They all sat stunned for a moment after Iz delivered her news and then Max said, quietly, "What's his name."
"Who?"
"The guy who did this to you." His hands balled into fists.
"Daddy, don't be so old-fashioned," Iz said. "It takes two, you know."
"Does he know?" Max said, in the same calm voice.
"Not yet," she admitted. "I'm kind of afraid to tell him."
"Do you love him?"
"I ... don't know."
"Well, you should tell him," Avery said, getting up and sitting on the arm of her daughter's chair. "But you've got a little time. You do want to keep it, right?"
"Yes," Iz said. "I've always wanted to be a mother. I just always imagined it would be after I got more established, is all."
"Well, we'll help you out," Sylvie said, in her usual brisk tone. She was dressed in her military uniform, ready for work. "I've got to go to work now. I'll pick you up some soda crackers and such on my way home. I remember how ill I felt during my own pregnancy."
"Thank you," Iz said. "Thank you all. What would I do without you?"
"You'll never have to find out," Avery said, kissing her. "We're here for you, and your baby. Let's get you back to bed. Rest is essential right now."
She put her daughter to bed and closed the door. Max was still downstairs, still looking angry.
"It will be OK, Max," Avery said, going to him. "I'd much rather she be a single mom than hitched to a guy she isn't sure if she loves."
"I suppose so," he said.
She rubbed his shoulders. "You're just being a good father, but you need to relax. She made a mistake, but something wonderful can come out of this. A grandchild. Our third grandchild." She laughed. "I never thought I'd be a grandma, let alone in my forties."
"You're right," he said, kissing her hand. He pulled her into his lap and started to kiss her.
"Max, your Dad ... "
"Is taking a nap. Let's take advantage and have a little fun."
She laughed. "You're incorrigible."
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Iz Moves Back Home
Iz moved back home with her parents after graduation a month later. She didn't tell them why, at least not the whole truth. She'd done well in school but 4,000 simoleans doesn't buy much of a house, so she used that as an excuse.
The new house was nice, so much nicer than the warehouse she'd grown up in. It had marble floors and an inner courtyard where Max kept his musical instruments. It had an outdoor dining room, since it rarely rained or snowed in Porta de Luca. She kind of missed the shabby walls of home.
She was exhausted, and went straight to bed. She slept all day, just getting up to eat or pee.
Her mother knocked on her door at dinnertime. "We're having spaghetti, honey. Do you want some?"
"No thanks, Mom, I'm just tired."
"I'm worried about you, Isadora. You never sleep this much."
"Leave her alone," Max said. "She's just tired after her final exams. Come down if you feel like it, Iz."
"OK, thanks Dad," she said, and turned over and went back to sleep.
"OK, now I'm officially worried," Avery said. "She's slept for three days."
"Want me to have a look at her?" asked Apollo, who was a doctor.
He and Avery went upstairs and knocked on Iz's door.
"Come in," she said.
Apollo took her temperature, listened to her heart, looked in her eyes. "Hmmm," he said.
"Hmmmm, what?" Avery said.
"She seems basically OK," he said. "Avery, will you leave us alone for a minute?"
Avery left, shutting the door behind her.
"Is there something you need to tell us, Isadora?" Apollo asked his granddaughter, kindly.
"You figured it out, huh."
"I've been a doctor, and a father, a long time, my dear. Do you want to tell them, or should I?"
"I will," Iz said with a big sigh. "Just let me get dressed."
He patted her knee. "It will be OK. You've got family."
"I know, Grandpa. Thanks."
The new house was nice, so much nicer than the warehouse she'd grown up in. It had marble floors and an inner courtyard where Max kept his musical instruments. It had an outdoor dining room, since it rarely rained or snowed in Porta de Luca. She kind of missed the shabby walls of home.
She was exhausted, and went straight to bed. She slept all day, just getting up to eat or pee.
Her mother knocked on her door at dinnertime. "We're having spaghetti, honey. Do you want some?"
"No thanks, Mom, I'm just tired."
"I'm worried about you, Isadora. You never sleep this much."
"Leave her alone," Max said. "She's just tired after her final exams. Come down if you feel like it, Iz."
"OK, thanks Dad," she said, and turned over and went back to sleep.
"OK, now I'm officially worried," Avery said. "She's slept for three days."
"Want me to have a look at her?" asked Apollo, who was a doctor.
He and Avery went upstairs and knocked on Iz's door.
"Come in," she said.
Apollo took her temperature, listened to her heart, looked in her eyes. "Hmmm," he said.
"Hmmmm, what?" Avery said.
"She seems basically OK," he said. "Avery, will you leave us alone for a minute?"
Avery left, shutting the door behind her.
"Is there something you need to tell us, Isadora?" Apollo asked his granddaughter, kindly.
