Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, you didn’t grow under my heart but in it. – Fleur Conkling Heylinger
“I feel like I need to explain,” Cheryl said as they sat down at the table at the window overlooking the lake at Pier and Beam. “Most of the classes do not turn into a pro woman, anti-man bashing session.”“Even the class about how we should be a matriarchal society?” Helen grinned.Cheryl laughed. “Even that one.”The waitress approached and took their orders before leaving them to enjoy the view and each other’s company.“Michael has taken the class both semesters that it’s been offered. He failed in fall and is failing spring.”“Is it a required course?” Helen asked as the waitress brought them their drinks.Cheryl shook her head. “It’s an elective. Most of the students are archeology or sociology majors. There’s a few of the guys that signed up thinking they’d find a hook up.In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. – Abraham LincolnGoing to the Cowboy Cabaret was bittersweet for all the princesses in attendance. Mary had planned to be here for her daughter’s eighteenth birthday. Had planned to watch her daughter grow into a young woman.But life had other plans and there was an empty seat in the large gathering.As if they understood, and missed their friend, none of the dancers or waiters sat in the chair. They would sit in a chair and pull one of the women into their laps. Or drag a chair over to the grouping of tables. A fresh daquiri sat in front of the empty chair all night, replaced as it began to melt.Even without any alcohol in her system, Dean was having the time of her life. Every so often, she would look at the pink icy drink next to her, sadness would fill her to the point that it would leak out of her eyes and down her cheek. Her aunts and cousins seemed to understand and would g
High school is about finding who you are, because that’s more important than trying to be someone else. – Nick JonasCheryl and Waylon were sitting at the island in the little house, both looking tired and bleary eyed when Reese came down the hall. He busted out laughing when he circled the island to the coffee pot and found an equally tired Monster lying on the floor. His head lifted and his little stubby tail gave a few small wags.“Do I dare ask?” Reese chuckled as he poured himself a cup of coffee.“You could have gotten them a hotel room.” His daughter complained.“Oh….” Smirking behind his coffee cup, eyes twinkling through the steam, he leaned against the counter. “Why?”Waylon cursed softly as he ran his hand through his short hair. They both still wore their pajamas and house shoes. Hers was a lightweight short set with pink and blue hearts and cupcakes all over them with the instructions of “… mix with love and bake for 9 months” on the sleeveless shirt
You have to believe. Otherwise it will never happen. – Neil Gaiman“I don’t want another big elaborate destination wedding.” Jolene admitted as they sat curled up on the couch in what she now thought of as their apartment. Her dark and gothic theme still ran throughout the rooms. All the paintings and murals that Dean had painted remained. Pictures of their family and friends were positioned around them. Shifting on the couch, Neo pulled her into his lap and stretched his legs out along the purple velveteen cushions. Jolene curled into his chest and laid her head on his bare upper chest, just below his shoulder. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed the top of her head.“I have a suggestion.” He murmured. “The village just outside of town.”“The one that opens up every year for Halloween for the haunted house?” she asked and grinned at his affirmative hum that rumbled under her cheek. “I always loved that place in high school.”“Your mom said that you wor
I’m the big sister. I want to make sure she has everything, even if I don’t have anything. It’s hard. I love her too much. That’s what counts. – Venus WilliamsLast night, Dean graduated from high school with a large cheering section made up of her family, friends and a small contingent of Seabees. And a cardboard cutout of her mom. This afternoon, they were having her graduation party. It was shaping up to be one hell of a party. JD was home until Wednesday but would be back a week and half later for his brother’s commitment ceremony to Bunny and Ty. The other Seabees would leave tomorrow, only a few planned to stay for the birthday party for the four babies. Although they had all been invited.All the princess club and their families would be there.They had all been upset when they learned that she had got married without them. But then the newlywed couple promised to have a real wedding on their one-year anniversary.Deon and Craig were both home for summer and t
Art and love are the same thing: It’s the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you. – Chuck KlostermanThere was a rather large gathering in the closed parking lot across the street from the mural. About half of them were part of the Princess Club and extended family. The large white canvas tarp that covered the wall billowed in the midmorning breeze. JD wrapped his arm around Dean’s waist and pulled her to his side.She wore a knee length black skirt and matching jacket with a white lace shirt underneath. Her hair was pulled up in a tight twist in an effort to keep it contained in the wind. She wore sapphire and silver teardrop earrings that matched her shoes.The leg of JD’s course BDU uniform brushed up against her bare leg as she moved in closer to him. Curling into his chest, she smiled as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Nervous?” he asked quietly.She nodded. “Yes. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done for so many people to see. What if no one likes it?”
Most of our childhood is stored not in photos, but in certain biscuits, lights of day, smells, textures of carpet. – Alain de BottonReese sat on the outdoor couch on the lower deck watching the girls in the pool with the babies. Cheryl, Bunny, Dean and Allison, the only female Seabee that came with JD, each had a baby in their arms as they bounced and spun. Watching her children and grandchild smile and laugh, Helen snuggled into his side, and he pulled her into his lap.She had lost most of her baby weight, and currently had made her way back into size eighteen dresses, which she was quite proud of. Today she wore the dress that Reese had bought her specifically for the birthday party. A pink satin shift with a cream-colored mesh overdress with pink and blue flowers embroidered on it.Earlier in the day she had also been in the pool in a pink swimsuit with a sheer fish scale skirt that Reese had a hard time looking away from. He had p
As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. – Johann Wolfgang von GoetheReese had told Helen that there was a second restaurant at the Private Club that he wanted to eat at. She knew about the other restaurant. When they had all met for lunch last, Marnie had taken Helen over and showed her the other restaurant. The one with low cushioned tables and pillows on the floor.The lights were up during the day, but for meals, they would be lowered. Lights would shine out from inside the tables, illuminating the sub on display. There were cushions that could be moved to accommodate the person on the table. One under the knees, a small one under the lower back and one to support the neck and head.Marnie had told the older woman that she loved the other restaurant. The meals were finger foods that were served on the sub. Helen had looked at the Brat who smiled at her.“On the sub.” Marnie said again. “Steve
Because he wants to create a stable, lasting relationship with one person. Brad, believe me, there is nothing in this world so wonderful, so fulfilling, as coming home to the same woman every night. – Tony Randall as Jonathon Forbes in Pillow Talk 1959Cheryl snuggled against Waylon’s chest as they lay in the new bed at their new house. She wore a large National Fire Academy T-shirt that was stretched tight across her large belly. He wore a pair of boxers and kept squirming seeking a more comfortable position between the rough, stiff cotton sheets.The guys from the fire department had helped them move early Saturday morning. She and Waylon left the guys putting together furniture when they went to the unveiling of Dean’s mural.When they returned to the house with pizzas and beers, they found the six men sitting on the back patio with their feet up. On furniture that Cheryl adored but did not remember getting.“I