Duty Calls Chapter 31: Vanquishing the Enemy (Completed)

[Louise56]

Poor Brandon lol! I just love him. What will happen on the wedding day.

[RaiaDraconis]

Hoo boy...Brandon is in quite a pickle. This ought to be interesting.

[Dextra2]

If he loses his short term memory when she propsose, the the wedding ought to fun.

[Magz from Oz]

Duty Calls Chapter 24:  The Talk

I couldn’t sit any longer and began pacing the room too anxious to settle.  Chris stood and said “I think you should talk to dad.  I have to go to bed; I have work in the morning.  Goodnight.”  Then he gave me a reassuring hug and went upstairs.  I think I’d much rather talk to mum.  It’s absurd but sometimes dad still feels like a stranger, an authoritarian stranger at that.  This is one of those times.  But I can’t dump all this on mum so near to her delivery time so I may as well talk to dad.  I went downstairs to the noise of his sculpting.

Dad had just finished another brilliant shapely conundrum metal sculpture which I thought was portentous for me as well as a risky enterprise for him given that he has only one deathflower.  Then I remembered advice from a friend that there is another deathflower at the graveyard.  I must harvest it tomorrow... make that today...especially if he’s going to sculpt in metal.

“Dad, can we talk?” I asked.

“Yeah sure,” he said, “give me a minute or two to put this stuff away and wash my hands.  How about you make us a drink and bring it into the snug”.

I made the drinks and took them on a tray into the little lounge / snug in the basement.  Dad came out of the bathroom.  “Hmm...skill gain drinks... unusual choice.  How’s that going?” he said but grabbed a drink anyway.

“Level 6 so far,” I said blandly, “Dad, don’t you think it’s dangerous to be sculpting in metal at this point in time?”

He looked at me blankly for a moment then his features relaxed.  “You’re right you know.  I won’t do another metal sculpture until we get that potion.  My mind was in a bit of turmoil so I guess that sculpture is what easily came to mind.”

“Um... so you know about the pregnancy books huh?” I asked.



He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at me as if assessing my reactions.  He shrugged, “Yeah I saw them.  Every spare second she’s got, she’s reading them.”  He looked down at his feet than lifted his head and looked me straight in the eye.  “You don’t think she read those books when she was having you two, do you?”

“Um dad, I wasn’t there, remember.” I said not untruthfully.  “Besides I thought the pregnancy books were locked away with the rest of the skill books in the basement of the house in Simfield.”

“You’re right they were.  But there is the public library and she had my fishing radio...” his voice trailed off.

“Dad, does it matter?  Even if she did, would it have changed how you feel about her?” I asked.



“No, it wouldn’t.  There’s almost nothing on this planet your mother could do that would stop me loving her.  And even if she did deliberately have twins, I’m sure she couldn’t know how she had boxed us all into a corner.  She not malicious, just sometimes, your mother’s a bit headstrong.  It’s one of the things I love about her.  There’s never a dull moment when she’s around and I wouldn’t change that for the chance of a thousand lifetimes.” He smiled.  “So what did you want to talk about?”



“Um... Dad...um... do you like Agnes?” I asked not knowing where to start.

“I don’t know her that well but, your mother seemed really taken with her and she’s generally a good judge of character.  They got along like a house on fire and your mum was really excited about helping her with a makeover for her big date” He replied, “Although I didn’t know until you arrived at the Bistro that you were the man she was seeing?  How did it all go?”

“Surprisingly well, we talked about books and family mostly” I replied ambiguously while I tried to muster the courage to really get to the crux of the matter.  “After dinner, we went dancing at the Recurve Strand and that was very nice.”

“Good, I think she’s a fine young lass despite that choice of a frock,” he said.

“You didn’t like her dress?” I asked.



“On Agnes, yes, it looked great.  But if that’s the dress your mother plans to swap with Agnes when she looses her baby weight, then I hope she doesn’t plan to wear it in public!  It’s not a dress a man wants to see his wife wear for every man within cooee to ogle?  Besides I think it’s a hunting dress.” he said coolly. 



“Oh,” I said, “How so?”

“It’s the sort of dress that a girl wears when she’s trying to attract a young man’s attention, bewitch him or ensnare him.  In any case, it’s not a dress I want to see your mother wearing if other people are about.” He said pointedly.



“Oh,” I said.  “So you think the dress may have been a subtle ambush?”

“There’s nothing subtle about that dress!  Personally I think the poor girl was railroaded by her sister and your mother into wearing it for your date.  Your mother was bored and every time she’s bored, she shops for clothes.  Since she won’t buy anything for herself until the baby is born, she went shopping for a new wardrobe for me, which I pointed out was futile because when I take the potion, nothing will suit and she’ll have to do it all over again.”  Dad sighed.

“But you can’t argue with a pregnant woman.  She just touches her tummy and all my resolve turns to dust.  Needless to say, I humoured your mother.”  Dad said wryly.  “So in between fittings, I heard Agnes say to her sister that she’s met someone special and wants a new look.  Then your mother struck up a conversation with Agnes about makeup or lipstick or something like that and from then on, they were fast friends.  To tell you the truth, I was glad your mother latched onto someone else to play dress-ups with.  I read most of Logic Vol II: To Xor or Not to Xor and reached level 5 in logic, so I was happy.”

Dad looked at me squarely, “So,” he said, “did the dress work its magic?  When are you seeing Agnes again?”

“Tonight”

“So watch yourself,” he advised.

“Um dad,” I said mumbling my words, “I’m... um... I... Agnes and I are engaged.”  Dad’s shocked face said volumes and I felt three inches tall”.



“Okay” he said recovering his cool, “That was obviously the plan hatched between, your mother and her sister, but is that what you want?”

“Dad, I never expected to marry so I didn’t socialise with girls much.  Most of the time they terrify me, including Agnes!  But when I really got to know her, I kind of like her.  And when she kisses me, I can’t think at all.  It’s like I’m caught in a massive wave and I just hold my breath and hope I can make it out the other side.  I don’t know what I want” I said venting all the exasperation I was feeling.



