Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.14

The wedding was beautiful. Hope looked amazing, I'd never seen her so happy. Caleb and his entire family were extremely nice and Hope seemed to fit right in. She was planning on getting a job transfer to Aurora Skies and settling down there with his family. She said it was an easy call since she didn't live near us anyway. My sister was married. I never thought I'd see the day that would happen yet she was, and overjoyed about it.

Being around her and Caleb was like being around Mom and Dad and Grandma Kerri and Sha, when she was still alive. You could just feel the connection they had. It was great for her and them but I'd never felt lonelier while surrounded by so many people. As much as I enjoyed seeing Hope and being there for her big day, I was happy to be home. I'd missed Vor and my quiet piece of the world and I'd also missed Jonas. I realized how much when I saw him to get Vor. His friendly smile was a great welcome home.

Jonas: How was your trip?

Grace: It was good. Hope was a stunning bride and she looked very happy. Thank you again for keeping him. I felt better knowing he wasn't locked in a kennel all day. How was he?

Jonas: You're welcome and he was no problem. In fact I liked having someone to talk to at night, he has very interesting views on the world.

I started to respond when I realized he was joking about Vor talking back.
Grace: Guess it's a good thing he's used to living in a small space, but having the park across the street help to give him a place to run around.

Jonas: You think I live at the store?

Grace: Yeah, I mean you are always here so I just thought maybe this place had an apartment above it or something.

Jonas: Should I be flattered or concerned that you've wondered about where I live.

Grace: What? No...

Jonas started laughing and cut off what would have been a rambling explanation.

Jonas: I stay out on Cliff Road.

I knew that road, there was only one house that sat out there. A large modern looking place that over looked the bay.

Grace: That's a big house.

Jonas: Yeah, that's why having company was nice. My family has filtered through here and several other cities over the years. All of the houses we own are large just in case there are a few of us that live in an area at the same time. Family is great and all but sometimes we like to retreat to our separate areas. Or like now separate city.

Continue Reading: "Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.14"

Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.9

A few days after my afternoon with Jonas I got a call that was another moment in life I was unprepared for. Mom called to tell me Grammy Sha had a stroke while they were working in their yard. Grams had called 911, Mom was on duty when they arrived. I needed to contact Hope then get to the hospital, Dad was already on the way. The hospital, like the library, was a place I'd not wanted to ever visit again. The idea of going back there had me temporarily frozen in fear. I couldn't not go, my family needed me. After making the call to Hope I hopped in my truck and made the drive into town.



Seeing the look on Dad's face, it took me back to the day they found me. The heartache was so clear. Grams was crying, Mom was trying to console her. The doctors weren't hopeful that Grammy Sha would make it. When Jonas called me that evening, I was comforted, surprisingly, by the sound of his voice. He offered to come to the hospital which I thought was very nice of him, but I told him it wasn't necessary.

I'd never lost anyone I loved before. My family was always there for me, I don't know why I never considered life without them. I got my first dose of reality that night when Grammy Sha passed in her sleep. Death is a fact of life, I knew that, but that didn't make losing her any easier for any of us. Grams was very distraught so Dad and Mom took her home with them while I headed home to check on Vor who I'm sure was very confused as to why I had been gone all night. I was comforted to receive his excited greeting when I walked in. Hope texted me that she had arrived at the airport and was taking a taxi to my house, from there we would go to Grams and stay with her a few days.

Soon as I saw Grams she pulled me and Hope into hugs. Grams has always been so lively, and upbeat, seeing her like this was heartbreaking. She just looked so sad and lost, with good reason.

Her eyes were red from crying. I felt bad for her, she and Grammy Sha had been together for many years. Dad had tried to convince her to move in with him and Mom. He didn't want her in the big house all alone especially since she was older. He was making the arrangements for the funeral.

When Grams walked into the house, she started crying again. Hope took her upstairs while I prepared lunch. Grams was all alone now. Not really alone, she had all of us, but it was different. If she didn't want to live with Mom and Dad maybe she'd move in with me. I had an extra room. I'd have to remember to ask her after the services.

The funeral was small, mostly family and a few of their friends they'd made over at the senior rec center. Jonas had sent a floral arrangement and Grams took that opportunity to grill Hope and I about giving her great grandkids. We both humored her since it took her mind off the grief. I doubted Hope ever wanted to settle down, she was like Dad, but then again he did so anything was possible. Me on the other hand...they like a lot of things weren't in my future. Not unless I decided to adopt at some point, but who would really give a child to a single woman that basically lived as a recluse. Nope, no kids for me.

