tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78144682881733555542024-03-08T09:43:57.667-05:00Sims 2 Stories by LoreleiLife, death and cheesecake in Loriland, where Sim things go according to Me. Sometimes.Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-37201351415780128282022-03-12T22:24:00.021-05:002022-04-15T10:21:09.239-04:00<p> </p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 25 - Moving Along</span></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">An update before I launch into their latest adventures.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">It has been 9 years since I last published here in my Sims 2 blog! The last chapter was from 2013. The trouble began for me when I got a new computer that used Windows 8. The game did not work right and, worse, I could no longer take screen shots which not only illustrated my stories, it also inspired them. I played on for a little while, even though the look of my Sims was a little narrow, but without pictures I couldn't do my blog. Without my blog the game no longer seemed as fun. I still would have continued, but then one of my star Sims disappeared. That is, I opened the game one day and her face (that I created myself) was gone and had been replaced by a regular Sims basic face. Not ugly, but not my Sim! She had fast been becoming one of my favorite leading ladies and I was so upset that I quit playing the game altogether. It made me quite sad. It was Pepper Monaghan, who figured prominently in the Prince Everhart story. I believe she was one of the prettiest Sims I ever created, right along with Barbara Bel Geddes (no relation to the actressđ), maybe prettier. But she had more original looks then even the beauteous Barbara, in my opinion. I was so glad that I'd had books published of my blog that I got through Blog2Print. I had 15 books in total by that time, although some were bigger books than others.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I hadn't read them in a very long time and decided to do just that a couple of weeks ago. That idea occurred to me mainly because I'm in the midst of redecorating my house and having to go through several rooms of my "stuff", I came across the "Sims 2 Stories by Lorelei" volumes. It was fun to read them and to relive my Sims 2 lives, and it made me really homesick for Pleasantview, weird as it is, and my Simmies. So, on the off chance that Windows 10 might work differently, I fired up the game. Lo and behold, it was working, and working much better and the best part is that I can, once again, take screen shots. Of course, my Sim, Pepper, still has this basic Sim face instead of her own and has been relegated to the Sim bin. I'm having to relearn so many basic things I did automatically before. At the same time, I'm trying to remember how to use Blogger again. I THINK I packaged Pepper way back when, but I'm not positive because I also think I had called her a different name at first. If I can remember how to download a packaged Sim to the game I will do so when I can. She will not have all the memories, friends, relationship and experiences the original Pepper had, but I can work on getting her up to speed eventually.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, I have several ongoing stories that had not yet been published, including pictures I took on my old computer. So in the last few days I have been trying to see what I can salvage of them and put together chapters I had intended. However; when I got back in the game I discovered that when I had played the game during the time I could NOT take pictures I'd evidently decided to age up quite a few of the children and teens and even turned some adults to seniors. Ordinarily I turn aging off during play so it had to have been on purpose but right now I don't know why I did that. So that will cause a, sometimes awkward, gap between the pictures I took previously and the new ones I'm making. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Bear with me, if you would be so kind, and I'll get it sorted out. If you are completely new to this blog I suggest several ways at the beginning of the blog how to start the stories (since the blog has the most recent chapters at the beginning). You can start with one family (I have a lot of them and I hop around between their stories), I am now on my third generation of Sims and almost all the families are connected one way or another by now. Or you can just go to Chapter 1 and follow from there. From my point of view the blog didn't really get going good with a real plot until The Lassiters Ch. 6 "The Twins Are Growing Up Part 1" which was published November 19, 2010. Before that I was mainly telling the story of the game as it went. By the time of Ch. 6 of the Lassiters I had begun telling the story the way I wanted it to go, using the Sims to illustrate, but still getting a push now and then from the game itself. It has a way of making itself known every so often even if you think you are in charge of the story. Of course, characters often take over a story as well, anyone who writes fiction will tell you that. For the fullest knowledge of the characters though, it's probably best to start at the beginning. So take a look at the tabs at the top of the page and start with the "Prologue", then choose "In The Beginning". It will tell you who is who and how to navigate the blog. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile I have a new chapter on Harvey and Lori Ferguson and their family ready now.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Lorelei, your narrator</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">If you need a refresher on what was going on 9 years ago with Harvey and Lori, I suggest reading the 2 previous chapters. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">PREVIOUSLY:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Go to Chapter 23 <a href="https://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/07/harvey-and-lori-ferguson-ch-23-saturday.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">go to:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Chapter 24 </span><a href="https://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/09/harvey-and-lori-ferguson-ch-24-visit.html" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">********************************</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Harvey and Lori Ferguson Chapter 25</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;">Valrae's Journal</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;">I haven't written in here in two weeks. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;">Daddy and Mumma had a "serious talk" with us last night. They called it a family meeting this time, but Gray and I knew better. Mamie and Grandpa Shep were there, too. When my parents want to have a "serious talk" with us it can mean me and Gray are in BIG TROUBLE. Like the time we went to the park and didn't tell anyone. We had been playing in the side yard and it was a really pretty day. We didn't think Grandpa Shep and Mamie would let us go because it was afternoon and not long until supper. So we just went anyway, we didn't even discuss it. Daddy and Mumma were both at work and it scared Grandpa Shep and Mamie when they couldn't find us and it was getting dark. When Gray and I saw the streetlights come on and we had a long walk from the park, we didn't want to go home at all because we knew we would catch it when we got there. You know that sick feeling. And, just like we thought, we got a major lecture from Daddy. Oh, boy. Gray didn't say one word. I started sniffling. We knew we had done wrong. When Daddy asked if we had anything to say, I started to explain how the park was just calling to us and Gray shook his head at me and I shut up. Then both of us said we were sorry to Grandpa Shep and Mamie and would never do it again. I can see why Daddy was angry, we upset everyone and we knew better. I'm going to be good for the rest of my life, I never want to misbehave for Grandpa Shep and Mamie again. I love them SO much and they are so good to Gray and me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;">Anyway, the last serious talk BEFORE last night had been about the old Brace-Gideon house and that it was going to take a lot of work to fix it up because Mumma wanted to do some of that, plus work in her bakery. I think I told you about her bakery before, it's called "Take the Cake". Daddy was going to do most of the work himself. He can work shorter hours at the health club he owns because he has a very good assistant manager there now. At least that's what he says. I don't know because no one ever takes me there. I saw the pictures in the brochure he had made up by the printer in town. The club is called "Feel The Burn". And there's even a pool inside. One of the pictures had Poppa in it with Daddy. Oh, well. Just a lot of sweaty people there I guess, so why should I care? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvckaxsfNXlUw-WtiC4ADAablfSvw0rFuTqE2iBcrMZylTYHNmudtQc1Ig7k45N1ZATmEm2s6OOjPucSMcsikTlpz5JD2uHUFtmyiLgi_XTZfkGZ3l-wTw-Ej5fR7dJWTuhofzXrwxYG3t7LVjs5QXMfbh0FCWNEJi1mmX3KkEMBIJMz0KiOqi2HQfqA=s890" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="890" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvckaxsfNXlUw-WtiC4ADAablfSvw0rFuTqE2iBcrMZylTYHNmudtQc1Ig7k45N1ZATmEm2s6OOjPucSMcsikTlpz5JD2uHUFtmyiLgi_XTZfkGZ3l-wTw-Ej5fR7dJWTuhofzXrwxYG3t7LVjs5QXMfbh0FCWNEJi1mmX3KkEMBIJMz0KiOqi2HQfqA=w400-h321" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhauRqUje39UZqZ5a_U-DNvmCVASOnuyYM91C41u0uf9Siy11oEyO1p9RMqGT2U5RkHWo4joVxRk5z36qjxBrrUSsbyO-c4T4X7aUQpZOpDMMx6RfgIzdAF5ot6OfWZaepQ6Qr6rR3uC3KvYl6YEf_8s-5loqw6yMI1WAzbcuJIVUGOnb9DKoBRxuyTjw=s970" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="970" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhauRqUje39UZqZ5a_U-DNvmCVASOnuyYM91C41u0uf9Siy11oEyO1p9RMqGT2U5RkHWo4joVxRk5z36qjxBrrUSsbyO-c4T4X7aUQpZOpDMMx6RfgIzdAF5ot6OfWZaepQ6Qr6rR3uC3KvYl6YEf_8s-5loqw6yMI1WAzbcuJIVUGOnb9DKoBRxuyTjw=w400-h289" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz8rBbSjPMCITwC8ErVeuufkW4bcYKFAqA5CX5_dHXI55qDRru2xvbQW0V7TcYQLMiWPwNCDk_1dwyPnAnXQdx_c8XeQwzX_LmQTsMyl8eU6Rp8ECMjk1g_k5dSXhSFW-Fmn6g6iJWM-Eu92f9ulxPtXOKB0UiaT6MJeGm9jJzrg1906hwXPI4NmvNeA=s854" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="854" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz8rBbSjPMCITwC8ErVeuufkW4bcYKFAqA5CX5_dHXI55qDRru2xvbQW0V7TcYQLMiWPwNCDk_1dwyPnAnXQdx_c8XeQwzX_LmQTsMyl8eU6Rp8ECMjk1g_k5dSXhSFW-Fmn6g6iJWM-Eu92f9ulxPtXOKB0UiaT6MJeGm9jJzrg1906hwXPI4NmvNeA=w400-h309" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So Mumma and Daddy said we had to be extra good since
during this time they were working on the Brace-Gideon house. Mamie and Grandpa
Shep would mostly be taking care of us and we were ânot to create too much work
for them because they are getting older.â Mamie giggled when Daddy said that
but Grandpa Shep got grumpy, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">âEveryone gets older every day! You act like Iâm 100! Donât
you think youâre aging, son?â<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Daddy just grinned and said, âI do. I can feel it even as
we speak.â<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Daddy is mostly funny. Mumma says he has a âdry sense of
humorâ. So when he gets serious, even when he is not yelling at me, just
talking about how he and Mumma can tell we have been studying hard and that
theyâre proud or that he has decided to raise Gray and my allowances, it
sometimes makes me get tears in my eyes. And then he gets kind of fussed and says
âWell, donât cry, honey, Iâm not angryâ. He always hugs me after and then I
feel better. Gray never cries but he doesnât exactly smile either when Daddy
gets that serious tone of voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I donât like to hear Mumma and Daddy talk about Mamie and
Grandpa Shep getting older. But I guess itâs true. Daddy and his sister Holly
are almost the youngest of his family and there is a big age differenceâ 13
yearsâbetween them and their older brother, Uncle Nicky and then there are the
two sisters Aunt Gillian and Aunt Margo who are even older than Uncle Nicky.
Aunt Debbie is the only one younger than Daddy. I guess Aunt Gillian is really
old! Her oldest son is in college right now and so are Aunt Margoâs twins.
Uncle Nicky got married only a few years ago so his daughter is a baby pretty much.
Anyway, both Mamie and Grandpa Shep are 75 years old!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So last night Mumma and Daddy wanted another serious talk
(âfamily meetingâ). They didnât say what about. I was thinking this was not
good news. Gray looked at me as we went down the stairs to the dining room and
I knew he was thinking the same thing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I made a list of things they told us. I always make lists
of everything or else I canât even keep stuff straight in my head. Gray says my
thought processes are a mystery to him and also to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. We are not going to live in the old Brace-Gideon mansion (the Ghost House is what I've been calling it). They said "the closing fell through". I don't know what that means except that we can't move in there. Daddy said it was probably for the best because it was in worse shape than they thought and really was about to fall down and fixing those problems would be a lot more money than they planned, too. I hope the ghosts get out of there before it falls down.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. We are going to stay right here in Grandpa Shep and Mamie's house. I've been thinking about it all day and I've decided it's okay with me; although Daddy WAS going to build me a secret room of my own on the 4th floor if we got to keep the Ghost House. Oh, well. Gray is not happy because he had made up his mind that he wanted to see a ghost after all, even if it was standing at the end of his bed in the middle of the night (his secret, secret fear). He talked to the ghost pirate at Twikkii Island and was even telling him jokes and wasn't even scared. Really, Gray is not afraid of anything. But lots of stuff scares me, like spiders and snakes and bad thunderstorms, especially when the lights go out. I want to close my eyes while it's lightning, but Daddy told me to start counting seconds after I see lightning until I hear thunder. Then divide the number of seconds by five and that is how many miles away the storm is. If I see lightning and a second later I hear thunder then the storm is right here! If the lights go out I can't wait until Daddy gets out candles and flashlights and sometimes even the gas lantern that we use when we go camping. If the lights take a long time to come back on Mumma reads to us and Daddy makes coke floats so we can use up the ice cream before it melts. Except he makes a Boston Cooler for me with Vernors ginger ale because I don't like Coke. I must be the only person in Pleasantview that doesn't just love Coke.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;">3. Here is the bad thing Gray and I found out. Mamie and Grandpa Shep are going to move to Florida! They said the cold winters here are hard on them and so are all the stairs because there are three floors in this house. So they are going down to Florida to see what kind of house they can get with one floor and we will stay and live here in their old house. But Mumma said she and Daddy are going to renovate the downstairs. She even said I can help her pick colors! Grandpa Shep also said the good thing is that we will get to visit them in Florida, swim in the gulf and probably go to Disney World. But I was so sad that I started crying and Mumma said it was time for the family meeting to be over and we could have pudding in a cloud.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;">Last night I was looking at a scrapbook she is making with photos, and souvenirs and greeting cards. It's going to be full of reminders of good times we have made while living here and remembering all the fun times with my grandparents. We will still have Mumma's parents, Nana and Poppa Lassiter a couple blocks over, but we never lived with them like we have with Grandpa Shep and Mamie. I started crying a little bit again, looking at the scrapbook, but they are not leaving right away. I mean, they are going to Florida in two days they said to "house hunt", but as soon as they decide where to live they are coming back here for a couple weeks before they move down there to stay. Well, I have to go now. Gray is yelling that he wants the lights out. He's a poo sometimes and I hate sharing our room now.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;">I love you and you love me,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;">Valrae Diana Ferguson</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Harvey and Lori Ferguson</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lori and Harvey were very disappointed, indeed, at the loss of the house they'd hoped to renovate and make their new home.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"We shouldn't have told the kids until it was a done deal," Harvey remarked regretfully when he and Lori were relaxing in their bedroom the night before they announced they were abandoning the Brace-Gideon house project.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhytDfol8OcqC0TEB5b8JSU8YAPS5MlD9dPWhf08rMxqrz4Yp7k7wUlwtHvZOS9zPm-XEAy17Llx3opUSr_9CqiXVRBx71qDbCkQ5b9CGG6rNr2hnjR0I7l2HBjgC6vSvaVoUcZmE85mY3tW1BWwzIFEQ2uYR3q9G62viAtEqVW0y3KGsRLHwpp3SEHDA=s739" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="739" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhytDfol8OcqC0TEB5b8JSU8YAPS5MlD9dPWhf08rMxqrz4Yp7k7wUlwtHvZOS9zPm-XEAy17Llx3opUSr_9CqiXVRBx71qDbCkQ5b9CGG6rNr2hnjR0I7l2HBjgC6vSvaVoUcZmE85mY3tW1BWwzIFEQ2uYR3q9G62viAtEqVW0y3KGsRLHwpp3SEHDA=w400-h237" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">"We wanted to give them some good news, they were so broken-hearted about the other house when we lost it to the fire," Lori reminded him, "Looking back, I guess we did jump the gun before we got a thorough inspection of the property by a truly professional inspector. Thank goodness Perry Everhart recommended him to us after he heard about the first guy we hired that didn't even bring a ladder and then said everything was just fine. Hindsight is 20/20, sweetie."</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Yes, well I'm dreading have to tell them tomorrow."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"They love this house, Harvey. They'll adapt."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, after that meeting, they focused on helping the twins adjust to the idea that their beloved grandparents would be moving far away. For now, Lori's bakery and Harvey's health club kept the parents very busy. The kids, meanwhile, had school and activities and friends to help them not dwell on their grandparents' imminent departure. Still Harvey and Lori were a bit nervous about having his parents move, they had counted on them for so long. They'd always been right there to back them up no matter what. Harvey, the youngest son of their six children, was especially close to them. And who would keep an eye on the twins while they worked? Of course, Gray and Valrae were nearly to their teens and should be able to stay safe at home after school until one or the other of the parents got home. Harvey's sister, Gillian was right next door with her husband and kids.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shep, on the other hand, was happy and eager to be making this move. For nearly 20 years he and Madeleine had beengoing down to Florida for a few months every winter after Christmas. They kept a 5th wheel travel trailer down there permanently parked in a gated community that was populated by retired people in similar trailers and RV's. They didn't return to Pleasantview until late March or early April as a rule. Now they wanted to sell that trailer and buy a real house. Secretly, Madeleine was quite worried about how much she would miss living in the same town as all her 6 children and their spouses and all 12 of her grandchildren, but she and Shep had made many true friendships among the retirees at the park when they'd stayed every winter. Shep kept talking about how he was finally going to take up golf and do some deep sea fishing. Madeleine knew the winters were hard on his arthritis and bursitis and he would be outside in the sun more often in Florida year round. Besides, she really enjoyed the card clubs she belonged to down there, the luncheons and shopping with "the girls", and the beautiful sunshine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Valrae at the upright piano in the dining room at Shep and Madeleine's house when they moved in after the house fire.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgh5LKUpfBT604P-Jsy0lVy2d_mF0MK0GNxX3gFD31Coq9AqNYhiKTE_AR-_haOBtgDGRLdFpbpvqRz5-u5CQzgsbA9ssSKbnNH5-_l1Fp4B0U76AA7byyXOtERlJ_p-5q0cgtcuJ2fi0vAWpk48rfOCMoMtS3QIESlnQqh_ob39qy6Obun3sGo-lP2lA=s842" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="842" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgh5LKUpfBT604P-Jsy0lVy2d_mF0MK0GNxX3gFD31Coq9AqNYhiKTE_AR-_haOBtgDGRLdFpbpvqRz5-u5CQzgsbA9ssSKbnNH5-_l1Fp4B0U76AA7byyXOtERlJ_p-5q0cgtcuJ2fi0vAWpk48rfOCMoMtS3QIESlnQqh_ob39qy6Obun3sGo-lP2lA=w400-h351" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gray and Val waiting for the school bus</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxi27gLYrQQ5gk0_3vnCCSIDPYFm5DjjVpiJf1zQS15QOqcsQYGqhGCZcarxiXxOoF-aejNI1wu7kqWyQjvAezq2ofFxiJraJtrfH0ymbYuTqk9r43K1K-aeOkagPHPRy_kjkOVpnj5DZ4ZuYo473d-7V-V7GUoPcVQqMrU9mkvj8b-g9PjBK8fljQvg=s989" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="989" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxi27gLYrQQ5gk0_3vnCCSIDPYFm5DjjVpiJf1zQS15QOqcsQYGqhGCZcarxiXxOoF-aejNI1wu7kqWyQjvAezq2ofFxiJraJtrfH0ymbYuTqk9r43K1K-aeOkagPHPRy_kjkOVpnj5DZ4ZuYo473d-7V-V7GUoPcVQqMrU9mkvj8b-g9PjBK8fljQvg=w400-h278" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On their way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqwD1KPU8XEgspohhCUwb1uvkp5VKIGcyVF4BMiFiIgPkKhRkJV6WULlo_3kAjn8pY_DhXy7D0AwuXEi1bYnhSSbBTq9BnwiaBM-GnM40Rn2vHAkhR2htsq1R7znqBC0NvrQlKH0pGg7Xhy3NWeskdUhPDju5zBbnGGK73N9zf1yV96D8rozals_ubCw=s900" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="900" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqwD1KPU8XEgspohhCUwb1uvkp5VKIGcyVF4BMiFiIgPkKhRkJV6WULlo_3kAjn8pY_DhXy7D0AwuXEi1bYnhSSbBTq9BnwiaBM-GnM40Rn2vHAkhR2htsq1R7znqBC0NvrQlKH0pGg7Xhy3NWeskdUhPDju5zBbnGGK73N9zf1yV96D8rozals_ubCw=w400-h316" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">Valrae's Journal</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">We are going to the shelter tomorrow and get a dog! Gray and I were doing happy dances when Daddy told us. He said it's fun to get a puppy, but we might want to find a dog already grown and give him a good home because the puppies at the shelter get adopted easily but grown dogs and older dogs have a hard time. That's okay with me--I've been praying for a dog for my whole life! I'm filling out a notebook on names for males and females since I don't know which we will get. I asked Mumma for some names of people in the old movies she and Nana love, too. I will let our dog sleep on my bed and I will brush him. Gray said he will train him and walk him. We had to promise Mumma and Daddy that we will not fight over him. I just hope Gray doesn't get all bossy like he does sometimes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">Next week Mumma is taking me with her and Daddy to look at paint and flooring and curtains and other stuff because we are re-doing Mamie and Grandpa Shep's house downstairs. Mumma wants to keep all the portraits already on the walls downstairs (well, except for the walls that are coming down), because she says they are our "heritage". We will bring home samples and take pictures to show Daddy whenever he can't go with us. (He doesn't like to shop much, except for stuff for fishing or the health club). Gray said he doesn't care WHAT color anything is or what they do to the house as long as he gets his own room.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">Mumma is taking naps a lot, almost as much as Grandpa Shep. I guess she is tired from working at the bakery. She's been making stuff for the bakery at home more than at work, too. I don't know why, when Mamie's kitchen here is so teeny. Lately she and Daddy whisper to each other a lot more than usual. It's like they have a secret and, really, I don't think adults should keep secrets and whisper. I think it's rude. Gray and me are not babies anymore and parents should tell us everything that is about our family. When I once told Mumma that, she just said "I don't like your tone, missy" and then she tried to hide that she was smiling a tiny bit and said, "Your father and I will take that under advisement. Meanwhile, don't you have homework to do?"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">That's the same as when she says, "Did you brush your teeth yet?" Like I'm a baby who forgets to brush my teeth! Or she says "Set the table." or sometimes she bribes me like "If you like you can mash the potatoes for me" Mumma says stuff like that to change the subject and send me out of the room eve . So probably they will still keep secrets and make me </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">have to spend all my time trying to accidently overhear stuff. Really if I didn't do that I wouldn't know what was going on in my own house. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglPwQBk6UCLUzcDi5lnMwVDGXCvme5DfglHiktnZG6ozsXwZkl0juPxE4kK-riTHOaPBbArIx6RyCciKa1CJVer8t7TVWO2G_nkAK9nrpUzaG3fg62kmYXpWcQrmu4cxRICZBLpRwaq06Ief3qDU-nLvEMEBCf5G4cqDb7BORR7eFPTmd00A_kEbaH-A=s983" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="983" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglPwQBk6UCLUzcDi5lnMwVDGXCvme5DfglHiktnZG6ozsXwZkl0juPxE4kK-riTHOaPBbArIx6RyCciKa1CJVer8t7TVWO2G_nkAK9nrpUzaG3fg62kmYXpWcQrmu4cxRICZBLpRwaq06Ief3qDU-nLvEMEBCf5G4cqDb7BORR7eFPTmd00A_kEbaH-A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">I've been thinking about all the houses we've lived in and I want to make a scrapbook about them, I think.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">I'm calling the middle one "the burned house" instead of "the old house" because we already call the house across the street that Gray and I were born in "the old house". I think it would be confusing if I called them both the old house. I guess I could say "the old house" and "the older house", or maybe even "Old House 1" and "Old House 2" and then the Brace-Gideon could be "Old Ghost House 3" and Grandpa Shep's would be "Grandpa's House 4"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">Old House 1. This is the first house Mumma and Daddy had after they married. It's across the street from Aunt Gillian and Uncle Jeremy. And they live next door to Grandpa Shep and Madeleine (where we live now). But this picture is of Mumma and Daddy when they were first living there before Gray and I were born. I guess I could just call it "The First House". I can barely remember living there anymore, just bits and pieces or when I see pictures.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKjnuCPr1lpJRX5h_LTZ3B4_hcwyZh6H7QqelDk12OKw2O8iJU-YuysRUi2TJQyCpd8pFV5HGi3P-zHSkhc6GvNLWIO4C5oZhCPp_wc_-Euv7QGiKXKatIEGx9_B6CdtESyyDeWD-IIfpyZmz_HRbN-Pe5dppHfD1dqAPD7r-FujBEEuJj0mGxrUGmNQ=s980" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="980" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKjnuCPr1lpJRX5h_LTZ3B4_hcwyZh6H7QqelDk12OKw2O8iJU-YuysRUi2TJQyCpd8pFV5HGi3P-zHSkhc6GvNLWIO4C5oZhCPp_wc_-Euv7QGiKXKatIEGx9_B6CdtESyyDeWD-IIfpyZmz_HRbN-Pe5dppHfD1dqAPD7r-FujBEEuJj0mGxrUGmNQ=w400-h280" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">Then we moved to...</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">Old House 2. Mumma and Daddy were watching from our front yard as they built it. They hadn't decided whether or not to buy it yet. Then, not that long after we moved in, it burned up. It still makes me cry if I think about it too much. All our stuff got burned up. Just like that. I could call it "The Burned House" or maybe "The Dream House" because it was such a beautiful house, a perfect house to me and sometimes I really do dream about living there. But if I remember the fire, it turns into a nightmare.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPQUaaQYPE6agFZrNbzvn-fqEF6wovuXWd0xNsLEzzikzMWriZz1d2RN4RCOKzDhKQj4E35YxniuydA1YQ_EQUyZmMbi8kxg5CdW0QYD8kqv9aqOLwKj0sZ7GGsMDKMdoS-5eyoCOBiCIbf_E0NCNJbQVZGUVKv5eZ7peZGiVvsWbewgOKSCy2CU03fQ=s960" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="960" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPQUaaQYPE6agFZrNbzvn-fqEF6wovuXWd0xNsLEzzikzMWriZz1d2RN4RCOKzDhKQj4E35YxniuydA1YQ_EQUyZmMbi8kxg5CdW0QYD8kqv9aqOLwKj0sZ7GGsMDKMdoS-5eyoCOBiCIbf_E0NCNJbQVZGUVKv5eZ7peZGiVvsWbewgOKSCy2CU03fQ=w400-h306" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF-ZaiUew2zRW1gjME_I4zIkygSFgQNyQfg3tGX56CtNznlJl6KI6-tf5sYTKbaxg8C7UG8UQ5gAFCzzzaAVmGUOtHNfON2kvoFhkvBglsQgT8NDOoqWwuXCB77vEBVtLKhho74tBTya6HM6ohyJ2SOx63aCKXkSJyBP56addjtD4uhDOp7_-6TJef5g=s958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="958" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF-ZaiUew2zRW1gjME_I4zIkygSFgQNyQfg3tGX56CtNznlJl6KI6-tf5sYTKbaxg8C7UG8UQ5gAFCzzzaAVmGUOtHNfON2kvoFhkvBglsQgT8NDOoqWwuXCB77vEBVtLKhho74tBTya6HM6ohyJ2SOx63aCKXkSJyBP56addjtD4uhDOp7_-6TJef5g=w400-h275" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">I wrote on this picture to show how close the houses were to each other. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTZ7lfhmqh3o4a0j-WTTjT_CuK6o95qi2wXDhqSP9uEp31g0Yt_9TROQJrxJ7wZJsvsA0jrYS5RXVtF3x1HQeQWDn-eXWwMpNZBrcTNkLKbVOpRyGFVSsfzaFkj-dqj4irLYXkIoTD6riVbPFlgGh3ITam49AnTACRQoMjF5BqteJwgjnRq-nkyH8YEA=s972" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="972" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTZ7lfhmqh3o4a0j-WTTjT_CuK6o95qi2wXDhqSP9uEp31g0Yt_9TROQJrxJ7wZJsvsA0jrYS5RXVtF3x1HQeQWDn-eXWwMpNZBrcTNkLKbVOpRyGFVSsfzaFkj-dqj4irLYXkIoTD6riVbPFlgGh3ITam49AnTACRQoMjF5BqteJwgjnRq-nkyH8YEA=w640-h472" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">The front was so pretty and Daddy had put in flowers and bushes and even a waterfall in the back yard.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY8YI5odxw3LO9fh8I9fzCQAGg9bPfk66SrI2-bGfqD0_Tpzom1RmQD9iQoxQPNSgoJ62YvIYdV7KcpBTwyyk1f2OGwesds1AwXcolBNLQpoFx3ziWGMRi_UcpaPcEYVQAfxDgDW7f7RbFP23gsdNEg1cgk09gLRzMml3PTaT2M4PBWPyY3N6XqH_nFg=s967" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="967" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY8YI5odxw3LO9fh8I9fzCQAGg9bPfk66SrI2-bGfqD0_Tpzom1RmQD9iQoxQPNSgoJ62YvIYdV7KcpBTwyyk1f2OGwesds1AwXcolBNLQpoFx3ziWGMRi_UcpaPcEYVQAfxDgDW7f7RbFP23gsdNEg1cgk09gLRzMml3PTaT2M4PBWPyY3N6XqH_nFg=w400-h303" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV1iXFv7l_JcQDGONhebEsaCJQadHhujBSKyGTUt6bGLkR6i2O7Crw6Z-V4gmhWpuiWhVoinJV9FkhtDgTgGzOCygIZ8ySIPquaJ6HvZvUk7RtSx96qi2UFWovf1PcnMjTRcXUrjDEGfGE0bwcRe3NH7EXUXj7mDIgqHZsGgj5-_fsPRIttVrOc_t6ZQ=s974" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="974" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV1iXFv7l_JcQDGONhebEsaCJQadHhujBSKyGTUt6bGLkR6i2O7Crw6Z-V4gmhWpuiWhVoinJV9FkhtDgTgGzOCygIZ8ySIPquaJ6HvZvUk7RtSx96qi2UFWovf1PcnMjTRcXUrjDEGfGE0bwcRe3NH7EXUXj7mDIgqHZsGgj5-_fsPRIttVrOc_t6ZQ=w400-h280" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP4H7ui8Enm6HcoKwFd1zkPtWPi3IsYhxeSKfjUk8WZ3MCNXKn3p4PcygYX5QtAkn-cIg2c-qKp6oFdzASy-zu1Ax0JBZQ-z24he6em0yalrJ2ViDY3t6qB3EkFVn_LZfWu-a0KOGT9CXcosgiZsSU5m5VhQB4UKyTdro3HVf1pU6FUAmRHZUW0ibn8A=s964" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="964" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP4H7ui8Enm6HcoKwFd1zkPtWPi3IsYhxeSKfjUk8WZ3MCNXKn3p4PcygYX5QtAkn-cIg2c-qKp6oFdzASy-zu1Ax0JBZQ-z24he6em0yalrJ2ViDY3t6qB3EkFVn_LZfWu-a0KOGT9CXcosgiZsSU5m5VhQB4UKyTdro3HVf1pU6FUAmRHZUW0ibn8A=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWkmy3nyvrVrm87Tm2TEOlvs_G-lmXKEo879M2AdjySgzGR0UHn0nUTJXs1sQepUbnJyokZoKCoFoPqk7CjdwaC6Br4u09bDyOyMWiZWRswoMLn-9cIXk4LFv8I4D2pZBXYnGdDTdC-5Se5N8jEV8atH-PDH78GXyV0zy-AsW3JglJAatUAuNmDBrm3g=s965" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="965" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWkmy3nyvrVrm87Tm2TEOlvs_G-lmXKEo879M2AdjySgzGR0UHn0nUTJXs1sQepUbnJyokZoKCoFoPqk7CjdwaC6Br4u09bDyOyMWiZWRswoMLn-9cIXk4LFv8I4D2pZBXYnGdDTdC-5Se5N8jEV8atH-PDH78GXyV0zy-AsW3JglJAatUAuNmDBrm3g=w640-h476" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;">Old House 3. The Brace-Gideon House or, as I call it, "The Ghost House" because the whole town says it is haunted. That is the house we never got to live in, but I'm still putting it with the houses we DID live in. I don't care. We <i>almost</i> got to live there.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS8S_h0Xh7PAX3QS5THV8wlsTaohVYRPqfHO_jrWwMNjnhLXkEJ9LxjsQMzrL9PHo1czXlwMhMzyzYpdvqmACYUG-ij1i9TwnFln34ahcMaYTvzVBpKPgkgihHUWAR5nj87DhcB6ml3C1AfHHoiKZQwC5kYlq_7nzol8kklBlBaZBt1KbR-934N9I4aQ=s746" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="746" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS8S_h0Xh7PAX3QS5THV8wlsTaohVYRPqfHO_jrWwMNjnhLXkEJ9LxjsQMzrL9PHo1czXlwMhMzyzYpdvqmACYUG-ij1i9TwnFln34ahcMaYTvzVBpKPgkgihHUWAR5nj87DhcB6ml3C1AfHHoiKZQwC5kYlq_7nzol8kklBlBaZBt1KbR-934N9I4aQ=w400-h315" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp3vIJjQ8MZiiL0I8x2U1SLIq_aNK58DaQv-mF2HBeKpl0IAZ4WiT__d58qlA9S6ndSqwN3D8jx7zZ7PsVki-SPxpd633IwwQUlK34NK4FTp77NYmnqNtNSleVJYgeYtb3A0kTkDAx8ub0kOV1N-UdWYYT2EHcYPOMs183MgJB4Us8iLtycq0o5cgvtw=s983" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="983" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp3vIJjQ8MZiiL0I8x2U1SLIq_aNK58DaQv-mF2HBeKpl0IAZ4WiT__d58qlA9S6ndSqwN3D8jx7zZ7PsVki-SPxpd633IwwQUlK34NK4FTp77NYmnqNtNSleVJYgeYtb3A0kTkDAx8ub0kOV1N-UdWYYT2EHcYPOMs183MgJB4Us8iLtycq0o5cgvtw=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">And now House #4 is Grandpa Shep's house. I need to think of a new name for that instead, because now it will be our house. Maybe "The Blue House" or else "Heritage House" because of all the portraits on the walls. If you look close at the last picture you can see into the dining room and Daddy at the table. Gray took the picture.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiluen14Q1hKQ05hjtbRc2Z0j-tPcwQjlS5DnA9PIsHHX-Pju0pYvl8UYi1dict8Hn326AXiWgWZe3I83auUWglXn7Zyxeat1qqPaqfpzXasazIXNUwLmvQz12gT_YH_yB_hDKSugTCpE5fM3Nhu2dR5CW49mJfpeBEA8Y8TLQTmxgoRifjJj_Pkt2t8w=s933" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="933" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiluen14Q1hKQ05hjtbRc2Z0j-tPcwQjlS5DnA9PIsHHX-Pju0pYvl8UYi1dict8Hn326AXiWgWZe3I83auUWglXn7Zyxeat1qqPaqfpzXasazIXNUwLmvQz12gT_YH_yB_hDKSugTCpE5fM3Nhu2dR5CW49mJfpeBEA8Y8TLQTmxgoRifjJj_Pkt2t8w=w400-h315" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAtih_YpPTzd-2l49BatBOgaE2tK-i5CZiWoX6umeeVimvP3oXm1SfMPA0392psiUqv8h9cNb9aBaBgKtmlnFal8_Cph5UaDquJKA-VYlFHnQp9gy46mfMx35VF97lMwgeMzdX7VnkvdMWJ3DFkPNgO4uHWjIUqEgDmcbl1gkAiAxDDIQ1CSVJ5PLCSA=s991" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="991" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAtih_YpPTzd-2l49BatBOgaE2tK-i5CZiWoX6umeeVimvP3oXm1SfMPA0392psiUqv8h9cNb9aBaBgKtmlnFal8_Cph5UaDquJKA-VYlFHnQp9gy46mfMx35VF97lMwgeMzdX7VnkvdMWJ3DFkPNgO4uHWjIUqEgDmcbl1gkAiAxDDIQ1CSVJ5PLCSA=w400-h297" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBx6JdZklDtfvNoP2W2oFhDvlRwUwhHWL4CPiieSirfA_FteHIKM2gduQYVDGzkQJnuFwVgvPiugC7lmWgtSC1fFKkIwJpDwVMsZbAbtmlflzbBEI5q7K3gCDp0rFxY5rlfZmLGpqOm5p8b8qFmt_B3wPvwy3K9okfCK7R_1-c3Ygwnd7E4rorUQ9dtg=s976" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="976" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBx6JdZklDtfvNoP2W2oFhDvlRwUwhHWL4CPiieSirfA_FteHIKM2gduQYVDGzkQJnuFwVgvPiugC7lmWgtSC1fFKkIwJpDwVMsZbAbtmlflzbBEI5q7K3gCDp0rFxY5rlfZmLGpqOm5p8b8qFmt_B3wPvwy3K9okfCK7R_1-c3Ygwnd7E4rorUQ9dtg=w400-h294" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik6IEiIWw9dPRoJO38vrT8fNG9qL6VYVLA6kh3WCwzEN1ScMzQ_wNRXQ-lc3xQQwCpMGz7Ea5hrJZi-zRjcZBa-hdI_E28fAvsPxQ9mhSmJ1i73rOBZcWeOUeKewHsEeezyiELLU6iogPgo8I3ZEsU2_uKwVHsXKG6PrhWRS7hWxjcsqFVx8tZ6NJtsQ=s989" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="989" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik6IEiIWw9dPRoJO38vrT8fNG9qL6VYVLA6kh3WCwzEN1ScMzQ_wNRXQ-lc3xQQwCpMGz7Ea5hrJZi-zRjcZBa-hdI_E28fAvsPxQ9mhSmJ1i73rOBZcWeOUeKewHsEeezyiELLU6iogPgo8I3ZEsU2_uKwVHsXKG6PrhWRS7hWxjcsqFVx8tZ6NJtsQ=w640-h460" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">So I asked Gray what he thought about those names and which ones should I use and all he did was look at me with his crazy eyebrows that go like this ^~ and then he said,</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"You always ask me stuff like this, Val, and you know I'm gonna say it's dumb. Why do you do it? And why do you have to give them names like they're your dolls, anyway? They're not people or even pretend people." </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I smiled at him like a stupid. I didn't now what to tell him. I just love to make up names for things.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I love you and you love me,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Valrae Diana Ferguson</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>*****************************************</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b>Harvey and Lori Ferguson</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Work went swiftly on the renovation, all things considered. It was mostly the kitchen and dining room that were completely being overhauled, but that meant that three walls were coming down and one small spare room was being eliminated. Shep and Madeleine had been down to Florida twice looking for a new home and finally decided on one close to their former gated RV community, which meant close to friends they had from 20 years. Back home in Pleasantview now they would soon be packing to leave again in two weeks. Meanwhile they saw to final plans like getting things transferred with their doctors and seeing to other legal affairs. The move was really going to happen Harvey and Lori and the kids realized with a sudden shock.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Lori and Harvey had another big decision to make; whether or not to cut the hours of the bakery or sell it. It had been Lori's dream, but she was exhausted these days. There was more than one reason for that; she was pregnant. She and Harvey had not yet told the kids. Perhaps, if Harvey could find a pastry dynamo who would meet Lori's high standards, she could stick to managing the bakery without having to do every bit of the baking as well. Unfortunately, the baking was what Lori loved best. Harvey had been doing double-duty between managing his health club and managing the financial aspects of the bakery. Lori was the only one baking and she managed the kitchen. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>"Don't worry, Harvey does the books, and he was the one who hired the cleaning lady. All I do is bake. Just bake," Lori had assured her mother, Melora, when she expressed worry that Lori was looking tired, "You know I cannot handle money. He says that we're making a narrow profit, though, and not in the red, but that's usual when you start a small business."</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>"Yes, but it's you that talks to the customers and runs the cash register so it's not that you "just bake", Melora remarked.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>"Well, yes, we thought of hiring someone to talk to customers and cashier while I'm in the kitchen. But I really do like meeting customers and discussing the goods and any specials we have. We need to hire a dish washer, as well. I mean, a teenager could do it, really. It's not like we're a restaurant with huge amounts of dishes and pots and pans."</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>"Lori," Melora reached one hand over to cover her daughter's, "You are expecting a child. It's been 10 years since you had the twins. You are ten years older than you were then."</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>"Gee, thanks, Mom. You'd think I was ancient!" Lori, stung, came back, "You had Trey and me FIFTEEN years after you had David."</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>"Exactly. I know whereof I speak. I also know I worked long hours when you two were little and then realized I was missing out on your childhood. That's why I stopped filming my cooking show and retired. To be home with you and Trey."</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>So Harvey and Lori had some thinking to do and some more decisions to make. Perhaps the timing had been bad, but, even though she was only 34 Lori had been worried time was running out to have another child. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM2gfF7uj9XzBKQHXZL3hYn3bhpId-o1K1eXktmrhjZoPR8M6ZCZz_Hh85QfMV58a_rsD6irXxffr0POoHbRGyePiDxLlb6cP78GiwxIo1qEp1BTax2DbMf28u8wqY5buzjrmuQska0IYT_eLwzwkGPt4FRAt-DXCi9b7_3f7attraQBf6eaSDaiSb7A=s762" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="762" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM2gfF7uj9XzBKQHXZL3hYn3bhpId-o1K1eXktmrhjZoPR8M6ZCZz_Hh85QfMV58a_rsD6irXxffr0POoHbRGyePiDxLlb6cP78GiwxIo1qEp1BTax2DbMf28u8wqY5buzjrmuQska0IYT_eLwzwkGPt4FRAt-DXCi9b7_3f7attraQBf6eaSDaiSb7A=w400-h271" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq_XAFFJgugI9oO-hWI4JTxKRHk0t7Bk73pauVIYekVlFCnLz49qLmLAp5TO7V8eq6wPexrS5tMTR1Mcf54knm-WaRRaJMjCyu2IVtK7Yu2ctCDJFL1sMJMKfzdGb_LdYn6CTNKnUxmWy1DcXV7AkWgka2NbHyq0FgOAvySCZKo-MCEABwmzaoA_Lddg=s753" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="753" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq_XAFFJgugI9oO-hWI4JTxKRHk0t7Bk73pauVIYekVlFCnLz49qLmLAp5TO7V8eq6wPexrS5tMTR1Mcf54knm-WaRRaJMjCyu2IVtK7Yu2ctCDJFL1sMJMKfzdGb_LdYn6CTNKnUxmWy1DcXV7AkWgka2NbHyq0FgOAvySCZKo-MCEABwmzaoA_Lddg=w400-h279" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chapter 26 coming soon!<br /></span><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP-ZQiOFu7SR4vWcAlsA3Bt3rKhnpEQG-uZkOx5p6TgVO_VRPnbKbS7Mmm1uW4vkhgeswedHEmFGEhC8HPGjSYuW5V4QII5W1UEXn6dLNlwL1Y_VZ--eWY18kXmJ84A_kox_7TG37VExLOrjA5EKffuTZ0P-TtcxDz0Eib_0Av04YmGxDgbGZa_ekIJw=s762" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p></p></div>Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-28301932247371229942013-10-07T06:08:00.002-04:002022-03-12T23:47:58.584-05:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 25 Halcyon Days and Nights Part IV<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The next day after a little morning romance, Sofia and Pres decided to enjoy the back part of the large deck and play a little chess. Sofia was just learning and Pres said she was doing very well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"But, you should really be trying to get your men out there," he urged.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"But if I do that you'll just come and get them," she pouted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"That's just the way the game is played, baby, you'll be trying to do the same thing to me."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"But I don't want your men," she assured him, "I just want to keep mine."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"You can't just sit back there repelling all advances like you're the goalie in a hockey game. I'll help you while you're learning."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Okay, but I think you're a big meanie to try to take all my men."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Pres grinned,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Maybe we've had enough chess strategy for today, besides, we're missing the ocean view out front."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"I'll bring up the lemonade I made."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">An hour or so later found Sofia fooling around with the telescope while Pres went down to the backyard to enjoy the hammock. There was a salty breeze from the ocean just across the street and he soon drifted off.</span></span><br />
