Chapter Seventeen: Mama Olivia

While randomly flipping through the select channels Mimi received, she heard her doorbell. Her first thought was to ignore it, after all Joshua now had a key and she was sure no one else knew where she lived. The person was persistent and rung the bell repeatedly.
It's probably some pushy salesman. She thought. After about a dozen more rings she grew tired of it. With a deep sigh she threw the remote on the sofa and headed towards her door.

She opened the door to find no one there.
What the ...? She thought. She decided to take a look out to see if she could find her "visitor". She looked left and saw no one. She looked to her right and her breath was caught in her throat.

"Hello dear." Summer Olivia greeted her daughter. Mimi continued to stare. How had her mother found her? And why was she here? Mimi thought. Summer loudly cleared her throat.
"It's rude to ignore someone Mimi." Summer scolded. Finally finding her voice, Mimi spoke.
"I'm sorry mother. Please come in." She said.

**If Mimi's mother looks smaller here, it's because she is. I had to adjust her weight so she could actually fit in the pose. Before her arm was hidden by her stomach.**

Summer glanced briefly at her daughter's home before taking her seat on the couch. It creaked when she sat down and she scrunched her nose up. Mimi nervously stood near her. As she watched her mother she could imagine all the judgmental things there were buzzing through her mind. She recalled the voice mail she had left her parents a few days ago. She had apologized for any embarrassment she had caused the family and also explained her pregnancy. It wasn't the classiest way to tell her parents they would be grandparents, but the voice mail seemed the easiest way to go. She didn't think she would be able to do it face to face. However, she assumed her parents were still ignoring her and would simply ignore the message. Obviously, she was wrong.

Mimi started to ask was her father in town too, but her mother opened her mouth first.
"Your hair is different." Summer critiqued. Mimi started to touch her short hairstyle. Earlier today she decided to chop her locks some and dye her hair.
"Yes Ma'am I did. Do you like it?" She asked. Suddenly her mother's approval was very important to her. Her mother turned to give her a one over and shrugged.
"It's different." Her mother replied. Mimi knew that meant she hated it. Her mother avoided change and all things "different", so it was her way of disapproving nicely.
"Well I wanted a change and I thought this looked more mature." Mimi explained in a small voice. Her mother laughed softly as if Mimi had told a joke.

Mimi sat down beside her mother. As if she was offended by her daughter's sudden closeness, Summer folded her arms across her chest.

"Your home is rather cozy." Summer remarked. At this moment she looked around and scrutinized the home silently.
"It's small yes, but it seemed perfect at the time." Mimi defended.
"Well I could argue otherwise. The child will barely have room to breathe in here." Summer replied. So finally she acknowledges my baby Mimi thought.
"He or she will be fine until I can find something better." Mimi explained.
"Yes well we shall see." Summer said.

The two were silent for a few seconds more. Mimi decided she wanted to know the true reason for her mother's sudden visit. Surely she hadn't came all this way just to sit on her sofa.
"What brings you by?" Mimi asked. Summer gasped sharply.
"Are you implying i'm not welcomed?!" Summer argued.
"No no I was just curious mother." Mimi said.
"If you must know, I came to take you back home. Your father and I thought it would be best, that is until you left us that message. Which was very inappropriate. Anyways, we certainly can't have you back home now with your...condition." Summer explained. My condition? Why is she making my pregnancy sound like I have an incurable disease? Mimi thought. She felt offended and wanted to argue against it, but she knew it was pointless.
"While we are on the topic, how exactly are you going to take care of this child?" Summer inquired.
"The father and I are going to co-parent and I will probably try to find a job where I can work for home." Mimi answered.
"Co-parent? What on earth is that?!" Summer yelled.
"We will raise our child together while not actually being together." Mimi replied. Here comes another lecture Mimi thought. Summer shook her head in disgust.
"I knew allowing you to move here was a mistake. I should never have let you leave my sight. This place is just awful and it's finally corrupted you." Summer chastised.
"Mother, Starlight Shores has nothing to do with my mistakes. I could have made them anywhere, it just so happens to be here." Mimi said.
"Don't you sass me." Summer said.

Mimi jumped up and Summer followed Suit.
"I don't know what's wrong with you or your generation. My grandchild will not be raised with this co-parenting nonsense!" Summer screamed.
"And what else do you suggest I do mother? I can't change the facts and the facts are that I'm having this baby out of wedlock and you just have to accept it." Mimi spat out. She had enough of her mother's condescending attitude already. Summer was giving her a death state, one that said "if you weren't my child I'd kill you."

Summer was suddenly closer to her and slapped her before Mimi had the chance to move. The stung of her slap remained on Mimi's face. She closed her eyes to fight the tears. How dare she?! What happened to not hitting pregnant women? Mimi thought. Before Mimi could react, she heard the doorknob turn.

Joshua walked in the house just in time to see Summer slapping Mimi. Now he didn't know who the woman was or what she was doing here. He was taken back by the sight, but was unsure what to do. A part of him wanted to scream what was going on and rush to Mimi's rescue, but another part wanted to just walk out the door and act as if he saw nothing.

Joshua man'd up and started towards the two.
"Joshua could you excuse us please?" Mimi asked at last.
"Are you sure? Are you okay?" He asked and cut his eyes to the woman in front of Mimi. Mimi nodded. Summer's eyes challenged him back.
"Actually Mimi can you leave? I'd like to talk to your friend." She said. Mimi wanted to protest, but wasn't risking being slapped again. She nodded her head again and headed towards her bedroom. Maybe he'll be luckier than me Mimi thought.

Joshua joined Summer on the sofa. He was still unsure who the woman was, but it seemed fitting that i'd be Mimi's mother.
"Let's cut to the chase shall we?" Summer spat out.
"I beg your pardon?" Joshua asked dumbfounded.
"Cut the BS son. What are your intentions with my child?" She demanded. So she is her mother.. Joshua thought.
"Uh Ma'am we're going to raise our child together." Joshua said. Summer shook her head.
"A grandchild of mine will not be raised that way." Summer said. "Were you raised with both parents?" Joshua nodded.
"Well so was Mimi, so I won't accept anything less for my grandchild. You will make an honest woman out of her." Summer said. Is this woman insane? Joshua wondered. He continued to look at her face. He recalled a man visiting Mimi last year, before all of this happened, he was her father. He assumed her parents were divorced. Maybe he just wanted to escape from her, Joshua certainly understood why.
"Ma'am we aren't romantically involved, but I will do the right thing. You have my word." Joshua replied.
"No that is not good enough. You will marry my child and get her out of this damned place. The next time I come back here it had better be because of a wedding!" Summer yelled. And with that she got up and exited the home. Joshua watched the door wondering what had just happened. He got up shortly and locked it. He didn't want her to return.

Joshua had made his way into Mimi's bedroom. He knocked first, but she didn't answer. He found her sleeping and decided he wouldn't disturb her. He watched her sleeping for a few minutes before returning to the sofa and calling it a night.