Chapet 1.12: Moving Forward

     When Rachael woke up she reached out across the bed for Cerulean.  She sat up when she didn't find him right away.  Then she heard the shower running in the bathroom.

     Rachael got up out of bed and grabbed the first thing she found to wear.  She pulled on Cerulean's shirt as the water turned off.  Turning around she saw Cerulean stride out of the bathroom, shirtless and in a pair of jeans.

     "Hi," Rachael said feeling inexplicably shy considering everything they had just done.

     "Hi," Cerulean said leaning against the door jamb and looking her up and down.

     Rachael fidgeted and tried to pull the hem of the shirt down further.  "Sorry, I couldn't find my clothes and I just grabbed the first thing I found to put on."

     Cerulean smiled then, "It's fine.  That shirt looks better on you than it did on me."

     Rachael blushed and mumbled, "thanks, I think."

     Cerulean pushed off the doorway and walked over to her.  Rachael took his hand and sat on the bed with him.

     "Are you ready to talk?" he asked her.

     Rachael nodded, "yeah."

     "Carl is my ex.  When I was sixteen we started dating.  We were together for about two months before my mother died.  I was a mess then.  I didn't know how to handle taking care of Patrick and my brothers and sisters, my uncle told me I was the first prospect as head of the family.

     "I was scared and I felt so alone.  My siblings were counting on me, my mother was dead and the rest of the family wanted me to be an adult like I wasn't still a child.  There was so much pressure to be a grown up when I didn't even know what that meant.

     "After the wake Carl came over late and I was angry about everything.  I was yelling at him and then we were kissing," Rachael looked down at the hands she dropped in her lap, "he was my first."

     "What I didn't know was he already had a girlfriend at another school and while we were dating he  had proposed to her."

     "He was cheating on her?" Cerulean asked.

     Rachael shook her head, "no.  She knew he was going out with me.  Turns out it was some stupid locker room bet at my school.  I didn't go out with anyone when I was younger and Carl took up the challenge.  He had her blessing to try and get me into bed."

   
     "He was, and based on our run in the other day, probably still is a bastard."  Cerulean said putting an arm around her shoulders.  "If she really did support him hurting you then she's a bitch and they deserve each other."

     Rachael snorted and leaned into him, "I found out all this about a month later.  My period didn't come on time and I thought I might be pregnant.  I went to the doctor and while they were doing the blood test I decided to tell Clark we could be having a baby."

     "He told me that a baby was my problem and had nothing to do with him.  Then he told me about Bridget and the stupid bet.  He was the high school super star and he wasn't going to let his life be overturned by a pregnant mistress. He said that a lousy hundred simoleans wasn't enough for him to want anything more to do with me.  He gave it to me, telling me to take it and get rid of the baby.

     "I was shocked at first.  He had been so kind and caring at first, so attentive that I thought it couldn't have been a bet that brought us together.  But then I remembered all the times he would look at other girls in front of me, the canceled dates and broken promises.

     "I felt stupid then because in retrospect it was so obvious he wasn't all that in to me in the first place.  I was stupid, naive, careless..."

     "Don't Ray," Cerulean interrupted her, "you were young and in love.  He took advantage of you in a time of need.  It was wrong of him but that isn't a reflection on you."

     "Ray, in the time we've been together I've seen the love and care you have for your siblings and your stepdad.  Even the distance you put between us was for their sake.  I didn't like it but I understood it.  You gave him a precious gift and he treated it without care, but you haven't let that destroy you.  You're strong and you have a heart so pure it shines."

     "Why couldn't I have met you first," she asked against his shoulder.

     He laughed then, "if we had met then, I wouldn't have Ochre now.  A lot in my life is messed up but I wouldn't change a moment as long as I have him.

     "What's important now is moving forward.  It's only been a little over a month but Ray I want more with you.  I want a life together taking care of the girls and Ochre. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, waking up with you every morning and going to sleep with you in my arms."

     "I want that too," Rachael said kissing him.

                                                                                                                 

Random Ramblings

   Wait. what about the romantic dinner and the candle light proposal...Now I need to go toss those pictures out of the folders  :-(

   Yeah so I'm trudging along through the story.  This was not the original proposal I had in mind while playing but I think I like it better.  Here's the original proposal photo.  Cute but the story is definitely better I think.