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When he woke he was feeling the heat; it was high noon.</div>
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"Hey, baby!" he called to her, "Let's go to Papaya Village, I'm craving ice cream."</div>
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"Okay," she called back, "Can we go to the park, too? This is our last full day."</div>
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So their first stop was Papaya Village for ice cream sundaes with fresh pineapple sauce on it. Afterward Pres headed for the pinball machines, while Sofia had to check out what souvenirs and trinkets the Village offered. The fact that her favorite designer cologne was on sale was a big surprise and she purchased a large bottle.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Paradise Park was next on their list. Sofia thought it was lovely; covered with tropical flowers and shrubs and there was a footbridge crossing the pond at one end with a path that led to a snack bar and a large pool.</span></span><br />
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Pres wanted to learn to firedance while Sofia changed into her suit and went to the pool. After she'd cooled off she was thirsty and so went over to get a cold soft drink from the soda vending machine. Once more a guy was ogling and plaguing her. She realized he'd been watching her over at the pool, too.<br />
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He just stood there silently staring and she didn't like the look in his eyes. When the man tried to start a conversation she'd had enough and shut him down,<br />
<br />
"See that incredibly hot man over there learning the firedance?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah, I see him, so what? Don't tell me he's your boyfriend--he don't look like no superhero to me," he smirked.<br />
<br />
"No, I'm not telling you he's my boyfriend; I'm telling you he is my husband <i>and </i>he is a cop. We were just married and are on our honeymoon. So I would really appreciate it if you would just leave me alone. If you don't I'm going to have to let him know that you're hassling me. I don't think you'll like what he does about that," Sofia gave him one of her sweet smiles and the disparity between that and what she said actually did seem a little sinister.<br />
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The man looked over at Pres again, a little more impressed.<br />
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"Okay, whatever. I was just trying to be friendly. You beautiful girls are always so stuck up," he grumbled but strolled away almost immediately.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">She hurried over to watch Pres before the guy could change his mind and come back.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Lover, can we go to the boardwalk now? We haven't been in the ocean yet today," she hated to interrupt his lesson but she wanted to get out of there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">He looked over in surprise, but smiled,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Sure, we'll go right now," he paid the firedancer his full price and apologized for leaving early.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">When they got to the boardwalk Sofia hurried up to the top floor where they sold souvenirs, but sadly all the things they had for sale were items she'd already bought. So she changed into her suit and went down to join Pres for a swim and then she stretched out on her towel. When Pres remembered there was a firedancer at the boardwalk, too, he went over to finish his lesson.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The restaurant at the Boardwalk was small but elegant with great views of the beach and they decided to have a late supper there as the sun was going down.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Whenever they went out they'd been eating mostly fish and seafood; lobster, shrimp, grouper, salmon, scallops, and their fairly new addiction: sushi. So they opted for this last night out to have filet mignon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This was something Sofia had never had before either; the only steaks she'd had before were the thin breakfast steaks at the all night restaurant in Crystal Creek and the inexpensive cuts her mother used to buy. Pres ordered his steak medium rare, but Sofia insisted she needed hers well done--that's how she liked her hamburgers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Okay, but the better quality steak the more rare it should be," Pres shrugged.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">She wrinkled her nose,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Yucky."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">He laughed,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"You sound like Dion."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"That's what happens when you hang around with your pre-school child all the time," she grinned and then said, "Oh, why did you remind me--I miss him so much. Your mom tells me everything about him but we've been afraid to let him hear my voice in case that makes him want me. You know, I've loved every single moment of our honeymoon--except for missing my little boy."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Pres put his hand over hers,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Our little boy. Man, I can't believe how quickly that little rugrat climbed into my heart and made himself at home."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The waiter arrived with their food. Sofia cut a small piece of hers and popped it into her mouth. Then she chewed and chewed. Pres was watching her, his face expressionless, but his eyes twinkled. She let her own eyes smile at him--her mouth was too busy. Finally it became like cud on her tongue and she had to swallow it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Hmm," she tried to think of something complimentary, "Interesting. I think I need some steak sauce, though."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Pres hailed the waiter who quickly brought a bottle of Heinz 57. Sofia poured the sauce over the steak generously, she never saw Pres wince.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Why don't you taste a bite of mine, baby, just taste it," he urged.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"I'm sure this will be fine; it's just a little tough, but I usually put steak sauce on my burgers, that's all it needs."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Cutting another small piece Sofia, looking less than enthusiastic, conveyed it to her mouth and began chewing. The steak just had no flavor, all she could taste was the sauce. And still she had to chew and chew and chew. She was so hungry after their busy day, but she just didn't think she could eat another bite of this expensive cut of meat. She couldn't figure out why Pres thought it was so good.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"I'll get you something else," Pres dad looking for the waiter.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"No, Pres, don't. I just don't think I'm as hungry as I thought I was," she assured him and then her stomach made a noise like a wildcat's scream.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"If you won't let me order something else, do me this favor; just try one bite of my steak, just one. If you don't like it, that's it. I think you'll find it is a completely different experience than the one you just had."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Sofia looked at him suspiciously and then at his plate.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"There's bloody juice on your plate," she pointed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"It's okay, if you ate the raw fish earlier this week, you can eat the bloody steak."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"We-ell," she dragged out the word cautiously, </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"All right, I'm closing my eyes, though. You feed it to me--only one bite."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Open that beautiful mouth," he coaxed like she was a baby and he was feeding her strained bananas.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Sofia tasted a glorious burst of flavor and meat that was tender and moist. Her eyes popped open,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Pres! That's delicious!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">He ordered another filet mignon, medium rare.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"I used to be the same way," he said, while they waited and he cut his remaining filet up and placed the plate between them to share, "I wanted a huge steak, well done and a baked potato with butter and sour cream. I had no room for a salad. I poured on plenty of A-1 sauce. Until Perry had me over for lunch at his apartment and fixed filet mignon. Perry refuses to grill any steak more than medium. So I was forced to discover how good filet mignon cooked medium rare really is and now I can even squeeze in a salad."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">After their dinner they went to the outdoor Tiki bar right next to the restaurant, finding time for more dancing and romance.</span></span><br />
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The next morning Sofia's sunburn had finally faded away although Pres's skin was still golden brown. She wanted to use up the last of the groceries so they would eat breakfast there at the cottage.<br />
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The young mother had been calling twice a day to check on Dion. And now that they were soon going to be on their way she was becoming really anxious to get home to him. She quickly phoned Rhonda to tell her they were leaving the cottage right after breakfast. As they walked down the porch steps for the last time Sofia said to Pres,<br />
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"I hope someday we can come back and bring Dion with us; I love this place and he would too."<br />
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"We'll do it, I promise," he replied.<br />
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The fact that she loved Twikkii Island as much as he did made Pres a very happy man.<br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Next Blog Update: <a href="https://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/search/label/Harvey%20Ferguson%20Family" target="_blank">Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 25 Moving Along</a></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
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<br /></div>Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-63956250380191240152013-09-29T19:44:00.000-04:002013-10-07T06:18:34.787-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 25 Halcyon Days and Nights Part III<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While she and Pres were still at South Beach Sofia was shocked to discover</span></span> she had acquired a sunburn. She hadn't realized it was happening until she stood up then looked down at her lobster red legs and arms. Not being at all fair-skinned she was rather upset.<br />
<br />
"How did this happen?" she mourned, "I'm Greek; I never burn. No one in my family burns."<br />
<br />
"We've been out in the sun almost all day, every day, and you never use even a mild sunscreen, baby," Pres reminded her.<br />
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"But you haven't burned; in fact your beautiful tan is even darker than it was," she gave him a resentful look.<br />
<br />
"I wore sunscreen. We don't burn easily in my family either, except for Perry. We'll pick up some aloe lotion and when we get back to the cottage I'll be happy to spread it all over you, very slowly, for a long time," he grinned.<br />
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Sofia giggled,<br />
<br />
"I just bet you will."<br />
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Sofia borrowed Pres's sunscreen and they stayed on the beach a bit long, watching the waves.<br />
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Finally she excused herself to go visit the ladies room at the front of South Beach. When she came out she noticed the little playground and she couldn't resist the swings. There used to be a set of swings at the mobile home park she lived in when she first met Pres. When she didn't come right back Pres picked up their towels and beach bag and went looking for her. There she was, swinging on the swing set like a child, a big smile on her face. Her natural delight in simple things like a front porch or a swing was just one more thing that made him love her.<br />
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Posing for pictures taken by a strolling photographer was fun. His prices were exorbitant, but the couple figure it was worth it to have photographs of them together. They'd asked strangers to take a photo once or twice with rather dubious results.<br />
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As evening fell Sofia didn't even know how to voice the sheer joy she felt at that moment. She'd thought she'd loved Pres as much as she could, but eery day she found she loved him more. It was the first time in her life that she spent so much time just having fun and laughing but he was the reason. She'd never been on a trip or had one vacation since she was a very small child. Memories of day trips to the city park, and of her father, alive and well, and catching her at the end of the slide were fuzzy but they remained the best memories of her childhood.<br />
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"What are you thinking about so hard?" Pres took both of her hands in his and swung them slightly.<br />
<br />
"I don't know how to explain it."<br />
<br />
"Well, let me ask you this--are you having a good time?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, Pres! I'm having the best time of my life. Thank you so much!" she gave a little hop and he scooped her up in his arms laughing.<br />
<br />
"Same here, baby, same here."<br />
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The next night they decided to go out for a late supper at The Deck Restaurant.<br />
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Once they were seated and looking over the menu, Sofia confessed,<br />
<br />
"I've actually never had lobster. We lived on the coast in Greece, but I was a small child when Mom and Dad moved here--Anneliese was just a baby. But I do love shrimp."<br />
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"Oh, you have to try it then. It's sweet and very rich, but so good. If it turns out you don't like it I'll order something else for you," Pres urged.<br />
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While they waited for their food to come they began to talk about their future together. It was the first time Pres brought up buying a house that would be bigger than the one they were currently renting. Although he did not admit it to Sofia, he also wanted to move because this was the house that she had shared with Dana Conadera for a while and he couldn't forget that. He wanted them to live in a house they they chose together.<br />
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When the lobster arrived Pres had to show her how to eat it, which she did with enthusiasm.<br />
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"This is delicious,"" she exclaimed, "I could eat this once a week!"<br />
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Pres winked at her and laughed,<br />
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"You used to think cheeseburgers were ambrosia; now you want lobster every week. I've created a monster."<br />
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Looking around the room Sofia remarked,<br />
<br />
"That aquarium is huge, Pres, have you ever seen one that big?"<br />
<br />
"There is one in Myrtle Beach you can walk through because it's a tunnel with clear walls and ceiling, there are fish swimming over your head. The restaurant has an Olympic sized pool out back, too. But I think I'd rather go up to the deck--they have dancing and a small bar, what you do you say?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, yes, I'd love to dance," she said, "And can we have some of those fruity drinks with pineapple and cherries and little umbrellas in them if they have them?"<br />
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"Oh, they'll have them; don't worry," he assured her.<br />
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Ripley's Aquarium at Myrtle Beach<br />
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Once upstairs Pres led her out on the dance floor right away,<br />
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"Dance with me, gorgeous?"<br />
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She giggled,<br />
<br />
"It would be my pleasure."<br />
<br />
He pulled her closer and nuzzled her ear,<br />
<br />
"I love you."<br />
<br />
"Oh, Pres, I love you, too. I dreamed about this so many times, but my dreams were nowhere near the reality."<br />
<br />
"I think we'll both always remember this time," he whispered and then his lips brushed hers gently. He deepened the kiss right away, pressing her body tightly to his.<br />
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"Well, you ready to go home?" his voice was suddenly deeper and a bit husky.<br />
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"Oh, but our fruity drinks!" Sofia protested.<br />
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"Oh, yeah. That's right," he looked a bit discouraged but then brightened, "Okay, one quick drink and we're done; we'll catch a taxi instead of walking. It's faster."<br />
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Sofia snickered and replied,<br />
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"Yes, lover. That sounds like a plan."<br />
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"Have you given any more thought to us going house-hunting?" he asked as soon as they were seated at the bar and had ordered their "Bahama-rama-mamas".<br />
<br />
"If you really want that then, yes, we can start looking."<br />
<br />
"But don't you really want a home of our home?" he asked her.<br />
<br />
"Yes, I've dreamed of us owning our own home, but it's just that there have been so many changes so quickly. And I did think you liked my little house. And, Pres, we're spending a lot of money on Twikkii Island."<br />
<br />
"I'll show you our finances; I should have done that before this. I t hink you'll feel better then. As for the changes I hope they've been good ones. They have for me."<br />
<br />
"They are good changes--I didn't mean they weren't--it's just sometimes it's hard for me to wrap my head around all of them. But I do want us to buy a house if we can afford it."<br />
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Pres felt relieved but then he saw that she was still frowning.<br />
<br />
"What is it then? Please, baby, I need you to tell me," he prompted.<br />
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"I--aren't you happy at all at my little place?" she asked, looking almost as though she had hurt feelings.<br />
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"Of course, but the key words are "little" and "my place," he finally admitted, "I'm so proud of everything you have accomplished while we were apart. But, frankly, it's the house you lived in with Dana. That probably shouldn't bother me, but it does."<br />
<br />
"You believed me when I told you that we never so much as held hands, didn't you?"<br />
<br />
"I did and I do. But as I told you before I can't forget that he was in love with you, even if you didn't return his feelings. Look, I know I'm being stupid. I can't justify it. And I know you still want to have Dana over to visit Dion, and I can deal with that. Heck, I always liked the guy. But..."<br />
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"I'm not so tied to that house that I can let you be unhappy there, Pres," she was suddenly decisive, "It's only a rental after all. I think, then that we really do need to start house-hunting when we get back."<br />
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Pres smiled happily. They called a taxi and went downstairs. It had been an eventful day, but a good one.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next update to Blog: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-brothers-everhart-ch-25-halcyon.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 25 Halcyon Days and Nights Part Iv</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-77903324647358418182013-09-24T10:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T06:18:47.338-04:00 The Brothers Everhart Ch. 25 Halcyon Days and Nights Part II<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sun streaming through the many windows in the upstairs bedroom woke Pres and Sofia early. They made plans over breakfast to walk to Seawater Beach which was right across the street from the cottage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sofia had noticed a guy with longish black hair watching her closely when they first arrived at the beach. He looked like he might be a native islander. She and Pres unfurled their beach towels and she slathered on some Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil with no SPF factor while Pres used something with a sunscreen in it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty soon Native Boy showed up and was hanging around, walking back and forth on the beach close to Sofia and her towel.</span></span> Ignoring him wasn't too hard; she was used to bothersome male attention. That was, until he quit walking and just stood there looking down at her. She really had not wanted to involve Pres because he'd become very jealous ever since they'd got back together, but the guy was starting to make her nervous. Finally, she spoke quietly,<br />
<br />
"Pres?"<br />
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The tone of her voice made Pres look over quickly. Propping himself up on one elbow he saw the guy poised over Sofia looking as though he was ready to drool and an anger he didn't recognize came over him. Pres had always been even-tempered both by nature and upbringing. And with his police training he could remain calm and courteous even with fractious suspects--at least until they seriously crossed the line. Then his reaction were deliberate and decisive, but never rash. This time he had to put a leash on his initial furious reaction, but he held some mean-cop-speak in reserve just in case this first warning didn't suffice. For the moment he was amiable.<br />
<br />
"Hey, buddy, how about you leave the pretty lady alone; she just wants to relax in the sun. C'mon, she doesn't want you standing over her; move along. I'm asking nicely."<br />
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One could surmise if he had to ask not nicely it would be unpleasant in the extreme. Native Boy didn't appear overly bright, but he evidently realized this wasn't going to be his lucky day and shuffled off toward the refreshment stand.<br />
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Seawater Beach usually had a campfire going on the beach after dark. Pres was finishing up his huge sandcastle and then he joined Sofia. They both felt mellow; their bodies relaxed. But when Sofia realized there was a man giving lessons on the fire dance, she just had to talk Pres into buying her a lesson. Not long after the lesson started Native Guy came up and, unbelievably, stood around obviously ogling her again.<br />
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Pres realized he was going to have to get used to this; Sofia had always attracted men's attention. And they weren't always polite about it. It wasn't like she flirted, or even really noticed them, but she was definitely a babe. That didn't mean he had to like it, though. But it was a public place; lots of people stopped to watch when the fire-dancer danced or gave lessons. As long as the jerk didn't call out remarks, Pres would have to put up with him.</div>
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This time Sofia didn't even notice Native Boy because she was so focused on learning the dance. Pres noticed that even the fire dance teacher was smiling mighty big at her, too.</div>
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Once her lesson was over they grabbed a bite at the snack bar before they walked back across the street to their cottage. <br />
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Every morning they woke to another hot and sunny day and one of those days they made plans to be off early to South Beach and the pirate ship, which was right next door to Seawater Beach.<br />
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Pres was feeling amorous, as usual. It seemed all he had to do was look at Sofia or hear her voice and he was turned on. All that miserable time when he'd thought he'd lost her forever he'd sworn to himself if he ever got her back he would never take her for granted and he'd meant it.<br />
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With all the humid heat the first thing they did was go for an invigorating swim in the ocean. The beach was smaller than the one at Seawater Beach, because the ship took up a lot of the room along one side of the beach, but it was adequate.<br />
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Pres had a ball exploring the ship but Sofia preferred to sunbathe and shop. Once he'd finished on the ship he came down to join her.<br />
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"Baby, I think you've bought every single hokey souvenir on this island," he teased her, "You already have about six beach towels, a half dozen palm tree magnets, that miniature sand castle, three Twikkii Island beach bags, several "Twikkii Island, Pearl of the Tropics" pillows, and a bag of shells to add to the ones you've collected yourself. Just please tell me you're not going to buy that "Island Elvis on Velvet" wall hanging we saw."<br />
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"No! No "Island Elvis"," she giggled, "I know some of these souvenirs are kind of tacky, but I just want to have something to remember all the moments of our honeymoon. And I want to give some of them to people when we get back. I'm probably spending too much money."<br />
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Sofia had been poor as a child and was super conscious of where her money went as a rule. But Twikkii was a wonderland to her and the inexpensive if overpriced trinkets she'd bought so far didn't make her feel quite so much like a spendthrift.<br />
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In fact, she'd been earning her own income, one way or another, all her adult life but she'd been brought up to think very traditionally when it came to marriage. In her mind Pres was the head of the house. She'd already been having him help her keep the finances straight regarding her designing business. She knew he was better educated than she was and to tell the truth he and his brothers were all very definitely alpha males. That suited her just fine. <br />
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"No, I was teasing--you blow however much money you want, Sofia," Pres said.<br />
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Without missing a beat she hurried on,<br />
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"Oh, good because then I'm going to get one of those Capiz shell wind chimes. You know the ones they sell at Surf Shack? And I want to get some little tee shirts and short sets and baseball caps for Dion, too. And some sort of toy, but I haven't decided what yet."<br />
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"You mean the tee shirts that say 'My mom and dad went to Twikkii and all I got was this crummy shirt'? I've seen those," Pres grinned.<br />
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Sofia smiled but ignored that and said,<br />
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"And I'd really like to get you one of those intricately woven string necklaces. Maybe with tiny beads and even some feathers?"<br />
<br />
He laughed,<br />
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"I told you, you get whatever you want," then he grew serious as he reconsidered, "Uh, wait, beads I can go with but, feathers? Negatory, baby negatory." <br />
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Sofia was a bit disappointed, but then she cheered up as she remembered she had a green light on everything else.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-brothers-everhart-ch-25-halcyon_29.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 25 Halcyon Days and Nights Part III</a></span></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-92116152294483207762013-09-21T06:23:00.000-04:002013-09-25T15:59:58.443-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 25 Halcyon Days and Nights Part I<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Previously: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we left Pres Everhart he had just married Sofia Giallelis and considered it the happiest day of his 32 years. With their young son Dion safe in the arms of his paternal grandparents they were to leave immediately for their honeymoon on Twikkii Island.</span></span><br />
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Presently:<br />
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As they were on their way to the island Pres finally began to describe the little house they were renting. He'd been keeping it as a surprise. Sofia had only know they were going to an island.<br />
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"The cottage is not right on the water, but Seawater Beach is directly across the street and we can see the ocean easily from the house. It only takes two minutes to walk over," Pres explained.<br />
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"I can't wait!" Sofia said in her whisper-soft voice.<br />
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"There are two bedrooms with two bathrooms, one of each on both floors."<br />
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Pres used to see that particular house when he was in college and he and three frat brothers went to Twikkii on spring break to terrorize the community. Money was usually a problem for the guys once they got to the island. In Pres's case because, even though his parents were rich and had paid the plane fare for all four young men to the tropical island, they did not believe they should have to pay for anything else. Besides, the rowdy and randy college boys wanted to be closer to the night-time action. So they would go in one one room for the four of them at an economy type hotel room right on the strip and split the costs and walk to the nearby boardwalk to swim. They'd eat cereal and peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. This gave them more money to blow on girls when they wanted to look like big shots or wanted to go to a halfway decent restaurant for supper, or both.<br />
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But Pres had always thought; someday I'd like to rent that little house. When I'm through with school and have a good job, then I'll probably get married. The thought had scared him, yet intrigued him.<br />
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"It has a big front porch and a play yard in back although we won't need that this time," he went on.<br />
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Sofia was so excited by the time they were on the island and taking a taxi to the little house that she was practically bouncing in her seat.<br />
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The minute she saw the cottage she flat out loved it and was sure she'd never been in such a darling house. Pres was right; they could see the ocean from the front porch where they sat for a moment and soaked in the view.<br />
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The kitchen, dining area and living room were in one, not particularly large, room but because it was open concept it looked bigger. Besides it was quite large enough for a vacation home for two.</div>
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The ground floor bedroom was small with two twin beds and it was obviously intended for children.</div>
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"This would be perfect to rent again someday and bring Dion with us," Sofia said.</div>
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"True," Pres agreed and then added, "And maybe even a baby brother or sister?"</div>
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Sofia's eyes cut to his and she giggled,</div>
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"Maybe."</div>
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There was also a three-piece bathroom next to the bedroom; very "island" decor.</div>
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The master bedroom upstairs was quite spacious with one door leading to the deck in back and on door opening to the deck in front. In fact, the three decks (front, back and side) were actually one deck that surrounded the cottage on three sides. The second bathroom was an en suite.<br />
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Left: Front and side deck; Right: back deck overlooking the yard</div>
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They changed clothes and went to the mineral springs to have massages; had supper at the canteen there and it was dark when they checked out the mineral springs.</div>
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She called home while they were having their meal at the canteen to check on Dion. Pres's mother, Rhonda, was more than willing to go into great detail on how his day had been. Sofia wanted badly to talk to him but he sounded as though he was doing so well with his new grandparents that she didn't want to upset the balance and make him start crying for her.</div>
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"Promise me, though, if he asks for me and gets upset that you'll call me," she begged Rhonda, "but he seems to be doing really well for you."</div>
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"Oh, honey, he is the sweetest little boy, he's doing great. But I'll be sure to call you if there's a problem. And your sister, Thalia, is supposed to come by tomorrow to watch him while I go to get my hair done, so that will make him happy."</div>
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"I'm sorry to be such a baby about it," Sofia apologized, "But I've never been away from him since he was born."</div>
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"Now, don't you even fret about that. I know exactly how you feel. My four big strapping boys were little boys once, too, believe it or not. And when I was away from them I worried every minute, even though they were usually staying with MY mama. Now you and Pres just have a wonderful time and don't worry about a thing."</div>
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Sofia thanked her lucky stars that Rhonda had turned out to be one of the most loving women she'd ever met, right along with her own mother, and she told Pres that.</div>
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"She's just like you," he grinned, taking her hand, "You both are angels masquerading on this earth as mortal beings."</div>
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Sofia laughed,</div>
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"You are the sweetest man, even though you are delusional."</div>
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"Baby, a man can be nice, he can be good, he can be hot, he can be honorable, he can be sexy and he can even be lovable. But it's a horrible thing to be told he's "sweet". It's not really a compliment," he smiled.</div>
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She laughed and he brought her hand, palm side up, to his mouth and placed a kiss there.</div>
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It was dark by the time they walked home. The air was warm and the breeze was light and they could smell the salt air when they went up to cuddle on the side deck. They could easily see the ocean from there but it was a bit more private than the front deck.</div>
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Pres pulled her onto his lap and as they whispered to each other Sofia was sure she had never been so happy before except for the day Dion was born.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next Update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-brothers-everhart-ch-25-halcyon_24.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 25 Halcyon Days and Nights Part II</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-46611957608597220902013-09-17T01:20:00.000-04:002013-09-21T12:03:04.874-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 24 A Surprise and Some Changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Early one morning Perry announced he wouldn't be going into the office that day. A client and friend had made a special request to talk with him there at Perry's house in Bluewater Village rather than at the Pleasantview office,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Why doesn't he want to go to your office?" Lalique asked as she kissed the older twins goodbye and watched them dash out the front door to the school bus. </span></span><br />
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"I don't know exactly; I expect he'll explain when he gets here this afternoon."<br />
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His vague reply meant Perry was not at liberty to tell her;client confidentiality.<br />
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"Oh," she smiled.<br />
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Most of her morning and part of the afternoon was spent upstairs in the play area with Brett and Noelle. Instead of taking them down to the kitchen at lunchtime, she had brought up small crackers and cheese sticks, a few cucumber slices, some Cuties tangerine sections and their favorite Juicy Juice. She set up their little snack tables. The tables snugged up around them as they sat on the floor, keeping errant crumbs at a minimum. Not eating in the kitchen made it seem like an indoor picnic to the two of them and they liked that. Then she tucked them in for their naps. She'd recently showed them how to go down the stairs one step at a time on their butts so she didn't have to put up the baby-gates. She came downstairs to grab a quick half a tuna sandwich. Planning to ask Perry if he'd already eaten or would like a late lunch she crossed the foyer. And there in her living room was the man she now knew to be the sperm donor for Alain and Desiree. What was he doing here? Had he found out about the twins?<br />
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"Oh, hi, honey," Perry smiled, "I was just going to call you in. Court, I want you to meet my beautiful wife, Lalique. Court is not only a long time client of mine, but a good friend and frequent golf partner."<br />
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The doctor gave no indication that he knew who Lalique was as he offered his hand and turned a friendly smile on her,<br />
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"Hi, nice to meet you, Mrs. Everhart. My wife and I think the world of Perry."<br />
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Lalique gave him her best gracious lady smile, actually she'd learned it from her cultured and elegant mother, Olivia DeHavilland Flynn. <i>When in doubt, dear, smile and nod; commit to nothing.</i><br />
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Since Court seemed unfazed Lalique assumed that he just had never taken the option of finding out the names of any children that he might have fathered via sperm donation back in the day.<br />
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It became really odd when the twins came home from school. They were always quick to make friends with people and soon engaged him in conversation. Lalique invited him to supper then fled to the kitchen to prepare the meal and get her mind to calm down. Her distraction soon led to a fire which started on the stove. She freaked and even before the usually quick-acting, cool headed Perry could get in there Court had doused the fire. It turned out he was also a volunteer firefighter.<br />
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Dinner was finally served. Dr. Lomax had told them about his wife, Elle, and their four year old son, Jody. He and Perry traded good-natured jibes regarding golf. Always quick to pick up on unspoken tension especially in regard to Lalique, Perry quietly studied her once or twice during the meal but, although she was being the solicitous hostess, easily engaging in conversation with Dr. Lomax, she never quite met Perry's eyes. Thanking them for supper, Court left shortly thereafter.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Court Lomax's wife Elle and son Jody</span></div>
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When they were in bed that night and he had her in his arms Perry asked quietly,<br />
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"Would you like to tell me now what upset you about Court Lomax?"<br />
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Lalique's breath caught in her throat a moment and Perry pressed his lips to her forehead,<br />
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"You can tell me anything, honey. Just don't keep me in the dark."<br />
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Relaxing she began to tell him everything from the time a few months ago when she had petitioned to get the name of the sperm donor.<br />
<br />
