The sun was sinking into the ocean giving the gathered crowds for the fireworks on Alexandra a warm pink orange glow. There was a rig at the end of the inlet and several pyrotechnicians were walking around on it, doing double and triple checks. Once darkness fell they would fade into it and their fireworks would be the only thing featured both from the nearby shore and from the surrounding area and rooftops of buildings within it. Fireworks in Alexandra were a big deal. In fact fireworks for Covid 19 infused in 2020 were a rarity. But because Alexandra hadn’t had access to them in three years, the island was going to be an exception to the rest of British Columbia and in many ways the rest of Canada, with the exception of people doing it themselves as amateurs.
The vendors at the park were starting to shut down as the fireworks would be the end of the festivities of the day. Families and groups of friends were gathered in various clumps on spread out blankets, with lawn chairs or just sitting and standing around. A large gaggle of the town’s children were playing toilet tag weaving in and out of the groups on the beach.
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Lydia Alvin’s foster kids were among the toilet tag game. Toilet tag is a type of tag where when you’re tagged you squat like a toilet and stick up your arm and bend your hand like a flusher. If someone not tagged “flushes you” you’re free to run again from the tagger. Next to grounders, it was a favourite tag game. Lydia was set up on the beach with a lawn chair and a blanket for the kids to come back to when the fireworks began. She was wearing a long red sundress and a white hairband today with a pair of white flip flops. She was sitting with the Negron family and next to Maria and the two were, as usual laughing their heads off and talking.
Simon Alvin was sitting on another lawn chair on the other side of Lydia. He had kenneled his dogs and any strays at the vet clinic and given them all a little sedative, knowing how fireworks affected dogs. He had also sent out a tweet from the Ayala Animal Care Twitter reminding people to keep their dogs inside but wishing everyone a Happy Canada Day. He was in his usual beige cargo shorts with a black Captain Canuck t shirt. He was wearing his glasses today instead of contacts, and they had blue oval thin wire frames. On his feet were black and red sneakers.
Theo sits near his brother on the ground, just lounging. He’s in beige cargo shorts, runners and a black tshirt that shows a white cat holding a Canadian flag in its mouth. He is taking in the whole of the beach, especially the families and children laughing and playing. Back at home, his cats are tranquilized and literally just chilling out.
Tara Munroe is determined to make the best of this melancholy day. It’s her second Canada Day alone after Flint died, but she’s in a new town. She’s decided to be her own date. Tara is wearing grey cotton cargo style capri pants and a light blue shirt with a faded Canada flag and a pair of simple brown leather sandals. She’s ridden her bike around and taken in some of the concerts and a very odd children’s juggler who threw eggs at someone in the audience. She left after the egg incident to go find herself some lunch at one of the nearby vendors. Then she got a little sunned out in the afternoon and went home for a few hours to hydrate and cool off and eventually grab supper before coming back for the fireworks. She rode her bike up to where the grass ended and then walked it onto the beach. There are some clusters of families around, and she goes to sit off to the side of one, easing her bike down on the sand. There’s a black guy sitting just apart from what could be some of his family, and she does a double take when she realizes she’s met him. It’s Theo Alvin, the vet she helped after Henry the beagle bit him. She looks over at him and gives him a friendly wave and smiles “Hey ... how’s the hand doing?” She can’t explain why the sight of this man makes her smile more than anyone else she’s met in this town so far. It was a brief weird encounter.
Theo is watching two little blond kids; half siblings if the rumor mill had it right, playing in the sand when he hears a voice. He turns to see Tara, and he smiles at her, flipping over and moving closer to her. He sits again and holds up his once injured hand. “Healing nicely, thanks.” the bandages are gone and the new scars are forming nicely. “Thanks to you.” he pauses and then pats the sand beside him. “Care to sit, or …” he looks around like he just realized. “Are you with someone?”
Tara looks hesitant “I don’t want to crash your family stuff…” She looks past him at what clearly appears to be a brother, and she assumes the lady in the red dress might be their mom. There’s a younger black woman in a sort of scarf top and leggings that bears some resemblance too sitting cuddled up with a guy with a ponytail. The scarf topped woman is her neighbour that she hasn’t officially met but had seen going to and from and said hello to a few times. Then it seems like his family group might be the one next over. But Tara feels a pull, an almost magnetic pull, towards Theo and scoots a little bit closer but not quite where he patted the sand “I’m with myself.” She laughs a bit “It’s a weird day for me I guess. I don’t really know people here yet….although…” She gestures at the scarf topped woman “That lady in the scarf top is my neighbour.” If the neighbour happens to look her way she’ll casually smile.