Continue Reading: "Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.9"

Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.7

The next night Jonas called again to tell me good night instead of texting. Over the next few days it became part of my routine. Vor and I would work in the garden, then we'd work on reenforcing his training. Jonas would text me twice and call me at night. The conversations were never that long, just a short recap of our day. He threw that routine off by calling me in the morning one day.

Grace: Hello.

Jonas: Hey, how's it going?

Grace: Fine I guess. Just finished breakfast

Jonas: So...sorry for interrupting but I just had an interesting visit from a guy that says he's your father.

Grace: What? My dad came to your store? That can't be right, Mom forbid him from grocery shopping a long time ago. He always came home with junk food.

He laughed a little at my statement. It was true. Mom would give him a list and he'd somehow still mess it up and get us a bunch of junk. Hope and I wouldn't mind, but Mom would fuss at him. He'd wink at us behind her back so we quickly learned he did it on purpose. He liked riling her up for some reason.

Jonas: Well...he wasn't here to shop.

I remained silent wondering when he'd get to the point of this story. I found it odd he'd call just to say my dad came to his store. He started speaking again once he realized I wasn't going to say anything.

Jonas: I think he threatened me. He wasn't mean about it, but I certainly felt like I was being put on notice. He asked why I was contacting you and then he told me if you said back off I needed to back off.  He also said that I needed to tread carefully with you or there'd be hell to pay.
Again he was met with silence.

Jonas: Grace, have I offended you in some way?

Grace: No.

Jonas: But you told your father...

Grace: I didn't tell him anything. I was at their house when you called that first time and he asked who I was talking to so I told him.

He started laughing.

Jonas: Ah...I understand now. Well, now that, that has been resolved, I'll let you get back to your day.

After we hung up, I called Dad to find out why he'd say all that stuff to Jonas. Mom answered and when I told her she started fussing at him, he said just wanted to talk to the 'boy', which was met with more fussing. They both forgot I was on the phone. I swear I think I ended up with the strangest parents on earth.

Two months later it was again time to go sell my harvest. I knew it would most likely be one of the last ones of the season with Fall quickly approaching. I wanted to build a greenhouse, but that meant hiring contractors so I settled for my few pots kept in the basement instead.

Continue Reading: "Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.7"

Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.2

Two years after graduation and I was still living at home. I kept Carter for Mom and Dad when they had to work or if they wanted a night out.

That little boy and I were growing close. He was sweet and fun to hang around. He'd play outside with me while I worked in my garden. Hope was having a blast at college and when she was home for visits she tried to talk me into coming.

To just try out a semester. Mom and Dad told me they'd support whatever decision I made. I didn't want to go, the thought of being that far from home scared me. I had only recently started leaving the house alone. Mostly I'd take Carter to the park or I'd go the community garden. I loved that place. There was never many people there and the view was amazing. I liked it, especially now in the winter.

The crops were dormant so not many people came. I could sit and read and just enjoy the solitude. I loved living with my parents and I really loved spending time with Carter, but being alone was calming. Not to mention that my parents still hadn't grown out of the 'honeymoon' phase of marriage after all these years. I guess living forever has that affect on them, or they just really REALLY liked each other.

My money was on the latter, so when the public displays of affection become too much to bear I'd go for a walk or come here for a few moments of alone time. I was nearly finished with my degree in Botany. It took me a while to decide on what I wanted to study, but Mom said with my love of plants, that would be the best way to go and she wasn't wrong.

Continue Reading: "Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.2"

Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.1

***SENSITIVE ISSUES DISCUSSED***

They say there are moments in life that shape you, define who you will be as a person. Little things like learning to drive or going to prom. The latter I was roped into by Hope who needed me to round out the 'group date' since Dad wouldn't let her go on individual dates still. I loved my sister, she was my twin, how could I not, but we were so different, still are. But, back to what I was saying about moments in life. My parents getting married was one of those moments. Most teens aren't the bridesmaids for their mother, but Hope and I were and it was great. That moment showed me patience really was a virtue.

Mom waited a very long time to get married. It wasn't that Dad didn't love her or us, but he just had a few hangs ups that she was patient enough to wait out. It also showed me that people can really change. From what Grandma Kerri and Grammy Sha would tell us, Dad was quite the ladies man. They particularly like to give us that info when Dad was fussing about Hope and the countless rotation of boys that called her. Most of the moments in my life were fairly basic, but all good. I gardened, I spent lots of time at the library.

I covered for Hope when she would want to go out but Dad would say no. She'd drop me at the library while she went to the movies or whatever she had planned. We were lucky that Mom forbid Dad from using his vamp abilities to pry into our thoughts. She said it would be the ultimate invasion of privacy, so neither of them did that. Instead they attempted to raise us like they were normal human parents. The night 'it' happened I was again covering for Hope. She'd just started dating this new guy and was going to a party at his house. She wanted me to go, but I told her to take me to the library instead.

