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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 11, 2019 23:14:06 GMT -8
Tucker looks up at the slide and sees a screw sticking out a bit. "I'll take care of that tomorrow. Let's get you upstairs. "
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 12, 2019 14:54:38 GMT -8
"Oh, sweetie, why didn't you say something sooner about this?" Brenda sighs at the sight of Jiana's cut. "Baby, doesn't this hurt? At all?" Jiana nods, trying not to whimper yet again. "Okay, sweetie, let's go." Brenda takes Jiana by the hand to lead her back up. Over the girl's head, she mouths her thanks to Tucker.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 15, 2019 22:40:42 GMT -8
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 16, 2019 7:47:49 GMT -8
Jiana stares at the collection for a moment in silence before glancing to her mom. Kneeling beside her daughter, disinfectant in hand, Brenda chuckles, "Choose whatever catches your eye, sweetie."
Jiana points to the box of unicorn bandaids.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 18, 2019 17:19:09 GMT -8
Tucker takes in the scene. Jiana is so different from his daughter. Ever would hardly have hesitated to climb inside someone else's cabinet and dig through everything until she found the bandaids. Jiana barely seemed to want to make any choices by herself. He hopes she will learn some independence. He also wishes Ever had a mother like Brenda that she could be close to. He continues his jovial dad show as he applies the bandaid.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 18, 2019 18:28:20 GMT -8
Once the bandaid is securely on Jiana's knee, the girl hops off the toilet seat and wiggles her leg. "It feels much better. Thank you!" she says, flashing Tucker a big smile. "Ever, your dad's really nice!"
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 19, 2019 6:18:28 GMT -8
"He's all right," Ever shrugs. "Wanna play Barbies?"
The girls scamper to Ever's room.
Tucker exchanges an amused glance with Brenda and cleans up the bathroom.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 19, 2019 6:21:48 GMT -8
Jiana skips off, right on Ever's heels. Once in Ever's room, she watches as the other girl pulls out her Barbies. "I only have a couple," she confesses, thinking of the two she has at home. "My mom doesn't like how they look."
"Thank you," Brenda says softly, watching Tucker finish his business with the bandaids. "You were so gentle with her."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 19, 2019 22:04:00 GMT -8
Tucker blushes. "I'm the 6th of 18. Plus it's been just me and the kids for 8 years. They both need firmness and gentleness in different ways. "
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 20, 2019 3:53:01 GMT -8
"It's funny, isn't it, how different kids and their needs can be?" Brenda replies with a fond smile and a remembrance of her own childhood, watching ber siblings grow up around her. "I'm one of a dozen, so I get it."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 20, 2019 14:56:57 GMT -8
"BG seems to be the place for big families," Tucker laughs. "Anywhere else people look at me like I have 18 heads on my own shoulders. "
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 20, 2019 15:20:08 GMT -8
"Same!" Brenda laughs. "People used to tease us, calling us Cheaper by the Dozen. Not that it's an inaccurate name. Though I do seem to recall that our age gap is much different than theirs, as is our parentage."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 20, 2019 17:58:48 GMT -8
"Blended families aren't so rare. But one woman birthing 18 kids? Some people are even cruel. "
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 20, 2019 18:27:39 GMT -8
"No, no, I know that. I--" Brenda cuts herself off with a humiliated sigh. "I'm not trying to compare or say my family situation is the most unique. I was just... making an observation. I can imagone eighteen from one mother is very different than twelve from three."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 21, 2019 22:03:21 GMT -8
Tucker realizes his mistake. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to one-up you. I had a great childhood. I'm sure you have had difficult challenges."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 22, 2019 6:38:06 GMT -8
Brenda sighs, shaking her head. "No, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking for an apology." She groans. "I'm apparently out of practice with this whole connecting with human beings who aren't my daughter or clients thing."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 22, 2019 21:18:09 GMT -8
"Making friends as an adult is so difficult, isn't it?" Tucker changes the topic. "What are your goals for living in BG?"
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 23, 2019 6:04:20 GMT -8
"Just... moving on, I guess?" Brenda replies. "I've never heard of anybody who had goals for living somewhere. Maybe goals to get to live somewhere eventually. But I just want Jiana to be able to grow up somewhere with good people, good schools, and her dad nowhere in sight."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 23, 2019 12:40:02 GMT -8
"How long has it been since her dad was part of your lives?"
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 23, 2019 13:22:54 GMT -8
"The discovery he was cheating was... three years ago? It took about a year to finalize everything and then for the first year or so, my ex would still drop by to try to see Jia every so often. He eventually got the hint that Jiana didn't want to see him and his girlfriend convinced him to move a few hours away. So I guess it's been closer to a year, year and a half."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jun 27, 2019 19:32:36 GMT -8
Tucker hums in sympathy. "That's not very long, really. Something so significant rarely just disappears."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jun 27, 2019 19:40:36 GMT -8
"Yeah..." Brenda sighs. "I... suppose that's true. It feels like it's been about a million years, though, and I know we're much better off without him."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jul 2, 2019 22:47:18 GMT -8
"I hate that you had to experience that. Husbands are supposed to love their wives more than themselves. You shouldn't have to hurt like that."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jul 2, 2019 23:28:23 GMT -8
"What can I say? Humanity sometimes suck," Brenda sighs, shaking her head. "It... 's sometimes hard to believe in the good of humanity. Especially after things like that, you know? Or is that just me?"
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jul 5, 2019 12:44:47 GMT -8
Tucker nods. "Of course. My wife leaving both shook my faith as well as strengthened it. I couldn't understand why God would do that to me. It took a while to respect that it was Brennas choice to leave. I thought she would be a good wife and mother. I had to realize that I made a mistake, too. Then I had to trust God to get me through raising kids on my own."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jul 5, 2019 12:50:30 GMT -8
Brenda feels bad but she can't help but snicker, "Your wife's name was Brenna?" She shakes her head, feeling increasingly worse as her laughter keeps coming. "I'm sorry," she apologizes. "It's just weirdly similar to Brenda. I know this sounds insensitive. These things suck."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jul 5, 2019 13:03:47 GMT -8
Tucker pauses then bursts into laughter. "You're right! I could read into that if I believed in fate. " He blushes.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jul 5, 2019 13:15:52 GMT -8
"Trust me, it's very tempting!" Brenda laughs, wiping mouthful tears from her eyes, grateful that he seems to find it somewhat funny himself. It makes her feel like she isn't as sick minded as she did when the thought originally occurred to her.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Jul 6, 2019 16:34:59 GMT -8
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Post by starletinwaiting on Jul 6, 2019 17:26:39 GMT -8
Jiana looks to her mother. "Please please please?" she begs. She remembers spending hours at the zoo back home with both her parents before the divorce and even more after it, as her mom tried to make sure they had distance from her dad.
Giving her daughter a side hug, Brenda flashes Tucker a smile. "I think that sounds lovely."
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