"Marry me sweetheart"

Chapter 1.11: What Makes You Happy

     "Why did we leave so early?  Are Ochre and Cerulean still coming over for dinner?" River asked.

     "No, they're not," Rachael snapped tersely.  She pushed open the front door to find Patrick reading in the living room.  She waited for the girls to enter the house first before going inside.  Now crying, River ran through the room and into the hallway towards the girls' room.

     "Why are you snapping at us?  We didn't do anything to you," Rebecca yelled at her.

     "Enough, I'm not discussing it right now so go do your homework or something," Rachael said pointing out the doorway.

     Patrick closed his book as Rebecca turned and left the room.

     "What happened Rachael?" he asked.

     Rachael put her head in her hands and growled to herself.  She dropped her hands and looked at Patrick.  He smiled and patted the seat next to him on the couch, "Come talk baby girl."

     Rachael walked over and dropped to the couch.

     "What do I do, Patrick?" she asked.

     "It would help to know what the problem is.  I can't advise you if I don't know the whole story."

     Rachael sat up and looked at him.  "I ran into Carl and his wife at the park.  They saw me and Lean kissing," she closed her eyes and grimaced, "they told him everything."

     Patrick sighed and nodded, "that is tough.  You haven't told him yourself then?"

     "Yeah, right.  Great date topic.  No there was no reason for it to come up."

     "Then, knowing the take Carl and his wife have of the situation, Cerulean doesn't know everything.  You need to make a decision Rachael.  Is Cerulean and your relationship with him important to you?  If so, you need to talk to him and tell him your side."

     He stood up then leaned over to kiss the top of her head, "Whatever you decide I'll be here for you, baby girl, but you need to think about what is going to make you happy."

     Rachael watched as he walked around the corner and turned towards the girls room.  She heard the door open and River's muffled crying before it closed again.  She dropped back in the chair and closed her eyes thinking about her sister crying and Lean's face as she yelled at him.

     Cerulean looked confused when he had tried to get her to stop and hurt when she yelled at him.  If nothing else she owed him an apology for her display.


     Two days later, while the girls were at school, she knocked on the door of the Palette house and waited for someone to answer.

     Footsteps announced someone's approach so Rachael stepped back as the door opened.

     Cerulean stood inside, looking at her.  He stepped outside and closed the door.

     "Mags isn't home right now," he said.

     Rachael was taken aback by the frost in his voice.  Looking down at the floor she realized that she had really hurt him with her words.

     "I'm not here to see Mags.  I came to see you.  I came to apologize for what I said at the park," she wrapped her arms around herself as she peeked up at him through her lashes.  He had a helluva poker face, she couldn't tell what he was thinking now.

     Looking back at the ground she steadied the trembling in her chin and took another breath, "It was wrong of me to say it had nothing to do with you.  We were dating and you did have the right to know what he was talking about."

     "I'm sorry you had to go through that unpleasantness.  I'm thankful that Ochre wasn't there to see it.  If you still want him around the girls I'll have Patrick or Rhidian bring them to the park so that you don't have to see me anymore."

     "Well, I'll be going now," she took a step backwards ready to leave.

     "Stop."

     Rachael froze in place.  She looked up at him as Cerulean walked over to her.

     "You're not leaving like that," he said pulling her into an embrace and kissing her.

     Rachael wrapped her arms around him as he picked her up and carried her inside and up to his room.

     "Ochre?" she gasped as he set her down on the carpet and started kissing her neck.

     "School," he said against the collar of her shirt.  His hands grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled up, Rachael raised her arms helping him to take off her shirt before returning the favor and stripping off his shirt.

     "Mags?" she asked before he returned to kissing her.

     "Work."

     "Good," she nodded, kissing him as they made their way over to the bed.

     "We still need to talk," he said leaning over her as she lay back.

     Rachael let her hands drift across his ribs and around to his back, pulling him down to her as he kissed her on the lips.

     She looked him in the eyes as he pulled back again.  For the first time she made the effort to ignore her past and look at what was really in front of her.  In his eyes she saw desire, passion, and maybe, just maybe, love.