"You figured it out, huh."
"I've been a doctor, and a father, a long time, my dear. Do you want to tell them, or should I?"
"I will," Iz said with a big sigh. "Just let me get dressed."
He patted her knee. "It will be OK. You've got family."
"I know, Grandpa. Thanks."
Oops
"Ivan, you know, graduation generally means you don't hang around your old dorm anymore," Isadora said.
The look he gave her was so full of misery she immediately felt bad.
"I'm sorry. You can hang if you want to."
"My whole life has gone to hell, Iz," Ivan said. "I feel like you're the only person who cares."
"That's not true," she said, sitting down next to him. "There's your family. They care about you. And ... Hunter ... "
He snorted. "Yeah, Hunter. She cares a lot. I found some other guy's socks on our floor last night."
"You knew what she was like."
"But you're not like that, are you?" he said. He turned to her, put his hand on her face. "You're not like that at all."
"Ivan, I don't know about--"
He kissed her. She'd forgotten what a good kisser he was.
"I need you, Iz," he said. "Please, don't turn me away."
So she didn't.
One month later she woke up with a powerful need to barf. She ran to the toilet and as she stood up, shakily, to flush one word popped into her head.
Oops.
The look he gave her was so full of misery she immediately felt bad.
"I'm sorry. You can hang if you want to."
"My whole life has gone to hell, Iz," Ivan said. "I feel like you're the only person who cares."
"That's not true," she said, sitting down next to him. "There's your family. They care about you. And ... Hunter ... "
He snorted. "Yeah, Hunter. She cares a lot. I found some other guy's socks on our floor last night."
"You knew what she was like."
"But you're not like that, are you?" he said. He turned to her, put his hand on her face. "You're not like that at all."
"Ivan, I don't know about--"
He kissed her. She'd forgotten what a good kisser he was.
"I need you, Iz," he said. "Please, don't turn me away."
So she didn't.
One month later she woke up with a powerful need to barf. She ran to the toilet and as she stood up, shakily, to flush one word popped into her head.
Oops.
Isadora Confesses to her Diary
Dear Diary,
I just don't understand people sometimes. Everyone around here is in such a bad mood over silly little things.
I tried to take care of Ivan, I really did, but he's just so, I don't know, dark, I guess. He's really moody and kind of mean sometimes. I'm not sure I want to "hitch my wagon" to that, as Jake would say. So I kissed Ricardo, big deal. That didn't mean Ivan had to give him a black eye. It's not like we were even dating, for crying out loud. So now Ivan's not speaking to me, which hurts my feelings more than a little. Who was there for him when he needed it? Me, that's who. I'm glad I got a glimpse of what a "real" relationship with him would be like. And Diary, no thank you. Hunter can have him. They deserve each other.
Jake is one good thing that's come out of living here. I've gotten to know him a lot better. Weird to have a brother who grew up in a completely different household. We were all so busy with our own lives, growing up, that we didn't interact much. Just at Christmas, stuff like that. Anyway, he's super cool. He's kind of old-fashioned, but I like that about him. He dresses like a goth guy but deep down he's a family man all the way. He and Blossom are going to be real happy, I know. I wish I could find someone I felt the same way about.
I know I flirted around, Diary, but what I really want is a family. I've just been kind of shy about admitting it, especially to Zane, who can really tease when he feels like it. I feel bad for him right now. He's been in a real bad mood ever since Elena the stuck up prig got engaged. I never knew what he saw in her. I knew her for what she was from the start: a money-grabbing rhymes-with-olddigger. But he liked her so I tried to too.
Her brother Eduardo's a pain, too. I hate to be negative but the guy carries a mirror in his pocket! He's the vainest guy I've ever met, and Diary, I know he's cute, but no one's that cute. My brothers are all cuter than him and I don't see them going around gazing at themselves like Narcissus. Jake's hair is always standing straight up. If Blossom wasn't here he wouldn't even bother to brush it, I'm sure.
I really like Ricardo, Diary. I mean really, really. And I know it's not healthy because he likes EVERYBODY. The guy just cannot make up his mind. I guess we're like candy, or pills, to him. Anyway, he asked me out and I said no. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.
I want to meet a nice guy. There's this guy in one of my classes named Cameron who seems shy but cool. Hunter went out with him and never got anywhere, which to me is a very hopeful sign.
I think I'm going to try to talk to him next time I see him. One thing I'm not, is shy. At least not usually.
Gotta go, Diary. Time for class.
Isadora
I just don't understand people sometimes. Everyone around here is in such a bad mood over silly little things.
