Brian Ottomas Ch. 4 - Life in the New House Pt. 1

The new Ottomas house, photo on left is the main floor, the one on that right is the upper level. 

When Brian met Harvey Ferguson, their first day in the new house, he had not immediately explained who he was to Meadow. But a few days later he decided to tell her about it, feeling that he should have done so much sooner. He did not know himself why he had not mentioned it to her.

“Do you remember those guys who showed up the first day we were here?” he asked her now as pigged down some cherry cheesecake. Heath was out in the yard on the swings; Brook was playing in the nursery.

“Sure, why?”

“Remember the younger one, who brought the casserole?”

“Yes,” She looked at him puzzled.

“Okay now, remember the young girl who crushed on me 6 or 7 years ago?”

Meadow smiled,

“Oh, yeah, the one that haunts you? What was her name--Lori Lassiter?”

Brian clapped his hand to his forehead and groaned,

“Would you stop that--she doesn’t haunt me!”

She giggled and shrugged,

“Okay but we all have at least one former flame that haunts us.”

  

“She was never a flame!” then he considered what she’d said and was intrigued, 

“Really? Everyone? Who haunts you, then?”

  

“Lester Mainwaring.”

“Lester WHO?”

“You wouldn’t know him; he only lived here a year and you were already in high school while Lester and I were in middle school. I was only 13.”

“You’re haunted by someone named LESTER?” Brian teased.

“Scoff if you will” Meadow laughed, then said in her defense, “He was very good-looking; blond hair, blue eyes and he had dimples.”

“Okay, well, moving on,” actually he realized that he didn’t really care to hear all that much about her childhood romances after all so returned to the former subject, 

“Anyway, this kid who came to our house with food is Lori’s new husband. I was really surprised when he introduced himself. They only live one block over and a few houses down.”

He paused and Meadow prompted him,

“And?”

“Well, I just thought you should know,” even Brian could hear how lame he sounded.

“Okay, well I don’t think that’s a problem…do you?”

“No.”

“Good. So how about the cheesecake—is it good? Should I make it again? Or do you prefer I stick to cherry pie?”

She switched tracks on him so fast he could only stumble,

“Uhhh, yeah I like it. I like cherry pie, too, though.”

He decided he’d done his duty by telling her, he could now legitimately forget about it.

A few days later Brian was feeding a bottle to his infant daughter, Brook. He always thought it was amusing that she would get this satisfied little smile on her face when she was full. When she was older and had her first taste of ice cream, she would be a riot.

It was morning and Brian was looking forward to his parents coming for dinner at his new house. Damon stayed home, ostensibly slaving over his homework, but more likely, thought Brian, he's banging away on his drums. His wife, Meadow, was marinating salmon for the meal. He usually worked weekends, but it didn’t matter if they invited them on a weekday, his parents were both retired now, so they usually had them over on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

It was mid-afternoon when they first arrived and everyone relaxed in the living room. However; it was a little hard at times for Meadow and Samantha Ottomas to have a conversation without shouting like they were deaf; Brian and his father, Pete, were yelling at the TV and each other while they played a game. Heath was entertaining himself with a toy in his room but when he heard his grandmother’s voice he came looking for her. Samantha adored her grandchildren; she had waited a long time to see Brian happy and settled and these two children of his were just a joy. She had other grandchildren—Tommy’s kids—but they were in San Diego and so far she had not even met them.  She and Pete had talked about going out there, but never seemed to do it. Then again, Tommy had never visited his parents since he left Pleasantview years ago. She sang a nursery rhyme with Heath and then went to check on Brook who was in her crib in the master bedroom.

“Nana, would you mind giving Brook her bottle?” Meadow came to the bedroom door and asked. Heath called his grandparents Nana and Papa, as Brian had called his grandparents. Brian had automatically called them that when he talked to his children. Meadow was fine with that; she didn't even remember ever seeing her grandparents.