“Brandon, you don’t suddenly find yourself engaged to a girl you just kind of like.  Sit down, I think it’s time we that THE talk.” Dad said gesturing to the couch.

I sat and turned to him, “Dad I passed biology.  I don’t need THE talk.  I know all about the birds and bees.”  I pleaded.

“This isn’t about birds and bees.”  I must have looked totally perplexed because he sighed heavily.  “Okay, let’s try a different metaphor, think of fishing.”  I still looked blankly at him.  “Son, you’ve been reeled in, hook, line and sinker.” Dad said.  “The question is how do you feel about it?”

“In a word... confused.  I already told her that I’m not a good catch.  She knows I’m getting counselling.  Why would she set out to reel me in?” I asked puzzled.



“Perhaps she has a soft spot for tragic clownfish.” He said dryly. “Just kidding!  Brandon, there’s nothing terribly wrong with you.  You’re 25 going on 12 because your mind chose arrested development.  Back in Simfield, you couldn’t do all the things being a young adult meant, so in your mind, you didn’t become an adult even though your body matured.

“When I first noticed this phenomenon, I raised it with my father.  I wanted him to get you some help.  But your grandfather argued that it would only make you suffer more because you would become aware what you’re missing when the time came for Chris to take a wife and that you could probably do something that would cause the dynasty to fail.” He said ironically

“Anyway, I hoped that being here in Sunset Valley and starting again, that you would grow into the man you are.  Deep down you are very much a man but on the surface, you are the child.  When things happen to the you, like kisses that can knock your socks off, the man in you takes over but away from that stimuli that only the man can respond to, the child still dominates.”

“So my question to you is, when you’re dancing with Agnes, and kissing Agnes, are you thinking “Oh gross”; or are you thinking about taking those kisses to the next level?” dad asked and I blushed scarlet.

“So is it only when you’re away from Agnes that you’re unsure of what to do?”  I nodded.

“I’m sure Agnes isn’t the only girl that you’ve kissed so do any of their kisses make you react to them the same as Agnes’s?  I shook my head still too embarrassed to speak.

“On your date last night, were you revolted by Agnes’s dress?  I shook my head and he continued, “Did you want to cover that dress up in public but on the privacy of that deserted dance floor did you want to hold her in your arms for slow dances?  I blushed even redder and nodded.

“Then your feelings for Agnes aren’t superficial.  The simple solution is to stick to Agnes like glue.”  He said matter-of-factly.  “She seems to be the one who brings out your baser instincts which will help the man in you take dominance from the child.”

“Even if I end up married to a woman I don’t love?” I asked.

“That’s not likely to happen,” he assured me.  “The man in you is already in love with her, the rest of you has just got to believe in it.”



Dad and I looked at each other for a while and I tried to figure out who talked the more mumbo jumbo, him or Dr Simgund.  But dad did make some sort of sense.  I actually liked being with Agnes, I really liked the feel of her in my arms and I really really liked those kisses that promised so much more. 

I was uncomfortable about where my thoughts were leading and began pacing the room.  I decided that I truly liked the whole idea of marrying Agnes and being with her day and night forever.  Somewhere in my subconscious, I heard the faint toot of a car horn and the sounds of Chris racing off to work.  I stopped pacing and looked at dad stretched out asleep on the couch.  It was 5:32 in the morning.  It was time to go to bed.  I gently woke dad so he could sleep more comfortably in his own bed.



“Dad, I’m going to marry Agnes?” I said.  Dad stood up and congratulated me.  He yawned then I yawned.  We both walked silently up the stairs.  My head was already in the clouds when from the nursery, we heard a scream which could buckle steel.  We raced in to see this.

[RaiaDraconis]

Alistair is a very wise man, and Brandon a very lucky one for having him as a father. I do hope that it goes well for him and Agnes!

Once again a fantastic chapter. You convey such trust between the characters and their interactions are so believable.

[Magz from Oz]

Duty Calls Chapter 25:  Triple Whammy

I looked at dad who’d clearly lost it and said to mum, “Chris has the cruiser with him.  I’ll call a cab!”

My mother shouted, “No!  [pant pant pant] No Cab!  I’m having a home birth [pant pant pant]!  Get out and take your [pant pant pant] father with you! Yooooowwwwwza.”  She screamed.



I looked at dad and pulled him outside the room and shut the door.  I’d never seen him do an orangutan imitation before.  So who’s the child here?  My father was insensible until I dragged him outside the house and only then did he return to something akin to normal.

“Home birth dad?  You discussed this?  When were you going to tell us?” I asked heatedly.

Dad looked at me dumbfounded, shrugged his shoulders and took a deep breath, “You don’t have discussions with pregnant women,” he said.  “They tell you what they want and if you’re sensible, you just say “Yes dear!” and hope cooler heads will prevail when the time comes!”

“Duly noted, but cooler heads didn’t prevail.  So what do we do now?” I said as another shriek echoed from inside the house.

“I don’t think it’s wise if I left the lot.  That’s more trouble than it’s worth but I don’t think I can stand hearing that.  How about a sauna?” he suggested.

“I’m dog tired, what happens if we fall asleep in the sauna?” I asked.

“Oh!  Yes, good point,” he replied.  “How about we sneak next door for a massage and impolitely fall asleep?”

I shook my head.  “It’s a BYO masseuse set up.  How about we drag those deckchairs over to the shade of the willow tree and just nap?”

“Works for me!” he said but his stomach growled.  “You grab us a bite and I’ll move the deckchairs.”

“Deal” I said but there were no leftovers in the fridge.  I grabbed us some cereal and went out to dad who was fast asleep on the deckchair.  I put his food back in the fridge just as another shriek echoed through the house.  With the hairs on my arms standing to attention I went back outside and napped on the deckchair beside him.



I awoke some time later to see dad watching me, which until even 24 hours ago, would have made me more than slightly uneasy.  Our little talk in the wee hours of the morning had established a bond I hoped we would have for life.  I wasn’t hearing any hair-raising noises from the house, so I asked, “All quiet on the western front?”

