Overheard at... Starbucks

“Has he rolled over yet?”

FLASH BACK - 9 years.
Setting: a Starbucks in Brookline, MA. 
 
Me as a sleepy mom, computer open, trying to type, hoping baby will sleep.
{Yawn}

Older woman with loud voice is waiting for her coffee. Rummages through the newspapers and not finding anything she wants, comes over to chat.

”Has she rolled over yet?”

{slowly raise eyes from computer screen} “Not yet.” {smile and return to typing}

“She’s a small little one, isn’t she?”

{Barely hide sigh. Close lid of laptop} “Yes. She’s a little peanut. Do you have any children?

“Two of them, all grown up now. I’m expecting my first grandchild any day now. Won’t say whether it’s a boy or girl though. How about you? Did you tell people?”

“Yes. She was the first girl in the family, so everyone was excited.”

“Yeah, I wish they’d tell me. I found the cutest little stuffed animal. But I couldn’t get it because it was pink, and Lord knows if it’s a girl.”

“I hope you find out soon.” {Yawn. Look down at baby and see her wiggle fingers}

“Looks like she’s waking up.” {said loudly, hopefully}

“Yes, yes it does.” {said softly, in resignation. Begin packing bag.}

FLASH FORWARD- the present

I tiptoe by the sleeping baby and haggard mom. Having answered the question from the matriarch near her, she begins reading on her Kindle again. For all I know she could be reading UNTANGLING THE KNOT. I leave her to it and distract the woman near her with a very soft question about her grandchildren.