"Do you think he'd try to get partial custody?" she asked anxiously.<br />
<br />
"He was the sperm donor, he can ask for information, but it's not like you listed him by name on the birth certificates. He really has no legal rights in regard to them. Besides, I've known him for a few years now; he's a decent guy. Don't volunteer the information, though. If he wants it he can go through channels just as you did."<br />
<br />
Lalique sighed, <br />
<br />
"They definitely do have some of his features, I saw that when I looked him up on line; but today it was more apparent." <br />
<br />
He squeezed her and she snuggled against his shoulder. Then he said,<br />
<br />
"As long as you are unburdening, have you done any more thinking about talking to John regarding me adopting Brett and Noelle?"<br />
<br />
Lalique sounded regretful,<br />
<br />
"I haven't wanted to think about it."<br />
<br />
"As I told you, I can talk to him alone, if you'd like," Perry suggested.<br />
<br />
"That would seem so cold of me, Perry. I feel I need to tell him personally."<br />
<br />
"Can I be with you?"<br />
<br />
She smiled up at him,<br />
<br />
"I think I'll need the moral support."<br />
<br />
"You've got it, gorgeous. Just remember he has no rights actually except for the agreement you signed to allow him visiting privileges." <br />
<br />
"I know. But he's a proud man--and an honorable one. I want to be fair.<br />
<br />
A frown flickered across Perry' face then was gone as he shrugged,<br />
<br />
"He's not all that honorable if he was willing to cheat on his wife as well as mess up your life."<br />
<br />
"I can't escape blame for hurting her, either. She's a nice woman and always treated me so well when I would go over to their house with Yvette. Anyway, they were going to a marriage counselor and he was trying to reconcile with her. She knows about Brett and Noelle."<br />
<br />
"I've heard through the grapevine that they are living together again and that he has made up with his grown children as well."<br />
<br />
Lalique started to sit up and look at him incredulously, but Perry smiled and pulled her back to his shoulder.<br />
<br />
"What do you mean you heard 'through the grapevine'?" she asked.<br />
<br />
"When you're a lawyer in a small town you hear a lot of things. Especially when you drop your ADA position and switch from criminal law to family law like I did. Do you want me to call him and invite him to my office?"<br />
<br />
"Maybe that would be less traumatic if he takes it badly. But warn him that I will be there too. Oh, Perry, I feel so much better to have made a decision."<br />
<br />
"Good."<br />
<br />
She reached across his chest and clung to his shoulder possessively. Within moments she drifted off to sleep. Perry stayed awake awhile pondering the best way to handle the call to John and the subsequent meeting.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYuPmyE3UJ8/UjM5R2vyonI/AAAAAAAAQ04/Wbo15hO3n4A/s1600/Round97RLtr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYuPmyE3UJ8/UjM5R2vyonI/AAAAAAAAQ04/Wbo15hO3n4A/s200/Round97RLtr.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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It was during this time that Perry and Lalique decided they wanted the kitchen opened up for more of an open concept look. The existing kitchen was large but it was galley style and felt claustrophobic. So they had a contractor come in and take down the wall between the dining room and the kitchen and put in a large island to regain some of the storage and counter space they were losing.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Two views of the original kitchen with the wall against the dining room in place. The one on the left shows the door to the foyer and stairs; the one on the right shows the door leading into the dining room:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IlYrIH_4fF4/UjM-McX_rVI/AAAAAAAAQ1Q/3Lxa4CijmCE/s1600/Dream1ILetters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IlYrIH_4fF4/UjM-McX_rVI/AAAAAAAAQ1Q/3Lxa4CijmCE/s200/Dream1ILetters.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r8JR3Vm25ow/UjM-L0yIJOI/AAAAAAAAQ1M/FuTaMPWsOTg/s1600/Dream1Hwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r8JR3Vm25ow/UjM-L0yIJOI/AAAAAAAAQ1M/FuTaMPWsOTg/s200/Dream1Hwall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">After the kitchen and dining room were made into one space with the large island in between:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FqfdSzhhugE/UjM__DTVXDI/AAAAAAAAQ3g/QUgx799Al8I/s1600/Round97S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FqfdSzhhugE/UjM__DTVXDI/AAAAAAAAQ3g/QUgx799Al8I/s200/Round97S.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29HTpgS_DsQ/UjM__anDhVI/AAAAAAAAQ3o/cYL-4zYhWMs/s1600/Round97T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29HTpgS_DsQ/UjM__anDhVI/AAAAAAAAQ3o/cYL-4zYhWMs/s200/Round97T.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Matters had moved along swiftly for Pres and Sofia, he'd recently moved in with her, preparing to sell his new but small house, and they were engaged to be married. Rhonda was captivated by her newest grandson and was anxious to get to know his mother better. She found Sofia to be sweet-natured and intelligent but it was her obvious love for Pres won his mother's heart. A small wedding would be held at the house Sofia was currently renting. Philip and Rhonda had planned on returning to Hilton Head, but now they wanted to stay for the nuptials, of course. Pres was going to bring Sofia and Dion to meet them.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9mGDhAD_28/Ujflu3SwliI/AAAAAAAAQ6Q/udIYzWOO4Ec/s1600/Block2F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9mGDhAD_28/Ujflu3SwliI/AAAAAAAAQ6Q/udIYzWOO4Ec/s200/Block2F.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uw5y_wULZCE/UjflvfLcDmI/AAAAAAAAQ6M/kJVGpmmmGGQ/s1600/Block2G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uw5y_wULZCE/UjflvfLcDmI/AAAAAAAAQ6M/kJVGpmmmGGQ/s200/Block2G.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
It was also decided that Philip and Rhonda would stay at Pres and Sofia's house the night of their wedding so they could care for little Dion while the couple went on their honeymoon. Almost every day Philip and Rhonda went over to Sofia's house in Pleasantview to visit with Dion and get him used to them.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
After Pres and Sofia returned the senior couple would return to their beautiful home on Hilton Head. They had finally decided--for sure--to move and would put their house up for sale and come back to look for houses in the tri-county area as soon as it was feasible.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LYM19jnvJeE/UjM_-P5zjwI/AAAAAAAAQ3I/E2ZQztvmW_8/s1600/Round1A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LYM19jnvJeE/UjM_-P5zjwI/AAAAAAAAQ3I/E2ZQztvmW_8/s200/Round1A.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Saturday mornings Perry usually took extra time outdoors with the older twins, either in the yard or at the park. Alain and Desiree ate a light breakfast of juice because Perry always took them afterwards to Sam's Snappy Service for cheeseburgers or coney islands. They had already claimed the island as their favorite place for casual eating.<br />
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In bad weather, or if Perry couldn't be with them, they liked to use the indoor pool. They'd both taken swimming lessons since they were four years old. <br />
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Once Rhonda and Philip left for Pres and Sofia's home, work began on converting Alain and Desiree's bedroom and Arlene's old room into "the girls' bedroom" and "the boys bedroom". Arlene's room had served as a guest room for the few months that the elder Everharts had stayed with Perry and Lalique. No changes had been made at that time. The room was adjacent to Alain and Desiree's bedroom with a Jack and Jill bathroom in between.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The room that belonged to Arlene Jankowski, the children's one-time nanny and that Philip and Rhonda used:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FEv5xFaBivE/UjM-4zSPexI/AAAAAAAAQ1o/BxLzvVe8OT4/s1600/Dream1T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FEv5xFaBivE/UjM-4zSPexI/AAAAAAAAQ1o/BxLzvVe8OT4/s200/Dream1T.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHPka2DdDLk/UjM-5XteoNI/AAAAAAAAQ1w/_kA6Oq7m8QU/s1600/Dream1U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHPka2DdDLk/UjM-5XteoNI/AAAAAAAAQ1w/_kA6Oq7m8QU/s200/Dream1U.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The "boys' room" was slightly revised from the room that Alain and Desiree had shared since they were toddlers. A 'big boy' bed was installed and Desiree's twin was stored up in the attic for when Brett outgrew his little bed. They kept the colors and furnishings the same in this room.<br />
<br />
The one door from the girls' room to the Jack and Jill bathroom was
removed and the room was now closed off so it was only available from
the boys' room.<br />
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Arlene's old room was now the "girls' bedroom" and Noelle went with Desiree and had also graduated to a "big girl bed". The changes in their room were much more extensive as far as decor.<br />
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The girls' new bathroom was reclaimed space from the play alcove in the other bedroom. There was still a corner where the toddlers played in the boys' room. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Play alcove before it was converted to a bathroom on left and on the right, Brett and Noelle playing with their toys in the corner of the boys' room after the alcove was gone.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytTrXiucIT0/UjYubcazLfI/AAAAAAAAQ5c/onvz8f_5lWA/s1600/Dream1P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytTrXiucIT0/UjYubcazLfI/AAAAAAAAQ5c/onvz8f_5lWA/s200/Dream1P.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2B2KtqssCNs/UjNAjZrF7jI/AAAAAAAAQ4E/pPIItCYkCu4/s1600/Batch1K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2B2KtqssCNs/UjNAjZrF7jI/AAAAAAAAQ4E/pPIItCYkCu4/s200/Batch1K.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> The brand new bathroom for the girls:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uYKFZjXyQ-w/UjNAkY3ASWI/AAAAAAAAQ4g/-mYInzcj7zM/s1600/Batch1O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uYKFZjXyQ-w/UjNAkY3ASWI/AAAAAAAAQ4g/-mYInzcj7zM/s200/Batch1O.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZXcYb5NKcg/UjNAk8vbcnI/AAAAAAAAQ4o/WjqW1BM2PGk/s1600/Batch1P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZXcYb5NKcg/UjNAk8vbcnI/AAAAAAAAQ4o/WjqW1BM2PGk/s200/Batch1P.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life began to get back to normal for Perry and Lalique; as normal as it could be expected considering the future meeting with John Lassiter looming ahead on the horizon. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The wedding of Pres and Sofia went well, until a minor fracas at the end that caused a major headache for youngest brother Parker. But Rhonda and Phil were happily ensconced in the cozy house now with Dion while the newlyweds went off on their island honeymoon...</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next update to the blog: </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-brothers-everhart-ch-25-halcyon.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 25 Halcyon Days and Nights Part I</a></span></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-17037354714905715892013-09-14T10:58:00.003-04:002013-09-17T20:01:08.047-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 23 Perry and Lalique<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Author's note: this chapter and the next did not quite dovetail with things that were going on with Pres Everhart and Sofia. So in this chapter they are discussing that Pres has only just found out he has a son and is wooing Sofia. Only confusing if you remember that in their side of the story Pres and Sofia have already left for their honeymoon. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Previously: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last time we saw them Lalique and Perry had just been married in a quiet ceremony at their home. Perry's parents, Philip and Rhonda, were staying at the house caring for the four children while the bridal couple enjoyed their honeymoon on Belle Isle.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Presently:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the time they were enjoying being part of a three generational home--at least temporarily--Perry's parents began to question the advisability of keeping their estate on Hilton Head Island. It now seemed so far away from their new grandchildren and from their sons. Soaking in the indoor hot tub they discussed how much they cherished the time with Perry and Lalique, and seeing their oldest son interacting with Lalique's children. He'd always been a natural with kids and they responded to him eagerly. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most school day mornings Alain and Desiree had breakfast together; sometimes they helped themselves to cold cereal. Sometimes, when the adults were up early and Lalique made a big breakfast, they gobbled up eggs and bacon or pancakes. The senior Everharts had started talking to Perry and Lalique about how they were considering a move.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> "Well, if you do relocate here have you decided whether to sell the place on Hilton Head or just rent it out?" Perry asked, pausing to savor a perfect bite of light buttermilk pancakes topped with Lalique's fresh strawberry sauce. Everyone in the family said no one enjoyed good food the way Perry did.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Oh, if we move, we'll sell it all right," Philip said, helping himself to another rasher of bacon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"It's hard to decide," Rhonda worried, "We do so much want to be here with all of you, but we've lived in that house since Parker was in high school. We're friendly with the neighbors, close to the club and the golf course and we're right on the water.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Hilton Head house was not the one Perry, Prince and Pres had grown up in, so Perry did not feel sentimental about it one way or the other.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"You don't have to be in a hurry, Mom," Perry assured her, "It's a big deal, so take your time. Be sure this is what you want. Have you even looked around to see what's available here? Here being Bluewater Village, but you should also check out Pleasantview. You've got two sons in both locations," he grinned, "Of course, while Parker has that small apartment in Bluewater, with him that could change at any moment."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Well, if we really wanted to be here and couldn't find what we want, we'd just build," Philip shrugged, "Anyway, another option would be to simply keep the house on Hilton Head as a summer home and rent it out the rest of the year. Then we wouldn't need quite as large a home here."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Phil, could we do that?" Rhonda questioned, "That would be so nice!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I don't see why not," Philip replied casually, "Now that I've sold the vacation home in Barbados, we'll have some extra liquid assets."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lalique was glad her hair was pinned up or it might have been standing on end. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once her parents had given up their movie careers and moved from Hollywood, they'd mostly had to scale back their extravagant lifestyle. Still, s</span></span>he had been brought up living in her parents' impressive art deco home, taking lovely vacations every year, and her father, Errol, owned a Lamborghini, a yacht named The Sirocco III, plus a sloop christened Olivia. Perry's parents, however, talked as though they could afford multiple homes without batting an eyelash and that money was absolutely no object. They obviously had more money than her famous father and mother. The only other family Lalique knew in Pleasantview with more money then her father was the John Lassiter family. In addition, from what Perry had told her and the photos Rhonda had shown her, the house on Hilton Head was actually a palatial estate with a tennis court, a live-in maid, a boat slip, and an outdoor pool, <i>and </i>an indoor pool. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The talk flowed around her between the Everharts and Perry and Lalique kept her mouth shut and began clearing the table. By now she had real affection for Perry's mother and father and she did hope they could live nearby, but she was worried they might not end up liking a new home as well as their old one and regret moving. Maybe if they could afford to keep both it wouldn't be a problem.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lalique had promised Perry that, after their honeymoon, they would discuss Perry adopting all four of the children. The real problem that remained was telling John Lassiter about it, since it concerned his children Brett and Noelle. Technically, he had no claims. Lalique had not put his name on their birth certificates. All four of Lalique's children had her maiden name of Flynn as their surname. Perry wanted to be with her when she told John, just in case there was trouble. But with things so hectic Perry hadn't pressed the issue and Lalique still didn't even want to think about the subject.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The family was also anxiously awaiting any news on Pres and Sofia now that Pres had found her and discovered he had a two year old son. Pres called Perry and told him that he had just seen Dion a couple times so far; he already knew he wanted to marry Sofia and make a home for her and the boy. He asked for everyone's patience because he didn't want to push too hard and scare her off. Although she usually had a very upbeat nature</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> she was still in the midst of toilet-training the child and </span></span>her nerves were rather on edge. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Noelle and Brett had just finished potty training, much to Lalique and Perry's relief, so they could relate to that. Rhonda, meanwhile, was itching to clap eyes on little Dion and to meet his mother, Sofia.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At one point in her life Lalique had elected not to know what the older twins' father's name was, but she had reconsidered several months ago and once she got his name she looked him up online. He was a doctor, formerly with the Oncology Unit at BlueStar Medical Center, but was now conducting cancer immunology studies at the Bluewater Research Center. He lived in Pleasantview and Lalique realized Alain and Desiree had his wide eyes and snub nose, but her black hair. Alain had green eyes like Dr. Lomax, and Desiree had the amber brown eyes of her mother.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Desiree and Alain were asking vague questions now and then about fathers and how Perry and John fit into the picture. They had always called John "Pa", he'd felt more comfortable with it since his "other" kids had always referred to him as "Daddy". But the twins were happy to call Perry "Daddy". And now the younger twins did the same. John had come by much less often than he'd originally planned when Melora agreed to try a reconciliation. Frankly they saw Lalique's parents "Grandmere and Grandad" more often. And, of course, they were very close now to Perry's folks, who simply went by "Grandma and Grandpa". Lalique knew they would probably want to know their biological father's name when they got older, so she made copies and filed the originals in her private bank deposit box and kept the copies in her "Lalique - private" file at home. Perry never touched that one file although he knew it was the only file she hadn't given him to put with the rest of their papers. It contained a couple of journals from college and her rather risque single years, some high school souvenirs of her romance with Devon Brecht, little gifts made for her by her students when she was a teacher and now the file on Desiree and Alain's biological father. The birth certificates of all four children were filed with the family papers that Perry kept track of now.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feeling better since she now had the knowledge she needed and it was tucked away, Lalique went to her favorite place to relax: the kitchen. She'd make something Perry loved; New York strip steak, medium rare, Caprese salad with </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">basil and balsamic vinaigrette, baked sweet potato with butter, cinnamon and nutmeg and sauteed garlic spinach. Philip and Rhonda also would be happy with that, but the twins didn't like steak and couldn't even look at spinach. For them she made goulash, that she would serve with the green beans and some applesauce. Humming to herself, she felt her worries slip away.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next update to blog: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-brothers-everhart-ch-24-surprise.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 24 A Surprise and Some Changes</a></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-57615423243826721322013-09-04T05:13:00.003-04:002022-04-09T16:09:31.404-04:00Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 24 A Visit From Aunt Debbie<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Previously with the Fergusons:</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Harvey and Lori announced that they had bought the old Brace-Gideon mansion and would be lovingly restoring it for their new home. There was also an update on Harvey's kid sister, Debbie, who was a senior at Sim State U.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Valrae's Journal:</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">So here I am again. Aunt Debbie will be graduating soon and she came home last weekend for a visit. I want to be just like her some day. When she first went to University her hair was short, but she has grown it out long. Now she wears it in these tiny waves and it's all wild.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">I asked Mumma could I please wear my hair like that but she said that it was too much hair for a little girl and when I become a teenager "we will review the matter". She said besides it's "a lot of work". I don't think I'm a "little girl" because I just turned 10.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">So then I asked if, since Aunt Debbie has naturally curly hair and mine is just kind of bendy, shouldn't I have a perm at least? But Mumma said,</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">"No, you don't need one, even if you were going to wear your hair that way. You ask Aunt Debbie what all she has to do to make it look like that and see what she says. Meanwhile, you have lovely loose waves, sweetheart, so enjoy not having to style your hair while you can."</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">When Aunt Debbie got here Daddy and Grandpa Shep and Gray went fishing but me and Aunt Debbie went swimming in the pool. She put her hair up just like mine to go in the water and she said we were practically twins. That made me smile like anything!</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">It was fun to have us all together for supper. Aunt Debbie slept on the second floor on Gray's bed in her old bedroom with me. She smells good all the time and our room smells good when she's here. I hope when I get her age I will smell like she does and make whatever room I'm in smell good. Because sometimes this bedroom stinks like a boy, if you know what I mean; like old sneakers and farts. Gray hates to take baths. He tries to get out of them whenever he can. When I was little, like 6, and it was summertime I wet the bed (I used to do that sometimes) so I crawled in with Gray and there was sand in his bed from the sandbox! Ugh, I don't even know how that could be, but it was.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Mamie has redone the little living room on the third floor that is Mumma and Daddy's. Grandpa She says she redecorates a room at least every six months so if you don't like the way she did this one, don't worry it won't be long before it gets changed.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Anyway, it's real bright and cheerful and Gray slept on the sofa-bed there on the same floor with Mumma and Daddy instead of downstairs on the couch all by himself. He said he wasn't scared to be down there alone, but I think he was glad he didn't have to do it.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">When I was watching her play pinball Aunt Debbie told me that she uses a crimping iron to make her hair look the way it does. She says her hair was real curly when she was young but by the time she was a teenager it only had loose waves and she blew it out straight. So now she crimps it. I takes her a long time, so I guess waiting until I'm older will be okay.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Daddy has a twin sister, Holly, and she married Andy Lomax. They have four kids! Anyway, Uncle Andy came by just as Gray and me got home from school. I was wishing the twins, Arliss and Alexa--who are only one year older than me and Gray, could've come with him, but he came by himself this time. He didn't stay long, just stood on the sidewalk talking and laughing with Daddy.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">I don't understand why grownups do that. I mean, why they stand around while they talk. Kids do stuff, like play games or ride bikes and then, while they're doing it they also talk with each other. Well, girls talk to each other; boys mostly laugh or yell or make grunting noises at each other, or sometimes they practice saying sentences while they burp and see who can say the longest one before their burp runs out. If you ask me, which you didn't, but if you did, I would say boys are mostly stupid. Anyway, I hate to stand around doing nothing unless I'm at a museum, staring at stuff. But then that's not doing nothing. I don't want to just stand around with a friend and go blah, blah, blah and that's all. I can sit still when I read or watch TV, or write in my journal, but not when I'm talking to a friend, like Scarlett. She and I go for walks around the neighborhood and pick out our favorite houses. And Gray can hardly stand still for a minute unless he is painting or fishing but he doesn't talk when he does those things. People practically have to chase around after him to have a conversation. Mumma says I will like to stand and talk when I'm a teenager. Sounds boring to me.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Well, Aunt Debbie went back to school Sunday afternoon and I miss her. We had crispy chicken salad for supper today and it is one of my most favorite salads in the world. And then the grownups went out on the back porch to talk (at least they were sitting and not standing). Gray and I went swimming in the pool--yay!</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">And then, right while we were having the most fun of all and playing Marco Polo, Mumma said this:</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">"It's time for bed, so upstairs with you and get out of those wet suits and into your pajamas. Don't leave them on the bathroom floor! Hang them over the shower rod. Daddy or I will be up to tuck you in. You have 10 minutes.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">I hate when parents send you to bed and don't even try to hide how they're really happy to do it. I think it's rude. On the way up the stairs Gray was crabbing about how he didn't need to be tucked in anymore because he was 10 and not a baby. I like being tucked in; if it's Mumma sometimes she smells like cinnamon if she's been baking or Bell Dopium perfume if she and Daddy are going out. (I don't think I spelled that right). And Daddy smells like the outdoors--like grass and or if they're going out he smells like Polo, which I love. I like to smell things and people and then I will remember them better. Anyway! I told Gray that I liked being tucked in and how Mumma and Daddy smell and he looked over his should at me and said,</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">"You are a <i>girl</i>, Val; a girl. You can't help it but the way you think is just wrong."</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">His voice was like Mumma's when she sounds all tired and says,</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">"I have HAD enough."</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">I stuck my tongue out at him but he'd already turned back. I don't see how I'm ever going to get married when I grow up when boys are so mean. Maybe they get better when they grow up. Now that I think of it Daddy is not mean (mostly) and neither is Grandpa Shep. And Scarlett's daddy, Gareth, is lots of fun.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">So that is all for now. I hardly had three minutes to write this last part. I have to go in the bathroom now to change into my p.j.'s. Gray gets to change in the bedroom, but I have to change clothes in the bathroom all the time now. Gray says it's because he is forced to share his room with a silly girl but according to Mumma and Daddy I can't see him get dressed and he can't see me because we need our privacy. I guess supposedly I will fall down in shock or my brain will be fried if I see skinny Gray in his underwear. Ha! I've seen him in his shorts and tee shirt before...big whup. I can't WAIT to move to the mansion and have my own room!</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">I love you and you love me,</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Valrae Diana Ferguson </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next Harvey and Lori Ferguson Update: <a href="https://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/search/label/Harvey%20Ferguson%20Family" target="_blank">Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 25 Moving Along</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-brothers-everhart-ch-23-perry-and.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 23 Perry and Lalique</a></span></span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-41442667784381661672013-07-26T11:04:00.001-04:002022-04-09T16:10:13.443-04:00Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 23 Saturday Morning News<span style="font-size: small;">Previously:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">Young Valrae Ferguson talked her mother, Lori, into accompanying Val on a play date with her best friend, Scarlett Caswell. This was because Scarlett had a two year old sister who was very cute and Valrae had been urging her mother to consider having a baby.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">The visit went well and Lori did spend some time playing with little Monie but, unfortunately Valrae's father, Harvey, said that Lori's new bakery had only been open a year and took a lot of her time. Too much time to be able to have a baby. A baby that would most likely turn out to be twins since both Harvey and Lori are twins and so are Gray and Valrae. He also pointed out that they were still living with Harvey's parents since their home burned to the ground and had not yet decided whether to rebuild or find another place entirely.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">The Present:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">It was a potentially blistering Saturday morning when Harvey made the announcement to the family that they had decided not to rebuild the burned out house. They had just sold it, as was.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"We bought another place," he said, and his blue, blue eyes went in turn to each face at the table and then came back to Lori who gave him a slight nod of encouragement.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Is it far away?" Mamie asked, concern on her softly aging face. She'd loved having them so close all these years and especially now that they'd stayed with her and Grandpa Shep. What if they moved out of town? Her husband put his hand over hers,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Now, Madeleine, it would be much easier for them to be in Bluewater where the bakery and gym are."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">Harvey shook his head no,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"We're staying in Pleasantview, don't worry; after breakfast I'll show you the place."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"I'm full, I don't want any more pancakes," Gray insisted. He loved his mother's sausage pancakes and he'd only demolished one and a half, whereas she usually had to stop him after 4. But the thought of seeing where they would be living was just too much.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Me, too," Valrae tried to disguise her breakfast which was mostly uneaten, by </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">conspicuously </span></span> </span></span>crumpling up her napkin </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">and tossing it nonchalantly over the plate of food.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">Lori smiled at Harvey,</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"I think you'd better stop a minute and do it now or no one will eat their breakfast."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Oh, my goodness, I'll have to clear the table first and--" Mamie said, jumping to her feet.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">Grandpa Shep was looking down at his plate with clear regret; his appetite hadn't been diminished one bit. Nothing ever did that especially when a steaming hot plate of sausage pancakes covered with boysenberry syrup was concerned.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Don't do that, Mom, this won't take long at all and we can be right back here," Harvey said.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InlemrXnW2I/UiNGAvQNurI/AAAAAAAAQw4/5kM-uXrbhvU/s1600/Round97J.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InlemrXnW2I/UiNGAvQNurI/AAAAAAAAQw4/5kM-uXrbhvU/s200/Round97J.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">With everyone but Lori confused yet filled with curiosity, Harvey led them all out to the front yard. Lori stood at his side but the twins and his parents were looking at him questioningly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Turn around and face the street," he instructed them, "I want you to look out at the town from here. Look to the left and all the way to the right. Then tell me what you see."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">He stood behind Valrae and put his hands on her little shoulders. Gray spoke first, pointing to his left.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Over there I see our first house we ever lived in and the Little Woods on the corner."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">The "Little Woods" was a vacant lot with a large stand of trees on it. The twins had sometimes played fort there when their parents didn't know; Harvey and Lori being strict about respecting other people's property. Grandpa Shep knew, but he pretended not to see.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"And behind the Little Woods I see the Burb house," Valrae added.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"You bought back your old house?" Mamie asked, "Isn't it too small?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">Harvey didn't answer her but only said,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"What else do you see?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">Their eyes scanned across all the way to the ocean. Grandpa Shep spoke up, looking at the barn red house,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"I see the Wilson place, Mark put it up for sale? Say, that's some prime property. There's only three of us in town right on the bay; your folks, Lori, the Wilsons and us. You'll get that additional little house that they use as an office for his car restoring business. I never thought he'd sell it, though. He has the biggest pond in town besides the one at the park.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"You don't see anything else?" Lori prompted, looking perplexed. How could they not see it?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">Gray shrugged.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Thee is a fourth house on the bay; what about the Brace-Gidion mansion?" Harvey asked, "That big pink Victorian?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">The mansion had been empty nearly 20 years. The owner had kept the large yard in repair, but there were windows broken here and there and then boarded up due to kids throwing rocks on a dare.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"The ghost house!" Gray muttered, awe in his voice and fright on his face. He had loved talking to the ghost captain on the derelict pirate ship on Twikkii Island, but the chance of waking up one night to chains rattling and a shadowy apparition hovering at the end of his bed was another thing entirely.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">Meanwhile, Valrae clasped her hands together in rapture,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Oh, it's so awesomel, Daddy, so quaint and old-fashioned!"</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Al8pOviSUeI/UiNGMJvxaUI/AAAAAAAAQxI/B8h2Olr6sr0/s1600/NewHouse5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Al8pOviSUeI/UiNGMJvxaUI/AAAAAAAAQxI/B8h2Olr6sr0/s200/NewHouse5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"You didn't, Harvey," Mamie's hand flew to her cheek in shock.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Of course, there will be a lot of work to do, but we think it will be an amazing project, Mom, and we got it for a song. Don't forget Harvey is an architect," Lori said and she smiled indulgently at him, "A really wonderful architect who has been away from it for far too long."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"It's a beautiful old house with good bones; it just needs some special attention," Harvey obviously relished the idea, "Lori and I want to keep it as much like original as possible allowing for a modern day family living there and requiring some new technology."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Well, I'm glad you will be so close; the kids can easily walk over here in a few seconds to use the pool or the pond," Mamie said hopefully.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"That's true," Harvey said, "Although I expect we will put in a pool at some point. The yard is hilly but not impossible."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"It's going to be the showplace of the town by the time we're done," Lori smiled.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"You'll be competing with that huge new home they built on the other side of town, young lady," Grandpa Shep warned with a grin.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Yes, it will be bigger than ours, but we'll have more character," Lori teased back.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">"Well, that's all the news for now. We will be closing soon and when we get the keys we will all go over and you can have the tour," Harvey said, turning and leading the way back to the kitchen to their no longer steaming, but still warm pancakes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Valrae's Journal</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">We are going to live in a mansion! And Mumma told me it is all old-fashioned inside and I just love that! We may even be able to keep some of the old furniture there to use. I have been looking up Victorian houses online and they are so pretty. She says ours will be beautiful when she and Daddy are done. And Gray and I will have our own rooms at last. It's exciting but Mumma says it will take some time and a lot of work. We'll stay here with Grandpa Shep and Mamie for now. It IS called the ghost house by everyone in town, but Gray and Daddy have both talked to the ship captain ghost at Twikkii, so they can talk to any ghosts and ask them politely to leave. Unless it is a beautiful lady ghost and then she can stay but not in my room.</span><br />
<br />
