Maja Made Tamales

After a quick stop to wash their hands, Kristen led both of them into the dining room, Sam and her foster sister into the waiting high chairs. They didn't look much like high chairs, closer to bar stools with locking trays, but, Sam supposed, as they were locked in, they served the purpose of infantilizing their occupants just fine.

House Rule #11: Babies stay in the highchair until their plates are clean or an adult comes to get them.

"I'll go get your mom, girls," Kristen said as she walked into the kitchen not too far away. Her wife Maja was dressed for the day, wearing a conservative floral patterned dress. She was just a few inches shorter than Kristen, though less well built, with blonde hair that she always kept in a braid. Kristen gave her wife a peck on the cheek and wrapped a hand around her waist.

Cassidy nudged her, gesturing at the kitchen. "Mom and Momma have their own thing going on. Just watch.

"What's cookin' love?" Kristen asked sweetly, lightly squeezing her partner's side. "It smells great."

"I'm making tamales," Maja replied, smiling, "a friend shared the recipe, and I've been meaning to try it." She leaned over to return the kiss. "How were the girls?"

"A bit of a handful today," Kristen answered smoothly, scooping tamales on a plate. "I decided that it'd be fine if Sam kept her night diaper on for now. It can still hold a lot more, and I'd hate to waste a half-used diaper."

"Oh?" Maja paused, reaching down to grope beneath Kristen's skirt, squeezing at the sodden padding. "That goes for both of you then, doesn't it, love?"

"If you want it to," Kristen serenely replied, planting another kiss on her wife's cheek.

"Eat up, honey," Maja said as she placed a plate on Sam's tray, giving her 'daughter' a kiss on the cheek as she laid out the utensils in front of her. Calling it silverware would be generous. The plastic fork and spoon were closer to the toy cutlery that came with the dolls she'd played with in foster care. At least the butter knife was real as she used it to open up the corn husk, taking a bite of the rich blend of meat and cheese within.

The Weaver's cooking never seemed to disappoint. Maja was a natural, trying out new recipes or making elaborate dishes. Kristen had less imagination but a penchant for hard-kicking spices and sauces. She and Cassidy got their time to cook too, but between Kristen's southern tastes, Cassidy's Appalachian dishes, and Maja's Swedish recipes, Sam had been left feeling woefully inadequate in the kitchen. It was something she'd hoped would fade with time as she learned more, but until then...

House Rule #10: Babies can't use stoves, ovens or knives without supervision. They could hurt themselves!

"Sam. Sam?"

"Huh, oh sorry, I was... distracted," she murmured, looking up to find three sets of eyes looking at her and a plate of empty corn husks on her tray.

"It's fine, Sis,'" Cassidy said, looking at her reassuringly. "We were just askin' if you'd like to stay at home or come with me to visit some friends."

"Remember to stay safe, sweetie," Maja added. "I don't want you coming back with another scrapped knee."

Sam could almost feel Cassidy roll her eyes at that, but Maja just gave a smile in reply. Another bit of family routine, she supposed. A routine she didn't know.