ivy sighed and slowly panned her gaze over the three women. "Did you guys choose to be parents?" Ivy asked, shook her head, "Sorry, I mean did you want kids?"
The wind came out of several of the sails. Ivy noted Trin made a sour face. "I made a choice to have sex, that led me to be a parent," she said, shrugged, and played with her beer glass, "Honestly, I never thought about being a mom until it was too late."
Izzy rapped on the table, looked at Trin, then Ashlyn; finally, she looked at Ivy. "Of course, I thought about being a mom, married and all that," Izzy said, shrugged, and shifted her beer glass, "Of course, the path I took didn't match the thoughts or dreams I had."
Ashlyn had her head bowed; finally, she raised her head. "I was so young when I became a mom. My whole life has been as a mom. I've never been an adult without children."
Ivy nodded. The question in her mind is she should tell them about her reservations. There are doubts buried deep inside herself, and she wasn't sure she wanted to share. "I see, thank you," she said.
Izzy wouldn't stop studying her. Ivy looked at Izzy and felt the congresswoman was trying to look into her soul. "What's wrong, Ivy?" Izzy asked.
"Nothing," Ivy said defensively.
Izzy latched on like a dog that found a bone. "Seriously, what's on your mind?" Izzy asked.
Ivy bit her lower lip to keep it still. In for the penny in for the pound, she thought. "That, I'm well, not sure, I want to be a mother," Ivy said, nodded, and took a drink from her beer glass to cover her quivering lower lip.
Trin stared at Ivy, her mouth agape. "Whoa! I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole," she said.
Ashlyn shook her head in shock, took a draught of her beer, and looked at Ivy. "We're not the ones you should be having this conversation with," Ashlyn said.
Ivy noted and watched Izzy as she calmly made a taco and took a bite of it. Izzy casually chased her mouthful of taco with some beer and then took another bite.
"You're silent on this matter, Izzy," Ivy said.
Izzy took another swallow of her beer. She slowly finished her taco and took another swallow of her beer. "Video et taceo," Izzy said.
"What? Is that Spanish?" Ivy asked.
"I don't even know what she said," Trin said.
"It's Latin, I believe," Ashlyn said and looked at Izzy, "Video et taceo?"
Izzy nodded, "Yes, I said, video et taceo," she said.
"Why did you say that?" Ashlyn asked.
"Because that's how I feel my position on the matter at hand," Izzy said.
"What does that mean?" Ivy asked.
"It means I see and keep silent," Izzy said, "It's a motto of Queen Elizabeth the First."
"Why would you say that?" Ivy asked, confused.
"It's your mind, your body, and your choice; I have nothing to add," Izzy said.
"What's your thought of being a mom and someone saying they don't want kids?" Trin asked.
"It's a personal choice," Izzy said.
"That's not helpful," Ivy said.
"Well, for one, I would ask yourself why you're not sure," Izzy said.
"'Cause with Kay, if we ever get to the point of even talking about kids, I'd be the one to carry them because of Kay's job," Ivy said.
"What is your job?" Ashlyn asked.
"I'm a security guard at a hospital," Ivy said.
"That's something you would need to talk to Kay about," Ashlyn said, "Also, Kay is not guaranteed to be in Chicago; there's free agency or trades."
"I know that just another reason why I'm not sure about children," Ivy said.
"Again, you need to discuss this with Kay," Ashlyn said.
Ivy nodded, "I also don't see Kay as a mother type," she said.
"Kay is a difficult one," Ashlyn said.
"You can say that, again," Trin chimed in.
"Why is Kay the way she is?" Ivy asked.
"Both of Kay's parents were natural introverts, and Kay got it from both parents," Ashlyn said.
"What about her other siblings?" Ivy asked.
"Keith can be an introvert, and I have to pull him out of his shell," Izzy said.
"Ellie has her moments," Trin said.
Ivy shook her head and rested it down on the table. "Why are people so difficult?" she asked.
"If love were easy, they would have to call it something different," Izzy said.
Ivy picked up her head and looked at Ashlyn. "I've never asked about you kids; I'm being rude," she said.
"Are you sure you want to hear about my kids?" Ashlyn asked.
"It would seem fair since I asked about Trin and Izzy's," Ivy said.
"Well, there's not much to say," Ashlyn said.
"Please, just tell the story," Ivy said.
Ashlyn nodded, "Okay," she said and looked at her beer glass.
