Chapter 24

The baby became an extension of Mary, who clung to Morgen with a passionate fury, as if someone still might take her. It was only Rhoda who was allowed, in those first few days and nights, to hold Morgen.

Morgen was a perfect baby, hardly fussy at all, as if she'd already taken on her mother's easy-going temperament. She cried only when she was wet or hungry. She slept between Mary and Rhoda in their bed despite the beautiful baby crib Rhoda had purchased. It was used for nap times during the day.

Rhoda brought home bags of baby girl clothes – frilly dresses and jumpers and one little outfit that was a play on what Mary herself might wear: a little mini skirt and sweater with a little beret. Morgen became Rhoda's little mannequin and the baby quite seemed to love her attention.

It took weeks for Mary to be ready to share the baby with the world. Rhoda could understand this after all that had transpired.

Ida flew in a month after the birth. Hazel put her up in her own house so she could give the girls their space, and for that Rhoda was eternally grateful. It was enough that Ida insisted on cooking for them every night she was there, offering her services in any way possible, so content she was with being there, with having a baby that was the closest thing to a granddaughter as she might ever get.

With Morgen curled up in her arms, Rhoda felt a sense of relief flood her. It was as if she could finally breathe after months of uncertainty. She had settled atop the couch as Mary and her mother cleaned up after dinner that evening, a contentment welling up inside of her as she peered down at a face that mirrored the woman she loved's.

"You know, Mary, you should have a baby shower. Morgen deserves a little party in her honor." Her ears perked up when she heard her mother proclaiming this to Mary.

"Ma," Rhoda sighed, "don't pressure Mary into that."

"No, Rhoda." Mary wiped at her hands, moving towards the couch to peer at the happily sleeping baby. "I think your mother's right. People want to meet her."

Rhoda glanced up at her wife, looking quizzically into happy brown eyes. God, the woman looked amazing again already. She was losing weight at record speed and Rhoda was quite certain she'd gained all of Mary's subtracted baby weight. How had she done that?! She was a witch, it was the only answer.

"You're sure?" Rhoda asked, wanting to make certain that Mary didn't just feel Ida's pressure – for she'd been hinting at just this sort of thing since she'd arrived.

Mary smiled and nodded. "I think so."

"Well then it's settled. We'll have a soiree in honor of our little Morgen." Ida clasped her hands together in delight and then laughed. "Just think if she'd used your last name, Rhoda! Morgen Morgenstern."

Rhoda rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

It was quite overwhelming, all of them there. Peter and Susie and Lou and Murray and his wife and Ted and Georgette and SueAnn and Hazel and Ida and Phyllis and Lars and Bess and even Mrs. Grant came. The only ones missing were Dottie and Walter. Rhoda wondered if Mary felt their absence. As they stood, momentarily, side-by-side in the kitchen she peered into her eyes in their stolen moment as people clamored about Morgen. But there was only happy, contentment in Mary's bright, shinning eyes. She winked at Rhoda and turned to speak with Georgette who complimented her tiny figure. "How'd you do it, Mary? You look like you never even had a baby in the first place."

"Heya Rhoda," Murray appeared at her side.

Rhoda turned to smile at him and accept a hug. "Hi Murray. I'm so glad you could make it."

"Of course! Wouldn't miss it for the world. Hey, Lou brought cigars and we figured that, well since you're with Mary and all, we thought you might like to join us."

Rhoda laughed, having not smoked a cigar since Harrison Reynolds at art school had brought back some Cuban cigars and passed them around to all the guys at a party in the guy's city dorms and she'd been interested in him and so she'd decided to give it a try and had found she didn't hate them. "Sure, Murray."

Rhoda moved to Mary, letting her hand briefly rest on her hip. Mary turned and smiled at her. "The guys invited me out for a cigar."

Mary shook her head and laughed. "See if you get a kiss later."

"Oh, I think we shall see that I do." Rhoda winked and followed the men outside for a celebratory smoke.

It was with Peter that she sat upon Hazel's back porch with. The two puffed at their cigars, speaking of how good Morgen was, how beautiful she was, how lucky they were to know Mary.

Rhoda sat back and blew a cloud of smoke into the crisp winter air. One question tugged at her, as she sat here so near to the man she had once hated and now found she rather liked. "How'd yo do it? How'd you convince Dottie?"

"She's a real trip, isn't she?" Peter laughed.

"Yeah, she is." Rhoda sighed.

"I told her that Mary deserved the baby and that if she tried to win a case based on the two of you together I'd disprove it and marry Mary. And if that didn't work I'd petition for custody and then allow Mary to have Morgen." Peter shrugged.

Rhoda stared at him with wide-eyes. "Peter, I...I don't know what to say."

"I didn't like it at first, the idea of someone else raising my kid, but...after our conversation I just knew it wouldn't have worked."

"You know you're always welcome to see her."