I called at closing, she didn't answer. She'd done it before so I left her a message and told her to get me from the diner. Nothing I hadn't done before only this time Patrick stopped me. We talked often when I was at the library since he worked there. He was nice and we talked about books and gardening normal stuff.

When he offered to give me a ride, I started to say no, but the weather was changing and it was cold. I should have said no. When he passed by the diner I got scared, but he said he wanted to show me something. There was to be a meteor shower, a bunch of people were going to The Pointe to watch it. No one was there when we arrived.

I knew I was in trouble. When he was finished, he left me there on the cold ground naked, bleeding and crying. Mom and Dad found me by tracking my cell phone thanks to the lost phone app Hope had installed. Life changed after that. Barnacle Bay was a small town so word traveled fast about what happened. Dad was furious. I'd never seen him so angry, but worse than his anger was seeing him so sad. I felt like I let him down. I knew better than to get in that car. The house was tense for a long time. I didn't want to come out of my room and Hope kept apologizing. I just wanted to forget.

I convinced Mom and Dad to let me be home schooled because my first day back at school was met with stares and whispers. I didn't manage to make it the whole day, the crowded halls freaked me out and I hid in the bathroom. I never went anywhere alone and Hope was grounded for a long time. Mom made me go to therapy, that was no fun. Most of the time I just sat with her holding my hand and not talking. I didn't want to so eventually she stopped making me go.

Hope started acting out, getting in trouble more it was bad. She felt like I got all the attention and she could never get anything right in their eyes now. I didn't want to be the center of attention, that's why I left school. Who wanted to be known as the girl that got raped. Every where I went, it felt like people knew and would stare. Dad got arrested and had to spend the night in jail for attacking Patrick when he was brought to the station for the line-up. Then Mom started getting sick but it turned out to be nothing serious.

Continue Reading: "Going Solo: Grace Gen 4.1"

Going Solo: Davis Gen 3.24

***Note this last chapter will be pic heavy***

Today was my wedding day. Everything had been planned. I never thought I'd have a day like this, but now that it was here, I understood why Mom and Sha were so damned excited. Cora and the girls got up early to meet Mom and Sha at the spa. Dad was coming over later with Nick so we could get ready. Until then, I spent some rare quiet time doing some uninterrupted gaming. Yes I said gaming. Living with three females left me very little time to do this.

Hope and Grace were always watching some teenage drama show or another, and Cora didn't want to have more than one TV in the house. Once Dad arrived, we headed to the mall to pick up our tuxes. Time seemed to pass slowly as I waited for 5p.m. to arrive. The moment was here, the location she'd picked was perfect. When I first laid eyes on the woman that was about to become my wife, I was rendered speechless. This was a much better choice of dress. The top looked like that sexy lingerie I loved seeing her in.

My mind started to wonder about what she wore under that dress. When our eyes met, she winked at me as if she knew what thoughts I was having. She'd thought it was a good idea for us to abstain for the month leading up to the wedding. Some nonsense about trying to have more special meaning on our wedding night. I thought she was joking until she really told me no one night and every night after. I had to sleep on the couch because sleeping next to her became unbearable.

I leaned close when she made it to the arch.

Davis: Do you think they'd notice if we ran off right now?

Cora: Yes, just a little bit. They are here to see a wedding.

She leaned a little closer to me and lowered her voice more.

Cora: Don't worry, I'm just as eager to get you out of that tux.

Yeah...she was definitely the one. Songs were sang, introduction words were said and then it was time to exchange our vows. Cora wanted us to write our own and threatened me when I jokingly started reciting all the not for public reasons I was happy to be marrying her. She said that if I announced any of that out loud at the wedding I'd be sleeping on the couch for a year.

Davis: Cora, you are everything I didn't know I wanted and more. I was a crazy man for almost letting you slip through my fingers. Thank you for being patient enough to see the potential for more that I didn't know was there. From this day forward I will go to sleep by your side and wake up to those beautiful baby blues in the morning. You have enriched my life in ways I never thought possible. I promise to be a loyal and faithful husband. I promise to cherish you every moment and spend the rest of my life showing you how thankful I am to be your husband.

I slid the ring on her finger and kissed her hand. She smiled at me with tears in her eyes.

Davis: I love you Cora.

She looked at me wide eyed. Grace handed her a tissue to help stop the stream of tears that were running down her face. She took a moment to collect herself before reciting her vows.

