It was three months after that, Adam was in the grocery store, getting some things for the house. While, of course, he could've just wished them up, he also realized that if none of them were ever seen at a grocery store, people would think something was off. He was getting some fruit and whipped cream for the "dessert" he was going to have with the girls that night when he felt a tapping on his shoulder.
He turned around and saw Laura's mother standing in front him. He was shocked beyond belief, but she steadied him a bit.
"Don't be upset," she said softly. "I followed you here."
"What are you doing here?" Adam asked quietly. "Does Laura know you're here?"
"No," she admitted, "she is still not taking my calls. I was hoping you would talk to her." Adam thought for a second before answering her.
"Before I do that," he said, deciding not to this, "I'd like to know what you intend to say to her."
"That is between me and my daughter," Laura's mother said firmly. Adam just shook his head.
"No, no, no," he said quickly, "she may be your daughter, but she's my wife and I'm not gonna let you do more damage to her than you already have."
"I know she believes I hurt her, I talked to Rayna."
"It isn't that she believes you hurt her," Adam corrected, "you did. Badly. So, I'm gonna ask again, what are your intentions?"
Laura's mother may have been frustrated by her son-in-law, but she was also slightly impressed that he wasn't bending to her will and was standing up for his daughter.
"I will not tell you that, but I will promise that I will cause her no more pain," Laura's mother told him. Adam thought for a few moments before nodding.
"Ok, here's what I'll do," Adam offered. "I'll tell Laura and Jade we're going out to eat tonight. You be there waiting for us at a table, and we'll see how it goes."
"I would rather meet her at your house," Laura's mother stated with Adam shaking his head.
"If we do this, it's in a public place so we don't have a repeat of last time." Laura's mother nodded at the logic of it. "Deal?"
"Very well," Laura's mother acceded. Adam told her where to meet them and what time to be there. She told him she would be there as she left. Adam pondered how to handle this, ultimately deciding not to tell Laura beforehand, fearing that if he did, she might not come.
It wasn't too terribly hard to convince the girls to eat out that night. They got dressed nice and we walked into a local restaurant we knew. I was smart enough to pick a place where they knew us so that Laura would be less likely to cause a scene. We got to the host stand and were told our table was ready. We rounded the corner and there was Laura's mother.
"Mother!" Laura said loudly, causing a few tables to stir.
"You had to bring her?" Laura's mother asked snippily.
"How dare you..." Laura got out before Adam stopped her.
"Babe, sit," Adam said, holding his wife by the arm, "please."
Laura look at Adam and saw the hope in his eyes. She than looked over at Jade and saw the same with her. Relenting, she sat down diagonally from her mother with Jade sitting next to her. Adam, out of options, sat down next to her mother.
"Hi, everyone!" the friendly server chirped, coming up to the table. "Can I start you all off with something to drink?"
"Wine," Adam said quickly. "Red. Any kind."
He nodded quickly and departed.
"You set this up?" Laura said, looking at her husband with annoyance.
"Kinda," he admitted. "You're mom came to me."
"Well, we're here," Laura said, taking a water from the server and sipping on it. "What do you have to say?" The daggers she was giving her mother could be felt by all at the table, but her mother wasn't one to get flustered.
"First of all," she said softly, but firmly. "I will admit, I could've handled the situation better."
"I would certainly think so," Laura said, full of acid on her tongue.
"Laura, be civil," her mother shot back.
"Oh, like you were?" Laura shot back as the server got their wine sorted out.
"Would you like any appetizers?" he said brightly, noting that Adam was indicating him over to whisper to him.
"I'd stay as far from this table as possible for a while if you value your sanity."
"Yes, sir." He then quickly retreated.
"Well?" Laura said, looking at her mother with a determination and fury that Jade or even Adam had never seen.
"Look, Laura," she said sternly, but with a degree of softness attached. "I may have overreacted a tad."
"A tad?!" Laura said in a louder voice than Adam would've liked.
"Laura, you tell me that you and have a genie that you two cheat on each other with," her mother got out before Laura snapped back at her.
"Mother, it's not cheating," she replied forcefully and mutedly enough not to stir up anyone at the other tables.
"You are both sleeping with people outside of marriage," Laura's mother snapped back. "That is adultery."
"This is a waste of time," Laura said gathering her purse, preparing to leave.
"Wait, please," Laura's mother said, seeming to know she went too far. Laura stopped for a second.
"What for?" Laura asked, "so you can insult us all some more? I'm not subjecting my husband or Jade to this."
"I think it may be time for you to say what you came to say," Adam spoke up. "Cause I'm with Laura, I won't stay here and hear you insult the two women I love most in the world." Even in anger, Laura flashed a smile at him, reaffirming every reason she married him. Jade also smiled at him, loving every time her master said something sweet like that.