     "Yeah," she agreed and kissed him.

                                                                                                                         

Random Ramblings

    A special out take....

"Hot stuff baby tonight, I want some hot stuff baby...."

   Yeah I really don't know how that song goes but this is what is going through my mind at this time.  So in game Patrick has already died when it came time to create this scene. (I'm a little ahead of where the story is at).

   Fortunately for me he was a sim I created and I had his clone in my library, so I plop him into a little house turn aging on for him alone and wait until he's an elder to move him back into the O'Malley house.  He was cooking breakfast one morning when he set the stove then himself on fire.  He put himself out but for some reason the flames decided to hang out for awhile.  Can't remember why they're gone now....

   Now the really freaky part for me is when I'm reintroducing him to his kids and Rachael...The kids still recognize him as their father :-O  The clone is their father.  I kinda want to smack them and shake them yelling "He is a CLONE" cuz you know he isn't the original. that one has a gravestone in the backyard and all.

Chapter 1.10: The Last Sim

     "Roooaar, I'm a space monster!" Rachael yelled while Ochre pretended to shoot her with the toy gun on the play ground ship.

     "Get her, get her," the girls screeched from their 'prison' under the monkey bars.

     "Rar," Rachael growled again.

     Ochre aimed the toy gun at her again and jerked it like he was firing.  "Aah," Rachael moaned and fell to the ground in a dramatic display of dying.

     The girls shrieked as Ochre climbed out of the rocket to free them and they took off running around the playground again.

     Rachael laughed as she sat up and watched them run off.  Shaking her head she stood up and dusted off her pants before going back to the picnic table to watch Cerulean at the grill.

     "You make a pretty sexy space monster," he said as she walked past.

     Laughing she dodged the arm he tried to snake around her.

     Rachael sat at the table and watched the children play while Cerulean finished cooking.  For the last six weeks Rachael and Cerulean brought the children to the park together on the weekends.

     Rachael smiled as the children began playing tag.  The time with her sisters has done Ochre some good, though he still doesn't speak he will smile and laugh more often.

     "And they are done," Cerulean said transferring the last hot dog from the grill to the plate.

     "These look great.  We should call the kids while they're still hot."

     "If you want to try and round up those monkeys to come and eat, good luck to you," Cerulean said as Rachael stood up.

     "Becks, River, Ochre!  Come eat, foods ready.  Hey you three," she called as the children ran past her, "Hey! Fine, come eat when you're ready."

     "Told you," Cerulean laughed as she came back to the table and sat next to him.

     "Oh hush," Rachael said accepting the plate he handed to her.

     "Where do they get all that energy?" Cerulean asked as they watched the kids run their third lap of the playground.

     Rachael started laughing at the disgust in his tone.  "Mom always said kids have so much energy because they're too silly to save it for when they get older."

     Cerulean laughed with her and Rachael smiled.  She counted it as a personal victory when she could get him to laugh.

     As serious as she had learned to be with responsibility for her family, he was more so.  When she asked Mags about it she said it was the nature of his job that made him so serious, but when Rachael asked what he did exactly she refused to say more, telling Rachael that it was up to Cerulean to talk to her.

     Cerulean wouldn't talk about himself though, and whenever Rachael asked he would tell her that he can't talk about it and turn the conversation to his son, the girls, or their respective siblings.

     "What's got you so deep in thought," Cerulean asked, putting an arm around her shoulders.

     Rachael ducked under his arm and stood up from the table.

     "Not where the kids can see," she said taking his hand and pulling him up from the table with her.

     She smiled as she pulled him towards the bathrooms where they wouldn't be immediately visible from the playgrounds.  She'd never advertised it to her siblings when she was dating someone in the past and had continued that practice with Cerulean.

     She could tell that it sometimes irritated him when she pretended there was nothing more between them in front of the children or Mags but he respected her wishes and didn't press the issue in front of them.

     "Come here," Cerulean said as he pulled her into his embrace and brought his head down so the smallest gap separated their lips still. 

     "Make me,"  she teased back, wrapping her fingers in his sweater and hanging on to him.