“I’ve only just woken too, but yes, so far so good,” he said.  Shall we investigate?”  Gingerly he stood, and shrugged his shoulders to get some of the kinks out and proceeded into the house.  I know he only looked 60ish but in reality he was over 100 and I think he felt every one of those years as we silently went inside.  The house was eerily quiet except for dad’s grumbling stomach.

“How about we eat first, nothing can be gained by us starving to death,” dad said.

I wasn’t that hungry myself as I had eaten earlier, but in this house you never know what’s going to happen to disrupt your equilibrium.  I saw the note on the fridge first.  The note read, “Lucy Isabel (left) – Rosalie Anne (right) – bed - DON’T WAKE ME!”  I gave the note to dad as his stomach growled loudly.  “Food first I said!”



We both grabbed a plate of soup from the fridge and as we ate in silence, I noticed dad’s cheeks were wet with tears.  I looked at him with interest.  He silently brushed a tear aside.  “Lucy Isabel was my mother’s name.  Rosalie Anne was Audrey’s mother’s name...” his voice trailed off.

He collected himself and continued, “You would have liked your grandmothers.  My mother was the gentlest humblest woman you could hope to meet.  She adored me but she worshipped my father.  He was the genuine love of her life but I never knew if he returned even a fraction of her love and devotion.”  Another tear trickled down his cheek.



Wiping it away he continued, “Audrey’s mother, Rosalie Baker died in a fire while Audrey was still a baby.  I don’t know the full story but some of the Simfield gossips talked about the hippy Bakers and their faire folk style house with candles everywhere.  Most people attribute it to a candle fire but apparently Rosalie Baker was no Ma Baker in the kitchen, so it’s a toss-up how it happened.

“Did you choose the babies’ names?” I asked.

“Not exactly, I said to your mother that if we had a daughter, maybe we could name her Rosalie Lucy after our mothers.  Maybe that’s why Audrey tried so hard to have twins.”  Let’s go meet your sisters.

The babies lay quietly in their cots but were not asleep. 



I stood back and watched Dad picked up Lucy first, snuggle and play with her before putting her back in her cot. 





Then when dad went to snuggle and play with Rosalie, I picked up Lucy.  I’d never held a baby or a toddler before.  I was fascinated.  I’ll never forget the smell and feel of her.



Kissing her tummy as I played with her was incredible.  I felt my insides turn to marshmallow.  I looked at my father holding and playing with Rosalie and saw the same feelings etched on his expressive aging face.

I know Agnes wants kids and for all I care she can have half a dozen if they make you feel like this.  But first, I resolved I’m going to get dad that Young Again potion.

We swapped babies and snuggled and played with one each.  They began mewling almost simultaneously, so we fed them and changed their nappies.  I was reluctant to put Rosalie down but when dad put Lucy back in her crib I did the same with Rosalie.  I was floored by the experience.  “I have gardening to do,” I said giving dad time alone with his new daughters.



“Give me a minute and I’ll help you with that,” he said evenly.  I went out to the garden in the still warm noon day sun and worked steadily on harvesting the produce.  Dad soon joined me and helped in the garden.



As we worked I told dad that I was going to register with City Hall as a professional Gardener.  I figured even if I was lazy, all I had to do was grow about a dozen Glow Orb mushroom and harvest around 10 or more plants a day at §256 each for a perfect plant, I’d make a reasonable living.  It was a steady commitment because plants still needed care and without glasshouses, would lie dormant over winter, maybe I can make some side money as a painter if Agnes didn’t want to keep her job at the diner.  With my life plan mapped out for Agnes’s perusal, I felt the best I’d felt in... well... forever.



Then my phone rang.  Thinking it was just another person asking for a date, I checked the caller ID first.  It was Chris.  I meant to text him when the girls were born but forgot.  Maybe dad did.  It wasn’t time for Chris to leave work yet so he must be calling in his lunch break. 

“Hi Brandon, no time to explain now but get everyone into their glad rags and meet me next door at the Serenity retreat in half an hour.” And he hung up.  I must have looked at bamboozled as I felt because dad came over to see what was up.

“That was Chris,” I explained and then repeated his instructions to me.

“Let’s go wake your mother... together.  She will probably chew both of us out but it’s good practice for you.” He said.

“Coward!” I said and playfully punched his arm. 

He frowned at first and I thought for a moment that I had gone too far and ruined our new found relationship, but he smiled ironically, “Live and learn, son.  Live and learn.”

We went inside and didn’t need to wake up mum.  She was in the hall talking to this young teen and giving strict instructions for looking after the babies. 



Then she turned and looked at us.  “Get your sweaty smelly bodies upstairs and into a shower now!”  She turned those green eyes on me, “Did you sleep in your suit?  It’s crushed.  I steamed it as best I could and it will just have to do!” 



Then without a backward glance, she turned back to telling the babysitter what she can and can’t do with newborns.

Like co-conspirators Dad and I went upstairs for a quick shower and dutifully trooped downstairs at the appointed time dressed in our finery.  I noticed that mum was wearing a pretty cherry print dress.  It looked great on her and if she had gained any baby weight, it didn’t show.



Still being kept in the dark, dad and I walked behind mum as we walked next door to meet Chris.  He looked every inch Mr Desirable in his usual suit.



He kissed mum and shook dad and my hand and said, “Thanks for coming.  Let’s get this over with first before she changes her mind and runs away.”  We walked around the back and there was Dr Jamie Jolina in a wedding dress!

Chris went straight up to her and whispered something to her, she nodded and together they went to the same wedding arch that mum and dad used.



The music started and I was engrossed.  I just love the emotions of a wedding, the vows, the exchange of rings and the promises of love everlasting.  Chris and Jamie’s wedding was as delightful as it was unexpected.  I wanted this for myself as well.  I wish I had been given the opportunity to know beforehand because I would have liked Agnes to be here with me.






