Mamma Gee's Turn

We arrived back at the hotel late afternoon. I was exhausted but not too tired to work off the frustration built up by the swim. As we sat in the back seat of the jeep, I leaned toward Dorothy and whispered in her ear. "What do you say we get to our room and do a bit more exploring?"

She leaned away from me and looked over at me. "Isn't it our night to take care of the kids?"

"The kids," I asked, looking at her alarmed.

"Yeah, Lily and Inga had them last night," she stated. "Shouldn't we alternate?"

"But…" I said, looking over at Emma pleadingly. "Lily likes to sleep near the children. She is super overprotective like that."

"Lily, Inga? Would you like us to keep the kids tonight so you can have some alone time?" Dorothy asked.

Emma's eyes went wide, and she shook her head. But Ruby piped up. "YES! Absolutely." Emma looked at her as if she would kill her.

"I guess we're taking them," I said as Ruby ushered Emma away from Henry and handed a sleeping Hope off to me.

"This is going to be fun!" Dorothy said, leading the way to the room. "I saw some dolphins from our balcony this morning…"

She chattered on and on, and I just felt my age. I was 45. Why did I think I could keep up with a 23-year-old? Emma brought the kids' things to the room.

When the five of us got into the room, Dorothy took the kids with her to show them where they would sleep. I turned to Emma, who looked super uncomfortable with this situation. "I don't have to worry about diapers or anything, right?" I asked to lighten the mood.

"They are good to go," she said with a slight smirk. "But if you need anything… I mean anything—"

"They will be fine," I said reassuringly. "I used to babysit Ruby when she was a kid. Look how she turned out."

Emma glared at me. "Stop."

I laughed. "Dorothy is a teacher, she's great with kids. You just go relax, Mommy," I said, leading her to the door. "What are you gonna do? Go stun people with your perfect bod?"

She rolled her eyes. "I am going to stare out of the window and worry," Emma stated.

"Come on, I can't be worse than Tiana," I stated. "Why don't you and Ruby go out for dinner? I know she's not exotic like Mulan, but it's something."

She smirked. "It really bothers you that I went out with her!"

"Because I didn't know you were Bi!" I stated. "How did I not know that?"

"Well, she asked," Emma stated with a shrug. "It was nice to be looked at and wanted. I felt seen."

"Well, I see you alright… and that rocking bod," I shook my head. "All that, and no plastic surgery."

She smiled and turned to leave. "Please pay attention to my children." She took a couple of steps out of the room. "Good night." And she was gone.

I turned back to the room and went to find my fake children.

A bit later, we set up camp in the living room of the suite to play a board game. We popped some popcorn and settled in. It was a card game where we all asked questions and had to answer them. It was an icebreaker game. Dorothy brought it from school. It was a perfect game for all of us to get to know one another.

Emma's children were delightful. And with each new thing that I learned about them, the more I liked them. "Let's continue playing the game," I said.

"Okay," Dorothy picked up a card. "What is one thing that makes you happy?"

I smirked and looked at Dorothy. "Hiking, canoeing, waterfalls."

Dorothy smiled back at me. Liar, she mouthed.

I chuckled and turned to Henry. "Pizza and writing."

"Interesting," I said and looked at Hope.

"How about you, Katy?"

"One time, I went to the zoo with my-"

"Mommy!" Henry interrupted the little girl. Katy looked up at Henry. "My turn to pick."

"Okay…" Dorothy said, wondering why he had interrupted the little girl.

Henry picked a card and read. "If you could be one person besides yourself, who would you be?"

"Mmm, I would be an Iron Chef," Dorothy said. "I always wanted to know how to cook. But I don't."

I smirked. "It's okay, babe, I'll teach you," I said. Then I looked at the kids. "I would want to be me. I think being me is pretty cool… or Black Widow."

"Black Widow is awesome," Henry said, smiling at me.

"I wanna be Tinkerbell," Hope said.

"Why?" Henry asked his sister.

"Because she's small and has yellow hair like me!"

This made me laugh. What an adorable child. "Okay, my turn," I said and picked up a card. I looked at the question and frowned. "This one's stupid, I'll get another."

"No, you can't do that!" Dorothy stated.

I sighed. "Fine, name something that makes you sad."

"That Thanos committed genocide of multiple planets just because he had a crush."

"He had a crush?" I asked curiously, remembering the storyline from the movie.

"On Death," Henry finished.

"Interesting," I stated, looking over at Dorothy and waiting.

"That One Direction broke up."

"Oh lord," I said with a roll of my eyes.

"Let's see yours, be sad," Dorothy stated.

"That the girl I love would call my nose a penis."

"Why would she call your nose a penis?" Dorothy asked, and Henry began to giggle.

"She wouldn't," I amended. "But it would be sad if she did."

"Okay…" Dorothy said, then looked at Hope. "How about you, Katy?"

"I don't wanna say mine," she said quietly.

"It's okay, you can say it," Dorothy said.

"When my daddy doesn't have time for me," the little girl said, a sob escaping her. Dorothy looked at me confused.

"It's okay, we don't need him around, we got Mommy and Mama Gee," Henry said, picking up his little sister. But tears were falling from him too.

Dorothy and I looked at each other, then I remembered I was supposed to be their Mama Gee. So I moved closer and took them both in my arms to comfort them. I rocked and kissed their foreheads. I wondered if this constituted a call to their mother. It probably did, but it would look super strange if I called her. So I held them.

"I guess I'll go get ready for bed," Dorothy said quietly.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm going to help them get ready and tuck them in."

I turned to the kids. "Okay, brush your teeth and PJ's. We'll talk."

Henry nodded and headed for the bathroom. I began to get Hope into her bedtime clothes, and I held her. After we were done, I stroked her hair. "You know, I think your daddy is super sad that he's not with you."

"No, he's not."

"Yes, he is. You know how I know?" I asked her. "Because you are the best little girl I know."

She took a sniff and relaxed in my arms. "He never comes when he says he will."

"You know, sometimes daddies don't know how to tell you they love you, and they do stupid things. But one day he will learn, and it is up to you if you want him around or not."

Henry was coming over to the beds now. "Let's go brush your teeth."

After everything was done, I rested with them to make sure they were comforted. Hope fell asleep soon in my arms, and I stroked her hair as Henry read to me from his book. Dorothy peeked out of our room and smiled at the vision we must have made. "You know," She said. "You are going to be able to spend all day with Mama Gee tomorrow because I just talked to your mom, and she and I are going to have a spa day."

"You're what?" I said, and I looked at them.