Ten seconds later Jenn walked in and I burst out laughing. She was in baggy pants, a sweater that was mine and a trench coat! Ma looked at me and said, "What is this?"
Jenn answered, "Months ago after the first time we talked on the phone you told Nick you didn't like young women who dressed like being naked in public was Ok. I dressed like this so you would know I don't do that."
"You told her I said that?" Ma looked at me.
"I told her when you meet Ma you should wear long pants, a baggy sweater and a trench coat."
"Please, Jennifer, go change and be comfortable. Sons. What's a mother to do?"
Jenn came back in less than a minute in a black skirt, knee length, and a green flowered print blouse. She was barefoot. Ma sat in a chair facing the couch and the three women sat on the couch. I went to the office and rolled a chair into the living room.
Ma asked, "So do we get to meet the father of the baby today?"
"I sure hope not. He raped me and is now awaiting trial."
"Such animals. Some men were not raised to respect."
"He sure wasn't. Nick was. No man has ever been kinder to either my sister or me. It should say hero on our front door."
"Our?"
"When Mike got arrested Nick invited me to come live with Jenn and him until the baby comes. That's a big reason we moved, I think."
"So, I know how Jennifer met my boy. Now I know how Allison comes to be here. Sadie, why are you here?"
"Nick called and said he needed my help. He wanted to serve you a dinner you would like so he asked me to make a brisket."
"I like your brisket."
She turned towards me and said, "Smart. Bring in a cook you know I like. I won't need the antacids I have in my purse."
A bell sounded in the kitchen. Sadie stood as did Jenn and Allison. "Dinner is ready. Nick, show Ma where the dining room is and let's eat."
As soon as Ma saw the table she said, "This must be important. Someone made Challah."
"I think Sadie is teaching Jenn how to make it, too."
Ma got the best seat. I sat at the other end of the table. Sadie sat nearest to Ma and Allison sat next to Sadie. Jen sat on the side of the table nearest the kitchen. Plates were passed and comments made about the smells. The Challah was still covered.
Sadie stood and offered a prayer in Hebrew. Then she uncovered the Challah and ripped off a chunk, passing the loaf to Ma. She tore off a chunk and passed the loaf along. What was left when we all had a piece went back under the cloth. Ma smelled it and then took a small bite.
"Sadie, I love the Challah you make."
We ate the dinner. Conversation was mostly about Jenn and Allison's childhoods, their parents and then it came back to Mike.
"Remember when Nick told you how we met?"
"Yes. You were hit by a fancy car and he saw it. His training as a boy had him want to help so he went to the hospital to see what you needed. You and he clicked and he brought you home to become his secretary."
"We didn't tell you the whole story. I was walking down that street because I had just caught Mike having sex with my sister. It upset me so much that she would do that and that he was such a rat that I walked out and was headed for the harbor. I was going to jump in."
Allison jumped in, "Mike and I weren't having sex. He was raping me. He wanted both of us as his sex slaves. When he realized Jenn had run off he swore he would bring her back and knock her up too. He was violent and mean."
"We went to the Veteran's Cemetery to put flowers on a friend's Dad's grave and Mike and Allison showed up. He attempted to take Jenn by force and we subdued him. The police arrested him and when he gets out of the hospital he will be tried for a few felonies. We found out there that Allison had been raped. I couldn't abandon her so we brought her home."
"Of course you couldn't abandon her. How is the baby?"
I took it as a good sign that she was concerned for the baby. I made that mean that having both women in my home was Ok.
Allison said, "One of the first things Nick did was to get the number of a good ob/gyn and had Jenn make an appointment. He went with us. Everything is fine with the baby. I'm due in May."
It was quiet for a few seconds and Ma looked at me. "You aren't thinking of throwing her out after the baby is born, are you?"
"We moved into this house on a five year lease. She is welcome even after the lease ends. I think of us as a family."
"Good." Ma turned her attention to dinner and the rest of us began breathing again.
When the dishes were all done and the table cleaned Ma asked for the tour.