Generation 2-Chapter 13: House Full...Well Almost :)

Well I can definitely tell you that I haven't had a whole lot of time to keep everyone caught up in my life. But that's life when you're a busy mom. I look forward to evenings when everyone's in bed and the house is semi-clean and I just sit in my favorite chair for a moment.

I guess that you can tell by looking that there have been some changes in the house. Mom and Dad decided to keep working instead of retiring so that they could expand the house and move into an "in-law" sweet upstairs.

Let me get you caught up on my crazy but sweet life. My dearest celebrated his 30th birthday recently but still looks as good as ever.

Juniper is still working hard as ever inventing and is doing pretty well so far.

I haven't had much time for research on the paranormal and I haven't gone back to work yet either. That's because we had a happy oops. Margarita has grown up so quickly in front of our eyes and before we knew it we were expecting another little one! Margarita looks so much like me the older she gets.

Meet Dew Drop Tea, my youngest and a cross between Juniper and Bubbles. It almost looks like she's not even mine just by looking at her! She's a sweet little thing isn't she?

I can honestly say we weren't exactly trying for another baby but now that she's here
I'm starting to think I want a houseful!

Juniper and I are working on that...when we have time.

Daddy is still turning out novels like their hot cakes.

And Mom, having the house renovations completed and having found someone she trusts to run her beloved restaurant is going to retire.

I think with another little one on the way she wants to enjoy the rest of her time on earth with her grandbabies.

Dew Drop certainly enjoys it.

The oddest thing happened the other day...when I was out working in the garden (mom still insists on cooking only the freshest) I found this little bear-shaped gnome.

We've named him Teddy (Margarita, my little princess's, idea) and its almost as if he's got his own little personality. I keep finding him in the craziest places! I think he's being moved by my little one.

Margarita is such a daddy's girl. She and Juniper spend most evenings after dinner playing chess. I would love to have some time to play chess but....

Someone has to teach our other daughter to talk and walk. She's doing really well though. Dew Drop and I have a pretty strong bond for some reason. It may be that those eyes remind me so much of her father.

I do get to spend some time with just Margarita and I when I help her with her homework. We have a tendency to think a lot alike and well, let's just say Juniper and Margie have a better relationship if they don't study together...they have a tendency to break out it fights due to frustration with each other.

I can't help but wonder what our new little one will be like. I have a strong feeling its another little girl and if so Juniper and I are thinking of naming her Thyme. I can't help but hope we'll have another one who looks like Juniper but with my hair. I guess we'll see soon won't we?

Generation 2- Chapter 12: 1+1= +

I was on my way home from work one night after treating a home for a particularly stubborn pair of poltergeist when I was hit with a wave of nausea.

Now granted the Banshee Banisher can create a not-so-lovely aroma when it captures poltergeist but it had never bothered me before, much less made me feel as though I were about to loose my dinner.

Suddenly it hit me--Juniper and I have been happily married for about 2 1/2 months now and I had not been visited by my friend Flow.

Uh oh.

I quickly swung my trusty rusty truck into the Berry Mart and ran inside to buy a pregnancy test. I felt more than a little self conscious as I handed the clerk my shopping basket. Once home I locked myself in the bathroom followed the directions on the box and waited....and waited. Never has 5 minutes felt so long. As I picked up the test and the moment seemed very surreal.

A plus sign....where did I put the box....I'm pregnant.

The word swirled about in my brain and even the thought of swirling made me nauseated again. I'll admit I stood there for several minutes before I rejoined reality. I looked down and realized I had both of my hands on my belly.

I slowly made my way from the bathroom to the backyard where I could hear my beloved tinkering away at his workbench.

I must have looked a little zombie-like because he did a double take when he glanced at me and quickly dropped his hammer.

"What's wrong honey? Are you sick? Did something happen?"

"I'm not sick...exactly." He gave me a puzzled look.

"Well..." I began slowly, "I'm the sort of sick that lasts for about 10 months..."

He looked at me with one eyebrow raised and then broke into a huge grin. He hugged me tight and laughed.

"Candy this is wonderful...we have to tell your parents and my brothers and Bubbles and Honey and Pepper and oh good grief, we'll have to turn Honey's old room into a nursery...." he babbled on excitedly. I couldn't help but be amused. He was going to be such a great dad.

****

I wish I could have said life was exciting during my pregnancy but it was pretty uneventful. Juniper and I were both miserably disappointed when the doctor told me that I could not work halfway through and that I had to be on light bedrest. So instead of catching ghosts I was catching up on my reading including some new paranormal research.

My mother had been honored as master chef of Sugar Valley and had achieved her lifetime goal of becoming an executive chef at La Maison de Pomme, a four star restaurant. When I told her the news she was very excited. Then told me that with another grandchild on the way, this one to live with her, she had thought about retiring soon. 

We had also decided to keep the baby's sex a surprise but I had a feeling it was a little girl and had already pulled out and washed a few sets of mine and Bubbles' old crib sheets.

Pepper and Bridget's son Amos was turning 14 and mom had insisted that this big birthday be done at our house.

Amos and Honey were the first to arrive. I noticed Honeydew was not feeling so well herself and she confided to me that she was pregnant also.

