2021-01-04 Safe Place To Talk

 2021-01-04 Safe Place To Talk

After her Dads left, Gene and Miranda went back into her room, where they spent another couple of hours making love and getting to know each other.  Finally spent, they lay naked in Miranda’s bed, their hair wild and loose just cuddling together and basking in the afterglow of love realized.

Gene had loved how different things were here.  Her father didn’t try and beat him up.  Shea didn’t try and get him thrown out.  It was actually all very calm and rational.  Well .. mostly rational.  But in light of how it ended, the worst he had to deal with was everyone in the extended family learning he and Miranda wee having sex almost before they learned his name.  Now with her in his arms and his playing with their hair, finger combing the strands over his chest, he remembered that his horrifying past was not all they talked abut.  There was the reason Jasper had basically run up the stairs unannounced.  Now, of course, the broken lamp was thrown out, but Gene still remembered why her father had initially thought she broke it.

“Randy …”  he begins, kissing her forehead.  “You’ve been supporting me all day …  now … I think it’s my turn to support you.”  he pauses, not knowing how sensitive the ground he is about to walk on is.  “What’s up with your mom?”

Miranda feels his lips on her forehead and smiles, closing her eyes as he says Randy “Mmmm?” She was blissfully exhausted in a way she never thought possible. Then he mentions her supporting him and says he thinks it’s his turn to support her, and asks about her mom. She feels herself tense up initially but then takes a deep breath. This is Gene, the man she loves and he loves her. He’s shared the worst parts of his life with her today. She can be open with him about some of hers. She swallows and then says “She…..left…...but like really left...and never talked to us, any of us. I should probably explain. My family stuff is….maybe a bit weird. My dad is gay...obviously….but both my parents came out to us. My mom is a lesbian. I don’t honestly know why they ever got together. Maybe they felt like they couldn’t come out and they had to toe the line or something back then. But they did get together and basically had three kids in a row. My brothers and I are less than a year apart….Irish triplets they call it. My mom kept saying we were accidents. It kinda sounded like she was joking but I don’t think she was. My dad would jump in and say we were the happiest accidents of his life….but she didn’t really affirm that. I don’t think she wanted us….any of us. But that’s only because of recent stuff we’ve learned about her. She um fell in love with this woman Jolene and announced she was moving to England with her. And that was it. My dad was left with three kids….and he’s superdad but it wasn’t really fair to him. Then she never called, emailed, texted. I tried to keep in touch but she ignored me completely.” Her voice cracks on the word completely and she closes her eyes for a second. It still hurts how her mother intentionally rejected her. Then she takes a breath “Levi is like...I don’t know….the Samuels firm…..they have private investigators, they’re kind of a secret agency or something that I swear could take down a government.” She half laughs “Anyhow he had someone actually track down Mom in England and ask her a bunch of questions. She’s married this Jolene so now she’s Beatrice Huddleson. She told the guy she had never had any children…..like we never existed….and she never loved us….” She tears up at the last sentence and tenses again.

Gene listens to every word, still absently playing with her hair mixed with his.  He hugs her every now and again during her story and feels the times she tenses up.  He is silent a bit, thinking about all she’s been through.  “That feels worse than the shit I’ve been through.”  he begins.  “Or maybe its all just fucked up mother shit.”  he sighs softly and kisses her.  “I’m not sure, really.  I know your dads love you.  That is pretty obvious.  And your brothers too.”  he licks his lips and shrugs.  “My first instinct is to say ‘fuck your mom if she’s not smart enough to want you’, but she was in your life so ... “  he hugs her.  “Anything I can do for you to help you get past it … I mean … I don’t know if you can get past that kind of thing.  But love from others helps.”  he kisses her again.  “You taught me that just today.”  he trails off, not sure he’s helping or even making sense.

Miranda loves the hair playing and the feeling of it comforts her. She shakes her head lightly “I still think yours is way worse...but it’s definitely not a competition. It’s all fucked up shit...yeah. And maybe her being gone is better. She wasn’t exactly a loving parent when she was around. I spent my whole life just trying to get her to pay attention to me, notice anything I did. It’s shit I’m unpacking in therapy now for sure. And I didn’t do things just for her but they were the kind of things most parents do notice….win first prize at a science fair, go to provincial championships with my basketball team and win that. Get really good grades….oh she didn’t notice that...let’s try some bad grades. My Dad freaked out about those so I only did that once. I had a bunch of health stuff she totally ignored. A scary guy followed me home from the bus stop and she wouldn’t come pick me up…...it was a pattern of neglect. But I know my Dads and brothers love me. They’ve always been there for me. And you are helping me just by being here and loving me. I’m learning that too today.” She hugs him back many times and then just snuggles into him and buries her face in his neck “I love you Eugene Sinclair. So much.”

Gene nods as he listens.  “It’s abandonment, either way.  But … man … I feel like my mother leaving me at the hospital was a lot better than yours keeping you guys and just neglecting you.  It’s crazy but yea … all the abuses in my foster homes .. I knew they weren’t my real parents .. they made that abundantly clear.  If it HAD been her …”  he shrugs.  He is glad that his simply loving her is help enough.  He runs his hand along her arm.  “I love you, Miranda Geraldine Rogers … so much.”  he pauses.  “Kariwase.”  he tells her.  “Eugene Kariwase Sinclaire.  Born August 4th.”  he chuckles.  “Your dad yelled Geraldine … so I know yours but Shea didn’t yell mine so .. now you know it.”  

Miranda nods ruefully “It is. I know. I still don’t think your mom leaving you at the hospital was…..I can’t even imagine doing that to a kid...or what my mom did either. But was your mom like ...I don’t know what do you know about her? Was she really young?” She’s trying to wrap her head around it, especially after knowing what his life became in foster care. Then she smiles as he says her full name and tells her he loves her and his middle name. “I read that….on that..” She makes a face “Horrible poster. Kariwase. I wasn’t sure how to pronounce it but oddly the name stuck in my head. Maybe because it’s a nice name.” She shrugs. “Does it mean something?” She thinks “Is it Mohawk?” Then she giggles “Miranda Geraldine...I’m named after a Shakespearean character and my Grandma Gerry on my Dad’s side. She rocks so I’m good with it. We’re all Shakespeare names because well we were born in Stratford, Ontario…..my Mom is from there. And her side of the family is ALL about Shakespeare. My grandparents, her parents...the Knights...yes it’s spelled like medieval knights run a bed and breakfast there that looks like an old Shakespearn tavern….A Fair Knight’s Rest. My mom cut them off too eventually. Her own parents. They’re pretty heartbroken. And June 21st. Shea seems pretty cool. I like him.”