I tried to take care of Ivan, I really did, but he's just so, I don't know, dark, I guess. He's really moody and kind of mean sometimes. I'm not sure I want to "hitch my wagon" to that, as Jake would say. So I kissed Ricardo, big deal. That didn't mean Ivan had to give him a black eye. It's not like we were even dating, for crying out loud. So now Ivan's not speaking to me, which hurts my feelings more than a little. Who was there for him when he needed it? Me, that's who. I'm glad I got a glimpse of what a "real" relationship with him would be like. And Diary, no thank you. Hunter can have him. They deserve each other.
Jake is one good thing that's come out of living here. I've gotten to know him a lot better. Weird to have a brother who grew up in a completely different household. We were all so busy with our own lives, growing up, that we didn't interact much. Just at Christmas, stuff like that. Anyway, he's super cool. He's kind of old-fashioned, but I like that about him. He dresses like a goth guy but deep down he's a family man all the way. He and Blossom are going to be real happy, I know. I wish I could find someone I felt the same way about.
I know I flirted around, Diary, but what I really want is a family. I've just been kind of shy about admitting it, especially to Zane, who can really tease when he feels like it. I feel bad for him right now. He's been in a real bad mood ever since Elena the stuck up prig got engaged. I never knew what he saw in her. I knew her for what she was from the start: a money-grabbing rhymes-with-olddigger. But he liked her so I tried to too.
Her brother Eduardo's a pain, too. I hate to be negative but the guy carries a mirror in his pocket! He's the vainest guy I've ever met, and Diary, I know he's cute, but no one's that cute. My brothers are all cuter than him and I don't see them going around gazing at themselves like Narcissus. Jake's hair is always standing straight up. If Blossom wasn't here he wouldn't even bother to brush it, I'm sure.
I really like Ricardo, Diary. I mean really, really. And I know it's not healthy because he likes EVERYBODY. The guy just cannot make up his mind. I guess we're like candy, or pills, to him. Anyway, he asked me out and I said no. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.
I want to meet a nice guy. There's this guy in one of my classes named Cameron who seems shy but cool. Hunter went out with him and never got anywhere, which to me is a very hopeful sign.
I think I'm going to try to talk to him next time I see him. One thing I'm not, is shy. At least not usually.
Gotta go, Diary. Time for class.
Isadora
Playing House
Ivan, Hunter and Tristan graduated. Tristan moved into the Thibadeaux family home and Hunter bought a run-down home downtown.
"Move in with me," she said to Ivan.
He gave her a look.
"Hey, do you want to live with your parents?"
"Not really."
"Me either. Little brothers would really cramp my style. C'mon, Ivan, it'll be fun."
"Whatever." But he moved in, and helped her fix the place up a bit.
"We'd save money if we only bought one bed," she said.
He chuckled. "You're so transparent."
She grinned at him.
Ivan got a job as a Paranormalist, and Hunter joined the military. It wasn't what they wanted; he wanted to be a chef and she wanted to be an athlete, but they had bills to pay and no one else was hiring.
They worked different shifts.
Hunter had just kissed Ivan goodbye when Zane stopped by. He stood outside, staring at her garbage can.
"Thinking of knocking it over?" she asked, coming outside to stand next to him.
"Yes."
"Still angry with me, lover?"
"Yes."
"Want to come inside?"
"Yes. Wait. What about Ivan? I thought you two were--"
"Does it matter?"
He thought about it. "No."
"Good." She took his hand. "We have some catching up to do." They hadn't slept together yet.
She took care of that.
"Move in with me," she said to Ivan.
He gave her a look.
"Hey, do you want to live with your parents?"
"Not really."
"Me either. Little brothers would really cramp my style. C'mon, Ivan, it'll be fun."
"Whatever." But he moved in, and helped her fix the place up a bit.
"We'd save money if we only bought one bed," she said.
He chuckled. "You're so transparent."
She grinned at him.
Ivan got a job as a Paranormalist, and Hunter joined the military. It wasn't what they wanted; he wanted to be a chef and she wanted to be an athlete, but they had bills to pay and no one else was hiring.
They worked different shifts.
Hunter had just kissed Ivan goodbye when Zane stopped by. He stood outside, staring at her garbage can.
"Thinking of knocking it over?" she asked, coming outside to stand next to him.
"Yes."
"Still angry with me, lover?"
"Yes."
"Want to come inside?"
"Yes. Wait. What about Ivan? I thought you two were--"
"Does it matter?"
He thought about it. "No."
"Good." She took his hand. "We have some catching up to do." They hadn't slept together yet.
She took care of that.
Trouble
Ricardo moved into the Adobe mission and trouble came with him.
Zane kissed Hunter, and then saw Hunter kissing Ricardo, which made Zane see red. Ivan saw Ricardo kiss Isadora and the two men came to blows. Zane saw Ricardo kissing Elena Miguel, despite the fact that she was engaged to Victor Platz. Apparently he was the only one she couldn't see anymore, he thought bitterly, and got in a big fight with Ricardo even though it was Elena he was mad at.