Theo looks over. “Ah, your neighbor is my sister.” he tells her. “Those are the Negrons and my own family the Alvins.” he motions down the beach. “See that guy there? The one with the brown hair and the sand pail on his head? That’s our mayor .. Just assaulted by his daughter. The woman laughing her ass off is his wife, Megan.” he looks at her, still smiling softly. “What’s weird about that?” his hand wanders, and he may touch her wrist or something. “Or is it something else that makes it all weird? You can tell me … believe me I’ve seen more weird than you can imagine.”
Tara laughs and gives the sister neighbour a proper wave even. “Small towns.” She looks at the two families and nods and then watches who’s been explained as the mayor play with his little girl and his wife “Wow they’re young.” She leans into her hand resting on the sand now and then feels Theo’s hand brush her wrist and pauses. His hand was warm but there was something more, like an energy between their skin at the touch. Tara blinks and then pulls her hand away but not abruptly. She rubs at her wrist where she felt that. “Well I don’t want to be a downer….holidays….stuff like this. It’s only my second year facing them on my own. Last year was worse...way worse. I had a partner, a fiancé, Clint. He was an EMT too. He died on the job about 2 years ago. I chose this move...fresh start. So I’m working on embracing that. Not so much weird, just yeah….wow I just dumped all that at you and you barely know me. I’m sorry. I don’t normally do that.”
Theo nods. “Yea, but so as our last mayor … until he wasn’t anymore.” He tries not to react to the warmth of his fingers or her pulling away from him. Listening to her, he nods in understanding. “Lost partners. Yea… No … you’re not being a downer. It’s honest.” he smiles softly at her apology. “It’s fine. I’ll tell you what, let's make it even.” he inhales. “I lost someone … she didn’t die it was … stranger. Anyway … She was pregnant and … long story short, she aborted without talking to me … it’s a very strange tale … unbelievable really and … and it really makes me look like the worst man in the world.” he blows out a breath and realizes that, without Fog content it did indeed make him look like a monster. He looks back out along the beach and suddenly wishes he’d stayed home with his cats.
Now Tara finds herself looking at Theo with absolute agony “She didn’t even tell you?” She shakes her head “That’s not on you.” Now she blows out a breath “The man before Clint….he pushed me to have an abortion I didn’t want. Clearly I did it anyway. I’m not actually trying to one up you with weird trauma, so I’ll leave the rest of that one for later...much later… Whatever happened between you and this woman, I’m sorry you lost her, and the child.” Tara laughs a little “Maybe we should pick a light topic now?” She laughs some more “What kind of music do you like? What do you do for fun? Favourite food?”
Theo nods. “No, but … it’s a long story again. Because she thought … well … one for later like yours…” he looks at her. “Me? I’ll tell you then you tell me. Deal? I love jazz, blues and neo-soul. I’ve been trying to think of a good way to get Kagiso Jackson and India Tor’s autographs but … turns out we became friends anyway, even though they don’t have pets. And … fun? Fun …. I’ve heard of that …” he laughs. “Seriously, I love walking and hiking. Usually I will go with whatever dogs we have around. I love animals, if you didn’t know. I only own cats because I live in a micro-apartment. No room for dogs. And food ….” he bites his lip. “I could show you if you agree to go to 13 with me some night.” it’s a very classy Italian restaurant. Then he looks mildly shocked. “Smooth Theodore. Fat chipmunk class.” he sighs. “Sorry that was bold of me … I don’t usually … you know …”
Tara smiles warmly and nods “I really enjoyed their music today on the little stage. Do you require all your friends to have pets? Just checking... I also prefer cats and I’ve been thinking about adopting one.” She nods about the walking and hiking “Big outdoors person too. I grew up on a ranch in Prince George with horses and lots of kids. We ran a riding school. I only actually have a brother and a sister but my parents were foster parents so there were always lots of kids.” Then he asks her out to dinner, and she blushes and smiles “Boldly accepted then. I like Italian food. Chinese is my go to but I overdo it, and now you have me curious. You don’t look like a fat chipmunk to me. Despite the name. You’re quite attractive Theodore Alvin.” Then she blushes even deeper “Ok bold is apparently catching…”
Theo makes note of her favorites. “Pets are optional. It helps, but it’s optional.” he beams when she accepts the date. And he chuckles when she tells him he doesn’t look like a fat chipmunk and beams at the compliment that he is attractive. “Well, between my mother’s obsession with the Chipmunks and my being a fat baby … I became Theodore Alvin …” he sits Indian style beside her. “Apparently it is, because I have to say you’re beautiful.” he agrees and almost goes for her hand and stops himself.
Tara can’t actually get any pinker in her cheeks but it hasn’t gone away, and she inhales when he calls her beautiful “Thank you.” She watches his hand move slightly and then stop, and then she just looks at him and slides her hand to his, holding it if she can. The sky has darkened and as their hands connect the first of the fireworks go off in the distance and the crowd ooohs and cheers. Tara can’t help but laugh at the timing, but she also felt some intense fireworks with Theo right now.
