SECOND GENERATION - BRIDGID HARDY
Chapter Sixteen: The Heiress Apparent Returns
Bridgid Hardy – Fourth Child (Heir)
Sign: Cancer
Traits: Good, Daredevil, Charismatic, Snob, Friendly
Favorites: Songwriter, Firecracker Shrimp, Spiceberry
LTW: World Renowned Surgeon
Bridgid was excited. After most of her life spent at boarding school, she was returning home. It was late when her cab pulled up to Elderbough House, but she was thrilled to see that her mother was out on the lawn, painting, and her brothers were all still up to greet her. The boys all ran out to hug her - except Blake, who hung back inside. He was always a bit of an outsider, so it wasn't a surprise.
Bridgid had gone to a different school than her brothers so she had barely seen them in the past few years. She couldn't wait to reconnect with them and chat but she was exhausted from her trip and had to get some sleep first. She broke away from their chatter reluctantly. As she headed to the old nursery (soon to be her room), she stopped into her parent’s room for a moment. There was one person who had not been waiting up for her… Her beloved father.
She slipped into bed, thinking about the day to come. Her parents had hoped she would start a medical career and become a World Renowned Surgeon and she really had no reason not to pursue that path. So tomorrow she would sign up and get to work.
She would also get to work setting up her bedroom. Blake had taken it over for the time being, but now that she was back they would need to find a place for him. It wouldn't work to move him in with Bartholomew and Brody, they were just too different and it was already snug in there. Until something could be worked out, Blake pitched camp in the back yard by the abandoned orchard in the deluxe tent they had picked up in China on a recent trip. From what her brothers had said, he wasn't home a whole lot anyway and preferred being outside, so she didn’t feel too guilty about it.
The next morning, Bridgid headed out to sign up for work and found a present in the driveway. Her family had never owned a car, but as a graduation present they had bought her one!
She didn't have a lot of hope that she would get to use it much - With four others in the house, it was likely to be in hot demand. Still, she considered it hers.
The next few days were busy for the whole household. Mom was in the parlor writing a lot, but she was also planning to paint a portrait of each of her children and had devoted much of the week to completing the project.
As she painted Bridgid, they talked woman to woman. She could see that her mother was a little baffled at the person that had come back to her from the expensive school she had sent her off to… It's true, Bridgid might have shown a little more discretion in dressing, but if you have it, why not show it? It wasn't her problem if people stared. And maybe she was a little bit snobby, but she had a brain and most people were idiots. Was she just supposed to suffer them? It had been a great education and she had great confidence in herself - If she was daring and outgoing, how was that a bad thing?
But they talked about more than that… They talked about her father, the house, and the ever important Legacy. Her mother was obsessed with all of it. Frankly, Bridgid couldn't quite see what the fuss was about, but she deeply respected her parents and felt a strong sense of duty toward them. And, by extension, to the house and bloodline. Her mother needn’t worry, she would do her part. She loved her large, crazy family and wanted one of her own. Spirits willing, there would be girls when the babies came to please her mother.
The following week was quite busy for all the boys, both at work and home. Bartholomew and Brody spent all their free time working out and practicing martial arts with each other. Blake was out most of the time fishing and camping. But on the nights they all happened to be home and in good spirits, they talked and played together.
Blake would hang out with her in her room playing with his alchemy station, which she had agreed to leave there for a little while - She was too busy getting started at work and exploring interests to decorate yet.
She was delighted they were all together. She knew Bartholomew and Brody intended to find women to marry and move out at some point and while she would rather keep them home, it was clear that once she started her own family they would not have the room for everyone. So she enjoyed being with her family while she could.
One night she half-woke up to a strange noise outside her window which she dismissed and went back to sleep. In the morning, Brody claimed he had been abducted by aliens. Man, her brothers were SO WEIRD.
On the way home from work one day, she bought into the local book store/spa as partner. As the oldest daughter, it was part of her duty to procure investment properties for the family. The family funds were doing quite well, but she still chose an inexpensive property. There would be all sorts of expenses coming soon and she didn't want to completely clean out the coffers.
Spooky Day arrived and the family received their very first trick-or-treat visitors!
Wouldn’t you know, it just happened to fall on a full moon…
