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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 21, 2019 13:08:03 GMT -8
May 6, 2019
"Ever!" Tucker calls to his daughter. "Please come set the table!" Tucker grasps the steaming casserole dish with his hunter green potholder-clad hands. He hopes his mom's lasagna recipe will make an impression. The cooking tips from Talon came in handy today. He sets the dish on the table as the doorbell rings.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 21, 2019 13:25:58 GMT -8
Before leaving her own house, Brenda changes her outfit what feels like a million times and makes Jiana change hers about the same. "Mom, why are you stressing this?" Jiana groans as she comes out of her bedroom in her fourth outfit, arms crossed selfconsciously over her chest.
"Because, baby girl, because," Brenda brushes it off, straightening Jiana's cardigan. "You look adorable, honey. How do I look? Like I'm trying too hard?" Brenda doesn't want to appear too invested, after all this is meant to get their daughters together as friends.
Jiana groans again, setting a hand on her mother's shoulder. "Mom, you always look nice. Stop stressing. Let's go." She turns on her heel and skips down the hall to head to the car. Brenda sighs and follows her.
Standing at the door to Tucker and Ever's apartment, Jiana hides behind her mother as they wait for the door to open, suddenly much less excited and much more nervous. New places scare her, but as long as she has her mother (and her new friend!) she will be okay.
Her arm resting around Jiana, Brenda flashes her biggest smile when the door opens. "Hi!"
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 21, 2019 18:00:53 GMT -8
"Welcome," Morgan Noble says timidly. He is just about a year younger than his sister, but at least fifteen times less boisterous.
"Brenda!" Tucker greets. He holds out a hand to shake and then realizes he is still wearing his oven mitts. "Oops," he laughs. "I guess I'm done with those. Can I take your coat?"
He hangs both jackets on the coat tree by the front door, then pulls out a chair around the oval table.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 21, 2019 19:38:54 GMT -8
Jiana sticks close to her mother's side as Brenda enters the house. "Mom, she never said anything about a brother," the little girl whispers.
Brenda chuckles, brushing her daughter's hair out of her eyes. "It's okay, sweetie," she encourages her. "I'm sure he's very nice." She turns to the boy. "This is Jiana. Sweetie, why don't you ask him his name?"
Jiana takes a deep breath and asks, "Whatsyourname?", the words running into each other.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 22, 2019 0:06:36 GMT -8
Morgan gives Jiana a sidelong look. Isn't she too old to be so shy? He politely answers, "Morgan. Nice to meet you. "
Tucker invites Brenda to sit in the chair he is holding, then pulls another for Jiana.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 22, 2019 6:40:40 GMT -8
In a moment of courage, Jiana giggles, "Isn't Morgan a girl's name?" The instant the words spill out of her mouth, her hand flies to cover it, eyes wide with embarrassment. "I'm sorry!" she mumbles, words muffled from her hands and returned shyness.
"Thank you," Brenda says to Tucker, taking the seat.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 22, 2019 9:49:52 GMT -8
Morgan shrugs at Jiana's question. He is rarely phased by much of anything. "Sometimes," he says. "Dad says my mom named me after a tv character."
Tucker surveys the scene, satisfied. They have rarely entertained. Social interaction hasn't been on the forefront of Tucker's mind these many years. He already feels refreshed.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 22, 2019 12:01:28 GMT -8
"Really? Which one?" Jiana asks, suddenly drawn in. "My mom named me after herself. Right, mom?"
"Not quite, sweetie," Brenda chuckles. "Your name is a longer form of one of my middle names."
Jiana frowns. "Same difference, mom."
Chuckling still, Brenda turns back to Tucker. "Thanks for inviting us over tonight. Seems like Jiana gets along well with both your kids."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 22, 2019 13:43:11 GMT -8
"Some show called Criminal Minds," Morgan says.
Tucker supplies, "Two of the detectives are Derek Morgan and Spencer Reid. That's where she got Morgan Reid. "
Morgan shrugs. "I'm not allowed to watch it. "
Ever pipes in, "I've seen pictures, though. They are HOT!"
Morgan grimaces.
"Ever!" Tucker scolds. "That's disrespectful. Too young." He gives her his dad look, but smirks at Brenda.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 22, 2019 13:47:27 GMT -8
"It's a good show! And, I hate to say it but... I think I'd have to agree with your daughter, Tucker," Brenda chuckles. Turning back to Morgan, she adds, "Your mother had good taste. And your father is smart to not let you watch that kind of show."
"My mom doesn't let me watch a lot of things either," Jiana adds, glancing at Ever and Morgan.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 22, 2019 18:02:43 GMT -8
"Parents are boring, " Ever whines.
Tucker raises an eyebrow at her. "Believe me, you wouldn't like it anyway. Too bloody."
"Cool!" Ever says.
Tucker shakes his head, smiling. He knows Criminal Minds would only result in his daughter sharing his bed, rolling all over his and turning it into a sauna. She played tough, but cried at the sea witch in little mermaid. That was last week.
"Tell me where you come from, " he invites Brenda.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 22, 2019 18:27:55 GMT -8
"Oh, I spent most of my life in San Francisco," Brenda replies, chuckling at the kids. They really said the darnedest things sometimes... "Or if not in the city proper, in the suburbs. It was great. How about you? Were you always here?"