Theo feels Tara’s hand in his at the same time the fireworks begin. He laughs with her and keeps hold of her hand until the fireworks are over. But he feels it all long afterwards.
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A mile or so off the Western shore of Alexandra Island is the Alexandra Fore Department boat. Hank Stanley was aboard along with Chris Peterson, Nico Cato, Dana Smith and Tom O’Leary. They spent hours preparing for this show and those aboard had their reasons for wanting to be on the boat and not on shore. Being at the ground zero they would see almost none of the very display they set off for the town. And this fireworks display was the first Alexandra had since 2017. Watching his watch, Chief Stanley counted down … and the show began!
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Ziggy Alvin sits in a spot with Angel midway between their families. She’d been thrilled to be accepted into the Negron family with much teasing. Pedro, the brother under Angel was now the butt of many a ‘fall in love and get out’ joke. She wore her signature scarf top with red tshirt beneath and black leggings. As she looked around, she spotted her neighbor sitting with Theo and waved back to her. Her brother was smiling … and smiling outside of family or work where it was almost required. She knew his history, and she approved of anyone of anything that made him smile.
Angel was leaning his shoulder gently into the back of Ziggy’s mid back as they snuggled together on a small blanket. He was wearing a plain red short sleeved button up shirt with a pair of black jeans shorts. He had kicked off his black slip on sneakers to dig his toes into the sand. He heard more fall in love and get out jokes directed at Pedro and scoped the crowd, looking back at his parents “Should we be helping him look?” He chuckles “Just don’t wash her phone number or it all takes longer.” Then he kisses Ziggy on the cheek.
Maria laughs. “Yes! We need a good matchmaker in this town. For the boys and the girls.” she sighs dramatically. “Your father and I have never had the house to ourselves and I want that before … well you know …” she is always modest in front of her children, yet heavy on the implications.
Mateo laughs and laughs and then looks alarmed at his wife “Maria, I will not expire or stop...working...I promise.”
Fernanda looks between her parents and shudders and then looks between her siblings “Dios Mio! (My god). Get a room.” She casually reaches into their big bag of family snacks and pulls out a bag of potato chips, opening them and offering them to Laia beside her. Miguel’s chubby hand dives in the bag like he was drawn in by the sound of them opening, and she barks “Cerdo! (Pig!) Wait your turn!”
Ziggy’s attention is torn from her brother and her neighbor and brought onto Fernanda and Miguel. She sees Laia looking resigned but can’t help but laugh. “He has a room, we’re just not in it yet. You know spending time with the family and all.” and she looks at Maria and Mateo, who still looks a little scandalized at maria’s suggestion. She leans into Angel. “Your parents are still very much in love aren’t they.” it is more statement than question.
Mateo swats at his girls “You all got here somehow. Miguel, give us those chips. Fernanda is too mean to be their keeper.” He snorts as Miguel snatches the bag, and then he offers them to Maria first before taking a handful. He looks at Ziggy “I think they meant Maria and I, but you can help them make those faces too now.” He’s completely jovial about the idea.
Angel laughs at his siblings and his parents and then leans in to Ziggy “Very much. They’re eternal…” He kisses her now on the lips lightly “Like I hope we will be. I love you.” He pulls back and notices Theo in conversation with a brown haired woman “Mmm Theo has made a friend it seems.”
Lydia is alternating between talking with Maria and Simon, but she notices Theo talking to a woman and gives them a little smile before intentionally ignoring them and hoping Theo is having a nice chat or more with her.
Simon is casually talking with his mother and also distracted a bit by his phone as he sometimes could be. He was planning on filming the fireworks. At one point he notices Theo beside him and what looks like a friend of his? He does a little raised eyebrow gawk and then his eyes drop back to his phone while his mother is laughing hard at something from Maria and Mateo’s conversation.
Ziggy laughs. “Tag team em, I like that idea!” she kisses Angel and smiles at him. “We will be, I know.” she tells him and nods. “I hope he has. He was in so much pain for so long … and I just want to see him happy.” she grins. “Then Simon and then Mom … not necessarily in that order. And I know mom is happy now ... she has a friend she can relate to more. It’s wonderful.”
Angel looks at Ziggy with love and then curiously over at Simon and Lydia “Simon will probably meet someone easily...although I don’t know him. Maybe someone who likes texting since he has his face in his phone.” He jokes. “Your mother is a formidable woman. Has she dated anyone since your father passed away?”
Ziggy returns the look and then glances at her brother. “As long as they’re online … or a dog owner … or both …” she predicts with a chuckle. Then she blows out a breath. “No … once Dad died she never dated. She gave everything to us kids. Well ... someone tried to set her up with Gurshan Singh … the town psychologist. He’s a nice guy and all, but they just didn’t click, you know? Whoever gets my mother has to compete with my father and my father is a hard act to follow.” she speaks as the child who never knew her father so for him, he was perfect.
