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Michelle was pacing the living room at the Mahan’s house — her house. She’d been living there for over two years now with Gia and Rocki. It was her place too.
She’d just gotten off the phone with Janelle Monáe’s assistant in regards to the dress she’d made for the artist’s singing performance on Carol Burnett’s Christmas Variety Show. Apparently, Monáe was having mobility issues in it while doing her choreography.
The show was tomorrow. Luckily, It was being filmed in San Francisco so Michelle could easily get to the garment, but it wasn’t its access that was stressing her out, it was figuring out how she was going to fix the problem. If she couldn’t think of something – and something good – they’d scrap her dress and use the backup. And the backup wasn’t Michelle’s design. She didn’t want to lose this client and the exposure that came with them.
Her feet carried her back and forth, pacing between the television and the coffee table from the exterior wall to the kitchen door, as she was in panicked thought. She was brainstorming all the various things she could do to alter the dress without ruining the overall design.
Rocki walked into the living room from the kitchen, her day’s Hanukkah gift in hand, still enclosed in its blue wrapping paper. She’d never admit it, but she liked opening her gifts in front of her mom and (ever since she became a part of the family) Michelle.
But the sight of Michelle babbling to herself, moving back and forth the length of the room, made the young adult stop in her tracks – the excitement of unwrapping her gift was instantly forgotten.
“You okay there, Michelle?” she asked dryly, but not without concern.
Michelle didn’t stop her movements or look over to her, she only bit her lip while mumbling, “Uh-huh”
Rocki watched her take a few more passes across the room before saying, “You sure about that?”
Michelle didn’t answer. She couldn’t, she didn’t even process the question.
“If it’s dancing and I shorten it she might still get caught in the fullness of the skirt,” Michelle rambled to herself.
“Something wrong with Janelle’s dress?” Rocki furrowed her brows in curiosity.
Michelle kept pacing as she continued racking her brain, not noticing that she’d just been asked a question.
“Maybe I can make the skirt into harem pants?” Michelle placed her index finger between her front teeth, biting down on its tip.
Suddenly, the front door opened and in walked Gia. She was quick to notice the scene before her, her girlfriend pacing, head deep in undivided thought.
“Uh-oh,” Gia sighed before placing her purse and shopping bags on the floor in the entranceway. “How long?” She looked over at her daughter.
“Unknown. I walked in on her like this too.”
“She responsive?”
“Barely.”
Gia nodded. “Okay, why don’t you go get ready.” She gestured at Michelle with her head. “I’ll deal with this.”
“You sure you don’t need me to get some ice for you first?”
“Let’s call «dropping cold things down Michelle’s shirt to snap her out of it» plan B.” Gia smirked devilishly at the memory of Rocki doing that to her only a few months prior.
“Alright.” Rocki smirked before heading up the stairs. “But I stand by its effectiveness.”
Gia chuckled at her daughter, watching her disappear onto the second floor before she focused on the pacing woman before her.
“Michelle?”
“Yeah. Just figuring,” she faintly responded while not looking over at her.
Gia shook her head. This will not do. She then walked over to the wooden coffee table and stepped up on top of it. She needed the height advantage. Then, just as Michelle passed by, Gia grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her to face her, and leaned down to capture her lips with her own.
It took Michelle a second to react but – to Gia’s delight – when she did, it was to reciprocate as she allowed Gia to deepen the kiss while sliding her tongue inside Michelle’s mouth.
Michelle reached up and wrapped her arms around Gia’s waist, pulling her in tight. Her tingling body was quickly writing over her stressed-out brain as she melted into her girlfriend and all the glorious sensations that came along with her.
But just as Michelle had relaxed into the warm and loving gesture, Gia gently pulled her mouth away.
“Have mercy,” Michelle whimpered at the loss of contact.
Gia chuckled as she slid her hands up Michelle’s neck to cup her face. “You about ready to hold down the front line?”
“From the trench I just wore into the floor?” Michelle smirked, already familiar with her question. It wasn’t the first time she’d asked it.