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 23, 2019 14:30:34 GMT -8
Tucker serves lasagna, salad and garlic bread to each of them. His kids dig in, enjoying the favorite meal. "I was born in Austin, Texas and raised in Kenya for several years. We moved here in my teens and the kids were born here. We just recently moved back from Washington. We have family there and my parents went back to Nairobi when my kids were little. A couple of my brothers stayed here, but I needed some help as a single parent."
"My mom ran away, " Ever blurts.
Tucker purses his lips and grunts. He wouldn't put it so bluntly, but she wasn't wrong.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 23, 2019 14:45:00 GMT -8
Brenda glances at Jiana, making sure the little girl isn't upset by her new friend's comment. "Oh, honey, that must have been hard," Brenda says to Ever. "I'm no stranger to absentee parents." Her own mother had left when she was younger even than Ever. "Jiana's dad wasn't much better."
Jiana shudders, remembering the incriminating photos she had atumbled upon in her dad's phone. All she wanted was to play Candy Crush, but when she unlocked it, she found herself staring at messages between her father and some other woman. "My dad was gross," she mutters before tearing off another bite of her garlic bread.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 23, 2019 14:59:53 GMT -8
Tucker takes a deep breath and changes the subject. "SO..." he begins, a little too loudly, "what do you like to do, Jiana?"
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 23, 2019 15:15:29 GMT -8
Jiana shrugs, pushing her lasagna around on her plate. "My mom's been teaching me how to do my nails." She shows Ever her bright pink fingernails, tiny white polka dots on the thumbs.
"She's a major mama's girl," Brenda adds softly to Tucker. "She wanta to learn everything that I do while I'm at work."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 23, 2019 15:22:16 GMT -8
"Apprenticeships are the best way to learn. My dad was great at teaching all of us useful skills. Morgan is getting good at carpentry."
"Dad teaches us how to fix the apartments," Ever shares.
"Living the dream!" Tucker jokes.
"Can you do my nails?" Ever asks Jiana.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 23, 2019 15:29:35 GMT -8
"Oh, wow, so do you run the apartments?" Brenda asks, suddenly intrigued by the idea. "And carpentry, huh? Bet that's useful!"
Jiana nods vigorously. "Uh huh! My mom has a whole big box at home full of all sorts of colors. And there's a lot of fun sparkly ones too!"
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 23, 2019 19:05:35 GMT -8
"Yay!" Ever enthuses.
When the kids tire of eating, Ever asks if they can go to the playground. Tucker looks to Brenda. "Is that okay? It's right outside. You can see it from the living room window. "
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 23, 2019 19:19:25 GMT -8
Jiana's eyes light up. "Please, mom? Please?" she begs.
"Oh, sure, why not?" Brenda chuckles as Jiana hugs her before running to grab jer jacket. "Just don't wander any further than that, sweetie."
Jiana shakes her head. "Promise!"
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 23, 2019 21:31:04 GMT -8
Tucker guides his kids in preparing themselves and meets them at the door. "What are the rules?" he asks.
Morgan: "Stay on the playground."
Ever: "Never get in the car with strangers."
Morgan: "Babysit each other."
Ever: "Be safe and take turns."
Morgan: "Look at the window every ten minutes to see if you need us."
Ever: "Be polite to the neighbors, but not a nuisance."
"Do you have your supplies?" Tucker asks.
Both kids pull a metal sports whistle from their pockets.
"In case they need to call me," Tucker explains to Brenda.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 23, 2019 21:37:12 GMT -8
Listening to the kids rattle off the rules, Brenda can't help but feel slightly lax in her parenting but secure in allowing Jiana to run off with these kids. "Wow, you've get them trained well," she comments, glancing at Jiana.
The girl's eyes stare wide in shock at the other two children as she glances towards her mother. "Mom, should I be worried?" she asks.
"Oh, sweetie, no! Of course not!"
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 23, 2019 22:23:48 GMT -8
Tucker blushes slightly. "We try. As you saw today, we have some work to do. And, no, nothing to be worried about, Jiana. I know everyone in this complex and most people in town. It's always wise to be prepared, though, right?"
Tucker stands with Brenda as they listen to the kids traipse across the open-air cement floor and down the steps. They see the kids emerge from the entry and run toward the playground. He invites her to sit on the couch where she can see out the window. "Would you like some coffee?"
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 24, 2019 6:39:22 GMT -8
Waving quickly to Jiana below, Brenda nods as she turns back to Tucker. "Coffee soinds lovely, thank you," she replies, taking him up on the proffered couch seating as well.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 24, 2019 14:48:13 GMT -8
Tucker brews two Keurig K- cups, serves Brenda and settles in the recliner across from her. "Sorry about the uncomfortable topics earlier. I never know what Ever is going to say. "
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 24, 2019 15:00:55 GMT -8
Brenda takes a sip of the coffee before responding. "Kids say some weird things, it's okay," she chuckles as she sets her mug down. "There's no telling where conversations will go with them in charge."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 24, 2019 22:57:30 GMT -8
"Would you like to tell me about Jiana's father?" Tucker asks, sensitively.
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 25, 2019 7:28:10 GMT -8
Brenda takes a small breath before responding, "There isn't much to say. He was cheating on me and was completely irresponsible with the photos his new girl kept sending him. Jiana found them." She sighs, shaking her head. "Poor thing."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on May 25, 2019 23:03:16 GMT -8
Tucker grimaces. "I'm sorry to hear that."
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Post by starletinwaiting on May 25, 2019 23:45:25 GMT -8
"No, no, it's okay," Brenda brushes it off. "It's been like three years? And we clearly stopped connecting long before that. It's Jiana I'm more worried about."
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