     Rachael laughed as Cerulean groaned before closing the distance between them.  One of his hands cupped her neck as the other pulled her against him.  Rachael let her hands travel around his torso to his back where she embraced him.

     They were so engrossed in kissing that they didn't hear the sims walking up behind them.

     "Rachael?"

     Rachael jumped and pulled away from Cerulean.  But even as her head caught up with what her ears heard, her stomach plummeted through the floor.

     The voice belonged the last sim she ever wanted to see her like this.

     "Well, what do you know?  It is.  Who woulda thought the 'other woman' could catch a man," the woman said, "better not let your girlfriend know."

     Cerulean frowned and turned around to the sim and his girlfriend turned wife while Rachael desperately fought against the urge to either run away or vomit that the sight of Carl and his wife stirred within her.

     "Move along.  Neither your company nor your commentary is wanted," Cerulean said as he stepped in front of Rachael.

     "Easy now. The name's Carl Sharp and I just wanted to pass along a friendly warning.  Mistress here," he said with a nod towards Rachael, "has a reputation round these parts.  You see she's infamous for trying to trap a man into marriage.  Fortunately for me I already had my fiancée to save me from her lies."

     "Watch your mouth," Cerulean stepped forward and grabbed the collar of Carl's shirt.

     "I'm just telling the truth," Carl said holding up his hands in his most non-threatening way.

     Rachael couldn't take it.  Feeling the heated blush of embaressment in her cheeks she pushed past Cerulean and Carl running away from the small group.

     "Ray," Cerulean yelled running after her and catching her by the arm, "Ray, stop.

     "Told you," Carl called after them.

     "Get lost," Cerulean yelled at him.

     Rachael tried to pull her arm away, "let go. Just please let me go."

     "Ray, stop.  Talk to me.  What was that about?"

     Rachael stopped pulling and turned on Cerulean.  "Why?  What does it have to do with you?  Nothing.  You're just my best friends big brother, so leave me alone," she yelled at him.

     Turning around again, Rachael saw the children nearby.  "We're leaving," she said grabbing the girls by their hands and pulling River and Rebecca after her.

     Rachael left the park, Cerulean and the small crowd of onlookers at her little drama behind.

                                                                                                                      

Random Ramblings

   So I'm starting to inject some drama into the story.  Here's the opening of the drama set up.  Wonder where I will take it...kidding, I already know the general route my story will take but I am curious about some of the scenes I will discover along the way.

Chapter 1.9: The Sky was Lightening

     "I should have called it off," Rachael said after her billionth check in the mirror.

     "Ray," Rhidian knocked on her bedroom door, "Cerulean's at the door."

     "Coming," Rachael called back. One final check in the mirror and she opened the door.  She jumped when her brother was still in the kitchen.

     "Whoa, Ray," Rhidian said looking at her outfit.

     "Too much?" she asked looking down at her skirt and top.

     "Not for a date," Rhidian assured her.  "Stop worrying Ray.  Go, have fun."

     "Right," Rachael breathed deep, "fun.  What is that again?"

     Rhidian laughed, "go."

     "Yeah, yeah. Going," she called back, walking out of the house.

     "Hi Rachael," Cerulean said at the door. "Wow, you look good."

     "Thanks.  And you can call me Ray, 'Rachael' is bit of a mouthful."

     "Then I guess you'll have to call me Lean.  For the same reason,"  he said offering her an arm.

     She took the offered limb asking, "so where are you taking me on our date?"

     "Do you like surprises?"

      "Sometimes."

      Cerulean smiled down at her but didn't say anything more.  Rachael shook her head but kept walking in step.

     "The Solar Flare Lounge?" Rachael asked when they arrived.

     "Is this place okay?"

     "I don't know.  I've never been here before."

     "What? Never?  You mean never, never?"

     Rachael shook her head. "I've been too busy working to go on many dates and usually when I have they're at the nightclub in Willow Creek."

     "Well guess it's time to remedy that," he said holding the door open for her.  Inside the stairs led up to the lounge and bar.  Loud music drifted down as Rachael followed Cerulean up.

