Chapter Four: Mother's Day Brunch
"Hi! Do you have a reservation with us?" Asked the waitress as a couple and their daughter approached.
"Yes, under Danvers?" said Carol, taking off her jacket and tying it around her waist.
The waitress checked her list before looking up with a smile.
"Right this way, some of your party is already here."
"Great, thanks."
As they followed the waitress to their table, Maria threw her arm over Monica's shoulder.
"Thanks for coming up from school to have brunch with us, kid."
"Eh, I'm just here for the free food." Monica teased, wrapping an arm around her mother's waist.
"Hey guys!" Hope called, getting up to hug all three of them. She was joined by Okoye, Gamora, and Janet, who all gave a friendly wave.
"No Cassie?" Monica asked as she sat down.
"She's on her way, her and Wanda said they had something they needed to do before they came by."
"And I just got a text from Nat, her and Pepper almost here with Morgan." Said Okoye, as Gamora passed menus to the new arrivals.
"It's great to see you, Janet!" Said Carol.
"You too, sweetie! It's been too long." Said Janet, fondly resting a hand on her knee.
"You should join us for brunch more often, Mom!" Said Hope.
"Oh, I'd love to, honey, but things in San Fran just keep me way too busy."
"We get it, but we always love having you down to visit." Gamora added.
"Aww, thank you. You girls are all so sweet."
"Oh, they're here!" Okoye said, standing up to greet the newcomers.
Nat walked in, four-year old Morgan balanced on her hip, with Pepper following close behind.
"Hi!" Morgan called, waving to the group.
"Hi, Morgie!" a chorus of women responded.
"Nice of you to finally join us, Pep." Okoye said, as Pepper sat next to her with her daughter on her lap.
"Right? I'm glad I finally found a moment to join everybody."
"Are we waiting on any one else?" asked Carol, as Nat settled in next to her.
"Just Wanda and Cassie. I tried to get Laura and Lila to come, but they have some tradition that they like to do with just the two of them." Nat answered.
"We'll have to get them to join us one of these days." Okoye added.
"I brought cards!" Morgan exclaimed, pulling a stack of construction paper out of her backpack.
"Oh, I almost forgot! She wanted to make Mother's Day cards for all her aunties." Pepper explained, helping Morgan pass her drawings out to the rest of the group. A general consensus of Morgan's thoughtfulness and artistic genius spread throughout the table.
"Well, thank you, Miss Morgan. I'll cherish this forever." Janet said, giving the girl a warm smile that caused her to blush.
"You're welcome." She answered shyly.
"You weren't going to start without us, were you?" Wanda said, as she walked in with her free hand on her hip and a teasingly accusatory glance towards Morgan.
"We wouldn't dream of it." Gamora responded slyly.
Cassie soon followed suit, entering with her arms filled with a variety of Saran wrapped flowers.
"What's all this?" Hope asked, raising an eyebrow at her step-daughter.
"A little Mother's Day gift for all of you." Cassie answered sheepishly. "Wanda helped me pick them out."
"Oh, sweetheart, you shouldn't have!" Okoye said, as Cassie handed her a single, deep red rose.
"This one's for you, Grandma Janet." Cassie continued, handing her a pastel pink tulip.
"Thank you, honey!"
Once the flowers were all passed out, everyone sat and placed their orders. As the waitress walked away, Gamora took a deep breath and cleared her throat.
"Okay, I can't keep quiet anymore!" She exclaimed, an anxious smile spreading across her face. "I have an announcement I'd like to make."
She took a moment to soak up everyone's anticipating expressions.
"Peter and I...are expecting!"
Exclamations of surprise and joy passed over the table like a tidal wave, the women that were close enough to the mom-to-be piled onto her in a group hug.
"No way!"
"I can't believe it!"
"Congratulations!"
"Do you have any pictures?" Nat finally asked.
"Yeah, Peter and I went for my first ultrasound the other day..." Gamora said, wiping away happy tears as she searched for her phone, pulling up a fuzzy gray sonogram and showing it to the group, to a chorus of "awwww"'s.
"We're so happy for you!" Said Pepper, reaching across the table to squeeze Gamora's hand. "Did you hear that, Morguna? You're getting another little cousin!"
"Hooray!"