Maddie Masters fidgeted while anxiously waiting for her mother and sister-in-law to join her for coffee at Brook's Brew. It wasn't often Maddie saw either of her in-laws. However, today was one of the infrequent days they were free. She didn't dislike her husband Vlad's mother, Anastasia, or his older sister, Nadya. Nope, that wasn't the issue. They usually got along just fine. Regardless, he couldn't help but still agonize at times when it concerned them. She strongly felt they disapproved of her and Vlad's profession or how she was raising her kids.
How she wished her cousin, Kathleen, could've come today! It would've helped to have some of her blood family there! Unfortunately, Kathleen couldn't make it due to having accidentally clicked the wrong link on the internet, which resulted in tons of viruses. Kathleen didn't trust the repair shops in town as much as her ex-husband Robert Jackson to repair her computer. Therefore, she'd be gone the next few days as she went to see Robert to fix her laptop.
Eventually, two attractive women who didn't look their age entered the coffee shop. Her mother-in-law, Anastasia, had her long, silky raven locks in a fashionable updo. Today, the philosophy professor wore a brilliant pink long-sleeved shirt with a knee-length plaid skirt and flats. Her sister-in-law Nayda had medium-length wavy chocolate-brown hair with captivating light blue eyes. She looked charming in her aubergine cashmere sweater and cream-colored trousers.
"Good morning, Maddie. How are you doing today?" Anastasia questioned her daughter-in-law as she and her daughter joined her.
"I'm doing fairly well. What about yourself? How are things going at the university?" Maddie asked calmly as she filled their mugs with steaming fresh coffee.
The gorgeous Russian woman blew some steam off her coffee before answering. "Well, I and the rest of the school board have been strongly attempting for weeks to keep politics and whatever this 'woke' thing the younger generation keeps gabbing about out of our classrooms.
Given that next year's election has already set the entire country on edge, we don't need that pressure or whatever they mean by 'woke' to interfere with classroom time. We want the students to focus on their subjects. Moreover, not bring more chaos into the learning environment," Anastasia replied as she sipped her coffee.
"Well spoken, Mother. As for myself? I'm still dealing with the fallout of my divorce and attempting to figure out childcare and money. I adore my children but must work at my art gallery/ fashion boutique most of the week. With two young children and not getting the child support money I'm owed isn't easy," Nayda replied bitterly.
"I see what you mean. Well, do you wish to know what happens in my life?" Maddie asked with some trepidation. Her in-laws looked at each other for a moment before nodding.
"Well, I do want to know how my grandchildren are fairing. Therefore, please enlighten me," Anastasia requested kindly. Maddie took a deep breath before recapping everything that had been going on in her family. She cheerfully informed her in-laws that not only had her son Charlie won the state spelling bee, but he'd also acquired a girlfriend he'd encountered at the spelling bee.
Her youngest, Felicity, had recently attained her sunflower pin and was among her class's top readers. She also mentioned that Buttercups had formed a children's book club at the local library, improving the entire troop's reading skills. As for Ceci? She'd taken a DNA test for fun a few months back, which was how they discovered some distant cousins. She'd first meet her cousin Kathleen's fourteen-year-old son Danny Jackson and later his sixteen-year-old sister Jazz.
The way the three of them interacted whenever their cousins visited was more like siblings, which made Maddie feel quite pleased. So overall, she felt her children were delighted right now. Both her in-laws smiled upon hearing that bit of news. Then, they questioned how Maddie's marriage with their son/brother was going. Maddie confirmed she and Vlad had a healthy marriage and had no difficulties at the moment.
Of course, they questioned the ghostly activity, which made Maddie cringe inside. She just knew they disapproved of it. She knew they'd wish Vlad had pursued business, not ghost hunting. Still, she calmly informed them things were under control and that they'd secured the basement lab to ensure none of the children had access or where in danger by their equipment. They chitchatted some more before settling for a walk at a nearby park together. So they paid for their coffee and left.