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</xml><![endif]--></span><span style="color: #0b5394;">A lot of times my Aunt Debbie puts pictures up online about her life in Pinenut Dorm at University. She is Grandpa Shep and Mamie's youngest child. She was adopted as a little girl, but that was before I was born when Daddy and Aunt Holly were kids.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">She is dating Brand Generica, and her cousin and best friend, Jessamyn Blackford, is going with Brand's friend, Danny Williams. Brand has long hair which I don't like long hair on boys, do you? But...he is still kinda cute. I guess. I think Danny is cuter though, even though he wears glasses. So I think Aunt Debbie and Jessamyn should swap boyfriends so Aunt Debbie can have the cutest boy. I mean, they are best friends, couldn't they work something out? I like our cousin Jessamyn, but my first loyalty must be to Aunt Debbie.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Mumma said in her strictest voice that I was definitely NOT to mention any of this to Aunt Debbie when I talk to her on Facebook, or when she comes home. Then she added,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">"It's none of your business anyway, young lady."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">But I overheard Mumma (yes, I know, I was eavesdropping again) telling Daddy about my idea of swapping boyfriends and she was laughing. I couldn't hear what Daddy said about that because his voice is so low that if you're not right in the room with him or unless he is yelling like this: "Who opened two cartons of milk--again!" all you can hear is a deep rumble. You can't tell what words he is saying. So I only get to hear half of their conversation most of the time. Rats.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here is Mamie with Aunt Debbie when she first came to live with them, isn't she adorable?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTE5deRBIxU/Ue4rnMBwmkI/AAAAAAAAQsA/jr6dJGd1v2Y/s1600/FergusonShepDebbieGets1stA%252B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTE5deRBIxU/Ue4rnMBwmkI/AAAAAAAAQsA/jr6dJGd1v2Y/s200/FergusonShepDebbieGets1stA%252B2.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Here are some of Aunt Debbie's pictures on Facebook. 1st one: Aunt Debbie and Danny. He is Jess's b.f., see, isn't he cute? 2nd one is Aunt Debbie and her friend Colleen playing pool in the lobby at Pinenut Dorm.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qQPzMztdx3w/Ue4sLU_vyaI/AAAAAAAAQsU/2i3xl6ZdGVg/s1600/Batch1G.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qQPzMztdx3w/Ue4sLU_vyaI/AAAAAAAAQsU/2i3xl6ZdGVg/s200/Batch1G.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ka1SKMKPEc/Ue4sLYS7uwI/AAAAAAAAQsM/hAiqNLDMurE/s1600/Batch1O.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ka1SKMKPEc/Ue4sLYS7uwI/AAAAAAAAQsM/hAiqNLDMurE/s200/Batch1O.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Below the 1st one is Jess, Danny, Aunt Debbie and Brand. </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 2nd photo is Brand. He does have pretty eyes, I just don't like his hair or that wispy thing on his chin. I like boys to have a regular mustache like Daddy mainly. And the third photo is of Aunt Debbie playing poker with Danny, Sierra and Drew.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"> </span> </div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Grandpa Shep always looks at Aunt Debbie's photos on her Facebook page and says,</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">"I hope she's managing to squeeze a few academic classes into her busy social schedule."</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">When he says that it makes Mumma giggle. When it comes to Grandpa Shep, Mumma just loves him to death and she teases him all the time and he teases right back. He says it makes him feel young again. Daddy looks a lot like him when you look at old photos or the portraits on the wall of Grandpa when he was younger and even when he was a private eye. When Mamie was young she was a famous society beauty in San Francisco. I've seen the pictures and paintings and she looked like a movie star. Grandpa Shep met her when he was on a case--isn't that exciting and dramatic?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jRuHjS5Enrw/Ue4s0NppvpI/AAAAAAAAQtE/s021WT1vk8Q/s1600/Round96H.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jRuHjS5Enrw/Ue4s0NppvpI/AAAAAAAAQtE/s021WT1vk8Q/s200/Round96H.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I have to go now on account of Mumma just looked in here and said "Lights Out, sweetie". </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I love you and you love me,</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Valrae Diana Ferguson</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Next update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/09/harvey-and-lori-ferguson-ch-24-visit.html" target="_blank">Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 24 A Visit from Aunt Debbie</a></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-79726134162260577302013-07-22T00:33:00.000-04:002013-09-15T18:22:10.757-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 22 Big Changes<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pepper slipped into Prince's office quietly and stood in front of his desk as he looked up from</span></span> his screen.<br />
<br />
"Sit down, Pep, you're gonna give me a crick in my neck," he smiled, "And relax, you look tense. That's not like you."<br />
<br />
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<br />
She sat down gingerly and when he looked at her with one eyebrow quirked she realized she was perched on the edge of the chair as though ready to take flight. Taking a deep breath she made herself sit all the way back.<br />
<br />
"Good girl. Okay, here are some of the things I've been thinking about."<br />
<br />
She had brought in her tablet and as she readied it he said,<br />
<br />
"Oh, don't worry about making notes just yet. I simply want to explain a few things first," he said and she laid it down on the chair beside her.<br />
<br />
"You have noticed, I'm sure, that the two offices next to ours have been vacant and up for sale for months with no takers," he went on and she nodded, "Well I've decided I want to buy those. So, I will need you to get in touch with Lassiter-Caswell Realty so we can make them an offer."<br />
<br />
"Yes, sir. Right away."<br />
<br />
"Don't you want to know why I'm buying them?"<br />
<br />
"Why you wish to purchase them is none of my business, sir. Making sure it happens the way you want it to is my business."<br />
<br />
"I wouldn't ask you if I didn't want your opinion," he said, his face not giving away a thing.<br />
<br />
"Well, then, I'm a bit confused as to why you want to buy them--are you planning on renting them out?"<br />
<br />
"No, they're for Everhart Financial Consulting. I want to get rid of the wall between them and make them into a large boardroom," he was back to smiling now as though well content.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
"But...," Pepper floundered, "But, the company doesn't have a board of directors, sir."<br />
<br />
"Well, I plan to remedy that. I'd like my brothers and my father to be on the board. We don't have to meet all the time, a board of director can even meet just annually, although I expect it will be more like bi-monthly or every three months."<br />
<br />
"Yes, sir," she was fighting to keep the surprise off her face.<br />
<br />
"It makes sense; my father is a trust fund baby and banker, but he also was successful at starting a a string of electronic stores before he retired a couple years ago; Perry quit his job as D.D.A. and went into private practice doing corporate law. As it turns out Prescott did not really leave the police force to become a grease-monkey like he told us, but was undercover and is now a police detective. Even my baby brother, Parker, is finally shaping up nicely, he just started working as an architect, although he is just at entry level. I think they could all have valuable input since I want the business to expand."<br />
<br />
Pepper was amazed to hear him talk about his family; she knew his brother Perry was a lawyer, but what he said regarding Pres and Parker was news to her. And he never talked about his parents; she only wished he'd tell her more about them. But she hid all this, letting only the normal interest of an assistant show on her face.<br />
<br />
"Now, I want this transaction to go through as quickly as possible," he told her, "And to expedite it, tell Lassiter & Caswell we can pay in cash. They're losing money with each month that goes by and they should jump on it. Besides I don't want them to decide to try renting the offices instead."<br />
<br />
"I'll get right on it," she promised.<br />
<br />
"As soon as we own it I want you to see about the wall doing down and making one room and then redecorating the room."<br />
<br />
"Certainly."<br />
<br />
"You know my taste by now so I'm confident you will do well," he'd been scanning some notes of his own. He wanted to make sure he didn't forget anything. Unfortunately, as usual, he'd pulled out a couple of crumpled paper balls and then attempted to un-crumple them. Pepper watched him try to make sense of them for a few seconds and then she leaned forward,<br />
<br />
"May I, sir?" she asked and, looking sheepish, he let her scoop up the crunched notes, <br />
<br />
"I did it again," he muttered, rolling his eyes and giving her that wicked grin of his.<br />
<br />
Pepper permitted a small smile, then said,<br />
<br />
"Okay, this one is in regard to a female friend, evidently. There is an address and a phone number...the name Bambi...and I believe these must be her...oh, no they can't be; that would mean...well, okay...yes they are a woman's measurements. I see it is not your handwriting, though. But if you will you be seeing her again I need to put her in the system. Do you want me to do that?"<br />
<br />
Prince leaned over the desk and snatched it out of her fingers, his face grim,<br />
<br />
"Um, no, that was just the other night and I...no."<br />
<br />
Pepper had stumbled through that one but had not revealed anything by her expression. Someone had obviously written down what all they thought Prince wanted to know about some woman probably the curvaceous "Bambi". Bambi, indeed. Well by her measurements it should be "Barbie".<br />
<br />
He noticed her still watching him and he crumpled up the note again and threw it in the wastebasket. <br />
<br />
She perused the other wrinkled note,<br />
<br />
"Okay, this one is your handwriting, but you wrote it so hurriedly I can't read all of it. You've got "caterer" and "bar" underlined, though, does that help?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, yes, I just needed a reminder. As soon as all the decorating is done I want to throw a sort of "after hours" cocktail party for our clients. I want an open bar and catered appetizers. Don't buy a table and chairs for the boardroom until after the party, but furnish it with seating around the perimeter of the room."<br />
<br />
Pepper's head was buzzing, but she was determined to do a good job and live up to his expectations. She'd never designed a room before; the two offices they had now had already been seen to by an interior decorator before she was hired. She'd never organized a party before either, but surely it would be no problem.<br />
<br />
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<br />
"I'll have it all set up for you," she assured him confidently.<br />
<br />
"I know you will," Prince nodded and then looked askance at her carefully neutral, brutally dull pantsuit and sensibly ugly shoes, "You'll need to get an appropriate cocktail dress, I think. I know you like to dress low-key, but your your usual suits won't be quite right for the party. Now, my sister-in-law, Lalique, could go with you if you're unsure about what to get, she's a real fashion plate and she loves to shop according to my brother." <br />
<br />
"Me?" Pepper gasped, her eyes almost popping, "But why do I have to be there? I'm just your secretary. I can get it all ready and just stick around in my office where they always see me, just to make sure everything goes smoothly regarding the refreshments. But I don't think it's right for me to be at the party with you."<br />
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<br />
He looked at her, a frown puckering his forehead,<br />
<br />
"Of course you have to be there with me. I--I need you," he insisted, "You know all the people on the guest list as well as I do. And you're more than a secretary and you know it; you're an executive assistant. I told you that I consider you a vital part of this company; I want the clients to know that and feel when they talk to you they are talking with someone in authority who represents Everhart Financial Consulting."<br />
<br />
Pepper didn't know whether to cry happy tears over his opinion of her work, or cut her own throat at the thought of being center stage at this party. Whenever she'd attended any party in her entire life it had been an awkward and humiliating failure. When it came to business, conversation was easy and she was always in control of every aspect, but she was absolutely no good at small talk in her personal life.<br />
<br />
Then it occurred to her; she'd been wishing she could spruce up a bit, hoping somehow that Prince might think of her as not just his employee. Yet she didn't feel she could contradict the impression she'd made initially when she'd been hired. She hadn't wanted Prince to notice her as a woman then. This could be her big chance to make a change. He actually had requested that she not dress as she usually did for this particular social event. It was a big step and taking a big chance--did she dare? Yes, she did.<br />
<br />
"All right; I'll find an appropriate garment, sir," she told him, "No need to bother your sister-in-law."<br />
<br />
He looked dubious but nodded,<br />
<br />
"Good."<br />
<br />
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<br />
She retreated to her office but after an hour or two Prince came out to get coffee and hung around for a bit, gazing out the window, not revealing his thoughts. He was almost introspective and Pepper had never seen him when he didn't seem to be be simply living in the moment. This day seemed so topsy-turvy to her. Some wonderful things had occurred; like Prince getting a clean bill of health at last, and his complimentary comments about her work. But this party would be hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles for weeks.<br />
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<br />
Six weeks later Prince strolled through Pepper's office for the after-hours party expecting to see her there already. She'd done an amazing job on the new boardroom, supervising everything while still taking care of the day to day office concerns.<br />
<br />
Prince had gone home to shower and change at 3:30 p.m. and had told Pepper to close the office for the day as he left, only unlocking the door at 5. She lived in Bluewater Village, though, so she'd told him she would shower and change in the small washroom off the new boardroom. She'd made sure to install a shower so that when Prince came back from jogging at lunch he could use it. Walking through his own office, he heard her in the boardroom talking to someone. Were the guests arriving already?<br />
<br />
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<br />
He'd almost forgotten about the caterers who would set up two bars along with attending bartenders and a buffet of appetizers. He wondered who the very attractive guest was talking to one of the bartenders and he started over there to greet the woman, still not sure where Pepper was, but figuring she was still changing. Quiet jazz was playing over the speaker.<br />
<br />
And then he realized the "attractive guest" <i>was</i> Pepper and she was giving the bartenders a few instructions.<br />
<br />
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<br />
She looked like another person entirely and he was totally blown away. She was wearing a black and white polka dot dress--but <i>what</i> a dress. Short and clingy, it bared her shoulders; he'd never imagined she had such lovely shoulders. Her usual owlish glasses were nowhere in sight and clearly he'd also not been aware that her eyes were so large and bottle-green in color. They slanted up a little on the outside corners and were surrounded by lashes a mile long.<br />
<br />
Her hair was swept up, but it wasn't the severe style she usually wore, it was casual and almost playful. Made a man want to remove a few pins and let it fall down loose.<br />
<br />
Then he noticed she was even wearing lipstick and if he'd thought her lips were fascinating before; they were a sensual invitation now. He knew some men didn't care for girls wearing lipstick, but Prince loved the look of a woman with glossy red lips.<br />
<br />
His thoughts drifted to several interesting but explicit scenarios and when he realized it he immediately and regretfully shoved them out of his mind. <br />
<br />
Guests would soon begin to arrive but it suddenly seemed unimportant to Prince as she turned and spotted him. For each of them it was as though everything had frozen in motion, the sounds of music and the voices of the bartenders drifted away and only Prince and Pepper were real. And conscious only of each other.<br />
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<br />
The moment passed and everything went back to normal, at least as normal as it could be under the circumstances. Pepper thought giddily, my goodness, I think he does like my dress, at least, I hope so.<br />
<br />
Prince thought, she is magnificent, how the hell did I not know how magnificent she is? His next thought was that he was in big trouble; Pepper was a well brought up, convent schooled girl, moreover; she was his right hand man, er, woman. He needed to take a step back, but right now that seemed impossible.<br />
<br />
When he got close he could see that, in spite of how beautiful and confident she appeared; inwardly she was terrified. He knew her well enough to recognize it.<br />
<br />
"The place looks awesome, Pep. Now tell me what's scaring you?"<br />
<br />
Her teeth were actually chattering,<br />
<br />
"I--I'm not good at parties, I don't know what to say, I can't relax," she whispered, more afraid of the night ahead than showing weakness to Prince, "I think maybe I should just greet people from desk in my office."<br />
<br />
"You're never afraid to talk to clients, and--"<br />
<br />
"That's different," she cut him off which ordinarily she would never do.<br />
<br />
He leaned near to her ear so she could hear and whispered back, <br />
<br />
"That's the thing, Pep, it's not different. This isn't the senior prom; it's a business function. Just remember that and rely on it. You're here, in fact we're both here, to make clients comfortable and enjoy themselves."<br />
<br />
He was so close that she could feel his warm breath against her ear. He smelled wonderful, as always, it wasn't just his cologne; he always smelled delicious. If she could bottle his scent she could make millions. Eau de Prince. And what he had just said made all her butterflies go away.<br />
<br />
"Thanks, I guess I needed to be reminded. I'll be fine now."<br />
<br />
"Good," his eyes unconsciously ran over her from top to bottom, "You look...wonderful, but I see you're not wearing your glasses. Remember when you broke them that time and couldn't even see across the room and I had to get your coffee and even guide you over to the ladies restroom? I drove you home, too. Will you be okay tonight?"<br />
<br />
Pepper laughed, blushing a little,<br />
<br />
"Oh, yes, I remember; that was so humiliating! No, I'm wearing contacts. I used to wear them all the time."<br />
<br />
"Oh? Well, why don't you--"<br />
<br />
She sighed and had to come up with a valid excuse,<br />
<br />
"They bother my eyes sometimes, especially when I'm reading or using the computer and I thought glasses would look more professional anyway."<br />
<br />
Prince nodded. Her figure was amazing; the dress hugged her waist and emphasized the breasts he, frankly, hadn't even been sure she possessed until this moment. Her usual suits bagged so badly in the derriere that he was amazed to see that she she actually had a cute little tush. Pepper had clearly been hiding a tiger under her hood. Reminding himself again that she was a "good girl" and his Girl Friday (okay his Person Friday) he mentally gave himself a kick.<br />
<br />
"Pepper, you'd be professional no matter what you wear or do," Guests had just being to drift in and he added, "Guess we'd better start schmoozing."<br />
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<br />
It wasn't as large a gathering as Pepper had hoped for but those who came were enthusiastic and Prince seemed pleased and that was what mattered the most to her. And now that he'd pointed out that it was not a party but a business function she was fine.<br />
<br />
Spending a little time talking to each guest, out of the corner of his eye Prince kept seeing Pepper, laughing and talking to various clients and she was more than holding her own. It was hard not to want to hover over her, inhaling her fragrance and fending off male clients who were obviously standing too close.<br />
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<br />
After the last guest had left and Prince helped her gather up the refuse from the party he turned to her,<br />
<br />
"I can't thank you enough, Pep. You handled everything and you're the reason it was a success."<br />
<br />
"It did seem to go well," she admitted, "But it's my job, you don't have to thank me. I'm glad you're pleased, though."<br />
<br />
"I certainly am. And I'm thinking this might be a good idea to have an after-hours once a year, a little touch base with clients and they can network at the party as well as we can. Maybe we should invite not just clients but invite a few business people in town who could turn out to be prospective clients."<br />
<br />
"Sounds like a plan," she smiled.<br />
<br />
He surprised her by squeezing her with a quick hug, saying,<br />
<br />
"I don't know if I've told you before but you have turned out to be a jewel of an assistant, Pep. I just don't know what I would do without you."<br />
<br />
She was ecstatic; Prince had put his arms around her; even if it was only for a nano-second. He nodded at the bartenders who were on their way out finally.<br />
<br />
"Well, I'll walk you to your car, it's late," he told her.<br />
<br />
Miracles, Pepper thought, would never cease...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next update to blog: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/07/harvey-and-lori-ferguson-ch-23-saturday.html" target="_blank">Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 23 Saturday Morning News</a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next chapter on the Brothers Everhart: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-brothers-everhart-ch-23-perry-and.html" target="_blank">Ch. 23 Perry and Lalique</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-61604091893350062282013-07-18T12:53:00.002-04:002013-07-22T02:53:16.416-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 21 It's a Beautiful Morning<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Previous chapter: Fed up with his life as a reluctant vampire, Prince had purchased a magic potion to become a mortal again. He hurriedly swallowed it down and waited.</span></span><br />
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<br />
At first he felt nothing and wondered if it could be that he, Prince Everhart, once the ultimate con man, had just been fleeced by a gypsy fortune-teller. But then--after several agonizingly painful moments--it worked!<br />
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<br />
He felt like he'd been released from prison--not that he'd ever been there!--given a second chance at life and he could not quit smiling.<br />
<br />
The first thing he did was remove the blackout curtains from all the windows even though it was the middle of the night. The heavy fabric had weighed him down emotionally, adding to the pain of not being out in the sunshine. He'd always taken daylight for granted and thought of himself as a night person but now he knew he'd never get enough of being out in the daytime hours, rain or shine, nor of being a part of humanity again.<br />
<br />
He went upstairs and looked in his bathroom mirror. He was cheered to see his own familiar face minus the fangs and plus the natural golden glow of his skin and he cracked,<br />
<br />
"It's me! I'm back!"<br />
<br />
Prince had always used a tanning booth, but now he decided he'd try to get outside in the sun more often for that as well. There was plenty of room for sunbathing and exercise on the deck that surrounded his house and looked out on the pond.<br />
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<br />
It was early, early in the morning and he went to bed on the couch. He was throwing out that coffin tomorrow! Not surprisingly he didn't sleep much; he was too exhilarated as so many ideas for the future flooded his mind.<br />
<br />
He was up with the sun and anxious to get to the office, but he thought he'd better give Pepper a heads up rather than just strolling in and, anyway, she'd told him that since he'd been gone she sometimes worked from her apartment. He tried her at home but she must have already left--she usually came to work early and left late. She answered her cell on the first ring though, her soft clear voice sounded calm and efficient as always.<br />
<br />
"Hey, Beautiful!" he said, "The doc says I have a clean bill of health, so I'll be there in about ten minutes."<br />
<br />
For a moment she said nothing, clearly struck speechless. Prince couldn't know but it was his manner as much as what he'd said that had shocked her.<br />
<br />
"Boss?"<br />
<br />
"Yes, it's me. Want me to bring in doughnuts?"<br />
<br />
Usually it was Pepper who brought baked goodies of various kinds ever since she'd discovered Prince had a sweet tooth. <br />
<br />
"Uh, yeah, sure...I mean, yes. that would be--um, sir, are you sure the doctor said you're completely well?"<br />
<br />
He just laughed,<br />
<br />
"Of course. What's the matter? Worried I might be losing my mind? Well, I have and I haven't. There are going to be some changes around our place of business, Pep, but they're going to be good ones."<br />
<br />
She nodded dumbly before she remembered he could not see her.<br />
<br />
"That'll be...nice," she said faintly, wondering if the changes included getting rid of her for a new sexy version or what. Because, in her opinion, Prince was acting very strangely, indeed. She managed to get her mind in gear again and said, <br />
<br />
"I'm just pulling up to the building now."<br />
<br />
"See ya soon," he still sounded like he was laughing at some secret joke.<br />
<br />
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<br />
In the meantime Pepper was over the moon at the prospect of seeing him again. He would never know how very much she'd missed him and worried about him.<br />
<br />
When he walked through the doors into her office she was so excited and nervous she couldn't meet his eyes. When he looked away for a second, she quickly peeked at him and sighed mentally. He looked wonderful, as rakishly handsome as ever; like he'd never been sick. Admittedly she'd never been able to picture the very vital man in ill health anyway.<br />
<br />
"Well, what's on the agenda today?" he stood in front of her desk expectantly and she couldn't stop herself from smiling even though she still would not look him in the face.<br />
<br />
"Well, since I didn't know you would be back, there isn't much. Just the stuff I emailed you and it looks like you've already taken care of that," she said peering at his schedule up on her screen.<br />
<br />
He looked around and out the windows,<br />
<br />
"It's really a beautiful morning, isn't it?" he said almost rapturously.<br />
<br />
He obviously expected an answer from her but she hadn't been this disconcerted by him since he first employed her. She really couldn't say why that was except she'd never before heard him make one remark in regard to the weather since she'd known him. In fact, he'd seemed oblivious to it. As for being cheerful early in the day, well most mornings he tended to frown, grunt and suck coffee down until at least noon, when he came awake and started to smile a little.<br />
<br />
She still hadn't replied and he looked at her. To break the tension she jumped up from her desk,<br />
<br />
"Oh, my goodness! I forgot to make the coffee! I haven't been doing it while you were gone and no clients were here."<br />
<br />
She'd thought that would make him finally retreat to his office so she could gather her wits about her, but he merely watched her move to the coffee maker. Having never been a coffee drinker, Pepper had gradually learned to make it exactly the way Prince preferred it.<br />
<br />
Now her hands were shaking as she prepared it.<br />
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<br />
Idly, he watched her make the coffee, humming some unknown tune to himself. Prince watching Pepper do something didn't usually throw her, but today...<br />
<br />
The coffee maker made hissing noises and the coffee began to drip,<br />
<br />
"It shouldn't be long," she assured him, watching it expectantly even though she knew it would be a few minutes. But she also knew he was directly behind her and she was avoiding the moment when she had to turn around. Finally she could stall no more and she spun on her heel. He was closer than she'd thought and she stopped in her tracks. Still he did not move, blocking the way and suddenly she felt cornered.<br />
<br />
"You don't seem too enthusiastic this morning and that's not like you," he said.<br />
<br />
Finally she had to meet his eyes,<br />
<br />
"I'm so sorry if I'm coming across that way," she apologized. Looking directly into his face was almost like looking into the sun somehow, she thought. Scary and exciting...and dangerous. He seemed almost radiant this morning and she was suddenly mesmerized,<br />
<br />
"I guess I'm just taken aback," she went on, "I didn't expect to see you. Well, not until you called just now. You <i>look</i> amazing, sir. Just as if you'd taken a vacation rather than been sick in bed."<br />
<br />
"Thanks. I'm a fast healer," he grinned, "Okay, I'm going into my office now, but I'll be calling you in there in a few minutes. We have much to talk about concerning plans for this company."<br />
<br />
Caught in his spell, Pepper forgot about worrying. She was much too happy at having his attention; much too undone by his close presence after such a long absence. He disappeared behind his door and she sat at her desk, gazing off at nothing.<br />
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<br />
It wasn't long before the in-house phone line lit up and Prince said he was ready for her to come in for their discussion. That he'd used the phone pleased her because it meant he was trying to follow her recent suggestion. Prince had developed the habit of leaving his door open when no clients were there and just bellowing, "Pep! I need you!" when he wanted her attention. It was none too professional and Pepper had finally apprised him of that.<br />
<br />
"What if I have a client waiting in my office that you don't know is there?" she'd asked, "You don't want to be yelling for me; it's not dignified. I'm your employee, not your business partner or colleague, and you need to keep that in mind when dealing with me in front of clients. You shouldn't leave your door open anyway, Boss, even if no one is here. It's just not right for me to be privy to your phone conversations with clients. Not as a rule, anyway."<br />
<br />
"You're right, you're right, I know you're right," he admitted. He usually took her advice to heart but he didn't like to stand on ceremony either. Besides she handled so many things for him, knew all his secrets, and all the company business that he did tend to think of her exactly that way; as his equal in all things. He just didn't realize that he did.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, she was so earnest and worried when she lectured him that it rather amused him. He would have promised to take her advice no matter what.<br />
<br />
"Okay, I'll keep my door shut from now on and I'll use the phone...unless I forget," he had grinned at her in that devil may care way he had and she'd gone all soft inside and had to smile back at him,<br />
<br />
"Thanks, I know you'll try your best."<br />
<br />
He'd been working on it; Pepper was proud of him. However at this moment she was more worried that today might be her last day on the job. There was no real reason to think that just because he'd said there would be changes. But unfortunately losing this job--and Prince--happened to be her worst fear.<br />
<br />
She gathered up her courage, her knees knocking and her heart hammering, and opened his office door...<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-brothers-everhart-ch-22-big-changes.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 22 Big Plans</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-14357002461766301122013-07-11T01:18:00.000-04:002013-07-21T00:52:43.907-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 20 Undead and Unhappy Pt. 2<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When at work Pepper's every thought was of her boss and his welfare; the thing was at home it was nearly the same. She was a somewhat sheltered girl from a small town, but even she knew that she had fallen</span></span> hopelessly in love with Prince Everhart. She was not unaware of his faults, far from it, but she believed that he had more good traits than bad. Who would be for Prince if they realized the complete truth about him? Perhaps his family, but one thing for sure, she was in his corner completely. She also knew the kind of woman he preferred and she definitely was not his type.<br />
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<br />
She'd been working from home the last day or two, just going into the office to get the mail and checking on things.<br />
<br />
Everything else she could do from her laptop at home. The packages of drapes that she'd placed in his office had disappeared by the very next day.<br />
<br />
Prince had told her on the phone that he had them in his possession now and thanked her for everything. They communicated by email, and every night he called to see if there was anything she had questions on.<br />
<br />
Afraid she would not keep things businesslike while working at home, Pepper had been wearing her austere suits, her wild hair tucked in the familiar demure chignon just as she did at the office. It did seem to help keep her on track.<br />
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<br />
"He just thinks of me as his capable but plain assistant," she complained out loud to nobody, "But that's my fault, I guess."<br />
<br />
When Pepper had gone after this job everything she had told Prince was the truth. Mostly. When she got the name of the man she would hopefully work for from the employment agency--before she ever met him--she had gone sleuthing on the internet and found out what little she could about Prince Everhart. Along the way she found and downloaded pictures of him. She had immediately been so attracted to him that it frightened her. How could she get and keep this very enviable first job if she thought that way? And what if he actually flirted with her? She'd melt.<br />
<br />
Deciding that she would take her appearance down a peg or two she abandoned her contacts and found glasses she considered perfect for a staid, but skilled administrative assistant. She bought unfashionable, but businesslike clothing that she felt would keep Prince from looking at her as a woman so she would not have to worry about how she responded to him.<br />
<br />
It had worked quite well, in fact it had almost worked <i>too</i> well. She'd had to practically beg him for the position when it was obvious he thought she wasn't glamorous enough and was to naive to handle the job. Now that she had changed her mind and wanted him to see her as a woman, she could hardly just put on a tight short skirt and let down her hair and stroll in there without it causing a few questions. She could scarcely explain to him why she had misrepresented herself.<br />
<br />
She still valued the job on its own merits, not to mention she didn't want to be separated from him even if it was only in the work arena. Being shown the door would put an end to that, not to mention her career.<br />
<br />
There had to be a more subtle way to let Prince know that there was more to her than met his eye. Pepper wasn't married; she wasn't rich; she was not the kind of woman he liked to associate with, but maybe he could change his mind. Maybe he didn't really <i>know</i> his own mind...<br />
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<br />
Meanwhile, across town Prince was still struggling. Bags of blood stolen from the Bluewater Village Hospital or the local blood bank in Crystal River were not really adequate for Prince's needs, but he had been afraid to take too many bags, thereby calling more attention to the theft. He simply had to learn how to obtain blood "off the hoof".<br />
<br />
With that in mind he headed to Club Dante; a local club that he'd frequented often when he was a mortal, but hadn't visited in at least six months. It wasn't as fancy as some of the places he preferred downtown, but it was not a dive either. To his surprise it had now become an upright, downright restaurant and karaoke bar.<br />
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<br />
He recognized the owner, Brian Ottomas, who was tending bar that night. He'd always got along well with Brian and liked him.<br />
<br />
"So, Bri, a lot of changes here--the place looks great!"<br />
<br />
"Yeah, the changes are pretty recent, but they've been a big success. Haven't seen you in a while--how've you been, my man? You're not sporting your usual suntan--you must not have been to Belle Isle or Twikkii lately," Brian teased.<br />
<br />
"No, I haven't, guess I'm probably looking a little pale," Prince said and hurriedly changed the subject, "How is it you're not up at the front schmoozing people?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah, well, I'm shorthanded tonight," Brian admitted, "My wife has been hostessing weekdays but she's home tonight with our youngest who has a slight fever and sore throat. So I've been playing host part of the time, but running in to tend bar as well. Especially when I see one of my favorite confirmed scotch drinkers come in," he grinned.<br />
<br />
Realizing that Brian's attention would be divided due to these circumstances Prince was hopeful that any trolling for victims he did would pass unnoticed. He quickly finished his drink and told Brian he wanted to take a look around and might even stay for karaoke.<br />
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<br />
He preferred not to bite anyone he knew personally so when an anonymous yokel from Bluewater strolled in Prince knew he'd found his mark. This time he was careful to take time to chat him up and develop a rapport. And this time when he looked into the man's eyes Prince could feel a difference. He was easily in charge.<br />
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<br />
Finally he had learned the secret to getting someone to practically volunteer their warm red blood; they had to like him before he had power over them. He used his newly developed powers of mental persuasion to convince the donor that he'd had a fun summer night at Dante's, but went home early with a headache and on the way home had been bitten on the neck by black flies. Then Prince sent him home with these memories. He'd taken only as much blood as he needed. Unbridled greed, Prince had found, could bring about a downfall whether in the criminal world or the vampire.<br />
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<br />
No one seemed to have noticed him or his victim; Brian was busy dealing with customers up front. But Prince thought it best not to push his luck. He'd move on. The park in Pleasantview was on the way home and seemed a fairly good idea at that moment. But when he got there it was deserted.<br />
<br />
"I don't believe this is my life," he grumbled, "I'm hanging out at night in the park like a damn pervert. Jeez, I could have been home watching 'Restaurant Stakeout'." <br />
<br />
Prince had rarely watched TV for the last 10 years, except occasionally for sport games he had bet on. But since he'd been confined during the day he'd become addicted to HGTV and the Food Network. Trouble was he couldn't seem to figure out how the DVR worked, so he had to be home to watch his favorite shows.<br />
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<br />
After another 30 minutes with no one venturing into the park, Prince was ready to call it a night. He could supplement with the couple of bags of blood he had left.<br />
<br />
"That tears it," he said to himself, "Count Floyd said something about a witch reversing this...wait, it was a gypsy fortuneteller. I'm ready to pay her anything. I want my life back. I need my life back. All the things he told me about how great being a vampire is added up to a pile of slimy cowplop."<br />
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<br />
Once home he had things to do online--business that Pepper had sent for him to make decisions on as soon as possible. She kept worrying that he needed to see a doctor. He couldn't keep lying to her; actually for some reason he <i>hated </i>lying to her. As dawn approached he went upstairs to his bedroom. The coffin there was just one more reason he wanted out. He hated it. He wanted his bed back; he wanted his satin sheets back.<br />
<br />
He climbed in and as he started to lie back he made a vow that somehow this would be the last night he'd be a vampire sleeping in a stinking coffin. <br />
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<br />
The next evening Prince did something he'd been avoiding; he invited someone over to his place just so he could bite them. She was a girl who'd been coming on to him earlier at the <span class="st">Crypt O' Nightclub. A vampire wannabe, she said her name was Vi, short for Elvira, and she hinted that if he was a vampire she sure wished he'd turn her. After a while she more than hinted; she nagged. He pretended he didn't know what she was talking about but before he left she wrote her cell number down saying,</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">"You're not fooling me, gorgeous. If you change your mind call me at this number."</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">Once he got home and thought about it, well, why not? She wanted to be a vampire and he needed blood, so it could be a win-win situation for both of them, right?</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">Earlier, before he went out, Prince had found a gypsy fortune-teller in the yellow pages and called her. She said she couldn't see him until almost midnight. When he'd asked her where she lived she told him she would be happy to come directly to his house--for a small additional fee. </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">So if he was going to do this tonight he needed to get Vi in and out quickly, he still needed her blood just in case the gypsy never showed up. So he called the number and she answered before it could ring twice. She said she'd be there in ten minutes.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">"I left you downtown, how can you possibly be here that quickly?" he asked.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">"Oh, I knew I'd hear from you and you said you lived in Pleasantview so I drove to the roller rink to wait for your call, I'm in the parking lot."</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">True to her word ten minutes later she was banging impatiently on his door. When he let her in he went to the kitchen to make her a drink--he didn't want to just lunge at her. But Vi grabbed him and pulled his lips to hers. Okay, she was in a hurry evidently.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">With that Prince looked into her eyes--she had very sexy eyes, he realized--and then he bit her as she sighed in ecstasy.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Maybe he should have waited, he reflected, she was a hot little number. And once he was mortal again he had no intention of hooking up with a little she-vamp. Then he remembered he didn't do unmarried women. Single women were far too dangerous as they had nothing to lose and were always working the monogamous angle with an eye on eventual marriage. And Prince didn't want to be married.</span><br />
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<br />
<span class="st">He took some time to give Vi some tips, hints and advice, certainly more than Count Floyd had given him. He'd planned to do that while she had her drink; in case she wanted to pull out, but she'd not given him time.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">He walked her to the door and just before she left she turned a lusty, lurid smile on him and he was glad he was not yet human; she was spooky.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
