Rose 2.66: Glue

Shauna

     There is a definite change in this house since I first arrived. The way Mrs Robles acts, this is how it's supposed to be. She is so much more relaxed, and I can tell that she now contently accepts that she ages to elder very soon.
     She says the family's happiness is my doing, but I don't want to take the credit. All I did was do what I've always done: love Donovan. I wanted his children to love him too, to see the man he should be--that he now is.
     He has no idea how much he holds his family together. A few nights, he's complained to me that he's a terrible father. I tell him that he can't change what's already happened, but that he can fix now and do even better in the future.
     After all, just look at Camilla! She has a friend over, and she's playing! She has the most infectious giggle I've ever heard.

     Her little friend Benjamin is incredibly sweet and well-mannered. I think he understands Camilla's reserved nature but gets her to play anyway.

     He's also not a bad example. In fact, I see him doing his homework and remind Camilla to do the same.

     "Thanks," I hear her tell him quietly in a lightly sarcastic way.
     He laughs under his breath and says, "No problem."

     I smile and go to put Arlen to bed. As usual, he tries to reach up to grab my hair, but I'm ready for him.

     I push his hand down and lean over to kiss his forehead.
     "Mama," he says and uses his other hand to successfully get hold of a lock. It goes right into his mouth.
     He's started calling me 'mama,' and I wonder if Donovan is coaching him to do it. I don't correct the toddler because it makes me incredibly happy to hear it.

     I manage to rescue my hair. "Now, Arlen, that's Mama's hair, and she needs it to stay on her head." He reaches for my earrings, his lately-typical second thing to swipe. I'm better at preventing this, worried about the day that he might actually get hold of them. "No, it's night-night time." I ruffle his  spiked hair. He's already a little handful, and I have a feeling it'll only get worse as he gets older.
     For the billionth time, I wonder about his eyes. There's something about that child that worries me, and I don't mean the hair-pulling. If ever anyone yells or does something out of anger, he squeals with delight. However, that hasn't happened too much recently.

     I come downstairs and see that Donovan is home. He had to make a celebrity appearance at the diner they own up in the main part of the city, so he's later than normal. When, I see him, my heart does its little flip-flop around in my chest. I hope that never goes away.
    "Hi," he says and smiles. He needs to shave, but I won't bother him with it right now.
    I finish coming down the stairs, and he takes my hand to lead me outside.

     I assume we're headed to the little house, but he stops and turns to face me. He has something on his mind.
     "What is it?" I ask.
     "I want to ask you on a date," he says somewhat sheepishly, and I want to faint. I can't explain it. One would think I'd be better prepared for that sort of thing given the last few weeks, but I think it's his expression. His expression looks just like he would in college.
     I, however, am much braver than I was in college. "Well then, why don't you?" I ask with a silly smile.

     I think I have pensive Donovan looking out at me through the dam* sunglasses. "Are you happy?" he asks instead of asking me out.
     Well, that's a silly question! "Donovan, I'm the happiest I've been in my entire life!" I answer emphatically.
     He acts like I didn't answer at all. "You don't have to stay. I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you to stay."
     WHAT?! I angrily scream in my head. "Are you asking me to leave again?" I ask, trying to keep my emotions under control. I thought we were past this!

     "No!" he cries out and reaches up to hold my head in his hands. "Forget what I said. It is the nerves talking."
     "Donovan, it's just me," I say, a relieved smile covering my face.
     "Just... you," he echoes. "Just the woman of my happiest dreams. I've had too many sad dreams, and I worry I will wake up from this one."
     Yeah. Faint. And the way he still has his 'celebrity look' going, it only adds to it.
     "This is not a dream," I tell him very quietly.

     One of his hands leaves my face to run down my hair, shoulder, and arm. His thumb sticks out as his hand travels down my arm, caressing me in another way. I suppress a shudder.
     "Would you like to go on a picnic with me Friday evening?" After a pause, he adds, "Just the two of us." He implies we don't spend enough time alone, I think. We do; it's just mostly in the little house, at night, when we try to sate the lust we have for each other. Donovan has already done some things to me I never thought possible, or, I never saw myself doing or allowing to have happen.
     I want to drag him into the little house right now, but that makes me realize why he stopped me here. He knew the second we'd cross the threshold that we'd both have plenty enough on our minds.
     "Hm?" he asks quietly since I've been silent too long. I can tell his mind follows mine when his fingertips start toying with the sash on my dress, making my insides clench.
     He hasn't even kissed me, and I'm about to lose it! "That would be wonderful," I hear myself saying. Then, my hands reach up and get ahold of his belt loops. I start pulling him in the direction of the little house. He one-ups me and throws me over his shoulder, his hand firmly gripping my ass, and he carries me to the small building.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BTW, this is Benjamin Monty aged to YA:

Not bad. I think he's Athena's son, Antonio's sister. Can't remember if she came with the town or was born soon after.
If they get together, it would be so odd..."Yes, this my boyfriend. He's my aunt's nephew but not my cousin."

Oh, and I love that first shot too. In my mind, Lorenzo is chuckling at his papa because he sees Donovan staring at Shauna's butt as she walks by. Then, in the second one, Donovan is trying unsuccessfully to deny it or get onto him about chuckling, take your pick.
The third shot: With the roll I have for gen 3, I think Arlen would make a better heir than Camilla. There's still a +1 in there, so I may not have to lose her to the town. Still, there's one more baby to somehow be made, so we'll see.

Click here to go to 2.67