Saturday, August 29, 2020

2020-08-06 - After the Lanterns Sailed - Lisette and Greyson





*****WARNING*****Graphic sexual content below. Reader discretion is advised.




Greyson Page walked hand in hand with Lisette through the street lit town of Alexandra talking easily as if they had done this many times before. They arrived at his small white house across from the Community Garden and as his keys jingled in the lock a yipping came from behind the door. The puppy was ready to greet them. With a chuckle he opened it and let Toffee out because he knew full well the little dog was desperate by now “Here she is….she’s better at not running off now.” He looked up at Lisette with fascination and adoration “You came home with me…” He said in awe like she was an unexpected gift from the universe.


Toffee made a beeline for the grass out front and did her business and then came wagging and yipping back and put her little paws up on Lisette sniffing excitedly at the new person.


Lisette walked with Greyson as if they had done it every day for years now.  She looked at the house and giggles with the ball of fluff raced outside to do her business.  Then she as investigated and she looked down.  “Aren’t you just the most adorable girl?”  she leans down and offers her hand to sniff before petting the puppy.


Greyson smiles at Lisette connecting with Toffee “You know her brother Taffy no doubt. Did Sasha tell you about his amazing doggy detective adventure that brought these little puppies to us all? If he hasn’t told you I will hold off because he loves to tell it. He’s a very fun sweet guy for my Paige. Come on in both of you.” As he opens the door again Toffee does run in, mostly because she’s hoping for a treat. Greyson will step out of his shoes at the door and then out of the way so Lisette can come through. It is messy but messy with the life of a family. There are a collection of girls shoes and toys and drawings mostly pirate and flying themed. The couch is small and has a pair of child sized striped pajama pants hanging over one arm as well as what looks like one of those wooden model DaVinci type flying devices. On the coffee table are an assortment of books and hand drawn pirate maps. It’s actually not unclean, just cluttered and lived in. On the walls are family pictures, some with a redheaded woman and only 2 or 3 girls and then later 4 girls with Greyson and no woman after Audrey passed away. There’s also some tasteful framed art prints, many in the Pre-Raphealite style and era with dramatic looking women in nature scenes or floating in water, many of them red haired figures. Greyson walks to the cupboard and gets Toffee a few little biscuits “You made it outside….no pee on the carpet….good girl.” He washes his hands and then looks at Lisette “Can I offer you a drink? Tea? Water? We mostly make tea in this house..” He confesses “Coffee in the mornings but then tea. I even have iced tea made both black tea and a fruity herbal one.”


Lisette laughs lightly, watching little Toffee run in the house.  “I have met Taffy, yes.  It seems to be one of Sasha’s favorite stories, and I have to admit it’s a good one  And he absolutely adores your Paige.”  she comes in and looks around, making note of the pictures and clutter.  Now that the puppy is safely in the house, she addresses his earlier words.  “Of course I came home with you, Greyson.  I … it feels right.”  she looks around again.  “Your house is wonderfully lived in, so I won’t have to waste time writing a report.”  she tells him as Toffee gets her treat.  “Tea, please.  Iced?”  she moves through the kitchen to the back window and looks out of it at the dark back yard before she turns.  “This is a tiny house.  I do love tiny spaces.  You could fit my entire apartment into this place.”  she grins and moves, standing beside the dining room table, almost shyly.


Greyson laughs about it being one of his favourite stories and then looks sweetly at her “It feels right to me as well. Unexplainably so.” He defaults to the black tea with lemon and honey and pours two glasses. “Glad you don’t have to report me.” He jokes back. “Yes it’s small but itworks as it seems my two oldest were ready to move out.” He offers her the glass and then gestures to the couch. “Tell me about yourself Lisette. Well whatever you want to tell me.” He grins. “No pressure.”


Lisette takes her tea and moves to the couch.  She sips at it and looks at him.  “I’m the youngest, and my family is very … Catholic.”  she fingers the rim of her cup.  I know not every Catholic upbringing is stiff or staunch, but I felt like mine was.  My parents and, especially my sister MC … she had this … bigger than life feeling.  Like some kind of … avenging God angel in combat boots.”  she laughs a little at the thought.  “None of us was Catholic enough for her.  It was sort of … smothering.”  she drinks again.  “Then I met Brendan and he was even more alienated from the church than I was.”  she grins.  “He was halfway through high school when I was starting.  His family had moved to St Pierre thinking he needed more Catholic …”  she sighs and sips again, realizing she would make this more about Brendan if she wasn’t careful.  “He was rebellious.  I was rebellious . and we gravitated.”  she shrugged.  “I was a caretaker, even back then.”  she grins.  “I left St Pierre as soon as I left high school .. with Brendan.  Went to school.  Started working.”  she takes another sip.  “Brendan and I married … but I think it was more because it was expected of us … or that we were getting pressure because we were living in sin.”  she rolled her eyes.  “Then we got married and the pressure was to have children.”  she rolls her eyes.  “I can’t … not that it’s even going to come up but .. on the table.”  she sips again.  “I … think I saw Brendan's death coming when we met.  No matter how much he loved me or I loved him … it wasn’t enough.”  she isn’t crying.  It’s simply the way it is.  “But he wanted me to be happy and to move on … I just never thought …”  she trails off.


Greyson had sat beside her, close but not too close. He really did want to get to know her in every way, mind, body and soul. He held his glass of iced tea in his outside hand and turned his body angled to face her with his elbow on the back of the couch and his head casually on his hand nodding as she spoke. He listened actively and then commented after she had completely finished speaking, trailed off. “I can relate completely to rebelling against a staunch religious upbringing. My parents were Methodist missionaries. Sort of like Catholic but without the bingo and dancing.” He looks thoughtful “Brendan was all through your life really...well high school to now. And I say now because….well he’ll be with you for the rest right? Believe me I know and I...well I guess I welcome him as a part of you. I’m sorry you couldn’t have kids, although if you were trying for pressure more than want maybe that worked out how it should have. And you clearly do a lot for children in your work life.” He looks curious “You saw Brendan’s death when you met? Not to pry….I am aware of how he passed away though. Did he have previous attempts? And yes you can love someone and it’s not always enough…..I think, and I haven’t had your lived experience, but I think in situations like his it’s about his relationship with himself more than you, and the illness that was bigger than both of you.” He muses at her trailing off statement “At your pace Lisette. I’ve got all the time in the world.” He smiles at her and then sips his own drink.


Lisette half turned as Greyson spoke to her.  She grinned at the Catholics versus  comment and then nodded.  "I think he will be with me for the rest of my life."  she agreed.  "I hope that isn't a problem..."  she set the tea on the coffee table.  "I wanted a child, but ... at first I avoided it because of Brendans depression ... but after that, we tried and nothing."  she sihs.  "He was a reckless teanager, but settled down after we'd been together a bit.  I don't know for sure if he tried before, but there were signs he would think about it.  All our many conversations about how I deserved a stable man.  How, if he died, he wanted me to marry again.  Like that.  The illness was definitely bigger than both of us.  Depression most definitely can kill."  she leans her head on the couch and straightens her arm and touches his elbow.  "I suppose we both do..."  she looks at him.  "And you?"  she turns the question back on him.  "I saw the pictures of that lovely redhead ... "  she means the family pics with three kids, but not four.


Greyson looks like he completely understands “Definitely not a problem with me.” He listens to the rest and then when she says and you and asks about the lovely redhead he smiles sadly “Audrey. We were madly in love. She was amazing. She had an illness. Thyroid disease. We started as a bit of a rebellion too I suppose. Maybe a belated one on my part. My bible thumping parents had me under their thumbs until I went away to university...as far as I could get from them. But then I went back when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I moved back to Victoria out of love and guilt. But they were still them. After a terrible fight one night with them I got on the ferry. I went to a club and met Audrey. I should probably tell you all of it...so you have the option to exit early. It was a sex club and she was a prostitute. I didn’t intend to fall in love with her. But we did fall in love and then suddenly she was pregnant with...well Paige. As you know we ended up having 3 more...but every pregnancy made her more ill. She actually requested a tubal ligation after Aislin but the birth was so complicated it never happened. I love Thea with all my heart. She was our surprise….and Audrey’s health got worse after her….her heart. She never came home….” He swallows hard as it’s still very painful to think about and then looks at Lisette for her reaction.


Lisette listens carefully and nods when he mentions the thyroid disease.  She doesn't react negatively to how he met Audry or her profession.  Then the story of their children and, ultimately Audrey’s death.  “I’m sorry, Greyson.”  she murmurs and pulls her head up again.  “Loves like ours don’t come along very often.”  she looks into his eyes.  She considers how she’s felt this evening, and how he might feel.  The deaths of their spouses may well have affected them very differently.  “Before tonight, I would have said that old ‘once in a lifetime’ sort of thing.”  now she searches his eyes.  “I don’t know what’s happening between us.”  she motions between them.  “It’s …  I can’t even think of a word.”


Greyson smiles at Lisette and lifts his head, stretching out his arm and leaning forward to set down his half empty glass. As he leans back he slides over and his arm is around her, his fingers moving up and through the side of her hair “I’m sorry for you losing Brendan too. I’m not sure I was a once in a lifetime believer myself although what I had with Audrey was more powerful than any others. And I agree that I feel limited by the constraints of vocabulary about whatever this is…..but maybe if we just keep exploring it...the words will reveal themselves.” He has a twinkle in his eye when he says the last part.


Lisette smiles slightly as he winds up with his arm around her.  She inclines her head into his touch and sees the twinkle in his eye.  “Maybe.”  she lifts her head slightly and leans into him.  “Embolding?”  she murmurs one option.  “Because I’ve never .. done this … before…”  she moves to kiss him on the lips.


Greyson sees her moving in and looks eagerly at her with a little grin as she says embolding. He kisses her back sweetly, tenderly, wrapping his arms around her and feeling that little jolt much bigger with this much connection. His kiss is slow, exploratory and then suddenly deep and passionate as he holds her even tighter.


Lisette almost grows dizzy with the kiss.  There is a jolt, albeit a small one, followed by a feeling like .. falling or becoming lightheaded.  It grows deep and more passionate and she moves closer to him, the slightest of pleased whimpers coming from her.


Greyson feels his whole being react to Lisette in the back and forth of their kiss. Her whimper makes him grunt and he tries to ease her back so she’s lying down slightly if he can as he moves on top of her. He pauses briefly and grins at her, taking off his glasses and setting them on the coffee table “Mmm i think you’ve most definitely done this before Lisette Paget.” And he hovers over her and then kisses her again relentlessly.


Lisette is more than happy to be laid on the couch and she adjusts herself so he is between her legs.  Her eyes follow his glasses to the table and then he says shes done this before and she laughs.  “I meant going in for that first kiss, Greyson Page.”  she mock protests and reaches up to pull him down into another deep passionate kiss.  She lights her hips and presses into him with another soft moan.


Greyson chuckles into the kiss after she said she meant kissing him first in this round. He had kissed her lightly on the beach. Her hips press up and she moans and Greyson feels his desire meet hers as he then moans and presses back into her with his pelvis, letting one hand slide down and grip her hip as he does it again and then his kisses trail to her neck and the neckline of her shirt as he unabashedly kisses right into her cleavage. “God you feel good….smell good..” He draws a line up from her cleavage back to her neck with this tongue lightly “Taste good…”


Lisette presses up into him as he nuzzles into her cleavage.  She begins to tug at his shirt, arching her back into his kisses.  His tongue on her skin makes her shiver.  “Yes …”  she breathes.  She strokes at his hair, her hands moving up and down, as if she can’t decide if she wants her hands in his hair or to undress him.



Greyson feels her shivering and her hands in his hair and then moving all over him and tugging at his shirt make him thrust into her and grunt. But he also gets the sense she wants the shirt off so he moves off her briefly and pulls his t-shirt off over his head and smiles down at her as he pulls on hers, wanting it off. He’s got an even cover of dark black chest hair with hints of grey in it. He’s also quite in good shape, lean and muscular at his 50 years old with only a hint of softness around his belly. “I want more of you…”


Lisette merely protests his moving away, even to take off his shirt.  But he tugs at hers and she pulls hers off.  She drops her hand and looks at his chest.  Her breath catches in her throat.  “Greyson…”  she breathes.  “I want….”  and then she feels a tugging and looks down to see Toffee tugging at her shirt.  “Oh hello there, baby.”  she pulls at her shirt, but Toffee resists.  “But I don’t want to play tug-of-war right now, Toffee.  I want to play with Greyson.”


Greyson is ready to take off all their clothes and go for it when suddenly at shirt two they have a playful puppy and he has to laugh “Shit…..hang on I can solve this..” There’s a bin of dog toys at the end of the coffee table and he reluctantly gets up from Lisette and throws out a rope bone a plushie and a ball in three different directions. Little Toffee goes wild and runs all over turing to get them all. While the puppy is distracted Greyson gets a bit of a mischievous look on his face and walks up to the couch to scoop Lisette up in his arms if he can and carry her off to his bedroom. If this all works he’ll shut the door with his foot and then they’re alone “Maybe I’m cruel but I want to play with you too….without little eyes watching us…” He’ll kiss her again while she’s still held in his arms and then gently set her on his bed and climb on top of her again kissing wildly and rolling around a bit with her amid light moans and grunts.


Lisette giggles when Greyson gets up and causes Toffee to try and split herself into three puppies to get all three toys.  She squeaks happily as she is scooped up and taken into the bedroom.  “No little eyes.  I agree.”  she kisses him and when they are on the bed, she rolls around happily, kissing him and rolling around.  She stops the motion for a moment, straddles him and, looking down at him, undoes her bra, removes it and tosses it aside.


Greyson bites his lip looking up at her when she straddles him and then takes of her bra. He drinks her in and then lets his hands roam over her, caressing every inch he can touch slowly “You’re so beautiful….my god Lisette….” His desire is obvious the second she straddles from the harness of his cock pressing into her between her legs through his pants and hers. He shifts the focus of his hands to her breasts, cupping them and then brushing at her nipples with his thumbs and gently moving them around in little circles as he thrusts up at her.


Lisette is in thin summer slacks and she can feel him pressing into her.  He puts his hands on her breasts and she lets her head flop back as her nipples harden.  She pulls her head up and looks down at him, grinding into him.  “Greyson…”  she moans, her hips grinding into him.  :You feel so good.. Oh god…”  she moans, her breath deepening.  She reaches for his waist, nearly desperate to get him out of his pants.


Greyson moans at Lisette’s grinding “So do you…” His breath is audible too. He eases her down him a bit so she can undo his pants and starts on hers since his reach is longer but he looks up her body and grins at her. “Tell me what you like….tell me what you want me to do or you Lisette….I want to please you.” He rolls her off him a bit and so they’re on their sides so they can both get into each other's pants. As soon as he has hers undone he slides his hand right in and starts to lightly stroke her, just tracing and exploring all parts of her between her legs using one tantalizing finger.


Lisette stops grinding, because it is interfering on them getting naked.  She hears his request and smiles as she winds up on her side.  She opens her mouth to reply when he begins to lightly stroke her.  She moves her hands to her waist and shimmies out of her pants and panties.  Throwing one leg over him, to give his hand more room to play, she presses her chest into him.  “I love that … play … make me cum … take me …  I’m yours.”  she breathes.  “Just don’t lose the contact. God …”  she arches into him and reaches for his cock in his underwear.


Greyson moves his hand just long enough for her to take off her bottom layers and then slides it right back between her legs and keeps stroking now moving to her inner labia with long strokes that bump her clit gently. He smiles when she presses into him “Yes…..believe me it’s my mission in life to make you cum Lisette…..contact….like…” He presses his chest into hers so there’s as much skin on skin as they can get and in her hand his cock hardens and he moans loudly and kisses her as his hand stroking her now moves spontaneously lower and he slides one finger gently inside her while the other two keep stroking and the thumb plays with her clit in little circles. 


Lisette moans, then groans and whimpers when he bumps her clit lightly.  He tells her his mission and then breaks off his sentence.  The skin to skin contact makes her gasp and she strokes him, feeling him get hard.  “That …”  she finishes his sentence.  “Like that …”  She can feel his finger inside of her and her hips move while he circles her clit.  She grabs onto him amd rides his fingers, kissing him.  “That …  oh Greyson ….”  she strokes at him a bit more as best she can with how close together they are.


Greyson is completely focussed on Lisette’s pleasure right now. He’s enjoying her hand stroking him but he keeps doing what he’s doing to her, loving her reaction and wanting more, going a little harder and deeper as he dips his head down from kissing her at one point and flicks her nipple with his tongue, still trying to keep his mid body against her for the contact. “Mmm yes that…..oh god Lisette….”


Lisette can feel a pressure building.  She is sopping wet and so turned on, but she is on a ledge.  Greyson flicks her nipple and she gasps.  Forgetting a moment, she lets him go and grabs onto his arm, bucking into him.  She feels warm and tingly and so close.  Then she is teetering … almost stuck on that edge.  She bucks on him, but not in an orgasmatic way.  “God … Grey .. please … that …”


Greyson pulls up briefly from her nipple and kisses her still going with his hand movements. He can tell she’s close but he’s still figuring her out “Oh god tell me please...more? Harder? I don’t want to break contact since you want that but I’d happily use my mouth…..” He starts kissing down her a bit waiting for instructions “Baby tell me how to make you cum….”


Lisette is clinging onto Greyson for dear life.  Part of her could stay on this edge forever.  “Faster ….  Faster …  please … I need you … need this.”  she moans, lightly sweating.  “When I do …  get in me …  I’ll beg for you …  God…  Greyson.”


