Meeting Walker at the restaurant, Idina had felt almost obliged to invite her boy's grandparents to have supper with them. They had given Walker a fun day, and this way they could not argue she was trying to cut them out of his life.

Seeing them in person was different than speaking over the tablet or phone. Everything was formal, tense. Like the first time she had met them, and she knew she was being judged. Except now the person beside her holding her hand under the table was not their son, it was the man who was replacing their son in their grandson's life.

Walker did most of the talking, filling his parents and sister in on his day while he sipped at his cola and bounced in his seat, making Idina smile. If he had a good day, it was worth it. Walker deserved a good day. Not a good day, all the good days. He was so strong, and she was so proud of him.

By contrast, Erika was quiet. She asked Walker a few questions and gave him the treats Stuart had made, but other than that she remained silent unless asked a question.

Idina found herself dreading the food. Then, her son would stop talking and the space would be left open for another topic of conversation. At least with the children around, she knew it would not get out of hand. At least, she was hoping they all would have enough dignity not to let it get out of hand. In the public setting. In front of Walker.

"What did you do mommy?" her little boy asked with gleaming eyes.

"I went to granddad's," she told him. "And we left the triplets there for the day, then we went to some museums and the bookstore with Erika."

"My day was soooo much better," he informed her straight-faced. "We went to a zoo. No boring musty old museums."

Aaron snorted at his bluntness, and Idina chuckled internally. Her husband still was not as used to children and their directness as she was. He would grow accustomed though, she knew, as the triplets started to get older. At least Walker was finally progressing out his black and white, right and wrong phase all children went through.

"I'm glad you had a fun time, Pumpkin," she said.

"I'm sure Erika had fun at the museums," Marcia said to Idina's surprise.

Idina looked over at the girl, giving her permission to speak.

"Yeah," Erika said quietly, folding and unfolding her hands in her lap. "They were interesting. The Math one was for younger children and was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. Aaron got stuck in one of the activities and it was funny."

Idina smiled, thinking back to that moment. Despite the workers insisting it would be okay, they had not factored in Aaron being older and not as flexible as Erika, and he had to ungracefully roll off the seat under the bars when he could not crawl out the other side.

"And, um," Erika mutter, trying to think of something else. "I enjoyed the Natural History and Metropolitan museums more than when I went with field trips since we could stay as long as we wanted or skip exhibits."

"The natural history one had dinosaur skeletons," Walker said. "Mommy took me there a few years ago when she was doing a show here."

"Oh, right, you used to live in New York," Marica said, bringing all the attention to her. It was the first time she had directly addressed Erika.

Idina could feel that Aaron grew tense beside her, certain he was thinking about the way his mother had acted when the triplets were born. She stroked his palm, hoping it would help.

"I did," Erika almost whispered, breaking the seconds of silence.

"Do you like New York or California more?" Marcia asked.

"California," Erika said, nodding to herself. "It's, um, like, I miss the snow, but I don't mind it being nice and sunny and being able to still ride my bike places," she elaborated, making Idina smile with pride. She was trying and succeeding. "And, um, we can always bring our dog out too, so it's better for a dog 'cause he does not have to stay indoors most of the time we can let him out in the yard or bring him to the dog park all year round. And there are more dog parks and stuff than in New York." She looked back down at her hands in her lap when she finished.

"Walker told us about Louie," she replied. "He said you two are teaching him tricks?"

Erika nodded. "He can do the easy ones that are like basic dog behaviours like rolling over, laying down, and shaking, but we're trying to teach him more complicated ones like dancing."

"We got him to play hide and seek!" Walker exclaimed. "Except it's only fun when he hides because if he 'go finds' he can smell you out so you can't hide from him."

"That's lovely," Jeffris said to them. They both smiled, though Walker's was wider and more prominent. "Did you bring him with you?"

He already knew the answer, but Idina was slowly growing grateful to them for engaging Erika. She had told them they had no obligations towards her other than to be cordial, same with the triplets as they got older, and they knew Walker would not tolerate anything less. He still sometimes felt like he was Erika's older sibling because he had been here longer, and he was as protective as any brother was of their sister.

"No," Erika said. "We left him in a doggy hotel, and we get to video call him sometimes and they send us videos and keep us updated that Louie's happy."

Walker nodded. "Yeah," the boy said. "I think he's having fun and we left him all his favourite toys."

"That's good," Marcia said, and the table grew quiet again.

Their meals were brought out and Idina started to relax. Things were good, she reminded herself. She can trust people. Trust. Outside of Aaron, she still was not certain she trusted anyone. She was not even sure she trusted her husband, more like she trusted that she could trust him. Everyone has the capacity to harm; we just expect they do not.