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<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Prince went out to his porch to wait for the gypsy who was due any time. She arrived so quietly he almost jumped when he spied her there at the end of his walk. He quickly walked out to her. She had a crystal ball that she looked into for a bit while he peered over at it but he couldn't see a thing. Then she muttered some incantation and handed him a flask of clear iridescent purple fluid.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">"Drink it, but only when you are alone and inside your home."</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Prince looked at it a moment, wondering if this was the smartest thing he'd ever done or the dumbest.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">"Go inside and drink it!" she hissed, "It's your only hope! As a man you are a great success, not to mention extremely virile and very pleasing to the eye, but as a vampire you are an unmitigated disaster. Drink it!"</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">"Okay, okay," he handed her a large wad of cash and her eyes lit up.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">"See ya!" she saluted him and walked quickly down the street and into the woods.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
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<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Once in his living room with all the heavy drapes closed Prince drank all of the elixir; counting himself fortunate that it tasted like diluted grape juice. He shrugged and waited a few moments but nothing seemed to be happening,</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">"Hmm, I hope I didn't just get shafted by that snaggle-toothed old bag."</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
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<br />
<span class="st">Suddenly he felt as thought he were on fire, like every atom in his body was getting ready to explode. He ground his teeth in agony and thought he might pass out...at least he hoped he would.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next Update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-brothers-everhart-ch-22-its.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 21 It's A Beautiful Morning</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-69711266222659546452013-07-06T12:49:00.000-04:002013-07-20T21:01:54.458-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 20 Undead and Unhappy Pt. 1<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pepper Monaghan knew how to get things done quickly and thoroughly; she was very efficient. Regarding the heavy blackout drapes her boss had told her to purchase she'd lucked out and found exactly the size and amount she needed online. Since custom drapes were not needed after all and the company had the ones she ordered in stock they shipped them right away. They were coming via Next Day Air and would arrive today.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As Pepper parked her little car in front of the office building that housed Everhart Financial Services, she considered once again whether she should buy a new car. She'd bought this one used and it was not a looker in the first place. However; Pepper was quite a good mechanic having been taught by her late father. So while it was unimpressive on the outside; under the hood the motor looked and worked like a Swiss watch. She had a certain affection for the bright orange car and just couldn't bring herself to replace it yet.</span></span><br />
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<br />
The packages arrived soon after she got in the office and she checked to make sure they were all there and then piled them up inside Prince's office. He'd been quite specific that she leave them there, telling her that he would have someone come by after hours to pick them up. Of course, in reality, Prince would be the one picking them up, but he had to keep Pepper thinking he was still suffering from a severe case of flu.<br />
<br />
After she carried all the packages in Pepper looked around his office and sighed happily. A trace of his expensive and yummy cologne lingered in the air. Pepper tried not to sniff eagerly, but it was hard; frankly, she missed him more than she wanted to admit, even to herself. <br />
<br />
After lightly dusting the desk and bookshelves and making sure all was as it should be Pepper locked the door and moved to her own office. There wasn't as much to do right now with Prince gone. It had been necessary to cancel all his appointments for the time being and she couldn't even reschedule them yet because she had no idea when he'd be back to work. His clients were anxious to hear when that would be.<br />
<br />
"I'd like to know that myself," Pepper thought as she ate a lonely dinner in her apartment that night. When she'd first moved to Bluewater Village, she'd stayed at an inexpensive motel. Once she'd landed the job with Everhart Financial Services she'd hoped to be able to get a small apartment. Truly impressed and please with her work Prince had given her a raise and a bonus after the first week. This meant she could look at apartments that were a bit nicer. She finally settled on a lovely 2 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath apartment that she was subletting from John Lassiter who, from what she'd learned, was an even bigger name in the financial world than her boss. What was best of all; it had a large garage with plenty of room for her to be able to continue to keep her car in perfect shape.<br />
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<br />
Prince was, in fact, having a rough time of it but not because of any flu virus. He did not seem to be able to get the knack of biting someone successfully. Meanwhile, he'd had to sneak around the hospital at night and get a few bags of donated blood. It wasn't easy and it wasn't particularly good. Truth to tell, in spite of his previous light-fingered career, he'd felt strangely guilty about taking blood this way. He reasoned that it was donated by humans who meant it for other humans, most of whom were likely to be more deserving than Prince. Nevertheless he was desperate enough to take it.<br />
<br />
Just before Prince was bitten by Count Floyd, Prince had been dating a new woman; as usual she was rich and married. Pepper had called her and let he know he would not be around for a while. In fact, she was the second woman he'd taken up with since Katharine Burb's husband had caught them both at Midnight Flows nightclub thereby putting an end to that affair.<br />
<br />
Katharine had tried to contact him a few times immediately after the scene at the nightclub but Pepper took care of it as she always did. After one long phone conversation with the woman, though, Pepper had come to his office door and remarked,<br />
<br />
"I think she and her husband are going to stay together and try to work it out."<br />
<br />
Prince had paused and looked at her, raising one eyebrow; once he broke up with someone they were quickly forgotten and he didn't even like to hear their name much less a status report on them. Pepper looked away quickly; she had a particular yen for him when he did that eyebrow thing; she secretly called it his pirate look. <br />
<br />
"I know, I know," she had acknowledged with a tired nod, "But think of it this way, boss; if they stay together, she'll be too busy to call and harass me anymore and he'll be too busy to come over and bust you in the chops."<br />
<br />
"BUST me in the chops?" Prince had been incredulous.<br />
<br />
Looking back at him again Pepper had then begun to chew on her lower lip, backpedaling, and suddenly Price's eyes had been riveted to her mouth.<br />
<br />
"Um," she had fumbled, "I mean he won't be raging in the night planning revenge."<br />
<br />
"Yes, well, that's fine...I guess."<br />
<br />
Actually he hadn't known what else to say because he knew he needed to back off and not pressure her about her remark. He'd learned that every time she got anxious she unconsciously bit her lip. The problem was that she had these lovely plump lips and when she chewed on them it was extremely distracting to Prince. He didn't know why and he didn't want to find out why.<br />
<br />
At any rate, that was the last time Prince had even thought about Katharine and he old man. Until...<br />
<br />
...the first night after he was bitten and planned to head downtown to feed. He'd looked out the window because he thought he saw someone out there. It was Katharine's husband Josh Burb and he was muttering to himself and walking back and forth in front of Prince's house as though he were picketing.<br />
<br />
"Aha!" Prince thought, "He can just be my first victim. That's what he gets for skulking around here."<br />
<br />
He felt a little ashamed since his affair with Josh's wife was the reason that Josh was skulking. <i>Not that ashamed, though. </i><br />
<br />
Sure that he would now automatically be this suave and debonair vampire, Prince greeted him on the sidewalk. It was quite dark and there were hardly any other houses around Prince's home anyway. Josh was just glaring at him but said nothing, so Prince relented,<br />
<br />
"Okay, I'm gonna do you a favor; just take it on down the road and we'll let bygones be bygones."<br />
<br />
"<i>Bygones</i>?" Josh repeated angrily, "<i>Bygones</i>? I'll tell you about bygones--I--"<br />
<br />
Before could go any further Prince reared back and prepared to send a vampire whammy his way. At first it felt right but then...it fizzled. And then died.<br />
<br />
Josh looked at him quizzically and asked,<br />
<br />
"What?"<br />
<br />
Nothing was happening. Prince shook his hands trying to get sparks to come out as they had earlier and hastily warned Josh,<br />
<br />
"Look, I'm only giving you one more chance, buddy. Go home!"<br />
<br />
That really was pathetic Prince reflected. Go home? It sounds like I'm ordering the neighbor's dog out of the begonia bed.<br />
<br />
"Nope. Not going," Josh replied defiantly.<br />
<br />
Giving it one more try Prince aimed his piercing blood red eyes at Josh again, gesturing dramatically with his hands a la Count Floyd,<br />
<br />
"Look into my eyes; you are getting sleepy."<br />
<br />
Crossing his arms Josh stood there shaking his head,<br />
<br />
"So not happening."<br />
<br />
"This sucks scissors," Prince muttered to himself.<br />
<br />
"Sure does," Josh told him, finally irritating Prince.<br />
<br />
Okay, he thought, vampire or not, I've always been able to intimidate anyone I wanted to without any magic tricks. I'm not going to wait around for some vampire spell to work.<br />
<br />
He got up in Josh's face, doing his best goodfella impression and growled,<br />
<br />
"Either <i>you</i> are going to hit the road, Mr. Burb, or your face is. Repeatedly. Do you understand me?"<br />
<br />
Now Josh saw something in Prince's expression that he'd not seen before and suddenly he had an overwhelming desire to go home. And lock the doors and windows.<br />
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The rest of the night went the same, unfortunately. At the roller rink Prince ran into a guy he knew slightly so he gave it another shot. At first he thought it was gong to work; sparks shot from his fingers; weird lights like purple St. Elmo's Fire appeared. Then everything stopped; no lights, no magic and the guy was frowning at him and shaking his head. In fact, his hands felt like they were cramping a bit. Maybe he was trying too hard? If he ever saw Count Floyd again. Well, it was lucky he still had some blood bags in reserve in the fridge at home...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-brothers-everhart-ch-21-undead-and_11.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 21 Undead and Unhappy Pt. 2</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-34559993194994461552013-07-02T10:00:00.000-04:002013-07-06T17:39:07.879-04:00Brian Ottomas Ch. 24 It's Raining Kids Pt. 2<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Raine's home-schooled art lessons were coming along nicely. She longed to be able to do the kind of paintings her mother and Willow did, but knew that would take time.</span></span><br />
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When Heath and Willow were eating some leftovers as a snack the next day he said,<br />
<br />
"Jamie was asking about you the last time I was over there."<br />
<br />
He was referring to his girlfriend Maddie's twin brother.<br />
<br />
Willow ignored his remark and asked,<br />
<br />
"Want to jam after we eat?"<br />
<br />
"Willow. He's a nice guy and I think he really likes you. He's just kind of quiet and a little shy."<br />
<br />
"Why are you telling me this? He's a junior, I'm only a freshman. He's too old for me and Momma said I shouldn't think about dating until I'm 15. Besides, I don't want a shy boy."<br />
<br />
"Oh, really? You prefer to hang out with your friend Angelo? You really need someone who's laid back and mature, not a kid who likes to sneak out at night and take you with him. Besides, once Jamie gets to know you he talks all the time," then he added in parental tones, "I worry about ya, kid, and he'd be a steadying influence. You'd be safe with Jamie."<br />
<br />
"Oh, poo!," Willow huffed, "Angelo is a friend and that's all. You're just trying to sound like you're an adult or something and, anyway, I don't want to be 'steadied'. And I don't want to be 'safe'; I want to have fun. Things are never dull when I'm with Angelo"<br />
<br />
"We could double-date," Heath coaxed, "Maddie and I would be there to kind of break the ice and if we did that I know Momma would let you go."<br />
<br />
"Wow," Willow smirked, "Maddie must really be on you about this."<br />
<br />
Heath frowned since that really was part of the reason he was urging Willow so hard.<br />
<br />
"We-ell," she dragged out the word, looking off as if pondering hard. Then she said as though making a magnanimous gesture, "I'll...<i>think</i> about it."<br />
<br />
"Oh, just let me know when you're done thinking," Heath said dryly.<br />
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"Okay," she said in a perky voice, pretending not to hear his intended sarcasm, "I'll get back to you on that."<br />
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Raine was the youngest in the family and Brian always said she was well-rounded she was not only a daddy's girl, but also a mommy's girl. She always came over to hug her daddy before he left to go to Club Dante which he still owned and operated and which had recently become a restaurant that featured karaoke instead of a country-rock bar.<br />
<br />
The change to a full service restaurant was with the idea of expanding out, but it had been hard for Brian to make the decision to drop the idea of a live band and feature the karaoke instead. He was a long-time musician and even though he rarely played at his club any more, he sympathized with his house band. But they'd started with just a karaoke night and soon it was their busiest night. Karaoke was popular and practically no expense compared to a band. Commercially and financially it was the best idea.<br />
<br />
He'd found a good chef and they came up with a fairly large menu that emphasized casual dining for the smallish groups of people who usually showed up to do karaoke. Sandwiches and wraps, both hot and cold, enormous old-fashioned burgers, salads, both large and small and various side items like cheese fries, baked mac and cheese casserole, sweet potato fries, homemade barbeque beans, Old Bay fries and hand-battered onion rings were available. A couple of Brian's mothers best recipes were included; Mo Jo Chicken Sandwiches, Muffuletta To Die For and Pastrami Heaven on a Roll proved very popular.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The fare was not sophisticated but all the food was fresh and homemade; nothing frozen, nothing canned. Even though the bar served any kind of mixed drink, beer and wine, Brian had delicious non-alcoholic fresh fruit coolers available year round along with the usual soft drinks and tea. Peanut Butter cake and Peach Cobbler were the most popular desserts.</span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">MoJo Chicken Sandwich:</span></span></b><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Marinated pulled chicken, pineapple, honey mustard, mayo, hot peppers, shredded lettuce and melted Swiss on grilled flatbread</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pastrami Heaven on a Roll:</span></span></b><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Black peppercorn pastrami, turkey breast, cheddar cheese, tomato, sliced yellow onion, deli mustard and herb mayo on a toasted kaiser roll.</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Muffuletta To Die For:</span></span></b><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Served on a crusty top roll with layers of baked ham, provolone cheese, Genoa-style salami and Swiss cheese, topped with a zesty olive salad. Served with kettle chips.</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Meadow now began to work with Brian as the restaurant hostess. Brian hired another woman to hostess on the weekends, though. He'd begun to take Saturdays off, leaving the restaurant in the hands of his assistant manager. Meadow had been begging him to take a little more time,</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"The kids are growing up, Brian; Heath goes off to University this fall and Brook and Willow are right behind him, Rocky will be having his birthday. You don't want to miss these last moments of their childhood; <i>we</i> don't want to miss them. And the twins will be glad for any extra time you can give them."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You're right, sweetheart," he had agreed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Besides," Meadow grinned, "it gets really crazy around here on the weekends with every kid in Pleasantview plus our own six monsters. I really need your support."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So Brian had moved in an assistant manager who'd been recommended by his older brother, Dylan, and who soon proved he was more than up to the job. In fact, after a while Brian thought it might be possible to take a day off during the week from time to time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The three oldest babysat with the three youngest the evenings their parents worked. They actually liked each others company most of the time, besides when their parents were absent things were more relaxed than ever. Rocky thought it was cool that his older sisters and brother didn't really care if he jumped on the furniture, but they DID insist on choosing what would be on TV and on the kids finishing their homework first.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Saturday morning Brook and Willow came outside to where their father was trimming the bushes--the job was never done--and asked if they could throw a party that afternoon.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Brian laughed,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You mean all the kids who drop by and congregate here every weekend don't constitute a party?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Daddy. We're serious," Willow chided him, "We mean a real party where they all come at once because we invited them."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"How many?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Brook looked at Willow and Willow nudged her.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"It's just people who have been over here other times...um...Maddie, of course, and her brother Jamie, Angelo, Karen and Kirstie Burb and Christopher Cooke. Only six. Plus Heath and us," Brook said.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Brian sighed and wiped the sweat starting to appear on his brow,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Well, it's okay with me; but you'll have to convince your mother."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They rushed off to confront Meadow fully prepared to beg and grovel, but Meadow easily agreed saying,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I'll grill the burgers, but you girls will have to set up cold drinks and snacks and clean up after the party."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"We will! We will!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"There's another big bag of chips in the cupboard by the stove, Daddy just bought Coke and Sprite, I think it's still on the counter, and you know where the plastic cups and paper plates are."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ecstatic, the girls rushed off to follow her orders and call their friends.</span></span><br />
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The three younger kids were fishing at the little pond out front so they wouldn't be a problem. As soon as their guests arrived Brook took Jamie Candeloro with her to the pool. Kirstie jumped in a moment later. Heath had asked Brook to try to get Jamie and Willow together but Willow stayed out on the front porch playing "Don't Wake the Llama" with Karen and Angelo. Heath and his girl, Maddie, played Mah Jong on the other end of the front porch.<br />
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It was getting really hot and, rather than fighting for room in the pool, Raine, Rocky and North turned on the water wiggler.<br />
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As evening fell Meadow served up cheeseburgers for everyone including
Brian and "the littles" as Brook and Willow referred to Rocky, North and
Raine. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
In the background L to R: Angelo, Heath, Karen Burb and Maddie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the foreground L. to R.: Brook, Jamie, Christopher Cooke and Kirstie Burb</div>
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L. to R.: Rocky, North and Raine</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Background: Brian and "The Littles"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Table on the right L to R: Kirstie, Jamie, Christopher and Brook</div>
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Table on the left L. to R: Karen, Maddie, Angelo and Heath</div>
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Meadow, Brian and Willow</div>
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The party was a success and the girls gladly cleared the tables after saying goodbye to their guests. Heath took a garbage bag and policed up the yard where paper napkins and empty plastic cups had blown off the tables.<br />
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"We should have parties more often," Brook told Willow, "But we need to ask Momma way ahead next time."<br />
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"Yeah, maybe we could have some theme parties."<br />
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"But what kind of theme?"<br />
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"I dunno. Hmm, like maybe a 4th of July party and we could have sparklers and Daddy could get fireworks--" Brook contemplated.<br />
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"We're going to Grandma's for 4th of July, remember?" Brook sounded letdown.<br />
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Willow was not deterred in the least,<br />
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"Don't worry; I'll think of something. Maybe we'll have a labor day picnic or...fall is coming, maybe a harvest theme or there's always Halloween. The point is; we're good at this; we can be our own party planners."<br />
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Brook nodded, she knew Willow--and she WOULD think of <i>something</i>. Hopefully nothing that would get them in trouble....<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-brothers-everhart-ch-21-undead-and.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart Ch. 21 Undead and Unhappy Part 1</a></span><a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-brothers-everhart-ch-21-undead-and.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-72948709080036698952013-06-28T05:44:00.001-04:002013-07-03T15:11:53.908-04:00Brian Ottomas Ch. 24 It's Raining Kids Pt. 1<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brian and Meadow's house was a busy, noisy place most days and overflowed with activity and children of all ages. After school you would hear one or more kids playing the guitar, keyboard or drums in the music studio or out on the front porch, the TV or video games would be going full-blast. Often music poured from the various radios and CD players, in the kids' rooms. Between their dog, Elvis, barking to go out or barking to come in</span></span> and kids heading out to the yard or trooping inside the screen door slammed all day. Meadow or Brook would have the sewing machine humming, and over all that people laughed, droned and yelled. On the wide porch there were usually kids playing Don't Wake the Llama or Mah Jong. Small children usually congregated in the upstairs playroom or outside on the playground.<br />
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Somehow the Ottomas family home had become a mecca for all the Pleasantview kids, even thought it was the farthest away from the center of town (except for the Cullen house buried in the trees and halfway up the mountain).<br />
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At suppertime the meal often spread across the long dining room table and over to the kitchen island because anywhere from one to four additional kids had been invited to stay.<br />
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Randy Hanzlik was a frequent guest at the house; he was in the same class as Rocky and they loved to play cops and robbers. The living room was especially good for this since there was a big over-stuffed sofa, two over-stuffed love seats and an over-stuffed armchair. All made for soft landings when one had been shot to death.</div>
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Their preoccupation with a life of crime meant that little North could have the video games all to himself which was fine with him.</div>
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Raine and her friends, like Oona, still preferred the playroom and happily left the living room to the boys . When the weather was nice, of course, they played outdoors.<br />
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Brian still worked on keeping the spacious yard up between gardener visits and dog duties were divided between Meadow and Heath most of the time.<br />
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Following Heath's example Brook was learning to cook. But with so many people in the family and usually a couple guests Meadow made supper with her, grilling chicken outside while Brook made salmon or pork chops inside. The meals tended to be served with a different main course at each end of the table and the kids were used to seeing a big spread in between with plenty of vegetable offerings and fruit for dessert.<br />
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With the kids all in school, Meadow could now occasionally have a leisurely afternoon shopping and one of her favorite places was the Westbrook Candle & Gift Shoppe in Bluewater Village.<br />
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Elvis, while a huge scary looking dog if you didn't know better, was actually so laid back and friendly that even the gardener couldn't resist him. The usually tight lipped and grumpy woman was often seen petting and talking to him.<br />
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He loved to snooze in the sun especially when his family was out and about in the yard.<br />
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Brian was teaching his youngest son, North, to fish in their tiny pond. They usually threw the fish back. Meadow said they probably had the most tender-mouthed fish in the county and they should give the poor things a break and go fish at the park.<br />
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North had also expressed interest in learning the guitar and keyboard and was hinting that the family should get a real piano. There wasn't much more room left in the house though and certainly none in the music studio so it was unlikely his "hints" would prove successful. However his father was all for teaching him some other instruments.<br />
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Rocky used to love to play in the toilet and create watery mayhem as a toddler. Although he now stayed away from the toilet, thank goodness, when the sink recently overflowed he managed to stomp in the puddles for a while before he ran off to tell big brother Heath there was a slight problem.<br />
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"How long did you play in this?" Heath demanded when he went to the sink, wrench in hand.<br />
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"Huh?" Rocky hedged with an innocent look on his face.<br />
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"Your socks and shoes are soaked, squirt. How dumb do you think I am? Now the water has spread across the whole floor. Guess who's gonna mop it up?"<br />
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"Willow?"<br />
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Heath had to laugh,<br />
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"Negatory. You are gonna mop it up as soon as I'm done so don't go anywhere."<br />
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Heath started banging on the faucet while Rocky watched. Ordinarily he looked up to his brother but sometimes he was as bossy as Daddy and Momma. Oh, well, next year he'd have his birthday and then they would all have to give him respect. He went to go get the mop and bucket, his shoes squishing with every step.<br />
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Ty Generica and Skylar Scott dropped by one afternoon and they and Brook and Willow ended up playing backgammon. Ty was giving Brook lovestruck glances but it was no use. She was friendly but nothing more because most of her attention and effort was into qualifying for University. She was thinking of going into design. She was sixteen and a junior so she had a while to go, but school and an eventual career still occupied her mind a lot. She liked male attention she just preferred to keep it casual. Brook knew what she wanted and was determined to fulfill her dreams.<br />
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Willow, on the other hand, changed direction every other week thinking perhaps she'd be a vet, or a model or actress. Lately she'd decided she would go to art school and become an artist, specifically painting.<br />
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"I can understand wanting to pursue that, Punkin, and your mother and I both think you're quite good," Brian told her, "But it's an unsteady profession for the most part; remember you want to be able to support yourself. You've been saying you want to have an apartment by the time you're 21."<br />
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"Oh, but I don't need anything big or expensive; I'll be so busy at work and going out. Just as long as there's a bed, a bathroom and a hot plate, I'll be fine, Daddy. I can just eat out a lot at diners and Bill's Snappy Service and fix ramen noodles on the hot plate," she dismissed breezily.<br />
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"A minimalist, huh?" Brian couldn't help smiling, "Well, you have plenty of time to decide. You may feel completely different by the time you graduate."<br />
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Nodding vaguely, Willow went in the living room and flopped down gracelessly on the love seat. Brook, who had been listening rather than watching TV, now sat down daintily on the adjacent love seat. She learned toward Willow and hissed,<br />
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"Really, Willow! Why do you say stuff like that? Endless ramen and cheeseburgers?"<br />
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"Sounds good to me," Willow replied stubbornly.<br />
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"Well, how are you going to paint if you have this dinky little one-room dump, probably with only one tiny window?"<br />
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"So I'll go to the park to paint!" she tossed off, "Besides, I have to go to art school first. I'll figure out something; you have to suffer for your art to be good."<br />
<br />
Brook rolled her eyes, but her tone was a bit kinder,<br />
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"You're so infantile. I thought you wanted to be a vet."<br />
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"I did, but then I realized I'd have to go to school for forever. Anyway, I don't like to make plans and sink them in concrete like you. I might change my mind next year."<br />
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"Ha! You'll change your mind next week," Brook muttered darkly, "You're so random."<br />
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"Why are you giving me grief about this? Just worry about yourself, Miss-Hospital-Corners."<br />
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The girls glared at each other and went to their separate corners...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/07/brian-ottomas-ch-24-its-raining-kids-pt.html" target="_blank">Brian Ottomas Ch. 24 It's Raining Kids Pt. 2</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-74651810143256670822013-06-26T15:59:00.000-04:002013-07-06T17:26:06.955-04:00Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 12 He Ain't Heavy...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lonnie had planned on calling Heath but had to run some errands in town first.</span></span> While there he ran smack into the boy who acted polite but rather stiff,<br />
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"I know things haven't run so smoothly between us recently, Heath," Lonnie apologize, "And I know it's my fault, but I hope to rectify things. I'd like you to come to my house this weekend."<br />
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Heath looked almost stunned and Lonnie hurried on,<br />
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"I think it's well past time I had you over to meet your sisters."<br />
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Heath looked away a moment, quickly blinking back sudden and embarrassing tears.<br />
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"I already know Loni Faye, she just doesn't know I'm her half-brother."<br />
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"She does now. And both of them want you to come over."<br />
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Heath looked back and an eager look that nearly broke Lonnie's heart came over his face,<br />
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"Really?"<br />
<br />
"You'll come then?"<br />
<br />
"Well, if you think they want me to."<br />
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"I know they do and so do I."<br />
<br />
With that they both became at ease and began to talk about other things, mostly Heath's school activities and plans for going to University next year. By the time they parted both of them were wearing big smiles.<br />
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<br />
Upon returning home Lonnie announced to the girls that they would meet Heath on Saturday. Jenny had already said she would not come down from her room. She could have gone shopping or across the street to her best friend Bobbi Jo's house. The truth was even though she did not want to see Heath, nor watch Lonnie with him; she couldn't bear not knowing what was happening. If she stayed up in her room and didn't play the TV she could probably hear how it went.<br />
<br />
Saturday rolled around and when Heath arrived Lonnie was there to meet him on the walk. He seemed relaxed with his father; the way he used to be and Lonnie was relieved.<br />
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<br />
They came in the house and had just sat down when Liara came tearing into the room. It looked as though she was planning to take a header onto Heath's lap.<br />
<br />
"Whoa, baby, take a breath," Lonnie warned and she stopped dead, her eyes riveted on Heath. He had never seen his youngest daughter so enthusiastic in front of a stranger, or almost a stranger. That was usually Loni Faye's department.<br />
<br />
"Liara, right?" Heath grinned at her.<br />
<br />
She nodded mutely and plopped down cross-legged on the floor, looking at him like she was afraid he would disappear in a puff of smoke.<br />
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<br />
Lonnie Faye approached more slowly and cautiously. She rarely felt awkward in social situations, but she definitely did today. She knew who Heath was, of course, and he acted as friendly as he did at school, a confident easy smile on his face.<br />
<br />
"Hey, Loni Faye, nice to see you."<br />
<br />
She could not know, of course, but Heath felt equally off-balance, hoping the girls would accept him as a brother, but afraid to count on it. He told himself it didn't matter, but, of course, it did. Although he adored Brian, the man he considered his real father, he also desperately wanted to become close to his birth father. He wanted the approval of Loni Faye and Liara, but he was trying to act casual and yet to be himself just the same.<br />
<br />
He decided to start with the subject of music, which both he and Loni Faye liked. As their conversation grew more relaxed Liara sat down right between them; assuring she would be closer to Heath and would miss nothing. She could hardly take her eyes off Heath; he looked so much like her daddy except his skin was even darker. In her opinion Lonnie was the most handsome father in the world and now she was pretty sure Heath might be the most handsome brother. Wasn't she lucky?<br />
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<br />
Loni Faye and Heath had been playing a video game when Liara couldn't stand it any more and told him,<br />
<br />
"It's my birthday today, Heath. We're having cake and ice cream later, want to stay for supper?"<br />
<br />
Heath looked from her to Lonnie,<br />
<br />
"Well, I don't know..."<br />
<br />
He hadn't asked about Jenny in any way, but Lonnie realized that Heath guessed it might be uncomfortable if he stayed. Lonnie had told her
she could either stay in her room or get over it and come down. Whether
Heath stayed for supper or not shouldn't make much difference. Lonnie
could whip up something for their meal without much trouble.<br />
<br />
He nodded at him,<br />
<br />
"We would love to have you stay."<br />
<br />
Looking back at Liara Heath said,<br />
<br />
"I don't have a card for you or anything."<br />
<br />
"I don't care about that, please stay? Pretty please?"<br />
<br />
Her sweet little face looked so earnest, how could he say no?<br />
<br />
"Yeah, sure, I'll stay."<br />
<br />
He remembered then that he had an extra ten dollar bill tucked away, maybe Lonnie Faye would get him an envelope. Then Liara could take the money to Wal-Mart or wherever and buy something she wanted. Ten bucks wasn't much, but there ought to be some sort of toy she could get.<br />
<br />
When he agreed to remain for the celebration Liara started bouncing up on down on the sofa like a jumping bean. Lonnie looked at her, totally dumbfounded. It was hard to believe this was Liara, so quiet and usually so reserved with anyone outside her parents and Loni Faye. Yet he realized that from the moment she had learned she had a brother; she wanted him. Evidently not getting to meet and know Jenny's sons bothered her more than they realized. Besides, they were grown men while Heath was still in school and that made him more approachable in Liara's eyes.<br />
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<br />
Meanwhile Jenny sat up in her room mulling things over. Hearing Heath talk with her family filled her with sudden guilt. She began to realize she was being unkind to him and hurting her daughters as well.<br />
<br />
Jenny loved kids and she just couldn't bear that she might upset any child, even one who was nearly an adult. In fact, especially one who belonged to Lonnie because, of course, she still was crazy about him. Really, it didn't matter what had happened so long ago; he was with her now, right?<br />
<br />
So she made the decision to support Lonnie and befriend Heath.<br />
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<br />
To say Lonnie was surprised when she came downstairs was an understatement. In fact, both the girls' jaws dropped. She noticed the minute she came in Heath shot to his feet. He'd evidently been taught to be a gentleman in the old school way, she thought with admiration.<br />
<br />
"Hi, Heath, I'm Jenny. I'm sorry I didn't come down sooner, but I had to finish paying some bills," she lied coolly as she shook his hand, "We're so glad to have you in our home."<br />
<br />
"He's staying for my birthday, Momma!" Liara chortled, hopping from one foot to the other while Loni Faye looked at her in dismay.<br />
<br />
"He is? That's wonderful--I hope you like chocolate cake with cream cheese icing, Heath," Jenny cooed.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I like any kind of cake, ma'am. Thanks for having me."<br />
<br />
She began to talk to Heath about his plans for college--he'd recently attended an orientation ceremony there with Brian, as had Loni Faye and Jenny. Lonnie Faye was actually nearly eight months older than Heath but since her birthday was in November the school system had held her back a year in school. It had worked to her benefit in her parents' opinion; she had always easily excelled scholastically and been a bit more mature than her classmates. This was how she came to be in the same class as Heath.<br />
<br />
Lonnie was so happy at how Heath and his family was getting on he felt like singing. Then he looked over at Liara who was still agape, watching her mother and Heath, and said quietly,<br />
<br />
"Liara."<br />
<br />
She almost jumped and he patted up under his jaw indicating she should close her mouth. Snapping it shut, she blushed furiously. It wasn't the first time one of her parents had had to tell her that her mouth was hanging open.<br />
<br />
"You look simple-minded when you do that, Li," Loni Faye had often warned her.<br />
<br />
"I can't breathe if I don't leave it open! My nose holes are too small or something."<br />
<br />
"Nostrils. And you can't just walk around like that."<br />
<br />
"I'd like to see <i>you</i> live without breathing," Liara had grumbled.<br />
<br />
But, never mind about that, her interest was caught again my Heath.<br />
<br />
Scooping up the kitten Liara held her toward him and, interrupting his conversation with Jenny, she asked,<br />
<br />