Greyson is grateful for the instruction and invitation and he speeds up really going for it now with his hand, giving her full contact and almost frenzied kissing “Oh fuck yes…..I want you….I want to be inside you…...Let go Lisette…” He’s imploring her to that edge and over and ready to dive right in.


Lisette feels the sensation build even more.  Just when she thought she as at the edge, he speaks to her, telling her to let go.  She does.  Her orgasm explodes within her she she bucks, crying out loudly.  Barely aware of what she is doing she rolls on her back.  “Please …”  she pants.  “Grey … please ..”


Greyson basks in the energy and feelings and sounds of her orgasm and moans with her at the sheer beauty of it. As Lisette rolls he rolls with her, yanking down his pants and underwear but not wasting any time and just leaving them half way down as he slides inside her and begins to move. “Oh god….” He feels so much connection he’s almost disoriented by it. The little jolts from before...this is like being hit full on by lightening. He keeps moving and holds onto Lisette, riding her waves and quickly starting to find his own that join hers as he begins to grunt and moan as he thrusts deeper and harder into her going between kissing her and just hanging on.


Lisette shudders as Greyson enters her and begins to make love to him with absolute unbridled passion.  She grunts, feeling a shudder each time he enters her.  She braces her feet and presses up each time he thrusts.  She can hear their bellies as they meet and can hear their melded cries of pleasure.  This is unlike anything she’s experienced before, not that she had a lot of experience, but with each thrust, each groan and each gasp, she feels closer to this man.


Greyson can feel his edge but holds on as long as he can just loving every moment. He has quite a bit of stamina and he goes for a awhile but finally he can’t hold back and his groans get louder and closer together until finally he shudders in a  thrust and stays pressed inside her as he cums hard and grips Lisette and then comes down on her kissing her tenderly as he ebbs. He’s never felt this connected to any human being before and he pulls back after and looks at her like it’s a miracle. “Wow….” He breathes out.


Lisette’s hair is wet from her sweat.  Her body slick as they make love with increasing passion.  But he doesn’t cum quickly and she enjoys every second of their lovemaking.  But finally, after what feels like forever, he cums and she can feel it and groans with him.  She caresses him with trembling fingers.  “Wow indeed ….”  she pants.  She kisses him back, just as tenderly, looking into his eyes.  “Oh, Greyson …”  her voice shakes slightly.


Greyson was sweaty too and his intermingled with hers but it was sensual to him and he could barely imagine pulling apart from her as he gazes back with adoration “Lisette. Lisette Page...I mean Paget….I did it again.” He laughs “Although both sound right to me.” He’s not sure where that came from but he feels almost overcome by his intense feelings for her.


Lisette chuckles when he speaks her name .. or rather his name in English.  “They both sound right to me too ….  Oh Greyson … what happened to us?” she kisses him softly, loving the feel of his weight on her.


Greyson kisses her and then pulls back a bit to look at her “I don’t know. I feel like I’m madly in love with you but that can’t be right...but it’s the only thing that makes sense. I’ve never felt this connected to anyone in my life….from the moment I saw you.” He gently pulls out of her and tries to roll them a bit on their sides. He loved being in her and on her but the words he was saying made him want to hold her more specifically.


Lisette nods as he speaks.  “I understand …”  she sighs when he pulls out of her, and snuggles up to him.  “But why can’t it be right?  I mean …”  she laughs lightly.  “We met … a few hours ago, but … still …”  she blows out a breath.  “But I feel madly in love with you, too…”


Greyson runs a hand through her hair and down her back and smiles and then he starts laughing at the oddity of it and just gives a little shrug “OK fuck it...let’s go for it. I love you Lisette. I don’t know why or how it happened so fast but I love you. And that was the most intense love making of my life. Maybe we need to just not fight this.”


Lisette caresses his face.  “I love you too.  Intense is almost too weak a word.”  she snuggles into his embrace.  “I don’t want to fight it.  I am looking at you as a gift …  a most precious gift.  I don’t kow how it happened … and in a lot of ways I don’t care.”  she laughs, a carefree sound of happiness.  “Yes, I love you, Greyson Page.”


Greyson leans into her caresses and wraps his arms tighter around her “Well then it must be Christmas because you’re my gift too.” He kisses her again and then smiles “You know I’ve heard there’s something about this island and people falling intensely in love here….both my older daughters Paige and Iris….your nephew and from what I gather your niece...Gen. Now us. Still not going to reject any of it but if it’s true that’s an interesting phenomenon.”


Lisette lifts her brows.  “Really?”  she considers what he is saying.  “I mean that sounds divine, but … I mean does that mean all love here is intense?  Is it just couples or … I mean .. I know single parents here … and I’ve read some case files …  I mean .. it has to be selective…”  she realizes she is trying to insert logic.


Greyson shrugs “I don’t know all the details. And I don’t imagine it erases every bad thing that could happen either. Be interesting...you might see more in your job. But I even think of you sister and brother in law...now I don’t know they started elsewhere...but they went through a rough patch….sounded like a long one. But they fixed it. And it coincided with living here. Maybe that helped them somehow if there's something to it. I’m sure people do get divorced. But in Victoria….more than half the people I knew were divorced or on 2nd and 3rd marriages. I mean no judgment...but I’ve met a lot of people here in my practice...long time married people.” He laughs “Seamus’s father asked me if he could bring his wife to his eye exam...and he’s kind of a big tough looking guy. But they’re one of them…..I don’t know maybe I’m reading too much into it or just.” And he gives her another little kiss “Feeling very romantic tonight.”


Lisette still looks curious.  “You know … Amelie and Felix were having a rough patch.  And they have fixed it.  I don't know if it has to do with the island, but they seem happier than I’ve ever seen them.”  she admits.  She giggles at the big tough looking guy asking to bring his wife to his eye exam.  “John and Colleen.  They’re very sweet.”  she considers as they kiss again.  “Well, I’m not going anyplace.”  she says both about the island and the bed.


Greyson grins “Yeah they’re doing wonderfully and I’m happy for them. He chuckles “They are sweet. I hope he’s wearing his glasses.” When she says she’s not going anyplace he exhales, breathing into her neck “Well that’s good….very good. Lisette I have a question about.” He makes a point of pressing his chest against hers and then gets momentarily distracted looking down at her breasts. “Mmmm...sorry….it’s related…” He chuckles and kisses at her cleavage and then comes back up “The contact thing. I love it and I want it too but if I wanted to…” He runs a hand over her hip and looks at her a little hungrily “Go down on you….does that mean not enough contact for you? Do you need to...or would you need us to...I don’t know I hate the term but 69?” He laughs “We’re suddenly in high school now right? It’s not really the way I like to go about it but I would if it’s what you need.”


Lisette giggles.  “I didn’t know to check to see if he had them on, but now I will keep my eyes open.”  she smiles at him when he presses their chests together.  When he mentions going down on her, she shudders.  “I would love that … and I .. I want to go down on you but not at the same time.  You’re distracting and I want to savor … and I want you to savor.”  she laughs with him.  “How would you like to go about it?”  she grins.


Greyson starts squirming a bit just as they talk about it, clearly getting aroused by the conversation. When she asks how he’d like to go about it he grins back and then kisses Lisette deeply as he rolls back on top of her. Then he kisses down her body and murmurs “Slowly….” He kisses to her breasts and then lavishes them with attention kissing and caressing and then sucking, licking and flicking at her nipples, going from breast to breast for a really long time.


Lisette grins as he rolls her onto her back.  As he begins to kiss his way down her body and tells her his intention, she lays back and relaxes.  Her nipples harden under his attention and she moans softly.  “I love you … so much …”


Greyson looks up at her and smiles, loving her reactions “I love you too.” He does almost a push up to kiss her on the mouth again and then dips lower on his next descent, kissing all around her stomach and abdomen and then he goes over one hip to her legs kissing up from the opposite knee while his hand caresses the back of her leg. He moves to the inner thigh and gently pushes her legs apart and then just gets comfortable between her legs and begins teasing her with light licks as he spreads her so he can access all of her.


Lisette reaches over her head and grabs a couple of Greyson’s pillows.  Putting them under her head, she watches him.  Just the sight of him is turning her on.  She lets him position her any way he wants and she inhales deeply as he gets comfortable and begins licking her.  The breath leaves her body in something like a sigh.


Greyson keeps going and gets a little more focussed, licking around her clit and pushing it as he circles. He drinks her in, the sight, the scent and the taste and moans into her. Eventually he pulls one of her legs over his shoulder and then gently slides his hand in by his mouth and begins to just tease at adding a finger, playing at the edges of entering her with it.


Lisette begins to breathe a bit heavier, but isn’t moaning so much as sighing in pleasure.  She loves his teasing.  He has her incredibly wet and she reaches down to caress his head.  Her hips arch to meet his finger.


Greyson teases, licks and sucks at her clit and then instead of sliding the finger in right away and instead moves down and enters her with his tongue as far as it can go while looking up at her. He thrusts in and out and circles her clit with two fingers. He’s very much loving all of it and grunts into her wetness.


Lisette smiles and squirms, almost catlike.  Greyson is playing and Lisette loves every erotic second.  She gives a goan .. and a moan as she arches her hips, stretching.  “You feel so good.”  she encourages him.  At he circles her clit, her hips lift and fall smoothly.


Greyson smiles with his eyes at her and keeps going now beginning to ramp it up. He alternates between thrusting into her with his tongue and his finger and the fingertips or tongue circle the clit when it’s their turn. He’s less teasing now, going faster and harder on both options, clearly wanting to get Lisette to have an orgasm. He shudders at her moans and joins them, pushing against her more and more with each lift of her hips.


Lisette can feel as the teasing becomes less and less and he begins to nudge her in the direction of orgasm.  The time and attention that he’s spent simply teasing her is boggling her mind.  And even as he begins to rampher up, he doesn’t do it too quickly.  But her moans become more urgent and her hips circle with need.  He moves her to the edge and she begins to shudder.  “Greyson … oh god … yes .. please ….”  she begs and he gives her the wish … another powerful orgasm rockets through her, causing her to cry out in pleasure, buck her hips and, as she comes down, pulls him into a kiss.


Greyson doesn’t stop until she’s coming down and pulling him up. As she pulls him into a kiss he grins into it and kisses her deeply, his whole mouth and lower face drenched with her. He’s quivering a bit from his own desire after her orgasm. No woman has ever made him want her so badly. His kisses move to her cheek and neck but they have that frenzied quality again. His cock is hard again and nudging at her wetness, he’s not trying to enter her but letting her know he’s available for more. “Oh fuck Lisette….you’re amazing…”


Lisette welcomes him and their kisses as she comes down and begins to recover from her orgasm.  Against her side she can feel he is almost hard again.  She gently pushes him onto his back.  “I’m amazing?”  she chuckles and nuzzles his neck.  “You’re pretty fucking amazing too, you know.”  she kisses down his chest, looking up at him, her eyes flashing with want.  “May I return the favor?”  she asks, even though she is already caressing his thigh.


Greyson rolls and lets himself be pushed and laughs “Why thank you…..but it’s all about you for me….my god…” Then he caresses her shoulders and upper back as she moves down, knowing where she’s heading “Yes…..yes you may….because I’m the luckiest man alive.” He bites his lip watching her and feeling her caresses.


Lisette trails her tongue down Grayson's middle and looks up at his words.  “Good thing then that it’s all about you for me.”  she winks at him and continues to trail her tongue.  She lifts her head slightly to run her tongue around the head of his cock, trying to wrap her tongue around it but only licking it all around.  Then the licks his shaft to his balls, and then up again.  She kissed the head and runs her lips down and back up.  She hasn’t used her hands yet.  It appears she is in the mood to return all of his teasing.


Greyson looks down at her and just lets out an “Mmmm…” on an exhale at her teasing. Her tongue was tantalizing but he could tell she was the same kind of slow sensual lover he was and he loved it. “Holy shit….” He murmured and lay back, just giving himself over to her completely.


Lissette takes her time, enjoying the smell, looks and taste of the man she’s fallen in love with in what she believes is record time.  There is no doubt in her mind that she will do all of this again many times in the future, but this was the first time, and that made it special.  She licked every inch he presented to her and then went to caress his balls with her tongue.  As she finished, she looked up at him again with a grin.


Greyson was squirming now under her licking and his breath came faster “Oh…..oh I like that…” He grunted a bit more when she stopped and looked up and almost begged “Please don’t stop…..you’re driving me crazy in all the right ways….oh I love you….”


Lisette goes back to her teasing, especially now that she knows he likes it.  She doesn’t reply to him, she only goes back to her tasting.  Her hands are at her sides, bracing her upper body up.  Hut she dies take one and uses two fingers to angle his cock so she can taste the underside of it, licking sound and around.


Greyson is loving the teasing but when he feels her fingers he asks for more “Touch me….please…..oh god Lisette...use your hands too…..all of it...hand mouth tongue…..” He arches and writhes.


Lisette smiles into his shaft.  “Yes, my love.”  is all she replies.  She wets him with her tongue and takes him lightly around the base of the shaft.  She moves to the head and licks a bit of his pre-cum into her mouth, moaning at the taste.  And, at last, she opens her mouth and takes him into it.  She doesn’t such hard, but very softly.  Bringing her hand up to meet her mouth, she begins a soft stroke and suck, trying to suppress the moan she knows he will feel, but unable to.  


Greyson grips the bedcover a bit as she starts to suck and stroke him. All her teasing had him closer to the edge than he expected to be just as she got going. As she moans into him he thrusts up at her and moans loudly “Oh fuck yes...oh god….” He’s shuddering a  bit and grinning. “Make that noise again please…..”


Lisette looked up at him when he asked her to make that noise again.  She looks up at him with an innocence in her face that would never be confused for real and replies, her mouth still full of him.  “Hmmmmm?”  making a different noise, but producing a very similar result.


Greyson can’t help but laugh a bit at her fake innocence and then when she makes another noise and he feels the vibration of it his face contorts and he moans again and thrusts up again “Yes like that.” He strokes her hair and is almost panting.


Lisette doesn’t stop.  As a matter of fact she speeds up, tightening her grip just a bit more.  She looks up as he strokes her hair. “Mmmmm.” she replies, her mouth still happily filled with him.  His reactions are so beautiful that she can and will play this game as long as she can, but when it ends she wants to taste his very essence.


Greyson’s face contorts in pleasure again and he moans over and over as he thrusts  and then suddenly his cock pulses and his eyes go wide and his mouth opens as he pulls Lisette’s hair and cums hard into her mouth. As he ebbed he realized he had pulled her hair a bit hard and he stroked her head gently and lovingly “Sorry...oh my god I love you. You need to spend every night in my bed, every day in my life...” He blurts out and then reaches and tries to pull her to lie on top of him and kiss her.


Lisette feels him pulling her hair, but she is too busy swallowing to worry about it.  He is so warm and comforting.  He then begins to stroke her hair and she looks up, licking her lips as he apologizes and pulls her up.  She lays on him.  “It’s alright.”  she tells him.  “A little … spice.”  she shrugs, almost shyly.  Lisette snuggles into him.  “I would love nothing more.”  and that is true, even if she knows it can’t happen … at least not starting that night.  “I love you.  I want to be a part of your life.”  she caresses his face.  “This is the best move I’ve ever made.”  she sighs happily and rests her head on his chest.


Greyson curiously raises a brow “Do you like spice?” He traces his fingers over her back. And then she confirms she wants to be a part of his life and he hugs her tightly “Best move I’ve ever made too.” He kisses the side of her head “We’ll figure out how to fit our lives together. I’m a bit of a package deal but my girls are pretty lovable. And you already like kids .” He chuckles.


Lisette bites the corner of her lip.  “I’ve never tried spice before.”  she admits.  “It wasn’t as much as I liked it as it was you and it told me how much I’d excited you so … as long as it’s you.  It makes me … understand some things I think.”  she settles into his arms.  “Yes, we will.”  she agrees about their lives.  “And I understand the package deal.  I hope we all get along.  I’ve been known to be pretty good with kids, but … occupational hazard, I scare some.”


Greyson grins “Social worker stigma? I can imagine some families would see you as a part of a system that’s caused them harm. That would be hard to take. I just cut into people’s eyeballs...they love that.” His sarcasm is dripping. He breathes into Lisette “If you want to explore more....spice...let me know. I’m pretty open to...everything. I do pull hair when I get excited...” He admits “Not everyone likes it.”


Lisette laughs at Greyson’s comparison of their professions.  “Some of the people I have to deal with would see you AND Fellix for the worse you could dish out if it meant never seeing me.”  she snuggles.  “Sometimes, the last thing I want is to think I’m in charge.  Or to make any decision of any kind.  And as for pulling my hair.”  she bites her lip.  “It made me feel … claimed?  Is that a horrible thing to say?  That I get excited if a man is claiming me for his own?”  she sighs softly.  “I felt I belonged to you … with you … the moment we met.  That’s nothing I’ve ever had before.  And … turns out, I like it.”


Greyson can’t stop grinning at Lisette’s realization “Claim you? I can work with that. Be mine forever gorgeous woman!” He makes his voice comically low and gruff and then chuckles “I’ll try not to be too much of a neanderthal about it. I suspect I’m a little older than you... but not that old. I never even asked your age. How old are you?”


Lisette grins and then giggles.  “I absolutely will, Greyson Page.”  she pats her own hair.  “Maybe not drag me down the street claim, but there is no other man for me.”  she looks at him, and then his grey hair.  “I turned 37 on May the third.  And you?” she strokes his hair and

 Runs her hand to his chest.