Ladies and Gentlemen of the forum may I present Lucy Isabel St Clair and Rosalie Anne St Clair.



and



Mr and Mrs Christopher Steel

[RaiaDraconis]

Total aww-ness! I love how Alistair and Brandon handled things. Just let her do her thing, stay out of the way, and stay alive.

Good for Christopher and Jamie. They are such an adorable couple.

[Magz from Oz]

Duty Calls Chapter 26:  The Wedding Brunch



After the wedding, we congratulated the happy couple, but Chris warned us we were burning daylight, so we promptly returned home where Chris carried his beautiful bride over the threshold.



Once inside the babysitter swiftly decamped.  I think the girl spent the entire time sunning herself out beside the pool and didn’t go anywhere near the twins who were crying up a storm.  Mum delegated duties like a Sergeant Major.  She and dad would take care of the babies, I would rustle up a wedding lunch, and Chris and Jamie would go upstairs to change clothes and sort out Chris’s things. 



I knew Chris and Jamie would take a long time to change which gave me ample time to make the new recipe I’d wanted to try out.



Over a late lunch, Chris explained the hasty wedding.  He said “A freak flood had devastated Strangetown!  To make matters worse, a blizzard followed in the flood’s path, freezing mud and slush and leaving the town a wreck.  I’d just been promoted to Squad Leader and I have been selected to take a squad to Strangetown to help with the recovery efforts.  Jack said he’s like to go but he has a bunch of responsibilities here in Sunset Valley.”  We all groaned at his terrible pun.



He ate another mouthful of food and we waited until he continued, “Anyway, when I called over to Jamie’s house to tell her why I had to go out of town for a time, she said she already got the notification of the disaster as she had registered a while ago with Doctors Without Borders and they asked her if she wanted to be on the team being sent to Strangetown.”



Jamie took up the story between mouthfuls, “Just so you all know, I registered with Médecins Sans Frontières long before Chris ever came to Sunset Valley.  Of course back then, I didn’t know there would be a reason I would want to stay in Sunset Valley.” She smiled as she glanced over to Chris.

Chris picked up the story.  “To cut a long story short, because we have almost no time, we both have to report to the base at 18:00 hours.  I was delighted that Jamie was going to Strangetown and I offered to help her square away her stuff.  While I probably won’t see her much, I asked her to call me when she had some down time."



"When she didn’t tell me to get lost, I just couldn’t waste the opportunity to put some moves on her and they worked!"



“Once thing led to another and I asked her to go steady.  She said yes.  Not being one to let the grass grow under my feet, I went full throttle and proposed.”



“When she said yes, I knew I didn’t want to wait.  So I rang the resort. They had no previous bookings and Jamie agreed to marry me before we left instead of waiting until we came back or marry in private.  The rest you know.”

“Just so you know, mum, this is not a spur of the moment thing.  I’ve been in love with Jamie since the day I met her.  Just like dad, I was in love at first sight and every single sight since has been bittersweet .  I just sort of hung around and hoped she’d notice me, even a little bit.  I crashed a couple of Thornton Wolf’s parties because I knew she was friends with them.  Eventually she noticed me and we seemed to get along fine but whenever I invited her over she would chicken out or if she came, she would get called back to the hospital for an emergency.  When I still lived at Garden Cottage, I even sent her love letters a couple of times but she never responded,” he said ruefully.



“Just to set the record straight,” Jamie interrupted, “I only take the bills from the mail box and bin the rest.  I don’t read any of it.  I rarely even get the chance to read the newspaper.  This is excellent risotto by the way Brandon, have you ever thought of opening a restaurant of your own.  So where was I?” she asked.

“Oh yes,” she answered herself, “I did notice Chris but I thought he was too young.  I didn’t realise he was singling me out for his attention.  I just thought he was just a bit of a party animal like me.  Also he seemed to be hiding a secret which was just mysterious enough to get all the girls in town interested but which I had neither the time nor inclination to unravel.  I heard it as gospel on the grapevine that he was an undercover secret agent.  I know for a fact that a lot of people checked out your house looking for the secret passage to your underground HQ.”  She wiggled her eyebrows at him.”

“Anyway, I asked my friend Hank Wan but he told me Chris wasn’t in either branch of law enforcement.  So when it was discovered that quiet unassuming Chris Steel was not 007 but none other than Adam St Clair, the missing heir to the St Clair fortune, I didn’t think I stood a chance.  Then everyone began pairing him with Agnes Crumplebottom and I thought that was the end of it.”

“But Chris was always hanging around like a lost stray.  Sometimes when I got off a double shift, he’d be waiting on my doorstep with those sad steel blue puppy dog eyes.  I’d let him in and he would just cook me a meal and sit and watch TV with me and quietly tidy up and leave so I could sleep.  Who could resist a man who feeds you when you’re hungry and doesn’t want small talk when you’re all talked out?”



“Then he began asking me for ideas on how to help his poor troubled little brother,” she smiled at me, “I saw yet another endearing facet to this multi talented man the townies calls Mr Desirable.”

“So to cut a longer story short, I heard the news of the flood in Strangetown last evening and wondered if Chris was going to be among the troops the Governor promised to send there to help with the cleanup.  That was before the blizzard hit and made things worse and Médecins Sans Frontières were called to assist.  I called Jack Bunch who confirmed that he was going to send Chris to lead the squad.”

“Knowing I had to make a move before Chris left town, I rang Cornelia Goth straight away and asked her if she had another magic dress I could wear to snare the man of my dreams.”  She turned to me and said, “Yes Brandon the entire town knows.  Agnes told Cornelia who probably didn’t know that Vita Alto was visiting Cornelia at the time.  So now the entire universe knows of your engagement.”



At that point my mother butted in.  “Yes Brandon, I already know about you and Agnes, but just when exactly were you going to tell your mother you were engaged?” she demanded.

“Hang on a minute,” I protested.  “When have I had the chance?  The only words you’ve spoken to me today have been to order me about: get out of the room, take dad with me, get into the shower and make lunch.  I haven’t even had the chance to say you look fantastic for a woman who just had twins.”