Gene sighs a little bit.  “The only thing on my birth certificate was her name … Eugenie SInclair.  No middle name.  And her age … 18 … so she was young, but not that young, I guess.”  he winces.  “Oh yea … my full name was on that.”  he pronounces it again for her.  “Kariwase.  It means ‘a new way of doing things’, which doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, unless maybe it was some relative.  Her father or brother … when I was younger .. like 10 I had a next door neighbor who was Mohawk …  Jamie.  She taught me to pronounce the name and then taught me to speak it.  I was moved when I was 12, but I kept going to see her.  I never told her what was happening.  I’d ask her a million questions and she’d answer them.  That’s how I found out that I’m Mohawk, but not Mohawk.  Jamie had been sort of thrown out.  I’m not sure why.  But she isn’t recognised by them and most likely I’m not either, because I wasn't raised Mohawk.”  he shrugs.  “But I know I’m not fucking French Canadian, so .. whatever.”  he moves on to her grandparents.  “See that sounds kinda cool.  Maybe you can all heal together.  It has to hit hard to find out your own daughter denied her kids.”  he grins when he finds out her birthday.  His was on that poster.  “Oh, so I get to give a present first.  No pressure, Gene.”  he winks at her.  “Shea is fantastic.  I was scared they’d just dump me in another home with a foster mother I’d have to fuck, so I was glad when it was only him, Sparrow and Lyra.  But since them … this place really IS everything Dante told me while we were in prison.  I had a rocky start, but … I expected it so.”  he chuckles.

Miranda rolls back a bit from him but stays connected so she can look at him properly as he talks. She traces her fingers gently across his chest, just affectionately not seductively this time. She’s enjoying their talking in many ways as much as she enjoys making love with Gene. Their connection is so natural and comfortable to her even on uncomfortable topics. “Eugenie….huh cool. I don’t think 18 is that young to have a kid but I guess it’s about life circumstances too right? And if she was going to be doing it on her own maybe she thought she could give you a better life if someone adopted you where there were 2 parents because that’s what everyone thinks.” She ponders that “I don’t think I could give up a baby...even at 16. I’d get too attached to do it……” She laughs lightly “Don’t worry….we used condoms and I’m actually on the pill so I’m not trying to freak you out. I’d consider ditching the condoms at some point but I ….well you probably figured it out. I slept with someone who’s history I really didn’t trust in the fall and I got tested but I kinda want to do it again in two months just to ease my paranoia.” She looks self conscious about the whole thing still “Stupidest decision of my entire life….” She sighs and then smiles “Do you still talk to Jamie? That’s shitty about her being thrown out. I mean enough terrible things have happened to Indigenous people in Canada you’d think they wouldn’t toss someone out who was part of a community or First Nation. Unless she married a white guy...cause I did a project on that in school. I think that law got changed though. These women….Indigenous women activists from like all over Canada and the States went to the supreme court and it was back and forth with appeals and protests and stuff. Anyhow it used to be a First Nations woman could lose her status if she married a non Indigenous man. Which is bullshit because it sounds like if it was a man...that didn’t happen. I don’t remember all the details because it was in grade eight.” She nods about her grandparents and then laughs about the present thing “Seriously no pressure. I’m not a big present person in general. We could just like go to a movie in June and then one in August and I’d be cool with that….” She laughs “But I might take a chance and bake you something. You’re worth the risk. I had someone break up with me when I gave him a  cupcake on his birthday once. Not to do with the quality of the cupcake I promise.” She rolls her eyes and then looks serious “I would make my Dad take you in if anything ever happened with your foster placement. But I don’t think it’s going to.”

Gene shrugs.  “It doesn’t really matter.”  he tells her.  “I just decided a long time ago that if she didn’t want me, I didn’t want her.  For better or worse, I lived through everything.”  he looks interested that they may be able to give up condoms.  “Really?  I’ve never had sex without a condom.  Those white women would never want the Injun baby … and their husbands even less.  And me even LESS.”  he winks, since he isn’t angry.  For a moment the idea of having a baby with Miranda flits across his mind, but its too soon.  But Miranda brings up Jamie and he shakes his head.  “I just visited her.  I never got her number.  So I know her address.  Maybe I could write her ....  I mean I guess from her point of view I just vanished like a puff of smoke…”  he doesn’t look pleased about that.  “I’ll try and do that soon.  God .. what to say?”  he sighs.  “I think she had been married to a white man.  I was kind of selfish in wanting to know my history and stuff.  “I won’t break up with you if you feed me, Randy.  Bankrupt, maybe.  I can pack the food away I’m told.  But we will be going on dates.  Try every restaurant on the island, see movies … and anything else you want to do.  I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday … but I’m pretty free weekends unless Bruce needs me.  Maybe we could even go out with Dante and Gen.”  Miranda mentions she’d make her dad take him in if anything went wrong with his placement and he chuckles.  “Would he, really?”  he teases.  “I think I’d rather just apply for emancipation.  Get my own place.”  he tightens his grip around her for a second.  “Maybe get a cute, beautiful, sexy roommate…”

Miranda looks sympathetic about his feelings on his mother. On many levels she got it or was beginning to herself. Then she nods “Really. I haven’t either...but I would with you because I think that would be amazing and I love you.” She kissed him gently and then he makes his comment about the white women and their husbands and she stiffens “These women should all be in prison Gene. Every fucking one of them…..” She swallows. It makes her beyond angry what’s been done to him even though she can see he’s making light of it right now. “Sorry...it just makes me mad.” Then she calms as he talks about Jamie “You should write her. She probably worried when you vanished. And it’s not at all selfish to want to know your history. I think you have a right to know it, as much as you can find out right? Were you born on a First Nation or in a city?” She laughs about what he says next. “I won’t bankrupt you…..I do have a job and they pay me.” She smiles “I know you work Thursdays because I do too. Confession time...I would walk slow on purpose so you didn’t think I was following you or trying to walk with you. Thankfully you walk pretty fast so it’s never made me late. But maybe now we could just walk together?” She blushes a bit admitting her odd little strategy. “I work Thursdays, some Saturdays and lately they’ve been calling me in on Sundays...which is fine. Sundays are pretty chill...except I work with Jake those days and I feel like I do ALL the cleaning and straightening because I swear he doesn’t even notice when someone dumps nails on the floor or knocks over the whole display of paintbrushes. Drives me insane…” She laughs. Then she smiles sweetly “I’d love to hang out with Dante and Gen with you. I’m so glad Gen and Elise don’t hate me anymore….that was super awkward. I get why. Sparrow’s been more cheerful too.” She thinks about her Dad taking in Gene “I think he’d be very awkward about it but consider it. I’d offer to put a lock on my bedroom door so he’d never walk in on us again...which maybe I should do anyways.” She laughs “Until I can be your roommate.” Miranda blushes a little at the compliments. Then her stomach growls and she looks at him “I need food. I’ll make us some sandwiches? And I’m very relieved you won’t break up with me for feeding you because I bake a lot.” It only just dawns on her they haven’t eaten anything but one another. She sits up and pulls on her t-shirt and reaches for her pajama pants.

