Chapter 50 – Bittersweet SymphonyShortly after my father passed away Mom told me that “Life has no rhyme or reason to it sometimes. It just
is.”
In light of what has happened this year, I daresay that truer words were never spoken.
It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of a very dear friend and mentor. We lost Geoffrey not far into the new year. He made it just past his ninety-fifth birthday and was still in near-perfect health when death came to call, and while no one was terribly surprised...it was still sad to see him go.
Geoffrey left this world in a rather memorable fashion, though. It is not terribly often when you see a nonagenarian busting moves on the dance floor on the night of his passing. And out-maneuvering dancers less than half his age, I might add.
That Malcolm and Darlene were there when the time came was mere coincidence, and a rather fortuitous one. They originally planned to stay home that Friday night, but Elly had convinced them at the last minute to accompany her and Judd to the dance club. Little did any of them realize that their night of fun and socialization would end quite like
this.
It was a heart-wrenching scene.
“So, I take it you're not about to let me hang around for another two months so I can meet my great-granddaughter?”
“'Fraid not,” the apparition spoke. “Your wife has been badgering me constantly asking when you'd be arriving. Now is my chance to finally get her off of my back.”
“Fair enough I guess,” Geoffrey replied. He glanced over at Malcolm and smiled. “Tell the kids I love them, okay? And give the baby a hug from me when she arrives.”
And with those words he was gone. The very last thing that faded from view was his smile, still warm and genuine, still compassionate and kind as the good doctor had always been. Rest in peace, my friend. This world is a better place for your having lived in it.
The family dealt with their grief as best they could. Malcolm had known that this day would be coming sooner rather than later, and was surprisingly at peace with it. His father lived a good long life and had no regrets. He had the pleasure of knowing all three of his grandchildren as well as his first great-grandchild.
Out of everyone, though, it was Devon who took it the hardest.
Devon truly adored his grandfather, and it hurt him to no end that he would never get the chance to meet the new baby. I think the only thing that held him together was the fact that he was about to become a father, and that his wife needed him. It was quite possibly the most down-to-earth that I have ever seen him in all of his twenty-some years.
Nadia's due date was a little less than two months later and labor began right on schedule. I have to hand it to her; she handled the pain exceedingly well. Almost...
too well.
Devon on the other hand was in sheer panic.
“Gaaahh! It's...it's a baby! Nadia's going to
pop!”
Once Devon had finally calmed down enough to think coherently (at least by Devon standards) he managed to drive his wife to the hospital, where a few hours later they welcomed Electra Penelope into the world. Seven pounds, six ounces of bubbly cuteness with a hint of blonde peachfuzz atop her head.
Devon was beside himself as he held her for the first time. “Hey there little girl. I...I guess I'm your daddy, huh? I hope you don't mind.”
Electra cooed in response. I could have sworn that Devon had tears in his eyes.
“I don't know what to do yet. You're a bit different than scrap metal and wire and I can't exactly use a blowtorch around you.” He gently took her little hand in his. “But your mom and I will do everything that we can to keep you safe from aliens. You don't have to ever be afraid.”
Coming from Devon...that was the sweetest thing I think I've ever heard.
Everyone in the house was lining up to meet and cuddle with the new baby, but priority was, of course, given to a very excited grandma.
I asked Elly if she and Judd were planning on having any more, but she adamantly shook her head. “I'm over forty and two is enough, thanks.”
Drat. I suppose then I'll just have to wait for...
...never mind.
My two grandkids are doing quite well. Well, mostly. Kenji went through a bit of a rough spot earlier this year. It has mostly blown over now, but he was pretty down for a good couple of months.
He came home from school one afternoon looking very distraught. I asked him what was going on, but he refused to talk, instead heading straight to his room and shutting the door. It was only after Zoey came home later that we found out what had happened. He had made the painful discovery during lunch break that Letitia was cheating on him. To make it worse, when Kenji confronted her, she rubbed salt into the wound by insulting his age and calling him a “child”.
Kenji cried himself to sleep that night. Never have I seen him so despondent.
And never have I seen Zoey so
angry. My granddaughter was ready to spit nails when she found out that not only did someone have the audacity to cheat on her little brother, but that someone happened to be her so-called best friend. The ensuing conversation between her and Letitia was not pleasant to say the least. She lost a friend that day, but the relationship between her and Kenji is closer than ever.
Slowly everything started calming down. I took the liberty of reminding him that I didn't even meet his grandmother until we were both seniors in high school, and his other grandparents were in their late twenties before they started dating. He seemed to take some comfort from that.
Too soon, the time came for us to celebrate a very special birthday. I say too soon because it's still hard for me to believe that Zoey is eighteen. She wanted to have her birthday party outside, and as luck would have it the evening was cool and comfortable. As you can imagine though, it was a touch on the chaotic side.
She refuses to say what she wished for last night, but Holly and I think we have a good idea.
How is it that my little granddaughter is already a young adult, ready to take on the world? And why on earth am I
crying? I guess I've gotten sappy in my old age.
Today was her graduation day and the family tradition continued. Zoey made valedictorian, barely ousting Andrew from the top spot by mere hundredths of a point (sound familiar?)
Her classmates voted her Most Likely to Save the World—an appropriate distinction for someone who intends on becoming a firefighter. Zoey will start at the academy in a bit less than a month. She went to the station for her first orientation meeting and met the fire captain—none other than my little brother Arlo.
Zoey is quite excited, though a bit nervous at the same time. At present though, the academy is the last thing on her mind.
Several months ago Andrew revealed his intentions to join the military. Thanks to family connections he will be able to stay in Sunset Valley, however he will have to attend boot camp and basic training in another town. He leaves for Twinbrook tomorrow morning at 06:00. Both of them knew that this was coming, but I don't think that either of them really wanted to think about it. Andrew will be away for six months. Six months that they will have to spend apart when they rarely spend a day away from one another.
If I know Zoey, she will manage well enough. If anything, she has her own job training to keep her busy. Arlo already told me that he plans to work her hard. “Just because she's family doesn't mean I'm giving her any sort of special treatment. She needs to prove herself just like everyone else.” I told him that Zoey wouldn't want it any differently.
Hers will be his last training class, as my little brother will be turning sixty-five in a couple of months and plans to retire shortly thereafter.
As if I didn't feel old enough
before.
Sigh...
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(A/N: I found out the hard way that Letitia has both the Commitment Issues and Inappropriate traits to go along with her Dramatic and Flirty traits.
I was glancing around town and saw her canoodling in the park with Hector Alvi (youngest son of Miraj and Kaylynn) and had Kenji break it off from there. It was just as well, since she is Zoey's age and was just about to have her YA birthday.
Don't worry about Kenji though. Trust me.
That pic toward the beginning with Mortimer and the bartender? The girl on the far left is full townie blood, believe it or not. She is Sharonda Ursine, daughter of Jodi Ursine and Ronny Keaton, who were the two unborn babies from the beginning of the game. Pretty cool, no?
Anyway, thanks much for reading! I'm really looking forward to this next chapter.
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