But instead of answering, Gia smiled while pushing a lock of hair behind Michelle’s ear. “You okay?”
“I have to make last-minute alterations to the dress.”
“Tonight?”
Michelle nodded with guilt, knowing she’d have to work instead of going to her family’s Christmas Eve event at the Tanner residence.
“Does this mean me and Rocki don’t have to go to the party then?” Gia flashed a not-so-innocent smile.
Michelle chuckled. “You ask that but I know you’re looking forward to nog-pong with Stephanie.”
Gia beamed. “Bets are already on the table.”
“Do I even want to know what they are?”
“Yes, but I’m not telling. You’ll just have to hurry up and make it to the party if you wanna find out.”
Michelle sighed, knowing that there was no way she would make it with how her phone call had gone. She was already panicked that she wouldn’t hit tomorrow’s deadline for the show, let alone the event that started within the hour.
“I was really looking forward to this evening. And I even promised Rocki I’d be there for support if Jackson goes all weird and acts like… well ‘Jackson’ around her when she tells him about her new college boyfriend.”
“Bert.”
“Brett,” Michelle corrected her.
“Whatever.” Gia shrugged. “If she takes after me, he won’t last long anyway.”
Michelle threw up her hands in mock anger. “I’m standing right here.”
Gia impishly smirked at her. “Yes, you are. But for how long? Time will only tell.” She leaned down and captured her lips, almost cutting her last words short.
Michelle giggled into their kiss, finding her girlfriend much too sassy and adorable.
Gia pulled back to speak quietly into her lips. “I now release you to your frantic fashion frenzy.”
When Michelle opened her eyes to look at her, Gia was already moving away to hop down from the table.
She grabbed up her bags and started for the stairs as she said over her shoulder, “Now, I gotta go figure out what I’m wearing tonight.”
“I thought you were wearing that.” Michelle pointed at the nice blue, knee-length dress that she had on.
“I was.” She stopped halfway up the stairs to look down at her. “But then DJ called to make sure Rocki and I wore” – she used air quotes – “picture-appropriate attire.” Gia then flashed a devilish smile. “So I gotta go find something slutty to put on and make sure Rocki’s wearing at least one occult symbol.”
Michelle flashed a sarcastic smile. “Great, then Matt can ogle you more than he usually does.” She referenced DJ’s business partner and ex-boyfriend who always seemed a little too interested in Gia.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing, but he’s a perfect backup in case the time tells us something short.” She innocently shrugged. “I mean, he checks all the boxes for what I look for in men – hot, available, and kinda dumb.”
Michelle threw her hand to her heart. “And here I am standing in the way of the world’s greatest love story.”
“Yes. Well, I guess it’s a good thing you’re hotter, already mine, and kinda irresistible.” Gia smirked at her before climbing the rest of the stairs – finding the thought of being with anyone other than Michelle to be completely unacceptable.
“Rocki!” Michelle heard Gia call just as she disappeared onto the second floor. “Make sure to put on your pentagram necklace for tonight!”
Michelle couldn’t help but let out a small giggle before she turned for the basement to grab her travel sewing supplies. She was in a hurry to get to that dress and fix whatever it was that was wrong with it.
Stephanie missed her shot – the ping-pong ball bounced off the Tanner’s kitchen table and landed on the floor, nowhere near the cup she was aiming for.
“You keep throwing like that, Tanner, you’re gonna be touring with a bright red mullet.”
The thought of Stephanie singing to a bunch of young children with her guitar and clown hair, made Gia chuckle.
“I swear, if that’s the hairstyle you pick for me, you’ll be ending the longest friendship I’ve ever had.” Stephanie emphatically pointed at her.
“No, you’ll be ending it because you’re so bad at nog-pong.”
“Okay, but If I’m so bad at it, why am I drunker than you?” Stephanie swiftly pointed at herself as she swayed a little by her own abrupt movement. “Who’s the real winner here?”
“Definitely not your head when I’m done with it”
“How rude,” she pouted.