“Yeah well thanks, but I’m wearing a corset which is killing me.  Oh Brandon,” she said with a hurt edge to her voice.  “You should have told me last night.  I had to hear it from Cornelia this morning.” Then she pouted which was nearly my undoing but dad saved my bacon.

“Calm down Audrey,” he said, “Our son had a few issues he needed to speak man to man about first, before he could tell his mother.  When he was ready to tell you, it wasn’t the right time for you.”

“Oh,” she said immediately contrite, “I’m sorry I jumped down your throat, Brandon.  Today’s been a bit hectic hasn’t it?  Please go on Jamie, I love hearing your side of this?”  I was startled by mum’s ability to change from anger to hurt to curiosity in the space of a minute or so.  I wonder if I’ll ever learn how to keep up with a woman.  Agnes seemed to have mercurial mood swings too.  I guess dad’s right, live and learn.  But if they can write pregnancy books for parents-to-be, why can’t they write skill book for husband’s-to-be?

Jamie smiled and resumed, “So...back to me.  I understand that Cornelia rang Audrey last night as both of them were at my door before dawn with another dress from the Date Night range and a wedding dress.  Before I could try either on, Audrey went into labour and had to leave.”  So that explained why mum was up and dressed at the crack of dawn, I thought.

Jamie continued, “Well, I planned to phone Chris before he went to work to ask him to come over later, but my beeper went off before I had the chance to make the call.  I was called back to the hospital, so, naturally, I was still in surgical scrubs instead of the dress when Chris showed up on my doorstep with his little story and how much he was going to miss me.”



“So there I was trying to figure out a way I could seduce him with just my charms when he started flirting with me and the rest you know.  Except he had this silly idea that I might change my mind about marrying him now that he doesn’t have the St Clair fortune behind him and he’s just a poor soldier trying to make a living.  Plus, he thinks I need someone more cerebral than him.  But” she said mischievously, “I’m prepared to spend the rest of my life finding ways to tell him why we’re so perfect together.”

“Well, my darling,” Chris said pulling Jamie to her feet, “Now that you’ve spilled all our inner secrets to my family, how about we get moving?  You said you wanted to do a handover of some patients to the new doctor at the hospital and we have a plane to catch.  And spoiler notice Mrs Steel, whenever you can spare an hour of your time over the next fifty years, I’m going to show you why we’re so perfect for each other.”

“Ooh,” she grinned playfully.  “A whole hour!  I think I can rearrange my schedule for that!”

We all got up from the table and I offered to wash up.  Chris and Jamie stopped for a smooch in the hall.  “Oi Brandon! Catch!” he said and threw some keys at me which I barely caught. “Congratulations, you just scored the cruiser for a wedding present.  If you’re not married by the time I return, I want my car back!”  His car?!?



Chris and Jamie went in to see Lucy and Rosalie before going upstairs.  When they clame out I was still cleaning up.  The acoustics in the hall must be very good because I heard every word they said.  Chris whispered, “We don’t have an hour” to which Jamie whispered back, “Pffft.  You don’t need an hour, ten minutes tops...”

[RaiaDraconis]

That was a sweet backstory for Christopher and Jamie. It makes Chris all the more endearing of a character. It will be sad to see the two of them leave town, though it sounds like they'll be back eventually.

A "bunch" of responsibilities...baaad pun, Chris.

[Louise56]

And there I thought Brandon was getting married.
Congrats to Chris and Jamie!

[Magz from Oz]

Duty Calls Chapter 27:  Goodbyes and Heartbreak

Chris and Jamie went upstairs as I continued tidying up in the kitchen.  Lost in the contemplation and excitement of my impending wedding and the even more pleasant thoughts of our wedding night, mum derailed my train of thought.  “So Brandon”, she said, “Let’s talk about your wedding!”  I flushed bright red because of where my thoughts had been drifting.



“Nothing’s decided yet.  I have a date with Agnes tonight when she finishes her shift,” I said, “I’ll find out about her plans and let you know, I promise!  You won’t have to hear them from Cornelia Goth.”  Just then, one of the babies cried and mum looked around for dad who seemed to have disappeared.  Then the crying became louder and in stereo. 

“Make sure you tell me immediately!” she called back as she went into the nursery.

I wondered what Agnes had in mind.  I happily let my thoughts drift back to the wedding as I continued cleaning up.  I hope we can afford for Agnes and I to go to France for our honeymoon because I do not want a houseful of family knowing about our bedroom activities.  Maybe Chris is totally unaware that his bedroom is directly over the kitchen but the sounds I hear from above don’t sound like packing to me.  Chimes?  Did I just hear chimes?



By the time I’d finished straightening the kitchen and sorting the contents of the fridge; Jamie and Chris were downstairs ready to go.  We wished them well for their new life together and luck with their respective tasks in the rescue and recovery efforts in Strangetown.  Mum assured them we would be glued to the TV each night to catch the any news from Strangetown.



They left and mum let out a heartfelt sigh, then a sob, but seconds later Chris came back to give mum a special hug before leaving again.  The special hug left mum in smiles and once again I was in awe at her total unpredictability.  I never noticed this aspect of her before.  I wonder if it’s just mum or females in general.  I’d better ask dad.



I changed out of my formal clothes and put a load of laundry on.  As I went outside to finish tending the garden, I noticed dad napping on the deckchair in the shade and left him be.  I worked steadily in the garden making sure I allowed myself plenty of time to shower and change before meeting Agnes.  When I went back inside, I noticed dad had obviously finished his nap.  Those deck chairs had been surprisingly comfortable and I wondered how often I’d be seeing dad snoozing on them over the next few weeks. 

I’m going to max out cooking, learn the Ambrosia recipe and then concentrate on maxing logic because twin daughters was a young man’s caper not really suitable for an elder.  What a pity Jamie had to go so soon after joining the family, her genius trait might have come in handy.

I arrived at the Diner in plenty of time to meet Agnes.  I ran into some friends who all congratulated me on our engagement.  I hoped that they’d all be gone by the time Agnes gets off work as she’d feel uncomfortable with so many people around and knowing her private business.