“Gladly,” Samantha smiled at her daughter-in-law. She had always thought Meadow a sweet girl even as a teenager. She’d felt bad for her because everyone knew that Meadow had a horrendous home life to deal with in those days. Now Samantha thought even much more of her, partly because she could see Meadow was entirely devoted to Brian and their children and partly because she was just a very considerate and kind woman.  Both Samantha and Pete knew that Heath was not their biological grandchild—Brian had told them—but they couldn’t care less. They loved Heath and Brook equally. When she finished feeding and burping Brook, Samantha handed her to Pete for some cuddling.

Meadow called from the kitchen that supper was on the table and Brian picked up Heath and placed him in his high chair. Sleepy Brook was returned to her crib in the master bedroom. The meal was delicious and conversation was lively. Afterward Pete spent some time with his grandson, telling him a story. There were hugs all around when the Ottomas seniors were leaving for home. In actuality their house was only around the block from Brian and Meadow, they could walk it in no time.

It seemed Heath was growing by leaps and bounds, when it was bath time Brian or Meadow could call him and he’d toddle over instead of going to where he was and picking him up.   

That week it rained a lot and they did a lot of quiet activities like reading and Meadow worked on her painting for the first time in months.

Heath’s main at this time were to learn and to play hard. He excelled at both.  Brian still loved his guitar and now had a room for that purpose now so he had got the guitar and drums out of storage and put them upstairs in what Meadow liked to refer as “the music room”. 

It was nearly time for Heaths and Brook’s birthdays.  They had invited Brian’s oldest brother, Dylan, and his wife Elaine over to share the festivities. Dylan was Brian’s oldest brother as well as his boss; he owned Club Dante where Brian’s band played. He and his wife Elaine were devoted to each other but sadly, they were childless. They therefore enjoyed the Brian’s children very much.  When it was time, Meadow brought Heath over by his birthday cake.

Heath was no longer a toddler now; he was a schoolboy. His hair was not at all what Meadow wanted for him though. As soon as he finished his cake she whisked him into the bathroom for a haircut. This was amid his protests.

“I want long hair like Daddy!”

Meadow nodded,

“I know, and when you play guitar someday, I’ll consider it. You have to go to school and you’re not growing out your hair long while you are this young.”

“Mom, I just had a birthday! I’m not young!”

“Heath, the subject is closed.”

When he came out to the living room with his new haircut everyone remarked how handsome he looked, so he was somewhat mollified.

The baby woke up later in the evening and Elaine got to hold Brook while Dylan played with her. Handing the infant to her husband, Elaine remarked this was probably the first time he’d ever held a baby.

“Not so!” he grinned, “I helped my parents with Tommy and with the twins. I even changed Brian’s diapers!”

Brian cringed but that idea was truly amusing to Elaine and Meadow. Heath was dumbfounded to hear such slander against his beloved father. Wanting to distract himself from the subject he went over to try his hand at playing the piano. Meadow observed that Brian was thrilled that Heath seemed to be musically inclined. He could suddenly picture him as a concert pianist.

Brook’s birthday was next and she was, indeed, a blond.  Brian picked her up immediately; his sweet little girl.

Since it was his birthday and not a school night, Brian and Meadow allowed Brian to stay up until 11 o’clock, but finally sent him to bed. He was so revved up from the events of the evening though that he was not sleeping but in fact was jumping on the bed—not something his mother liked him to do, as a rule.

They let him get away with it for a short while and then Brian called up the stairs,

“Okay, son, that’s enough, get to sleep.”

 Next update: Brian Ottomas Ch. 4 - Life in the New House Pt. 2

 

Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 3 All My Daughters Part 2

That Saturday morning while Lonnie attended to chores around the house Loni Faye practiced her piano and tried not to ask him when, when, when could they could go to the park as he had promised her last night?

At last, right after lunch, they were on their way. Loni Faye got to fish in the pond right along with her father and even caught two or three fish although none as big as the ones her father caught. Other people joined them because even though it was quite a large pond, almost a small lake, their spot was one of the favorites. Under a willow tree for shade and believed to be where the “big ones” gather, every serious fisherman headed there.

