Mama Nadine lives in Key Point Village…a retirement community located on a private island in Mua Pel’am. It comforts my heart just to see her. She greets me with a big hug…
Mama Nadine: I’m so happy to see you!
Alida: Thank you…you look amazing!
I introduce her to Q and Peri. She greets them with just as much warmth.
Alida: So…how do you like it here?
Mama Nadine: This place is amazing…and a well-needed break from the hustle and bustle of Del Sol Valley. Let me introduce you to everyone!
It sounds like Mama Nadine has friends here. I’d never seen her interact with anyone besides us when we were growing up. I’m happy for her!
She leads me to a picnic table…
Mama Nadine: This is Veer. Veer…this is Alida.
Veer: Hi there. Dini has told me so much about you.
Dini? Mama Nadine really is making friends here. Another lady walks over…
Mama Nadine: Oh and this lovely lady is the one and only Miss Brytani. I’m sure you’ve seen one or more of her movies. She’s a big star…who’s just recently decided to retire from the limelight.
Brytani: Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you!
I recognize Brytani immediately. She’s stared in some blockbuster movies.
Alida: Oh wow! It’s a pleasure to meet you too!
After the introductions…
Mama Nadine: So, were you planning to stay and visit a while, or did you have something else planned for the day.
Alida: Well…we were thinking about getting something to eat after visiting you.
Veer: Something to eat? You already know that you’re sitting across from the best cook ever.
It’s true…I haven’t had food as good as Mama Nadine’s since I moved out.
Mama Nadine: You don’t have to go anywhere. I’ve got you covered!
Veer gets up and goes to the communal kitchen and begins to bring out dishes that Mama Nadine has prepared. It looks as though she’d been cooking all morning in anticipation of our visit.
Q joins me at the buffet table and we begin to dig in.
Apparently, Mama Nadine hasn’t lost her touch when it comes to helping people out with their issues. She can tell that something is on Q’s mind immediately.
Mama Nadine: Uh…Bry – can you excuse us for a moment?
After Brytani has left…
Mama Nadine: It looks like you’re carrying a very heavy load Q. Would you like to talk about it? *removes her hat and sunglasses*
Q hesitates, so Mama Nadine asks me to give them a moment of privacy as well. I occupy myself with Peri, while Mama Nadine and Q talk for a while.
By the end of their conversation…Mama Nadine and Q are laughing and chatting as if they’ve known each other forever. Mama Nadine begins to gather up the dirty plates and carry them off to be cleaned.
Alida: So…what were you two talking about?
Quincy: Things…just a few things that were on my mind.
He doesn’t seem very open to talking about it, so I let it go. I’m actually happy that he was able to confide in Mama Nadine. She’s always had a knack for giving good advice.
Peri finds it easy to talk to Mama Nadine as well. I can’t understand what she’s saying, but it appears as if Mama Nadine does. She listens carefully and responds in a way that makes Peri happy.
Eventually, it’s time to go. I give Mama Nadine a big hug and we all say goodbye. It’s going to be tough having Mama Nadine live so far away once we return to Oasis Springs. My heart is heavy just thinking about it.
Q, Peri and I return to Q’s parent’s house, intent on packing up our stuff and trying to find another place to stay. Alice is sitting at her piano when we arrive. Just seeing her makes me a little angry all over again. She stops playing and walks over to me…
Alice: Can we talk…in private?
I’m not exactly thrilled to say anything to her, but I reluctantly agree.
Alida: Yeah…sure
Alice leads me to the room outside. I sit down next to her.
Alice: *deep sigh* I was way out of line earlier and I apologize for that.
Alida: It’s not exactly the first time you’ve apologized…yet you keep doing the same things. I can’t keep doing this with you.
Alice: I know, and it should come as no shock to you that I didn’t mean it the first time. I only apologized because Q Jr. asked me to.
Alida: So this time is supposed to be different?
Alice: Yes, because this time I’m apologizing because I want to. After you all left…I called my husband, hoping he’d be on my side and see things my way, but as always…he helped me see the error of my ways.
Alida: My friend Michelle is like that. She has a knack for putting me in my place. Mama Nadine too…
Alice: We all need people like that in our lives. *brief pause* I was wrong… I never should have spoken to you the way I did this morning.
I think about what she’s said, but I need a bit more clarity if we’re ever to resolve our issues.
Alida: I just don’t get why you dislike me so much. Is it because of how we met?
Alice: Well…that wasn’t the best way to meet someone…I admit that. I walked in and saw you standing there half-dressed and I realized that my son is a man…doing man things and it nearly broke me in two.
I chuckle a bit as I recall how uncomfortable the whole thing was.
Alida: Yeah…that wasn’t exactly fun for any of us.
Alice lets out a small giggle as well before becoming serious again.
Alice: Back then, I thought you were just a fling, but now I see that I was wrong. Anyway…I don’t dislike you. I dislike the changes around me and how quickly it’s all happening. My son suddenly has a girlfriend that he obviously cares deeply about. And he’s a dad now. Then there’s my daughter Sophia. She didn’t even want to join us this summer…because she has a life outside of this family. I feel like I’m losing my place in my children’s lives…particularly Q Jr’s and I’m not sure how to deal with that yet. He doesn’t need me anymore. I’ve resented you because I used to be the center of his universe, but now that spot belongs to you.
Alice: *continues* However, I realize that I still have a place in his life. My role has shifted, but it hasn’t been erased. My job is to support you and Q Jr…not compete for his attention. From now on…that’s what I intend on doing. Q Jr. told me that you all were going to find another place to stay. But I hope you reconsider. I want you here with us…ALL of you. Please tell me you’ll stay.
I find myself believing her, and I can even see myself really forgiving her this time…but I’m not quite ready to let her completely off the hook.
Alida: I’ll have to think about it.
I can see the displeasure on her face, but she obviously has no choice but to give me the time I need to make a decision.
Alice: Okay…take as long as you need.
Inside…Q Jr. moves over to his production table to make sure Alice and I are being civil and not on the verge of killing each other.
(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)
