2. Tosha Goth was making her daughter Victoria's bed when the nausea hit her. She hadn't been feeling well
in the morning the past week and always seemed to be tired. She had fallen asleep at her desk at work
just yesterday. Mr. Lundgren, one of the partners of the firm, had found her drooling on her keyboard.
She suspected she knew what the problem was. She bought one of those drug store tests, followed the
directions and waited the three minutes for the plus sign to appear.
3. She and Alexander hadn't talked about having anymore children. They had barely survived Victoria and
Simon's toddler years. Just last week they brought the twins to the cake and watched them grow into
children. Children who didn't need to be taken to the potty. Children who didn't wake up at ungodly hours
in the middle of the night. She and Alexander hadn't slept so well in several years.
4. Victoria and Simon were enjoying their childhood . They both liked school and had already made friends
with half the neighborhood it seemed.
Just then, Tosha heard the school bus pull up to the front of the house and went down to meet her eldest
children. She decided she would take Alex aside before dinner so they could share the new with the twins
together.
5. "Are you going to have two babies again?" Victoria asked.
"I don't know yet. I have an appointment with the doctor later in the week. She'll be able to tell me then,
maybe."
"I hope it's a boy!" Simon exclaimed. "Then I can have a little brother."
Alexander reached over and stroked his wife's hand.
"I just want the baby to be healthy. If it has ten toes and ten fingers I'll be happy."
Tosha smiled at him. Sometimes she wondered how she could love him more and more everyday.
"My friend Brenna's mom is going to have a baby too." Victoria added. "Brenna was born in Ireland and
she has an accent."
Victoria squirmed in her seat, a sign to her parents she was upset by something.
"What's wrong, Victoria?" her mother asked.
"Some of the kids make fun of her and say she talks funny" she said
"That's not right." Simon added. "I think it sounds pretty" he said, and immediately turned red when he
realized what he’d just said.
Victoria nodded her head in agreement, unaware of her brother’s embarrassment. "I think so, too!"
"It's not nice to make fun of people." Tosha said. "She’s lucky to have you two as her friends."
6. Brendan Ellis cuddled with his daughter, Brenna on the couch after dinner, listening to her talk about her
day at school.
She liked her teachers and had a couple of friends already in this new town. Brendan knew it was difficult
moving to a new town, but Brenna seemed to be adjusting well. She had told him a couple of the kids
made fun of her accent, but that her best friend Victoria had stuck up for her.
He had to work extra hard to afford this little house they lived in and hoped in the future to be able to
afford one that would belong to him and have more than two bedrooms.
He had moved his family from Ireland to escape the violence and politics. He just wanted to raise his
family. And he planned to have a big one. Already his wife, Claire swelled with child. He secretly wished
for a son.
7. Brenna's report of her day was cut short when her mother walked into the living room.
"It's time Brendan! The wee babe is coming." she announced.
He was up like a shot.
"Are you okay, a Ghrá ? Do you need something? Shall I call the doctor?" he asked.
"Babies have been born long before there were doctors, Brendan Ellis." Claire said to her husband. "This
one will come when it's ready, just like our Brenna did."
8. It didn't take long for Brannen Ellis, the first native born Simerican, to be born.
Much later, after an excited and obviously exhausted Brenna was put to bed, Claire and Brendan enjoyed
their new son. They wondered what he would grow up to be, as most parents do. They didn't have much,
but they had each other and they hoped their children knew how much they were loved. It didn't matter
what they sacrificed. Their hope was that their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren would lead a
better life than they themselves had.
9. George and Bella sat in their new kitchen, in their new house that they had bought together, basking in the
glow of their love. It was still early out and their breakfast sat untouched. They just had one more day to
get though before they would be joined as husband and wife.
Bella had got a job waiting tables to support them while George finished Law School. She would be on her
feet most of the day, while George studied for the upcoming bar exam in five short months. After that, Bella
would stay home and turn her hobby of film and literature into a career. She had already gotten a couple
nibbles from publishers interested in more of her writing. That could wait while she helped George realize
his life time wish.
Tonight she was staying at her parents’ house. It was bad luck, after all, for the groom to see the bride
before the wedding.
"I'll meet you at your parents’ house at seven for dinner" George said as he helped Bella wash their
breakfast dishes.
Bella sighed.
"I know." he responded. He understood her frustration. Don, her father, still hadn't accepted the fact that his
daughter had grown up, fallen in love, and was getting married.
"If he starts anything tonight, he's not welcome tomorrow!" she exclaimed. "I won't have him making a
scene at the wedding."
George brought her into his arms and kissed her mouth, trying to soothe the frustration he knew she felt.
