Work Text:
July 5th, 2024
Mariah blinked and tilted her head to one side, then shook it. She started towards the back door of Crimson Lights, then paused, and went back to the doorway into the main area and poked her head around the door jamb, listening.
The Mom, Dad, and daughter were still talking, and talking, and talking. After a few moments she looked at her phone for the time. She needed to get back or quite possibly Aria would be asleep before she got her special dessert. But, Mariah couldn’t help it, she just needed to know. So, she waited.
Finally Summer left. Mariah smiled, then frowned as Nick sat down in Summer’s chair. She cursed under her breath.
Finally Nick left too, and, quiet as a puma Mariah slipped into the deserted chair, “Oh… Mrs. Landsbury? How’s it going?”
Phyllis narrowed her eyes, “Excuse me?”
Mariah smirked, “Oh, you know what I’m talking about. You called Claire Scary Poppins. Now, I know why I watched The Royal Nanny -- Rachel Skarsten is hot -- and Lost Girl was amazing and so underrated by so many people. What I don’t know is why would you watch it?”
Phyllis crossed her arms over her chest, “It’s not a unknown term, there are even other TV shows that have used it, it’s quite common actually.”
Mariah ignored Phyllis, “I don’t think it’s the guy, he was okay, but not Polaha or Walker or even Mathison.” Mariah studied Phyllis. ‘So?”
She was silent for a moment, then uncrossed her arms and leaned forward, “How many people know that you watch Hallmark movies?”
mariah and Phyllis’ gazes battled for a moment before Mariah inclined her head, “Fair point. Okay, I’ll keep your secret. Other than Tessa, I’ll tell no one.”
“Mariah--”
“Hey, I’ve gotta tell someone about this who thing or I’ll explode. And you?”
Phyllis gave Mariah a look, “No one would be surprised you’ve watched a Hallmark movie, or fifty Mariah.”
“Maybe…”
“Okay, okay, I won’t tell anyone either.” She blew out a breath. “It’s relaxing, okay? I started watching it during the pandemic. The two always get together-- although-- I guess I should say the man and woman always get together. There have been, what,” she shook her head, “seven queer movies on their channels? I thought they were supposed to be being better when it comes to diversity?”
“4 and two thirds.”
“4 and two thirds?”
“Friends and Family Christmas, The Holiday Sitter, and Notes of Autumn were full movies, then there was The Christmas House One and Two, but, those were more like half a movie, and there was Love, Classified and Christmas on Cherry Lane which are more like one third movies. So…”
“Four and two thirds.” Phyllis paused, “Does Tessa watch with you?”
“Mostly no.” Mariah paused for a beat, “You ever thought about writing one? Taking something and…”
“Making it boring enough to be on Hallmark? Maybe.”
Mariah looked down at her bag, “I should go. Aria and Tessa are waiting for these brownies.” She paused again, “Have you met Aria in a more than waving way? Join us for dessert? Aria is being a bit of a… night person for the moment, so, maybe someone new would tucker her out enough that Tessa and I can get some sleep.”
Phyllis studied Mariah, gauging the invitation, then nodded, “I’d like that.” She narrowed her eyes, “We’re not going to be friends now.”
“As if. Never happen.” Mariah tilted her head, “Although, if you get screamy toddler to go to sleep the whole night we both may have to marry you, or saint you, oh, or kidnap you so you can do it every night.”
“Have you ever considered trying Hallmark on Aria? A bit of relaxing murder on Murder She Wrote?”
Mariah sighed, “Yeah, yes, we did. Aria doesn’t like Hallmark either…”
Phyllis laughed.
oOOOOo oOOOOo
Tessa put a hand around Mariah in their kitchen. Mariah and Phyllis had gotten back a few minutes before, and was on the couch with Aria on her lap, staring at the toddler-- who was staring right back. “Why do we have Phyllis in our living room?”
“It’s complicated.” Mariah looked back through the pass through at Phyllis. “But, we both know what being in the midst of second chances is like. How sometimes it feels as though no matter how much you try, it still is all going to slip through your fingers and then… you’re out again, forever.”
“Phyllis is way past a second chance Mariah.”
“So, n to the thirtieth chance then. And, I’ll ask her to leave.”
Tessa sighed, “No, I mean, I doubt that she’s here to do anything nefarious. I’m just a hostess at the moment, and you’re the Marketing VP for your Mom.” Tessa looked out where it seemed as though Aria was, of all things, trying to teach Phyllis some of the basic ASL signs. “Let’s have some dessert.”
Phyllis looked up as Mariah and Tessa walked back into the living room with a plate full of very rich looking brownies. “Oh, you weren’t kidding about a special dessert.”
Tessa smiled as Aria climbed over to her lap, “You’re not required to eat one of them, but, are welcome to, well, if you can get them before our dear daughter.” Tessa gave Aria a tickle and she laughed.
Phyllis narrowed her eyes at the young child, just the barest of smiles, and took a brownie off the plate. She took a bite and nodded, “Oh yes-- this is almost better than--” Her eyes went to Aria, “Ah-- it’s really good.”
The rest of them dug in, giving their own version of the oohs and aahs, Aria’s being the most enthusiastic.
Soon Aria’s eyes drooped. Tessa gathered Aria into her arms and went upstairs. Phyllis watched Tessa, then her gaze went back to Mariah, “Thank you. This was very… normal.”
Mariah inclined her head, “If you ever want to take her off our hands for a bit.”
“Me? I don’t think anyone, including your wife, would like that.”
“Well, we are related, sort of, right? You were married to my sister’s adoptive father-- we’re practically mother and daughter.”
“You have a unique sense of humor Mariah.”
“Defense mechanism. But, I’m not joking about Aria though. She doesn’t usually take to people as fast as she did with you.”
Tessa came down the stairs, “Her majesty is waiting for your good night, and probably to weasel another story out of you.”
Mariah smiled and climbed the stairs, leaving Tessa and Phyllis alone in the living room, and in silence.
It was Phyllis who broke the silence. “Have we talked since you blackmailed Sharon and Nikki?”
Tessa bandied back, “Did we talk before that?”
“No, no, you are correct. Your Aria is very smart.”
Tessa looked towards the stairs, “At first most people only see the hearing aids.”
“I was surprised seeing them myself. They’re very very small.”
Tess nodded, “You can stop Phyllis. I trust my wife. If she wants to be your friend, that’s up to you.”
“No. We won’t be friends. Too much water under that bridge, and with her and Summer. No. This was… nice though. Normal.”
That did bring a smile to Tessa, “Oh, that’s us, just ask the bigot’s in town. Boring old normal Tessa and Mariah raising their deaf child.”
“Tell me their names, I’ll make sure the IRS audits them.”
Mariah sank back down next to Tessa, “I thought you were supposed to be on the straight and narrow?”
Phyllis watched as Tessa took Mariah’s hand and Mariah leaned into Tessa’s side. “I am. I am. I think… thank you for dessert. I’ll need to not eat for the next six weeks, but… it was worth it.”
Phyllis got up, and Mariah did as well, following the woman to the door. “Phyllis, when Summer drives you crazy with all her Kyle drama, or Sharon and Nick get back together, come on over. We don’t always have decadent brownies, but we always have ice cream.”
“We’re not friends.”
Mariah shook her head as she held open the door, “Nope. Never.”