Gene is touched at the anger she feels towards his step mothers and by extension his clients.  “Well … they’re white.  I’m not.  I’ll probably wind up facing rape charges or something.”  he sighs.  “I’m not trying to sound racist but … you know its different for non-whites.”  he grins.  “I will write her.  Before the week is out.”  he promises about Jamie.  Then he smiles at the idea that they could walk together to work.  “I’d like that.  Maybe I could walk you home, too?  Even if I’m not working?  I don’t mean to sound like the big strong possessive guy but …”  he grins.  “Elise is a trip.  She’s like a honey badger …  I said that and her boyfriend Nolan started calling he rhoney.  It’s funnier because she is so small and fierce.  And Sparrow … I was kind of surprised about how supportive she’s been.  Even Lyra.”  he grins at her when she talks about being roommates.  “Maybe.”  he winks and hears her stomach growl, followed by his own.  “That sounds great.  “I’ll grab a shower …  I’m a little … obvious.”  there is a white residue on his face from eating her out and he does smell like her.  He loves it but … others may not.  He gathers his clothes and kisses her  “I love you.  See you downstairs…”  and he heads for the bathroom and shower.

Miranda shakes her head “That’s not racist...because I don’t believe in the whole reverse racism crap. And unfortunately it is true. I wish it wasn’t.” She pulls on some of her clothes as they talk and smiles at the idea of them walking together and even him walking her home “I can live with you being a big strong possessive guy.” She admits. Her only other significant relationship was Dean and he had made her feel like he couldn’t give a shit if scary stuff happened to her walking home and proved it. A guy who looked out for her was a welcome change. “Elise is hilarious and I can see the honey badger thing….that’s adorable. Sparrow is so cool it’s a little intimidating sometimes.” She laughs and nods “I don’t really know Lyra but I know she and Ruth are good friends…..oh shit Ruth may have….told her..” She ponders “Hard to say with Ruth. She’s an enigma sometimes.” She can see what he means by obvious and blushes “Yeah….but thank you for every single moment….mmmmm I love you.” She kisses him back “Help yourself to my shampoo and stuff …...it's all the pear vanilla in the light green bottles.” She watches him go and sighs. Gene was so fucking sexy even when he wasn’t trying. She freshened up a bit in her room with some deodorant and just tissues and wipes and then put on fresh undies before the pj pants. She actually got a brush through her hair finally and made it look normal and then she texted Winona before she went downstairs:

Sorry I didn’t reply. I’m fine. I’m so much more than fine actually. I’m madly in love with Gene and it turns out it’s mutual. We kinda took the day off together. I’ll tell you later. *hugs*

And then she heads downstairs and starts making peanut butter and banana sandwiches and just smiling to herself about the whole day.

Fernanda walks with Duncan towards the Rogers house “We should play hooky one day.” She says with a wink “If your house is actually empty during the day. Mine is unpredictable.” She laughs  “Think they’re...done?” she smirks.

Duncan snorts.  “I agree except that Dad already had his freak out about us.”  he teases and then shouts a little as Romeo tears past him towards home.  Duncan rolls his eyes.  “Well, done or not they can do homework with us.  I got his from Sparrow.”  he hefts his backpack and goes on.

Winona is walking in the direction of her home when she gets Miranda's message.  “Yes!”  she exclaims aloud and replies to her.

YES!  Now we just have to get Frodo a girlfriend and we’re all set.

Romeo tears home and opens the door loudly, taking off his shoes and yelling so loudly his throat hurts a bit.  “I’m HOME!”  he heads into the kitchen and sees Miranda making sandwiches.  “Oh good.  You’re feeding us.”  he grabs one and takes a big bite, speaking with his mouth full.  “Dun’n and ‘Fern are right ‘hind me.”

Gene showers, washing his hair with Miranda’s shampoo.  He uses a masculine deodorant and dresses.  He opens the bathroom door just in time to hear Romeo announcing he was home, but sops back in Miranda’s room to brush his hair, now loose.  Taking a deep breath, he heads downstairs seeing Romeo already eating and smiles at him.

Miranda was putting the lid back on the peanut butter when Romeo tears in and starts eating one of the sandwiches like she made it for him. “Romeo!” she chides and then rolls her eyes “Oh whatever I’ll just make more.” She had two ready and sees Gene walking towards them and pushes that plate towards the other stool “You can have this one.” She starts peeling another banana and slicing it and then gets out more bread. She hears the door open again “Hi Dunk...Hi Fern!” She calls out.

Her phone chimed in her pj pants pocket but she will check it after she’s made another sandwich. “Do you want a drink?” She asks Gene “We have like fruity fizzy things and orange juice and milk...water….tea?” She shrugs and smiles.

Fernanda nods at Duncan “Good for her. Oh and Sparrow’s in Bio so Miranda can get that through Gene. I have her Chem too.” They walk in the door and she hears Miranda call out to them and greets her back as well as Gene “Hi Miranda! Hi Gene.” She takes off her shoes and jacket and walks in, familiar with the Rogers house.

Duncan walks in, taking off his shoes and jacket and heads into the kitchen.  He sees Mianda cooking and watches with a smirk.  “So … I hear you like formal fishing, Gene.”

Romeo nearly chokes laughing.  “Yes …  and clearly he went back to work … which means you got away with murder .. AGAIN, Mir.”  he rolls his eyes, but looks, for the most part quite content.

Gene offers Miranda a kiss on the cheek.  “Water, please.  I’ll get it.”  he remembers where Jasper got his glass, gets it and, as he pours, greets Fernanda and Duncan.  “Hey …”  he shrugs.  “Well, it’s a long story but … I went to a wedding and then went fishing.  The tux I wore on a dare from Dante.  Basically a .. very strange weekend…”  

Miranda leaned into Gene’s kiss with a sweet smile and then sighed happily before giving Romeo the stink eye “Got away with murder? Actually it was Levi who suggested they go back to work after offering Gene and I legal counsel if we wanted to sue Dad for libel after the group text.” She laughs and then smiles at Duncan “Your prophecy came true.” She looks between Duncan and Fernanda “Since I seem to be on a roll with sandwiches, do you guys want one?” She’s happy Gene feels comfortable in her house.

