It's time to live your own life

 Crystal had stayed longer in town than she thought she would. Yeah, she should have been back in Kansas City weeks ago, but her sister Connie had a baby, which her cousin Cedric and his husband Dory adopted. Perhaps, Crystal just couldn't stay away. Little Launa was just the sweetest. She just wanted to help, but it seemed they didn't need her.

Deep down, Crystal wanted a baby, and if she'd been financially able, she would have adopted her niece. But she didn't see that happening since she was between jobs. 

"You just had a baby?" Carol looked at her a bit bug-eyed when she was trying to explain why she might want to settle in town. 

"Oh, no," she chuckled with laughter. "I know, I get it all the time, people asking me when my baby is due, but I don't ever see that happening. I don't think I can, and well, it's expensive raising a child."

She smiled back, although it made her sad all the while. Yes, she might have been a little bitter with Connie, and she knew Cedric and his man didn't like all her hoovering. They'd talked to Chili, and here she was.

"Have you ever been a waitress before?" Carol asked before Millie could. She could see that maybe Millie's mother was hoovering herself.

"Yes, mame," Crystal told them she'd worked at a barbecue place as well as at the Waffle House.

"I've seen all kinds." Her smile could go miles. She liked being a happy sort and was shocked that Chili would give her a room upstairs if she'd work at the coffeeshop. "Nothing is keeping me in K.C.," Crystal said she would help out anyway she could.

"Maybe I can be the Aunt I should be," she kept smiling until it hurt. She wished Connie felt that way about the baby, but she didn't. Last she'd heard, her sister was out in Vegas hoping to be a backup singer to somebody famous.

It's so much easier to blame the grownups than to be one

 "Ma, I just don't think I can do it without you being here." Millie felt like crying, but she knew that wouldn't be adulting. Why did CW have to make her so miserable?

"You wanted this job," her mother reminded her. "No job is perfect."

Of course, her mother thought CW was fine. "He just needs you to need him, and I think he thinks you don't care about him or his job."

"Oh, Ma!" Millie scowled. She went to refresh her mom's coffee as they were at the counter during the lull of the morning. "How can you be on his side?"

"He just needs someone," she sighed. Now her mother looked like she might cry. "He needs friends."

"Oh, really," Millie wasn't so sure she believed that. He was grumpy and probably needed to live in a forest. Maybe even in a cave. Millie fretted.

"Have you thought about fixing him up on a date, or maybe, you know, invite him over for game night," her mother suggested as she sipped her black coffee.

"I would not. Who does things like that, Ma?" Millie hugged herself, giving her mother a serious look.

"You don't know what it's like to make friends when you're all alone. He's trying to stay away from the wrong crowd. He's afraid," Her mother made it all sound so grim.

Millie winced. She wasn't sure how she had friends, herself. They were just there. She'd always known them. Oh, she didn't want to take a walk in CW's shoes.

She raked her fingers through her fluffy blonde hair, trying to think. "I haven't a clue what to do." Her small, round frown persisted. "Do I have to invite him over?"

She'd never thought of such a thing. She blew a breath. Maybe KC could help. She winced. "I'll just ask Junie and Derry over. We'll have game night."

About then, Crystal, the new waitress, showed up. Millie smiled. Yes, maybe she could round out the group. She hoped Crystal and CW got along.

being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had...and dealing with fears you didn't know existed.

 Chili was glad she didn't have the baby at home. Certainly, there was a moment she thought it might happen. Even on the way to the hospital in a thunderstorm now played out like a nightmare. But after all the little obstacles, the big one came. Although the labor went on far longer than she ever imagined. 

It was good to have extended family there. Em was good at keeping them both calm. Yet, she never overstepped Axton. In the end, it was just the two of them. Chili had a C-section. Hatcher weighed almost nine pounds.

"I'm glad he's big," she said. 

"Well, he's healthy and that's what matters the most," Axton assured her, who was already on Daddy duty. He did know more about infants than she did. After all, he did work at the child care center, so he was ready for anything. And she could tell by the grin on his face that he was happy to be a Daddy again.

Luckily, they were back home a day or so later. All on their own with the newborn. Of course, she wasn't going to let him do all the caregiving. And she knew he wouldn't let her either. 

They were learning new words, like Skin to Skin time. And she was breastfeeding, would could be both rewarding and exhausting.

"I wonder how things are at the Coffee Shop?" She asked about a week later. A part of her felt she should go back to work.

"Everything is fine," Axton told her not to worry. "Just think about us."

Chili knew he was right. It was hard to not think about her work family. Of course, she loved just watching the baby and seeing Axton's smile and her eyes in Hatcher's face. 

"You're right, I think I should take off the next three months, at least." She was doing the math. Em told her she could take care of Hatcher when she went back to work. Even so, she was thinking it would be best to only go back part-time.

She knew it would be a sacrifice, but watching Hatcher at the moment made her feel she needed to be at home with him.

Be the change you wish to see in the world

 

Naoki wasn't sure he was ready for what came next at his Mom's place after Boone and Maddie's wedding shower.

Jo was moving in with Naoki's mom, Tammy. He practically lost it, but he was tired and Tyra held him back. After all they were celebrating with some bubbly.

"Well, it's not like you think," Jo chuckled. "At least not yet. I'll be in the guestroom." He told them after all, he'd never really slept with anyone and it might be a little late by now since he snored and they both tossed and turned so much.

"Never say never!" Tammy held up her glass a wine to make a toast.

"Oh, so that's the big news," Boone smiled as if he was happy for them.

"Well, it's part of it," Jo said, sitting down next to Tammy, and they got comfortable. "My house will be available. So we thought you guys could move in there after you get married." 

Boone looked at Maddie as if he wanted her to say something.

"Really?" Naoki couldn't help but change the mood of the room.

"I'm not saying you have to live there forever, but you two might like being in a house instead of an apartment." He looked at Boone, who went to Maddie.

"But what about Alfie?" Boone sounded as if he didn't want to take anything from his brother.

"Yeah, what about Alfie?" Naoki bit into the conversation. Of course, the way he twisted and turned, his mother and Jo had hit a nerve. He didn't like being left out.

Of course, Alfie had already gone home.

"We talked to him about it," Tammy said.

"When did you do that?" Naoki was getting testy.

"They have been looking and plan on moving into a house just down the street from his friend, the postman," Tammy told him.

"We just thought it would be a good idea for Boone and Maddie to have their own place. I don't plan on charging them rent anytime soon." Jo shrugged with an open smile.

"Oh, but..but we have to pay rent." Boone protested.

"We want you two to have a good start," Tammy told him. "Of course, we will have rules. I don't want you to think we'll be over twenty-four seven, but we'd like to maybe have Sunday brunch or something here. But we wouldn't do it every week."

Boone nodded. Maddie kept quiet as she squeezed his side with a smile.

Naoki looked at them all as if he knew no one even cared he was there.