That evening at the party the baby gave be a big kick. Next thing I knew the floor was soaked around me.

My water had broken, Juniper jumped up like his bottom was on fire, everyone was panicking and I tried to tell them I was fine, but about that time I was doubled over by an awful contraction. Time to go to the hospital!

Twelve and a half hours later our daughter, Margarita, was in our arms. Two days later we were discharged home and the three of us were greeted at the door by my mom and dad.

They were so excited to be grandparents again. As I tucked my daughter into her crib for the first time I was overwhelmed with happiness.

Juniper and I soon decided that I would take a leave of absence from work to continue with the research I had begun while I was on bedrest. Juniper would also be at home and continue inventing from the house. I was very relieved to have him nearby.

I was both excited and nervous to be a new mom. Everytime Margarita cried I would feel anxious but once she was in my arms she would calm down and I would too.


As I stared into those eyes that so much resembled my own, I thought about the future of our small family and wondered what was in store...

Generation 2-Chapter 11: Love and Marriage

Deep breath Candy! Time to get ready. As I gazed at my own reflection, I could not believe how quickly time had flown by. It had almost been a year since our engagement. Today is my wedding day! I was working on touching up my makeup when Honeydew came in.

"Wow baby sister! You are just glowing on your wedding day! But I think you may need a little something extra!"

"Like what?"

"Put your dress on and I'll be right back."

"Here sis!" Honeydew handed me a very small, old looking box. When I opened them my breath which I had been holding on and off most of the morning left me in whoosh. There inside the tiny box were the pearl drop earrings my father had bought my mother for her wedding present. I quickly changed my silly heart shaped hoops for the gorgeous pearl earrings.

Candy smiled, nodded and quickly exited the room to help my mother with the catering, leaving me to my thoughts...or rather nerves.

However I couldn't help but smile at the reflection in the mirror. I would be not only spending the night with Juniper, but the rest of my life. I couldn't help but smile.

A shrill cry interrupted my thoughts. Bridget had burst into the room suddenly. She was soon followed by a few more folks who wanted to "admire the bride" before the wedding. She fussed over me a little as did everyone else but in all honesty I was ready to just get on with the wedding. No one had seen Juniper yet and my stomach was getting a little knotted wondering where he could be.

Dad kept smiling at me and looked like he might cry a little and Mom just stayed busy doing all sorts of chores. I started pacing a little.

Pepper came into the room next. My sweet brother...he'll know where Juniper is.

"Candy...Juniper called, he's coming but he very delayed in traffic, he doesn't know what time he'll make it...I'm sorry sis"

"Wha...Pepper...are we still getting married today? We are still getting married right?"

"Of course you are sis...he'll just be late. Don't worry. We'll think of some way to keep the guests entertained..."

He left to go talk with Mom and Dad while I resumed my pacing.

Bridget of all folks came to the rescue by playing the guitar and Pepper and Honey started dancing and soon others had joined in for a 'pre-wedding' bash. I shifted my pacing from the bedroom to the kitchen.

Finally I started getting upset. Everyone was eating the food Mom had made for the reception and folks were starting to get bored, I could tell. It had been hours. Where was he? As the tears formed in my eyes I retreated outside to where the wedding was supposed to be held.

From there I could see the north side of the beach....our spot. Sunset point. I thought about just taking off down the beach but I didn't. I stood there and watched as the sun started to set. As it sunk lower and lower on the horizon, so did my heart. I was being jilted! How could Juniper do this to me! The tears poured.

Suddenly I heard my name being called. By now it was evening and quite a few of the guests had left. I didn't turn around, my head hung lower as an answer hoping that whoever was calling me would just leave me there, alone. Jilted. But before I knew what was happening I was enveloped by two strong arms and I looked up to see those eyes.

" Baby I'm so sorry...I could never apologize enough...if I thought I would have gotten here any quicker I would have gotten out of my car and ran but...but..." I held my hand up.

"Juniper...Don't." My voice sounded cold and foreign even to my own ears. I must have startled him because he took a step backwards.

"Candy Tea, you listen to me. I would have done anything I could to get here to you this afternoon. I'm sorry things didn't go as we planned but I did not do this on purpose. I love you" He grabbed my hands. I didn't pull away and this encouraged him to continue.

"Candy if you can forgive me this once and  marry me here tonight I can promise you I'll make sure you never feel alone again. Ever."

"Juniper...I...will." I smiled but I looked up at him with my best serious face "If this ever happens again I'll box you in the nose...or worse."

He laughed and then went back inside to tell them that the wedding was back on.

In the end our small private ceremony ended up being much more romantic. The stars were out, the moon was bright and those that were the most important to us were there to witness our union.

Shortly after our wedding, the remaining clew did a remarkably speedy clean up and then left us with the house to ourselves.

I was a little anxious and excited as I walked into my room to meet Juniper there. He looked so handsome sitting on the bed, smiling up at me.

"Hello Mrs. Tea."
I scootched over onto the bed next to him and snuggled up beside him.
"Hello Mr. Tea. Welcome to the family..." I said and kissed him.

And what happened next was amazing but private so you can figure it out for yourselves.