Fernanda looks amused with the sibling banter and then smirks at Gene “You mean my brother’s wedding? We saw you. I know it was busy. That was an epic tux.” She digs into her bag and hands Miranda a stack of papers “Physics….and no thanks on the sandwich. I’m still good from lunchtime.” She walks over to Duncan and slides a hand on his back. Mentioning the wedding makes her remember what he told her later that night about their mother and she’s still concerned for him, all of them but of course mostly him.

Miranda glances at the first page but doesn’t touch it since she’s been handling food “Oh the Archimides experiment…..awesome. I know this one already. I actually did this for my 9th grade science fair project. Weights in water….buoyancy blah blah blah. Easy…”

Duncan laughs and then bows.  “Levi rocks and I plan to make my living on the road making predictions.”  he lifts his hand.  “No … I’m not.  I have NO idea how or why but it’s a little … weird, isn’t it?”  After this island and being hit by that lightning myself.”  he straightens into Fernanda’s hand on his back.  “I can’t be completely freaked out.  But still.” he whistles low.  “And I’d say make me one but what’s for dinner first?”

Romeo laughs.  “Oh my god, I love Levi!  He is SUCH a step up.”  he doesn't mention his mother, but most, if not all of them should know what he means.  Duncan mentions dinner and he brightens.  “Yea.  What’s for dinner, Mir?  I’m starving.”  and he takes another huge bite of his sandwich.

Gene pours and drinks the first glass of water and then pours himself another.  He looks at Duncan.  “I was warned, but figured I was safe from the lightning.  Or the island had the reverse effect on me, or something.”  he sips the water this time and moves to behind Miranda.  “I’m a believer now.”  

Miranda puts on a silly voice and a bad British accent and teases Duncan about his fortune telling “Duncan the soothsayer…….look into the crystal ball.” Then she nods about Levi being a step up “Yes about Levi. Better parent than the one that forgot us.” She head juts at Gene “I told him….” She explains to her brothers. She guesses Fernanda knows too by now and her look confirms it as she nods. The guys are asking her about dinner and Romeo even as he eats. She has to laugh “Well it is my cooking night. Uh….I didn’t plan it yet. Got….distracted.” She feels Gene move behind her and turns back, giving him a light kiss on the lips before asking “Do you want to stay...for supper? I’m a believer too.” She smiles and steps away from him and begins looking in the freezer to think of what to cook which she’s good at doing on the fly. “Fern….am I feeding you? Someone text the Dads and see if they’re both home tonight.” With their work it was unpredictable. Levi also sometimes got called in by Joseph to deal with his siblings.

Fernanda laughs at Miranda teasing Duncan and then gives him a little half hug when Miranda fully brings up their mother after Romeo had hinted at it. She smiles “I can stay….let me send a message home so they know I’m not coming for supper there.” She takes out her phone and fires off a message.

Duncan snorts.  “It’s a living?”  he then nods along with Romeo about Levi and adds to Miranda’s thought.  “Erased us, is more like it.”  he clears his throat and then laughs.  “Distracted, Mir?  You’ve been lounging around all day.”  he rolls his eyes laughing.  Then he pulls out his phone and sends their dad to see which of them .. if either … is coming home to dinner.

Romeo’s eyes narrow at the mention of his mother, but he doesn’t speak of her in any way.  He just doesn’t look pleased.

Gene looks happy to have been invited.  “Let me text Shea and find out if I can.  It’s Sparrow’s night to cook, so I won’t have to negotiate that any.”  he sends the text.  He grins at Miranda the new believer and calls to her.  “If you need help, I’m your man.”  he figured he could help even if he couldn’t stay.

Miranda turns from the freezer as the others begin to answer about dinner and sets three packages of ground beef on the stove. She smirks at Duncan “It wasn’t all lounging…” She blushes after she admits that but they already knew. She shoots Gene an apologetic look for blurting that out and then says “You are my man even if you just sit pretty.” Then she sees Romeo’s face and looks worried for him. Both she and Duncan now had extra loving supporting people in their lives. He had them of course but she knew how much Gene’s love was helping her right now. She walks over to her little brother and gives him a spontaneous hug “Hey non stop eating machine…..you can talk to us.”

Fernanda looks up from her phone “OK excused from the Negron table officially.” She laughs at Miranda’s admission to Duncan and then also sees Romeo’s expression and sighs. It was hard to imagine any mother could do this to their kids. She stays quiet and waits to see if Romeo will talk about it with them. She didn’t know him that well but his siblings seemed close to him. She glances at Gene, the other non Rogers in the room like they have that in common.

Duncan smirks and looks at Gene.  “See, you get to sit and be pretty.”  he chuckles pats Romeo on the back.  “You can.”  He knew Romeo had close friends but he didn’t know them all that well.  He nods at the three packages of ground beef.  “Will that be enough for you?  Should we also order a pizza?”  he teases, because that's how the brothers work.  Then his phone buzzes and he looks at it. “Alright .  Dad is a yes.  Levi is a no.  Hopefully he is working on that liable suit.”

Gene chuckles.  He doesn’t mind Miranda talking about them or even alluding to their activities.  It was all true and she wasn’t hiding it.  That part he loved.  He also loved being called her man.  “I’ve never been arm candy before.”  he looks at Romeo and considers the comparisons he and Miranda made about how their mothers choose to abandon them.

Romeo sighs deeply and hugs Miranda back.  Then he puts on an offended look.  “I DO have people in my life, you know … I talked to the guys over the weekend.  Kiesha seemed to understand it better than the other guys.  I’m just …”  he snorts.  “I   swear if she knocked on the door right now, I’d just tell her to fuck right off.”  he sighs and looks between Gene and Fernanda.  “I don’t know if you can relate or not … it kinda doesn’t matter because you guys are family.  I’m just … trying to figure out why she even bothered to have any of us.”  he tightens his jaw and then relaxes enough to finish his sandwich and look at Duncan.  “I’ll be good and share with my most beloved siblings and their beloved significant others and … yea … I’ll leave some for Dad.”