Michelle walked into the kitchen from the backdoor – favouring that entry point from when she used to live in the basement. “So, how badly is Steph losing?” she asked, fully knowing that Gia was amazing at every drinking game and rarely lost to them.
“Michelle!” Gia beamed, glad that she made it. She knew how important Christmas with her family was to her.
“I thought you weren’t gonna make it?” Stephanie shook her head in pleasant confusion.
“Yeah, well, apparently communication wasn’t great. There was no choreography to trip up Janelle in the dress, it was just their shoe getting caught in a hem while walking on stage.” She casually swatted the air in front of her. “It took me – all of – ten minutes to fix the problem.”
Michelle walked over to the counter and started pecking at the sweet potatoes which were still sitting out in their serving dish. She’d missed dinner and was now quite hungry.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here to witness the end of my and Stephanie’s friendship.” Gia bounced her ping-pong ball into Stephanie’s last cup full of eggnog. “Yes!” Gia threw her arms up in victory. “Drink up, and prepare to become Raggedy Ann!”
“Gia, for all that’s good in the world, please no scissors or red hair dye,” she begged before picking up her cup and downing it like a good sport.
Michelle couldn’t help but laugh at discovering their bet. She knew Gia wouldn’t go too hard on her sister – probably some pink hair colour at the most. But it was still funny how (tipsy) Stephanie looked genuinely concerned.
Just as Michelle swallowed a potato piece, Matt walked in through the kitchen. “Hey, Gia, they didn’t have Fireball so I got Crown Royal instead.”
Gia looked over to him, placing a hand on her hip. “How are those comparable?”
He looked bothered that he’d just let her down as he stumbled out, “I don’t know, they’re both Canadian whiskies?”
“And yet only one of them tastes like cinnamon hearts,” Gia huffed.
Now it was Michelle’s turn to put her hand on her hip. “You went to the store specifically for Gia?” she interrupted her girlfriend’s interrogations of the man as she took over with her own line of questioning.
Matt’s body jumped as he turned around to find Michelle glaring at him from the kitchen counter.
“Hey, Michelle, I thought you weren’t com– I mean, I didn’t see you there. Glad you made it.” There was pure terror in his eyes. He knew better than to pull favours for Gia in hopes of winning her over.
He awkwardly placed the whiskey bottle on the counter before pointing towards the living room. “Yeah, I’m gonna go see if DJ needs any help in the other room.” He scurried out like a mailman being chased by a dog.
Michelle moved her eyes to her girlfriend, lifting an amused brow.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that.” Gia moved over to the counter as she gestured at her tight, low-cut outfit. “This slutty dress just got us free booze.” She picked up the bottle before scrunching her face at it. “Not the right kind of booze, though.”
“Well, what did you expect from the man who checks off your ‘kind of dumb’ box?” Michelle couldn’t help but smirk as she started digging into the bottom of her purse. Her hand soon found purchase on what it was seeking. She pulled out a 50ml bottle of her girlfriend’s favourite flavoured whiskey.
Gia’s eyes lit up. “Fireball!”
Michelle handed it to her. “I’m like a mom, but instead of carrying around juice boxes for my child, I have party liqueur for you.”
“Party liqueur that tastes like candy.” Gia opened it and downed the whole bottle.
“Mom! Stephanie!” Rocki walked into the kitchen, stopping with surprise as she saw the other woman standing before her. “Michelle?”
“I made it! Dress is good,” Michelle filled her in with the most minimal details before looking back at the food that she was still pecking at. “And so are these potatoes.” She shoved another piece into her mouth.
“Ah, it’s present time.” An excited spark seemed to glint in Rocki’s eyes before she grabbed her purse from the phone desk (by the stairs) and scurried out the back door.
“Wait, where are you going?” Michelle yelled after her.
“Forgot something in mom’s car! I’ll be right back!” The door slammed behind her.
Shortly, they all gathered in the living room. They planned on exchanging their gifts amongst the extended family that Christmas Eve, with the immediate families exchanging on Christmas Day in their respective homes. Well, except for the Mahan’s, that was. Their home was primarily for Hanukkah festivities, so they’d celebrate all their Christmas activities at the Tanner residents that evening.