Greyson smiles “37? Mmmm...” He slides his hand over hers on his chest “I would never drag you or do anything to cause you real pain or shame.” He promises. Then he laughs “I’m the big five O in later September. My age is finally matching my hair.”


Lisette nods.  “I know you wouldn’t.”  she assures him.  “But you know I’d follow you.  No need to drag me.”  she hears his age and winks at him.  “Fifty isn’t old and neither are you.  We make love like we’re twenty.”


Greyson smirks “We sure do.” He holds her and snuggles in “I’m still marveling at all this.” He sighs happily “I feel like we’re new and old. But I don’t even know you’re favourite colour or favourite band.”


Lisette kisses his chest.  “I hope I don't wake up.”  she tells him.  “Blue … too many to count, but the first one to come to mind is Breaking Benjamin.  I like all animals, and rain.  And you?”  she grins.  “What about you?”


Grey runs a hand over her back “Well I hope so too...except the waking up with me tomorrow and many many times after.” He has to laugh “Also blue, sort of faded greyish blue I guess.” He muses “I’ve heard of Breaking Benjamin. Can’t list a single song though. I like a lot of music. I even like musicals….don’t judge me...I was a theatre geek in high school.” He laughs “But I ent to Queens University in Kingston, Ontario and I became a big Tragically Hip fan because how can you not. Saw them live 3 or 4 times right in their hometown. Kingston’s like a birthplace of bands I swear….Weeping Tile….Sarah Harmer. My roommate played in a ridiculous Ska band called the Bodacius Bitchen Breakfast Skillet. I like animals on a case by case basis. I like Toffee, who’s probably rebelling against us and shredding one of my shoes. It’s a good thing you like rain moving out here. BC has lots. I don’t mind it. Got a little sick of it in Victoria mid winters but I’m told they actually get a bit more snow here. Refreshing change perhaps?”


Lisette loves the idea of waking beside Greyson … but they were awake and talking, which was also wonderful.  “Well it as the first thing to pop into my head because I was hearing Ashes of Eden in my head, if you’ve ever heard it.”  she grins.  “No judgement from me, but I look forward to private performances.”  she teases.  Then he mentions Tragically Hip and she blinks, then raises herself a little bit.  She looks towards the ceiling .. or perhaps heavenwards and then back at him.  “How can you not, indeed.”  she grins.  “That was Brendans favorite band.  Well .. not favorite.  I’m sure he didn’t realize there were other bands on Earth.”  she chuckles and then clears her throat.  “Rain is good for laying in bed and just doing nothing …  blizzards too, for that matter.”


Greyson smiles but shakes his head “No but I’ll check it out. Like I say I like all kinds of music.” He laughs about private performances “For you, anything.” He looks a bit awkward at first about Brendan’s love of the Hip too but then smiles and shrugs “We’re probably going to have a lot of those. I’m sorry if I trigger sadness...but maybe it was happiness? Fair warning...Sarah McLaughlin was Audrey’s favourite. I still love her music though. But you can’t help but miss them more. Do you believe in an afterlife Lisette?” He asks her. Then he smiles “I also like laying in bed and doing nothing. Rain or shine.” He admits.


Lisette smiles and is already looking forward to those private performances.  She notes his awkwardness and then the smile and shakes her head.  “No sadness for me, really.  He has to be out of pain now.  I can’t be sad about that.”  she considers.  “Not in the Catholic way, no.  But I believe in spirits.  That they come to visit us.  Check in on us.”  she snuggles even closer to him.  “Rain, shine or perfectly clear night.  I know we will be able to get out of bed when we have to, but it won’t always be easy.”


Greyson gives a little nod “I can see that. You have amazing strength Lisette. At the point you’re at now in my time after Audrey left the world I could barely form a sentence. Mind you I had a baby that ended me and a small child and two older children...who did way too fuckin much to compensate for me sometimes being curled up in a corner. Spirits is an interesting option. I don’t rule it out….just not sure I’ve noticed it if it’s happened.” He nuzzles into her neck “Only when we have to..” He smiles and kisses her cheek.


Lisette holds onto Greyson.  “You loved your wife and I loved my husband.”  she reminded him.  “The difference might be that Brendan was in the sort of pain …  I don’t know … the medication couldn’t make him happy .. they call them happy pills, but they're not.  They’re more like … make you able to function pills.  And then they wanted him to look in this deep dark hole and face the monster … and the monster came close to the surface and …”  she sighs deeply and tries again.  “I think the difference is that she didn’t want to leave you or your family.  Brendan couldn’t stand what staying meant.  I don’t know if that makes sense.  But I’m not mad at him.”  she smiles at him.  “I see things that might be a wave from him … or might just be pure coincidence .. like Tragically Hip being a band you love.  More than that .. as much as this is unexpected, it is almost like Brendan plopped a bow on you and said ‘Be for her what I never could be’.  Is that bad?”


Greyson rolled them so they were sidelying and facing one another. He nodded at her words but looked a little overcome by emotion, pained for her and then he just swallowed and his eyes filled with tears. “It’s not bad. It’s oddly fucking beautiful.” His voice cracked and he caressed her face and then her hair “And if that is the case, thank you Brendan. I’ll do my best.” He closed his eyes now as more tears slid down his face “Audrey knew she was dying after Thea was born. At once point she told me not to mourn her forever, to find love again. I argued and pleaded with her like it would stop the inevitable. Then she cracked a joke and said just promise me she’ll be a redhead.” He laughed through his tears “So maybe it’s both of them.”


Lisette found herself crying with Greyson for the first time since Brendan had died.   She wiped the tears from Greyson’s eyes and sniffed.  They had lost so much so young, the both of them.  Now they were together, which is what their first loves would have wanted for them.  She kisses his wet cheek and let her red hair fan over him.  “I’ll do my best, Audrey.”  she spoke in a voice filled with emotion.  She kissed his lips softly.  “I love you, Greyson and I will do my best by you.  I promise.”









2020-08-06 - The Night Clinic - Jasper, Maria. Duncan, Fernanda and Mateo



Jasper was the one with the keys to the clinic so while Maria Negron had led the march to get their lovestruck but ill times teenager lovebirds to their Covid test, he held up a hand as he unlocked the door. There were night staff on for any overnight patients but it was a skeleton crew most of the time. As they entered though, he instructed everyone to sanitize their hands at the stations and then handed out disposable medical face masks and put on his own.


“Dr. Rogers…” One of the night health care aids greeted in confusion.


“It’s ok, they’re my patients. My son and his girlfriend need a Covid test. This is her mother. I’ll administer it. It’s post quarantine and low risk. Just some double checking.”


“Understood.” The young woman gave the group a wide berth and stepped aside.


Jasper collected some supplies and then made a sweeping gesture with his hand towards an exam room “This way please.” He swiped his security card and opened the exam room door and let them in directing Maria to a chair to one side and Fernanda to the exam table “Ladies first. You’ve had one of these before I presume?”


Fernanda had. Since she had been one of the quarantines after the party her Covid test hadn’t been all that long ago and she shuddered “Yes...worst 5 seconds of my life.” She sighs and looks at Duncan “I’m so sorry.”


Jasper washed his hands, gloved up and grabbed the first swab kit as well as a box of kleenex. “OK you remember the drill then Fernanda. Do you like to be called by your full name? I heard two other options tonight at the beach.”


Fernanda smiles a bit and you can see it in her eyes above the mask “Duncan calls me Nan. My family calls me Fern.” She sees the doctor’s nod and pulls down her face mask to just expose her nostrils and tips her head back.


Jasper gently holds onto the back of her head and inserts the swab “Here we go….1….2….3...4...5…...all done….take a tissue…..” Fernanda was shuddering and sputtering and her eyes were both pouring as well as her nose. “I know it burns, sorry….”


Maria walked in with the doctor and their two too in love to think teenagers.  She watches him give orders and the staff snap too, which she admired.  She watched as the doctor administers the test and knowing her daughter was in discomfort, felt for her without looking like she felt for her.


Duncan came in, listening to his father.  He winced slightly as he explained that he was his son.  He should have more sense than to have been in a situation where this could happen, but he .. couldn’t resist Fernanda.  Telling him about her quarantine and the many times they had snuck off to see each other seened ill advised, so he kept mum.  If he can, he will reach for Fernanda’s hand to comfort her.


Fernanda takes Duncan’s hand as she breathes deeply and squeezes it. She felt bad he had to go through this too. She hoped to god they were negative, both of them. Their love had been the strongest force in the universe and her usual cool responsible head had been overwhelmed. She couldn’t even fight it. She wiped at her nose and pulled the mask back up and let her gaze drift to her mother “Lo siento Mama. (I’m sorry Mom).”


Jasper gestured to the space beside Fernanda on the exam table “You may as well sit together since I’m testing you both. Your turn Duncan.” He could see how in love they were and understood it, especially since he had been hit so hard by his unexpected love for Levi. He bagged Fernanda’s swab and labeled it and then took off his gloves, washed his hands and put on new gloves as was procedure and readied the next swab for Duncan. Once Duncan was seated he said “Tilt your head back and uncover your nose for me son…” With a little more affection he would hold onto Duncan’s head and then do the same procedure to him. He truly implored the fates to keep his children healthy and everyone they loved. “I hope this is just routine...both of you...and all of us. Because it’s not just you two on the line here.”


Maria waited until the test was over and moved to her daughters side.  She nodded at the apology and watched Duncan sit beside her.  As it was bagged up, she looked at it, willing it to be negative for her baby.


Duncan sat and pulled his mask down to expose his nostrils.  He did as his father asked him and in five seconds the test was over.  Looking at his father he puts his mask back up.  “It is, Dad.  We’re fine.”  he realized that it was not just he and Fernanda.  As many times as they broke quarantine … it was all of both of their families, he realized.  And Levi … and Levi’s staff … and … and … and.


Fernanda cracked a bit as her mother ended up beside her. She knew her mom didn’t reveal her hand of emotions always but the nod and the move made her weepy with guilt. She hung her head and quietly cried between the woman who raised and made her and the man she loved.


Jasper looked at Duncan as he swore they were fine with a look of love and pain. “OK…” He breathed out and went to bag up Duncan’s swab for the lab. He slipped them both into a larger envelope with his request for the fastest results they could get using and possibly abusing his authority in his role. He didn’t care though. Duncan was still his boy and that made anyone he loved this much family too. He sort of toasted with the envelope “I’m going to hand deliver this and be right back.” And with that he did a wash and reglove and stepped out into the hall, his footfalls fading as he walked away.


Maria watched the doctor leave the room.  Then she looked at her daughter and her boyfriend.  She thought of her past and chances the took for love … or perhaps it was lust … no it was definitely love, at least on her part.  She realized the might be more afraid for her daughters than her sons, and that might be hypocritical, but she couldn’t help herself.  Looking at her daughter, she cleared her throat.  “I’ll have your brothers make something to eat and leave it out for us.”  she pulls out her phone.  “What would you like them to make.”  she wasn’t one to give the kids a choice.  There were too many of them.  But tonight it would be Fernanda, her boyfriend, she and Mateo.  And the kids may as well eat what they want.  “Or I can have thm order out, even.”  an ever rarer treat.


Duncan blew out a breath and watched his father leave.  If they rushed the test, they could probably have the results in a day, he hoped.  He listens to Mrs. Negron, and then at Fernanda.  Anything was fine by him.


Fernanda watches Duncan’s father leave and gives his hand a little squeeze and then she hears her mother offering choices in food and her guilt tripled inside her. Even ordering out. Fernanda looked grateful “Mama…” She also knew what was in the fridge and cupboards since she cooked a lot “We still have leftovers enough to make more Tripleta…..can you ask if Pedro can make them? He does a really good job.” She explains to Duncan “Triplete is a traditional Puerto Riccan sandwich. It’s the best sandwich in the world really.” She definitely doesn’t want to ask her mom to put money out when there’s good food at home.


Jasper returns and leaves the door open as he comes in “We’re free to go.” He sticks a sign on the exam room door on a clipboard requesting a full sanitization and then gestures to it as he degloves and washes his hands again. 


Maria nods and smiles slightly.  Her daughter was being thrifty and practical, and that made her feel much better.  “Ahhh, Tripleta.  Si … I will text him now.”  and she does.  The doctor returns and she looks at him.  “Gracias, Doctor.”  she looks at Duncan.  “I will feed him three times a day and take care of him as if he were my own.”  she does grin then.  “I am not the monster you met tonight.” she assures him.


Duncan smiles.  “I’d love it, thank you.”  he looks at Maria and then his father.  He is a little afraid to ask when he can expect the results so they can go on with their lives.


Jasper steps out so they can exit “You are no monster.  And I appreciate the feeding. I know how much they eat. I get the emotion and reaction. Hence why we’re here.” He chuckles. He sees Duncan’s look “Tomorrow sometime I hope.” He knows the question in everyone’s minds.


Fernanda looks both relieved and happy about the sandwiches. “I think the word you’re looking for Mama is Mama Bear…..but Puerto Rico style. The bear takes out the danger and smacks the baby bear for getting into it. And I love you for it.” She’s risking a joke but she means it with love. She moves towards the door to exit.


Maria finally chuckles with Jasper.  “I understand it .. which is why they aren’t in as much trouble as they could be.”  she looks relieved that the test won’t take very long, then looks at her daughter.  “Mama Osa (female bear).”  she heads through the door, but will hug her daughter as soon as they are in the hallway.  “Stop scaring me, baby osa.”  she orders.


Duncan grins at his father commenting on how much he can eat.  And looks relieved the test is being rushed.  “Dad, apologize to Levi for me.  And Miranda and Romeo too.  Please.”  he knows they will part soon as he goes home.


Fernanda hugs her mom back hard “I will Mama. I will. Thank you for always looking out for me. And thank you too Doctor Rogers...and I second that apology to you and your family and your partner.”


Jasper feels inspired to hug Duncan as he sees mother and daughter hug and also hears Duncan’s apology “I will….but they’ll understand. I love you Duncan.” He chuckles about the bears and then looks at Fernanda as he lets go “Please call me Jasper. And take care you two. Listen to Maria and Mateo and sleep well. I’ll be in contact in the morning.” He pulls out his card and hands it to Maria so she has his number.


Maria simply smiles at her daughter.  She watches the father and son hug and takes the card he hands her.  “Thank you, Dr Jasper.”  it is very hard for her to drop an honorific like doctor.  “We will see you in the morning.”  she slips the card in her pocket and will walk back to her house, cutting through the trees on the side to the backyard.  The back porch is sort of glassed in like a makeshift greenhouse.  She can see the tents, plus the makeshift outhouse in the back and knows Mateo must be around someplace with their dinner.


Duncan hugs his father back and grins at him when Maria calls him Dr Jasper.  Then he heads back to the house, noting that the festival seems to have ended, so they aren’t passing many people.  Back at Fernanda’s house he notes the same set up as they had during their quarantine, but with an extra tent.


Mateo is sitting at the large family picnic table with a platter of Tripleta sandwiches cut in half, enough for everyone and some bottles of water and a hand sanitizer dispenser. “Hallo, come eat. Pedro made them perfectly of course. How was the test?”


Fernanda smiles at her father. She still has her paper mask on so he can only see her upper face “Gross but short. Thank Pedro for us Papa.” She takes a seat and looks to the spot beside her and then up at Duncan and then at her mother, hoping they’re allowed to at least sit together for this part.


Maria sits beside Mateo, letting the lovebirds sit together.  “You can thank him when your test comes back negative.”  she states, showing some hope that they are alright.  Now that the test is taken, she is relaxing and feeling lighter in mood.  She takes a bottle of water, and rests her hand on the lid.  “Colleen said her son had it … and his daughter, too.  She is just a little one, too.  Not even 3 yet.”  she nods to herself, working to convince herself that if they could survive it, so could her daughter and this doctor’s son.  She opens the bottle and nods at Duncan.  “Eat … if you’re expecting family prayer don’t.  I gave up years ago.  Some of us do and some of us don’t.  God hasn’t struck any of us down yet.”  she drinks, but then bows her own head in prayer before crossing herself and reaching for a sandwich.


Duncan sits and is glad that Fernanda can sit with him.  He listens to Maria and can only imagine her worry.  The news of a little kid having Covid makes him wince a little, but he only nods and reaches for a sandwich.  He bites into it and moans a bit.  Swallowing he nods.  “This is really good.”  it isn’t a shallow compliment.  He really does like it.


Mateo listens to his wife, makes a face about the small child who survived Covid and nods and then follows suit with his own silent prayer and crosses himself before taking a bite of his sandwich. He points at it as Duncan compliments it and then after he’s chewed and swallowed he says “It’s important to celebrate the food of your culture. What is Rogers in ancestry as a name? Do you have any traditional foods you make in your family?”


Fernanda doesn’t do a silent grace but sits quietly and waits for her parents to do theirs before she eats. She has her own faith but it’s less traditional in practices, more inward. She sighs about Seamus and his daughter “And some of those anti mask meatheads think little kids can’t get it. Anyone can. I’ve learned my lesson Mama...either way.” She watches Duncan enjoy the sandwich and smiles. Then her father gets all anthropological on him and she stifled a giggle and took a bite with a look of grateful food bliss as she chewed.


Maria nods as Fernanda speaks, but doesn’t really reply, watching mateo speak to the boy.  He was likely going to be a part of their lives, but Mateo’s questions were likely to be a little less like an interrogation and more like a conversation.


