Hapar, spring, 2006
Bradford is 42, Suzanna is 41, Laci is 8, Lilly is 2 and Lora is 1
Things were always busy at the McMillian household. Bradford did his best to soak in the chaos surrounding him. Lilly squezzing poor Alan to the last inch of his life while the elderly dog patiently tolerated the small toddler.
Things were a lot different for him, he thought watching his youngest girls approach him and beg for attention.
For one, he never expected to find another love after Audrey.
He was happily married to Suzanna and expecting their fourth child. He continued to thank God for his blessing. As he watched Suzanna tend to Lora, he couldn't help but think of Audrey. She was the love of the first part of his life. They were younger fresh from university and the world was theirs to conquer. He was starting a promising career after graduating from law school, diploma in one hand and debt repayment papers in the other hand. Audrey was top of her class graduating from veterinary school. They had planned on moving to the country-her idea, he loved the city, but loved her more-and he would defend those wrongly accused and she would tend to the farm animals. They actually brought a home and moved in before they got the happy news of Laci's conception. Bradford didn't like to think about the time shortly after and how he was alone raising a newborn daughter.
Laci reminded him of Audrey more and more. When Laci came home from school to find Ms. Birdie dead in her cage, her screams of sorrow were heard throughout the house.
Audrey was sensitive like that as well. Her heart would always break if she saw an animal in pain.
Laci definately had her mother's love of animals. Perhaps that was why it was so hard initially to give in to her pleas for a pet. In fact, his brother, James, had to convince him to give in and get Ms. Birdie for Laci, followed by Mr. Wombat of course. It was easier now to indulge his daughter's love of animals without his heart returning to Audrey. Ms. Birdie was quickly replaced with Ms. Birdie 2
and was followed by Ms. Kitty after much begging.
Bradford sometimes thought that his home was being turned into a zoo. Suzanna reminded him that he couldn't complain since all the animals were well taken care of by Laci.
The little girl would wake up early each morning to feed all of her pets and spend quality time with each beloved animal.
Laci even made time to play with her younger sisters which Bradford hoped would continue once she entered the teen years.
Suzanna had finally taken some time off now that the Plumbbob Virus crisis had been solved. She was still seeing Pastor Humphrey concerning her guilt over Ping's death and was slowly coming to accept the fact that the team couldn't have prevented the little boy's demise. She worked two days a simweek now and was often bringing home literature to read.
Somenights she got home just in time to tuck in the girls before collasping on the bed in exhaustion.
Other nights, she came home early with enough time to talk to each of her daughters one-on-one.
But she also spent her days off in her pajamas baking,
reading to the girls,
seeing Laci off for school,
and by the time Bradford came home, she was still in her pajamas reading medical journals online. He was happy that she was slowing down, even if it wasn't nearly as much as he wanted her too.
"We read a story about two magic wizards and their magic pot today in school," Laci explained over dinner.
"Really?"
"Yup, it was a doubling pot and a genie had given it to them."
"A genie?"
"Yep. If the wizards droppped anything i the pot, it would double-or count by twos."
"Like what?"
"Like the wizards dropped their favorite wand in the pot and out came two wands. Then they dropped three coins in the pot and out came six coins!"
"Wow."
"If I had a pot like that, I'd drop a goldfish in it so I could have two goldfish! Do you think we could buy a fish tank?"
"Not tonight," Suzanna answered.
"Maybe tomorrow?" Laci asked hopefully.
"We'll talk about it later, Laci."
"You know what would be cool. If you put your belly in the pot. Then there would be two babies!"
Suzanna tried not to spit out her dinner. "Well thankfully we don't have a magic pot here."
"Thankfully," Bradford agreed.
----
- Laci is the cutest child ever. She truly loves animals-she has an interest score of 9/10 for animals and her OTH is nature. Her wants for this session were: Play with Ms. Birdie 1; Play with Mr. Wombat; Teach Alan a command; Adopt a kitten or puppy. She also loves her sisters, she always is trying to play with them and sing lullabies to them.
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