There was wrapping paper strewn about and kids whipping up the stairs with their new toys (not waiting for the slower adults to finish opening and showing each other their gifts.) It was moments like these that Michelle was actually glad that her dad, aunt, uncles, and cousins didn’t make it up to San Francisco since there were plenty enough bodies in that living room as it was.
Right after Michelle hugged DJ for the lovely teapot infuser she’d just unwrapped from her, Rocki shoved a small box in her hands adorned in the same wrapping paper that Michelle had used for her nephews’ gifts.
“Here, you missed one.”
Michelle looked at the card to only find her name on it. It didn’t say who it was from.
“Mom, you too.” Rocki put a similar-sized present on Gia’s lap (who was sitting on the floor next to Michelle near the tree).
Both Michelle and Gia assumed it was another gift from Rocki, and proceeded to unwrap them.
Michelle was the first to open her box, finding a smaller box inside. A box that didn’t make sense. A box covered in dark blue velvet – a ring box. She slowly opened it, finding a beautiful wooden (mahogany?) band with a shimmering black fire opal inset. It was absolutely stunning and totally her style.
She then looked over at Gia in confusion, instantly noticing an open ring box in her hand too, but this time, she knew the box and the jewellery piece that sat inside of it. It was a platinum band with a princess cut, conflict-free diamond mounted in it. She knew it was a conflict-free (created in a lab) stone because she was the one who bought it.
Michelle pointed at the ring in Gia’s hand. “That’s my…” She shook her head. “Not my… your ring.”
“Hey, and that’s the ring I got for you.” Gia, in confusion, gestured at the item in Michelle’s possession.
“Yeah, three months ago,” Rocki popped in from the other side of her mom. “And Michelle has been holding onto that one for two.” She gestured at the diamond-mounted piece.
They both stared at her in shock.
“Look,” she huffed, “you guys both asked for my blessing and for help ring shopping, but then neither of you actually proposed, so I got tired of waiting.” She shrugged. “Also, planning a wedding will give me something to do in my Art History class.”
But before either of them could react, DJ gasped from behind them, “Oh Mylanta, those are engagement rings!” She just noticed their gifts right after she turned away from Tommy on his new scooter. From her standing position, she pointed at the couple which drew everyone else’s attention with it.
Michelle looked at her sister, shaking her head in a haze of emotions before zeroing in on Gia – the only person she truly cared about in that moment. “You were gonna propose to me?” Her eyes started to tear up.
“Yeah.” Gia’s lips turned upwards in the most heartwarming smile. “But you’ve been so busy with work I haven’t had a chance to.”
“Yeah, that’s the exact reason I haven’t asked you yet. I don’t know my head from a hole in the ground these days.” Her thoughts were so in her company that she found her wallet in the dishwasher last week. She was on a business call as she walked in the door and somehow her divided attention resulted in a wet driver's licence and soggy business cards.
Gia’s smile grew to a full grin as she reached over to the box in Michelle’s grasp, pulling the ring off its display pillow. She then took up Michelle’s hand and slid the band around her finger. It fit perfectly.
Michelle giggled in elation before taking hold of the other ring and slipping it on Gia’s digit – it too fit perfectly. (They had both measured the others’ size with rings that they each owned.)
“Oh, this is so exciting, my baby sister is getting married!” DJ screeched as her body practically jumped for joy.
“And to my best friend too.” Stephanie smiled proudly at DJ.
DJ’s expression fell as she scrunched her face at Stephanie. “Right, she’s marrying Gia.” She huffed, “I guess I didn’t think through my initial excitement.”
Stephanie dropped her head to her shoulder, giving her older sister a look.
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” DJ recognised her bias. “We’re still happy for Michelle.” She muttered under her breath, “Mostly.”
But Gia and Michelle didn’t hear her comment, they were too busy with their mouths pushed together in a loving kiss.