Ivan kissed Hunter, which made Ricardo mad.
In the end almost no one was on speaking terms.
"We should help them," Blossom said.
"Yeah, good luck with that," Jake said.
"But, they're all so unhappy."
"They did it to themselves, hon. Let them sort it out."
"But ... "
"Trust me. You're safer keeping out of it." He kissed her. "I love that you care so much about them, but they're grownups. Sort of. They need to fix their own mistakes."
"Do you think we'll ever get a quiet day around here?" Blossom asked with a sigh.
"Right now it looks doubtful," he said. "Hey, let's blow a little money on dinner, what do you say? Get out of here for a couple of hours?"
"Sounds great," she said. "Let's go."
Zane kissed Hunter, and then saw Hunter kissing Ricardo, which made Zane see red. Ivan saw Ricardo kiss Isadora and the two men came to blows. Zane saw Ricardo kissing Elena Miguel, despite the fact that she was engaged to Victor Platz. Apparently he was the only one she couldn't see anymore, he thought bitterly, and got in a big fight with Ricardo even though it was Elena he was mad at.
Ivan kissed Hunter, which made Ricardo mad.
In the end almost no one was on speaking terms.
"We should help them," Blossom said.
"Yeah, good luck with that," Jake said.
"But, they're all so unhappy."
"They did it to themselves, hon. Let them sort it out."
"But ... "
"Trust me. You're safer keeping out of it." He kissed her. "I love that you care so much about them, but they're grownups. Sort of. They need to fix their own mistakes."
"Do you think we'll ever get a quiet day around here?" Blossom asked with a sigh.
"Right now it looks doubtful," he said. "Hey, let's blow a little money on dinner, what do you say? Get out of here for a couple of hours?"
"Sounds great," she said. "Let's go."
Goals
"Mind telling me what you thought you were doing, punching a seventy-year-old man?" Olivia scolded, holding a bag of frozen peas to my eye with a little more force than necessary.
"Ow, gently, gently," I said. "I told you, he started it. It's the Sullivan method of family therapy. Much cheaper than a shrink."
"So, did it make you feel better?" She relinquished the bag and let me hold it. She sat down at the table with me. We were alone. The boys and the old folks were all in bed.
"Yeah, actually, it did."
"Well, I'm glad you're trying to make amends, anyway," she said. "Even if your methods are questionable."
"I'm not doing it for me, Livvy," I said. "I'm doing it for our boys. I want them to see what forgiveness is like. I'd hate to model anger and resentment as a way to live your life."
She cocked her head, and a smile spread across her face. "I love you so much, you know that?"
I took her hand with my free hand, the one not holding the bag of frozen peas. "Don't we own an ice pack?"
"I think you look rather dashing," she teased.
"Yeah, that's me, dashing." I sighed. "It figures that he'd be dying. That's just so ... "
"Unfair?"
"No, he deserves it, believe me. I was going to say typical."
"Um ... "
"I can't hate him now. He's dying. He gets a free pass. I'll look like the big meanie if I so much as yell at him."
"Oh, I'm not so sure of that."
"I'm just thinking of our sons, what we're teaching them. I want them to grow up to be good strong men with no prison records."
"That's a good goal," she said, kissing my hand.
"I thought you'd see it my way."
"Ow, gently, gently," I said. "I told you, he started it. It's the Sullivan method of family therapy. Much cheaper than a shrink."
"So, did it make you feel better?" She relinquished the bag and let me hold it. She sat down at the table with me. We were alone. The boys and the old folks were all in bed.
"Yeah, actually, it did."
"Well, I'm glad you're trying to make amends, anyway," she said. "Even if your methods are questionable."
"I'm not doing it for me, Livvy," I said. "I'm doing it for our boys. I want them to see what forgiveness is like. I'd hate to model anger and resentment as a way to live your life."
She cocked her head, and a smile spread across her face. "I love you so much, you know that?"
I took her hand with my free hand, the one not holding the bag of frozen peas. "Don't we own an ice pack?"
"I think you look rather dashing," she teased.
"Yeah, that's me, dashing." I sighed. "It figures that he'd be dying. That's just so ... "
"Unfair?"
"No, he deserves it, believe me. I was going to say typical."
"Um ... "
"I can't hate him now. He's dying. He gets a free pass. I'll look like the big meanie if I so much as yell at him."
"Oh, I'm not so sure of that."
"I'm just thinking of our sons, what we're teaching them. I want them to grow up to be good strong men with no prison records."
"That's a good goal," she said, kissing my hand.
"I thought you'd see it my way."
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