"It will be okay. You'll see. Don't worry about it."
10.
11. It was yet another uncomfortable dinner between the four of them. Nicky wasn't even there to lighten the
mood. He and George got along really well. In fact her whole family loved George, except her father.
Cassie cleared her throat, trying to get her husband to interact with his future son in law. When he said
nothing, simply sitting there, not even eating, she sighed.
"So George, Bella said you're taking the bar exam soon?" Cassie said trying to break the ice.
George nodded his head, swallowing the bite of food in his mouth. "Yes ma'am..."
"Please, call me Cassie, or Mom. Ma'am is so formal and you're going to be family soon."
George ignored the grunt from his father in law and smiled at Cassie.
"I'm scheduled to take it in 5 months. Meanwhile I am interning at the firm of Lundgren & Landgrabb. They
are doing all they can to help me out. I have a position with them when I pass."
"An internship huh?" Don said, finally breaking his silence.
"Yes, sir." George answered, noticing his future father in law didn't ask him to call him Don or Dad.
"They don't pay interns. How do you plan to support my daughter for the next five months while you're
working for free?"
"I’ve gotten a job while he's interning, Daddy." Bella answered. "It's only for five months and then..."
"Waiting tables doesn't cover your mortgage, or your bills Bella. You're living off your inheritance!"
"Don! Please! Don't start." Cassie implored.
12. "Who do you think you are?" Don asked. "Did you think you'd marry some rich heiress and live off her
while you worked for free? What happens if you don't pass the bar?"
George tried to remain calm. "I don't know what I did that you have such a low opinion of me Sir, but I
assure you, I am not marrying your daughter for her money, which we haven't touched by the way. I am
marrying her because I love her, and she loves me. We support each other’s dreams. That is why she is
working now and why I will work my butt off later so she can stay home and write."
Don must have decided that the conversation was over because he stormed out of the dining room, Cassie
in his wake.
George sighed and walked over to Bella. He had hoped by now his future father in law would have
accepted him.
"I'm going to go now," he said resting his forehead on hers. "I'll see you tomorrow"
"George..."
"Don't worry Bella." he said and kissed her good night, more passionately than was appropriate for the
situation. She didn't seem to mind.
"I'm marrying you tomorrow."
"You bet your ass you are!" she said smiling. She loved him so much.
When George left, Bella went to go find her father. She had a couple of things to say to him. She didn't
have to look far; he was storming out of the kitchen towards her.
"You're making a big mistake marrying him, Bella."
"No, I'm not Daddy. I love him and he loves me. This is one of the best decisions I am ever going to
make."
13. She wasn't going to raise her voice. He wouldn't listen to her if she screamed or argued. She was going to
remain calm and try to finally get through to her stubborn, pig headed father.
"He's marrying you for your money Bella..."
"Like why you married Mom?" She didn't mean to say that, but it was out now.
Don was taken back by his daughter’s forwardness.
"That's not true," he lied. "I love your mother."
"I know you do," Bella admitted "but you didn't always; and your heart doesn't belong to just one woman
either. I love my sisters, but what you've done, the decision you've made to be with both of them, made life
very hard for everyone involved, except you. It was selfish."
"I don't have to stand here and listen to my daughter lecture me on the choices I have made in my life.
They are none of your business." Don took a minute to calm himself. "I've done everything I could for
you, and you brothers and your sisters. I love you all very much and wouldn't change any decision I have
made because then I wouldn't have any of you. I love you, all of you, and don't want you to get hurt by
some gold digger."
"I love you too Daddy, but you're wrong about George...he's nothing like you." Bella took a second to gain
the courage to say the next things she wanted to say.
"If you can't at least be polite to the man I love, the man I am going to marry tomorrow, whether you like
it or not; the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with…then you're not welcome at the wedding
tomorrow."
He just stood there looking at her, no emotion on his face that she could read. When he said nothing, she
turned and went upstairs to try and get some sleep. She had a big day tomorrow.
14. She had sat in her room, trying not to cry as her mother and sisters fussed over her hair and make up.
"He'll come, Bella." her Mom assured her.
Bella just nodded her head. She wasn't so sure. She couldn't postpone it any longer. It was time.
Her uncle Alex had agreed to walk her to her future husband, and when she saw George, she forgot to be
sad about her Dad. She placed her hands in his, excited to become his wife.
She spotted her father slip into the back row. Their eyes locked momentarily and he nodded his head to
her.
George turned to see what she was looking at and spotted Don.
"Are you okay?" George asked her as her eyes began to fill with tears.
"Yes, I'm perfect she said."Let's get married."