Loni Faye discovered the swings and Lonnie, never one to let her wander about a public place alone, sauntered over to push her yet higher on the swing.
 

They moved from there over to the chess tables and Lonnie taught his daughter the rudiments of the game. They played until after nightfall and then headed home. It had been a wonderful day for both father and daughter.

Sunday Lonnie began the portrait of Loni Faye he had promised her earlier in the week,

“Your mother could probably create a better one; but she’s so busy with Liara, I thought you might give me a chance to try--maybe this weekend.”

Lonnie had barely started the portrait when Loni Faye began to sniffle and then cry uncontrollably. It was pitiful.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Lonnie asked, but still continued to paint.

Suddenly Loni Faye stopped crying, wiped her eyes and started to giggle,

“I was just teasing!”

 Lonnie put down his paints and brush and looked at her.

“It’s one thing to pretend you are a queen, or that you are piloting a plane, but to pretend you are crying or in pain, that’s ‘crying wolf’,” he admonished.

Loni Faye looked crestfallen, and then curious,

“What’s ‘crying wolf’, Dad?”

So he paused to tell her the story of the little boy who cried wolf.

She instantly understood and hugged her father at the end of the cautionary tale. Then she went off to play on her mother’s putting green. Lonnie shrugged; the portrait would have to wait for another day...

As day turned to dusk Lonnie decided to make a simple supper of grilled cheese sandwiches. He was much surprised when he burned them. He, the master chef, had burned grilled cheese sandwiches. It was a sad day.   

The next day while Loni stayed with Liara, Jenny went to Goth’s apparel to buy a few little things for the girls. While there, resting from the walk to the store, she noticed a lovely blonde woman who gazed at Jenny as if fascinated. Jenny did not know her, but when their eyes caught it struck her as a weird moment.  Had she met the woman once and forgotten it? Just then a tall brunette lady by the clothing racks called to this woman by name,

“Meadow Ottomas, what are you doing here, girl? Come on over--there’s someone I want you to meet.”

The blond walked over to her apparent friend and they started to converse. The name Meadow was not familiar to Jenny at all. Why had this woman been looking at her with such a strange expression on her face?

Well, no matter, she had shopping to do. She chose a few rompers for Liara and a new dress for Loni Faye, then, on her way out, she ran smack into her daughter, Chelsea.  She had not seen her since she was 16. Now she was a woman and married. Jenny thought Chelsea was more beautiful than ever. At first, she would not look directly at her mother. Then Jenny spoke,

“Please, Chelsea, I know you resent me deeply, but can’t we just sit down and talk? You can tell me off properly and maybe we can clear the air.”

Chelsea continued to look off but she did not make a move to leave.

“Please, honey?” Jenny asked again.

Chelsea returned her gaze finally and then nodded assent. They moved to one of the outside tables set up for visiting.

After some awkward first sentences, Jenny coaxed Chelsea to get her feelings off her chest.

“Why, Mama? I just want to know why you went so crazy and cheated on Daddy?” 

Chelsea asked plaintively.

Jenny sighed.

“It’s a long story. When your Daddy and I married we were only 16—our parents had to sign for us so we could marry in South Carolina. It was unusual but not unheard of down south. I was pregnant with Michael, we had to live with Larry Max’s parents and we had to grow up together from there. We both wanted children so after we found an apartment of our own we had you, Chelsea. Then we could finally afford a very small home where we had Courtney and Andy. 

I stayed home to raise all of you—that was what I wanted to do. I had learned to cook and later learned to sew clothes for you. There was never enough money. I loved Larry Max very much. To this day I still love him; but it’s no longer a married kind of love. When we moved here it all changed. I felt so restless; your father was going to culinary school and working part time. He was never home and when he was he was consumed with the garden and his guitar. I didn’t know what was wrong with me but suddenly I wanted a new life. I wanted the time back I lost when I married so young, I guess. I know now how selfish that was. If I hadn’t run around town all the time I never would have met Lonnie. “

Chelsea was listening with an obdurate look on her face. But she continued to sit there—she had not made a move to go.

