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.