Chapter 3.7: The Passage of Time

Varinia and Claude visit Selma. They are getting older and the know that they'll both be gone soon.

"How are you doing?" Varinia asks. "I can't believe how big kids have gotten."

What Varinia really means is that she can't believe how old she is.

"Remember when you girls used to bake on that toy oven? All you girls ever ate was muffins."

A small tear escapes Selma's eyes.

"Maeve was the best at baking. She always made sure we had muffins."

Though it's been a while since Maeve's passing, the wounds are still very fresh. Varinia, Calude, and Selma stare at each other in silence before Claude finally pulls them in to a tight hug.

"Life has been good to us," he whispers.

Jude and Cameo train hard. With his wedding day right around the corner, Rebecca's threat hangs heavy over his head. He wants nothing more than to be rid of her but he doesn't have the money to make that happen just yet.

"I can't believe you all made it!" Vera cries. "I can't believe I'm getting married!"
"I can't believe you're not wearing a coat!" Dahlia calls from behind her.
Vera chuckles, "We should all get inside."

Barnaby and Mauricio's son Drew is adorable. Vera feels badly that she didn't ask them to allow Drew to be her ring bearer. Then again, she planned her wedding so quickly that no one can blame her for not having a ring bearer.

Drew and Lindsay take adorable picture anyway.

Vera is giddy with energy during the ceremony. I can't believe this is finally happening she chants to herself. Jude winks at her while saying his vows. He's never felt this right.

Married!

Claude sobs his way through the ceremony. He's gotten way too soft in his old age. Michael, on the other hand, can't believe his eldest is old enough to get married and have a family of her own.

"When did this happen?" Michael asks himself. "How is she so big already?"

Amira cares for Bodica while Jude and Vera take a short honeymoon. Bodica has been living with them for a while and yet Amira isn't sure she's ever really even touched the animal. There's a first time for everything.

Lindsay is also left in the care of Amira. She pretty much entertains herself and Amira only has to make sure that Lindsay is clean and has food. Not so hard. Amira thinks back to her own children and remembers the hardship she felt with her own children. It's different now. She's much older. She's at the top of her career. She's not being forced to stay home from work. That's really the key for her. She always wanted to work harder and longer and having children stopped her from doing that. Thinking back now she wishes she would have enjoyed that time a little more.

Amira and Michael put up some decorations for Lindsay. Her name hangs just above her crib. They hope Jude and Vera like the small gift.

Vera grooms Bodica as soon as she returns from her honeymoon.

"Did you miss us, Bo? We missed you. Yes, we did!"

Then, in a fit of inspiration, Vera lights the backyard on fire.

"I practiced while we were on the cruise," she insists. "I'm getting better. I can put this out with an ice blast."

She does not put it out. The fire spreads and Vera find herself panicking.

"Where's Grandpa Claude? Someone get him. I don't know what's wrong," she cries. "I swear I had this mastered."

Vera does manage to put the fire out but she has to use a fire extinguisher instead of her spell. She feels like a terrible witch. Claude pulls her aside and pats her back.

"Don't feel badly," he whispers. "Sometimes we can't channel if we start to panic. I've lit the backyard on fire more times than I can remember. You could have handled it with a spell if everyone around you hadn't been panicking. Just keep practicing."

Vera rests her head on his shoulder. How does he always know the right thing to say? she wonders to herself.

The house isn't on fire and I'm still married so I'll chalk this up to a win.

Jolie is surprised to find that it's her birthday. The craziness of the wedding has taken over the entire household.

She calls Rickey over to talk about plans for the future. She wants to explore. She doesn't want to stay in once place.

"Will you come with me?" she asks with a hopeful lilt. "Travel the world with me?"
"When do we leave?"

Jolie's heart skips a beat and she pulls him into a hug. Her life is finally going to begin.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jolie Van Hofwegen
Frugal
Light Sleeper
Vegetarian
Adventurous
Slob
LTW: Seasoned Traveler

Rickey Aquino
Mooch
Charismatic
Family-Oriented
Slob
Shy
LTW: Super Popular


There's a post of wedding spam to follow. I didn't want to swamp this post with pics of the wedding so they'll just be thrown into a separate post.