15. Hello
I ' ve waited here for you
Everlong
Tonight
I throw myself into
And out of the red , out of her head she sang
Come down
And waste away with me
Down with me
Slow how
You wanted it to be
I ' m over my head , out of her head she sang
16. And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I ' ll ever ask of you
You ' ve got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
Breathe out
So I could breathe you in
Hold you in
And now
I know you ' ve always been
Out of your head , out of my head I sang
17. And I wonder
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I ' ll ever ask of you
You ' ve got to promise not to stop when I say when
Everlong ( Acoustic Version )
by Foo Fighters
18. After the ceremony, George and Bella greeted their guests, inviting them inside for the cake cutting
ceremony.
"Who’s the guy in the kimono?" George whispered to his new wife.
Bella turned her attention away from her new husband and saw Orlando Centowski, her sister Gina's new
boyfriend, approach them.
"That's Gina's boyfriend, Orlando. I have no idea why he's wearing that." she said trying not to giggle.
"Wait, Gina has a boyfriend?" George exclaimed.
"I know, it surprised me too. I guess she met him in one of her classes. She seems to like him. They've
been spending a lot of time together."
"I thought your aunt Danielle's boyfriend was Orlando?" George said, trying not to be confused by Bella's
big family.
'Yes, they are both named Orlando."
Before George could respond, Orlando approached them.
19. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you, Orlando." Trying not to giggle, Bella continued. "I don't think you've met my husband George."
"No, I haven't." Orlando said, turning his attention to George. "Orlando." he said, holding out his hand to
shake.
"George."
"Gina tells me you're into fixing up cars!" Orlando said excitedly. "I have this sweet '76 Vette I'm working
on now."
"Oh Yeah!" George exclaimed. "I'd love to see her!"
"Oh no, here we go." Bella said rolling her eyes. "You guys will be here forever talking about this and
we're kind of in the middle of a wedding."
"You're not jealous of a car, are you sweetheart?" George asked as her as he brought her into his arms.
"You know you can clean my carburetor better than any ole car, don't you?"
"Don't you forget it!" she said and laid a loud smack on his lips. "You two can exchange numbers and set
up a play date later." she teased.
20. The guests filled George and Bella's small house for the reception. They had decided on a small wedding.
The couple wanted to pay for their own wedding, so refreshments consisted of wedding cake and a punch
bowl. It was true they could probably afford a more lavish affair if they had accepted Bella's parents offer to
pay, but Bella and George were happy with how it turned out.
There friends and family, filling their new house with laughter. It seemed perfect to them.
21. The one extravagance was the five day trip to Twiiki Island they had planned. Again, Cassie and Don had
offered the families vacation house to them, but Bella and George declined and decided to stay at a local
hotel so they could absorb more of the local culture and hang out with other tourists visiting the island.
22. Donnie sat with his sister Gina and her new boyfriend Orlando, trying to reconcile what he was hearing with what
he knew about Gina. He nodded his head at Orlando's excited account of how he and Gina had meet, how he had
pursued her mercilessly until she had finally agreed to go out with him. All outward appearances showed a happy
couple, blissful in their new relationship.
“She was pretty stubborn,” Orlando lamented. "She claimed she was too busy to bother with dating and dodged
my every advance, but I wore you down, didn't I?" he asked Gina, caressing her hand.
Donnie looked over at Gina, noticing her smile was strained. He doubted Orlando had noticed, the way he was
beaming at her.
"It's great Gina's finally found a guy she likes." Donnie added. "She sure didn't bother with them in high school or
most of her time at University, huh Sis?"
A hint of color flushed over Gina's cheeks as she looked at her brother. She knew he could read how
uncomfortable she was with the whole situation.
"I guess I hadn't met the right guy yet." she responded. "Not everyone feels the need to bed every other co-ed."
"Touché!" Donnie exclaimed.
Gina was mortified by what she just said. She had been barraged with questions all day. "Who’s you're friend
Gina?" "Oh! A boyfriend! It's about time!" Gina looked over at Orlando, hoping all this talk hadn’t scared him off.
The truth was that Orlando was every woman’s dream. He was handsome and hardworking, and he treated her like
a queen. She was very lucky to have him. So why didn't she feel like she was supposed to?
"I'm so sorry Donnie, I didn't mean..."
"It's okay Gina" he answered. He gave her a look letting her know they were going to talk later.
Orlando picked up on the uncomfortable vibes flying around the table, but wasn't sure what was going on.
"Excuse us, Donnie. I want to dance with my lady." he said and escorted Gina away from the table.
Donnie watched his sister, Gina, dance with her new boyfriend and decided not to worry about it any more today.