Duncan eats and listens to the question Mateo asks.  He shrugs and looks a little sheepish.  “Rogers is English … pretty bland, actually.  And English food is kind of boring, if you ask me.  So no traditional foods.  We like all kinds of different foods and will try just about anything once.”  he toasts with his sandwich.  “This is a definite positive find.”  he settles in, expecting to get a bunch of questions in his direction.


Mateo eats while Duncan talks and then nods. “Not much spice….no garlic. Ah the English. “ He chuckles a bit. “Glad you like the sandwich. You’re in the same grade as our Fern?”


Fernanda answers that before Duncan can “No Papa, Grade 12. I’m a year younger than Duncan.” She looks between her parents who had a bit more of an age difference “Not that it matters right?”


Mateo shrugs “No….but grade 12.” He looks back at Duncan “Big choices year. What are your aspirations after high school? What calls you?” His father was after all a doctor, maybe he had big career plans too.


Maria grins at her daughter and husband.  “No hija, the age doesn’t matter so much.”  she nods as Mateo elaborates and looks at Duncan, curious for his answer.


Duncan glances at Fernanda and then at her parents.  “For a while I thought I might want to be a doctor, but that interests me .. it doesn’t really CALL to me, if that makes sense.”  he pauses.  “Levi, my father’s partner, just offered me a job as a file clerk at his firm.  He said all the hours I can handle.  It’s a small thing here on the island, but it also gets me in a position to look at the inner workings of the law, which does call to me.”  he considers.  “I think I can handle law school, and there’ll be money in it if I choose the right branch.”  he looks at Fernanda.  “For the future.”


Fernanda knew some of what Duncan was saying but the for the future made her smile. She could care less about the money part, just that their future was in his mind together. “A lawyer and a cop?” She wiggles her eyebrows “Our kids someday won’t be able to get away with a damned thing.” She had told Duncan about her interest in law enforcement and her parents. Her father had objected and from his expression was about to again.


Mateo sighed and gestured at Duncan “Why don’t you study to be lawyers together with him? That way you’re not going to get shot at stopping a  robbery. Duncan, help me convince her…” He looks between Duncan and Maria. The idea of Fernanda as a police officer terrified him.


Maria smiles and finishes her sandwich as Duncan mentions wanting to be a lawyer and Fernanda brings up her dream of being a police officer again.  Brushing her hands clean of crumbs, she takes Mateo’s hand.  “You are her father.  We are supposed to be afraid.”  she grins at him.  “But I think you are more afraid because she is a girl … a woman.”  she corrects herself.  “But I see women cops right here and they seem safe enough…”  she looks at her daughter.  “Unless you mean like Vancouver or some big city like that?”


Duncan knew about Fernanda’s wanting to be a cop and he laughed a little at the mention of all the things their kids would never get away with.  Her father objects and he looks at him.  “I understand why you’d be afraid, Mr. Negron.”  he replies.  “The idea scares me too, to be honest about it.  But it is something that she wants to do.  And I support her dreams.”  he considered.  “You’re in a dangerous job, also.  You could fall from one of these buildings or it could collapse on you.  But they chances are pretty slim, aren’t they?  They’re sort of slim for cops too.”  he pauses a second.  “I’ve read that some cops go their whole careers never having to even draw their weapons.  And most don't want to have to.”  he squeezes Fernanda’s hand.


Fernanda squeezes Duncan’s hand back and looks lovingly at Duncan and her mother and lovingly but tiredly at her father. Duncan and her mother were aligned which made her happy. “Papa please hear Mama and Duncan because for some reason you don’t hear me. I know you grew up in a patriarchal culture….you are more afraid because I’m a woman like Mama said. I bet if Pedro or Samuel wanted to be cops you’d feel they could handle it. And like Duncan said construction is dangerous. Heck being a lawyer could be dangerous depending what kind of criminals you represent or try to put a way. But we have to make our own paths.” She finishes her sandwich looking a little defiant.


Mateo hears them all and looks a little unseated but throws up his hands “If you have the nerve to sneak around on a quarantine and risk your mother’s wrath and stand your ground with me you can probably handle a lot, Fern. I just worry. I know women can do it...call me old fashioned. I have to admit...I don’t want them too. Not because I think they or you are weak...but because you’re precious to me. Maybe in a different way than the boys. I know it’s my culture but I am what I am.”


Maria is impressed by her daughter's words, but surprised into a laugh at Mateo’s words.  She looks across the table.  “You have to remember that when Mateo met me, I was working in a flower shop.  The greatest danger to me was rose thorns.”  she takes one of Mateo’s arms and hugs it.  “When I walked past the site, the others would call out to me, but not him.  And he was only slightly old fashioned .. or maybe it was only slightly Catholic.”  she hugs the arm.  “And I kept giving him sons until I finally had a daughter.  But she is of her parents.  Responsible as both of us .. and stubborn as both of us.”  she huffs.


Duncan is proud of the way Fernanda stands up for herself and smiles when Mateo at least tries to consider his daughter as a cop.  He watches them together and can almost see him and Fernanda the way they are.  “I will protect her … if she needs me too.”  he promises Mateo.  “But also I think she will protect me when I need it.”  he thinks of just a little while earlier when she got between he and her father.


Mateo beams at Maria as she talks about when they met “You were the most beautiful flower in the place, worthy of all my love and respect….still mi amor….” He nods in agreement with Maria about Fernanda being both stubborn and responsible “That’s what I worry about….she’s like us.” He smiles at Duncan, at his promise but also his faith in Fernanda.


Fernanda looks sweetly at her parents. She knew even the overprotectiveness came from a place of love, the love they had for each other that spilled out into the love for all their children. Duncan’s words melt her heart. “I will protect you when you need it too Baby…..we’ll work together, always.”


Maria becomes more and more impressed by this young man.  “Well … enough of this seriousness and mush … life is not always hardships, I know.”  she smiles.  “What about fun?  What do you do for fun?”


Duncan chuckles.  “Together.”  he promises Fernanda and then looks at Maria.  “I like  a lot of different movies.  I was watching The Bone Collector a couple of nights ago.  So cop movies I guess.  And last week I was watching Carlito’s Way.  Man I love that movie.”


Maria’s eyes widen slightly and she folds her arms on the table, dropping her head on them and shaking it.


Fernanda hears Duncan’s movie choices and starts cracking up at her mother’s reaction and looks at her father as he looks like he might burst with joy. “I had no idea….apparently I’ve chosen the perfect man for Papa…” She laughs harder.


Mateo puts a hand on his heart “Fern...this boy...this beautiful boy you found…” Now he looks at Duncan like he’s offering his daughter’s hand in marriage today “I love Carlitto’s Way…..and The Bone Collector….all of them. Luis Guzman…...he is my idol. You know…” And his family knows the oncoming tangent well but this one is all for Duncan, his new pal “Some actors...you just watch THEM in a role. Tom Cruise. Well he’s Tom Cruise as a pilot, he’s Tom Cruise as a race car driver….he’s angry Tom Cruise in that movie that made no sense with the dying father and the raining frogs…..but he’s STILL TOM CRUISE…...Mission Impossible….Mission Tom Cruise. I hate that guy. But Luis Guzman….” Mateo has to take a sip of water and then another because he’s gotten all worked up. Then he leans forwards and whispers for dramatic effect. “He’s like a chameleon…...you never know who he is until bam…..he disappears into each character!”


Maria shakes her head as the Luiz Guzman Rant begins.  Then she looks up and over at Fernanda.  “I will try and keep him away as much as I can, Fern.  But you will feel my pain, hija.”


Duncan smiles.  “Tom Cruise?  Yea, I feel you on that one.”  he nods emphatically.  He drinks from his water.  “Perfect Tom Cruise.  But Luiz Guzman is never Luiz Guzman in movies… or even on television.  He’s Eddie Ortiz or he’s Pachanga or or … Nacho Reyes ..  I  mean BOTH Carlito’s Way, right?  But different characters!  Not many actors can do that, you know what I mean?”


Fernanda still looks fairly amused by it all and the movie connection between her father and Duncan might be the sweetest thing. Duncan was clearly as committed to the Guzman fan club as her father. “You guys are freakin adorable.” She looks between them and then to her mother “Don’t fight it Mama...now they both have a movie buddy. We don’t have to watch those movies at all…”


Mateo looks at Duncan like his prayers have been answered “Espiritus efines…(kindred spirits).” He grins and nods “Si….he is EVERY man.” Then he looks confused as to why this is adorable and laughs “Ah well thank you of course.” He puffs up a bit.


Maria doesn’t look completely on board until Fernanda mentions that they don’t have to watch the movies anymore.  She looks intrigued.  “Definitely points for you, Duncan.”  she grins at her husband.  “I do not hate Luiz Guzman ..  I just don’t think he is every man.”  she rolls her eyes and bumps into mateo’s side.  “I like this man.”


Duncan grins and looks between the three of them.  “I didn’t know your dad was so cool, Nan!”  he proclaims.  Mateo looks at him and he has to admit that his knowledge of Spanish is stretched.  He looks at Fernanda.  “That’s good … right?”


Mateo grins at his wife “I like this woman. We still got it baby. But I approve of this boyfriend. Fernanda, you know you have to keep him now? He’s had Pedro’s sandwiches and he likes Luis Guzman. He’s like an adopted Puerto Rian now.”


Fernanda nods at her mother and then translates for Duncan “It’s good.Espiritus efines...kindred spirits. I’ll have to teach you Spanish so my father can fully pull you into your culture.” She teases.


Maria grins at her husband.  “Yes, you can keep him, Fernanda.”  she also teases.  “Pedro’s sandwiches, Luis Guzman …  what else is there?”  she smirks.  “Do you sing, Duncan?”


Duncan smiles as the words are translated at nearly the same time as he is adopted as a Pureto Rican.  “I’m not sure ….”  he grins.  “I’m not sure I can do it …  OK ..”  he admits and pulls out his phone.  “This might make me a racist, and might lose me my new friend, but this comedian scared me a little about speaking Spanish like a Pureto Rican.”  he shows them the video looking partly anxious and partly amused.


Fernanda watches the video and her reaction is hard to read. Seh can be slow to warm to comedians but eventually she cracks a grin and then laughs hard and the fast talking Puerto Rican Spanish “Alright that’s good. We won’t make you sing now. But that’s only a deal for today. And no guarantees when Angel and Pedro double team.”


Mateo wears his reactions immediately. He’s a jolly man who laughs easily and he finds the comedian relatable and funny from the get go and laughs loudly. The Spanish talking makes him howl and he’s almost falling over by the Cuban coffee bit. “I’m sure he can sing...if not, we’ll teach him!”


Maria laughs at the video and nods, poking into Mateo’s side.  “He’s right, too.”  she says about the tone.  She laughs at the Cuban coffee jokes.  Then she looks at Duncan.  “You may not be able to sing, but oh just you wait until you see .. someday Angel and Pedro … and sometimes Mateo .. oh they are such a team.”


Duncan laughs along, and is glad it isn’t insulting.  He blinks.  “So I have to learn Spanish and how to sing?  In Spanish?”  he arches both brows.  “I’m not sure I can sing in English…”  he argues.


Fernanda giggles “We’re half kidding. Probably my half, not Papa’s. You guys don’t sing in your family? I’ll give you a cheat because I’m not much of a singer either. If they try to rope you into a music jam just offer to do percussion. We have many many instruments in the house...from cuatros to maracas…..if you can shake things, they stop bugging you.”


Mateo nods “The boys all love to sing…..and they’re good. Oh don’t tell him that Fern. Who’s going to sing to your babies one day?”


Fernanda beams at the thought and then snorts “You can Papa.”


Maria looks at Mateo as if he’s had a stroke.  She slaps him in the shoulder.  “Who is gonna sing to their babies .. What babies?  You have enough babies to sing with you, you don’t need to sing to babies.”  she more or less says the same to him in rapid fire Spanish, as if he might not have understood her English.


Duncan can’t help but grin.  “We're not a singing family …  we’re readers.  I mean come on … we’re all named after Shakesperian characters.”  then Mateo asks who will sing to their babies, Fernanda tells him he can and Maria lays into Mateo.  It’s amusing .. very amusing … and the idea of he and Fernanda having children .. he just grins.


Fernanda cracks up at her mother’s reaction and without thinking she says “Don’t worry Mama….we’re careful. No babies yet.” Then she realizes what she’s implied and tries to backtrack from her admission to having had sex with Duncan “Because we’re careful not to...be impulsive….and we mostly just go for walks and read all that Shakespeare Duncan’s talking about….when we’re not reading...the bible.”


Mateo was laughing at his wife and then he suddenly stops at Fernanda’s words “Oh you better be reading the bible…” He looks between the two of them.


Maria is laughing lightly until Fernanda says no babies … yet.  Her eyes grow wide and she also stares between the two young people.  “Dios Mio …”


Duncan’s grin vanishes in an instant when Fernanda misspeaks.  He looks between her father and her mother and says nothing, while he prays they do not ask him anything about the bible.”  he has to sleep here tonight.


Fernanda’s said too much in her moment where her guard was down so she stays silent now, with an apologetic glance at Duncan before she downs her water.


Mateo inhales so hard his nostrils flare and then he crosses himself and looks down muttering something in Spanish that looks like a prayer of some type.


Maria can see Mateo’s nostrils flare out of the corner of her eye.  She grabs his arm as he begins to pray.  She looks at Fernanda, but there is no judgement in her eyes.  Of the many things she is, a hypocrite is not one of them.  She had a child at Fernanda’s age.  That is the fear in her eyes now.  Fear Frenanda would get pregnant and that Duncan would abandon her as she had been abandoned so many years before.


Duncan remains silent.  He’s heard a bit about religion and that one big thing is for girls to remain virgins until they are married.  It’s supposed to be a big thing.  Saving yourself for marriage.  Fernanda isn’t as religious as her parents, and he sees Mateo’s nostrils flaring.  She looks at him apologetically, but he isn’t sure why, except that by her words, she has suggested that she and he have had sex.


Fernanda finally cracks from the tension “OK relax. We’re responsible. And Mama I do know how old you were when you had Angel.” She’s known her mother’s fear since she first got her period and her mother gave her a special bag of ladies things and the talk. “We’re different and Duncan and I are it for each other. I know it’s new and crazy…..but please believe me.” She looks between her parents “We love each other. Because do you think any guy who didn’t love me would be marched off to the clinic and then still be willing to sleep ina  tent with my father? No offence Papa.”


Mateo sighs “None taken mi novia (my girl). You have a point. I want to trust you….both of you. Duncan you seem like a good guy. Hell you love Guzman...and my daughter….”


Maria blows out a breath and considers her daughters words.  She nods.  “He’s a good boy …”  she looks at Duncan.  “I … yes … not many boys would do that.  He could have isolated at the clinic, I guess…”  she sighs.  “I know its different with you kids these days.  And … I …”  she looks at Mateo.  “I fell in love fast too.  I was just scared so I didn’t … not right away.”  she admits, looking at Mateo as if she may have if not for her fears.


Duncan reaches over to take Fernanda’s hand.  “I do love her.”  he tells Mateo and Maria.  “Someday we’ll even get married, if that’s what Fernanda wants.  If not, I’m not gonna stop loving her.”  he kisses her hand.  And looks a little lovestruck.


Fernanda is relieved her parents seemed to hear her. She knew how much her mom had been through. “It eventually worked out Mama...for you. I understand your fears.” She gives Duncan a little melting look at his words and then the kiss “Someday. Today you get to pee in the trees and talk about Carlitto’s Way with a weird old man.”


Mateo gives Maria a little half hug “Mi amor…...times have changed...hell we have changed. They’ll be ok.” He looks at Duncan and Fernanda and then starts to smile and then looks mock affronted “Who you callin old Fern?”


Maria looks at these two young people and is reminded not of she and Angels father, but of she and Mateo when they first met and fell in love.  She grins at their banter and then replies to her husband.  “She’s calling you old.”  she acts like he might be going senile.  She runs her hand through his hair.  “And you look so much better than Luiz Guzman.  So much more handsome.”  she nods.


Duncan laughs about going to pee in the trees and movies.  “Maybe not at the same time?”  he suggests.  “I don’t know how close you want us to get, Nan.”  he laughs and then watches Fernanda’s parents together.  That'll be them in 20 years, he imagines.


Mateo snorts “I’m not old Baby. Don’t worry Duncan we pick different trees.” Then he looks at her like she’s about to make him purr like a kitten with her hand in his thinning hair. When she calls him more handsome than Luis Guzman he spontaneously kisses his wife in a lingering peck that’s almost a bit too sensual to be polite.


Fernanda laughs and rolls her eyes at her parents and then playfully swats Duncan about his getting too close peeing comment. Then she watches her parents get all affectionate and says wryly “You sure you two don’t want to share a tent?”


Maria kisses her husband and then stops when Fernanda speaks.  She looks at her for a long time.  “Ask your father.”  she says, almost shyly.


Duncan watches the kiss and is smiling.  Then Fernanda seems to tease them, but Maria says ask Mateo …  and he blinks and  glances down at the table.


Fernanda looks a little shocked by her mother’s answer and then laughs “Goodness. Papa? Dare I even ask?”


Mateo actually blushes a bit “I uh….well I’ve never said no to her….what man in his right mind would.”


Fernanda face palms “Seriously….how did you manage to have so many of us….”


Maria looks at her daughter and gives her a wink.  “Very quietly….”  she replies.