     At the top Rachael stopped to look around the room.  A couple of sims sat at the bar, a small group stood around a makeshift stage in the corner where one sim was performing and a few sims were dancing in that corner of the room.

     "What'll it be first? Dancing or drinking?" Cerulean asked.

     Rachael looked around again, her eyes stopping at the sims dancing.

     "Dancing it is," Cerulean walked her out to the dance floor.

     Rachael laughed at the dorky two step Cerulean did.  Cerulean laughed with her before taking her hands and pulling her into a more moderate dance.

     "Good, you laughed," he said.

     "Sorry, was I being too serious," she asked looking up at him.

     "Not for what life has thrown at you.  But it's important to enjoy life too.  I have a feeling you don't let yourself enjoy very often."

     Rachael looked away and over to the performer over his shoulder.  "It's tough when you have four younger siblings relying on you to keep them fed and a roof over their head.  It really doesn't leave a lot of time for fun."

     "I get that.  I don't have siblings but I've got my boy.  His happiness is my goal everyday."

     Rachael smiled taking a step back, "I'm getting thirsty.  Think we can get a drink," she asked with a nod in the direction of the bar.

     "Sure," Cerulean said letting her go.

     Rachael went to find a seat while Cerulean walked up to the bar.  He brought her back a pink drink in a glass.

     "What's this," Rachael asked tilting her head to the side.

     "It's called 'Sea Splash'.  Try it," he offered her the drink.

     "It's good," Rachael said in surprise.  Sitting back in her seat and sipping her drink, Rachael looked at Cerulean.

     "What?" he asked.

     "Just trying to figure out why you're single.  You're funny, good-looking, great with your son.  You're a girls dream-catch.  So what happened with Ochre's mom?"

     Cerulean pulled back into his seat and looked away, "It's complicated."

     "Sorry.  I didn't mean to pry."

     "No, it's a fair question.  I've invited you out on a date, you deserve some answers.  Give me a moment to think, please."

     Rachael waited while Cerulean thought.

     "First off you need to know that I'm not together with his mom anymore.  I never would have asked you out if I was."

     Rachael nodded her head when he looked at her.

     "She's not a part of our lives.  Never has been a part of Ochre's after he was born.

     "We were together for awhile but we wanted different things with our lives.  We made choices that pulled us apart, she left and Ochre stayed with me"

     "Thank you for sharing that with me," Rachael said when he stopped speaking.

     "It's getting surprisingly late, or early as the case may be.  I'll take you home,"  Cerulean stood and held out a hand to Rachael.

     Rachael looked at his hand a moment before taking it and letting him help her up.


     "Well, this is me," she said outside her house.

     To the east the sky was lightening as the sun started to rise.

     "Thank you for a good night," Rachael said kissing Cerulean on the cheek.

     As she started to step back Cerulean wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again.

     Rachael stood in his arms letting the kiss carry her.  As he started to pull away she followed him this time, kissing him.

     "I really should go inside," she whispered when they finally stopped.

     "Right," he said.  "I'll, uh, let you go then."

     "Uh-huh," Rachael agreed.

     "Um, Ray, you need to let go of my jacket."

     "Right," she said looking at her fingers gripping his jacket.  With effort she managed to pull her hands away and let him go.

     "Have a good day Ray," Cerulean said starting to walk away.

     "Bye," Rachael said leaning back against her door and watching him leave.  She crossed her arms and brought one hand up to her mouth.

     "Dang, that was a ten for sure."

                                                                                                                                 

Random Ramblings

   Yay.  A new start for Rachael.  

   So when I was writing the part about the sun coming up I didn't realize how prophetic it was going to sound... :O  In proof reading and searching for a line for the chapter title I realized it.

   It's taken nine chapters but finally life is beginning again.

Chapter 1.8: Still Invited?

     On Friday Rachael came home from work tired.  Work had been crazy that week.  Three of the authors had deadlines to meet that week and they became real needy at that time, calling Rachael for every little thing.  Rachael walked in the door and dropped her bag at the door stretching out the stiff muscles in her neck as she passed through the living room.

     She looked in the girls room first.

     "Hey you two, is your homework done," she asked finding them inside.

     "I'm finishing my homework now," River said from the bed.