Finally Agnes emerged from the Diner.  Fortunately only a couple of friends stayed to offer their congratulations.  By the time we’d escaped from them though, the final show at Performance Park was over.  Instead we strolled along sidewalk towards the Fae Ray Arboretum.  I told her all about my day and she told me about hers. 



She turned to me, “I want to apologise for breaking the news to Cornelia without first checking whether she was alone.  I guess I just wasn’t thinking there’d be any visitors there at that time of night.  I’m really sorry that the rest of the town was informed before you had the chance to tell your mother.  Cornelia told me that your mum didn’t know.”  She said it as a statement but I knew she wanted to know why I hadn’t told mum last night.

“Yeah, mum was asleep when I got home last night and then Chris and I had a long chat.”  I was definitely not admitting the subject of my talk with Chris.  “Then dad and I talked man to man right through the night into the morning.  I wish I had woken mum because I know she was hurt that I didn’t."



“Oh,’ she said, “I totally understand that you didn’t want to wake your mother so close to her time.  You’re far more considerate than Cornelia, who had no hesitation at ringing Audrey in the early hours of the morning to help select a special dress for Jamie.  I hope you took photographs of the wedding.”

“Of course!  Speaking of which, have you decided on a time, date and place for our wedding.  Mum is champing at the bit to know the details?” I asked as we reached the Arboretum.

The Arboretum was a bit crowded and it was difficult to find an area all to ourselves.  We sat down and Agnes turned to me, “Is tomorrow too soon for you, because I really don’t see the need for waiting?” she asked timidly.



I gently held her head and kissed her, “I don’t want to wait.  Tomorrow’s perfect.  It’s your day off so we have all day and evening.  Although for the babysitter, daytime would be probably be better.  Do you have a location in mind?"  I asked wondering if she’d like to use the wedding arch at the Serenity Resort.  It had sort of become a family tradition.

“I want to be married at the Claude Monet Artist Gardens.  They are so beautiful and it’s probably my favourite spot in the whole town.” Agnes replied as she proceeded to blaze a trail of little kisses along my neck and across my jaw towards my lips.

Concentrate Brandon!  I told myself.  “Okay, that’s nice,” I replied feeling my insides melt.  “It’s good that the venue has a special meaning for you and the Gardens are spectacular.  Have you decided on a time?"



“I suppose given that your mother has babies to tend to and you have the garden, would midday be good for you?” she asked in between kisses so hot they’ve almost liquefied my self control.



Concentrate Brandon or put a stop to this!  “Dawn would be good for me but impractical for everyone else.” I answered truthfully.  “I’d marry you right now but mum would have a hissy fit about missing out.”

“Hmm... so would Cornelia,” she agreed between kisses.  I had to stop Agnes from destroying my last shred of self control.

“Oh my stars... Agnes stop!” I said needing to put some breathing space between us.



“Whaaat...?” she said dazed.

“I need to drive you home before I get arrested for indecent behaviour in public.” I pleaded.

“There’s no such charge,” she responded, “but I take your point.  I have my own car.”  Reluctantly she unglued herself from my body.  If anything her breathing was more ragged then mine.  She took a minute to collect herself.  “Okay, my prudent fiancé, I’ll meet you at the wedding arch at the Claude Monet Artist Gardens at noon tomorrow.”

She gave me a goodbye kiss that knocked my socks off.  “Bye” she whispered.  I wondered how soon after the ceremony I could decently take Agnes somewhere very private and... Oh nuts!  I forgot to ask if she’d planned a lunch or something afterwards.  I’m sure if she had, she’d have mentioned it.  I went home to blissful dreams of Agnes and I having a wonderful honeymoon.

The morning was chaos, the babies would not settle and everything that could go wrong, went wrong.  Mum left early to go to the salon to get a new dress.  She said she couldn’t wear the same dress two weddings in a row.  Why on earth not?  What was wrong with the Armani dress she wore every day?  It was very flattering and more stylish than anything the rest of the townies wore.



“I’ll meet you and your father there.” She called, “Don’t be late.  Get the mail for me will you.  There’ll probably be a lot of mail for Chris and Jamie that we will have to forward”.

Dad and I waited forever for the babysitter to show.  It was a young lad this time, which would please mum, the girl from yesterday had been neglectful.  I grabbed the mail and sorted through it in the car since dad chose to drive.



As I sorted through mostly Chris’s mail, one large envelope was addressed to me but there was no return address. 



I opened the envelope which seemed to hold some photographs and got the shock of my life.  There was a printed note that simply read, “You need to know this!  Look at the time stamp!”

I think I was still in shock when we arrived.  I saw mum and Agnes with Cornelia near the pond over to the left so I grabbed dad’s jacket sleeve and steered him over to the sculpture garden on the right.



"You haven’t developed cold feet have you Brandon?” dad asked concerned.

“Dad, take a look at these.”  I said as I handed him the two photographs.  “Look at the time stamp!  Those photographs were taken four hours after we got engaged!”

[RaiaDraconis]

Oh my...now that adds a whole new twist to things. Poor Brandon!

Ooh, I daresay that Christopher and Jamie won't be gone for too long. Jamie may be sent home early if there's a nooboo on the way.

[Magz from Oz]

Duty Calls Chapter 28:  Damage Control

Dad was deeply shocked by the photographs.  “You need to speak to Agnes right away.” He said, “There must be some sort of logical explanation.  I don’t know the girl all that well, but she didn’t seem the type who would cheat on a new fiancé on the night of her engagement.”



“Of course she didn’t cheat on me!” I said heatedly.  “You’re right, you don’t know Agnes well.  But I forgive you for jumping to that conclusion.  I think it was the conclusion I was meant to make too.  Those photos were probably photo-shopped but even if they weren’t, I know there’s a reasonable explanation!  No!  What breaks my heart is that there is someone out there trying to wreck our happiness.  Agnes and I have acquired an enemy!”

“Well Agnes, at least!” dad responded.  “If you had an enemy, Agnes would have been sent salacious photos of you in compromising situations.  Brandon, I’m proud of you.  Most people would think the worst on seeing those photos but you’ve stood by your fiancée.  You are indeed the man you were meant to be.”