Duncan gapes for a second before he turns beet red and drops his face into the palm of his hand.


Fernanda snorts “Mama...Papa….you kids take the tent on the left. I’m going to repeg the other one 10 feet further that way and we’ll pretend not to hear anything...really quietly…” She’s out on a limb she knows but her parents are more like teenagers tonight than she and Duncan. “Then neither of us risk you getting the virus...which we don’t have….”


Mateo just grins and blushes more “Dios mio….” He looks at Maria almost shyly now.


Maria giggles as she looks at Mateo.  “Now he’s shy.”  she teases him.  “How can you act so shy?  Angel lives with Ziggy.  You think they aren’t making love …?”  she sighs.  “And I would be surprised to find out Pedro and Samuel are all that innocent.”  she sighs again and motions to Fernanda and Duncan, but doesn’t say it aloud.  “We have seven children .. six together … “


Duncan remains a lovely shade of red and refuses to say anything or help move tents until he is sure, but all things being equal he’d rather sleep with Fernanda than Mateo.


Fernanda notices Duncan’s embarrassment and giggles at him. Then she nudges him “Come help me with the tent. We’ll let you two sort out your...whatever this is.”


Mateo stammers “I don’t wanna think about it but move the tent…” He blushes almost as badly as Duncan. He’s not sure which is worse, the idea of one of his kids doing it or the idea of one of his kids knowing when they do it. He looks at Maria “More handsome than Guzman?”


Maria looks at Mateo like he’s the cutest thing ever.  She doesn’t even look to see if the kids are moving the other tent or not.  Placing her hands on Mateo’s cheeks she looks into his eyes.  “More handsome.  More sexy.  More hard working.”  she kisses him softly.  “And more mine.”  she strokes his cheeks.  “You didn’t know that, ateo?  AFter all this time?”


Duncan moves with Fernanda.  “They’re something else, your parents.”  he chuckles as he begins to pull up stakes.


Mateo beams at Maria and kisses her back “I knew….a  little bit. But I like to hear you say it. Let’s go to bed mi amor..” He requests and his eyes dart to the tent still in the same spot.


Fernanda laughs “And here you may have thought we left the open minded parent behind when we said goodbye to your father. Sometimes they surprise me.” She unpegs her side and then looks at Duncan “On three...hold the poles so we don’t have to redo it all.” Then she counts and sort of drags on her side about 15 feet.


Maria beams and takes his hand, leading him to the tent.  “Lets go.  I have other things to tell you, my husband.”


Duncan helps Fernanda move the tent and when it’s restaked, he looks up and notices that her parents are nowhere to be seen.  He offers her his hand.  “Tired?  Maybe we should go to bed, too.”


Fernanda hears the zipper on ehr parents tent as it closes and holds up a hand at Duncan's suggestion “Yes…..but first I need to pee in the damned trees.” She had downed her whole water bottle in one shot and it caught up with her now.


Mateo securely zips the tent door closed and then takes off his shirt and lies down on the sleeping back beside his wife in a full on Burt Reynolds pose “Tell me all the things…” He whispers.


Maria lays with Mateo in the darkness of the tent and grins at his Burt Renyolds pose.  She moves to him and kisses his cheek.  Then she begins to tell him many things … and show him oven more.


Duncan was doing alright until Fernanda mentioned peeing in the woods.  “You use the outhouse .. um .. tent ..  “  he tells her.  “I’ll use the trees and I’ll meet you back in the tent.”  he does exactly that and their long and fascinating evening finally comes to a close.  He’s finally met Fernanda’s parents.







2020-08-06 Lanterns for Peace - Alexandra






Cedar Point’s Japanese community had a small ceremony every year on August 6th to remember those affected by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Now that so many from what was Cedar Point had become Alexandrans, Alexandra had adopted the tradition. The first year during the fog it had been Yuki Tanaka and his girlfriend Kaitlin Reinhardt who went down to the beach by the inlet after supper and started making lanterns with simple paper bags, lids from various food containers, plastic plates, some paints and markers. They had tea lights the first year. They brought enough supplies for others to join in and make some. Townspeople saw them and word spread person to person. Soon they had a gathering and by darkness the inlet was alight with the small glowing offerings of the town’s messages of hope and peace.


As the second year of the fog approached, they didn’t have commercial tea lights but the local beekeeper, Bartley Ferris, had been asking for everyone’s discarded metal holders from the commercial ones as well as any kind of small metal lid or cap in a similar size. With hemp wicks they made more tea lights and stored them for the ceremony. The paper bags ran short but people in town had begun making recycled paper so they figured out how to make the right size to wrap around 4 sticks to make a square and set them to float on anything they could find that was the right size.


The first two years of the peace lantern ceremony Sakura had been too depressed to come. Back in Cedar Point it was something her late husband Hiro got the Yamada family to go out to. He and Yuki were always the organizers of it. It felt too sad to go without Hiro but she was glad Yuki was carrying on and honouring it. But this year, Sakura was ready to participate fully. She had told her family she’d go, and encouraged them to come too and met Yuki and Kaitlin for the early evening set up with some more supplies. Bartley rode up on his bicycle with a big box of candles in the small bike trailer.


They hadn’t officially announced it in years past but this year, with the inclusion of the internet again it had been tweeted about in the local Alexandra feeds as well as announced on the radio by the Walrus and the Carpenter. The radio announcement had reminded people as well about social distancing and the safety of wearing masks if folks were going to gather with a crowd.


The McLeod family always loved the lantern night. Paul and Cheryl walked down to the beach with their girls and let the younger ones stay up later so see them lit and set to float. It was a melancholy beauty, remembering something awful in the world but also the sharing of peace and hope with the town was uplifting as well. They all had masks made by Joan who was already there waiting for them with a blanket on the beach..


Daphne McLeod sat cross legged on the blanket with her parents, Grandma and sisters decorating her brown paper bag. At the age she was at and the world in the state that it was, she took the messages of peace and hope very seriously this year. Her lantern was just covered in words in different colours. No More Bombs, Peace, Love, Hope, Friendship….She thought of the recent protest in town and wrote out ...Black Lives Matter...She thought of Covid and the pandemic of it and her mother’s illness and wrote out ….Stay Safe, Be Smart, Kindness… Then she set her lantern up with a candle inside and helped Lucy who’s lantern had a stick person holding up a rainbow on it. Chloe sat beside her sister, helping as best she could.


Chris sits with Blaze and Olivia and Noelle and encourages the kids to just colour whatever they want on their paper bags. They’re too young to get the significance but they were always up for colouring. 


Sajani is with them and she peers over Blaze’s shoulder “What are the green circles Blaze?”


Blaze looks up at her with the utmost serious face “Peas.”


Sajani purses her lips to keep from giggling and looks at Chris and Noelle. All around them people had been repeatedly saying the word peace. Blaze had heard peas because he loved peas. “Peas are great. Good job Blaze.” Olivia was creating something unidentifiable but she was having fun with every colour she could get in there.


Chris can’t resist it “World peas? I love it.” He turns to the side and coughs to cover a laugh and then his eyes twinkle at Noelle “Our vegan boy and his lantern for peas…”


Up walked Stuart, Lauren and to everyone’s surprise, Avery. She had been venturing back into town since the parents moved but this was her first gathering with a crowd. Chris jumped up and hugged his sister for a long time, so happy to see her out and about like this.


Stuart and Lauren sat down with the kids and gushed over their paper bag pictures. “Oh we love peas too….” Lauren said. “And Olivia, look at all your colours….so nice. Hi Noelle, Sajani. I know Patrick is working….” Olivia hands Lauren a purple crayon and looks expectantly at her “Oh...thank you sweetie…..can I add a little flower? Because this looks like a garden to me…”


The large Reinhardt clan was gathered in more or less one spot.  Among them, little Katie and her new cousin Liam made their own lanterns.  Liam was a big boy to Katie and she listened to him as he taught her.  He also talked to her about the three babies that his Daddy had given to his mother.  Once they made lanterns, Liam took her over and introduced her to them, even though they didn’t have names.  Katie squealed when she felt them moving, but looked concerned.


“It’s awful cramped in there.  That has to be scary.”  she looked up at Slaine.


Slaine had been told about Katie’s fears of closets.  “They don’t know its cramped yet.  And they have company.  AND they have you and Liam to listen to so they know they aren’t alone.”


Katie considered this and looked at her father who was sitting nearby with Uncle Owen and Iris.  Liam had told her that his Daddy who was Owen loved his mother so much he gave her three babies.  She had heard her own Daddy tell Iris that he loved her, so she moved over to them with Liam and both of them climbed into their own Daddy’s lap.


“Daddy.”  she looked up at him.  “Are you going to give Iris a baby, too?”


Seamus looked down at her and smiled.  “Maybe someday, Duckling.”


Owen grinned at Slaine as she told little Katie all about the babies and then he looked way too pleased with Katie’s question to Seamus and Iris as he wound his arm around Liam. He nodded at his brother’s answer and then shifted his gaze to Iris in curiosity. Seeing Seamus in love had been one pleasant surprise but now as a dad was a double roll. He also felt closer to his brother as they really started to walk some parallel paths. So far the kids had hit it off too.


Iris had been sipping from a water bottle as Katie asked her question and choked a little at it’s boldness. She knew she could see her whole life with Seamus and more children but as Katie had been a new surprise she wasn’t sure where Seamus was at. But he was smiling and saying maybe someday. They had made it through a spontaneous almost pregnancy scare and both been open to the idea. Maybe someday summed it up well. Iris leaned over and kissed Katie’s cheek as she sat in Seamus’s lap “Maybe someday. But for now you get all our attention. She saw her sister and Sasha a little further over with the Beaulieus and Lisette and her own family as well and waved. Little Thea held up a pirate cat lantern proudly and Iris gave her a thumbs up. She would visit them later and maybe take Katie. Thea was a such a loud child she had done some coaching with her about not overwhelming Katie and so far so good. Kids got kids more often than adults got kids.


Stephanie led her household’s herd of Reinhardts towards Sakura, Kaitlin and Yuki but they set up off to the side of them as the crowd was around them and they were handing out supplies and explaining how to make lanterns to anyone who needed the info. Steph had long ago bought three backpack style lawn chairs and even found one sturdy enough for her goliath of a man. So they set up the three in the sand after taking their own supplies. As they settled in, India, Ryan and Jayla joined them with Jayla leaping out of her stroller at the sight of her big cousin Tristan.


Tristan ended up with Jayla on his lap as she vaulted onto him “Oooof….” She was immediately grabbing some of the markers he was about to use on his paper bag after he had only drawn a  red circle that was to be the beginning of a Japanese flag “Ok this one can be yours Jay….” She was adding more circles in different colours immediately around the red one and he rolled with it. He looked up at his aunt and uncle and smiled “Hi Aunt India, Uncle Ryan.” His uncle mouthed sorry about Jayla taking over his lantern and he shrugged “It’s cool.”



Lisette Paget sat with her sister and her family watching the kids make the lanterns.  Near them were Sasha and his girlfriend with other kids including a little girl making a lantern that looked suspiciously like a Japanese pirate cat.  She looked further down the waterline to see little Katie Reinhardt sitting with her father and looking perfectly natural.  That made her feel spectacular, but she did not go over to them, but stayed between her family and the one Sasha was with.


Thea Page was very proud of her pirate cat. She had gotten a thumbs up from Iris from afar and now she spotted her grown up friend Amelie talking to a lady with red hair who had a similar face. Aislin was already over there making a lantern next to Cath. But her father was in the most boring grown up conversation ever with a bearded old man walking by with a dog. The dog was nice but the man told long stories. She stole away and plopped down next to Amelie and the lady. “Hi Amelie.” And because she was not shy she just said “Hi Amelie’s friend? I’m Thea. Do you like my cat Captain Whiskers? He’s a peaceful pirate because my Dad said he should be peaceful today.” Then she drops her voice “But he has a secret thirst for blood and treasure.”


Amelie beamed at Thea “Thea! Hello...this is my sister Lisette.” She grinned about the pirate cat “I’m glad Captain Whiskers can control the thirst today.” She saw Greyson looking around worried for where Thea went and waved “Grey! We have Thea!”


Greyson looked visibly relieved and nodded as he bid farewell to George Arnett and Kester. Kester had spotted a grey dog and started dragging George over to it and the blonde woman with it. Now Greyson strode over and eased himself down on their blanket “Thea you need to tell me where you’re going. You frightened me.” He looks around “ Hi Amelie, Felix, Rene, Cath...” He waves over at Paige and Sasha with a grin and then extends it to Aislin. There’s a woman he hasn’t met sitting basically beside him. She looks a bit like Amelie but with red hair. He turns to look at her properly finally and introduce himself but then can’t bring himself to look away “Hi...” A small smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. 


Lisette watches her sister with the small girl with a secretly bloodthirsty cat.  “Hello Thea and Captain Whiskers.”  she also lowers her voice.  “Sometimes it is good to take a day off from treasure and blood.  That seems fair to me.”  She turns her head when a man sits beside her and finds herself transfixed.  “I .. hello …  I’m …  I’m Amelie’s sister.”  she answers, stupidly.


Felix watches the introduction, amused.  “This is Amelie’s sister….”  he drags out the last word in a bit of a tease.  “Who has a different name since she’s not an extra wife…”  he knows both of their last names, but has been too distracted with other things to amuse himself with this.  Now it’s all but in his lap.


Lisette gapes a minute, even when Felix prompts her.  “Yes … I’m Lisette …”  she remembers and then continues.  She’d glare at Felix but then she couldn’t look at this man's eyes.  “Lissette Paget.”


Thea looks delighted by all the attention and then her father steals it and she gets restless and crawls over to Cath and Aislin who are still making their lanterns. She thrusts her creation in front of them “Behold it is Captain Whiskers!”


Cath looks up from drawing what might be an entire Japanese village on her bag “Very nice Thea.” Then she looks past her at her aunt and Dr Page and taps Aislin on the shoulder and then gestures at what’s unfolding.


Amelie giggles at Felix “You've been holding onto that one since Lisette stepped onto this island.” Then she tilts her head watching as her sister and Grey fall under some kind of trance it seems.


Sasha had been drawing a pair of terribly drawn otters under a peace sign and looked up noticing Grey seemingly hypnotized by his Aunt Lisette. He leans into Paige “Uh...take a look at your dad and my aunt...Paige they look like....like what happened to us. It’s kind of fascinating.”


Greyson vaguely hears Felix but his eyes search Lisette’s like he’s looking into her soul. “Lisette Page....Paget. I’m Page... I mean I'm Greyson Page.” He fumbles but then answers Felix without looking away “You mentioned your sister in law had moved here but forgot to tell me she’s a gorgeous redhead?” He grins at Lisette now.


Aislin looks up from her drawing, which isn’t as nice as Cath’s.  If she could have printed out some pictures, it would be but drawing isn’t her thing.  Thea shoves Captain Whispers in front of her and she gasps.  “That's SO much better than mine!”  she proclaims before Cath taps her on the shoulder and points to her father who is looking at a woman in a way Aislin can’t quite place.


Paige didn’t even try otters, but was doing very well at a peace sign when Sasha leans in and tells her to look at her aunt and his dad.  She does and he’s right.  “Oh …  Sasha.”  she breathes and turns her head into his shoulder.  She’s crying, softly.


Felix looks unashamed at his wife.  “I have indeed.  The joke writes itself.”  and then Grey begins tripping over his words and he blinks.  Then Grey remembers his name and Felix chuckles.  “I’m not calling my wife’s sister anything other than cute as a button.  I like my bed.  It’s comfortable.”


Lisette barely hears Felix.  All of her attention is on this man.  “Greyson …  Page?”  she smiles and then giggles a bit.  “Really?  How … Ironic…”  she searches his face.  “It is good to meet you, Greyson Paget.”  she pauses.  “I … I live here now.”  she motions absently around, then realizes what she’s saying.  “Not on the beach ..of course …  in a small apartment in the place they call the Bottoms?”


Cath grabs for her drawing pad and sets aside her paper bag for now. The energy between her aunt and Dr. Page is too compelling not to draw. She isolates them in the drawing so it’s just their moment like the last two people on earth. Drawing people made her study people. She glances at Aislin though as she begins “I think they’re...flirting.”


Sasha feels Paige start to cry and looks worried “Oh shit Paige…..I’m being insensitive….you’re not ready for him to meet someone?” He thinks she’s upset that her dad is looking at his aunt that way because of losing her mother.


Amelie looks wide eyed at Felix about what’s unfolding before them “You can keep your place in the bed…” She looks back at the bizarre and compelling moment.


Greyson laughs as she calls him Greyson Paget “Glad it’s not just me.” He glances as she gestures and then his eyes snap back to hers and he grins “It wouldn’t be so bad living on the beach. I mean if you had a tent. I do know the bottoms. My eye clinic is in the area….but you know….it’s in the same building as the dental clinic. I’m sorry if I’m staring too much. You’re just...beautiful.”


Aislin blinks and takes a second look at her father.  “Oh .. Cath … Oh, I hope you’re right…”  


Paige holds onto Sasha.  “No … No …  I never thought he’d … ever …”  she looks at him.  “If it’s like us .. it means he found love again.”  and she hugs him tight.


Felix gins and watches his best friend and his sister-in-law.  Then he chuckles.  “Thank you.”  he sighs happily.