Angel rubs Ziggy’s back “Your father sounds like he was an amazing man. How old were you again when he died?” He looks compassionate “I can’t imagine losing either of my parents.”
Ziggy smiles and curls into Angel’s arms a bit. “I was two … I .. I don’t remember him at all.” she looks up at him. “You’re very lucky.” she tells him. “Simon, Theodore and Gareth shared their memories but .. it was never quite the same.” she puts her arms around him as the fireworks begin. She watches them with Angel, tucked safely in his loving arms. These memories she cherished.
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Anna Wright and Phoenix Moon watch from their rooftop garden, enjoying their solitude. Both know that the need to isolate is over, but they have not really gone out unless it was needed. The pandemic had made them, in many ways, closer.
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The ‘main’ Reinhardt house is the large light green house on 3rd street. The backyard was large and the fireworks could be seen easily from it. Seamus was missing, opting to spend time helping his girlfriend move, but had baked a macaroni and cheese for the occasion. Most of the rest of the family as there. John and Colleen, of course. Logan and Kurt, who had invited their friend Dan, who was staying with Owen, Slaine and Liam who were all also there. Fiona and Vincent had not arrived with stray humans attached, but there was baked lasagna. Michael was with Stephanie, but Tristan was off with other teenagers, doing teenager things. Kaitlin had brought potato salad and her man Yuki and brother Ulick. Besides Seamus, the only member of the clan missing as Jude, but he was always hit or miss, especially as the family continued to grow in size.
John finishes cleaning the grill after many kebabs, hot dogs and burgers and then takes his lawn chair to join the others at the bottom of the yard with a view of the inlet “Please tell me one of you grabbed the cooler? I need another beer.”
A hand shot out from the left that was pale and freckled like John’s but female “Here you go Dad. Apparently I’m the barkeep unless you want wine….then it’s Steph. By the way Steph, can you refill mine?” She passes her mug along the circle.
Steph grabs one of the open bottles of Bear Ass Red at the base of her chair “Vancouver makes me wet? God where do you find all these goofy mugs you guys?” She pours for Fiona and passes it back down the circle “Anyone else? Kurt...I see you looking. Come join the dark side and drink some red, It’s Canadian!”
“Oh alright.” Kurt says with a laugh. “But I am still German even though I love a Canadian. Well I love all of you...but.” He squeezes Logan’s hand with one hand while passing a cup from the other.
Dan snorts “Do you love me too? I’m pretty loveable. Although I totally hit on the wrong person today..” He darts a little glare at Logan and then sips his beer.
Kurt laughs “Yes Dan, even you. Who did you hit on?” He looks at Logan too “Did you introduce him to Gareth? Because he might be the right person to hit on no?”
Yuki puts his arm around Kaitlin, just content with a full belly and the company of family. He gives Ulick a little smile too, his odd big buddy.
Owen sat beside Slaine with little Liam settled on his lap. They were letting him stay up past his bedtime to see fireworks. Liam was looking very sleepy eyed but determined to stay away. Owen chuckles at him and looks at Slaine “Next year we’ll be doing this a little differently with 4 of them. “Sun’s almost down Liam, you got this.”
Liam let out a big yawn followed by the protest of it “I’m not tired!”
Michael is on the ground beside Stephanie, leaning back on his arms. He takes a sip of his beer and looks around before looking at the inlet. This was the life for him and he loved it. "My wife is going to turn everyone to the dark side … look at me." he murmurs certainly loud enough for Stephanie to hear him.
Vincent is also on the ground, leaning against Fiona's leg. He's opted not to have any alcohol, but is nursing a Sprite.
Ulick is on one of the many log seats in the backyard. He nurses a beer, but is not drunk and has no intention of getting drunk. But when that time comes again there will be singing, pissing and perhaps a broken window involved.
Slaine is in a lawn chair, nursing a Pepsi and watching the throng around her. Placing her hand on her belly when Owen speaks she replies. “I just hope there’s room for all of …” she suddenly stops speaking. “Liam … Owen!” she smiles. “I felt the baby … one of them anyway ...” she reaches for Owens hand and moves it. It’s a very slight fluttering, and she tries to stay still hoping the triplets won’t stop.
Owen beams as he feels movement “Oh my god…” He swallows hard, getting instantly teary eyed “That feels like more than one Slaine. They’re having a party in there!”
Liam loses all traces of tiredness and tips forward on Owen’s lap, so he face plants on his mother’s belly “Hello babies!” He shouts into the belly “It’s Canada's birthday!”
Fiona sips her wine and runs her fingers through Vincent’s hair and then almost spits out her sip at Liam yelling into Slaine’s belly “Does he always do that? Liam….your poor little baby brothers and or sisters….” she laughs.