     "Becks?" Rachael said when the older girl didn't answer.

     "I'll get to it later, Ray," she grumbled.

     "Fine.  Just remember if you don't get it done before the outing tomorrow you don't get to go," she said leaving the room.

     Rachael was walking to her room when her phone rang.  "Hello," she said answering the call.

     "Rachael?"

     "Speaking, who is this?"

     "This is Cerulean.  Mags brother."

     "Yeah, of course, Cerulean.  I know you're Mags brother I just didn't recognize your voice over the phone.  Are you calling about the park trip?"

     "Yes.  That is if we're still invited."

     "You're still invited.  Do you want to meet at the park then."

     "Alright.  What time?"

     "Usually we'll get there around one, the girls will play for a while, I'll cook burgers or dogs for a late lunch and then we go home."

     "Okay so we'll meet around one thirty."

     "Okay.  See you there."

     The girls were playing on the giant pirate ship when Cerulean and Ochre arrived at the park.

     "Rachael."

     She turned when he called her name.

     "You made it.  How are you Ochre?"

     The solemn little boy nodded his head at her question.

     "Good," Rachael said with a nod.

     "River," she called her sister over.

     "River this is Ochre.  He's new and he came to play with you.  Can you show him around the playground?  But stay within sight."

     "Sure Ray.  Come on Ochre," she said taking the boy by the hand and pulling him over to the playground.

     "Thanks for asking them to stay in sight," Cerulean said as they sat on the park bench.

     "If one of the girls had ever been taken from me I wouldn't ever let them out of my sight again.  Honestly, I can't count the number of nights I stood over River's crib watching her sleep when she finally came home after mom died.  It felt like if I wasn't watching her she would just disappear into thin air."

     "Yeah, that's pretty much the feeling I have," Cerulean agreed.

     "So I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner sometime.  As a thank you for this, for inviting Ochre out with your sisters."

     "You don't have to thank me.  He seems like a good kid.  I think him and River will be good friends after this," Rachael said looking to where the kids were climbing on the monkey bars.

     "I'm trying to ask you out for a date Rachael," Cerulean said.

     Rachael turned to look at him in surprise. "Um."

                                                                                                                                      

Random Ramblings

   So did I surprise ya yet?

Chapter 1.7: Why We Moved

     Rachael jumped at the knock on the door.

     "Ray, you alright?" Mags asked through the door.

     "Fine," Rachael stopped when her voice was little more than a whisper.  Taking a breath she tried again. "Fine, I'll be out in a second."

     "Okay."  Rachael waited while her footsteps moved away from the door and turned the water on again.

     Walking out of the bathroom Rachael saw Mags, Cerulean and a little boy seated at the dining table.

     "Come on Ray." Mags called.

     "Ochre this is Aunt Mags's friend Rachael, Rachael this is my son Ochre," Cerulean said as she approached the table.

     The boy turned around in his seat to look at her as she walked over.

     "Hello Ochre," Rachael said as she took a seat.

     The boy smiled a little and ducked his head but didn't say anything.

     Rachael looked at Cerulean and Mags.  Cerulean was looking at his son, but Mags was looking at her and shook her head.

     "This looks delicious Cerulean," Rachael said picking up her fork.

     "Thanks.  So what is it exactly that you do for a living.  Mags has said you work at a publishing house, but doing what?"

     "Right now I'm a Writer's Assistant.  What that means is that I get coffee, run errands and other such tasks for six of the House's top writers.  A glorified secretary really."

     "She also writes some, too.  Did that short story you sent me get published?" Mags asked.

     "It got a small print release, and one of the writer's I assist is acting as my mentor.  She's encouraging me to write more and try again."

     "That's great Ray, watch you're going to be a world wide best seller before you know it."

     "That's only if I get more time on the computer at home," Rachael laughed, "but with five of us living there the only time it's available is the middle of the night.  Either the girls or Rhidian are using it for homework or Patrick's playing his video games."

     "It's that busy all the time?" Mags asked.

     "Yeah.  Rhidian is taking culinary classes at the local trade school, he's training to be a chef so he can open his own catering business.  Rebecca is in the eighth grade and has school papers to write and River has actually skipped grades.  She's doing second grade work and taking study classes online." 

