Jamelia and Stefan’s nuptials take place on a gorgeous day, the last day of summer, at the Courtyard Lounge – the exact location they came to escape the rain on the first day they met. They exchange vows and share a kiss as they become Mr. Stefan and Mrs. Jamelia Serrano.
The Brown family joins newly married Stefan and Lia Serrano for wedding photos. Members of the wedding party include Stefan’s dogs Merlin and Lady as ring bearer and flower girl. Jalin’s girlfriend, Justina, does not attend the wedding because she is at home caring for their new infant son, Leslie Nolan. Stefan has no family to speak of.
Lia and Stefan walk up the aisle after the last wedding photo –
Stefan: *emotional*
Jamelia: Are you okay?
Stefan: Yes. I wish my parents were still living. Today would have been the happiest day for them.
Jamelia: I would have loved to know them.
Stefan: Mia Madre would have adored you! You remind me so much of her.
Jamelia: I’m honored that you think that.
I couldn’t resist the opportunity to purchase a cow when given a chance at the fair. Our stable has been empty long enough, so we are happy to bring home a brown cow that Dub has decided should be named Cocoa Puffs after his favorite cereal.
Mase seems to be excited about our new farm companion. Although he’s usually pretty quiet, he suddenly can’t stop chatting, and Cocoa Puffs appears willing to listen.
Mason: I say ‘moo,’ and you say ‘hi,’ okay?
Cocoa Puffs: *soft mooing*
Mason: That not right. You not listening. I say ‘moo,’ and you say ‘hi.’
I correct Mase while pulling out a brush to clean Cocoa Puff’s coat.
Kai: That’s not the way it works, Mase. You can’t teach a cow to speak. But you can both moo together.
Mason: Why, daddy?
Kai: Because cows cannot speak as we do – mooing is enough for them.
Me-Me returns home from Lia’s wedding while I’m continuing the cleaning.
Melisa: What do we have here?
She steps over to get a closer look at our new cow, and I take the opportunity to steal a kiss.
She reciprocates with a kiss on my cheek. After the kisses –
Kai: I couldn’t resist. We attended the Finchwick Cow Fair, and she was there for sale and in need of a home. Dub named her Cocoa Puffs.
Melisa: Well, I’m sure Cocoa Puffs will be very happy here. As for me – I’m going to bed.
I can see that Me-Me is exhausted. I watch as she takes Mase inside to get him and herself ready for bed.
I don’t have time for sleep right now. The time spent at the fair took away my chance to complete my farm duties. The chicken coop needs scrubbing, and more feed needs to be scattered. Our big crops attract bugs, so I also need to take care of that. But as I’m working, I sense some movement behind me. I turn to look at the scarecrow. Being out in the dark face to face with it is a little unsettling.
The smaller tasks are complete, but the bees need tending again, so I change into my beekeeper suit to collect honey and wax and apply mite dust to the hives. It’s not my favorite task on the farm, but I don’t think there’ll ever be enough money to convince our gardener to do it, so the job falls on me.
Kai isn’t the only one still up. Inside, Peri is working on completing a knitting project to help the new cow stay warm during the upcoming colder months. And not long after, Me-Me is awakened by the familiar tightening of her belly that signals that their new baby is ready to make an appearance. She climbs out of bed and tries to breathe through the pain.
I begin to make my way inside when it becomes too dark to get much else done. Ma is inside cleaning while I grab a very late dinner out of the refrigerator. I’ve only finished half of my sandwich before Me-Me comes wobbling down the stairs.
Melisa: It’s time, Kai.
I guess my sandwich will have to wait. Our new baby is on its way.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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