Miranda slowly lets go of Romeo as Duncan teases Gene a bit. “I’m not THAT bossy……” She defends. Then she wiggles her eyebrows at Gene about his being arm candy and giggles a bit. She nods at Romeo “I know you do. And of course Keisha would be awesome. She’s my favourite of your little crew…..don’t tell the boys.” She thinks about it when Romeo says he’d tell their mom to fuck off if she showed up “I don’t know what I’d say to her right now. Maybe nothing. Maybe I’d ignore her like she ignored me….when she left and honestly all the years. But you know I am glad she had us. We got Dad...and Levi now...and each other…..and pretty kick ass grandparents on both sides…..Aunt Patty and Uncle Roy, the cousins...Uncle Sheldon…..and really her being a horrible person led to us all moving here...and that’s been…” She looks at Gene “The best part of my life.” She looks between Duncan and Fernanda after too and then back at Romeo. “I know you haven’t been hit by lightning or fallen for anyone here….but you gotta admit you’ve made some solid friends. We all have. This place is…..real.” She smiles about what he had said about food and then gets pulled back into actually planning the food “Ok beef and something...hang on….” She opens the fridge and roots around and then pulls out a paper bag “Whoah...when did we get all these mushrooms?” She sniffs at it and then takes one out “Still good but we should cook them tonight.” She sets them beside the meat and keeps looking and pulls out a big bag of spinach, a big yellow onion and then a full sized container of plain yogurt “Oh I know what I’m making...stroganoff….assuming we still have lots of pasta….which I think we do.” She sets more on the stove and then walks past Gene and opens the cupboard and pulls out two boxes of spiral pasta.

Fernanda watches the siblings support Romeo. It was a loving family like her own and that made her smile. Just hard times about their mom but they were pulling together. And Miranda listed a bunch of other relatives and good things. Then she talks about the move being the best part of her life and looks at Gene before looking between Duncan and herself. Fernanda grins “I’m very glad you were all born…..a little biased about the first of you all but glad for all of you. And this is the best part of my life too, meeting Duncan. Even just the island, the school…...it’s good here. I could happily stay until we’re old and at the end of days.” She looks curious about the food “I don’t ever think I’ve eaten that but interesting ingredients.”

Duncan returns to Fernanda’s side and dramatically mouths to Gene.  “Yes she is.”  when she says she isn't that bossy.  He grins at Miranda’s compliments about Kiesha.  “She’s my favorite too.  Maybe you should just ask HER out?”  then he realizes.  “Oh you’re dating Candra now.”  he doesn’t look disapproving, but he also looks a little sad about his not being with Kiesha.  “I’m glad we’re all here too.”  he replies and smiles as the dinner comes to life in his sisters head.  “This place feels better than anywhere else we lived, that’s for sure.”  he pokes Romeo in the shoulder.  “Go watch Miranda cook.  Learn something, for the love of god learn something.”

Romeo snorts.  Kiesha is his favorite too, and he does blush a little, then covers.  “Yes.  I’m dating Candra and we’re very happy even if those stupid rumors won’t go away.  He pauses and continues.  “And Kiesha is like one of my best friends.  One of the boys.  You know.  Like Merlin.”  he brightens at the announcement of stroganoff.  “Yes ….”  he repositions himself so his back is to everyone but the stove and Miranda.

Gene chuckles at Dunan’t mouthed words.  “Oh Randy is one woman who can boss me around all the time.”  He listens to the siblings as he gets permission.  “I can stay.” he murmurs and then goes back to watching.  He remembers Candra a bit from the party and remembers giving Romeo condoms.  “I thought you two were ….”  he shrugs not saying right out that he thought they were having sex.  But he didn't really know Kiesha at all so he didn’t comment too much on the subject.  As they talk, he takes the macaroni from her and, when she gets the pot out, he takes it and fills it for her, wanting to help.

Miranda looked between Duncan and Romeo. “Oh you are dating Candra…... Well she’s nice too.” And Candra was, but if she could handpick a girlfriend for her brother it would be Keisha. She had way more fun talking to Keisha than Candra. They were actually friends through basketball as well as through Romeo. Then she holds up a finger as Duncan suggests Romeo come learn cooking stroganoff “I have another mission for Romeo….” But then he goes on and says Keisha’s one of his best friends, like Merlin and she freezes for a second and then takes a breath “Like Merlin….” She pauses “I hope she’s not that much like Merlin. But yeah he was an amazing friend so I get it.” She pats him on the arm “K Romeo….brownies. We need dessert. I think you’ve graduated to making them without my help. The recipe you made me write out is under the mixer. Are you up for it?” Gene says she’s one woman who can boss him around and she smiles at him “Careful it’ll go to my head.” She jokes and then smiles “Good. I don’t want to say goodbye yet.” She does hand him a pot for pasta and then waits for the sink to wash mushrooms. “Thank you.” She says about him taking on the pasta without her even asking. He just stepped in like they cooked together all the time. She realizes she’s never said Merlin’s name to Gene so she explains “Merlin Miller was my friend who died….that I told you about. But he wrote me a letter before he did it. He wrote  a few letters his brother told me so it wasn’t like THE suicide note. But ….we had drifted for a few years. He kinda just pushed me away. Then we started talking again just before he died. In the letter he told me he stopped talking to me because he was in love with me and he knew I didn’t feel the same.” She exhales “Still not sure what to do with that….” She finishes washing mushrooms and then points at the island “Fern...can you chop things please? Cutting boards under there. Dunk can do the weepy onion.” She realizes she’s not selling her not bossy defence well.

Fernanda happily comes and gets the mushrooms and the onion and gets a cutting board and a knife “Candra Stevens hey? That’s cool. Is it serious? Like sparks serious?” She chuckles and looks at Duncan and then back at Miranda and Gene. She could hear Miranda explaining about Merlin to Gene. She knew about him but those two were still new together. There were a lot of layers to Miranda. She suspected there were lots to Gene too from all the posters and the fact that he’d been in prison.

Jasper Rogers finished his day and left after his last appointment. He knew he was coming home to a house full of teenagers and he was happy about that. His kids together having each other’s backs after the stressful weekend.  He came in the back door and was immediately in the kitchen which to his delight still included Gene and also included Fernanda. Levi had meetings he knew. “Hello team.” He could see both Romeo and Gene engaging with cooking with Miranda from the looks of it and veggies being taken by Fernanda, and Duncan with plates. “What are we making….oh wait I can tell. Stroganoff. Nice. I’m just going to go wash my hands upstairs.” As the kitchen was crowded.

Duncan stands a little back.  There were so many in the kitchen he was fine not helping with the cooking.  But he did get plates and made ready to set the table for them all.  When Romeo mentions Merlin, Duncan looks a bit concerned.  That was a lot to carry.

Romeo shakes his head.  “NO .. not like Merlin.  I mean Kiesha’s … we’re just friends.  She knows it.  I know it.”  he turns to the mixer.  “I’m on it, boss.”  he teases and heads to start making the brownies.

