Marguerite - Gen 3 Ch 3

It wasn't long after Lily's birthday that I started feeling that old familiar nausea again. I was so excited! I wanted a boy, but James wanted another girl, and we speculated about it endlessly.

It's a boy! I got my wish! Little Link is absolutely adorable.

.... And a girl! James got his wish too! And little Lara is absolutely adorable, too.

When it was time for potty training, Mom and Papa were a huge help.

I don't know what I'd have done without them.

Lily is having problems at school. Besides the teasing she gets when she dresses "differently," she had an accident on the playground today.

She came  home from school in the middle of the day, and swears she is never going back. We'll see about that.

She spent the rest of the day in the tub. She seems to be really traumatized by the whole ordeal. Mom offered to home school for the rest of the year, and then we'll see.

James got his best renovation job yet! He convinced my Uncle Rayne to have a complete interior renovation. Having the famous "Rock Star Retreat" in his portfolio should really boost his career.

"I want new furniture, new end tables, new wallpaper, the works. And make it a real modern type look."

He took his measurements...

And took before....

and after pictures. Uncle Rayne gave him a huge bonus for doing such a great job.

"Pose for me James, I want to make an ice sculpture."

I know he doesn't really like to do it, but he always sets a nice pose for me. I was almost done when the doorbell rang.

My sis, Mari wants to do a write-up of James' Rock Star Retreat renovation! She is the editor of the "Home and Garden" section of the Riverview News. The story will be on the front page of the section, complete with before and after pictures. We are all so proud of him!

Link and Lara are growing fast, and we just found out another baby is on the way. Our house is getting too crowded. James took some time off, and finished off the attic into three new bedrooms and a bath, and expanded the basement to make Papa a nectar tasting room.

Lily, Link, and Lara's birthdays are so close together, we had one big party, and invited the whole extended family. Lily was first, since she's the oldest.

Then it was Link's turn.

And finally Lara. She is extremely shy and refused to blow out her candles. So many people! Even Sharonda showed up. Alyse came with her twin girls who are teenagers now, and Mari brought her two boys. And Rayne and Heath's son Will has green hair like Mom! Who'd a thought?

Link seems to have the same reaction to crowds as Lara does. As soon as he could, he escaped to his room. He is such a helpful child though, he cleans the dishes and makes his bed without being told.

Lara wanted a camera for her birthday, So Papa gave her one of his. She is delighted and can't wait to start practicing.

Lily still refuses to go to school. She freaked out about it again today, startling her friend Chris. James has been checking around, and found a study program we think she'll like. It's at the Science lab, studying gardening.

Our newest addition, Olivia. She is just so sweet. Have I told you how much I love babies?

Marguerite - Gen 3 Ch 2

James squeezed my hand and told me not to worry, but I was so nervous I was shaking. Papa was watching TV when we returned from the park.

"Papa, uh.. wegotmarriedtonight.." I just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible, so I blurted it out all in one breath.

He didn't seem surprised at all! He just smiled at us and pulled me into one of his giant bear hugs.

"It's about time, you two! And don't worry about your mom, sweetheart, I think I've managed to convince her of the inevitable."

Well, no matter what papa said, mom still wasn't pleased.  but papa was standing right there, and gave her one of his "looks", so she didn't really say anything except "I see. Well, I guess I am not surprised."

I tried to think of something to say, and remembered the pendant.

"The pendant, mom.. it glowed tonight," I exclaimed softly.

I wasn't sure if that would mean anything to my logical concrete thinking mom, but it was worth a try. And when she heard it , her face softened briefly, and I knew everything would be okay.

One evening, not too long after that magical night, I was watching TV with Elyse while we played with the twins, when I had to bolt to the bathroom.. again.  Elyse thinks I'm pregnant. I hope so! I want lots of kids! But that night something happened that would change all our lives forever.

When I returned from the bathroom, Elyse looked to be in shock. The fear in her eyes was catching, and I started to freak out.

"OMG Ely, what happened, what's wrong? You look like you saw a ghost! Did you see a ghost?"

