While Me-Me is working on getting things ready for ma, I decide to read Dub a bedtime story.
Kai: Are you ready to read Charlotte’s Pig?
Wade: No
Everything has been “no” for Dub lately, even if he doesn’t mean it, so I pull out the book and start reading anyway.
Kai: *reading* Charlotte’s Pig says, ‘oink, oink, oink.’ Charlotte’s Duck says, ‘quack, quack, quack.’ *to Wade* What does Charlotte’s Bunny say, Dub?
Wade: No Bu-ny!
I can see that Dub’s dislike for bunnies is turning into a thing. I’m going to have to do something about that.
It’s not just bunnies, though. Dub also dislikes bedtime, sitting on the potty, and certain foods. Me-Me returns to put him to bed.
Melisa: It’s bedtime for Dubbie!
Wade: NO!
Melisa: Sleepy boys have to go to bed.
After some whining, Me-Me picks Dub up and carries him to the bed. He seems to have lost his fight when she lays him down and kisses him on his forehead. It’s been a long emotional day for us all.
Back in Windenburg, Peri looks around her beloved home with Kai’s offer in the forefront of her mind. Memories of Waddell surround her. A glance at her desk reminds her of him sneaking behind her and kissing her on the neck while she worked. His dish on the dining room table makes her think about the way he always chewed with a slight grin on his face. Even the kitchen holds a ton of memories. Faded blues engulf her, bringing a fresh set of tears.
Then there’s the house in general. This place is her baby. Even when it was just an old dirty factory, she could conceive it in her mind and imagine it being where she’d spend the rest of her life. Then, with her friends, Wild and Kimmie’s help, it became everything she wanted and more.
She goes into the backyard and thinks about the parties she intended to throw here but never had the chance to. She glances over at the pool house she designed for her father. As much as she wants to be with Kai and her grandchildren, she can’t imagine just saying goodbye to this place.
Back inside, she stares at the picture of her and Waddell at her graduation.
Prosperity: *to the picture* What should I do? You know how much I love this place. I can’t just sell it. Nobody will ever love and appreciate it as much as I do.
She can only imagine his answer. She stands there a moment longer, trying to conjure up his voice in her head, then she turns and cleans up the dish he left behind this morning from the dining room table.
Peri goes to the computer and visits a realtor’s site. She searches the listings for other properties that have as much character as hers, but there are none. It would almost be an insult to list her property on a site like it. Maybe she can come up with something else to do with it.
Peri ends her search, grabs a box, and begins to pack up her pictures and personal items. She’s made her decision. There’s no way she could continue to live in this house alone. She can’t even see herself spending one night here without Waddell by her side. She calls Kai and tells him that she’s decided to move in.
Me-Me and I were surprised when ma called us so late at night, but we’re glad she’s decided to take us up on our offer. We meet her downstairs when she arrives. Ma walks over to Me-Me.
Prosperity: Thank you for opening up your home to me.
Melisa: It’s no problem. We’re glad to have you here.
We show ma the room downstairs. She looks around, trying not to appear ungrateful. But I know my mother, and this room reeks of “old woman.” She would never be happy with it the way it is. It’s the complete opposite of her style.
Melisa: I already ordered a bed for you. It should be here by tomorrow afternoon.
I add one other thing that I’m sure ma would appreciate.
Kai: And we can have the wallpaper removed.
I don’t know if it’ll make ma feel better about the room, but maybe it’ll grow on her.
We take ma upstairs to show her where she’ll be sleeping until her room is ready.
Kai: Sorry about the décor – someone designed this room to be a teen’s bedroom.
Ma looks around.
Prosperity: Thanks, Kai. It’ll do.
Even though her back is to us, I can see the pain on ma’s face in the mirror. She’s giving up so much to stay here with us. I want to ease her heart, not add heaviness to it. I feel apologetic about the ghost wallpaper on the wall. I’m sure it’s the last thing she wants to see right now after losing the love of her life. But continuing to apologize when there’s nothing I can do is fruitless.
Ma walks over and lays back on the bed. She looks so tiny and helpless. I want to hug her and tell her everything will be fine, but I know she hates pity.
Kai: We’ll give you some space. See you in the morning.
Peri knows that Kai is trying so hard to make her feel better. If only he knew how proud he makes her. But right now, there’s nothing that he can do to heal her heart. For that, she relies on her old standby, her art. She grabs her easel and finds a spot in the backyard to set it up. She begins to paint, but her work feels as uninspired and colorless as her world right now without Waddell. However, staring at her painting gives her a perfect idea.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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