Santana is finally here!  Mommy and Daddy are definitely proud parents, but this looks like the end of Tina’s employment at the baby making factory.  MMQuote: “We got three babies in car seats.  Who does that?”  The whole family is there to greet the new member of the family, but Tina is not safe from Honey’s lecturing about doing too much too quick.

While Tina is resting up and taking some time off, Erica is taking some time off as well… to explore solo opportunities.  MMQuote: “Now it is time for me to do How Sweet the Sound by myself.”  Not only will Erica be without Tina, but Warryn cannot accompany her on the tour either.  Warryn is a bit nervous about Erica’s song choice, and how she will do singing without Tina.  It has been 12 years since Erica has performed solo.  MMQuote: “I’m nervous she might not connect the way her and Tina connect on stage.”  Erica needs to do her homework to make sure she is going into this 100% ready.

As Erica arrives at Tina’s house, she received a phonecall from Mitchell explaining that the December offer they had received has now grown significantly.  However, Tina is supposed to be in Hawaii with Teddy and the kids.  MMQuote: “I wish I could do it by myself, but that’s not the scenario.”  Mitchell wants Erica to convince Tina to do the gig since he is banned from talking “Mary Mary” during her maternity leave.  Although, if we were to start a conversation with Tina about doing something she wouldn’t want to do, we probably would not have begun by mentioning we were taking her only babysitters on the road with us.  As expected, Tina is not budging even with a 6 figure offer AND a private jet.  MMQuote: “You’re trying to say one more thing and give me 20 more minutes of Mary Mary.  I’m not doing it.”  Teddy only has one week of vacation, so Tina intends on spending that week together as a family.  MMQuote: “The answer is going to be no when I’m finished thinking about it.”

It is family night with the Atkins ladies, and we finally get to meet Tina and Erica’s other sisters and their niece.  However, you know the Atkins ladies always get straight to the point, and this dinner is no different.  Looks like Eddie never showed up at the hospital to see his new grandson, and he went off and got married without telling his children on the same day Santana was born!  MMQuote: “Why would you tell me you’re coming, and you’re going to get married? And why don’t I know you’re getting married?”  To top it all off, his excuse for not telling anyone he was getting married was because it was just close friends and family.  Excuse me?  What are your daughters?  Between his lack of effort around Santana’s birth and other circumstances that happened around Alana’s wedding, the girls have reached their limit.  MMQuote: “Sometimes you need your sisters to kind of make peace with what your reality is.”  It is hard for each of the Atkins women to wipe the slate clean when you have someone who is moving on without you.  One thing WE have to say about Honey is she is a loyal woman.  Regardless of what Eddie may do, he is still their father and he still loves them.

Erica is being shot by the legendary Derek Blanks for Uptown Magazine, and she is really feeling the solo gig.  She doesn’t need to keep anyone on schedule but herself; she can just relax, get her hair and makeup done, and then do her thing.  Goo definitely accomplished making Erica look like the ultimate “solo act”.  Way to go, Goo Goo!

Mitchell has joined Erica in Atlanta for How Sweet the Sound, and the two are meeting up for lunch to make sure everyone is settled and calm before the big performance.  MMQuote: “I’m excited and I’m glad, but I feel like Tina is quitting on me.”  It is really difficult for Erica to be without Tina, but with Mary Mary being so close to achieving the career they always wanted it’s hard for Erica to not feel like Tina is quitting.  MMQuote: “The only way I see Mary Mary continuing is if you have something you can go do when she wants to take time off.”  Erica truly does want to achieve success as a solo artist, and she needed Mitch to tell her it’s ok.

When Erica arrives at the venue, she seeks advice from another gospel singer, CeCe Winans, that knows a thing or two about splitting away from a sibling duo.  CeCe assures Erica she will be just fine, but it still does not calm her nerves.  To make matters worse, her nerves are now causing her to question the clothes Goo Goo picked out for the performance.  MMQuote: “This is real hatchy tatchy.  You know I still sing about Jesus.”  Luckily, Warryn surprises Erica and instantly changes her mood before all hell breaks loose.  Big up to Warryn for being “Husband of the Year.”  MMQuote: “I feel like the man.  There’s nothing better than watching her face light up when I walk in the room.  It’s worth the 3,000 mile trip.”  Warryn is there to support his wife, but also support his artist so he gives Erica the tough love she needs for motivation.

With Erica, Goo and Honey on the road, Alana is helping Tina adjust to life with five children.  Tina does appreciate the help, even if Alana thinks she has an odd way of showing it.  While Santana naps, Tina and Alana revisit their previous conversation about the current relationship with Eddie.  Alana hasn’t spoken to her father, and it seems like his lack of effort to talk in the past is a huge deterrent for her to reach out again.  MMQuote: “If you take that kind of attitude toward Daddy, I’m telling you that is going to affect how you love your husband.”  Tina speaks from experience because it was her own issues with Eddie that affected the way she was able to love Teddy.

When Goo goes to retrieve her backstages passes, she is told that Justin is not permitted to be backstage per Mitchell’s direction.  MMQuote: “Justin is my boyfriend and Justin is coming here.  If Mitch don’t like it, he can find somewhere else to go.”  Goo confronts Mitchell about this issue, but between Goo’s feisty attitude and Mitch’s insistent tone WE have a feeling we will not see any resolve.  MMQuote: “This is my job now. I’m working and I don’t want him back here when I’m working.”  With no regard for Mitchell’s feelings regardless of whether they are 100% justified, Goo gives Justin someone else’s backstage pass and sneaks him into the green room.  Even Erica doesn’t want this dude around right now.  At least we have a voice of reason like Honey to talk Mitch into at least hearing Justin out (although WE get why Mitch would not want to give Justin a chance… “fool me once…”).  MMQuote: “That’s right! Get ‘em, Mommy!”  WE have to hand it to Justin; he is really giving Mitchell an honest and sincere apology.  WE honestly didn’t think he had it in him.  At last, the beef is squashed… for now!

MMQuote: “It’s time to face the music, and it’s time for me to sing by myself.”  Erica takes the stage for her first solo performance in 12 years, and sadly for Erica the crowd is not connecting with her performance at all.  As Erica exits the stage, she knows she didn’t have the best performance because of her song choice.  MMQuote: “I know what I got to do.  I got to sing a Mary Mary song.”  Only problem is that Mitchell doesn’t know if How Sweet the Sound will allow her to change her song.  MMQuote: “Tomorrow night, I need to sing ‘Yesterday’.”  Erica needs to kill it in New Jersey with the new song she picked, or else she will really have a problem.

Will Erica nail her second solo performance?  Will Tina be able to get back into the swing of Mary Mary or will her desires for perfection cause her to say “goodbye?”  WE want to hear from you!