Mom and papa heard the commotion and came running, and calmed us both down, and Elyse managed to get her story out.

She had received a call from the Riverview Police Station. Mason was in jail! The police had raided that warehouse he works at and had arrested everyone there for possession of stolen property.

Papa went down to the police station to see if there was anything he could do, but the evidence was overwhelming. Everyone was shocked, but not me. Some of my earliest memories were of him stealing candy from me, and sneaking up and scaring me whenever he thought no one was watching. So I guess he hasn't changed a bit.

The twins grew up while Mason was in jail. I feel bad for Elyse, but I for one am glad he's not here to torment me for a while.

Elyse started throwing up the day after that fateful night, and sure enough, she is expecting again.

We have gotten really close, and she confided to me that if she would have known Mason better before she left France, she never would have married him.

"But now, Margi, what am I to do? With two little girls and another on the way. I will just have to make the best of things, no? And it is wonderful that you are expecting too. Somehow that makes it all easier."

James is so excited about the baby. The first thing he does when he gets home from work each day is have a little chat with my tummy.

When Mason was released from jail it was decided by all concerned that it would be best if Mason and Elyse and the twins moved to their own place. I was sad to see Elyse go, but they are not too far away, and I promised to come visit. 

And one day not too long after, we welcomed little Lily into the world. James looked so nervous on the way home from the hospital.

He got over that very soon, though, and we both fell in live with our little Lily. I could spend hours holding my beautiful baby girl, and often I did!

Mom is a huge help. She and papa have aged so much thoughout the whole Mason episode, little Lily seems to take her mind off things for a while.

I go to see Elyse whenever I can. She had an adorable little boy they named Raymond. I don't ask about Mason often, but I guess he is still working at that warehouse, she can't convince him to find another line of work. It seems they are doing well, though, gauging by their new house, and he hasn't been back in jail.

Elyse is expecting again. I am trying to be excited for her, but it's hard. James and I have been trying to get pregnant for a long time now, and so far it's been disappointment after disappointment.

It's time for Lily's birthday, and as I held her and snuggled her one last time, all I could think of was "Will I ever be able to hold a baby of my own again? Lily starts school tomorrow, and I want another baby so bad."

But I put on my happy face, and we all clapped and cheered.

"Happy Birthday, Lily!"

Marguerite - Gen 3 Ch 1

"Did you hear that? I think someone's coming!"

"It's okay, Margi love, it's just a rabbit in the bushes."

I really hate sneaking behind my parents' back, but how else am I gonna see James? I wish my mom would understand, but I don't think she ever will. I've tried to explain how James doesn't feel like my cousin at all, but she won't listen.

So tonight I made my usual excuse about going to the art museum, and took off to the little park my grandpa Max used to take me to when I was little. I was so relieved when  I saw the little rabbit hop across the path. There wasn't anyone hiding in the dark after all. And soon I was in James' arms again, and all was right with the world.

I didn't want to let him go, but finally I whispered," I wish we could be together always."

"Don't worry baby, I'm working on it," James whispered back. "I'm starting to get some nice home design jobs, and soon I'll have enough money so it won't matter what your mom thinks. Now call me when you can get away again, alright?"

But it was a months before I saw James again. Only a few nights after that meeting, I was working on my latest sculpture. Mason was working nights at the warehouse now, and mom and papa had gone out to see a movie.

Suddenly Alyse called to me,"Margi, help me, the baby is coming!"

I totally freaked out. I don't know the first thing about babies! "Ack! What do I do? What do I do?"

"Calm down, Margi. You just need to drive me to the hospital."

So off to the hospital we went.

"Calm down, Miss Greenbow," the doctor told me sternly. Your sister-in-law will be fine, you will only upset her."

So I tried to calm down, and called Mason to tell him the news. He left work right away, and made it to the hospital just before the babies made their way into the world.

That's right, I said babies.  Jeannie and Jisa, two adorable little girls! For the first few days, my brother and Alyse just kept looking at each other, kinda shell-shocked.