Colleen laughs at the reaction. “I think all wanna be big brothers do that.” she defends Liam. “Logan talked to Owen and Seamus in the womb.” she laughs. “Maybe that’s why he’s closest to you?” she teases.
Kaitlin smiles wide at the news the babies can be felt. She laughs along with Colleen. “John talked to Michael in the womb. It was very sweet.”
Michael snorts. “What’d he tell me? To stay in and not cramp his style?” he smirks in Liam’s direction. “And did he yell it for the whole world to hear?”
Stephanie cracks up at Liam’s belly yelling as well as Michael’s story about what John said about him in Kaitlin’s belly.
Kurt sighs “I am an only child. But that is adorable.”
Dan snorts “That is cute. And you’re lucky Kurt. I have 5 wicked sisters ...evil to the core...not in the fun way like Fiona….no offense Fiona. Probably what made me like men.”
Fiona gives a little mock gasp “I am truly evil. Dan, how dare you doubt me? Just ask my brothers.”
Owen laughs at what his Gran and Uncle were saying about his Dad and then nods vigorously about Fiona being evil “Dude, you have no idea.” He grins “Liam I think you woke them all up…” He moves his hand around gently feeling more movement and looking really happy about it “How is that for you Slaine?” He laughs “You’ve got a jungle gym in there.”
John rolls his eyes at all the teasing “Mike I read you Dr. Seuss books. Kinda hoped you'd come out rhyming or as a pile of turtles ...instead I got a smart ass.” He looks sweetly at Owen, Slaine and Liam and then at Colleen “I remember when that was us...with all of them…”
Colleen smiles and reaches for John’s hand. She was still in a lot of ways stunned at the changes in their lives the last few years. But she loved her family, even as it grew by leaps and bounds.
Stephanie sips her wine and silently laughs and then nudged Mike with her knee “One fish, two fish, red fish blue fish…” She teases him with Dr. Seuss.
Slaine is still staying still. "Right now, it's not too bad. In a few months ... it'll be ... I have no idea how it would be for three ... Liam moved around constantly. It was actually a very comforting feeling until he got bigger."
Michael listens to his brother and wife. "And yet I know no dirty Dr Seuss. How could you fail me like that, John.?" he begins to mock sob.
Colleen rolls her eyes. "Will you two NEVER grow up?"
Kaitlin smiles at her sons. "I sort of hope not."
At least every second person in the Reinhardt yard whips out a phone to look up dirty Doctor Seuss but before any naughty rhymes are revealed, the fireworks begin. All eyes are on the horizon as their faces light in the reflection of the show. Little Liam snuggles back into Owen’s lap with one hand on his mother’s tummy and as the sparkles in the sky end on red and white he’s fast asleep.
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India Tor sits on the beach with her family and the Brates. Isabella dumps a whole bucket of sand on her father and, when Jayla follows suit, she can’t help but laugh even more. Despite living on the island all of this time, this was her first Canada Day. She looks over at Kagiso with a grin. “Thanks for coming out with us.” she is in a bright colored dashiki and blue jeans. Her ballet flats are in the bag that had the blanket in it when they arrived.
Kagiso Jackson is leaning back and watching the festivities. It’s also his first Canada Day. he looks at India. “You my fam.” he states. Then he turns to the little girls. “Bury him.” he points to Adum and both girls giggle and fill their buckets again, then head for the most important man on Alexandra Island.
Adum Brate hears the betraying cry. “No! Save me!” he cries. He already had sand in his hair and imagines he won’t get the sand off of him before September. The sandy clothes that he is dressed in consist of blue jeans and an Alexandra British Columbia Canada shirt on. As the toddler girls approach him, he falls back onto the sand. The girls begin to dump sand on him. “I’ll get you for this, Kagiso! Megan! I love you!” and he makes wonderful sounds any man would make hen being buried by adorable munchkins.
Ryan cheers the girls on but pointedly tries to avoid getting as covered in sand as Adum or the kids. He’s rolled up his jeans and keeps rinsing his feet off in the water. “Yep, pack him in…...pat it down girls…...chewing on it yet there Brate?” He chides and shoots a grin at India, Kagiso and Megan.
Megan laughs “I love you too Sandman.” She’s feeling better these days and is now beginning to enjoy her pregnancy. She looks at India and Kagiso “You know I think Ryan’s WAY too clean out there don’t you?”
India grins at Megan. “I agree.” she lifts up her voice. “Girls …. What about him?” she points at Ryan. “Jayla, make Daddy be a good sport and not a stick in the sand.”
Jayla smiles and takes a bucket of sand in the direction of her father. Isabella follows but a bit to the side. They don’t know what flanking is, but they’re flanking him. His back is to the water … his front to the sand …
Kagiso mock groans. “Another raise in my permits. Gotcha!”