“Well logic prevailed dad, but the emotional me is still ravaged.” I said wryly.  “Agnes told me that everything a Crumplebottom did in this town was news and that if she so much as talked to a man, the gossips went into melt down.  We spent an hour or so last night in the company of her friends and not one of them mentioned another man in Agnes’s life.  I believe if those pictures were not photo-shopped then she has been betrayed by someone she knows very well because a Sim can’t share a bed with an acquaintance.” I was deeply distressed that someone would deliberately set out to hurt my beloved Agnes.



“That’s true,” dad said, “We can show them their strategy didn’t work.  Let’s get you two married before your mother has a conniption fit.”

“No dad,” I said, “right now, we have an enemy prepared to stage photos to try to break us up.  If we marry in public, who knows what might happen next?  I don’t think this hatred is directed solely toward Agnes because the perpetrator has had years to hurt her and hasn’t.  I think this attack is generated by the fact that we are engaged?  I think it’s an attempt to stop this wedding.  Let’s not make the perpetrator desperate to do more damage until we can find out what’s going on.”



“That makes sense,” dad said. “What are you suggesting instead?”

“I’m taking Agnes to France or China or possibly Egypt in case we’re in mortal danger,” I replied.  “In the meantime, you contact Jamie’s friend Hank Wan and start an investigation into who the man in the photograph is.  I want to know who he is and how he was able to get into her house.  It’s someone Agnes knows very well so Cornelia may know him too.  Find him and get an explanation.  He must have a co-conspirator because someone took those photographs of him with Agnes.”

“Okay, that sounds reasonable but I think your mother is going to be miffed at being deprived of a wedding,” he said ruefully.  Just then our phones rang simultaneously.



Dad answered his first and he didn’t need speaker phone for me to hear every word, “There’d better be a good explanation as to why you two aren’t here!” mum’s voice shrilled.”

I got a more subdued voice full of tears, “Are we still getting married?” Agnes asked.

“Yes my love, but not here and not right now.  Something has happened.  Take mum and Cornelia and go to Goth Manor.  Don’t leave their side.  That’s imperative and non-negotiable.  I will meet you there soon.  Remember Agnes, I love you with every beat of my heart.  I wouldn’t do this unless it was unavoidable.”

“Are you sure it’s unavoidable?  Come over here so we can discuss this,” she begged.

“Agnes, if I thought it was safe, believe me I would.  But you’re too important to me to take unnecessary risks.  Do you trust me?” I asked concern thickening my voice.

“With my life,” she replied.

“Well I hope it won’t come to that.  Trust me Agnes, something evil is afoot and I really believe us marrying here today is dangerous.  Please go to Goth Manor and dad and I will meet you there as soon as we can.” I asked.  She hung up and dad and I watched them depart.

I didn’t observe anyone closely watching the departing party but an Egyptian tourist who was using the easels left shortly afterwards on foot. 



Dad and I looked briefly at his painting as we left.  The tourist was not much of a painter.  I said to dad, “Take those photos to Hank Wan.  See what he can discover, I’m going to follow that tourist.  Dad took the photographs and left in the cruiser.  I ran after the tourist, then followed him at a discrete distance all the way to City Hall, where he went inside.  That’s really odd, I thought, I’d never seen tourists go into the buildings.  I watched City Hall from across the street in the park.  I waited for a while but he didn’t come out.  Instead I was joined by dad who saw me when he came out of the Police Station.

“Did you find out anything useful?” I asked.



“Well the photos are not fakes.  Hank Wan identified the man as Dave Ramsey, a local paparazzi.  Hank says he is certain Ramsey has gone with the press contingent to Strangetown to cover the disaster and is not available for questioning.  Hank believes the bedroom is Agnes’s but he had no idea whether Agnes knew Ramsey or how he got into her house or her bed.  How did it go with the tourist?” he asked.

“He went into City Hall and is yet to emerge.  How long does a tour last?” I asked.

“I’ve no idea,” dad replied.  “A couple of hours maybe?  He may be an innocent tourist you know.”

“Okay.  We’re burning daylight as Chris would say.  I’ll send an email to Chris and ask him if he can track down Dave Ramsey and get some sort of explanation from him.  Right now let’s get to Goth Manor.  We’ll go first to the house and pick up some fishing gear and then to Pinnochle Pond.  From there we’ll go to Goth Manor.”

“Do you want to change first?” he asked. “Your red jacket could be seen for miles through a telescope.

“No,” I said.  “If someone is watching us I want them to see my red jacket at Pinnochle Pond.  Let them think they’ve succeeded and give us breathing space.  We’ll change there and go across country to Goth Manor.

At home we grabbed our gear and a change of clothes.  As we walked to the fishing hole, we kept looking over our shoulders but no-one followed us.



I began fishing while dad changed his clothes behind a bush.  Then I changed.  In Chris’s old camouflage fatigues we may not be so easy to spot.  Unhurriedly, we walked to Goth Manor.  We’ll be harder to spot walking casually.  The eye can easily detect movement if something is moving fast.  Two military guys out for a stroll may go unnoticed.



When we arrived at Goth Manor, we were let in by hostile albeit curious Cornelia.  “Well well well!  This better be good soldier boys?” she warned.  “Agnes and Audrey are in the living room.  We haven’t answered our phones which have been ringing almost non-stop.”



Dad and I changed out of our disguises into our suits.  “Trust me Cornelia, I’m not being melodramatic.” I said.  “How well do you know Dave Ramsey?”

“The paparazzi guy? I barely know him.” She said, “Why?”

“Dad, show Cornelia the photographs.  Look at the time stamp” I said. 



Dad gave her the photos.  She gasped in shock.  “That’s ridiculous.  Agnes wouldn’t do that.  They’re fake!” she ranted as she threw them on the counter.

“No they’re not.  Hank Wan had them analysed by his own people.  Those are real, but we believe they are a setup.”