Gene listens carefully about Merlin.  He knew the situation, but not the name.  “If the feelings aren’t there, they aren’t there.  Forcing it just to make someone else happy …”  he shrugs.  He looks at Romeo.  “Have you two ever shaken hands?  You and …  Kiesha, was it?”  he asks.  “If I’d just shaken hands with everyone in class the first day I could have saved at least SOME aggravation a couple months ago.”

Romeo looks back.  “No, but we hang out all the time, so you know .. back slaps, punches … no sparks.”  and he concentrates on his task.  REALLY concentrates on his task.

Jasper switches from his work clothes to an old black t-shirt with a  t-Rex skeleton on it and his worn out old jeans. He comes back down the stairs and into the kitchen and moves to one of the stools with his phone in his hand as he gets a text from work. This often happened as he got hom. Some question about a chart or some detail. “Sorry just wrapping up two things here kids….” He glances up “But if you need me to take on a task let me know.” There were two more of them than usual so likely he wouldn’t.

Miranda looks back “Hey Dad….we’re good. No worries.” She nods about what Gene says to Romeo and sees Romeo focussing. But she just has to get a point in “It’s winter. We’re all wearing sweaters half the time…..the spark thing is a skin on skin contact.” She’s begun to fry the beef in a  huge sort of wok style pan but she gestures with her utensil at Gene “I touched Gene through a sweater before the holidays but because of the sweater….no sparks.Just saying.” She looks over at Duncan and Fernanda “You guys met in the summer…” And then at her father.

Jasper clues into the conversation topic now but isn’t sure quite the context related to Romeo. He just gives a nod “Yep...bare skin.”

Fernanda walks over to Miranda  after smiling at Jasper with the mushrooms and onion chopped. She was expertly fast at food prep coming from such a large family and she hovers waiting to see if it’s ok to put them in with the meat. It looks like that kind of recipe.

Miranda nods at Fernanda “Go for it and thanks.”

Fernanda dumps the veggies in and then turns to Romeo “Gene has a point about the hand shaking idea and yes it’s skin on skin.” She laughs “Because he and Mir were kinda painful to watch until now. Now it’s quite lovely.” She hip bumps Miranda as she says it and then winks at Duncan.

Gene chuckles as he stirs the boiling pasta.  “Painful ….  You have a flair for the understatement, Fernanda.”  his voice perfectly accents Fernanda’s name.  

Duncan laughs at Fernanda as well as his sister and her love.  “Yea …. Painful is a word.  It was hard to tell if it was just … pure raw anger, which didn’t make sense the way I know Miranda .. or what it was.  But glad you two figured it out and gave us years of teasing material in the process.”

Romeo is still concentrating on his task.  “Well we’ve been friends since we moved here.”  he shrugs.  “It’s all good, guys.  I am happy with my sparkless life …:  he sighs.  “I am saving myself .. for Harriet.  But … Dad still won’t odere me a harmless sex doll to live my life out with.  Why, Dad?  Why? I wouldn’t leave my door open .. as a matter of fact, I would deflate her every day and we’d only love in the woods.”  he deflects well, because he didn’t need a spark or anything to tell him that he was in love with Kiesha.  But he was damned if he was going to get hurt anymore.  The pain of his mother’s abandonment has him wary of letting anyone close.

Fernanda looks curiously at Gene as she hears him pronounce her name “ Gene, Hablas español? (Do you speak Spanish?)” Then she nods along with Duncan “Years..” She laughs and then turns back to Romeo “Who’s Harriet? Is that your name for the blow up doll….because uh…..you know I’m going to stop there.” She holds up her hands and goes to sit on a stool.

Miranda rolls her eyes at Duncan and Fernanda and sighs. She knew Gene spoke Spanish though but let him answer for himself. Then Romeo says he’s happy in his sparkless life and brings up Harriet and the whole sex doll thing and she cringes “God Romeo…..” She clears her throat and shakes her head at Fernanda “Embarrassing childhood story...NOT about blow up dolls!” She points threateningly at Romeo and she knew the leave the door open comment was a shot at her today too.

Jasper snorts “Romeo, what would your friends say if they came over and found that? And no….I don’t want to get a call from the cops about anyone finding you and Harriet in the woods.” He looks at Gene and Fernanda “The original Harriet was not a blow up doll.” He grins at Romeo and then Miranda “Am I not allowed to tell your embarrassing childhood stories?”

Gene looks at Fernanda.  “Sí. Dante me ha estado ayudando. (Yes, I do.  Dante has been helping me.)”  Then he blinks and looks at Romeo for a long time.  He is very curious about this Harriet. He looks at Jasper and moves a little closer to Fernanda, leaning on the counter.  “So … Harriet was … who now, if not a blow up doll?”  he looks around at all of the Rogers.  “No offence to the love of my life, Dr.  Rogers, but I would love to hear some stories.”  he deadpans, innocently.

Duncan drops the dishes onto the table as the conversation in the kitchen continues.  “Yes, Father.  Shame the bad younger siblings, as I am the most innocent and least troublesome of the three of us.”

Romeo continues to make brownies.  “Tell away.  I am NOT ashamed of Harriet.”  he actually stops and looks at his brother.  “Most innocent as long as your clumsy ass isn’t behind a bunch of surfboards!”  he snorts and turns back to the batter.

Jasper can’t help but laugh “Please Gene, call me Jasper.” He shakes his head at Duncan and then points at Romeo “Uh huh. And impressive that you picked up Spanish so quickly. Maybe you can help Miranda not flunk French. Mandy….Romeo is saying yes to the story……” He waits.

Fernanda was laughing until Romeo talked about the surf boards. Then she humbled and nodded “Well yes that was our skipping school equivalent or part of it….and totally worth it. And I really want to know about Harriet too now.”

Miranda huffs at all of them and pretends to be offended by Gene “Who’s side are you on? Oh fine fine…...I’m draining the pasta. Food soon while I try to block out you all mocking me.” She does deal with the pasta but is smiling. Gene knew the bad stuff, he could have some of the funny stuff too. She had no secrets from him. Plus he just called her the love of his life and he could basically have anything he wanted.

Jasper claps his hands together and looks at Gene and then Fernanda “Harriet….was...is? Romeo. When Mandy….Miranda was 3 or 4 maybe she decided she felt somehow thwarted she had two brothers and no sisters. So she turned Romeo into a sister and started telling people he was a girl, named Harriet. She also went to the trouble of styling his hair as best she could for her age. The kids all had short hair when they were young but Miranda had a collection of barrettes and she would use every one of them on Harriet while she napped or even slept for the night and poor Romeo would wake up with a literal helmet of them on his little head. One day she even found Bea’s makeup and put lipstick on him…..and the sheets, and the wall….” He fans out his hand as he trails off and laughs.