     Cerulean stood up and began clearing the empty plates. "Ochre go get ready for bed, I'll tuck you in."

     Rachael stood up and picked up her plate.  "Stay seated, I got it," Cerulean said taking it from her hand.

     "I'll make coffee," Mags said standing up.

     "Is there really nothing I can do?" Rachael asked sitting back down.

     "Of course not, you're our guest," Cerulean said washing the dishes.

     "Guess I've just gotten used to working all the time.  I don't really get a moment to sit down at home," Rachael said.

     "Well then you deserve a rest at our place," Mags said bringing over the coffee mugs.  "How's your stepdad and Rhonan?  You haven't mentioned them yet."

     "Patrick is doing okay.  He's got a garden in our yard and making some money from it.  It helps a lot with the bills when they come in."

     "And what about Rhonan?"

     Rachael sighed, "what about Rhonan.  He and Patrick got into a fight shortly after our move to Willow Creek.  He just couldn't forget how Patrick fell apart when mom died.  Couldn't trust he wouldn't check out on us again if things got tough.  Rhonan moved in with our uncles about that time.  He doesn't come by the house much but I have lunch with him every couple of weeks.  He's doing open mic nights at the lounge trying to get discovered as a comedian."

     "He any good?" Mags asked.

     "He's got a steady following on the internet, so I guess he's doing okay," she said. "What about you Mags?  What are you doing?"

     "Viridian, Lean and I work for the family business, The Palette Agency.  I do computer work, Viridian works in the shipping branch, he's out on a run, and right now Lean is on a leave of absence."

     They turned to look as Cerulean stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door.

     "Ochre go to sleep easy?" Mags asked.

     "Pretty easy.  Only took three stories and his lullaby to get him down."

     "Is he okay?" Rachael asked.

     "We had a scare a couple months ago." Cerulean said.  "Someone took him from the yard of our house, he was found two towns away when the kidnapper stopped at a store leaving him in the car.  Someone walking by saw him and called the police about an abandoned child.  When they got there they couldn't find the owner of the car but they rescued him.  Ochre hasn't spoken a word since it happened and he has trouble getting to sleep."

     "I'm so sorry that happened to you," Rachael said, reaching across the table to cover his hand with hers.

     "That's why we moved.  We didn't want whoever it was to try again, so we left,"  Mags said.

 "We chose Oasis Springs because I knew you lived close by and wanted to be closer so we could meet."

     Rachael leaned back in her chair looking at the clock on the wall.  "Jeez, is it that late already?  I need to get home."

     "Let me walk you out," Cerulean offered.

     Rachael stopped at the door and looked at the jacket he offered her.

     "It's cold out," he said.

     "Thanks," she said pulling it on.  "You know," she began, "I take my sisters to the park in Willow Creek every weekend. You could bring Ochre sometime and they could play together.  If you want."

     "Thanks.  I'll give you a call. I'm sure he would like that," Cerulean smiled.

     Rachael smiled back, "well, goodnight then."  Rachael waved as she walked out the door.

     Zipping up the jacket against the night chill Rachael walked to the stop to catch the bus home.

                                                                                                                                 

Random Ramblings

   Another chapter down.  It seems kind of slow to me right now, maybe because I have all these ideas for the story piling up in my head but I'm getting through it.  BTW pretty much everything I write will be a work of fiction. (if anyone cares).

Chapter 1.6: Mags

     The house looked too subdued to be the home of her friend.  Every picture Mags had shared with her over the years was alive and popping with colors.  Not pastel colors, but the pure hues of undiluted paint.

     Rachael stopped on the sidewalk looking up at the house unsure of whether to approach or not.  Shrugging she made her way up to the door, if it wasn't the right house the owners would only tell her to go away.

     After knocking she stepped back and looked around the neighborhood again.  The house blended in with it's neighbors in this desert town.

     "Ray? OMG, Ray it's you."

     Rachael laughed as Mags hugged her.  Hugging back Rachael said, "I hope it's me or this could be really weird."

     "Right, my brothers want to meet you too." Mags said turning back to the house.

     Rachael laughed as she followed her inside.  "This is more like it."