Lisette gapes and covers her mouth.  “Page .. Oh I’m so sorry … I’m Paget … I … “  she sighs and looks into his eyes.  “I thought ….  I thought the dental clinic is in Central .. the .. downtown area…  I live .. well close to the Ferry but with a lovely view of the lighthouse,  You …”  she stops when he calls her beautiful.  “You are too…”  she says, absently.  “I mean .. oh God ..  I’m not usually this big an idiot.”  she laughs at her fumbling.


Cath looks thoughtful. “This is a good thing? Tante Lisette is my nicest aunt. Maybe tied with Tante Nicole...but she’s married to Oncle Gaetan.”


Thea doesn’t quite get what they’re talking about but looks over at her father and the woman who is her friend Amelie’s sister a little suspiciously.


Sasha hugs her back and smiles “Aww they’re each other’s otters maybe. It’s interesting to see it happen as opposed to being in it. Not that I didn’t and don’t love every minute. But I wasn't aware of them all…..they have no idea I bet.”


Amelie notices the kids watching and in particular Thea’s look. She nudges Felix “Let’s give them some room to get to know one another.” If she can she’ll take Felix by the hand and lead him closer to where Cath and Aislin are sitting with Thea so they can be on with the kids as needed.


Greyson thinks “I suppose it is but it’s closer to you than my house so I’ll take it.” Then he randomly blurts out his full mailing address and realizes how odd it sounds and laughs “In case you ever got the hankering to send me a post card?” Lisette says she’s not usually this big an idiot and he suddenly has the dawming that they’re both struggling with something unexplainable “I don’t think you’re an idiot. But I just told you to mail me a postcard. What is happening here Lisette?” He’s aware there’s suddenly more space around them but he didn’t even notice anyone move. His hand is resting on the ground beside hers and impulsively he reaches for hers to try and hold it.


Aislin smiles.  "I'm glad to know that she's nice.  My Dad deserves nice."


Paige sobs and then laughs.  "Oh I hope so, Sasha." she wipes her eyes on his shirt so she can look at her father and he not see tears on her face, if he can stop looking at Sasha's aunt.  "It's so beautiful ... did we really look like that?"  she smiles in pure happiness.


Felix nods.  "We should."  he moves with her to the kids.  "Thea.  Let me see your lantern.  It's lovely."


Lisette smiles, nods and gives her address in return.  Maybe I will send you a post card, although a phone number would also be nice ... but then again a text message isn't as personal..."  she stops her rambling and looks at him.  "Greyson ... I have no idea..."  she glancs around and notices they do seem to have s bit of space between them.  When he holds her hand, she allows it, looking at it and then up at him again.  "I don't know what this is but ...  it's beautiful and ... healing ..."  she murmurs.


Cath looks up as her parents sit down with them but she smiles at Aislin. She doesn’t hide what she’s drawing and continues it quietly.


Thea shows Felix her lantern design “Captain Whiskers.” She gets easily distracted but there’s a little brewing in her mind about what’s going on with her father. “His ship is full of tuna….”


Amelie smiles at Aislin and Cath and then can’t help but laugh at Thea “Well then he’ll be well fed. Are all the crew cats? Do they allow dogs? What about Toffee? Are she and Whiskers friends?”


Thea thinks about it “Dogs are allowed but cats are always a higher rank. Toffee can be the first mate.”


Amelie glances at what Cath is drawing and keeps quiet about it.


Greyson caresses the hand with his thumb but as Lisette held his he felt an odd little jolt and blinked. They weren’t on carpet. “Oh I’ll give you my phone number too...and my email….and my landline...although I use the cell more.” Then he looks at her when she says the word healing “Healing.” He closes his eyes “You’re that sister...the one Amelie went ….I’m so sorry about your husband Lisette. I’ll back off. I didn’t mean to just swoop in on you. Believe me I know what you’re going through. I lost my wife 6 years ago.”


Aislin stops watching her father and turns her eyes to Cath's drawing and her sister.


Felix grins at Thea's imagination, and catches a glimpse of Cath's drawing.  "Aren't cate afraid of water?"  he asks.  "Or is Captain Whiskers jsut braver?"


Lisette feels the jolt, but doesn't move her hand.  She looks at it as Greyson tells her all of the things he'll give her to keep in touch.  And then he realises who she is and she looks at him.  "Greyson..."  she squeezes his hand.  "Thank you, but I think my marriage may have been different from yours."  she sighs and looks from his hand to his face.  “Brendan … my husband … was a very tortured soul.  He was molested by a priest as a child and never recovered.  I stayed with him and I loved him … but … he was always saying ‘Lisette, I want you to be with someone who can make you happy’ and the like.  He even made me move out and get my own apartment.”  she sighs deeply.  “His last note … his last words … his last wishes for me were to find that love.”  she bites her lip.  “He committed suicide.  Finally.”  she blows out her breath.  “Maybe Brendan wants you to swoop … “  she looks again from their hands to his face.


Cath keeps drawing and erases their hands separated and draws them held now. The scene was changing before her eyes.


Amelie giggles at the whole cat dog hierarchy and then nods at Felix “Most cats are but we are talking about pirate cats right?”


Thea likes Amelie’s answer and adopts it “Yes pirate cats aren’t afraid.” She’s heard a lot about why they’re there making lanterns too “These cats survived the bombs. Bombs are bad.” Thea’s natural inclination for battle stories is challenged tonight amid all the words of peace.


Greyson looks deeply sad about what Brendan endured and where it took his life and his relationship with Lisette “That’s unbelievably horrible. I’m so sorry for both of you.” He looks thoughtfully at her and then smiles “Well I haven’t retreated from my swooping so let’s just see how it goes. Did you have children together? I should warn you...I have 4 girls. They’re quite wonderful. So far you met the pirate...Thea.” He chuckles and then head juts over to where Thea and Aislin are sitting with Felix and Cath “They’re easy to spot. Wavy black hair. That’s Aislin.” He smiles at her if she’s looking. “I used to have hair like that but now it suits my name.” He looks towards Paige and Sasha and definitely smiles at the two of them “My Paige….yes Paige Page is dating your nephew Sasha. They’re perfectly matched.” Then he looks further to the Reinhardt clan “Iris…..well she’s fallen for a young man who’s found out he’s a father of a three year old. Seamus. But they’re doing amazing with little Katie and still strong together.” Greyson knows nothing of Lisette’s work of course.


Aislin giggles at her sisters reply.  Thea was just ... Thea.  Nothing compared.


Felix looks amazed.  "I did not know that."  he sighs dramatically.  "I've ... never met a pirate cat before .. so I ... just didn't know."  he arches his brows.  "Ah clever cats to avoid the bombs."


Lisette can't argue with what Greyson says about the horrible situation.  "Thank you.  Brendan is finally at peace.  Thats what both of us always wanted."  he listens to him and looks around and spots the kids as he points them out.  She giggles at Paige's name and sees her with Sasha and they do look incredibly happy.  Then she notices Iris and beams, making the connection.  "They ARE.  I brought Katie here.  She is so much happier now, believe me."  she takes in a deep breath.  "But no ... Brendan and I never had children.  But the way Brendan was ... that was probably a good thing."


Thea smiles sweetly and then tries to speak pirate and meow at the same time “Me-ar!” She holds up the picture.


Cath sees Dr. Page and Lisette look their way and nudges Aislin. She smiles at them though.


Greyson almost tips over about the connection between her bringing Katie and seamus and Iris. “Wow talk about a small world! You’re the social worker…..they think the world of you. And that little girl is so sweet. So you didn’t have children but you work with them. And you’re an aunt.” He smiles at her and then he picks their hands up together and kisses hers while looking into her eyes.


Aislin looks at her father, but is distracted by Thea's noise.  "You did good for that."  she praises her.  Then she waves at them.


Lisette nods.  "I am THAT social worker."  she smiles.  "I'm glad to know that.  I wave to Katie when I see her but right now I am sort of giving that family time to solidify.”  she nods.  “I do love children and in some ways it is more satisfying to help kids less fortunate than to have my own.”  Then Greyson kisses her hand and she looks into his eyes.  She turns their hands and kisses his back.  “I .. we … I …”  and she laughs.  She wants some alone time, but that is most likely impossible … right now.


Greyson had waved back at Aislin and it dawned on him she just watched him kiss Lisette’s hand. Probably all his girls did but Thea as he had noticed Iris looking in their direction after he pointed out Iris, Seamus and Katie and they made that connection. “They are solidifying. I’m blown away by how mature both my daughter and Seamus are about parenting. I mean I shouldn’t be. My older girls…...they took a lot with their younger sisters after Audrey died. I wasn’t very functional for awhile…” He cuts off as she kisses his hand back and feels another little jolt and chuckles “I swear there’s static in the sand….I...we…..yeah I hear what you’re saying. “ He half teases. But he really really does.


Cath sees all the hand kissing and looks at her drawing and frowns “OK I’m sticking with this….they keep moving.” She mutters but smiles at Aislin.


Amelie glances back and notices Greyson and Listette looking even closer and kissing each other’s hands “Mon dieu…” she mutters and giggles to Felix. Then she looks down at Thea “Me-ar! Maybe you and Aislin should come to our house for a sleepover tonight after we watch the lanterns?” She looks at Felix again and then Thea and Aislin and Cath.


Thea cheers and jumps up and down and then runs to her father not caring about barging in “Can we sleep over at Amelie’s house?” Clearly Amelie is her friend.


Sasha watches Paige watch her dad and smiles “Yeah I think we looked a lot like that.” He remembers watching his parents go from almost separating to being madly in love again and understands on a certain level how she wants this happiness for her father.


Iris had noticed her father look at them and gesture while he sat very close with….Lisette? Then she had to smile and tapped Seamus “I think my father just started hitting on our social worker.” She laughs a bit “Good for him. About damned time.”


Katie looks alarmed “Hitting? Who is he hitting?”


Iris winced “No not hitting. He doesn’t hit anyone ever. I meant he’s making friends with her. I chose the wrong words Katie.”


Katie looks momentarily confused but then Jayla runs from Tristan to show off her lantern drawing and suddenly Katie jumps up and runs around with her like none of the adults exist.


Lisette smiles.  "There was some concern, but it's a good placement.  He is very mature for his age and I think a very good father.  He certainly has all kinds of support, which also helps."  she glances again at his kids and then talks about the static in the sand.  Then the smallest one ... Thea .. comes over asking to spend the night at Amelie's house and she looks at her sister with a grateful look on her face even as she blushes slightly.


Aislin laughs at Cath a little bit.  "I could take a picture..."  she offers.  "And you can sketch from that."  Then Cath's mother suggests a sleepover and she, being a bit more emotionally savvy than Cath understands.  She looks over at her father and backs up Thea's plea with her own.  "Please."  which she drags out for dramatic effect.


Paige keeps watching and sees Thea running over.  "Oh, I hope this goes well for them."  she can't help but giggle.  "Should I tell them about that secret spot behind the house?"


Seamus looks where Iris indicates and sees clear flirtation.  He smiles and nods about her father.  He almost comments to Katie about the words when Jayla distracts her and his daughter takes off without a backward glance.  So he reaches for Iris and pulls her close.  "Let’s hope it's as powerful for them as for us."  


Greyson is not usually a man to blush but as he realizes that Amelie has possibly arranged a sleepover so he can get to know her sister much better his cheeks go a little pink. He looks with adoration at Thea though “Of course you can sweetie….both of you.” He extends the look to Cath and kinda wonders if she’s wise to it, being older. She’s still young though. “Thank you Amelie and Felix…” He calls out with a chuckle and then looks sheepishly at Lisette and lowers his voice “My children seem to have other plans later tonight. Would you like to make some...with me? I think at my place because there’s a puppy who will pee on the carpet if i don’t let her out tonight.” He’s lowered their hands from before but now very intentionally traces a finger over the top of Lisette’s hand and up around her wrist as he grins at her.


Thea only needed to hear the words of course before she did a little dance and then dove back between Amelie and the others “Captain Thea and Captain Whiskers are ready to take over your ship!”


Iris sees Thea run to them and then do her little dance and go diving back. She can’t hear what’s going on so she just gives a thoughtful little “Hmmm.” And then snuggles Seamus “She’s a redhead…..he’s got a thing about that. My mom was too. God maybe it’s hereditary.” Seh teases and kisses Seamus.


Sasha laughs and then shudders “Mon dieu your dad and my aunt in our spot…..no….no you cannot. That might be too much for my brain.” He laughs.


Cath sticks with her drawing plan “Nah...this’ll work. And hooray! We have a  fire pit now...we can make smores!”


“Smores!” Thea yells excitedly.


Amelie can’t help but giggle at the whole thing “You’re welcome Grey...and Lisette..” She calls back, including them both. Then she winks at Felix and tickles Thea “You’ll have to fight for our ship...but there can be smores! And then tooth brushing….so much tooth brushing!”


Lisette smiles and turns a little pink as well.  "I'd love nothing more."  she tells him.  "I'd like to meet your puppy too."  She agrees to his place.


Aislin smiles as Thea returns victorious.  She looks at Amelie and Felix.  "I hope you know she means that literally."


Felix laughs and then considers, then shrugs and laughs again.  "If I give you my marshmallow treasure, will you spare my ship?"


Paige giggles at Sasha.  "Fair enough.  It'll be our secret."  she leans closer to him.  “So … if my sisters will be at your place tonight, I guess you’ll be going home to help?”  she teases.


Seamus puts his arm around her.  "I'm glad it is.”  he kisses her back.  "I suppose I shouldn't be thinking of all the other things I love about you that your father might be into."  he smirks.  He isn't one who can't imagine his parents having sex.  To him it's all natural.


Iris just gives Seamus a little swat “You dirty bird. I love you. I don’t know which one of my parents I take after with all my kinky proclivities. I was kinda defaulting it to my mom but I shouldn’t assume. Dad has been known to steal my novels. Whatever they do, as long as they’re happy about it.” She’s about to say more when Katie and Jayla end up right beside them so she shifts the topic to something kid appropriate “Your Grandma and her little boyfriend are way too cute. How is it little kids are adorable and old people are also adorable? I want to be adorable and old with you Seamus. Not that you’re not adorable now.”


Sasha thinks about it “Well they might need me in the morning not the night. Because my parents start appointments early. Mind you, doesn’t your Dad too? Also if Rene’s home. I mean he’s 13….although he hasn’t done much babysitting. But Aisln’s 12 right? I’ll go in the morning...but I can spend the night with you. My shift is at 11. By then something will be figured out. I mean I assume Thea and Aislin are fine to be on their own all day right?”


Thea considers the marshmallow negotiations “How many marshmallows do you have?”


Amelie just cracks up. Thea is very amusing to her. She nods at Aislin “Oh I don’t doubt it.”


Cath finishes her drawing and surreptitiously tiptoes over to Dr. Page and her Aunt Lisette. She doesn’t interrupt their conversation but just sets it in front of them and tiptoes back “There.” She picks up her lantern bag again and looks at the setting sun “Shoot I may not have time to draw the whole market scent I was thinking of….maybe some mountains…..just fill it in with scenery…”


Greyson looks very happy about the plan “My house is messy. I’ve given up the fight to keep it clean...and now there’s a dog. So fair warning…” He sees Cath in his periphery vision and then notices her setting down a piece of paper and picks it up. “Oh…” He looks over her way but she’s not looking back or hanging around for a thank you “This is quite lovely…..she’s quite the little artist…..”


Aislin shrugs.  "See ...  more reason to let me take pictures for you to draw at your leisure."  she argues.


Felix smiles as he watches his daughter deliver her art to her aunt.


Paige giggles at Sasha's thinking.  "We both have to work in the morning, so even WE will be going to sleep earlier tonight." she chides him.  "And yes .. it's a work night so ... I suppose they won't be up too late."


Seamus grins as he is swatted.  "I think you are the best of both parents."  he appeases.  "My parents ... I used to think my mom was the passionate one, but sometimes I think it might be my Dad ... cause he comes so close to stroking out every time he caught me doing something ... I just feel like he was remembering back to his wild child days...  That or I am just a freak of nature."  he freezes when Iris talks about growing old and being adorable.  He moves his hand to her face.  “I want to grow old with you too.”  he tells her.  “Let me get stable … I want to be able to support us .. I know you can and will but I want the best for our family.  But god yes, I want to grow old with you, Iris Page.”  he isn’t sure if he can be heard and doesn’t care. He was being borne away on emotions.


Lisette grins.  "I don't take many marks off for neatness."  she teases.  Geryson then shows her the picture and she beams at it.  "Yes, she is.  I didn't realize.  I ... wasn't as close to the family as I wanted to be."  She notes that the darkness is falling and scoots a little closer.


Greyson shifts so Lisete can be comfortable possibly leaning on him and lets go of her hand and slides his arm around her. It was getting dark. And he enjoyed the warmth between them. “Well now you live here right? More time with the nieces and nephews. It’s been a hell of a first few months for their family but they're all amazing people. I’m so glad our kids brought us together as well as the building we all work in.”


Iris is amused by Seamus's analysis of both her and of his parents. “I’m sure someone’s made a study of it. Nature vs nurture in sexual behaviour? I mean not that ….not to get all inappropriate. Not like they did stuff they shouldn’t have around you...nor did my parents. But yeah the big reaction thing is telling.” Then she looks emotional “Seamus..” She kisses him again “It’s not on you to support us…..we’re not in the 1950s. We’ll do it together, with Katie, as a family. I love you. I already love her. We’ll help her grow up, maybe with a few siblings eventually and then we can grow old…” Then she realized people were moving towards a finished point with lanterns “Katie…..do you have your lantern ready sweetie?” She helped her put it how it was supposed to go together.