“Of course they are!”  Cornelia said with shock and rage thickening her voice.  “Who would do that to Agnes?  She has no enemies”

“We aim to find out,” dad said.



“I’m calling Gunther, he still has resources and we can do this discretely.” Cornelia said in a tight voice through clenched teeth.  “I can’t believe anyone can be that nasty to Agnes after all she’s been through.”



Just then mum and Agnes walked into the kitchen.  “We heard shouting.  What’s going on?”  mum said as Agnes saw the photographs on the counter.  I made a grab for them but Agnes was closer and got to them first.  Her face was ashen as she examined each photo.  “Is that what this is all about?  These are not real.  I didn’t sleep with Dave Ramsey.  Not ever.  You have to believe me.  I wouldn’t cheat on you!”  Her voice started as a whisper but rose in intensity with each word as tears glistened in her eyes.

“Darling Agnes, I know you didn’t.  I didn’t believe that for a second.” I said as I held her, “but we need to know who did this to us.  But more importantly, we need to find out why.  Without the reason, we may be endlessly walking into traps set for us.  You obviously know Dave Ramsey well.  What can you tell us about him?”

“Oh, he was Erik’s best friend.  They were very close and naturally we became friends.  Dave told me a while ago that he wants to move into regular journalism and so I introduced him to Simis Bachelor.  I last saw him about a week ago.  I honestly didn’t think he was mean enough to do something like this.  It’s awful to find out an old friend could be so wicked.”

“Well he had help.  He couldn’t get into your house on his own.” I said.

“Oh Erik probably let him in.  Do you think Erik is behind this?  He likes to frighten gentlemen callers but I can’t believe he would do something like this.” Agnes said sadly

“Your late husband’s ghost is in your house?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes, his gravestone is on my lot.  Where else would it be?” she replied.

Cornelia interceded at this point, “At the graveyard, where it should have been all along.  Agnes, you’re moving on.  I’ll get rid of Erik’s pathetic ghost as soon as I can!”

“Yes, of course, you’re right,” Agnes said, “but I still don’t think he’s jealous enough to do this.  He likes to frighten people but he wouldn’t deliberately hurt me.  Someone else is using him to get to me... someone alive.”  She paused and sighed, “How do you know it’s someone who hates me?  Why not someone who’s hates Brandon?”

“I do have someone who dislikes me, but given the time of the photographs, my enemy wouldn’t have had the time or the resources to be responsible for this deception.  Besides, dad and I think this person doesn’t necessarily hate you but is just determined to stop this wedding.” I said carefully choosing my words, “So Agnes, my beloved, how about we rectify that immediately.  Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife in a private wedding instead of a public one?”

“Yes,” she said her soft voice not nearly as sure as I’d like to hear it, but given all that has just happened; I was content with the simple yes.

“Not here in the kitchen,” said Cornelia.  Use the living room, it’s nicer.  We went into the living room.  I took Agnes’s hand in mine as mum, dad and Cornelia watched with avid interest.



Sincerely from my heart, I said, “My darling Agnes, as I stand here with you and our gathered family, there are many things I could promise you.  I could promise that I will love you for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day forward, till death do us part.  But that vow is for idealistic couples who celebrate a romantic love.  We share more than that.  I am certain of our love and that love is strong enough to last forever.  Our love will carry us through when things become difficult, when we are too tired, when we haven’t had the time to talk because of work, when our lives become dull and routine, and when the more difficult side of life overshadows the better one.  When all those things happen and more, our love will hold us together.”

“I believe that the our love is the kind that strengthens the soul, that makes us reach for more, that lights a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That’s what you’ve given me.  That’s what I hope to give to you forever.”

“You are my love and my very best friend.  You are the embodiment of what love is for me.  I promise to give you my heart, all of it and my soul.  I give you me.”



I placed the ring on her finger.  She placed her hand over mine and looked into my eyes and said in a trembling whisper, “My dearest Brandon, in front of the witness here present, I accept your love.  In return I promise you my life, every moment of every day.  I promise you a life spent trying to make you happy.  I promise you love, in the purest and strongest form I can ever give.  I will love you unconditionally.  I may not always get it right but I promise you that I will spend everyday for the rest of my life trying.”

“You are someone real and vital to me.  You make mistakes but it doesn’t mean you don’t try your best.  In fact, it’s what I love about you.  You have no illusions of perfection or greatness or even of deserving great things.  You are honest, sincere, and most of all, a gentle man and a gentleman.”

“And as selfish as it may seem, I want to be the one beside you as you live your life.  I want to be the one to take care of you, the one you come home to, and the one you hold every night.”

“You are my light and my life.  When I look at you, I know that I love you in my mind and my heart.  I love you for my soul.  I promise you the rest of my life.”



Agnes placed the ring on my finger and we kissed with the promise of love in every beat of our hearts.



Dad wiped a tear from his eyes.  “That was so beautiful,” dad said.  Then they hugged and congratulated us. 



Dad clapped his hand on my shoulder.  “Okay, you two go off to France.  China is not a good option there is only one private room and Egypt has none at all just tents.  I’ve taken the liberty of packing some stuff for you.  Audrey and I will tell people that you’ve gone to Bridgeport to drown your sorrows in the night life.  Cornelia can tell people that Agnes has gone somewhere else.  Chris can track down this Ramsey character and find out why he was involved in this and if possible, who’s behind it.”

Cornelia said, “I’ll tell people Agnes has gone to our cousins in Moonlight Falls and don’t worry little sister, in your absence, we will find out who did this to you two.  Be happy and be careful.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ladies and gentlemen of the Forum, May I present to you, Brandon and Agnes Crumplebottom.  (Well Agnes did propose.)

[Schipperke]

Magz, I've just been catching up with your story, and all I can say is Wow!  You have drawn Agnes as a very poignant, compelling character, which is just how I see her.  I'm glad Dr Simgund was able to give some useful advice. 

And that wedding scene was just beautiful.  Very nicely done!

[RaiaDraconis]

The plot thickens. I have a theory as to who may be involved...but I'm not saying anything. Here's hoping the newlyweds have a good time abroad!