"Like my kitty?" <br />
<br />
"I sure do."<br />
<br />
"She's named Tangerina, but we call her Tangee. Do you have a cat?"<br />
<br />
"No, we don't have a cat, but we have a big old dog named Elvis. He loves kids," Heath told her.<br />
<br />
"He sounds nice, but no kitty? Well, you can share Tangee--you're family," Liara dimpled as Heath cuddled the kitten.<br />
<br />
She was a cutie all right, Heath thought, no doubt about it. He had a feeling she'd get along perfectly with his kid sister, Raine. Maybe that would never happen but he couldn't help but wonder if there was a way.<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Well, I'm going to get started on dinner--I hope you like spaghetti and meatballs, Heath," Jenny smiled.<br />
<br />
"Oh, yes, ma'am," he assured her.<br />
<br />
Lonnie stood up, his eyes on hers,<br />
<br />
"I'll help you."<br />
<br />
He followed her into the kitchen. She'd made him very happy and he wanted her to know it.<br />
<br />
Loni Faye didn't bring it up until her mother went in the other room, but then she began quietly asking questions about Heath's brothers and sisters. He didn't seem to mind at all and was happy to describe each one.<br />
<br />
"We have three other brothers and a sister, but we've only met our sister. She's really nice and we go over there for the weekend sometimes," Liara blurted. She looked around then whispered hoarsely, "Momma was married before, but then she left and moved to this house. She was a diff...a diff...she was a difforcy, you know. then she married Daddy."<br />
<br />
Loni Faye was mortified and said in a strangled voice,<br />
<br />
"Liara Kaye! The word is divorcee--why don't you just get a microphone!"<br />
<br />
Heath smiled at Liara who looked crushed and then said to Loni Faye,<br />
<br />
"No biggie, lots of people are divorced and marry again. Kids are just blunt and they call'em as they see'em; at least I know my kid sister and brothers do.<br />
<br />
Liara beamed at him, unconsciously batting her eyelashes, then turned furiously to her sister,<br />
<br />
"You're not the boss, Loni Faye--DAD'S the boss. You're the not."<br />
<br />
That cracked Heath up,<br />
<br />
"Man, she's a trip!"<br />
<br />
Perhaps Liara was more like Willow than Raine he chuckled to himself.<br />
<br />
When supper was over, Lonnie brought out the cake they'd been hiding in his office and told Liara to make her wish.<br />
<br />
His eyes were a bit misty as he watched his youngest daughter prepare to become a teenager. She looked at everyone and said quietly,<br />
<br />
"I wish I would always be as happy as I am today!"<br />
<br />
Everyone applauded as she blew out the candles, even Loni Faye, who said,<br />
<br />
"That's a perfect wish, Li."<br />
<br />
They all tucked into the cake amid talk of Liara going to high in two days.<br />
<br />
Now when Loni Faye went on about people or events Liara would know what she was talking about. And she would get to see Heath and his sisters at school!<br />
<br />
Lonnie looked at Jenny, a warm look in his eyes and she looked almost startled.<br />
<br />
"Thanks, babe, you<span style="font-size: small;">'re</span> the best," he told her.<br />
<br />
Finally a soft smile appeared on her face. It would be all right.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/06/brian-ottomas-ch-24-its-raining-kids-pt.html?zx=28a30ef2d01ff346" target="_blank">Brian Ottomas Ch. 24 It's Raining Kids Part 1</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-85718373267855238872013-06-10T13:28:00.000-04:002013-06-29T16:01:33.974-04:00Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 11 Lonnie Tells the Girls<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lonnie stood in the doorway to the studio where his daughters were painting.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Girls, let's go sit at the kitchen table; I need to talk to you about something serious. Bring your brushes so you can wash them before we get started."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because of his voice and expression they said nothing; just put down their paint palettes, took their brushes in hand and meekly followed him into the kitchen. </span></span><br />
<br />
Suddenly Liara was filled with concern that Jenny might be physically ill--seriously ill--especially since she had remained upstairs.<br />
<br />
Loni Faye was terrified that her father would say they were getting a divorce.<br />
<br />
Once their paint brushes were clean and laid out on a towel by the sink, the girls joined their father at the table.<br />
<br />
"First of all, you two need to know that I love you both very much, and I love your mother. This is something that started out being separate from our lives together but can no longer remain that way. You know now that your mother had four children from her first marriage."<br />
<br />
"Yes, Daddy," Loni Faye said.<br />
<br />
Liara nodded, looking worried, and asked,<br />
<br />
"Is Chelsea okay? We haven't been over there for a while."<br />
<br />
"She's fine as far as I know. And you have three half-brothers that you haven't met yet."<br />
<br />
This was old news and they just waited for him to come to the point.<br />
<br />
"The thing is," he swallowed as he looked at Liara's little sweet face growing more tense. This was more difficult than he'd even thought it would be, but he went on, "You have another half-brother that you don't know about and that you haven't met, Liara. But it's likely Loni Faye knows him."<br />
<br />
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<br />
Loni Faye looked at him like he'd lost his mind,<br />
<br />
"I know him?"<br />
<br />
"Probably, he goes to school with you."<br />
<br />
Suddenly the girls began to pepper him with questions.<br />
<br />
"Who is he? What's his name?"<br />
<br />
"I'll get to that in a moment," He addressed Loni Faye. <br />
<br />
"So Momma had a fifth baby?" <br />
<br />
"No," he answered Liara, "This boy is not your mother's son. He is my son with someone else."<br />
<br />
"Were you married before like Momma was, then?" <br />
<br />
"No, baby, Momma is the only wife I've ever had."<br />
<br />
He glanced at Loni Faye who returned his look, worry on her face. She was guessing what he was talking about, but how would he explain this to Liara? <br />
<br />
"Before I married your mother, there was a period when we broke up and decided to go our separate ways," Lonnie said.<br />
<br />
"Was that when Momma was pregnant with me?"<br />
<br />
He nodded. He knew Loni Faye thought that he and Jenny had chosen to get pregnant; she did not know that her mother had deliberately set out to get pregnant without telling him. He didn't really want to tell her now when it could affect her relationship with her mother. And she might even start to think he had not wanted her. He had not known but once he knew--he wanted her.<br />
<br />
"Yes, it was. Unfortunately we were both acting like idiots, I was running away and your mother was...well, let's say she was trying to deal with the way I was then."<br />
<br />
Liara still looked confused but said nothing.<br />
<br />
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<br />
"So during that time I dated several women. I didn't know it then but one of them got pregnant, but never told me. Not until a few years ago. She had a son and wanted me to know because she had just told him about me. He wanted to see me, although he was a bit torn, and I definitely wanted to see him. He was eleven years old and I started taking him places and getting to know him. He's 17 now and a senior. His name is Heath Ottomas.<br />
<br />
Both girls looked stunned,<br />
<br />
"But, Daddy, I know Heath. We're both in band!" Loni Faye burst out, "How will I look him in the face again?"<br />
<br />
Liara almost whispered,<br />
<br />
"I know Willow and Rocky Ottomas."<br />
<br />
"That's right, Willow is his half-sister and Rocky is his half-brother," Lonnie nodded, "Are they in the same class with you, Li?"<br />
<br />
"Um, Willow is older she started high, but I guess Rocky is younger," Loni Faye answered for Liara, "But we had her over for a play date with Liara a couple years ago. Daddy, why didn't you tell us?"<br />
<br />
"Because I was a coward about dealing with it," he admitted honestly.<br />
<br />
The sisters looked at each other; they knew who he was scared to tell. That's why he and Momma had a fight and that's why she hadn't come back downstairs. Loni Faye could see why her mother would be upset; but she was totally devoted to her father. And she had been resenting Jenny's constant jealousy of Lonnie for a while.<br />
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<br />
Liara didn't seem to be worrying about any of that,<br />
<br />
"A brother--a real brother we could actually talk to," she suddenly looked hopeful, "Can we meet him? Does he know about us?"<br />
<br />
"Yes, he knows about you. And I would like to have him come here, meet you and get to know you and I'd like you to get to know him."<br />
<br />
Lonnie was beyond surprised when Liara, usually more reticent than the outgoing Loni Faye, clapped her hands in delight.<br />
<br />
"I can't wait!"<br />
<br />
Loni Faye frowned and ventured,<br />
<br />
"What about...you know...what about Momma?"<br />
<br />
"I'll handle that," he assured her quietly.<br />
<br />
She shook he head doubtfully,<br />
<br />
"Heath is way popular. Um, are you sure he'll want to come?"<br />
<br />
"Sweetheart, as far as I can tell <i>you</i> are "way popular". It's a miracle you don't happen to hang out together."<br />
<br />
"No, I'm a band geek, but he's like a triple-threat Superboy; he's not just in band, he plays football and basketball, he's on the debating team and the swim team. All these girls are after him but his girlfriend, Maddie, is the only one he pays attention to. I'm not saying he's stuck up because he isn't, it's just..this is so weird. I can't believe he knew and I didn't. I feel like a dork."<br />
<br />
"It's not either weird, Loni!" Liara protested, "I always wanted a brother. When can we meet him Daddy?"<br />
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<br />
"Hopefully as soon as I can arrange it. Now, I suggest you don't talk about this with your mother until and unless she brings it up herself," Lonnie regretfully warned them.<br />
<br />
"Don't worry about that," Loni Faye muttered darkly, "I'm not suicidal."<br />
<br />
Liara looked at her father solemnly and then pantomimed "zipping" her lips and locking them with an imaginary key.<br />
<br />
"I understand; your lips are sealed," he couldn't resist smiling, "I think now it might be good to get this off your mind for a while. Would both of you help me in the kitchen? I'm going to make breakfast for dinner--sausage pancakes or western omelets?"<br />
<br />
"Pancakes!" both girls chorused, smiling.<br />
<br />
Lonnie suddenly remembered that not much interfered with youngsters' appetites for sweets, even after an emotional revelation.<br />
<br />
"Go wash your hands then, and put the brushes back in the studio," he said as he headed to the refrigerator.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/06/jenny-lomax-hammond-ch-12-he-aint-heavy.html" target="_blank">Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 12 He Ain't Heavy...</a></span><b><br /></b></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-91532800701834373172013-06-05T20:02:00.001-04:002013-06-27T02:00:07.793-04:00Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 10 Dropping the Bomb Pt. 2<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Upstairs at the Hammond home Lonnie and Jennie were still arguing in their bedroom while their two daughters painted pictures downstairs in the studio.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I want to bring Heath over here next weekend, just for supper. I'll cook the meal; you won't even have to worry--" Lonnie said.</span></span><br />
<br />
"Meadow Thayer...Meadow Thayer," Jenny searched her memory and then snapped her fingers, "Oh, yes, she was that bleached blonde--the corporate executive. Bobbi Jo told me about her when Larry Max and I first moved here. But now I realize I saw her up at Goth's Apparel a couple years ago, I just didn't know it was her."<br />
<br />
Then she sniggered a bit,<br />
<br />
"She said the woman rode a Harley to her office and was one of those tree huggers; everything had to be natural and she believed in all that new age stuff. She retired with a ton of money while she was still in her early thirties, right?"<br />
<br />
He couldn't help thinking that if Meadow was a bleached blonde then she must be bleaching her kids' hair, too. Every one of them except Heath was nearly platinum blonde. Lonnie was an even-tempered man who was getting ticked off at Jenny's sneering. She did tend to have a mean mouth when she was mad.<br />
<br />
"Ya know, I really don't remember discussing her life philosophy or the balance in her bank account. Frankly, I was only with her because I was terrified of fatherhood and marriage and trying to get over you."<br />
<br />
"Oh, I'm sure you had much more on your mind than her political views, babe. How do you <i>know</i> for sure he's your child, anyway?"<br />
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"She volunteered to have a paternity test done, but the minute I saw his photograph and even more when I met him in person there was no way I could deny him. He looks just like me, Jenny."<br />
<br />
Jenny flinched as if she'd been slapped and her eyes filled. She batted her eyelashes swiftly; forcing back the tears,<br />
<br />
"Really, Lon? And all this time I thought the girls looked just like you."<br />
<br />
Lonnie looked stricken; he didn't know what to say. Of course she was right; they had his black hair and his big brown eyes. They were really a blend of both he and Jenny, having her chin and nose. But Heath looked almost exactly like Lonnie and not at all like Meadow except his complexion was darker like hers. After a few awkward moments of silence Jenny asked in a tired voice,<br />
<br />
"And just what is it you want me to do about all this?"<br />
<br />
"Well, I didn't know if you'd want to be with me when I told the girls. You know; so we could present a united front."<br />
<br />
"Hah! Not likely. You can tell them about your sordid affairs without me being there. Just keep in mind how young Liara still is."<br />
<br />
"I'll keep it in mind, but she has to know. I want him to come here to the house--will you meet him?" he went back to feeling like a scumbag.<br />
<br />
"No. I don't want any part of him. What do you expect of me, how much do you think I can take? Knowing you slept with that blonde biker chick--how many times? And gave her a son. Does Brian know the boy is not his?"<br />
<br />
"Yes, she said he's known all along. He was just a friend until after Heath was born and then they got married when Heath was about six months old."<br />
<br />
Jenny mulled that over,<br />
<br />
"Well, I guess Brian must be more forgiving than I am. Of course, it didn't come as a surprise to him like it has to me."<br />
<br />
"There was nothing to forgive--Meadow says they've been friends since high school. When he found out she was pregnant he began coming by her house to check on her and then she asked him to stay with her until the baby came. Which he did and which I'm glad he was there for Heath when I wasn't."<br />
<br />
"So I suppose by then he'd fallen for her," Jenny said cynically, "Ain't love grand?"<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Meadow and Brian...and Heath</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Look, you know now there is no big romance between Meadow and me, never WAS a big romance. If I hadn't already been in love with you way down deep, maybe there could have been something, it's true. As it was I was just fighting my feelings for you."</span></span><br />
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Jenny wanted to believe that, but her former confident ways had begun to disappear soon after meeting Lonnie. Her constant obsession about growing old had eaten away at her former self-assurance. She had never been a jealous or insecure woman until she fell in love with Lonnie.<br />
<br />
She shrugged,<br />
<br />
"Well, if you are determined to do this I can't stop you but I don't want to see him."<br />
<br />
"Babe, I know this is a shock; I truly am sorry about that. And I understand why you're mad at me and maybe even at Meadow although she didn't know about you and me at the time. But why take it out on an innocent kid? He didn't do anything wrong, not any more than Loni Faye can be blamed for the dishonest way she was conceived. You tricked me. I love her and Liara more than anything or anyone but you. Still, you were sneaky about it. But I thought you had more compassion than this," he knew he was digging his own grave but couldn't seem to stop himself.<br />
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He wished he hadn't mentioned the last couple sentences, but he had pushed him to the limit. Her look of shock and then fury at his words made him ashamed for referring to the fact that Jenny had, indeed, deliberately gotten pregnant before they had broken up. She claimed it was so she'd have a child of his to remember him by but he knew her too well; she'd done it to hang on to him. Then she'd kept it a secret for awhile and that had always bothered him. He took a deep breath,<br />
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"I'm telling the girls now and then as soon as possible I'm inviting him over here, if he'll come. I've waited so long that I'm pretty sure I've hurt him. I would love you to meet him, but he's coming whether you will or you won't."<br />
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"I'm not going to meet him; I'm not going to talk to him. I can't believe you are dragging the girls through all your dirty laundry just to meet a boy who was a mistake and probably has the morals of his hippie mother." she couldn't seem to make up her mind whether Meadow was a biker chick, an executive with too much money, or a hippie.<br />
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"Jennifer!" Lonnie's voice was deep and uncharacteristically severe as his temper completely boiled over, "Don't you dare talk to me about mistakes, dirty laundry and morals. Both you and I romped around with half of the people in this town. The girls have half-brothers on your side that they haven't even met because they wouldn't talk to you for years after you cheated on their father."<br />
<br />
"You were the one I cheated with!" she replied, stung.<br />
<br />
"Yeah, me and how many other guys, babe? And not all of them were before you met me. Now I love you, Jenny, but if I ever hear you say something unkind to this boy or about this boy, I swear," he stopped himself with difficulty, but calmed his voice, "Before he gets here you can either go somewhere or stay upstairs. Do NOT come downstairs unless you can be civil."<br />
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"You're saying I'll be confined to my bedroom in my own house?" she laughed, "I don't think so."<br />
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"Don't push me any further, Jenny. If you don't want to stay upstairs, then act like an adult and be there when the girls meet him or go across the street for one of your endless gossip sessions with Bobbi Jo or take her out to lunch or just go shopping. I'm going to try to get him to come next weekend."<br />
<br />
"But next Saturday is Liara's birthday!"<br />
<br />
"I know that, but we won't have her cake and gifts until after supper; he'll be gone by then."<br />
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He'd thrown down the gauntlet. It remained to be seen what Jenny would do. Meanwhile, Lonnie had to find the words to tell Loni Faye and Liara.</div>
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Jenny watched as he left their bedroom and headed downstairs to explain to their daughters why and how they had another half-brother they'd never met.</div>
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She cried silently for a while and then swallowed a Xanax. Evidently Lonnie still resented things she'd done because she'd thought they were necessary. And it was all so long ago it didn't seem fair to her. She didn't realize that if she'd simply cried and told him her pain without the sarcasm and waspishness he would have been more understanding and supportive. She still never had learned she was usually her own worst enemy. Depression and denial hit and she undressed and got into bed even though it was early. She just wanted to sleep; she just wanted to escape.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/06/jenny-lomax-hammond-ch-11-lonnie-tells.html" target="_blank">Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 11 Lonnie Tells the Girls</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-26228215109782851882013-05-29T21:39:00.000-04:002013-06-27T01:58:01.032-04:00Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 10 Dropping the Bomb Part 1<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lonnie Hammond, owner and manager of the Le Magnifique Restaurant, was ordinarily not an introspective man. He preferred to keep things easy and simple. He had two young daughters and a pretty wife, Jenny, and he loved all three of them dearly. So when his attention wasn't focused on his restaurant it was on doing things with his family.But over the last four or five years he did have one thing that continually rode him because he had yet to deal with it or the repercussions.</span></span><br />
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Lonnie and Meadow Thayer had only dated a few times during the period when he and Jenny were struggling with their relationship and had broken up. He dated 3 or 4 other women at the time as well, but Meadow was his favorite. The short affair was soon over and Lonnie had gone back to Jenny, this time permanently.<br />
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Six years ago Meadow, now Mrs. Brian Ottomas, had
called him out of the blue and asked him to meet her in town. There she
proceeded to tell him that he had fathered a son; she was the mother,
and the boy was then eleven years old. Any disbelief on his part ended
when she showed him a photo. The son, Heath, looked just like his
father, there was no mistaking it.<br />
<br />
Meadow and Brian had five other children now besides Heath. She had become involved with and married Brian after Heath was born. She also told Lonnie that Brian had adopted Heath when he was a baby.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>For a recap of Heath's birth see </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2011/03/brian-ottomas-ch-2-when-sunny-gets-blue.html" target="_blank">Brian Ottomas Ch. 2 When Sunny Gets Blue </a></b></span></div>
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Lonnie was anxious to meet the boy, but he put off telling his wife.
Jenny and their daughters knew nothing about Heath. Meadow introduced to
his son at last over at her home where she felt Heath would be relaxed. <br />
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Lonnie had begun seeing his son monthly and taking him to various places like the park, the movies, the skating rink--all public places. Heath had been cautious at first but they'd become friends as both of them relaxed.</div>
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Pressure to tell his wife and daughters built up but Lonnie still dreaded telling Jenny so he continued to delay. At first Heath had peppered him with questions about his half-sisters and Lonnie's life with them but after a while he stopped. After two or three years, as Heath hit his teens, he became withdrawn and moody as many teenagers do and not only quit enquiring about his sisters and even cancelled a few get-togethers with Lonnie. The monthly visits dropped to bi-monthly and then a couple times a year. When Lonnie had been turned down so many times and faced with his only son's seeming apathy he had quit trying.</div>
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Heath was in his senior year now and it had been eight months since Lonnie saw him. It had become a painful subject to Lonnie and so he pushed it to the back of his mind. However; he finally realized that he had to tell Jenny and the girls, maybe if Heath felt that Lonnie was proud to have them meet him he might thaw a bit. Besides he owed it to his family to be truthful.</div>
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It was late on a Monday afternoon and Lonnie's day off when he said to Jenny,</div>
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"I have something to tell you. Let's go upstairs."</div>
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Jenny nodded and followed him up to their bedroom, but her forehead creased immediately with concern. They started out calmly enough, sitting on adjacent comfy armchairs in the corner of their bedroom. </div>
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"Well, what is it?" she prompted somewhat impatiently. It didn't fill him confidence.</div>
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"Remember when we broke up and then kept going back and forth before Loni Faye was born? You knew I dated some other girls during that period."</div>
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Jenny tensed but she put on a bored and cynical act,</div>
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"Yes, I did know, but I certainly hope you don't expect me to keep track of all your conquests back then."</div>
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Lonnie paused and then rushed ahead,</div>
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"I don't know how to tell you this, except to just tell you. It turns out I have a son by another woman. I didn't know, of course, not right away."</div>
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Her face froze as she tried to absorb what he was saying,</div>
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"What do you mean you have a son by someone else? Who? Who is the little witch?"</div>
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He could see Jenny getting ready to blow.</div>
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"Now, honey, keep in mind, I didn't know. Her name is Meadow Thayer, well it was Thayer now she's Meadow Ottomas. She's married to Brian Ottomas, you know, he owns Club Dante around the corner from Le Magnifique?</div>
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Jenny's mouth dropped open. Talk about a one-two punch; she'd had a fling with Brian just before meeting Lonnie. Not something she had particularly wanted Lonnie to know. She still didn't want him to, especially since she'd have to think about how she might use the information for her own benefit.</div>
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"When did you find out, anyway?" she asked, suddenly suspicious.</div>
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"Well, a few years ago."</div>
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"A few years ago! When were you planning on telling me? In fact, you've hidden it so well, why tell me now?"</div>
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He hated it when Jenny got all sarcastic and catty. </div>
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"I was going to tell you as soon as I got up my nerve, but obviously that didn't happen until today. I was seeing him fairly often, but the we just sort of drifted apart. It recently occurred to me that he might have been hurt that I'd never introduced him to Loni Faye and Liara and so it's been eight months since I last saw him. I just can't get him off my mind and I miss him."</div>
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Jenny narrowed her eyes,</div>
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"I. Want.To. Know. About.This. Meadow. Person."</div>
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"It was no big thing with us, Jenny. She admitted she just used me like a sperm donor, frankly. She's married and has 5 other kids besides Heath."</div>
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"But now she wants you back in her life?"</div>
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"No! She's HAPPILY married, I told you. When she told me about Heath I wanted to meet him. Jenny, he's a great kid; you'd like him. I know it's a lot to ask but I want to tell the girls. I want Heath to get to know them and them to know him.</div>
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For the first time in 20 years, Jenny wished she had a cigaret.</div>
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"Lon, I'm trying to stay calm here. You tell me that you have a son by some other woman. She got pregnant, you say, while we were broken up. I was already carrying Loni Faye then, right?"</div>
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"That's right. It was while you and I were apart. You knew I was seeing other women, then. Said you didn't care."</div>
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That made Jenny furious because, of course, Lonnie was right. She'd known he was seeing other women again and had told herself she didn't care.</div>
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<b>For a recap of the Jenny and Lonnie's courtship and leading up to Loni Faye's birth, see this</b></div>
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<a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2011/02/lomax-family-ch-5-amour-fou.html?zx=5e27a23b0af930dc" target="_blank"><b>Jenny Lomax Ch. 1 Amour Fou</b></a></div>
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"Okay," she replied, "If you want to continue seeing him--what's his name again--Keith?"</div>
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Lonnie gave her the stink-eye which Jenny ignored,</div>
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"It's Heath."</div>
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"If you want to continue seeing 'Heath' I can't stop you, but I don't want the girls dragged into this."</div>
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"Jenny, if we don't tell them they'll find out somehow--as it is, they're going to be upset they didn't know sooner--I mean Loni Faye must see him in school all the time."</div>
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Meanwhile, downstairs in the tiny studio, Loni Faye and Liara were home from school and painting. They could bear their parents' voices getting more agitated but they couldn't tell what was being said.</div>
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"Think Daddy wants Momma to stay home from the restaurant like he asked you to do?" Liara finally ventured.</div>
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Loni Faye frowned. She hated that her little sister had to hear her parents fighting.</div>
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"No. At least I don't think so. He wants me to quit working there until after graduation. He said I need to be able to attend all the senior events that are coming up and to work hard on my classes so I can go to University. But why would he want Momma to stay home?"</div>
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Liara looked around the room fearfully as though checking for listening devices,</div>
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"Well, he might do it because Momma gets so mad if there's a pretty woman there at the restaurant and Daddy is even friendly to her. And you know Daddy has to be nice to all the people who come there. I wish Momma would be happy more often. She's so pretty and when she smiles--"</div>
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"Liara, honey, I know she does get jealous and I know Daddy isn't doing anything except being the owner of a fancy restaurant. He's pretty goodlooking for an older man so I see women do flirt with him, but he's always just polite to everyone. He has to kind of schmooze with customers you know. But I think the reason she worries so much is because she's older than Daddy and she told me that before they got married he had like a gazillion girlfriends."</div>
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"When I get married it will be to a man who has never had any girlfriends at all before he met me," Liara pouted darkly.</div>
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"Good luck with that," Loni Faye laughed, "You're too young to worry about that anyway."</div>
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"Well, my birthday will be here soon and--oh, no my French blue got dried out. Do we have any more of that?" Liara asked.</div>
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"Yes, here's another tube. But you need to be more careful about putting the top on tight, Li."</div>
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Liara shrugged and sighed,</div>
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"I know," she sounded a bit fatalistic and then the voices upstairs got even more vehement and she turned to her sister, tension clouding her face, "They're getting louder, Loni."</div>
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"I'll put my new CD on--you haven't heard it yet anyway--and we'll crank up the volume."</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/06/jenny-lomax-hammond-ch-10-dropping-bomb.html" target="_blank">Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch 10 Dropping the Bomb Part 2</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-31057560552082560082013-05-10T14:17:00.000-04:002013-06-27T01:57:09.346-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 19 Some Dreams Come True<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres was insistent that he and Sofia get married as soon as possible. But she wanted to make her own wedding dress and Perry's parents, Phil and Rhonda, had just left Perry and Lalique's house to return to their home on Hilton Head Island. Obviously, Sofia wanted to leave them enough time that they could come back for their wedding.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The guest list was small; besides Phil and Rhonda, his kid brother, Parker and whoever he was currently dating, Perry and Lalique, and Sofia's sister, Thalia, and her housemate, Jerri. They had worked the date around so Phil and Rhonda could attend and stay with Dion during the honeymoon, but unfortunately that meant her youngest sister, Anneliese, could not be there as she was taking a vacation in Greece. It looked like Pres' third brother, Prince, would be a no show. He didn't seem to be at his home and had left no word with anyone. Not really an unusual thing for him to do, he often took long weekends at exotic locales, but ordinarily he did try to make himself available at big and important family affairs. Pres left message after message but Prince was either not answering or his phone was out of range.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Probably on some tropical island with three women," he joked to Parker, nudging him. He could afford to laugh since he would soon be on a tropical island with his own woman. Who needed three when he had Sofia?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"What's wrong with that?" Parker grinned wickedly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres shrugged as a smile tugged at his lips,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I'm tellin' ya, kid, one of these days his outrageous behavior's gonna get him in hot water...I mean, like <i>boiling</i> water. Whatever you do, don't take after him."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dion had no thoughts on any wedding, but he was surprised and pleased to have his father in the house with him all the time. Pres had been working on getting a "daddy" out of him that was actually understandable.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The day of the wedding dawned clear, bright and hot, which was good since they had planned a wedding outdoors in the side yard. Sofia had been having qualms about it all through the preparations and was still concerned.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"What if it rains tomorrow---what if it just pours?" she asked her sister, Thalia, who was helping with every aspect of the wedding.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thalia had accepted Pres into their family to everyone's surprise. She'd always liked him, really, up until she found out about the existence of Arlene Jankowski, compounded by Sofia's pregnancy. But once Sofia had explained everything and was now so happy to be with Pres Thalia decided to just forget the bad stuff and give him another chance. If he didn't make her happy this time, though, watch out. Besides, the truth was she loved her nephew way too much to give grief to his father now that they were a family.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Honey, be happy; everything is good; everything is in control," she advised Sofia now, hugging her, "Your wedding will have your favorite colors, pink and rose, just about everywhere--it's gonna be beautiful. The dress you made is gorgeous--Pres will flip over it when he sees it. His parents got in yesterday and are over at Perry's house. Rhonda brought a beautiful dress that blends right in with yours," Thalia assured her, "By the way, your new mother-in-law is just the sweetest thing I've ever met--except for you, of cour<span style="font-size: small;">se,</span> 'Fia."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As far<span style="font-size: small;"> as both her sisters were concerned, Sofia<span style="font-size: small;">, although the middle child, was treated more like the "<span style="font-size: small;">baby" sister.</span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Parker kept Pres away from the house that morning; having him shower and dress at Parker's apartment. Now Pres stood at the bower of flowers and watched while Sofia emerged from the house and walked slowly toward him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She wanted to remember every moment of this day. As far as she was concerned her dream had finally come true. It had taken longer than she had originally hoped, but it was all the sweeter for that. When she stood across from Pres she was amazed to see tears in his eyes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You've never been more beautiful, baby, never," he whispered, taking her hand.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They spoke their vows and Pres placed the ring on her finger and she did the same for him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After they kissed briefly the small group of people burst into applause and Thalia broke rank and sang out,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Way to go, Sofia! All right!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the patio under the shade Dion played with his ring stack toy while Pres and Sofia enjoyed several more kisses. And then the guests start<span style="font-size: small;">ed</span> looking longingly toward the refreshment tables where there was plenty of chilled champagne to slave the powerful thirst worked up in the hot sun.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Toasts to the bride and groom were barely finished when, of course, it started to rain. Thalia quickly enlisted everyone's help in moving the tables and food, chairs and gifts into the house<span style="font-size: small;"> and Rhonda scooped up <span style="font-size: small;">Dion and his toy<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I should have decorated inside just in case," Thalia muttered as she carried the cake in and put it on the counter, "Oh, well, my bad."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The bride cut the cake and, as traditional, gave the groom the first piece. Of course, Sofia had a custom pink and lavender cake that she'd ordered from "Take the Cake Bakery" in Bluewater Village. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After everyone had enjoyed the food and the cake, Thalia put on some
soft romantic CD's and Pres pulled Sofia out to the makeshift dance