As they pulled their lips apart, they kept their faces close to each other as Gia lifted a questioning brow. “So, are we currently mad at Rocki, or grateful?”
Michelle smiled. “Grateful.” She then thought about it a little longer. “For now,” she added, still wanting to pay her back for going behind their backs like that.
“For now?” Rocki asked. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Gia pivoted to gently grab her daughter in a headlock as she pushed her lips to her forehead, kissing her before she growled, “You’ll find out when the time comes.”
Rocki nodded in understanding. “Concrete boots for me.”
“See, you didn’t forget we chose ‘the mob life’ after all.”
Rocki chuckled just as her mother let go of her, only for the newly engaged couple to become swarmed by family members wanting to both see their rings and congratulate them.
Gia could only handle so much of the Brady Bunch invading their moment before she snatched Michelle’s hand. “Yeah, I’m stealing my ‘fiancée away ‘cause you guys are all over her and that’s my job.” She dragged her off from Ramona and Stephanie specifically as they were examining her ring.
Michelle giggled – a pure rush of joy running through her body after hearing the word ‘fiancée’ in reference to herself – as she allowed Gia to tow her out the front door.
Gia needed a moment with her, a moment alone.
Michelle took a single step down the front stairs and turned to Gia, who remained standing at the top.
Gia wrapped her arms around Michelle firmly as she pushed her lips to hers in a passionate, open-mouthed, kiss.
Michelle couldn’t help but moan as Gia’s tongue roamed inside of her mouth, making her knees quiver. She had to tighten her hold around Gia for support.
“You’re all mine now,” Gia murmured into her lips before dipping her head to suckle and kiss her way down Michelle’s neck.
“Yeah,” Michelle gasped as her fingers sunk into Gia’s hair and her eyes rolled to the back of her head, “I guess time told us something longer.”
Gia spoke into her skin. “Super long, going off the size of my diamond.”
“You’re so materialistic,” Michelle half-heartedly chuckled as she was still too preoccupied with Gia’s mouth on her neck.
“Yes, I’m going after your quickly growing wealth and status.” Gia moved her head to look her in the eyes. “Soon I’ll have my own reality TV show, putting the Kardashians to shame.”
“Of course, you’ll put them to shame, because I’ll be the one dressing you for it.”
Gia beamed. “I’m so grateful for a fiancée who supports my life goals.”
Michelle laughed before looking deeply into her eyes. “No, I’m so grateful for a fiancée who supports my life goals.”
Gia had been absolutely incredible to her over the past two years, encouraging Michelle’s career. She was unbelievably patient with her busy work schedule and frantic mood swings when she was stressed out.
“Yeah, you’re right. You’re getting the better deal marrying me than l am marr—”
Michelle cut her off with a laugh, “Don’t you dare finish that sentence!”
She abruptly scooped Gia up into her arms, taking a step to the top of the stairs before spinning her around. She was so happy and full of joy she didn’t know what to do with herself.
After Michelle placed her back down, Gia cupped her face, smiling. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
But before Gia could pull Michelle back to her in a kiss, the door opened beside them and Jackson popped his head out.
“Hey, we’re about to light the advent wreath and the menorah.”
Gia shook her head in confusion. “You guys have a menorah?”
“Yeah, Rocki always gets on me about the way our country centres Christianity, so I bought one with some of my cafeteria money so you guys could feel a little more welcome in our goyim home.”
Michelle gushed in awe, “Wow, Jackson, that’s really thoughtful of you.”
Gia too approved of his actions. “Kid, I’m still rooting for you and Rocki.
“Really?” He beamed.
The young man still very much missed dating Rocki and hoped to one day get back together with her.
“Yeah, you’re definitely better than Bart.”
“Brett,” Michelle corrected her.
“Whatever.” Gia waved it off. “Though, if you really wanna make me feel welcomed in this home, you could get rid of your mom’s Bedazzler, ‘cause I keep finding rhinestones embedded in my ass.”