Ryan holds up his hands in defense “Hey...no...girls….Jayla, come on baby girl don’t….aw crap..” He gets pelted by buckets of sand, covering him in clumps and a full dusting. He would normally get mad if this was adults but these are kids, his and Adum and Megan’s so he sighs and sits down beside Adum and then takes his phone from his pocket and tosses it back to India with a little eye roll at her “You’re supposed to be on my side Baby…” The girls shove him down and climb on him and get more sand. Jayla is so happy he can’t deny her. Soon he and Adum are two man shaped mountains buried with just their faces showing. Ryan looks sideways at his man mountain friend “So….you come here often?”
Megan looks between India, Kagiso and Adum and Ryan and just laughs and laughs.
India looks at her husband and beams as he is made a thorough mess of. She takes his phone. "I am by your side .. I'm right here. Protecting your phone." she begins to goggle and finally laugh leaning into Kagiso and Megan.
Kagiso watches the kids and how their fathers can't deny them. This is his family and he loves them.
Adum turns his head and looks at Ryan, impressed. "I only come here when my girls order me to ... just like you, apparently." he laughs and tries to make himself comfortable. "I am the least dignified mayor in all of British Columbia." he pronounces.
Father Liam O’Keeffe spent the day sort of circling the festivities. He’d stop at one group for five minutes … another for ten … another for one. Sometimes, he didn’t stop at all, he would only smile and wave. That’s what he did when he left the Reinhardt’s gathering and passed Mrs Norris on her porch. He saluted her with a beer and moved on. Being the kind of man and priest he was, he ignored no one, and acknowledged every Alexandrian. It didn’t even matter to him if he was liked or disliked. Nor did it matter to him if those he associated were Catholic or not. He even waved to Sam and Alex Wright on their patio with Kitty Carmichael and Rain March. The Wrights were Jewish, and he had no idea about Kitty or Rain. He was just a good and friendly man who happened to be a priest.
Ford and Wendy are on the beach with Robbie where they can loosely keep an eye on the teens. Robbie is playing toilet tag. Judith was there chatting happily as well as Jeff and Erica with their girls. Jeff and Erica are close to the Stanleys now since they’re all basically extended family. It’s a lovely Canada Day for this now combined family group too.
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Addy and Quentin spent the night with Peter on the top floor of their apartment. After visiting the festival, followed by the Reinhardts, Addy and Quentin went back to his apartment to enjoy a little alone time while Tony as out visiting friends. Afterwards, they visited Peter and Jack Douglas upstairs. Jack had visited his family earlier in the day before returning home to let the young folks enjoy their holiday. Adam Brate also joined them. The five of them drank a pitcher of margaritas and enjoyed the show from the roof.
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Dante stood behind Gen at the end of the Alvin yard holding her tightly like he could never let her go. Since Lydia took the kids to the evening festivities and the fireworks, they really had the house to themselves, and they used the privacy well. Now he breathed in the scent of her hair and watched the show in the sky. But it couldn’t match the explosions in his heart for the girl in his arms.
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Tamela Douglas was on a blanket in the park with Frank Sharp in her arms. Her life had changed so much in 3 years, for the better. As the show in the sky took over she held Frank close. This was worth waiting form as well as this deep abiding love she had with Frank. As the end happened she rolled, so she could face Frank and look her in the eyes, running her hand over Frank’s face. And without thinking too hard about it the words just came out into the air “Frank, let’s get married?”
Frank was lounging, absorbed in Tams and the fireworks in the sky. The ending red and white explosions had barely faded when Tams rolled over and … proposed!? Frank answered without hesitation, those long years of fear and doubt laving long dissipated. “Yea … I’d love to. When? Before or after your sister gives birth. For the record … I’m for before, but she’d look great in a tight salmon sequined dress.” she considers. “On second thought … Let’s tell Adum in the morning?”
Tamela laughed heartily and then kissed Frank “We’re talking prego mermaid dress? Megan will kill us. If we’re going to tell Adum maybe we better rustle up some rings? Unless you want a giant lesbian wedding where the dress code is salmon and sequins?”
Frank touched her forehead to Tams and then kissed her. “Good point. Forget the salmon. How about a relatively small wedding? Our shift … those who were there when it started for us? Reinhardt. Yamada. Megan without a salmon dress.” she rolls her eyes as if giving up an important potential memory. “Your dad. Stephanie and Anna … Darcy. You know … important people.” she clears her throat. “And on MY side of the church we have … “ she pauses. “Peterson … Chris … because you know … He’s my partner and junk.” she plays it off as if Chris wasn’t almost a son to the lesbian.