Jenny went on with her story,

“Once your father rightfully kicked me out I knew grief, regret and sorrow, even anger. I realized I could never have back what I’d thrown away so carelessly. I missed all of my children, I missed Larry Max. I’d never been on my own before. I had dreams where I went to the house and kicked over the garbage can and stared up at the house that I could never live in again; never call home again.”

“Those weren’t dreams, Mama,” Chelsea cut in.

“What do you mean?”

“You really did come and kick over the trash can, the man across the street took photos; Daddy knew it was you.”

“That’s not possible!” Jenny breathed.

“It’s true, believe me. But in the photos you looked weird—like you were in a fugue state. I guess you remember the things you did only as dreams.”

Jenny was appalled. Not only had she done these things but she’d repressed them. Perhaps a visit with a psychiatrist was in order?

But she pushed these questions aside and went on with the narrative,

“I know now that one of the reasons I wanted to have Loni Faye and Liara was that I missed my children so much—missed being a mother. Admittedly, I also wanted part of Lonnie with me; I doubted he would be committed to me.”

“You wanted to get pregnant?” Chelsea said in surprise then recovered by saying sarcastically, “When I heard about it I thought you were just being careless.”

“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I fell in love with Lonnie before I left the house, at that time I thought if I was free he would marry me.”

Chelsea looked down a moment then met her mother's eyes,

“Daddy is such a wonderful man, how could you fall in love with someone else?”

“It’s hard to explain, Chels, but it can happen. I was wrong to cheat on your father; I know that. I have no excuse—I can never make up for what I did.”

“He still loves you, you know,” Chelsea said defiantly, “Though I don’t know why.”

“I wish he would move on, meet women,” Jenny admitted, “I don’t want to hurt him further. But we married so young and had four children together. We know each other to the bone. For those reasons he will never be out of my life and I think it’s the same for him—we share too much history. As I said, I will always love your father and it would serve me right if life turned around and Lonnie cheated on me. I hope he won’t, especially because of our daughters. But it would be justice served, I realize. And he once was quite a player; maybe that never changes for long.”

“How old are your girls,” Chelsea asked tentatively.

“Loni Faye is in grade school and Liara has just learned to walk and talk,” Jenny smiled, “Would you like to see pictures?”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” Chelsea backed off, “Do they look like...him...or you?”


“I think they’re a combination, but a little more like him,” Jenny paused, “Would you come over if I invited you and Trey? Or you could come alone and meet your half-sisters?”

Chelsea hesitated, “Maybe eventually, but I don’t want to see...him.”

Jenny nodded,

“Well, that could be arranged but I don’t know your schedule and Lonnie works afternoons. He might come in during your visit unless we make it early morning. But if he did, at least then you could see he’s not an ogre,” she smiled as she made the last observation.

Chelsea stiffened, “I guess I don’t blame him for what happened—I blame you.”

“Don’t freeze me, honey. I know I’m to blame. But to be fair, Lonnie didn’t know exactly what was going to happen. Yes, he saw me even though he knew I was married. He very much regrets the way the marriage ended, though. He was sad and ashamed.”

Chelsea shrugged as if disinterested, 

“Well, it’s history now,” then she softened a little, “Let me think it over, Mama. Give me a little time.”

She stood up to go and Jenny rose to her feet as well. She hugged Chelsea who returned her embrace warmly. Jenny was happy and grateful for this. Kissing her oldest daughter’s cheek, she went down the steps and started home. The tears were streaming down her face now so she didn't look back. Chelsea remained by the table and watched her mother walk back to her new life with her new family.

Next update: Brian Ottomas Ch. 4 Life in the New House Pt.  1


Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 4 Le Magnifique!