"I know." Peter smiled. "You know it's really odd, I never knew two women who fell in love. I'd heard about it, you know in dirty pictures, but never in real life. I thought it was weird, but if I think about it Mary was always talking about you. Always going on and on about her friend Rhoda and what Rhoda would say or what Rhoda would do. I guess I should've known it then."

Rhoda grinned, "she really talked about me that much? Really?"

Peter nodded. "You two are meant to be together."

Rhoda smiled wider, if at all possible. "You know I might have her heart but I think I can finally see what she saw in you. I couldn't ask for a better man to share a child with."

"Yeah?" Peter looked a little bashful then, running a hand through his hair to mask his embarrassed smile.

"Yeah." Rhoda struck out her hand and Peter took it. "To many more successful years of co-parenting."

"You got it, kid." Peter laughed.

"No, no. You've gotta give me 'kid'. 'Kid' is my word." Rhoda stared sternly at him.

Peter stared at her, his smile turning into a flummoxed expression.

The curl of a smile that appeared on Rhoda's lips, however, followed by the laugh that resonated inside her chest, told him she was only kidding and soon the duo were laughing together.

"What were you and Peter talking about?" Mary inquired as the pair stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the kitchen, cleaning up after the party while Ida and Hazel played with Morgen in the sitting area. "You seemed to be having a hilarious conversation."

"Jealous, Richards?"

"Ha! Not in a million years."

"What, you don't think I'm good enough for Peter?"

"Oh, you." Mary nudged her with her hip, her perfect little hip that seemed almost smaller than it had before her pregnancy. How was that even possible?

"Oh, we were just colluding over Morgen." Rhoda explained.

"Well, I'm certainly glad to see you two getting along. I'd hate for you to hate one another, which I could understand, I really could."

"Nah, kid. I don't hate him. Maybe I'm a little jealous – yes, I'm admitting it – I'm jealous because he got you knocked up and I...well I couldn't even if I wanted to." Rhoda intently rubbed at an invisible spot on the dish before her.

She felt Mary's hand cover her own, stilling her motions. "You know, I consider her as much yours as mine. And I certainly wish she were."

"I know, Mare." Rhoda patted Mary's hand, turning to glance over her shoulder. Ida was rocking Morgen in her arms as Hazel collected up leftover plates and cups. How lucky they were to have such wonderful women who loved and supported them. "Heya, Mary?" Rhoda turned back to her.

"Yeah?"

"You're okay...I mean...Dottie..."

Mary flinched a little, covering it up by swiping the back of her wrist over her forehead. "Yeah, sure. She doesn't want to be in our lives, so she won't be." Mary shrugged.

"Mary, I'm going to put Morgen down. She's out like a light." Ida appeared at Mary's side, staring contentedly down at the little bundle in her arms.

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Morgen – Id – Mama." Mary squeaked out.

Ida grinned at her approvingly, patted her on the cheek, and then stepped away to put Morgen to bed.

"I never did like calling her that." Mary sighed, Rhoda laughing.

"Are you sure you don't want me to finish cleaning up?" Hazel appeared then with an armload of plates and cups.

"Oh no, Hazel! You've been a saint. We'll take it from here." Mary shook her head.

"If you insist. Ida and I have a movie to catch."

"You're taking my Ma out?" Rhoda turned, a bemused look playing on her lips. "Does Pop know?"

Hazel turned a deep shade of crimson. "No, no...nothing like that..."

Rhoda burst out laughing. "Be careful, she might fall for you! She always loves to one-up me."

Hazel looked none to amused.

"Well, we better get going before we miss the show and have to go to the late show. I'll most definitely fall asleep if we go to the late show." Ida appeared from their bedroom.

Hazel fixed her blazer jacket, a little flustered as she nodded and followed Ida out of the carriage house.

"Rhoda!" Mary swatted her with a dish towel.

"What?!" Rhoda burst into a fit of laughter. "I couldn't help it!"

"You better apologize to her tomorrow." Mary didn't look too pleased with her.

"Oh, Mare. Mary, I will. I was only kidding." Rhoda moved forwards and wrapped her arms about Mary who half-heartedly tried to push her away. "Won't you forgive me?"

Mary calmed in her embrace, her fingers trailing through Rhoda's hair. "I suppose I could try to forgive you."

"Yeah?" Rhoda gently pressed her lips to Mary's, her arms moving about her to cup her backside. "You will?" She pressed another little kiss to Mary's cheek.

"Well if you don't...don't stop doing...that, I'll – uh – I'll have to forgive you."

"Hey, Morgen's asleep...we probably have a good thirty more minutes before she wakes up for her dinner."

"Oh yeah?" Mary's head was tilted back then, Rhoda's lips on her pulse-point, pressing teasing, taunting kisses there.

"Yeah, and you look like you need to sit down."

"Do I?" Mary whimpered.

"Uh huh." Rhoda kissed the crook of her neck.

"Oh, Rhoda. I love ya."