Rose 2.30: Plenty

     When we arrive back from our honeymoon, we build the little house on the corner of our home lot so that Tiffany and I can have our own little space. Building the little house takes quite a lot of money, so we don't have any left when we finish building it and put in a bed. Mama gets to painting.

     We add things to our little house that we got at the dump, like a television and sofa, but we are unable to afford lights at first. We sleep in the dark until Mama's paintings finally sell.

     "I don't think your mother and sister like me very much," Tiffany tells me one morning. My job still has me on honeymoon leave.
     My head quickly shakes in surprise, and I turn to face her. "What makes you say that?"

     "Well, last night, when you went to bed early, I ate dinner with them, just the three of us," she explains. "I asked Giselle why she was eating wedding cake for dinner, that that wasn't a very healthy choice. Your mama didn't say anything to either support me or undermine me, nothing, but Giselle told me to shut up and mind my own business. She didn't even look at me, and your mother said nothing still."

      I give her a small smile. "Ah, don't worry about Giselle. She's rude to everyone, and Mama spoils her. Plus, it is absolutely possible that Mama wasn't paying attention." I wish she wore skimpier things to bed, I think as I look down at my beautiful wife.

      "Well, I told her she didn't need to talk to me like that, and still, your mother said nothing. She just sat there reading her book," Tiffany continues.
      "Oh...She was reading?" I ask. "That is why then. She is used to Giselle's attitude and was absorbed into her book, but you are right, she could've said something to tell Giselle not to be rude. I will talk to her."
      "No! I don't want to make a big deal out of this. I'm just using that as an example of why I think they don't like me. After I said what I said, Giselle mouthed off to me again, but I forget exactly what it was that she said, something to the effect of 'you can't tell me what to do.'"
      I look off at the wall and muse, "I wonder if it is all little sisters that are annoying or if it's just her. Too many things were done for her that now she thinks the world owes her everything." I pause. "And I don't think her boyfriend helps with that because he's so rich. He can buy her anything."

      "Anyway," I kiss her hand, "don't worry about Mama. She likes you. You are making her son very happy."
      He voice quietly asks, "Are you happy, Donovan? You don't feel like you have to have someone on the side?"
      I sigh. I guess she will always worry about this because of how we began. "No. Of course not. I have everything I want right here."

     I kiss her to prove my point. She relaxes.
     When I pull back, I say in a seductive voice, "Well, there is something about my life that I don't have that I want..." I kiss her more.
      She chuckles into my lips, knowing exactly what I mean.

     I want to put a child in her belly. I have not once used protection when making love to my Tiffany, and she isn't doing anything to prevent pregnancy. We made love countless times on our honeymoon, and I continue to do so here at every opportunity, every opportunity. I would like to make love somewhere besides our bed, but Tiffany cannot be convinced. In fact, when I bring it up, she tells me we make love plenty enough in our bed. Can plenty and making love be in the same sentence? I never imagined they could.

     Mama really gets into her art.

     One day, while I am searching the dump, the Maker sees Giacomo Moderna, the man that still continues to chase my mother. He writes to her on a weekly basis at least. Papa always rips them up and throws them in the recycling basket. I always wait for Papa to do something, to go after Giacomo, but he doesn't. He is a peaceful man.

     Two months pass, and I make love to Tiffany as much as she lets me.

     Many times, she has what could be morning sickness, but apparently, she has a bad reaction to food made in our pizza oven.

     The time comes for the twins to age up!

     I love seeing my other siblings, especially Link. Sure, he teased me non-stop when we were younger, but now, he's my best friend.

     Giselle goes first because she was born first. She looks like a brunette Mama.

     Before Milo's turn at a cake, I notice a party crasher, Yvette, and she wears her athletic wear instead of casual like the rest of us.
     "Yvette?" I ask in surprise.
     "Hi, Donovan. How's married life? Too busy to pick up a phone and call your old friend?" She looks at her plate as she asks the questions, her voice sounding off somehow.
     "I did not think you wanted to talk to me anymore," I reply, feeling terrible.
     "I don't," she quickly snaps. I don't know what happened to her to make her like this, this 'that way and then the other way.'

     I am so distracted by her that I miss my baby brother's aging to adulthood.

     The Maker also ages up Giselle's boyfriend, Clifton Mancini. As he ages up, I start seeing my wife's face turning pale.

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Notes:
-Rose wins an artist award from the mayor.
-Pedro completes the speed writer challenge.
-Marcel (Fiona's son) ages to toddler. I still can't get him on camera.
-Giselle gets the hopeless romantic trait.
-Milo gets the clumsy trait.

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