#shirley maisel

"Lenny's my date," she tells the assembled group. "We're dating, and I invited him and his daughter for dinner."

It's an accepted answer. One that her father seems strangely thrilled by, as he drags Lenny into the living room to talk after the candles are list and the prayers are said. Kitty follows them, and Midge rushes after her, just in time for Abe to say "No children right now."

"I appreciate that you want to talk, but I haven't seen my kid in a while, so she gets to stay," Lenny says firmly.

Abe looks a little stunned by that, but doesn't protest.

"You're dating him, when did that happen?" Rose asks as they help Zelda prep the food for dinner.

"This morning," Midge informs her. "We've been kind of...dancing around things for a little while and this morning we decided to make it official."

"Thank god," Mei says as she walks in. She's just starting to show now, her baby belly tiny and cute. "I was starting to worry that with you single Joel was going to cut and run."

"Even if I was, that's over," Midge tells her with a grin.

"His daughter is cute," Rose comments, ignoring the conversation.

"Ethan's age, and very sweet," Midge tells them. "Her mother was apparently uninterested in hosting her for Christmas this year, so she tossed her on a train at two in the morning to come to Lenny."

"That's what he gets for marrying a gentile," Shirley comments as she steps into the kitchen, freezing as she looks at Mei. "No offense. You're different. You're Chinese."

"Okay," Mei sighs.

Midge gives her a sympathetic look. It's tough to deal with Shirley when you can't drink.

Astrid, however, can, and takes a long swallow from her wine glass. "I think it's great that you've found someone, Midge. He's handsome."

"Ugh," Susie grunts as she watches them all from the kitchen table. "He is not."

"Very handsome," Midge argues.

"Seen him naked yet?" Shirley asks conspiratorially.

"Shirley!" Rose scolds.

"Oh, please, Rose, with Miriam's looks and her entertainment career-"

"Still not a stripper," Midge interjects.

"Of course she's checked under the hood, if you know what I mean," Shirley finishes.

"I can confirm that everything 'under the hood' is in order," Midge says quickly. "Let's talk about something else!"

"Food ready?" Joel asks, leaning in. "Lenny, Noah and Abe won't stop talking about the Supreme Court."

"What's Moishe doing?" Midge asks.

"Fleecing the kids for their candy at dreidel," Joel tells her.

"Every zeyde's solemn duty," Midge jokes. "It'll be ready in a minute."

"Miriam's new man is handsome, isn't he handsome, Joely?" Shirley asks.

"No," Susie snaps.

Joel rolls his eyes. "I still don't see why they had to come to dinner."

"My ex-son-in-law was allowed to bring his pregnant girlfriend," Rose says, staring at Joel, unimpressed. "Is there some reason my daughter shouldn't be allowed to invite a date to dinner at her own home that you don't live in anymore because you left her?"

Of all the people Midge expected to start trouble at a family dinner, her mother was probably the last person.

"Joel, we made a deal. You behave tonight, you yell at me tomorrow," she says.

"Joel will do no such thing," Rose says quickly. "There will be no yelling at my daughter. Particularly not by you. If I find out you've harassed Miriam in any way-"

"Mama-"

"Rose is right, Joel," Shirley says sternly. "You leave Miriam alone and you focus on Mei. She is pregnant with your baby, and if Ethan was anything to go by, she's going to get so enormous, you'll have to help her to the bathroom."

"Did I block that out?" Midge asks, confused.

"Yes," Joel snaps. "Look, Rose, Ma. I just want what's best for Midge."

"No you don't," Astrid says simply.

"Hey!"

"You don't, you want what's best for you," Astrid goes on.

"Shiksa number one isn't wrong," Susie chimes in.

"Joel, just - don't worry about Midge and Lenny," Mei says. "They seem fine, and if something happens, we'll all deal with it then."

Susie nods. "You should listen to shiksa number two."

"Susie!" Midge cries, whirling around to glare at her.

"What?! Calling it like I see it!"

"Why is she here?" Joel asks, gesturing towards the short woman at the table.

"She asked to come, she wanted dinner," Midge shrugs. "And I make too much every year anyway."

Joel opens his mouth to argue, but Mei settles a hand over his mouth.

"No."

He muffles out a protest.

"No," she repeats. "Go away. Go back to where the men are. Maybe they've moved onto a different topic."

Joel rolls his eyes and leaves.

Midge blows out a breath. "Thanks."

"For real though, Lenny Bruce is kind of notorious," Mei says. "You should be careful."

Midge nods. "I am."

"Then I have nothing else to say except lord love a tall man," Mei tells her.