Cora: Davis, there is so much I want to say, but have a hard time putting into words. When we first met, part of me thought I should stay far far away from you. You had quite the reputation around campus, but you have this gravitational pull that worked on everyone, including me. I'm glad I didn't resist it. You bring me joy and fulfillment on so many levels. I promise to be a loyal and faithful wife and look forward to sharing many more ups and downs with you til death do we part.

Cora slid the ring on my finger and we sealed everything with a kiss. Rose petals were thrown. Mom and Sha were crying. It was a great feeling to know she was now my wife.

Continue Reading: "Going Solo: Davis Gen 3.24"

Going Solo: Davis Gen 3.23

The next day was the girls' birthday. Mom, Sha, and Dad all offered congratulations to Cora and I. The girls were very excited when they heard we were getting married.  Cora and I were excited, but didn't want to overshadow the girls' day. I couldn't believe so much time had passed. My little girls, my babies were no longer that. Instead they were now beautiful young women. I was ready to send them off to an all girls school, but Cora vetoed that idea.

The thought my my girls mingling with boys...teenage boys just had me on high alert. I was a teenage boy, I know what they want and what they think about. They weren't going to be allowed to date until they were forty. Mom just laughed when I was fussing about them needing to be at a girl's school. Then she embarrassed me by telling Cora and the girls how she walked in on me and Fawn. I didn't need my girls hearing that.

The party was great, and everyone had a wonderful time. It took a month or so, but I was finally able to move full time to Barnacle Bay. I'd put the condo on the market, and my boss was fine with me working from home mostly since I did it anyway. I still traveled back to Moonlight Falls on occasion for work. My first full week there and I find Hope and some boy out in the garden getting a little too cozy for my liking. She was always on the phone and going out with friends, but this kid came to the house.

Continue Reading: "Going Solo: Davis Gen 3.23"

Going Solo: Davis Gen 3.22

If someone had told me a year ago I would be playing the role of a somewhat settled down man I would have told them they were out of their mind. However, that was my current life. We didn't want the girls being shuffled back and forth too much so I racked up the frequent flyer miles. I was in Barnacle Bay most weekends. My relationship with Cora was a work in progress. She expressed concerns about my ability to be happy with one woman for long and it was a valid concern. Blythe was my longest and I guess only 'girlfriend' so I could understand why Cora worried. I wouldn't lie to her and say I was ready for marriage and all that stuff, but I did tell her she was the most important woman in my life, aside from the parental women of course, and we would take it one day at a time. The apartment she had found was small, really small, too small for the three of them so we bought a house.

And by we, I mean me since she still had some loans and things she was paying off from getting her undergrad degree. Work was going well. I was thankful that I didn't actually need to be in the office to do my job most of the time. I could negotiate contracts from anywhere. Since I'd successfully done so for five of our top players, the bosses didn't give me a hard time for not coming into the office daily.

As long as I was there for meetings and such, they were happy. That freedom meant I spent more and more time in Barnacle Bay, which was a good thing. It put Cora at ease to know I was there with her and I liked being with all my girls. Mom still gave me a hard time about needing to make an honest woman out of Cora. She and Sha visited often and would spoil the girls rotten while they were here. When Mom wasn't fussing at me about marrying Cora, she was dropping hints about wanting more grankids. I swear that woman was never happy. She wanted one grandchild, I gave her two and she asks for more. Although at times I thought I needed a son to help balance out all the women in my life. Dad would just laugh when I'd say that.

This life I was living was not the one I'd planned for myself, but the years with Cora and our daughters had been the best of my life. Mom and Sha were in town for the girls upcoming birthday. While they were out at the movies, I took Cora out for dinner.

She'd been mentioning wanting to go to the 'new' Old Mill restaurant that hat opened recently. The mood was romantic, the food was great and she enjoyed herself greatly. As we got ready to leave, I decided it was time to give her the final piece she'd been waiting years for. The moment I got down on one knee she started crying.

Davis: Cora, I know you probably thought this moment would never happen, and I admit I wasn't sure either. You have made me into the biggest liar. I said I would never have kids, you gave me two. I said no woman would ever mean more to me than a casual fling, yet you do. And I said that I would never, ever want to get married, but I am hoping you will prove me wrong again. Cora Marie Sidwell will you again make a liar out of me and do me the honor of becoming my wife?

 People at the surrounding tables were watching, Cora stood speechless and I started to worry she was about to say no when she started jumping around crying more and squeaking out a yes.

Applause rang out, the waiter brought champagne and I texted Mom to let her know she needed to keep the girls tonight because my fiancee and I needed the house to ourselves. Her reply: it's about time.

Continue Reading: "Going Solo: Davis Gen 3.22"