floor while there was, again, applause and the women sighed, "Awww".</span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Parker, who had not brought a date after all--decided he, as the only single man there, should offer to dance with the two unescorted women; Jerri and Thalia. Both were quite attractive but a bit tough looking compared to the usual type of woman Parker was attracted to. It was a shame Prince wasn't here to help even things out, but Parker was sure he was man enough to tackle the job alone if he must. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lalique and Perry, being technically still newlyweds themselves and barely back form their own honeymoon, got up to dance next. Rhonda looked around and saw her husband in the kitchen, sneaking another piece of cake. She grabbed his hand and dragged him out on the floor for a dance, too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Parker actually danced about three times in a row with Jerri who seemed eager to get to know him, and was an attractive woman except for the way she dressed. Then he decided he would no ask Thalia for a dance or two since she was just sitting there watching the other couples enjoy themselves. Actually both women were older than him; Jerri by about 5 or 6 years and Thalia by about 10. He knew she was several years older than Sofia, with a gap between the two sisters kind of like between him and Pres. However; he was not only chivalrous; but also unused to being around single women without trying to charm them. So he'd been flirting outrageously.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When he escorted Jerri back to her chair her eyes were shining and he thanked her<span style="font-size: small;"> then t<span style="font-size: small;">urned to </span></span>ask Thalia if she'd care to dance. He was astounded when Jerri jumped to her feet and then hauled off and bitch-slapped him<span style="font-size: small;">. O</span>ut of the corner of his eye he saw Thalia quickly get out of the line of fire. Before he could even speak Jerri started telling him off and saying that he was a tease and a cad, that he led her on, and did he think he was better than <span style="font-size: small;">she was</span>?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Look, Jerri--" he began.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With that she socked him in the eye with her fist and he saw stars; it felt like that side of his face blew up. He was brought up NEVER to hit a woman so he was at a real disadvantage, he still thought he could get her to discuss this calmly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I didn't mean--" he tried again, but she cut him off when she plowed her fist into his mid-section and he bent double. What was she some kind of Ninja lady?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Pssst!" Thalia was stage-whispering, "Shut up, honey-boy, don't try to talk!" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So Parker just stayed quiet, trying to straighten up, blood running down his chin from the split lip she'd given him when she slapped him wearing her heavy rings.</span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All he'd done was dance with her a couple times. He did not know she was an undercover cop and used to having to fight off tough guys, he just knew that she was a friend of Pres and Sofia. He looked for his brother hoping for help or at least an explanation, but Pres was dancing with his new bride, looking deep<span style="font-size: small;">ly</span> into her eyes. He hadn't noticed a thing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Others had, though, and it put a real damper on the proceedings. Jerri glared daggers at him, retrieved her purse from where she'd flung it and stomped out of the house. Climbing on her motorcycle she beat it out of there. The rest of the wedding guests began getting ready to leave.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Great wedding, brother of mine," Perry put his hand on Pres' shoulder and grinned, his other arm around Lalique, "You're beautiful, Sofia, take good care of him. And now I think there's a very good chance Parker should go to the hospital. We'll <span style="font-size: small;">take him there</span>."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres had no idea what had happened but it was starting to sink in when he got a look at Parker's red and rapidly s<span style="font-size: small;">welling </span>face. He just didn't know <i>why</i> it happened. <span style="font-size: small;">Was Jerri having PMS? </span>He started to ask Parker what the deal was but Sofia pulled gently on his lapel and said in a very low voice,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Don't ask, Pres, please. I don't want to be in the middle of a fight at our wedding."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Yeah," he agreed, "Let's have a quiet evening and get Dion settled with my Mom and Dad."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thalia was clearing the tables and Rhonda was washing Thalia's fragile china she had loaned Sofia for the wedding, while Phil loaded up the wedding gifts and put them in Sofia's sewing alcove upstairs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I've never seen Jerri like that," Thalia confided in Rhonda, "She's tough but she doesn't have a hair trigger; I'm the one with a bad temper. And I've never known her to be jealous. I was afraid she was gonna take a swing at me next and I would have made it <span style="font-size: small;">an even </span>worse public spectacle by punching her lights out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"My boys do seem to have a devastating effect on women," Rhonda said and then paused and asked fearfully, "Doesn't she live with you? Aren't you afraid to go home?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"No, by the time I get home she should have calmed down."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres and Sofia would be sleeping downstairs on the sofa bed that night so that Phil and Rhonda could have their bed and when Pres and Sofia left at the crack of dawn they wouldn't have to wake up his parents or Dion. Thalia had volunteered to Rhonda and Phil to help out with Dion any time they might need it while the bride and groom were on their honeymoon.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Some wedding night," Pres wrapped his arms around Sofia, his chest against her back, and whispered in her ear, "We'll make up for it when we get to Twikkii!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next blog update <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/05/jenny-lomax-hammond-ch-10-dropping-bomb.html" target="_blank">Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 10 Dropping the Bomb Part 1</a></span></div>
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Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-29655297593304272122013-05-10T03:30:00.003-04:002013-06-27T01:56:12.788-04:00The Brothers Everhart Ch. 18 Starting New<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres had just found out a couple hours ago that Dion was his son and while the child occupied himself at his play station, Pres and Sofia enjoyed a meal together as he filled her in on what he'd been doing since going out of cover. She was surprised and somewhat worried to hear that he was now on the swat team. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Isn't that highly dangerous?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres shrugged,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"It can be somewhat dangerous, but most police work is risky."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia looked at him doubtfully and he admitted,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Okay, yeah, it is a bit more dangerous, but then again a cop walking his beat can get involved in a family trouble call or walk into a convenience store and get hurt or killed. I'm good at what I do, baby, I don't take unnecessary chances."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia nodded, but a worry frown still puckered her forehead.</span></span><br />
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After supper Pres watched, fascinated, as Sofia gave Dion his bath and got him ready for bed.<br />
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When they came back downstairs to, ostensibly, watch TV, Pres soon had his arm around Sofia. It wasn't long before he pulled her onto his lap, kissing her hungrily.<br />
<br />
He paused after a few moments,<br />
<br />
"Will you give me another chance?" he asked.<br />
<br />
Sofia, who was breathless by then, whispered,<br />
<br />
"You've always had more than a chance with me, Pres. I never stopped loving you."<br />
<br />
When they made the move up to Sofia's bedroom, Pres saw that she'd decorated it just as she had her bedroom in her mobile home. The room was quite a bit larger but looked just the same and so it felt like home already to him. He'd spent many happy hours with her in that tiny pink trailer.<br />
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Over the next couple weeks Pres was over every chance he had, especially on his days off. He stayed at Sofia's on those days. He loved bathing Dion at night, getting him up in the morning and playing with him any time of day. His son was a happy child and he knew he could thank Sofia for that. Intelligent and inquisitive Dion asked many questions and Pres was glad to be able to answer most of them. Occasionally Dion said a phrase or two here or there that left Pres mystified, one eyebrow raised, and at those times Sofia or Auntie Thalia acted as translator.</div>
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"You'll learn Dion-speak soon enough," Sofia laughed, "Besides we need to gently correct him no matter how cute it is so he'll learn to speak clearly."</div>
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Because Pres was with Dion so much Sofia was able to put extra time in on her sewing and got caught up with all her orders.</div>
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A neighbor who had befriended Sofia, Elle Lomax, came by one day when Pres happened to have the day off. She was married to Dr. Courtney Lomax and owned an Art Gallery in Bluewater Village. The couple had a daughter just about Dion's age and Elle and Sofia were planning some play-dates for them and Sofia invited her to stay for lunch.<br />
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Elle and Sofia had been friends from just after the time Dana left so Elle had never met him and Sofia had not really mentioned him. In fact, she had only recently confided to Elle that Pres was Dion's father. So Elle assumed he'd been in the picture all along, although she was confused as to why he was not living there full time.<br />
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While all three of them were visiting in the living room Elle looked up at the composite photo of Dana and remarked with a smile,<br />
<br />
"You told me you have a younger brother, Sofia, but said he's in upstate New York going to school right now. Is that picture on the wall of him?"<br />
<br />
Sofia stammered,<br />
<br />
"I...you...he...no, that's a friend of mine," she looked quickly at Pres, "I mean, a friend of ours." <br />
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"Wow. Nice-looking guy," Elle raved, "I mean, woof! I have a single friend or two that would be fascinated by him."<br />
<br />
Pres smiled really wide,<br />
<br />
"Yes, he's very available. Sofia can probably tell you his phone number and address--I forget stuff like that."<br />
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He looked slyly at Sofia who now sputtered,<br />
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"Well he...you know...he," and she gave up, "Yeah, okay, but first I need to find out if he's interested in being set up with an unknown woman, of course."<br />
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"Oh, honey, he's a single guy of course he wants to meet women. Especially pretty ones as I'm sure Elle's friends are," Pres almost laughed. If Dana was busy with another woman, that would be fine with him.<br />
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Sofia looked back and forth between Pres and Elle and ventured,<br />
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"I don't think he likes real forward women though, so your friends might just need to go to the bar, I mean the restaurant, he hangs out in and hope to strike up a conversation with him rather than just call him up and ask him out."<br />
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Pres looked pointedly at the picture of Dana and then excused himself to go get Dion up from his nap. They were in the process of Dion learning a nursery rhyme.<br />
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Elle told Sofia a bit about the two women she was thinking of siccing on Dana and then she had to leave to get back home and relieve the baby-sitter.<br />
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Sofia felt protective toward Dana, like she would with a brother. While she hoped he'd meet someone who could love him the way she could not, she did not want to send some maneater of a woman after him. In addition she had not missed Pres' eagerness for Dana to get involved with someone, anyone. She hadn't seen Dana in a few months and for all she knew he was actively dating someone. Evidently Pres was jealous of him and this brought up another problem she would have to address.<br />
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A couple days later the subject of Dana came up again, as Sofia had been sure it would.<br />
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She was almost done fixing supper and Pres had just finished work and come over.<br />
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"That picture of Dana," he said slowly as he undid the top three buttons on his shirt and unbuttoned his sleeves, rolling them up three-quarters, "I guess you're partial to it."<br />
<br />
He should have gone upstairs and put on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt he'd left there, it was a hot day, but he was too anxious to get this subject out of the way. He'd been thinking about it on and off for days.<br />
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Sofia said nothing, just waited for him to continue. She put the food on the table and sat down and he joined her.<br />
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"I realize the guy was really there for you when I wasn't and you and Dion were tight with him but, all things considered, can we put his picture somewhere else? It's like he's watching me."<br />
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Sofia looked distracted,<br />
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"Oh, sure, yeah, I'll put it away for now and make sure that he gets it."<br />
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Pres look down and frowned and she said hastily,<br />
<br />
"I mean I'll have Thalia make sure he gets it."<br />
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Pres nodded and went back to his steak.<br />
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"Pres," she said tentatively, "I get why you would rather I didn't see him, but you have to understand that he was everything to Dion for a while there and he's been asking about him. Dana hasn't been here in a while and I think it's because he's heard you and I are together. I feel bad cutting him out of our life especially since Dana and I were never more than friends."<br />
<br />
She grew bolder,<br />
<br />
"So I want to invite him to come over and see Dion and you can be right here with me."<br />
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Pres was quiet, he had always, since she'd known him, taken time to listen carefully to her, but this time it was making her a bit nervous as to his reaction. He finished his meal in silence.<br />
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"You're right, honey," he finally looked at her and spoke slowly, "Truthfully I need to thank him personally for all that he did for you and for Dion. I have no right to tell you what to do anyway."<br />
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"Yes, you do!" she blurted, "I mean, well, I don't want you to be miserable about this." <br />
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He reached for her hand,<br />
<br />
"I guess I'm touchy about Dana for a couple reasons. One, I missed two years of Dion's life and I'm jealous that Dana got to have them, even though I know it was a good thing he was there. And two, I know that even though you were not in love with him; he definitely was and is in love with you. I'm feeling a need to solidify things in my life. That means you and Dion and me."<br />
<br />
"I'm not in love with Dana present tense, either," Sofia corrected him, her full lips curling in the sweet smile he loved, "But you know you can visit here any time at all. You can spend as much time with Dion as you want and can spare."<br />
<br />
"No, baby, I don't want to visit. I want you and our son to be in my life every day, I want to take care of you and be there for you. What I'm trying to say, in my awkward way, is that I want to marry you and i want us to make a home for Dion together."<br />
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He stood up and pulled her to her feet and rested his hands loosely on her hips.<br />
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"I know I don't deserve another chance but you just hafta give me one. Please. I love you both so much."<br />
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By the look on her face Pres could see she was still worried that the one he loved was Dion and so he would take Sofia in order to have the boy.<br />
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"Sofia, honey, I was in love with you before I even knew Dion existed. It's not just that I need to be a real father to Dion; I need you and your love so much it's killing me. Please, I gotta have you; I found out that without you I just don't work right."<br />
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With that he wrapped his strong arms around her and crushed her against his chest, bending her back and kissing her over and over. And Sofia had always been a fool for his kisses.<br />
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He lifted his mouth from hers and demanded, "Say it. Say you'll marry me."<br />
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One more scorching kiss and Sofia murmured in her breathy voice,<br />
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"Yes, I'll marry you, Pres."<br />
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He gave a deep sigh of relief and then a big smile came over his face,<br />
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"You just saved my life, honey."<br />
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The decided they would have a fairly small wedding--not as small as Perry and Lalique's, but it would be in Sofia's diminutive side yard. Meanwhile, Pres moved in with her and Dion and put his own smaller house on the market. He would put the money into new real estate as soon as possible. Pres was sure it wouldn't be that long until they would need a bigger place.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-brothers-everhart-ch-19-sometimes.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart - Pres Ch. 19 Some Dreams Come True</a></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-25292522436883805002013-05-04T16:04:00.001-04:002013-06-27T01:54:48.710-04:00Lalique Flynn Everhart Ch. 14 Belle Isle<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The morning following th<span style="font-size: small;">eir wedding Perry Everhart and his new bride, Laliq<span style="font-size: small;">ue, left for their four day honeymoon on Belle Isle. The school bus pulled up in front for Alain and Desiree as the couple headed to the taxi.</span></span></span></span><br />
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Upon their arrival they checked into the hotel immediately. Belle Isle was a vacation mecca for couples, whereas Twikkii Island was very family oriented, and the Royal Regency Hotel was considered the elite resort on Belle Isle.<br />
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The Royal Regency Hotel and entrance:<br />
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The pool with fountains, hot spring and footbridge:<br />
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The lobby:<br />
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The Casino:<br />
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<br />
Massage Salon off the main lobby:<br />
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View of the outside entrance of the in-hotel restaurant "The Coconut Cafe":<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Entrance to "The Coconut Cafe" from the casino:</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
The cafe itself:<br />
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The second floor--accessible by stairs or the elevator. Double doors at the end of the corridor led into The Inferno Lounge.<br />
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<br />
Perry and Lalique's suite was on the third floor:<br />
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<br />
"Where are the flowers and the gourmet basket? They forgot them," Perry frowned. He picked up the hotel phone.<br />
<br />
"What are you doing?" Lalique asked.<br />
<br />
"Calling the front desk--the flowers and basket are supposed to come with this suite."<br />
<br />
"You're kidding," Lalique started to laugh and Perry shot her a look, "Okay, you're not kidding."<br />
<br />
He was polite with the desk but it was obvious he expected them to right their wrong and quickly. Hanging up he told her,<br />
<br />
"I want what we essentially paid for."<br />
<br />
"Yessir," Lalique saluted him.<br />
<br />
"Knock it off," he grinned wickedly, "Save that yessir stuff for later tonight."<br />
<br />
After unpacking the flowers and snack basket showed up and then the newlyweds walked over to Seawater Beach. The planned to take a dip in the ocean but also to try a taste of the local cuisine, specifically the popular Pineapple-Papaya Grouper.<br />
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"I'd like to go over to the Boardwalk tomorrow, what do you think?" Perry said as they sat at the snack bar waiting for their food.<br />
<br />
"Oh, that's right; there's a hotel there with boutiques and dancing on the roof, isn't there? I want to check out the jewelry."<br />
<br />
Perry replied,<br />
<br />
"I thought you might like that--they sell souvenirs, designer cologne and clothing, too. Anyway, there is beach access there and I heard the place is jumpin' after dark."<br />
<br />
After they finished their meal they made some new friends; native islanders. A refreshing swim and some sunbathing made them feel they were at last beginning to unwind. The pace of life was much slower on the island than in Bluewater Village.<br />
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<br />
When the sun got to be a bit too much they moved to some lounge chairs under a big beach umbrella.<br />
<br />
While there on the beach Perry called to check in with his mother, Rhonda, who was the mommy-in-residence for all four children. She assured him that all was well on the home front, no problems with either set of twins.<br />
<br />
"How are the kids doing?" Lalique asked somewhat anxiously. She'd only been away from Alain and Desiree once, when they were small, and she'd never been away from Brett and Noelle at all.<br />
<br />
"Mom says they're behaving like angels," he told Lalique with a grin and she laughed,<br />
<br />
"Oh, yes, I'll bet."<br />
<br />
He then resumed talking to Rhonda. Lalique tried to guess what was being said from Perry's side of the conversation.<br />
<br />
"Calm down, Mom, now what about Pres?"<br />
<br />
There were several long moments of silence from Perry while he listened to his mother, then said in a rather doubtful voice,<br />
<br />
"Two years and he just now found out?"<br />
<br />
He listened a few more minutes and then said,<br />
<br />
"Yes, well, that makes sense to me, but I realize you never--I know, but---yes, I realize that, but give him some time, Mom. It's a delicate situation."<br />
<br />
"Perry!" Lalique whispered furiously, "What is it?"<br />
<br />
He looked at her, still listening to his mother, and put his hand over Lalique's for a moment. The he pressed the phone to his chest and said in a low voice,<br />
<br />
"It's okay. Nothing to do with the kids, honey, she's talking about Pres. I'll tell you all of it in a minute."<br />
<br />
Returning to the discussion with Rhonda Perry explained,<br />
<br />
"No, Mom, it's just Lalique--she wondered what--yes, she's fine; we're both fine. We just left this morning, remember? Mmhmm, that's right--we do have beautiful weather here. Yes, sunny and hot. Oh, yes, we'll be sure to do that."<br />
<br />
He looked at Lalique and rolled his eyes as he listened some more.<br />
<br />
"Okay, well, we'll talk more about it when we get back. No, I'm not calling him now. Just--Mom, please try to simmer down. Yes, I know it's wonderful news. Okay, well, you take care and kiss Dad and the kids for us. Call us if you need us, though. Love you, too. We both do."<br />
<br />
He ended the call with a big sigh and Lalique immediately asked,<br />
<br />
"Perry, please, I'm dying here...what has happened?"<br />
<br />
"Well, hold on to your hat. Mom says that Pres called to tell them that he just found out he has a child--a two year old child. Mom is having fits because, one, it's a terrible tragedy to her that Pres doesn't see fit to tell her every detail of his love life and, two, she is busting to see her grandchild and Pres is holding her off right now."<br />
<br />
Lalique's hand flew to her mouth the moment she heard "he has a child".<br />
<br />
"You mean Arlene? But she told me they'd never been sexually intimate!" she blurted and then blushed, "Oops, I didn't mean to blab that, but evidently she was being less than forthcoming with me."<br />
<br />
"No, no; Arlene is not the mother. But I know who the mother is. Her name is Sofia Giallelis and she is part of the reason Pres ended his relationship with Arlene," he paused, "You should see your face, honey."<br />
<br />
"I have no idea what to say. I don't recognize the name."<br />
<br />
"I don't expect you would--he met her years ago when he first went undercover. They were, well, basically they were friends with benefits, but through conversations I had with Pres I could see she was in love with him. He, however, remained clueless. Once he decided he would ask Arlene to marry him he stayed away from Sofia and then began to realize he couldn't disconnect from her emotionally. But he felt by then he owed Arlene a proposal. I told him to get his act together and decide. Meanwhile he came out of cover and cut his hair and went back to being himself instead of Ray Nolan--"<br />
<br />
Lalique cut in, shaking her head at the irony,<br />
<br />
"And that's when Arlene lost interest--she wanted the bad boy he was posing as, but not Pres."<br />
<br />
"It's better they both found out before it went any farther. But then Pres learned that Sofia had purposely dropped out of sight. Her sister told him she didn't want to see him and to leave her alone. She also said there was another man in the picture."<br />
<br />
"Oh, poor Pres," Lalique sympathized,.<br />
<br />
Perry shrugged,<br />
<br />
"Well, he shouldn't have taken so long to get his head on straight. Anyway, eventually he couldn't stand it and did his detective thing and found out where she lived and where she worked. But he also discovered it was true; there was some guy living there with her. Pres couldn't tell if they were together or he was just boarding there."<br />
<br />
Now it was Lalique's turn to roll her eyes,<br />
<br />
"He was her boarder? Give me a break."<br />
<br />
"Yeah. So I still don't know what the deal is on that. Pres had been refusing to contact her the last I knew. Like I told Mom, I'll call him but not until we get back back home. He is evidently convinced that the kid is his, though. Oh, yeah, by the way," he grinned, "Mom said to be sure we use a good sunblock and said you should avoid going in the ocean after you shave your legs."<br />
<br />
Lalique looked at him, perplexed,<br />
<br />
"After I shave my---? What?"<br />
<br />
"Sharks," Perry deadpanned, "She said even a knick could attract them."<br />
<br />
"Oh, gee, thanks, now how do I get <i>that</i> mental image out of my mind?" she cracked back.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
When it was time for supper they went back to their hotel where they had reservations at "The Coconut Cafe". They followed that up with a swim in the hotel pool and afterward Lalique called home to talk to the kids before bedtime.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmrW2HbSLEs/UYVdjpRUm0I/AAAAAAAAO9E/m3vSUEAb2nE/s1600/H1N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmrW2HbSLEs/UYVdjpRUm0I/AAAAAAAAO9E/m3vSUEAb2nE/s200/H1N.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-svi7_3ifmIo/UYVdkIl-5nI/AAAAAAAAO9c/zYCT81Shigo/s1600/H1P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-svi7_3ifmIo/UYVdkIl-5nI/AAAAAAAAO9c/zYCT81Shigo/s200/H1P.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
The next day they headed to Boardwalk by the Sea where they enjoyed more swimming and relaxed on the beach.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ggkAvRc3rEY/UYVdzuT-YYI/AAAAAAAAO-E/xG-HEfx4ScQ/s1600/H1Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ggkAvRc3rEY/UYVdzuT-YYI/AAAAAAAAO-E/xG-HEfx4ScQ/s200/H1Q.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mmz5G8FrZEo/UYVdzprnVOI/AAAAAAAAO90/uhUn4V9Rskw/s1600/H1R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mmz5G8FrZEo/UYVdzprnVOI/AAAAAAAAO90/uhUn4V9Rskw/s200/H1R.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There was a restaurant there at the Boardwalk, called The Sailwood, that boasted a panoramic ocean view and was said to have the best sushi and Ahi tuna on the island. Having newly discovered sushi, Lalique wanted to go there for dinner on this second night of their honeymoon.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"All I know is that you tricked me somehow; when i first met you, you were arrogant and infuriating and I detested you almost immediately," Lalique was laughing after they gave their order, "How did you become such an amazing and lovable man so fast?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You did not detest me, Beautiful, you were crazy about me from the get go. It's just that it scared you so bad you had to convince yourself you hated me. You thought that way you wouldn't be tempted to fall for me."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Oh! Still so conceited!" she huffed, "And I suppose you were above it all?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Not at all. When I met you the first time at the Eden House, I knew I had to have you. And I mean that in the most carnal way," he grinned evilly and then went on, "Then the first time I came to your house and we argued on your front porch, I wanted to not just have you, but to keep you. You fascinated me. But it was when you froze up on the edge of ice at the rink--damn you were cute, honey, just terrified and holding on to my hand like I was a lifeline--that I realized you had my heart for good. That it was all over but the shouting as far as I was concerned."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He cupped his hand against the side of her face and she leaned into it, her eyes suddenly dark and luminous<span style="font-size: small;"> as she said,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Ah, and I was so humiliated I figured you'd never want to see me again---if I lived through the evening that was. You surely are the most convincing sweet talker of all time, my love. You sure ended <i>that</i> argument in quick order."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"That wasn't an argument; it was merely a brief discussion," he winked.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The sushi turned out to be all that everyone said it was and afterward they went back down to the beach so Perry could take fire dance lessons and get frisky with Lalique.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">âPerry, Iâll never forget this
night. I almost wish it would never end,â Lalique whispered.</span></span></span></div>
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never gonna end,â he squeezed her.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Their stay on Belle Isle
continued to be a romantic and memorable getaway but they found that after two
more days of surf and sand, they were ready to go home. They both missed
the kids so much by then they were actually happy to be on their way. And the
rest of their life was waiting for them in Bluewater Village.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">New blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-brothers-everhart-ch-18-starting-new.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart - Pres Ch. 18 Starting New</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-77373255485682517002013-04-21T23:24:00.000-04:002013-07-11T01:55:54.247-04:00The Brothers Everhart - Pres Ch. 17 May I Introduce...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When Sofia opened her front door the love of her life, Pres Everhart, was standing there but he was looking absently over at her rose bushes beside her door. Instantly he turned his head and smiled that killer smile that had always reduced her knees to jelly. His stance was casual, one hand in his back pocket while the other hand beat a staccato rhythm on his thigh. His long muscled thigh, Sofia sighed. The drumming was an unconscious "tell" of his <span style="font-size: small;">so</span> Sofia knew he was nervous, too. But, why? She was the one with the guilty secret, she was the one he'd pushed aside to be with Arlene Jankowski, she was the one still so desperately in love with him that she couldn't see straight. So, why should he be nervous?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Hi. Come on inside--it's so hot out today--want some lemonade or ice water?" she smiled. It was a relief to Sofia that she could at least put words together; he took her breath away.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Oh. No, I'm fine," he stepped inside and looked around the room with curiosity and appreciation, "Wow, hon--um, I mean Sofia! This is really nice."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She nodded,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I was lucky to get it. It's really a rent-with-an-option-to-buy so maybe eventually I can be a home owner. Who knows?"</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You're doing that well? Where are you working now?" Pres asked although he knew perfectly well what the name of the salon was and where it was.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Telling him about <span style="font-size: small;">her fellow hair stylists and <span style="font-size: small;">her customers at</span></span> "Golden Shears" she went on to talk<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>about her burgeoning designing/clothing business<span style="font-size: small;">. While listening </span>Pres took inventory of her home and of Sofia herself. He'd never seen her looking better. It was evident that she had an inner self-confidence she'd never had before. Still the compassionate, sweet-natured girl he'd met almost 7 years ago, she was much more than that now. She'd only been 20 years old when he'd met her and had been hustling since she was 16 at that point. It was now 4 years since she'd stopped hooking and started beauty school with Pres' help. He was so proud of her.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Physically she was more beautiful than ever, but then her personality and her heart had always made her gorgeous in Pres' eyes. She was explaining to Pres what she hoped to accomplish with her designing. Even though she wanted it be a success she was not aiming at a career in New York. She just wanted to be able to design and sew clothing and make a modest profit at it. Her voice was the same soft and gentle voice he remembered and hearing it soothed his soul as it always had.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATnve0Sgc18/UXSPaWjPhZI/AAAAAAAAOv4/NJ4cN7huiZM/s1600/Round5G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATnve0Sgc18/UXSPaWjPhZI/AAAAAAAAOv4/NJ4cN7huiZM/s200/Round5G.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres had not yet worked up the confidence to ask her if she would consider taking him back. His plan was to convince her to see him again so he could show her how much he valued her and how sorry he was about hurting her and go from there.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Meanwhile Sofia was running out of steam on the narration of<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>her future plans. She couldn't go into any more detail since her future revolved around the son he didn't know he had. Now she began to get nervous again as to how to approach the subject. Whether she should just drop the bomb or maybe work up to it. She couldn't decide.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If she'd thought that she was getting over Pres she was clearly very wrong. He looked so delicious as he listened carefully to her plans. As though her hopes and dreams were the most important thing in the world. That was how he'd always been with her, though. Suddenly she felt worse than ever about deceiving him all this time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"And how are things going for you?" she asked, stalling.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I've been on the swat team for a couple years now, it pays better than being a detective does. I've been building up my investments through my brother, Prince, and been thinking of building a house. My parents came down for Perry's wedding and now they're thinking of moving here and selling their house on St. Simon's island. They also have a vacation home at Twikkii. That's about all the news for now."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXpjbKRb34Y/UXSPaj1iuMI/AAAAAAAAOv0/izfdu6ccsmQ/s1600/Round5F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXpjbKRb34Y/UXSPaj1iuMI/AAAAAAAAOv0/izfdu6ccsmQ/s200/Round5F.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just then Dion, having woke up early from his unnecessary nap, sang out in his childish treble voice,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Mommy! I'm <i>uh</i>-up!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He always said "up" like it was two syllables with the accent and high note on the first one.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Who's that?" Pres was clearly startled, "Are you baby-sitting, too?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"That's Dion and no, I'm not babysitting," she said,"He's mine, Pres."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Speechless for a moment, he then asked in an astonished voice,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You...you have a baby?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Well, he's not a baby so much anymore,he's two. Come upstairs with me and meet him." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r90eLApSs10/UXSPaWjx1ZI/AAAAAAAAOvw/S3YHc694YdM/s1600/Round5E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r90eLApSs10/UXSPaWjx1ZI/AAAAAAAAOvw/S3YHc694YdM/s200/Round5E.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia stood up and started toward the stairs, then paused and looked back to see if Pres was coming. He got up and followed her, feeling numb. He was still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that Sofia had given birth to a baby and he hadn't even known. Why hadn't Jerri told him? He tried to mentally prepare himself to see a child that would, undoubtedly, look just like Dana, who had black hair and strong features. The numbness faded as he felt his heart breaking a little. His mouth was dry and he really wished he could just give some excuse and take off. What a coward he was.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I'm <i>uh</i>-up, Mommy!" Dion repeated.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Mommy's coming, baby," </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I guess Dana must be crazy about him," he offered.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Yes, they're very close. Dana helped me a lot."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sure he did, Pres thought grimly, he's got a son who, no doubt, is beautiful and who wouldn't want to help Sofia?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia walked ahead and they entered a cheerful room where a towheaded youngster was enthusiastically bouncing up and down on his crib mattress. He stopped jumping when he saw his mother and reached toward her.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Mommy, get me!" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Well, did you have a nice nap, Little Man?" Sofia smiled as she lifted him into her arms.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As Pres moved into the room, the child looked toward him as he suddenly became interested in this new and unknown person. Pres could not believe how much the toddler looked like Sofia with his big beautiful brown eyes, thick blond hair and his skin was smooth and golden just like hers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He doesn't look very much like Dana, does he?" he remarked like an idiot; he was just so surprised that Dana's black hair and Italian features weren't in evidence that it just slipped out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"No, but that's not surprising," Sofia answered, looking directly into Pres' green eyes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Hey, fella," Pres couldn't help but grin at Dion, he was so cute, then he said to Sofia,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Look, I heard Dana moved out, but I'm sure you two can work things out for the sake of the boy."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUraDPfbY3U/UXSPROlvFiI/AAAAAAAAOvY/ZqmfdnFOWLA/s1600/Round6S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUraDPfbY3U/UXSPROlvFiI/AAAAAAAAOvY/ZqmfdnFOWLA/s200/Round6S.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It made him almost sick to say that, but he could never try to come between the parents of a small child. Even he was not that selfish.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Pres, he doesn't look like Dana because Dana is not his father."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He was momentarily perplexed--he had found no indication of a man in her life other than Dana.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Look closer. Look at his sweet little mouth. Those are not Giallelis lips. They're firm, but slim, clearly defined and quite aristocatic," she smiled and waited.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres did look closer and realized he was looking at his own mouth in miniature.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The truth washed over him like a wave of seawater.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He's mine," he looked at her and then back at Dion, his eyes suddenly glittering with wonder and unshed tears and it was not a question but a statement, "Isn't he. I mean, yeah. <span style="font-size: small;">H</span>e's my child."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then he felt a surprising rage, hot and fierce,<span style="font-size: small;"></span> flar<span style="font-size: small;">in<span style="font-size: small;">g <span style="font-size: small;">in him </span></span></span>for a moment<span style="font-size: small;">. H</span>is jaw flex<span style="font-size: small;">ed</span>, and he repeated but in a different tone,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He's <i>mine</i>--he belongs to <i>me</i>. You should have told me. How could you not tell me?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Yes, he's your son," Sofia murmured watching his face closely, "His birth certificate reads Dion Prescott Everhart. I named him after my father and after you.<span style="font-size: small;">"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">His resentment and indignation dissipated as suddenly as it had come. He had never been <span style="font-size: small;">angry </span>with Sofia in his life before and as for that mischievous little blond angel looking at him, all sweet smiles and brown saucer eyes...well...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Why didn't you tell me, baby?" he asked in a gentler voice, "I should have been there for you; I should have been there for him."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You were going with Arlene, Pres, I thought you would marry her. Anyway, it was my decision to get pregnant, I didn't want to screw up your plans for the future. I was going to tell you eventually, but I just didn't know how."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Arlene and I broke up over three years ago and it was a mutual decision. I went to see you but you were gone by then and Thalia wouldn't give me any information."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I didn't know you talked to Thalia, but it's true I asked her not to tell you anything, Pres. I know you're such a responsible man that you'd offer to take care of me and be with me and I didn't want you on those terms. Like I said, you were practically engaged to Arlene from what Thalia had heard."