Tamela sighs, realizing the imbalance in their connections “Chris adores you. I love you...all those people you listed for my..” She makes finger quotes “Side. Love you to fucking bits Frank. Fuck the sides. Let’s just do it outside….here even in this very spot with a circle of those folks around us and you and I in the middle with Adum officiating. I don’t care what we or any of them wear. I just want you...forever.” She kisses Frank deeply now, wrapping her arms around her again.
Frank kisses her deeply. “That sounds perfect.” she smiles. “Let’s go home and celebrate … Before we tell Megan and the whole town hears her tell us off for doing this while she’s all preggo.” she laughs and tries to stand while kissing her new fiancé.
Tamela stands awkwardly while also trying to maintain kissing and then laughs into the kiss. Then they almost stumble, and she breaks off “I love you...let’s not do THAT in front of people. But I can’t wait for you to be my wife. Talk about fireworks eh?”
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Chris, Noelle, Blaze, Olivia and Sajani were set up on the grass with a picnic. They played with Blaze and chatted and all ended up running off or chatting with other folks passing by. Noelle and Chris had Olivia tonight because Daisy was in a funk after the festivities today. When the fireworks started Noelle took Olivia onto her lap while Blaze dove into Chris’s. By the time they were done, Blaze was passed out on Chris and he carried him home at the end of the night.
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Paul and Cheryl McLeod are on the beach where they can see Chloe and Lucy playing. They know Daphne is not far away with her friends. Joan McLeod is with them with an angry story about being egged by a juggler.
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Amelie had suggested they move their blanket closer to the beach since that seemed to be where the most people were gathering “The locals know….let’s follow them. I mean I guess we’re locals too now..” She laughs “Felix, can you grab the backpack please? Cath….the maple candy if you girls haven’t eaten it all up.” They had been chatting and giggling and snaking on it all afternoon. “Rene, is that one of our water bottles rolling away?” She smiles at her family as she scoops up the blanket and then at Greyson and his girls “Thea will you help me carry this?”
Cath picks up the candy and moves with Aislin right beside her, telling her stories from her school life back in St. Pierre “And then he just stuck the gum right into her hair but because I was sitting right behind her….my teacher thought it was ME….I had detention for a month! A whole month! I hope we have nicer teachers at this school.”
Thea looks like she feels very important being asked to help with a job “It’s like a big pirate sail….be careful the wind doesn’t blow us away Amelie.” She was already bonding with Amelie who had been doting on her all afternoon.
Amelie pretended the wind was getting them and weaved around “Woah...Thea hang on!!!” They got to the new spot and she threw the blanket down and jumped on it and Thea jumped with her “Thank goodness you helped me!” She beamed at the sweet little pirate girl and Thea beamed back.
Greyson walked to the new spot beside Felix “Well Thea made a new friend too….she adores Amelie.” He looked grateful about it. “She never really knew Audrey like the others. Her older sisters are like mothers sometimes but it’s not the same….”
Tristan gets shoved off the log by Mabel and Daphne and lands in the sand, laughing “Fine then. I’ll sit here with the crabs…..but you might find oen in your shoes later if they make me their kin.”
Daphne giggles “I’ll shake my shoes out and take my chances.” She’s beside Tony again her arm touching and even leaning into his “You may stay.” She says sweetly at him, indicating she’s done pushing people off.
Mabel is on the end where Tristan was a minute ago and makes a point of taking up more space “Crabby crabby Tristan.” She sing song teases at him and does a little sitting dance. Then she can see Rene and his family moving into range and stops goofing around looking suddenly a little shy.
Aislin looks properly scandalized. "I've never had detention." she breathes. "But I hope we have nice teachers, too ... but if we don't I'll defend you. You just needed a witness to stand up and say you were innocent." she watches her little sister and Amelie and smiles happily.
Felix grabs the backpack and follows along with Greyson. Amelie was wonderful with children, and he is glad just to see her happy. He looks at Greyson. "Amelie is fantastic with children. Sometimes I think she wishes we'd had more. And yes it's not the same ... but I think you have a non-relative babysitter in my wife if you ever need one." he hears the teens and looks at Rene watching them. "Amelie." he calls. "Is it alright if Rene visits with his friends?" he asks her.
Rene rescues and moves the water bottle. He sees the others and when his father asks his mother if he can go over to them he is already dancing in that direction. Like a baseball player, he sort of slides between Tristan in the sand and Mabel on the log. "Hey guys." he pants.
Tony looks at Daphne and smiles when she doesn't push him away. "Thanks." Then Rene is sliding in the sand. "Hey man that's cool!! I have a relative that plays baseball and that was like the perfect slide." he praises.
Amelie waves off Rene “Go, have fun mon cherie.” She sits down with Thea and steals the maple candy back from the older girls “Would you like another Thea?” After Thea takes one she’ll pass it to Felix and Greyson “Good thing we made so many.”