Duncan is setting the table and leans over to call through the entryway to the kitchen.  “I remain unscarred, but they keep on trying.”

Gene smiles at Jasper.  “Je serais honoré d'aider Miranda avec ses cours de français. Je travaillerai avec elle jour et nuit. Je promets. (I would be honored to help Miranda with her French lessons.  I will work with her day and night.  I promise.)”  and he gives Miranda a somewhat smouldering look and a wink.  Then he learns about Harriet and can’t help but laugh.  “Now I am glad I am an only child … I think.” he smirks.

Romeo fills the pan with the brownie mix and turns once his father is done with the tale.  “It was the beginning of my acting career.  Now I have to play that kid from The Shining …  Harriet will just have to be my right hand.  Thanks, Mir!”

Miranda waits out the story and sighs and then shakes her head at Duncan “I don’t believe you.” She turns as Gene says some long thing in French to her father that she doesn’t understand. But his smouldering look and wink make her grin at him. His reaction to the Harriet story makes her laugh and blush “Yep….” She cringes at Romeo after about his right hand joke “Romeo…...how you desecrate Harriet.” She laughs.

Jasper’s French was decent enough that he did get what Gene said and then saw the look and shrugged. After what he’d already seen today, these kids couldn’t shock him further. “Hey if that’s what it takes….just close the damn door.” He laughs about the only child comment.

Miranda’s eyes go a little wide that her Dad caught what Gene said and replied like that and then she says “Ok...what DID you say?” She stirs in the spinach and then as it cools she’ll stir in the yogurt and toss it all with the pasta that’s now drained and ready.

Fernanda’s French is almost as good as her Spanish “He said he’d work with you day and night.” She can’t resist telling her and then snorts at Romeo “Don’t hurt yourself...or Harriet. That’s too funny. Helmet full of barrettes. One time when I was little I set up a hair salon in the kitchen and cut Laia’s hair and Tomas….then we shaved Miguel’s head. So be glad it was barrettes. Those were some nasty school pictures that year.”

Duncan understands what Gene is saying and laughs as he finishes setting the dining room table.  “You know Gene with your facility for languages, you might want to learn … it is Yiddish or Hebrew that Levi speaks, Dad?”

Romeo chuckles.  “But I give her a bath every time I do.”  he smirks and puts the brownies in the oven and sets the timer.  With no shame, even looking proud, he goes to wash his hands.  He’d gotten them off of the Kiesha train of thought, so he was happy.

Gene nods at Fernanda.  “Yup .. that’s what I said .. more or less.  I will help you with your French.  And if I can’t because I get too distracted, I bet Gen will help you.”  he then hears what Fernanda’s stylist story is and shakes his head.  SO much different than his families over the years.

Miranda blushes a bit but then gives Gene a bit of a smouldering look back. Her family all knew they had an intimate relationship so why not. She would likely learn more clearly from Gen because even Gene just joking about it really made her want to jump his bones.Then Fernanda talks about what she did to her siblings hair and her hand flies to her mouth “Oh my god Fernanda….poor Miguel.”

Fernanda waves it off “He was too young to remember I bet. But every so often I turn on the clippers just to see if I can make him jump.”

Miranda laughs “That is so mean….funny...but mean.” She looks at the food “OK everyone go grab a  plate. I am not risking tipping this wonky old frying wok. Brownies will be timed perfectly...thank you Romeo and your right hand woman. Thank you even more for washing your hands.”

Jasper laughs at all the lewd and sexually charged humour. Because what else can he do? “Hebrew.” He answers Duncan and then asks “How many languages do you speak Gene? Spanish...French….” He pauses and goes to grab a  plate and then sort of mills about wishing to let guests go first. He looks at Fernanda “Siblings can be horrible to each other. I’m actually pretty amazed my kids are so nice to one another. I’ve never even seen one of them hit another.” He looks between them.

Duncan is already at the table and pulls out a chair beside him for Fernanda.  “We don’t HAVE to hit each other.  Just the constant tongue ….”  he suddenly stops and buries his face in his hands.  “No .. no .. no not that I didn’t mean that.  God!”

Romeo dries his hands and heads for the table, sitting just as Duncan speaks.  Then he laughs so hard, he falls out of his chair.

Gene looks intrigued.  “Hebrew .. oh that sounds like fun.”  he heads for the table.  “I also speak English, of course and, believe it or not, Mohawk.”  he stops at a chair when Duncan speaks and chuckles, with his mouth closed as always.

Miranda sees all the guys but her father go and sit and gestures in the air with her hand and then laughs at Duncan “No that’s for Fern. So awkward….ok Dad, go collect plates and help me pass them out because apparently we’re doing it this way.” She nods about Gene’s languages.

Jasper blinks at Duncan and laughs and then looks impressed with Gene “Mohawk? Well that’s cool.” And then Miranda makes her comment back to Duncan “Mandy! My god you guys…” He puts down his plate and goes to collect the rest.”

Fernanda cracks up at Duncan and then comments on Gene’s languages “Nice.” Then she snorts at Miranda “Damn straight. Let me help pass them out. I heard you….” 

Between Miranda, Jasper and Fernanda everyone ends up with a plate of food. Then they all sit. Fernanda by Duncan and Miranda by Gene, gesturing to the two chairs together still open. Jasper sits where he always sits at one head of the table.

Fernanda digs in and after a bite says “Mmm that’s really good. So any more embarrassing stories?” With a mischievous grin “Any about Duncan?”

Jasper thinks as he chews, surveying his children.

Duncan recovers and begins to eat, concentrating on his food with the intensity that Romeo concentrated on making brownies.

Romeo makes it back to his seat and begins to eat, waiting on Duncan stories.  “And of course, Miranda stories.  Because … I live for those.”

Gene sits and gets ready to eat.  He is interested in stories about Duncan, but he is also interested in Miranda stories.  Always.

Jasper chuckles and holds up a finger as he chews and then swallows and looks at Fernanda “Duncan is the reason we had to get rid of all our permanent markers and lock up even the non permanent ones for a while. He liked to doodle. Not on his brother like Miranda...or walls….but on himself...like a budding tattoo artist. Just an arm or a leg at first and then one day his mother and I were helping her parents run their B&B. We lived with them when the kids were small. I was still in med school…..anyhow I thought we’d successfully put them all down for a nap at the same time...miracle of miracles. Mandy and Romeo were asleep. But Duncan woke up and found the permanent marker, stipped himself naked and drew on his entire body including all of his face and his penis. It was unbelievable.”