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kKhXDa2cRUI/UXSPRQVSo2I/AAAAAAAAOvg/SQnurp-f92Y/s1600/Round6T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kKhXDa2cRUI/UXSPRQVSo2I/AAAAAAAAOvg/SQnurp-f92Y/s200/Round6T.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres shook his head in regret and frustration,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"When I went to Thalia I told her I'd broken it off with Arlene and she knew it was because I realized I was in love with you. She still wouldn't tell me. The fact that she didn't tell you I was trying to find you--before you had Dion evidently--doesn't surprise me. She called me every name in the book that day; she <i>hates </i>my ass. I guess, looking at it from her perspective, I can't blame her."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Looking startled Sofia said,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You broke up with Arlene because of me? I didn't know that you two weren't together anymore until Dana mentioned it to me before he left, a few months ago. I didn't realize you'd come looking for me, honest. Thalia should have told me. I'm truly sorry that she blocked any communication we might have had, Pres. It's my fault though really. She knew I almost..." she stopped abruptly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She'd very nearly blurted out the truth: that Thalia had known Sofia almost died when she'd found out--for sure--that Pres was seeing someone else and it was serious. That he didn't want her anymore. For a couple days she'd mostly stayed curled in a fetal position on her bed. Finally Thalia had hustled over to the trailer and reminded Sofia that she had a baby on the way and that she needed to get her big butt outta the bed, suck it up and figure out what she was going to do with the rest of her life. It had worked. The truth was that Sofia already cared for her unborn child more than herself and she pulled it together and started to live for him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Knew you almost what?" Pres probed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Um, that is, I mean...well, she knew I <span style="font-size: small;">was </span>pregnant by that time and I guess she went into her super protective mode."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres was a cop<span style="font-size: small;"> and he knew when someone <span style="font-size: small;">was being less than <span style="font-size: small;">forthcoming, but he let it go for now<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Mommy?" Dion turned to Sofia, squirming to get down; he was restless listening to the adults talk about who knew what.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"We're going downstairs in a minute, sweetheart."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He reached toward Pres--maybe if his mommy was too busy this nice man would take him downstairs and play with him,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Peek-a-boo?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Looking at Sofia Pres asked quietly,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I don't suppose he'd come to me?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She laughed,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"If you promise to play with him he'll pretty much be putty in your hands," she turned to Dion, "Little Man, this is your daddy--can you say Daddy?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He contemplated Pres for a moment and then his eyes met his mother's <span style="font-size: small;">as he </span>shook his head no.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Don't feel bad," she advised Pres, "he doesn't understand the word daddy; he's never heard it before. He just needs to get used to you."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Frankly Pres was relieved to hear that. It meant that Dana had never been referred to as a father figure.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B8ufC7z-VLs/UXSPRcN5ItI/AAAAAAAAOvc/KgTjFAGaDd8/s1600/Round6U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B8ufC7z-VLs/UXSPRcN5ItI/AAAAAAAAOvc/KgTjFAGaDd8/s200/Round6U.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They headed downstairs where Sofia put Dion on the floor. Pres crouched down in front of him and said,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Hey, chief, I hope we're going to be friends," he ruffled Dion's hair and the child reached up to him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He wants you to pick him up, it's okay," Sofia nodded, "You know you can see him whenever you want, Pres."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dion laughed delightedly when Pres held him in his arms and talked with him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"This is Daddy, Dion. Can you give him a kiss?" she prompted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Giving kisses was no problem for Dion; he'd only known happiness and love for his entire little life and trusted people automatically. Just like his mother, Pres thought. This worried him a bit but it made it much easier for him to get to know Dion.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He's so beautiful," Pres couldn't help saying to Sofia, "I can't believe he's ours."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia's heart soared to hear Pres refer to Dion as being "ours". She still didn't want him to be with her out of duty or just to be with Dion, but she wanted him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pkr4nREWSa8/UXSPut9P8rI/AAAAAAAAOwM/jWe8BxMvTxw/s1600/Round5I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pkr4nREWSa8/UXSPut9P8rI/AAAAAAAAOwM/jWe8BxMvTxw/s200/Round5I.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNpohKiUWJQ/UXSPumVjuyI/AAAAAAAAOwI/UC0xeGCm4g0/s1600/Round5J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNpohKiUWJQ/UXSPumVjuyI/AAAAAAAAOwI/UC0xeGCm4g0/s200/Round5J.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He'll get the hang of <span style="font-size: small;">'</span>daddy<span style="font-size: small;">'</span> soon," Sofia assured him, "The more often you see him the better. Will you stay to supper tonight?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He put Dion back down on the floor and he toddled over to the play station.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres had been hoping she'd ask him to stay longer and he looked over at her and winked,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Still making burnt macaroni and cheese?"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Oh! I'll have you know I've become a very skilled cook!" she pretended to be miffed, "Besides I know you like your steak medium rare and I've gotten quite adept at that<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> and</span> a b<span style="font-size: small;">aked potato<span style="font-size: small;"> and</span> salad</span></span>."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres laughed,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Fair enough. Count me in...I need more time to play peek-a-boo with my kid here."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/05/lalique-flynn-everhart-ch-14-belle-isle.html" target="_blank">Lalique Flynn Ch. 14 Belle Isle</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-brothers-everhart-ch-18-starting-new.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart - Pres Ch. 18 Starting New</a> </span></div>
<br />Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-75026119956605239382013-04-13T19:06:00.002-04:002013-07-11T01:42:09.114-04:00The Brothers Everhart - Pres Ch. 16 Sofia On Her Own<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia was lonesome with Dana gone; more than she'd thought she'd be. Right away she hired a sitter for Thursday and Friday evenings the two days she worked until 8 pm. Then she started going in on Wednesday morning for about 4 hours so she could shorten her other days. She was able to go home now at 6:30 pm on Thursday and Friday, and Saturday she finished around 2 pm instead of 4. But it wasn't so much that she'd had to reschedule, nor that she didn't have his help at home; she just missed sharing her life with someone. Talking things over, eating meals together and playing video games, she realized now how healing Dana's presence had been.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p_BJuWSThmg/UWmjv0bANoI/AAAAAAAAOnE/HjiJqCEBOtQ/s1600/Round4M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p_BJuWSThmg/UWmjv0bANoI/AAAAAAAAOnE/HjiJqCEBOtQ/s200/Round4M.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oi7bGKb8Vn4/UWmjwSiPIfI/AAAAAAAAOnQ/ZeYr8XUF5hk/s1600/Round4N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oi7bGKb8Vn4/UWmjwSiPIfI/AAAAAAAAOnQ/ZeYr8XUF5hk/s200/Round4N.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So she began calling her sister Thalia more often and she even phoned her baby sister, Anneliese from time to time. Anneliese had made it clear years ago that she wanted to distance herself from the world her two sisters lived in, but now that Sofia was working hard to start a new life on the up and up Anneliese seemed to be warming. It also helped that Sofia had a couple of coworkers she was close to at the salon as well as her many clients.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She now became hooked on reading paranormal romances even though the lovelife of vampires and werewolves and otherworldly beings had slowly but surely jacked up her libido. Currently her favorite author<span style="font-size: small;">s were</span> Laurann Dohner and her "New Species" series which was more like fantasy rather than vampire or werewolf stories, Christine Feehan and the "Dark" series, and, for a change of pace the more lighthearted and funny "Argeneau Vampires" series by Lynsay Sands. Devouring story after story she debated buying a Kindle but then decided it was just too much money to fit into her budget. Her days were busy, but at night she was so lonesome.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vjqlQTHK58k/UWnfJ1fHUqI/AAAAAAAAOtA/s9JFR1OblPw/s1600/ArgeneauLrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vjqlQTHK58k/UWnfJ1fHUqI/AAAAAAAAOtA/s9JFR1OblPw/s400/ArgeneauLrg.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She'd been able to keep Pres out of her thoughts while Dana was there, but now she found herself thinking back over every moment she'd spent with him in her little mobile home<span style="font-size: small;"> and every moment she'd gone out with him<span style="font-size: small;"> as in the movies and dinner dates</span></span>, she'd catalog<span style="font-size: small;">ed </span>every kiss, every smile, every caress. From the moment she'd met him Sofia had fallen hard. When he'd invited the gang to a get together at his house that time he'd specified that Thalia be sure to bring her sister. That had been the first night they'd talked for any length of time and the first time he'd kissed her. When the others left <span style="font-size: small;">at <span style="font-size: small;">the end of party, Pres had kept her with him. </span></span>She held on to all those memories right up until the last time they'd made <span style="font-size: small;">love</span>. For her, nothing had changed the way she felt about him. <span style="font-size: small;">Nothing could.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxLaN9oNdpc/UWncPqAa_FI/AAAAAAAAOrw/5-v2hEi3Qok/s1600/Round2P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxLaN9oNdpc/UWncPqAa_FI/AAAAAAAAOrw/5-v2hEi3Qok/s200/Round2P.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WELE1R9Fy-Q/UWoh-S9qWlI/AAAAAAAAOtk/uVzQ_g_bngI/s1600/Round2Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WELE1R9Fy-Q/UWoh-S9qWlI/AAAAAAAAOtk/uVzQ_g_bngI/s200/Round2Z.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dion was the light of her life and she spent as much time with the baby as possible when she was home. He was a happy baby, obviously reflecting the love showered on him by anyone who came to the house and from<span style="font-size: small;"> his mot<span style="font-size: small;">her</span></span>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She'd also begun to sew as a hobby, something she'd done as a girl when still living at home. She wanted to make him some onesies and when she couldn't find anything she liked in patterns she decided to make her own pattern. After all, onesies were simple and easy. Before long she'd begun making a few other things for him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-6ShFnpnNI/UWmkQjv5cAI/AAAAAAAAOow/4H6MCqGtEgM/s1600/Round4R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-6ShFnpnNI/UWmkQjv5cAI/AAAAAAAAOow/4H6MCqGtEgM/s200/Round4R.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvBDl_Uz7ig/UWmkQW-W_vI/AAAAAAAAOno/r7_8-op7ytg/s1600/Round4S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvBDl_Uz7ig/UWmkQW-W_vI/AAAAAAAAOno/r7_8-op7ytg/s200/Round4S.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once Dion had his birthday and was toddling around Sofia began to realize he would need her home more than ever. Besides, she wanted to be home; when Dion had taken his very first steps while at daycare<span style="font-size: small;"> Soni<span style="font-size: small;">a had cried <span style="font-size: small;">quietly into her pillow that night fe<span style="font-size: small;">e</span>ling</span><span style="font-size: small;"> that she had </span></span></span></span></span>missed a spe<span style="font-size: small;">cial </span>moment in his life. How many more would there be?<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Potty-training was having mixed results, but according to her mother whom she talked with long-distance in New York City, it took time and patience to toilet train a child.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Boys always seem to take longer than girls to train," Athena Giallelis maintained, "I should know; with you three girls it was a breeze, but when your brother arrived, I thought he'd have to go to kindergarten in diapers."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia giggled at the thought of her baby brother, who had just finished college via a sport scholarship, sitting on a potty chair and thumbing his nose at their mother.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dion loved to color and play with his blocks so Sofia found a play station for him when she took off work one Saturday morning. She'd brought him with her and Thalia as they took in some yard sales. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Things were looking up because Sofia had progressed rapidly with her sewing and had taken to designing some clothing for adult women. Often she wore her own creations and a couple times her customers had inquired where she got them. She ended up making a few items for one of them and was thrilled when the woman insisted on paying her above and beyond the cost of the fabric.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Beginning to get orders from people that she didn't know personally when they saw her clothes on the woman<span style="font-size: small;">, </span>Sofia was encouraged by Thalia and her boss at the salon to make some items and put them on sale at the shop. Money-minded Thalia showed her how to calculate prices based not only on the cost of materials but also her time and the fact that the clothes were handmade originals. She often customized her own patterns for certain customers. There was a chance that she might be able to work eve shorter hours at work and be home with Dion more. But she was afraid to do that until she was sure the orders would keep on coming.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8oLlx-Osqgs/UWmkRKmiSFI/AAAAAAAAOos/I79XJOpHWBY/s1600/Round4V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8oLlx-Osqgs/UWmkRKmiSFI/AAAAAAAAOos/I79XJOpHWBY/s200/Round4V.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-canICFtDk24/UWmkSLcpNPI/AAAAAAAAOoc/SwqIvDVp1PE/s1600/Round5S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-canICFtDk24/UWmkSLcpNPI/AAAAAAAAOoc/SwqIvDVp1PE/s200/Round5S.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When Thalia came by for her weekly visits it was a revelation to see her get down on the floor and play with Dion. She absolutely adored being "Auntie Thalia". She even took him to the potty when necessary, something no one who knew the flamboyant bulldozer of a woman could have imagined.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EdKcG7VX_qU/UWmkR_ddgAI/AAAAAAAAOok/DK93hj2qVP0/s1600/Round4Y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EdKcG7VX_qU/UWmkR_ddgAI/AAAAAAAAOok/DK93hj2qVP0/s200/Round4Y.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntf3vfeQF8M/UWmkR41JHlI/AAAAAAAAOog/j1TX-QYGUh8/s1600/Round5A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntf3vfeQF8M/UWmkR41JHlI/AAAAAAAAOog/j1TX-QYGUh8/s200/Round5A.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
</b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Time passed. Pres still lived in the small house he'd rented, working long hours as much as he could. The upside of that was that he was building up quite a nest egg.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Winter had blown through Halcyon County; snow coating not only Three Lakes up in the mountains, but all of Pleasantview, Crystal Creek and Bluewater. It seemed that it would stay forever. He thought about building a house of his own at times, but he couldn't muster up the enthusiasm. Without Sofia who cared?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypUlamzjczs/UWmk8izRSlI/AAAAAAAAOqo/b01LjPegoDg/s1600/Pres8L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypUlamzjczs/UWmk8izRSlI/AAAAAAAAOqo/b01LjPegoDg/s200/Pres8L.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v8BgAwjawbA/UWmk8lSSewI/AAAAAAAAOqc/rifJtxe0cpk/s1600/Pres8N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v8BgAwjawbA/UWmk8lSSewI/AAAAAAAAOqc/rifJtxe0cpk/s200/Pres8N.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mS62T9ifCzs/UWmk9YkLqlI/AAAAAAAAOqw/Z18j-EurjYk/s1600/Pres8P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mS62T9ifCzs/UWmk9YkLqlI/AAAAAAAAOqw/Z18j-EurjYk/s400/Pres8P.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Finally the winter gave way to a spring studded with thunderstorms and unusually cool temperatures for the area. A scorchingly hot summer followed<span style="font-size: small;"> and it was deep into that summer </span>when Pres' friend and former coworker, Jerri Rasmus, showed up at his door with a goal in mind.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As they sat down at his dining table she told him she had information that she knew he would want but had promised people not to give him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I'm sorry about not coming over to see you before this, but I was afraid it would be too tempting to tell you."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Well, no offense, but why have you decided to divulge this now?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Because it's time, past time, for you to make a move. Two people's happiness is at stake and so you need to go see Sofia immediately. I came to tell you this and to give you her address and phone number."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I already found out her address," he admitted, "I've known it for a long time."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Well, doofus, why didn't you go see her?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Because Thalia told me Sofia didn't want to see me and that Dana Conadera was with her," he said irritably, "You know that. He's a right guy and I didn't want to mix in if he can make her happy and he's who she wants."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4JFt50AOSMI/UWmk73lh6HI/AAAAAAAAOqE/ku4uKDp_a_E/s1600/Pres8F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4JFt50AOSMI/UWmk73lh6HI/AAAAAAAAOqE/ku4uKDp_a_E/s200/Pres8F.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LX8ECTwi-R0/UWmk77GIM9I/AAAAAAAAOqU/UiuppvQ15NM/s1600/Pres8G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LX8ECTwi-R0/UWmk77GIM9I/AAAAAAAAOqU/UiuppvQ15NM/s200/Pres8G.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He looked so miserable that Jerri would have told him that Dana and Sofia had not been romantically involved, but then she didn't really know that for sure. No one did. She was fairly sure that Sofia was not in love with Dana, but it didn't take a genius to see that Dana was crazy about her. Whether or not Sofia had succumbed to her loneliness and the admittedly attractive and fun Dana was anybody's guess. That was one of the things that Pres and Sofia would have to work out, but if they never talked to each other it would never happen. Not to mention Pres finding out about the baby, and she certainly was <i>not</i> going to be the one who told him about Dion. Let him go see Sofia and he would find out soon enough.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This way she was not breaking her promise to never reveal Dion's existence and to leave it up to Sofia. Well, okay, she told her self guiltily, she was bending the promise by urging him to go see Sofia and providing the address, but not breaking it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I don't know if he made her happy or not, but I do know that he moved out a few months ago," Jerri hedged.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres couldn't hide his elation, but then doubt came over him and he said slowly, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I guess I could call her<span style="font-size: small;">; </span>I wouldn't want to just shove my way in her front door."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xairbq-y40M/UWmkqUaVXgI/AAAAAAAAOpw/RK1LvxHKv3Q/s1600/Pres8K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xairbq-y40M/UWmkqUaVXgI/AAAAAAAAOpw/RK1LvxHKv3Q/s200/Pres8K.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb0g28ET1rA/UWmkqXpNKeI/AAAAAAAAOpQ/GFPO2tfnSMQ/s1600/Pres8I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb0g28ET1rA/UWmkqXpNKeI/AAAAAAAAOpQ/GFPO2tfnSMQ/s200/Pres8I.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Well, don't wait around until some new idiot shows up," Jerri said dryly and was a little amused when Pres looked appalled and then ticked off at the thought of another <span style="font-size: small;">guy in line behiind Dana</span>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Although he liked Dana and considered him a good man<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>he was also envious of his place in Sofia's life<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">. S</span>till he knew Dana would care for Sofia and protect her</span>. But the thought of some unknown slimy <span style="font-size: small;">creep </span>skulking around her filled him with uncharacteristic jealousy and even anxiety. That was not go<span style="font-size: small;">i<span style="font-size: small;">ng</span> to happen; he</span> would not <i>let</i> that happen.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Seeing that she'd hit the mark Jerri warned,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"That's right. Sofia grabs attention from men wherever she goes without even trying so you'd better step on it, ace."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jerri left, wishing she could have told him about his son, but had to hope he'd do as she asked and go see Sofia as soon as possible.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CvAKhLD_9eY/UWmk76nVT9I/AAAAAAAAOq4/rp8x8lOCszE/s1600/Pres8H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CvAKhLD_9eY/UWmk76nVT9I/AAAAAAAAOq4/rp8x8lOCszE/s200/Pres8H.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was one of her days off and Sofia was belatedly bringing in the newspaper when she got a call that totally blew her mind. The moment she heard Pres' deep voice on the phone her brain seemed to slip sideways while her heart started thumping loud and hard as though she was having palpitations like her mother sometimes did.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres sounded almost hesitant,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Hi, Sofia, it's Pres. I was wondering if I could some see you today. I mean just to talk."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia knew she had dragged her feet about contacting him since Dion was born. Now she realized that her procrastination had resulted in the decision being taken away from her. The time had come and she might as well meet it head on. Besides, truth to tell, part of her couldn't wait to see him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"That would be fine," she replied, thinking how formal they both sounded and how breathless her voice was even to her own ears, "Just give me about an hour, if you don't mind.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"No problem, I'll see you then."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He sounded relieved. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EOpHj0t0-4o/UWmlr9WlLlI/AAAAAAAAOrE/pv3HhTpzE5A/s1600/Round5B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EOpHj0t0-4o/UWmlr9WlLlI/AAAAAAAAOrE/pv3HhTpzE5A/s200/Round5B.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a0YDu01ouSY/UWmlr1AkENI/AAAAAAAAOrI/b0uX7DZwpCo/s1600/Round5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a0YDu01ouSY/UWmlr1AkENI/AAAAAAAAOrI/b0uX7DZwpCo/s200/Round5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She threw the phone in her handbag and grabbed up little Dion from where he'd been playing in the living room. Running upstairs to his room she kissed him and put him down for his afternoon nap a little early. He looked mildly surprised but, to her great relief, fell off to sleep with no arguing. Dashing into the bathroom to check her makeup and hair and she brushed her teeth longer than usual<span style="font-size: small;">. As she did </span>she mutt<span style="font-size: small;">ered</span> to herself,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"It's not as if he's going to kiss me, but better safe than sorry."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Going back downstairs she cast a quick look around the house and compulsively decided to run a dust rag over the furniture even though she'd done it only that morning. What could they say to each other? And how would she tell him that his child was sleeping upstairs?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And then...the doorbell chimed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-brothers-everhart-ch-17-may-i.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Brothers Everhart - Pres </span>Ch. 17 May I Introduce You...</a></span></div>
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Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7814468288173355554.post-25869314583208515412013-04-09T22:37:00.000-04:002013-07-11T01:40:29.493-04:00The Brothers Everhart - Pres Ch. 15 Sofia and Dana<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia Giallelis' baby boy was born after a grueling 36 hour labor, Dana Conadera was by her side as well as her sisters, Thalia and Anneliese and their friend, Jerri. Dana had even taken La Maze classes with her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She named the child Dion Prescott Everhart, having put Pres down as the father on the birth certificate. She wanted her son to take his father's surname even if Pres knew nothing of his existence. The baby was named after Sofia's late father, Dionysios Giallelis, and of course Pres. Eventually she would tell him about his son, but she wasn't sure how or when.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TUfHgWshVQ/UWOiHHpWnxI/AAAAAAAAOkY/iEcuHUwyRhE/s1600/Round3F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TUfHgWshVQ/UWOiHHpWnxI/AAAAAAAAOkY/iEcuHUwyRhE/s200/Round3F.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_d2mNugRHV4/UWOiFwR745I/AAAAAAAAOj8/MxCSecNWYJE/s1600/Round3G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_d2mNugRHV4/UWOiFwR745I/AAAAAAAAOj8/MxCSecNWYJE/s200/Round3G.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dana was turning out to be invaluable when it came to maintaining her home and especially with caring for Dion. He seemed to be a natural with the infant and is affection was apparent.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWkomNqQRHw/UWOiGIfCIwI/AAAAAAAAOkA/_sYfvZX6NfI/s1600/Round3JDionPrescottandDana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWkomNqQRHw/UWOiGIfCIwI/AAAAAAAAOkA/_sYfvZX6NfI/s200/Round3JDionPrescottandDana.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bmnMdSa-BHQ/UWOiGmHIQTI/AAAAAAAAOkM/-kJjf46nixM/s1600/Round3K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bmnMdSa-BHQ/UWOiGmHIQTI/AAAAAAAAOkM/-kJjf46nixM/s200/Round3K.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ADKQgE_9Po/UWOiG9jfzcI/AAAAAAAAOkU/4jQ0s1iv_Ww/s1600/Round3L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ADKQgE_9Po/UWOiG9jfzcI/AAAAAAAAOkU/4jQ0s1iv_Ww/s400/Round3L.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I thought you were going to let Pres know about Dion. When did you plan to do that, doll?" Dana brought up one day as they had supper together.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia hedged,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I want to make sure that he's gone forward with his life. You know, married that girl and then he won't feel like he should offer to...well...offer to be with me or marry me."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Or help you financially?" Dana said cynically, "Which is what he should do in any case."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He can do what he wants, I just don't want him to feel obligated in any other way."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"He never married her, you know. In fact, I checked and she doesn't work as a nanny anymore, as far as I can tell she left town."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia immediately asked,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"How did you find that out?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dana shrugged,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Jerri told me when she brought in that piece of crap Chevy of hers for a tuneup."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"How long ago was that?" Sofia gave him a stern look.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Couple months ago," now it was Dana's turn to feel cornered, "I know I should have mentioned it, but that was right around the time you had Dion and things were kind of crazy here."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia dropped the subject. After supper they played video games and the tension that had built up during the meal dissipated. As a rule Sofia and Dana were very comfortable with each other. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6PVIiU62X8/UWOioQdwe5I/AAAAAAAAOk0/sL9cfj8pIMY/s1600/Round3M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6PVIiU62X8/UWOioQdwe5I/AAAAAAAAOk0/sL9cfj8pIMY/s200/Round3M.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mcr3vneaaZw/UWOioJ3j4GI/AAAAAAAAOkk/z9QVErWLWaA/s1600/Round3O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mcr3vneaaZw/UWOioJ3j4GI/AAAAAAAAOkk/z9QVErWLWaA/s200/Round3O.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That evening Sofia went shopping for more baby clothes. Once she was at Goth's Apparel she decided she decided to pick up some new outfits for herself too, now that she had her figure back. On her way out she was unaware that she was seen by Pres. He followed her discreetly for a ways, he certainly knew how to shadow someone, of course. It wouldn't have mattered; Sofia was oblivious; just strolling along and humming. To his mind she'd never had any sense of self-preservation and it looked as thought that wasn't going to change. He didn't tail her all the way home; it wasn't necessary. He already knew where her house was, and had for some time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He'd not seen Sofia since their last night together at her mobile home a little over a year ago. She looked more beautiful than ever to Pres and very unattainable. He had found out early on that Dana lived with her and he assumed it was a romantic liaison.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pres did not believe there was any hope for a relationship with her, but he just didn't seem to be able to get interested in any other woman. He hadn't put much effort forth to "get out there and meet someone" as his brother Parker kept insisting he do. The truth was he felt if he couldn't have Sofia he didn't want anyone. A ticket to nowhere.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PoQ9kfHW_vs/UWOioOn2Q8I/AAAAAAAAOmY/uWKt330jDv8/s1600/Round3P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PoQ9kfHW_vs/UWOioOn2Q8I/AAAAAAAAOmY/uWKt330jDv8/s200/Round3P.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia had grouped her salon customers together into two long days, Thursday and Friday, and one short one on Saturday. Baby Dion was with Sofia then all day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On Thursday and Friday she worked until 8 pm and Dion went to daycare from 8 am to 5 pm then Dana picked the baby up when he got off work at 5 pm and took care of him until Sofia got home. On Saturday he watched him all day until she finished work at 4 pm. Sometimes her sister Thalia would come for an evening on Thursday or Friday to spell Dana while he took time for himself or did the grocery shopping. Sundays were a free day and, in mild weather, Dana usually took Sofia and the baby to the park, or they stayed home and grilled hamburgers and the baby played in the playpen on the patio.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-mlOpegCGw/UWOioRPfNEI/AAAAAAAAOmc/t7GXB6mGeqY/s1600/Round3Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-mlOpegCGw/UWOioRPfNEI/AAAAAAAAOmc/t7GXB6mGeqY/s200/Round3Q.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Things were getting stressful for Dana. Once the baby moved from a cradle in Sofia's room to a crib in his own little room Dana had moved downstairs. He slept on the sofa rather than a cot in the nursery.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One Friday night he was working on the desktop in the upstairs hall when Sofia put Dion to bed and then opted for a long bubble bath to unwind. Dana could hear her in the tub not far from where he was working as she splashed and made sighing sounds. His imagination was all too active as he gritted his teeth and tried to concentrate on the online advanced mechanics class he was taking.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JCDSJKSl_Fg/UWOiogOTpdI/AAAAAAAAOmU/NU_IJ-sx9WM/s1600/Round3R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JCDSJKSl_Fg/UWOiogOTpdI/AAAAAAAAOmU/NU_IJ-sx9WM/s200/Round3R.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rBPf0Ut8FyQ/UWOioy6smkI/AAAAAAAAOmk/om7XtnQe9Lk/s1600/Round3T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rBPf0Ut8FyQ/UWOioy6smkI/AAAAAAAAOmk/om7XtnQe9Lk/s200/Round3T.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When Sofia finished her bath she moved to her bedroom and put on pajamas. it had been a long day and it was late, but her stomach was telling her to eat something light. Dana had made lasagna and said he'd nuke her a polate but she didn't want that much, just a bowl of cereal. Dana joined her because he wanted to discuss something with her; something he'd been meaning to talk to her about for some time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Oh, sweetie," Sofia said, "if it's something serious can it wait until morning? I'm so darned tired my butt is dragging behind me. As soon as I finish my Cheerios I'm going upstairs to bed."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dana's face fell, but then he smiled at her,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Sure, doll, tomorrow at breakfast."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sofia turned and headed up the spiral staircase and Dana's eyes were drawn to her full, curvy butt which, in his opinion, was not dragging behind at all, but bounced nice and perky.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He dragged his hand over his eyes and down his face as he muttered to himself.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEODVp2YefQ/UWOio9rhQiI/AAAAAAAAOlE/7gD9m_bd4s0/s1600/Round3V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEODVp2YefQ/UWOio9rhQiI/AAAAAAAAOlE/7gD9m_bd4s0/s200/Round3V.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jzJXVhImWAE/UWOipFS7twI/AAAAAAAAOlM/gQnajKDNF1g/s1600/Round3W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jzJXVhImWAE/UWOipFS7twI/AAAAAAAAOlM/gQnajKDNF1g/s200/Round3W.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But when morning came Sofia was up extra early and in a hurry. She scarcely touched the poached eggs he'd made her.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I'm going to be late! I'l be back at the usual time. Then we can talk, Dana, I promise."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v46XcyX02Rk/UWOip7envgI/AAAAAAAAOmQ/G85n5hK72Yc/s1600/Round3X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v46XcyX02Rk/UWOip7envgI/AAAAAAAAOmQ/G85n5hK72Yc/s200/Round3X.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All that day Dana imagined how it would be when he confessed his love and asked Sofia to marry him. Way down deep he knew it would never happen that way. He hoped she'd be touched and thrilled and then say she loved him; that he'd made her forget all about the jerk detective. Actually, he'd always liked Pres but now that he stood between Sofia and him, Dana thought of him as competition. He loved her son, Dion, and he would tell her that he wanted to adopt him. That he would always take care of both of them. He caught himself daydreaming of holding her in his arms at last.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISjYqsuWp3M/UWOipuBrNTI/AAAAAAAAOmo/7ccZb0bzkQs/s1600/Round3Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISjYqsuWp3M/UWOipuBrNTI/AAAAAAAAOmo/7ccZb0bzkQs/s200/Round3Z.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSuu6LR_XVA/UWOipxoW-oI/AAAAAAAAOlg/OqgB8CMkh_E/s1600/Round4A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSuu6LR_XVA/UWOipxoW-oI/AAAAAAAAOlg/OqgB8CMkh_E/s200/Round4A.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lhts6rfA6u0/UWOiqJMhffI/AAAAAAAAOlk/9wEbEYzRSf8/s1600/Round4D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lhts6rfA6u0/UWOiqJMhffI/AAAAAAAAOlk/9wEbEYzRSf8/s400/Round4D.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Of course, Dana was right; that was not how it came down. The reality was that he ended up sitting on the sofa and she was on the adjacent chair.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Gathering up his courage he told Sofia he couldn't go on this way. She dropped her eyes, twisting her hands feeling ashamed,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"I know it's not fair with only the sofa to sleep on and no privacy. You've been more than kind to stay here helping me."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dana shook his head,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"No, that's not it. I'm glad I could be here for you. But I can't keep staying here as a friend when I'm in love with you, Sofia."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Down deep she had known he was falling for her, but she had pushed it out of mind because she couldn't deal with it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Doll, I want to marry you and take care of you and Dion, adopt him. You know I love him, too."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tears filled Sofia's eyes,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Oh, Dana, I can't marry you, sweetie. You're a beautiful man and you deserve happines. I love you, but, I'm not <i>in</i> love with you. I wish that I could be, but I guess I'm just empty inside; at least when it comes to men. And Dion takes all of my energy, all of my interest."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dana scowled,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"It's him, isn't it? You're not empty inside--you're bursting with love for him. Maybe you would get over him if you told him about the baby. Make Pres decide one way or another. Otherwise you're always going to be waiting."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8XJ4nevFGs/UWOiqe0C22I/AAAAAAAAOl0/Noi9O7QNEr8/s1600/Round4F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8XJ4nevFGs/UWOiqe0C22I/AAAAAAAAOl0/Noi9O7QNEr8/s200/Round4F.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--DywwvApHuw/UWOiqvzLgfI/AAAAAAAAOmM/ETpwm9SzJtw/s1600/Round4G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--DywwvApHuw/UWOiqvzLgfI/AAAAAAAAOmM/ETpwm9SzJtw/s200/Round4G.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msYN7iVID1Y/UWOiqsofxNI/AAAAAAAAOmI/480nImJfn6w/s1600/Round4H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msYN7iVID1Y/UWOiqsofxNI/AAAAAAAAOmI/480nImJfn6w/s400/Round4H.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> "I don't know if I can do that yet."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dana looked defeated,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Then I need to leave--find a place of my own. But I don't want to leave you in the lurch with Dion. I'll only stay a couple more days but you need to figure out how you'll handle his care when you work late once I'm gone."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VyCr6KCBL8o/UWOiqxkEhSI/AAAAAAAAOmE/WOHS4cC8plk/s1600/Round4J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VyCr6KCBL8o/UWOiqxkEhSI/AAAAAAAAOmE/WOHS4cC8plk/s200/Round4J.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Dana..." Sofia began in a soft voice and he looked at her intently for a moment, but then she trailed off.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He stood up and said in a wooden voice,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"It's late but I'm going for a walk. I'll be back in twenty minutes and I'll be tired."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She knew he meant that the conversation was over and that he hoped she'd be in bed when he came home so he could make up the sofa and go to sleep.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Okay," she said, "I'm going to bed now anyway." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As Sofia headed upstairs it was on her conscience that she'd hurt him deeply and she hated it. She didn't sleep well that night at all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next blog update: <a href="http://sims2loriland.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-brothers-everhart-ch-16-sofia-on.html" target="_blank">The Brothers Everhart - Pres Ch. 16 Sofia On Her Own</a></span> </span></span></div>
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Loreleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17878142989366048792noreply@blogger.com2