Kurt and his father had come back around dinner time. Wanda had had to bite her tongue a few more times, as Oma insisted she do everything for Talia. They were only there a few more days and she didn't want to stir the pot. After all, she did intend to marry Kurt one day, which meant that offending his parents this early in their relationship did not bode well for the next however many decades.
"You are not happy," Kurt said, a few nights later. He was so observant at times, picking up on it even though she tried to hide it.
"I'm fine," she said, changing Talia into her pajamas.
"Nein, you are not," he replied. "What is it?"
She paused, as she pulled off the girl's onesie to find her in a cloth diaper. Something Oma had taken to doing, even though they had packed plenty of disposable ones and Wanda told her to use them. She pursed her lips. "Your mother doesn't listen to me."
Kurt furrowed his brow. "She says you both talk all the time. She loves spending time with you."
"We talk, but she doesn't listen to me, when it comes to her," she huffed, removing the diaper and pulling out one of hers. "I get I am young and she has far more years as a mother than I do, but I am Talia's mother. I feel like she just does what she wants, even when I ask her not to."
"She is trying to do her best," he told her with a frown. "Both my parents regret that they haven't been able to meet her until now. They want to make up for all that lost time."
"By changing everything?" Wanda turned to him. "She makes up for lost time by going directly against the wishes of the mother of their grandchild?"
"If it bothers you, I will tell her to stop," he shrugged.
"I need you to understand why it bothers me," she said, finally getting the baby dressed and picking her up for her evening bottle. "This is our daughter, Kurt. We are the ones who decide what diapers she gets or what to dress her in, or when she can have a cookie, or what to put in her bottle. I am glad that your parents have gotten to meet her, but I don't like my child being hijacked while we're here."
He frowned at her, then shook his head. "I understand," he told her. "I will talk with her, ja? Just…my mother only wants the best. I promise you that. And I am sure if she knew you felt this way, she would stop. She likes you." He moved up and put his arm around them. "She said you told her you want to marry me."
"Well, you know that," she said, looking up to him. "She also expects us to have many more children."
He stiffened a bit, but then pulled her tighter. "Well….let us deal with the one for now…"
~&Q~
Kurt had the promised talk with his mother and she backed off….a bit. Wanda decided she would just deal with this trip. And that she would do her best to learn German so at least she could better communicate.
Christmas was wonderful, though. Talia was positively spoiled. Wanda questioned exactly how they would get all of the toys and gifts she'd gotten home, and Kurt's father sheepishly offered that some could stay there, so she'd have them when she visited. She knew what they were doing, and she understood it. They wanted them to come more often, and they wanted their granddaughter to have a place in her home. It actually soothed Wanda. Even though she had not seen eye to eye with Kurt's parents, they loved her daughter, and that meant a lot to her.
It was finally time to head home. Kurt and his father were packing the car, as Wanda readied the baby. She headed downstairs with Talia in her arms, stopping as Kurt's mother watched from the couch.
The older woman stood, and moved closer. Her eyes were full of tears, and she simply put her arms around Wanda and Talia. "Bitte," she started. "You come back, ja?"
Wanda gave her a small smile as she pulled away. "Of course."
Kurt's mother turned her attention to Talia, kissing her cheeks and speaking to her in German. She paused, looking to Wanda. "She is most…beautiful baby. Most beautiful. So much love."
"Thank you," Wanda replied. "You have been wonderful. Talia is lucky to have such a great Oma. Right, my lovely girl?" She tickled her a bit, getting a wide smile. Talia turned and directed that smile at her grandmother. Wanda could tell by her expression how much that meant to Oma.
"Good mama," Oma told her. Kurt and his father had reentered the room, and she turned her attention to her son. "Sie wählten nun, mein Junge. Sie ist die perfekte Mutter für meine kostbare Enkelin."
He smiled. "Ja, Ich stimme zu," he told her, then looked to his girlfriend. "The car is ready." They all piled in for the long trip back, and there were much sad goodbyes at the airport. Image inducers were on, they were through security waiting at the gate, Talia thankfully asleep. Wanda turned to Kurt.
"What did your mother say when we left?" she asked him.
He looked to her, with a little smile. "That I did good, choosing you," he said, reaching to take her hand. "And that you are the most perfect mother for our daughter."
That made her smile, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. It wasn't such a bad trip.