“Yeah, her going after the sofa pillows has come at a great cost to us all.” Jackson nodded. “I once fell asleep on the couch and woke up to a rhinestone stuck inside my ear.” He had anguish in his eyes. “I had to go to the pet clinic for mom to use her vet tools to get it out.” He shivered off the experience of her fishing inside his ear canal with long forceps. Then, like he didn’t just relive a traumatic event, he cheerfully shook his head. “But I’m on it! I’ll hide her glittery torture device so she can’t hurt us again.” He grinned and turned to leave back inside the house.
“She’ll find it immediately,” Michelle said. “He sucks at hiding things, and she’s like Sherlock Holmes when something goes missing.”
Gia chuckled as she linked arms with Michelle, pulling her into the house to follow after Jackson.
After the candle-lighting event, people had disbursed around the house. Michelle had found herself chatting with Jackson on the living room stairs, talking about a girl in one of his coding classes that he wanted to ask out.
But as their conversation came to an end, Michelle decided to pop into the kitchen to grab a drink before joining Gia, Steve, and Matt who were in conversation on the sofa.
As Michelle walked into the kitchen, she found Rocki, Ramona, and Stephanie all sitting around the kitchen table, suspiciously looking over at her.
“Whatcha doing?” Michelle drawled out in both fear and curiosity as she grabbed a water bottle off the counter.
Rocki didn’t hesitate to answer, “Planning your wedding, of course.”
“You don’t think it’s a bit early for that? We just proposed not even an hour ago.”
“It’s never too early to start planning,” Stephanie said sensibly. “Just be glad I kept DJ away with her big binder of controlling bossiness.”
Ramona agreed with Stephanie, “Yeah, you know how she gets with this kind of stuff.”
“Bless each and every one of you for your services,” Michelle said in (slightly) inflated gratitude while thinking back to this past Thanksgiving and DJ’s colour-coded seating charts and laminated menus.
“Okay, people, focus!” Rocki was trying to keep them on track, “We need to get this wedding planned so my mom can finally stop her revolving door of useless, annoying men and marry someone who’s actually cool.”
“Aww!” They were all surprised by Rocki.
“Get over it and tell no one!” Rocki threatened, trying to keep her bad-girl persona. She fooled no one.
“You forget who you’re talking to.” Michelle made her way over to her at the table. “Their minds are collectively a steel trap holding only mushiness. That information is there to stay. Sorry, kid.” Michelle patted Rocki’s shoulder before leaning in to speak softly into her ear, “I would say I can’t wait to have such a cool daughter, but you’re already mine, marriage licence to your mother or not.” Michelle playfully squeezed her arm before walking back to the living room door. “And don’t forget, I’m getting you in the divorce!” she called out as she exited the room.
As Michelle left, Kimmy came barreling down the stairs. “No fear, Gibbler Style Party Planning is here!” She clapped loudly, incidentally, right next to Stephanie’s head.
“Ow.” The middle tanner put her hand over her assaulted ear. “Haven’t I threatened to encase you in layers of bubble wrap enough times for you to remember to quiet down?”
“You know not to threaten me with a good time.” Kimmy aggressively nodded at her.
“Mom, please don’t go over the top with this,” Ramona pleaded.
She shifted her attention to her daughter. “But it’s Michelle’s big day!”
Gia then came strutting into the kitchen. “Okay, I want this wedding so posh and over the top that Princess Diana will be looking down from heaven with envy.”
“Has that poor woman not gone through enough?” Stephanie threw up her hand in disapproval.
Gia ignored her as she stood over her best friend, gesturing at the empty table. “Where’s DJ’s big binder of controlling bossiness?”
“Wait, you want her help?” Stephanie asked in shock.
“Hey, she might be nauseatingly positive, a blonde who doesn’t have more fun, HOH material, dresses like a K-Mart catalogue girl, just an overall stick in the mud…” she put her finger to her chin as she cocked her head to the side. “Wait, where was I going with this again?”
“Wedding planning?” Ramona answered.
“Oh yeah, but that control freak gets shit done. I want that bitch.”
“You want to deal with DJ?” Stephanie asked, still not quite believing it.