Sasha scoffs “A work night? Do you think we would have curbed ourselves on our first night for an early morning?” He smirks “We can do that now...sort of….” He admits. 


Amelie sees people starting to take lanterns fully made towards the organizers “Girls, you should take your lanterns….are you ready to send them off?”


Cath resigned herself to what she had drawn and nodded “Oui Maman.” She assembled hers and dropped the little tea light inside it.


Amelie helped Thea assemble hers and then stood up to take her hand and looked to see if Aislin was ready too.


Lisette leans into Greyson as if she's done it a million and one times before.  "Yes.  I'm here and it feels wonderful.  So plenty of time to spend with them and with my sister and Felix."  she looks at him.  "And new people that don't feel remotely new."


Seamus nods about the family and the testing and all, but mostly he is listening to her wanting to support THEIR family.  "Fuck, I love you, Iris."  he tells her and then looks a little myschevious.  "A few ...  will you forgive me if I only love you enough to give you one baby at a time?"  he looks for Katie in the throng, as if just now remembering that his family and the rest of Alexandra was out by the water.  He movies with Iris and calls out to Katie.  “Can we help you with it, Duck?”


Paige looks at Sasha with an almost evil grin.  "We're much younger, so there IS that..."


Aislin collects hers and looks to see that Amelie is helping Thea.  "I'm ready,:  she heads for the water with the rest.


Greyson is immensely grateful for Amelie and Felix taking his girls with their own daughter. It’s not just because it means he gets to stay alone with Lisette but it’s because the connection between the two families has given them all a bit of extended family and community in the it takes a village to raise a child. He noticed Alexandra in general was like that. What Lisette said about new people who don’t feel new resonated with him too “You don’t feel new to me either. How is that?” He marveled at it as he pulled her closer and then impulsively he leaned in and kissed her on the lips like he just couldn’t help himself. It was chaste enough but lingering. In the distance, the lanterns were being lit and sent out floating and the crowd by the dock and along the shore all watched with thoughtful reverence.


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


The Alvin household and the Negron household are in a bigger grouping on the beach. In the center are Lydia Alvin and Maria Negron. The two friends in lawnchairs side by side are a very common site, often with wine, sangria or even lemonade or iced tea. Ladies sipping and ladies laughing, frequently maniacally because they tend to set one another off. Tonight was no exception. Around them sat Mateo and Miguel on Maria’s side. On Lydia’s side was Simon, scrolling quietly on his phone but semi supervising Stone and Elle making lanterns. He had been babysitting them a lot while his mother had many many legal dealings and the sentencing to support Dante. Dante wasn’t there tonight as he had precious little time to spend with his girlfriend before he was shipped off to juvenile prison.


Mina James had arrived with Lydia and the others but as she was prone to do she wandered off walking alone around the fringe of things, quietly observing.


On their own blanket in front of the spread of Alvins and Negrons was Angel and Ziggy. Angel was making a lantern with the lyrics of a song he had written about peace many years ago written out as an offering. His cuatro was laying beside him. He leaned one side of his body into one side of Ziggy’s like he could barely stand to be apart from her. He looked over at her and grinned and then out of the corner of his eye saw Tara and Theo walking up “Think she’s still embarrassed by our note?” He said with a chuckle.


Tara had appreciated the note but been barely able to look Ziggy and Angel in the eye still since reading it. She knew they got it but she felt like they had had a very public view into her first real private time with Theo. She had a sense of humour about it but now as they approached the group she blushed again and squeezed Theo’s hand “I hope to god they haven’t told your mom and brother.”


Further down on the Negron side, Fernanda and Laia are sitting together on a blanket and Fernanda is madly texting someone and then looking around intently. She had confided in Laia about her relationship with Duncan Rogers but no one else in the family knew, in particular she didn’t want to draw attention to when it started since they had been in quarantine. She spotted Duncan arriving with his brother and sister and his father and the man who she assumed to be the father’s new boyfriend since Duncan had told her about all of that. She got a text back and casually got to her feet “I’ll be back in a bit…” She told Laia and snuck away. Further down the beach there was a collection of windsurf boards with sails attached and Fernanda looked around and stepped behind them.


Jasper Rogers was shaking out and laying down a big blanket for his family and Levi. He and Levi had been fairly discreet out and about still and Jasper was letting Levi take the lead on things like if it was ok to take his hand. This was new territory for both of them, the public dating thing. But Levi sitting with him and his kids could look like that tonight. Jasper was happy either way as long as Levi was with him. “You’re not too old to make lanterns.” He encouraged his teens. There were some beautiful designs happening in all directions as they had walked in.


Miranda Rogers straightened out the other side of the blanket “I’ll make one.” She craned to see where to get the supplies and saw 3 older people in the center of a hub of people gathering paper bags and other things. “Romeo, Duncan...are you up for craft time?” She joked. She did understand the reverend of the event despite her joke.


Ziggy was using a small pack of markers to decorate her lantern.  She would work just fine leaning against Angel.  She turned her head when he mentioned their note and saw his brother and Tara.  "I hope not, or she's going to have a hard time in this family."  she waved to them and motioned them over.


Theo held Tara's hand as they approached his family.  Tara's words came to him and he grinned at her blush.  "Then I guess we'd better beat them to it."  he pulls her over to his mother.  "Hey Mom."  he leans over to kiss her cheek.  "This is Tara.  My girlfriend.  I know I haven't introduced you yet but ... what can I say.  I fell like a ton of bricks."


Maria watches the kids, but her attention is diverted by Theo coming over and announcing that he is in love.  She cheers.  "Love is a wonderful thing!  Congratulations!!"  she and Mateo had been getting along far better since he was working and not at the shop constantly.


Duncan approaches and sees that his father decided that the best place for his blanket was within shouting distance of Maria Negron and her family.  He hears his father and sister encouraging him to make lanterns.  "Uh .. sure .. in a minute..."  he agrees and wanders off.  Taking a wide path, he meets Fernanda under the windsurf boards.  "Hey there, beautiful."  he greets her before taking her in his arms and kissing her as if they hadn't seen each other in months.


Romeo plopped himself down near his sister, looking around.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw Duncan sort of sneaking off and assumed it had something to do with Duncan's late nights out.  He hadn't said anything about it because if he covered Duncan's back, Duncan would cover his back ... if he ever needed it covered.  "Yes, Miranda."  he replied.  "Hand me the glue.  I'm hungry." it was a tease and he hoped would keep her from even considering looking for their now gone brother.


Levi walked with Jasper and his family, aware that people were around, but he also noticed that no one seemed to be looking at them, or even care that he was with Jasper.  Which he supposed was good, as he still felt an almost juvenile need to be close to Jasper.  Once the blanket is down, Levi reaches for Jasper's hand as he hears Romeo ask for glue.  He arches his brow.  "So is she an eater or a sniffer?"  he wonders aloud.


Lydia blinks as she sees Theo approach holding hands with a woman. She recognized her from town even but she was new, and she was pretty sure she had seen Theo sitting with this woman on Canada day. Now he was kissing her on the cheek and introducing this Tara as his girlfriend and telling her he’d fallen like a ton of bricks. Her heart swelled and she smiled “Tara….so nice to meet you.” She reaches out a hand to shake but ends up clasping both hands with great affection “Come sit by me so I can learn all about you….since my Theo has fallen like a ton of bricks.” She winks at him and then sends a smile Maria’s way.


Tara looks relieved at the warm greeting from Lydia. She figured after all Theo had told her she’d be wonderful, but she really was and Tara could tell immediately. It set her mind at ease about whatever Ziggy or Angel may have said and she clasped Lydia’s hands back “The bricks thing is very mutual Mrs. Alvin….”


Lydia shakes her head “Oh no I’m Lydia honey, no Mrs. Alvin required. Simon, set up the extra chairs for your brother and his girlfriend please.”


Simon looks at Theo with a big grin. He knew about Tara but clearly their mom loved the idea and was welcoming her immediately. He nods and gets the chairs “Hi Tara. I’m Simon...the smart chipmunk…” He jokes to tease Theo and then sets out two chairs and moves his over and pats it for Theo “You realize she’s going to be chatting with Mom all night now, and Maria. Just be glad there’s no open liquor allowed on the beach.”


“I heard that!” Lydia sniped at Simon and then as Tara sat down she began asking her for every detail of her life story and the two of them ended up in a long but cheerful conversation.


Angel watched Theo and Tara and gave them a wave after nodding about Ziggy’s comment “Oh I think she’ll do just fine.” He looks down at Ziggy’s lantern “That’s beautiful….you’re beautiful...brilliant and beautiful.” He kisses her cheek and then casually takes his cuatro and strums a bit in the warm glow of the early sunset. Life is good.


Mateo grins about the introductions with Theo and Tara “Love is life. Embrace it!” And spontaneously he wanders over to Angel, knowing the song he’s strumming and begins to sing in Spanish as he sits down beside him on the blanket. Angel plays a little louder and more precisely as he has a vocalist upping the game. He could sing too but not as well as his father and brother.


Jasper wound his fingers through Levi’s and gave him a look of love before watching Miranda flip off Romeo as she walked off and connected with the people handing out stuff. He looked at Romeo “I’d say he’s just a shit disturber trying to get his sister to react. Oh that’s nice…..a musical family. Or two families?” He looks at the grouping and shrugs “A little concert nonetheless….”


Fernanda throws herself into Duncan’s arms “Oh I missed you….” She kisses him like it’s their last day on earth and as they go on for a while she gets a little amorous and jumps up, wrapping her legs around his hips. But as she does so she kicks the windsurf beside her tipping it over to the ground. She feels the wind of it’s descent and then hears it land and pulls back from the kiss and looks at it and then above it to the eyes of her family on she and Duncan while she’s wrapped around him. A whole strawberry falls out fo Migeul’s open mouth and hits the sand.


Miranda was just coming back with supplies when she grinned at the little musical due starting up in Spanish on the blacket with the woman making a gorgeous lantern. She gave them all a nod “Nice…” and then looked ahead to a sail of some sort falling over and revealing her older brother Duncan with a girl with her legs wrapped around him. In her shock she dropped everything she was carrying and just stared.


Theo grins back at his brother and immediately rolls his eyes as Simon introduces himself as the smart chipmunk.  He sits beside his brother and laughs.  "Yea ... first introductions with Mom, Maria and alcohol .."  then Lydia anipes at Simon and Theo looks at him with another grin.  "Stupid smart chipmunk."


Ziggy watches the initial introduction and is satisfied that Tara is welcome in the family.  "Thank you.  I have great inspiration these days." she takes the kiss and finally relaxes, listening to Angel play.  Mateo soon comes and begins singing and it is just wonderful to enjoy.  But a moment later the sound of something falling can be heard and she turns her head to see Fernanda in the arms of a young man.


Duncan gets into the kiss and instinctually catches Fernanda when she jumps into his arms.  She knocks over the boards and they are exposed.


Romeo grins and decides against arguing with his father.  "He's right ... but in my defence, Counselor, my sister is an easy mark.  I couldn't resist.  The devil made me do it."  and then, as if on cue, boards fall down and expose Duncan holding up a girl he had obviously been kissing only a moment before.  "Ooooo ... kay then."  he quips.


Levi is laughing at Romeo when the boards fall and expose Dunan and a girl.  They are in a rather intimate moment and he blinks.  This was ... interesting.


Maria didn’t see the immediate art because she’s been looking at Mateo, but as all eyes turned, so did hers.  She saw her daughter with her legs wrapped around a boy as if they’d been … she blinks and looks again.  Still a boy.  Still holding Fernanda.  Still has her daughters legs wrapped around his waist.


Jasper was laughing but turned as the board fell and saw Duncan with a young woman wrapped around him looking like they’d been caught in it...which they had. He stared in surprise but not angrily, more confused. Duncan was hardly the type to just casually hook up with girls…..was he? Jasper hadn’t gotten that from him. So who was this young lady and what was the story? And why the sneaking around? He puzzled over it trying to work it out and hoping for some explanation.


Fernanda gasps as she realizes the full extent of who’s seen them in this moment and then as her mother’s gaze is upon her she jumps back from Duncan and lands, looking at the sand and composing herself as she smoothes her tshirt and then self consciously her hair. At least she was in shorts today and not a dress. She looks up at Duncan “So that happened….we should get this over with….” Fernanda can immediately tell which man is Duncan’s father as the resemblance is uncanny. “Your Dad looks less scary than my Mom….maybe let’s take you to her first so the next part is a soft landing.” She swallows and reaches for Duncan’s hand “Stay behind me….I’ve never done this before with them….especially not...like this.”


Lydia and Tara saw a sea of heads turn and stopped their chat to gawk just as Fernanda was dismounting. Lydia put a hand on Maria “Deep breaths…” She knew the shock Maria might feel from raising Gareth. At least these two were still dressed.


Tara didn’t know the Negrons aside from Angel well enough to have true context but she could tell it was one of the daughters with….was that the new doctor’s son? The kid sure looked like the guy.


Simon shook his head and chuckled “Oh that’ll be fun…” He muttered to Theo. He knew a little about Maria but still didn’t know how it would unfold.


Mateo had turned with everyone and saw his daughter in an indecent pose with a young man he had not been introduced to. His blood boiled close to the surface and his face went red. He reached for Angel’s cuatro like he might use it on the boy.


Angel yanked his cuatro away “Papa NO!” He nestled it between him and Ziggy like a precious child “Let her come talk to us. You just said love is life. Walk the talk.” Angel had been overprotective the day he saw this boy and Fernanda but now he just saw them together and thought of how easily he fell for Ziggy and understood them.


Mateo heard Angel’s words and softened a bit but then went towards his wife. He could walk the talk….but they had to face Maria.


Miranda eased herself to the blanket and scooped up the lantern supplies. She was still stunned. Duncan was the sanest of them and this was an unexpected view of his life. But then she had to laugh a bit and could barely control it. “So awkward….” She gave them a little wave and silently kept chuckling. She looked at her father, brother and Levi and sighed. 


Theo sits back in his chair as his mother motters something to Maria and his brother talks about fun.  "Not my family.  No pets involved.  We are bystanders."


Ziggy also watches as Angel speaks to his father.  She didn't get in the way, but ... she was watching.  Everyone was.


Maria watches as her daughter puts herself together and she watches her take the boys hand and lead him in their direction.  She is also aware of Mateo coming to her side.  It feels like the longest walk in the world, in the slowest possible motion n the world.  But in that tie, she can consider her own life ... the 'mistakes' that turned out not to be mistakes but blessings from God.  Her Fernanda was a level headed girl and responsible.  She surely would not let any boy just take advantage ... yet hadn't she been just as responsible before Angel.  She folds her hands as the get close.  "You will tell me who is this boy wearing you like a belt and this had better be good and make me cry or your father is going to have to rip me off of him.  The vets are here, so they can give me a tranquilizer but I bet not before I have my own way with this boy having his way with you!"  the words may or may not make sense to anyone listening nearby, but Maria didn't care.  She was teetering on an edge between love and livid.


Duncan lets himself be led to Fernanda's mother.  He is breathing slowly, because he knows exactly how they must have looked.  Out of the corner of his eye he sees his own family watching.  It's all surreal.  Then Fernanda's mother speaks and, while he doesn't get the whle meaning behind the words, he gets that this woman is worried that he is taking advantage of Fernanda.  He takes a deep breath and straightens.  "Hello, Mrs Negron."  he begins, doing his level best to keep the quaver out of his voice and almost succeeding.  "My name is Duncan Rogers and I love your daughter with every fiber of my being.  I know I should have come to you and told you, but that's not how it worked out."  he glances at Fernanda.  "If you have to be mad, be mad at me and not Nan.  I just want you to know I'd do anything for her."  and he peters out, unsure if he made any sense whatsoever.


Fernanda hears Duncan meet his mother head on and cannot fathom how with each word he says she loves him more and more. Then she looks her mother in the eyes “Mama, all my life you have been my model of how I should behave, what a woman should be…” She looks towards her father “And what kind of man is worthy of that woman’s love. I know it’s crazy. I know we’re young. But Duncan is that man. I knew it the minute we met. And he has been so wonderful to me it reminds me of the love you have with Papa. It reminds me of our family and our values. I should have told you but….well I’m telling you now. I love him. He’s a good man. The only one for me. Please give him a chance….”


Mateo folded his arms and nodded in unison with his wife. Because if he didn’t back up Maria it was a cold couch for him. But he still had Angel’s words in his head. Love is life. And as Duncan began to profess his love for Fernanda his arms began to uncross, to relax to his sides. Then as Fernanda spoke he slid an arm around Maria when she started talking about how Duncan reminded her of their own love. “Oh Fern…” He breathed out when she was finished. He gave Duncan a kind look but then looked to Maria for her reaction.


Maria listens to this man talk about how much he loves her daughter and she almost relaxes.  But it is when Mateo comes to her side and puts his arm around her that she physically and visibly relaxes as Fernanda stands up for her and this Duncan.  She looks the boy over from foot to head after Fernanda asks her to give him a chance.  Then she looks him from head to foot and finally she looks him in the face.  “You do right by my baby or no doctor be able to put you back together, Mister Duncan.”  her voice has softened, but the threat seemed very real.


Duncan had nearly melted when Fernanda came to his defence the way she did.  He almost but does not quail inder Maria’s gaze and when she speaks he nearly collapses with the chance she offers.  “Yea ma’am.”  he replies.  “I will always do right by Nan.”  he offers a small smile.  “My father’s a doctor, but I think he might help you and not put me back together if I hurt her.  And I wouldn’t .. it would kill me.”  he knows his father is around here someplace.