Thea grins and takes the candy, letting it slowly melt in her mouth and looking content.
“There’s nothing like Paget Maple syrup. That’s my brothers now who make it. My last name was Paget before I got married. It’s the same name as yours in French.” Amelie tells a wide-eyed Thea. They’re close enough to both Aislin and Cath and Felix and Greyson for everyone to have heard the name thing.
Cath looks at Aislin amazed “Not one detention? You must be better at school than I am….and thanks.” She smiles a little and then overhears her mother “Oh that’s right. Paget, Page.” She laughs “I always forget Maman had another name before she had us, even though I know my grandparents and uncles all have it. Why do women change their names? It seems a weird thing to do…”
Now Amelie comments back “Your Tante (Aunt) Lissette did not. You don’t have to Cath….” She shrugs and looks back to Thea.
Greyson settled down on the blanket now sitting near Felix but on the other side of Aislin. He had happily eaten another maple candy and addressed his next question to Felix“Your sister in law’s name is Lisette Paget? That’s a great name. And this maple is delicious.” He backs his back into Aislin’’s playfully.
Tristan jumps a bit at Rene’s slide into the spot beside him “Hey Rene. Good choice. If you try and sit on the log the girls get vicious.” He hears Tony and grins and then makes his hands move like an umpire “Safe!”
Mabel smiles sweetly at Rene “Oh hi Rene, you could sit up here if you want to...I’ll move over again.” She scoots shoving Daphne further into Tony and not caring.
Tristan looks at Mabel incredulously “Do I smell or something? I swear I put on deodorant!”
Daphne was about to ask Tony about his baseball relative when she ends up getting shoved by Mabel and has to hang onto him not to fall backwards off the log herself “Mabel! I’m going to end up on Tony’s lap if you keep shoving me.” Then suddenly she turns beet red at the thought.
Tristan can’t help himself now, he looks at Tony and snickers and then looks away. He’s pretty sure Tony wouldn’t mind that.
Felix wastes no time taking more candy. He is a thin man but that is because of a nice high metabolism, not because no one is feeding him enough. "Yes ... it's great candy." he agrees, still feeling a little awkward. He believes Amelie is making progress and knows that he is. The hope keeps growing.
Aislin shrugs. "It's easy. If you need help, I'll help." she laughs at the similarities in name. "I don't know." she says about the name change. "But I bet Paige can't wait to change hers. Paige Page. What were you thinking, Dad?" she pokes him back with her finger.
Tony is nearly pushed off of the log, and grabs Daphne around the middle as she's shoved. "He tightens his grip and sort of tugs. "You can sit on my lap. It's ok. You're not heavy." he contradicts his earlier statement, having already forgotten it. If she sits on his lap, he'll put his arms around her, so she doesn't fall.
Rene laughs. He looks between Tristan and Mabel one she moves over. "I'm thin ... there's room for all of us." he sits on the log, scooting Mabel over who scoots Daphne over who scoots Tony over. Patting the half an inch of log beside him, he smiles at Tristan. "Join us." he encourages, offering his hand to help him up with them.
Amelie points up at the sky as she sees the first sparkling and little Thea beams beside her. As they go on she sees Felix’s hand on the blanket and takes it for a few moments giving it a little squeeze. She’s letting him know in her own way she can do this, they can do this.
Cath looks pleased with her new friend and how supportive she is about school. School is hard for Cath, always has been. She giggled about the name Paige Page and then the fireworks started and she leaned closer to Aislin looking up at the sky in solidarity and cheering for them.
Greyson just smirked. He and Audrey just had a warped sense of humour together. He looks between Felix and Amelie and sees Amelie take Felix’s hand at some point during the fireworks. He smiles at them both and then watches the sky and enjoys this lovely evening with his girls and his new friends.
Daphne gets tugged into Tony’s lap and hears his words about her not being heavy. When he puts his arms around her she gives him a hug, feeling better and a little guilty that she flirted with Rene. Tony didn’t mean the other thing the way she took it. She got that now. She backs off the hug as the fireworks start so she can watch them properly and enjoy snuggling up to him.
Mabel scoots over some more as Daphne gets pulled onto Tony’s lap “Oooooh..” She teases them but then looks very happy to have Rene beside her as the fireworks start. She notices Mason snuck off, probably home to his computer, but she won’t tell on him.
Tristan takes Rene’s hand and gets pulled onto the log just as the fireworks get going “Thanks man.” He surreptitiously checks his phone like he’s looking for a text from someone and sighs quietly when there’s none. Then he pockets his phone. He was among friends and in good company watching fireworks.
The fireworks show was more than fantastic and the satisfied crowds dissipated and wandered back to their homes. Alexandra was most definitely rejoined with Canada in the holiday and in the hearts and hands of those held together on this charming and mysterious island.
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