“No, no, no.” She wagged her finger. “I want her to deal with me.” She then moved her digit and pointed it at herself. “I’m the client here.” Her gaze moved upwards like she was already imagining it. “What a beautiful wedding gift to me.”
Michelle then walked back in, knowing she should check in on Gia after she strutted away with purpose in her step when discovering what was going on in the kitchen. But before she could say anything, Rocki greeted her with, “You just had to tell her what we were doing in here, didn’t you?”
Romona then added for clarification with fear in her voice, “You’ve unleashed a beast.”
Not knowing what Gia had said, Michelle still felt confident in the direction she’d gone. “Sorry, she’s on her Kardashian arc now.”
“It’s gonna be spectacular.” Gia waved her hands in the air.
“It’s gonna have a budget that we’re sticking to.” Michelle put her hand on her hip.
“A big, big budget.”
“A reasonable budget.”
“Reasonable for a reality TV star in the making.”
“No,” Michelle laughed as she knew Gia was only playing with her. For all her funny comments, the woman was very sensible with money. She had to learn at a young age (being a single mother with a father who financially disowned her) how to balance a budget and stretch a dollar. Gia was actually the one who took over the finances for Michelle’s business, not that anyone outside of their little three-person family knew that. Gia didn’t want people to know she was competent. Being underestimated is how she stopped people from expecting more from her. She understood the game and played it well.
Gia then looked at Ramona. “Is that ex-boyfriend of yours still a cake decorator? ‘Cause I like that twink’s work.”
“Casey?” Ramona scrunched her face in confusion. “We never dated.”
“Really?” Gia could have sworn they had back when they were in high school.
Ramona looked over at Rocki. “Your mom thinks I’m a beard.”
“Don’t take it personally, she’s just projecting because she’s been one more than once.” She shook her head in embarrassment for her poor, clueless mother. “For being bi, she has no gaydar.”
“Hey, I figured out Michelle was gay before any of you.” She pointed at everyone in the room.
“Yeah, ‘cause I told you,” Michelle had to bite down a laugh.
“Semantics.”
Then Jimmy came in, galloping on a hobby-horse with his holiday antlers on his head. “Steph! There you are. You gotta come see what the boys and I did to Danielle.” He placed a hand next to his mouth like he was sharing a secret, “We gift-wrapped her in all the scraps DJ told us to clean up.” His eyes lit up as he gushed, “She looks super cute.”
“Ooh!” Stephanie jumped up while grabbing her phone. “I’m taking pictures.”
He nodded with the same energy Cosmo shook his tail with before the two scurried out to fawn over their baby daughter.
“What about wedding planning?” Ramona called out, but she was too late, they were already gone. She then looked around the table, “Okay, but I can’t be the only other one who wants to see that Christmas-wrapped baby, right?”
“I’ll race you to her!” Kimmy acknowledged her daughter before they both bolted for the door.
Rocki sighed, “So much for getting a jump start on planning.”
Gia sat down in the, now empty, chair beside her daughter as Michelle made her way to plant her butt on the other side of Rocki.
Gia rested her arm over the top of Rocki’s chair as she shrugged, “We could always just go down to City Hall and do it there, no planning needed.”
“What?” Rocki and Michelle asked in surprised unison.
“Well, only if Michelle wants to.” She looked over at her fiancée. “But my dad probably knows like three judges who could put a rush on our paperwork.” He was a lawyer for many years. “We could be married by New Year’s.”
“Or on New Year’s?” Rocki gasped in excitement about the idea.
“Wait, wait, wait.” Michelle moved her hand like she was pumping the brakes. “I thought you wanted extravagance?”
“Honestly, after Kimmy’s and your sisters’ triple wedding, I’m good to never go to another one again, including my own.”
“Yeah, that one was weird,” Rocki agreed.
Gia shook her head. “But, I don’t know why I’m bothering to say this ‘cause I’m sure you want a proper wedding. Because, unlike me, you’ve never had one before.”