Levi has been listening, holding onto Jasper's hand.  He squeezes it when doctors get mentioned both by Maria and Duncan.


Jasper was floored watching and listening to what was transpiring with Duncan and …..he was unclear on the name. He’d heard her father call her Fern? And Duncan said Nan? He guessed at Fernanda but isn’t confident. They sung in Spanish….the father. Then it starts to click into place. The Garden centre, the Spanish….no Puerto Riccan he’d been told...family. Two of those daughters names he’d heard in a work meeting after the Lancaster party Laia and Fernanda Negron had been quarantined. He could see Levi was touched but Jasper was rattled. He gave Levi’s hand a squeeze and then let it go and stood up, walking over “Duncan...when did you meet Fernanda?” He nods at Fernanda and her parents but he needs to know.


Fernanda was relaxing. Her mother’s threat was real but also her tough love way of in some way accepting Duncan. The timing of when they got together hadn’t come up. Duncan was being sweet and joking a bit about his father “I know you will Duncan.” And then his father appeared and asked about timing and she said the first thing that popped into her head “Shit….”


Mateo had been starting to smile and then he looked a little confused and suddenly alarmed “The Covid party? You didn’t meet him there did you?”


Duncan is feeling more relaxed.  Acceptance seemed to be coming along just fine.  But then his father stepped up and demanded to know when they met … and then Frenanda’s father mentioned the Covid party.  He holds onto Fernabda’s hand and holds the other up in an almost defensive gesture to his father.  “Dad …”  and anyone who has ever been around a parent or a child knows that tone is one that promised bullshit and lame excuses.  He looks between his father and Fernandas.  “We met BEFORE the Covid party.”  he tells them.  “The afternoon before.  And after they left … before the cops showed up … we went for a walk.  We didn’t know about the Covid party then.”  he lifts his hand a bit more.  “I know I didn’t quarantine, Dad.  But I knew I didn’t have to."  he sort of pumps his hand as if silently asking for calm.  “She didn’t drink from shared glasses, wasn’t within 2 meters for more than a few minutes and didn’t even touch the door when they left the party.”  He knows the rules, as a doctor's son.  He had been listening.  “I would never put any of you in jeopardy.  Not you, or Miranda or Romeo or Fernanda.”  he blows out a breath as he realizes that, in hindsight, he had been an idiot.  Yet the quarantine was over and they weren’t sick.  Of course they could be asymptomatic.  And suddenly he realizes he might be grounded for another 14 days in a locked room … or a body cast.


Maria frowns slightly when a man stands up and asks Duncan when they met.  Then her eyebrows rise when Mateo asks if they met at the Covid party.  Her eyes only grow wider when Duncan explains it.  When he stops talking she gapes for a second, before opening her mouth.  “Dios mio .. I don’t know who to smack.”  she nearly growls, but she points to Fernanda.  “You .. Fernanda Cecilia Marianna Negron … you’re mine I do what i want.  Madre di Dios what were you thinking?”  she doesn’t let her daughter answer.  “Don’t you answer that, I don’t want to know.  Ohhh Jesus take the wheel from me before I run these children down.”  Jesus take the wheel was a term she’s picked up from Lydia, but she’d finally found a way to utilize it.


Theo looks at Simon.  “Wait … did Maria just channel Mom?”


Simon snorted “Oh yeah….those poor kids.”


Lydia chimed in with a stern look at her boys “Hush...I’m trying to hear it all. Maria used it well…..” She sounds impressed. 


Tara just looks between Theo and Simon and Lydia uncertainly but then watches the bizarre show.


Fernanda moves almost protectively to Duncan and hangs her head “Mama, Doctor Rogers….we’re sorry. There’s nothing else to say.” she knows full well her mom could run them down and then find a way to revive them so she could do it again if she wasn’t finished making her point, It was mostly metaphorical, mostly.


Jasper heard Duncan and looked incredibly frustrated with him. He does hear him out in full and then Maria starts in and the woman had a very specific vocabulary set that was both to be marveled at and treated with caution. He knew he was a soft core parent compared to the likes of it. But he had his own tool kit and he opened it right up “You’re both coming in for a Covid test first thing in the morning…..and so help you if you’re positive….” He was conflicted and it showed in his face. His son had fallen in love and that was wonderful. He sighed and looked at Duncan and Fernanda “I am happy for you. But the timing infuriates me.” Then he introduces himself to Fernanda and her parents “Jasper Rogers. I won’t shake your hands in case we have a problem. They’re likely fine but better safe than sorry.”


Maria stares at the kids and then listens, straightening when she realizes that this Jasper is a doctor.  Her eyes move to the man as he speaks.  “It is very good to meet you Dr Rogers.”  her accent is still thick as molasses due to her worry and anger.  “If you want to test them tomorrow than that’s fine.  Fernanda.”  she looks at her daughter.  “You go sit in the waiting room right now and you will wait until he gets good and ready to test you and then you right back in the tent until the results come back.”  she narrows her eyes.  “And if that test is positive it’s straight to the mor-chu-wary with you.”  she looks between them.  “Love is life.”  she doesn't know Mateo said the same thing only a few minutes ago.  “But in this day and age it can TAKE it too.”  she throws up her hands.  “Come on, let;s go.  I won’t sleep till I know for sure.”  she doesn’t touch her daughter but she points in a line that points directly to the Alexandra clinic.  “We sit outside if we have to and don’t you even THINK of no words to come out of your mouth!”


Duncan hears every heavily accented word from Maria as well as his father’s calm.  In a way his father’s words cut sharper and deeper because he knew that he was considered the responsible child.  He follows the direction of Maria’s finger.  “I’ll wait with you, Nan.”  he offers.  


Jasper can see Maria is a force of nature and will likely make Fernanda sit outside the clinic all night. Then Duncan offers to wait with her and he sighs “I have keys. But the lab is closed. I can test them tonight and submit the samples for the morning.” He looks between Duncan and Fernanda “And you should technically isolate while we wait for the results.” Maria had been on about Jesus so he’s not sure suggesting they share the tent will not set her off on another type of religious vehicular venting. He looks back at Levi a little helplessly and his two other teenagers “I’ll text you all...when we’re done testing?”


Fernanda stays silent, knowing talking only makes it worse when her mother is at that point. She was resigning to sit outside the clinic and have to pee behind a tree in the night when Duncan offered to go with her and then his father offered to do the test tonight. She just nods “thank you Doctor Rogers.”


Miranda nods at her father and then leans in to Romeo “Poor Duncan…..he really stepped in it…”


Maria has a great deal or respect for doctors or anyone with a lot of education. She narrows her eyes and glares at Fernanda.  “The doctor says you isolate, then you isolate.”  she nods her head so sharply one might imagine they hear a whipcrack.  “In the tent in the backyard.  Both of you.”  she looks between them.  “With ME!”  she throws a solid bucket of cold water on any thought they might have of turning this into some romantic outing.  “And your father.”  she points to Mateo.  “We take them in shifts.”  she nods sharply again and softens.  “If that’s alright with you, Doctor Rogers.”  she remembers that Duncan isn’t hers.


Duncan looks a little relieved that his father will do the test that very night and his worry about ‘what then’ are cleared up by Maria.  He looks at his father.  “Thanks, Dad …  I’m … sorry to put you through this.”  he isn’t sorry about what he and Fernanda have as far as their love and he won’t apologize for that.  But the danger … he is sincerely sorry for that.


Romeo actually puts his arm around Miranda and one arm hugs her.  “Stepped it in, fell in it, rolled around in it and ate half of it.”  he elaborates.


Levi watches it all silently.  Maria is a Catholic.  He can almost see it dripping off of her.  All of his life he’s worked with Catholics so he knew a believer when he saw one.  But he still walks up to Jasper after he looks at him and takes his hand.  “I can take Miranda and Romeo home if you want me to.”  he offers.


Maria sees this man comforting the doctor.  She glances back to Mateo.  “Now we know he comes from good people, Mateo.  We don’t have to worry none about that.  God give us something there!”  she doesn't worry so much about there being two men, but she knows love when she sees it.  Which is why she hasn't beaten Fernanda for giving herself to a boy who doesn’t care … as her mother once did.  She puts her hand to her heart, relieved about that much.  She assumes they are going now so she slips back into mother mode.  “Laia, you have that tent up by the time we get back.  Two if you can manage.  Make Tomas help you.  Yes, you can float your candles, long as it's done right after.”  she points towards the clinic again.  “Vaminos!”  It is like a battle cry and she will march to the clinic with all of them.


Jasper holds Levi’s hand and squeezes, grateful for his support right now “That would be very appreciated. Thank you Levi. Let them watch the lanterns. I don’t know if they got to make theirs but it’s a sight to see.” As he says it there are already lanterns being lit and floated behind them. He does hear Maria say Duncan comes from good people while her eyes are on Levi and himself holding hands. That gave him hope. “It looks like Fernanda comes from good people too Maria. This is Levi.” He looks at her warmly. They had different parenting styles for sure but she was accepting and she clearly loved her kids. He looked at Duncan about the two tents “Looks like you’re camping out. And yes.” He looks at Maria and Mateo “That’s alright with me.” He leans over and gives Levi a quick peck on the lips without even thinking about who might notice it. They were already standing there holding hands “See you later and thank you again. The kids have keys of course….but I should cut you one tomorrow.” He lets go and then moves to walk beside Duncan so they don’t dare fall behind on the march.


Fernanda lets out a resigned sigh. Her mother was not to be trifled with. But she and Dr. Rogers were also not wrong. She had no regrets about Duncan, not a one but the timing had been impulsive and even after they were officially quarantined she had snuck out to him pretty much every night. But what loving glorious nights they had been. She held onto those thoughts as she adhered to the call to be marched by her mother. She started to glance back at Duncan but as his father fell into step beside him she looked forward, not wanting either of them to get in any more trouble. She had smiled at Levi and was so happy her mother was open minded in her faith and receptive to Duncan’s father and his boyfriend. The two seemed very solid even though she was told it was a new relationship. Solid like she felt with Duncan. Maybe there was something genetic. As they got to the street she looked sideways and saw the inlet a glow with lanterns. Despite where she was headed she looked to the sky and offered her own silent prayer of peace for the Japanese survivors of those bombs, their families and everyone in all parts of the world affected by wars of all kinds. She knew how lucky she was to live in a place of peace and have love in her life; her family, Duncan, and this eclectic island.


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Fiona and Vincent were sitting among the mass of Reinhardts. They were a bit apart from Seamus, Katie, Iris, Liam, Slaine and Owen so they didn’t catch every word. But Jayla and Katie ran to and fro among the family and it seemed all the aunts and uncles and cousins got in on their games. Fiona was very good at getting the two girls singing. She had been offering out camp songs and kids songs she knew and of course Jayla came back with some classic R&B and soul and Katie shockingly knew a bunch of 1980s pop rock. Fiona looked at Vincent “Nice to have such musically intelligent children in the family.”


Vincent hadn’t brought his lyre and had regretted it when he noticed the man with the … it didn’t look like a guitar, but was related somehow.  But it was alright, as it gave him more time to spend with the family, even the new kids.  He chuckles at Fiona.  “I love it.  More singers for sure.  Little angel voices.”  he also loved the variety.  He knew where his talent lay and he opted not to make a lantern of his own, joking that it would insult everyone … survivors, spirits and ancestors.



Tristan stood with his group of friends as the lanterns went out to float. He was so happy this event still happened here. “It’s like a little piece of Cedar Point carried over….and Japan of course.” Rene was beside him and on the other side stood Mason and then Tony. Daphne had slipped in next to Tony and beside her Mabel looked like she was trying to make her way to Rene but she ran into Aislin and Cath before she fully looped around to him. The inlet took over the glow that had faded as the sun sank and darkness fell. The lanterns stayed mostly lit in all directions like little peace offerings, fires of the hearts of Alexandra.


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At the edge of the beach, Kira Delmonaco sits with The Grey Lady beside her.  They’ve walked all of the distance, saying hello to her new bosses in the persons of Natalie Sokal and Levi Samuels.  She liked working as a secretary, but still made it out to the Farm to visit her first employer.  Kira still wasn’t quite up for socializing with so many people, so she stayed back in the trees a bit.  The Grey Lady would dart out from time to time visiting her canine friends as well as her human friends.


George Arnett follows the lead of Kester who really wants to visit the Grey Lady. He sees his old student Kira, who had been through such an ordeal since he taught her. He was glad to see her looking so well with her lovely canine companion. “Good evening Kira….and The Grey Lady.” He and Kester had passed them walking before and in a town the size of Alexandra people with dogs got to know the names of all the dogs and their humans. “Nice night for the lanterns.” Kester fussed and tugged on the leash “No boy….you’re still on probation. My Kester was a shoe thief. Did you hear about that? Stole just one of many pairs.”


Kira sees the Grey Lady effectively return with Kester and George Arnett.  It’s like she knows, but that is part of her job, in a way.  “Good evening, Mr Arnett.”  she remembers her old professor well.  “Yes … it is …  and … yea .. I heard about what happened.  I’ll keep my shoes on.” she smiles lightly and then looks up.


Marcus walks along with Natalie and sees Kira trying to effectively hide in a bunch of trees under the playground at the beach edge.  Tugging Natalie a bit, he goes over, petting the dogs that greet him.  “Can you even see from here?”  he asks Kira, in a slightly teasing tone.  Then he smiles at her.  “By the way, I heard about the new job.  Congrats.”


Natalie beams at Kira “Yes she’s doing fantastic so far. I supposed you’ll see the lanterns well enough when they’re lit.” She understands Kira wanting to do this on her terms. Then she greets George “Mr. Arnett...Kester….no you can’t have either of these. You got one of mine and put a rip in it.” She laughs and looks at Marcus with love. It was only a shoe after all and they had had a wonderful night despite it.


George looks very embarrassed about his delinquent dog “Oh Kester….” Then he reaches out to Marcus “Officer Lawry. I hear you’ll be joining the history department. Welcome to the team.” He offers a hand to shake.


Kira smiles.  “Thanks.  It’s good for me, I think.  More people to interact with .. but it’s still really quiet.”  and most important, she was allowed her service dog.  SOme of the men who called sounded gruff, even though their last name was also Samuels.


Marcus chuckles.  “Well we know Kester is on probation and I am sure he can be rehabilitated.”  he shakes Georges hand.  “I will be.  Alexandra history in particular, but I am really looking forward to it.”


George lets go after the handshake and beams “I wish I had time to take your class Marcus. Please let me read your notes…” He laughs “You might not bore them like I do sometimes.” He smiles at Kira and nods “I’m glad the new job suits you. You were one of the brightest...i’m sure you’ll excel there too.”


Natalie nods at Kira “It’s quiet now….but it can get busy. You’re invaluable to us either way.” She grins at George “I wish I could take Marcus’s class too….maybe they’ll let me watch one when I’m on mat leave....if the baby will sleep.” She’s now told enough people that she’s forgotten who knows and who doesn’t.


Marcus takes his hand back and laughs.  “I’d be happy to.  I hope I’m not boring.  With Alexandra history .. that isn’t too likely.”  he chuckles and looks at Kira with a smile.  He already knew how bright she was and he’d only known her a short time under the worst circumstances at first.  It had been like watching a dead flower return to life and bloom.  Then Natalie lets the cat out of the bag and he looks at Kira, a little sheepishly.


Kira nods.  “Thank you.”  she demures to both George and Natalie at the same time.  Then Natalie goes on and she looks a little shocked at first, her wide eyes going from Natalie to Marcus and back again.  “A baby?”  she blinks and looks between them again.  “Oh ….  That’s … such good news.  I mean I hoped you two were .. and then you moved in … and now …”  she i actually speaking faster than she has in years in her excitement.  She looks at Natalie as if she wants to hug her.


Natalie realizes from Kira’s reaction that she didn’t know and cringes and then can’t help but just beam. She’s definitely in the glowing phase of it all “Yes...a baby….and we’re getting married. Kira, I’m not sure what our plan is about all that yet but would you be one of the people who stands up for us….we need witnesses legally and just….you brought Marcus and I together….I know for some horrible reasons in your life.” Now Natalie feels the urge to hug Kira and steps forward opening her arms “But somehow we were meant to be the people who came to you, and each other.” Natalie is overcome by the emotion of it partly because it’s true and possibly hormones are playing a role in it.


George puts a hand on his heart listening to the news of the baby and then what Natalie says “Oh that’s so beautiful. Congratulations on all of it.”


Kira hears it all.  “Married….” and then, with the invitation to be a part because they felt as if she brought them together, she begins to cry and hugs Natalie, hoping her tears say it all because she cannot.


Marcus stands back with George and watches it all.  “Thanks George.”  he tells him and just watches the women in his silent way. Much like he did when they all first met.


Natalie cries harder as Kira cries too “Oh Kira...you’re basically part of our family. Hell you created it without meaning to.” She looks at Marcus over Kira’s shoulder and smiles through her tears.


George takes in the depth of emotion going on and respectfully pats Marcus on the arm before giving Kester a tug “Come on boy..” He gives the family their space and quietly slips away. The sun has sunk to the horizon fully now and he can see Sakura Yamada, Kaitlin Reinhardt and Yuki Tamaka starting to line up lanterns as people bring them to the launching point. It’s a small floating dock brought around just for this.


 Soon the flicker of lanterns and the light of the moon and stars was all that could be seen by the townspeople in the darkness. Their faces reflected the light, the love and the peace offered.