Aaron rubbed her back and whispered something in her ear, bringing her back to reality. She wondered for a second what her tell was and if it was obvious to anyone else that she had clocked out for a moment. Aaron was attentive, that was certain. It was odd, everything stemmed from someone touching her. Ones that had hurt and caused damage. Yet one of the best comforts she had was her husband's touch. A reminder of the present.

Idina cut her chicken after making sure Walker was using his napkin. If they were alone, she would have leaned against Aaron as she ate, planting small kissing on his neck and chin when she felt like it. Here, she had to sit up straight with space in between them. She had to look and act presentable.

After some time, it was Marcia who started again. "Idina, you know you're very lucky this all worked out," she said.

"Pardon, what worked out?" Idina asked, confused. This trip? What had happened with Taye? There were so many things going on.

"Everything with Erika," she clarified.

"What things?" Idina asked skeptically.

"The adoption and stuff," she said.

Idina nodded. "We had an amazing lawyer," she said. "Carlyle was amazing, but it was a team effort." Idina did not feel like rambling on or bringing it all back up. They needed some time to breathe.

"No, not like that. Like with Erika, she's a great kid."

Oh. Idina squeezed Aaron's knee. Just leave it there, she wished. She had a feeling if it went any further it would not be good.

And she was right.

Marcia started commenting on how "those kids" are usually there for a reason and it was such a risk bringing one in when she already had Walker and was trying for a baby.

Idina squeezed her husband's leg again. If she made a scene, called it out, it would shatter this ideal for Walker that they were getting along, and they had been to a degree. If she did not, she was letting Erika know she was not willing to stand up for her. But if this was something Marcia would say to Idina's face, what would she start telling Walker in private?

Aaron said something first, saying that the reason children were in those situations were statistically the parent's fault, and tried to change the subject.

Idina waited for a few heartbeats.

The topic was not pushed further.

Giving herself, permission to breathe, Idina went back to her meal, side-eyeing Erika. She was ignoring everyone, quickly and quietly eating her food. Walker kept looking between everyone, but none of the adults would make eye contact with him.

~

At the theatre, Idina started to feel the tension leaving.

"Mommy was the first Elphaba in this show," Walker said confidently to Erika.

"Yes, I was," Idina replied.

"I think I remember a bit of it 'cause I was very little."

Idina chuckled and shook her head. "It was before you were born, baby," she said.

They were sitting in the very back of the theatre, and Idina was hoping they would not announce that she was in the audience. She was sure and the usher had recognized her, but since Aaron had bought the tickets, she kept her fingers crossed that they would not take a second glance at his name on the card.

"Ok, photos," he said, taking his phone out.

"Come on," Walker huffed with an eye roll.

"Smile," Idina told him.

He put on a bigger frown just for her as she held his playbill up in front of him, smiling large to make up for it. She pulled Erika in closer, then looked over Aaron's shoulder when he checked it.

"Looks good, we should frame it," she said, a bit louder than she needed to.

"No," Walker said. "I don't look good."

"If you promise to smile, we'll take it again."

"Fine," he huffed, and they took another picture.

Idina kissed his cheek, but he whipped it off.

"People are staring," he whispered.

She looked around. "No, they aren't," she informed him.

"Excited?" Aaron asked the kids and they both nodded.

Idina sat back in her chair and smiled. She was getting to share something she loved with the people she loved. The kids were sitting in between her and Aaron, with Walker next to her. She imagined them back here in ten years with the triplets, and maybe a grandchild or two.

I have a legacy, she realized. I have done well. I have done things people love. I made people that will be loved and will love back. She took her son's hand and wrapped an arm around him, giving him a hug and kiss.

"I love you, baby," she said, and he hugged her back.

"I love you too, mom," he said. "But please don't hug me in public."

Idina sighed and let go of him.

"And I love you too, Erika," she said, reaching over to the girl.

She smiled and nodded in response.

"Are you excited?" she asked, getting another nod. "Have you seen a show on Broadway before?"

"No," Erika said.

Idina was not surprised. "I think you'll enjoy it."

"Alright," she replied, looking back towards the stage.

Idina frowned. Erika had been off this morning leaving Idina's dad's, and she was sure Marcia had upset her. She comforted herself when Aaron put an arm around Erika, and she leaned close to him. Erika was not blocking them out; she and Aaron were a team. She knew now, with some confidence, she would know about it when Erika was ready. It could be tonight or a week from now, but she trusted in the fact that it would happen. Because things were guaranteed now. Erika was legally hers. Technically, she owned the girl. At least until the end of February.