So it was Margi to the rescue. I just can't keep my hands off those sweet babies. It's so much fun to watch them smile and giggle when I play with them. Alyse needs all the help she can get, and it's a non-stop routine of bottles and diapers. The best thing about babies though? They never tell you to "calm down." And they never freak out when I tell them stories about the ghosts who live under our house...

...or when I tell them about Grandma Sunny. One of my favorite things to do is go to the garden in the middle of the night and talk to my grandma. Mom thinks I'm just talking to myself, but she just doesn't understand.  Grandma does, though. I told her about James, and she gave me some good advice.

"Let your pendant guide you, dear. Listen with your heart, and I know you will do the right thing in regards to James."

Finally! The babies are big enough that I can get away for a few hours. Mason even let me borrow his bike. I could hardly wait to get to 'our' park.

I lit a fire in the fire pit and sat down to wait. Would he remember? Or had he forgotten about me. It had been months now. Maybe he had found someone else. Maybe he heard the rumors about how I was 'strange' like my grandpa. Maybe he ...I was lost in my thoughts when I heard a sound behind me.

"Margi, oh baby, I missed you so much."James pulled me into his arms, and I promptly forgot all my worries.

Our lips met, and at that moment my heart felt about to burst I was so in love. I listened with my heart, like my grandma said, and I could feel his love in return, just as strong as mine.

I guess he thought the mood was just right, because he smiled at me so dreamily, and whispered, "I have something for you."

He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a tiny box. "Margi, I've loved you since the day I first saw you in art class, I don't care what your mom or anyone else thinks. Will you marry me?"

I stood there staring at the box with the beautiful diamond ring. I must have looked like a fish out of water, gasping for air. My mind was spinning in circles and I couldn't think straight. All I could think of when I heard the word 'marry' was the weddings I'd been to, the long white itchy-looking dresses, all the guests standing there gawking while the bride and groom went on and on with long memorized vows.

And before I knew what I was doing, I heard myself say, "No, I'm sorry I just can't." 

As soon I  said it I was sorry. The betrayed look on James' face just crushed me.

"I..I don't understand," he said in a soft monotone. "We..we've been planning this for years. Is..is there someone else?" A tear slid slowly down his cheek.  I felt his deep sadness in my heart, and it matched my own.

I burst into tears, and tried to explain through the sobs.."I... love you more than.. anything..can't.... wear that dress... people watching... don't like weddings... so sorry... sorry... please don't hate me..." then I just stood there, tears streaming down my face, looking at him hopelessly.

Finally he trusted himself to talk. 'Margi, I could never hate you, I'll always love you, no matter what. But, you are talking about a wedding party. We don't have to get married at a party. We can have a private wedding you know, with just you and me, and you can wear whatever you want."

"......" I had never heard of such a thing. "R...really?" I sniffled.   I smiled tentatively at him, and was so relieved when he smiled back.

"Really," he answered. "Would.. would you like to see the ring again?"

My mind was starting to churn in circles again, but I managed to nod.

I can't say I wasn't afraid as I slipped it onto my finger, hoping that James was right about the private wedding thing.  But this time I remembered my grandma's words, and I listened to my heart, not the fearful thoughts in my head.  And then something odd happened. I felt my pendant warm on my chest, and when I looked at it, it glowed softly in the darkness.  And I said a silent thank-you to my grandma; I couldn't wait to talk to her again and tell her what had happened.

"Can we get married right now?" I asked as James pulled me into a hug. I've always found it's best to get scary things done as quickly as possible, so I don't dwell on them for days. James knows me too well, because he laughed.

"If you want to baby. I thought this might happen, so I brought rings with me." He was grinning from ear to ear.   

He went first. "Margi, I love you with all of my heart, and I promise to love and care for you as long as we live."

He handed me a second ring. "Now it's your turn baby."

"What do I say?" My mind was blank.

"Just say what's in your heart," he smiled.

I slipped the ring onto his finger, and looked into his eyes.

"James, I love you more than anything, and I promise to love you always, and I hope we have lots of babies."

I could feel my pendant glowing brightly as we kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

Now for the next scary part: telling my parents.