Miranda was looking awkward about more stories potentially about her but then Duncan’s body art story made her eyes go wide as she chewed and she turned to stare at her older brother.

Fernanda just started laughing hard and then said “Dios mio….how did you get it all out?” She smirks at Duncan after.

Jasper gestures with his fork at Duncan “Sunlight yellow soap, many many baths and about 3 trips to a public swimming pool. Chlorine….scrubbing and dry skin for a month. We didn’t scrub THAT…..in case anyone’s wondering. We’re not that cruel.” He grins after and eats.

Duncan ate during the story and then swallowed.  “A can be quite artistic, even as a younger man.  And apparently I can tattoo where few others dare tattoo.”  he clears his throat and tries to look the dignified oldest sibling.  “Now someone mentioned Miranda stories?”

Romeo had to stop eating or risk choking.  “Couldn’t just draw a dick on your head.. Or I guess you kinda did.  Thanks for not drawing on me.  It would have clashed with my eye make up.”  he huffs.

Gene covers his mouth to laugh at the story.  “You know, Dante’s a tattoo artist.  You two could always exchange ideas …”  he is light of heart and happier than he’s been … ever.

Miranda laughs at Romeo’s suggestion and then laughs harder at what Gene says “I don’t know if I’d be able to look Dante in the eye if I knew one of my brother’s had asked for a dick tattoo. Please don’t….either of you…” She laughs and then sighs “I think the Harriet thing is probably my most embarrassing one so I’m probably safe now.”

Fernanda grins at Duncan “I can seek out some non permanent body paint if you’re still into that…” then she looks sheepishly at Jasper “Sorry badly timed.”

Jasper just sighs and then laughs “I’m immune now Fernanda. My children have broken me.” He just laughs and then looks at Miranda “I notice Gene calls you Randy. Does he know all your other nicknames?” His eyes twinkle a bit.

Miranda shrugs “Mandy….Mir…..Randy…” Then she pauses “Please don’t call Grandma Gerry…..I know where you’re going with this….” She giggles and hides her face. “My grandparents call me panda bear.” She explains through her hands.

Jasper looks between Miranda and Gene “A school yard bully was it? Called her Miranda the panda. And she was so upset she told her grandparents about it on the phone later that day. They tried to cheer her up...I’m not even sure this is embarrassing...it’s just cute. Anyhow they told her to roll with it and that pandas are great. Later that week they sent her a little package of story books about pandas. And it did make her feel better. But then she really got into panda bears, almost obsessively so my Mom knit her a panda costume for Halloween that year. And as soon as she got it we couldn’t get her to wear anything else. She pretty much lived in it that fall and winter, even wore it for Christmas dinner when we went to Drumheller to celebrate with the grandparents.” He looks at her brothers, sure they remember the panda suit. 

Duncan chuckles.  “Fine, I won’t get a dick tattoo.”  he promises, although he does look a smidge interested in Fernanda’s suggestion.  “Oh yes …  PB … I didn’t see my sister for SO LONG!  Just this weird freaky panda bear that lived with us.”

Romeo looks satisfied that they have all had horribly embarrassing tales told on them.  “Yea … She doesn’t have as many now, but still.  It was like living in a bamboo forest for a while.”

Gene looks highly amused.  “Hey Pandas are cute and tough, I hear.  I wouldn’t want to fight one.”  he admits and winks at Miranda.  “Or you … for that matter.”  their fighting days are over, as far as he is concerned.

Miranda laughs at her brother’s reactions and then smiles at Gene “No more fighting. I love you too much.” She says freely in front of her family and looks at him with a happy sigh. Then she looks at her Dad “I still have the panda costume...and the books. I saved them from the garage sale pile when we moved. Just in case I ever have a kid who likes pandas.”

Fernanda puts a hand on her heart “Awww that’s so sweet. What will you do if your kids don’t like pandas?”

Miranda looks incredulous “We will read the books again…” She laughs and then finishes what’s on her plate. “I smell brownies. They must be almost done.” She glances at Romeo.

Jasper just looks around the table happily and eats. It was sweet then and still is. He’s glad two of his kids have found such love as he did with Levi

Duncan chuckles, especially when Miranda says she will just read the stories until her kids love pandas.  “That sounds like you, Mir.”

Romeo laughs.  “Yup … indoctrinate them early, Mir.”  he inhales and dabs his lips.  “I’llbe right back.”  he stands and as he crosses the threshold between dining room and kitchen, the timer goes off.  He takes them out of the oven and inhales the chocolaty goodness.

Gene grins.  “I love you.” he chuckles at Mirandas insistence on having panda loving children, but he simply nods at her.  Jasper had been through enough without taking about wanting his daughter pregnant.

“Do we still have ice cream?” Miranda calls out to Romeo “Because brownies and ice cream….” She looks around and it dawns on her “I didn’t go for a run today.” Not that she hadn’t somewhat exercised.  A little alarm goes off on her phone and she looks at it and nods. Then she walks to her school bag and takes out a prescription bottle of pills with her name on them and a big long medication word. She walks to the kitchen to get a glass of water, leaving the pills on the table to come back to. When she comes back she takes one with the water and then pockets the pills.

Jasper tilts his head “You switched your time?” He’s referring to the pills. They’re eating a bit earlier than usual so he hasn’t noticed the alarm before.

Miranda nods “Dr. McKinney told me to take them in the evening after my last blood test.” She shrugs and then it dawns on her Gene might wonder why she’s on medication so she offers a word of explanation “Thyroid. I’m fine. I just have to take the pills.”

Fernanda looks curious “What happens if you don’t take them?”

Miranda looks at her “Energy crashes….and before I was on them I never had a period until I was like 14…”

Fernanada scoffs “I’m trying not to be jealous….but the energy thing sucks.”

Duncan agrees about the ice cream and remains silent about the periods.  He sits and waits for dessert.

Romeo is already in the freezer getting the ice cream.  He takes out dishes and starts putting the ice cream on the nice hot brownies.

Gene is about to ask about the medication, but Fernanda beats him to it.  He nods, softly, making a mental note of it all.

Miranda gets up again and walks into the kitchen “Do you want me to bring some in?” She’s always ready to jump in and help. It’s her nature and a carry over from having a  bit of an overdeveloped need to try and get her mother to appreciate her. It’s possible the siblings have variations on it. She reaches for a couple of bowls to take them and drop off and then come get more as needed.

Jasper gets another text from work and blinks at it and then replies, tuning out the room briefly.

Fernanda hops up too, oldest girl in a  big family “Here pass me some Panda Bear.” She teases Miranda and reaches to be part of the sort of assembly line to get all the dessert to everyone.