     "What," Mags asks looking at her questioningly.

     "This," Rachael made a sweeping gesture to encompass the room, "this is you.  I was worried when the outside didn't meet my expectations of a place you would live."

     "The boring stucco?" Mags asked. "Yeah stupid neighborhood association limits exterior colors to three shades of brown.

     "Fortunately," she said continuing, "the inside is out of their control. What do you think?"

     "I think I might go blind," Rachael joked.  The floor and walls were white but every piece of furniture was a bright purple, blue or green.  The rug under the dining table a bright medley of color.

     "Really," Mags asked looking worried, "I guess it might be a bit much. Our house was like this growing up so we're used to it but for someone wh..."

     "Stop, stop.  Joking. I was joking.  It's perfect for you.  Just as I imagined your place would look."

     "Thanks.  We think it's pretty perfect too."

     "Cerulean Palette," he said holding out a hand for Rachael to shake.

     "Rachael O'Malley, nice to meet you."

     "Lean is one of my brothers.  Him, Viridian, and Lean's son moved with me."

     "Dinner will be ready in a thirty minutes.  Will you be staying Rachael?" Cerulean asked.

     "If it's no trouble," Rachael began.

     "Yes, Rachael will be staying so make extra salad for her," Mags said at the same time.  Turning to Rachael she added, "it's not gourmet by any stretch of the word, but it's pretty good, so stay for dinner.  Okay?"

     Rachael was doubled over laughing.  Mags was exactly as she seemed from her emails.  Bubbly and outgoing.  She allowed Mags to pull her over to the couch where they sat together.

     "So tell me, true.  How have you been Ray?"

     "Good.  Mostly good, I guess.  Busy with work and keeping the house running."

     "Dang, I don't envy you that."

     "You're Head too right?  How do you handle it?"

     "Honestly, I couldn't.  Viridian has taken over the money management aspect and I just sign off on what he wants to do.  It works for us."

     "Lucky brat, wish I'd had an older brother to take over for me."

     "Do you really Ray, because I've read your emails.  It's tough but you're thriving as your family's Head."

     Rachael laughed and dropped her head on the back of the sofa.  "Yeah, I guess you're right.  If I can't bring mom back there's really nothing I would change over the years."

     "Nothing?  Not even Carl?"

     "Shhh," Rachael hissed, sitting up fast and looking over her shoulder at Cerulean in the kitchen.

     Mags looked over at him too, "don't worry.  I don't think he can hear us all the way over there if we whisper."

     "Then keep your voice down. Please," she hissed.  "Okay, so maybe Carl is the one mistake I would like to change.  Emphasis on mistake and not one I want to talk about."

     Rachael knew she made an error when Mags eyes narrowed on her.  "I've been very patient and haven't pushed but you gotta tell me more.  What happened between you and the love of your seventeen year old life?"

     "Yeah, well seventeen year olds are idiots," she said dropping her head to her hands.  "I really don't want to get into it Mags.  Not now, not ever."

     "Fine.  I'll drop it, again, but I'm worried about you.  You haven't mentioned him once since your mother's wake.  Not in email, not on the phone.  Nothing."

     "I thought you were going to drop it," Rachael pleaded.

     "Done.  It's dropped," Mags said getting up.  "Hey Lean, need any help?" she asked walking over to the kitchen area.  Their voices dropped to a background murmur as they worked together to complete the salad.

     Rachael sat on the couch for a moment before standing up.  "Mags, where is the bathroom?" she asked.  

     "The green doorway across the room," she said pointing towards the front door.

     "Thanks," Rachael said, heading in that direction.

     Rachael locked the door before turning on the taps and leaning over the sink.  She stood like that for a time before splashing water on her face.  Turning off the faucets she looked up at the mirror over the sink.

     For a brief moment it wasn't her reflection looking back at her she saw but her seventeen year old self.

                                                                                                                                        

Random Ramblings

   So I have a story worked out and now I'm just trying to put it all together for the blog now.  But even I'm sorta surprised by what is and is not making it into the story when I write.  So I have a whole back stories for my characters that are going to come into play.  Some in surprising ways, or at least I hope they will be.