Michelle thought on it a moment before quickly coming to a realisation. “Actually, I don’t think I care.” She shrugged. “I mean, I want to wear a pretty white dress and embarrass Rocki with my sappy vows to you.”
Rocki soured her face and shook her head. “Thanks,” she said dryly.
Michelle placed a hand on the young woman’s shoulder, squeezing it in acknowledgement as she continued, “But I’d be happy to do that downtown with a justice of the peace surrounded by just immediate family. I don’t need anything big. We can have our reception at home with Indian takeout and champagne that doubles as a New Year’s toast.”
“Yes, New Year’s wedding for the win,” Rocki smiled in victory. “It’s a Chrismukkah miracle!”
Gia couldn’t help but chuckle at Rocki for both the wedding enthusiasm as well as her embrace of her mother’s favourite show, The O.C. “Okay, Seth Cohen,” she addressed her daughter, “why don’t you go call grandpa and use your only grandchild charm to get us an appointment at city hall on a federal holiday.”
Rocki whipped out her phone, but as she was about to find his number in her contacts she noticed her mother gesturing for her to make the call somewhere else with a tilt of her head towards the back of the room. Rocki nodded, understanding that she wanted a moment with Michelle as she stood up to make the call outside.
Gia then slid into Rocki’s abandoned chair next to Michelle. Turning her body towards her fiancée, she asked in all seriousness, “Are you absolutely sure you want t—”
“Yes.” Michelle interrupted her. “And if we can’t do it this New Year’s, we’ll do it afterwards. The wedding isn’t the important part, the marriage is.”
“God, you’re cheesy,” Gia teased her as her heart fluttered in the love she had for her.
“Well I am a Brady, don’t forget.”
“No, you’re a Mahan now.”
“Sorry, I forgot. Let me try again.” Michelle cleared her throat. “I don’t care about the wedding as long as there’s Fireball and a camera crew for my debut reality show, I’ll be happy.”
Gia laughed, “Now you’re getting it.”
Michelle dropped her head to Gia’s as they rested foreheads together. Gia then placed her hand on Michelle’s cheek, swiping her thumb over it. “You’re keeping your last name, aren’t you?”
“I mean, it’s the name of my business.”
“I Figured.”
“And you’re keeping your last name because of Rocki.”
“I am.”
“Good. It’s what she deserves. Also, Tanner doesn’t suit you, it’s too blonde.”
Gia jerked her head back. “Oh, you don’t think I could pull off blonde, do you?” she gasped in offence.
Michelle broke out laughing as she shook her head. “No. Absolutely not.”
“I’ll prove you wrong.”
“No!” Michelle started laughing, “I don’t date blondes.”
“No, but you’re gonna be marrying one now.”
“I swear to God, Gia if you—”
“He’s on it!” Rocki interrupted them, bursting through the door in what must have been the shortest phone call ever. But that was Gia’s dad, a man of little words despite his chosen profession.
Gia looked back to her daughter. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She nodded with a smile. “He’ll call you later when everything’s in order.”
Gia smiled back at her. “That’s my girl.” Both women then instinctually stood up and went to hug Rocki at the same time.
“Group hug?” Rocki huffed under fake annoyance. “Mom, you really are turning into a Tanner.”
Gia kissed the top of her daughter’s head, “This is nothing, just wait till I’m blonde.”
“Rocki, talk some sense into your mother.”
“Fine, but when she’s your wife, that’ll solely be your job.”
Michelle squeezed her harder as she said through a smile, “Absolutely not.” She then started rocking them from side to side. “By that point, I’ll be on my evil stepmother arc, so you’re gonna have to do everything for me, Cinderella style.”
Gia added, “That’s a good idea, then she’ll be able to enslave some mice to do all your sewing for you.”
“You guys are the worst,” Rocki said through nothing but smiles. “Also, can this hug end yet?”
“No,” both women said in unison as they held their daughter just a little bit longer.
“Hey, who put my Bedazzler in the ficus pot!” DJ’s voice carried from the other room.
Gia and Michelle shared a look as they chuckled.
What a wonderful life they had.