October 20, 2009
Fall 2010 – Samuel is 32 (Rachel Heredon is 29)
Sam keeps a grueling schedule, immersing himself in the meditative act of writing his newest article almost from the moment he wakes up. He rarely gets frustrated anymore; once, two years ago, he would have stressed about improper word choice and she would have laughed and teased him into a smile but he doesn’t bother now — she’s gone and the article will still come together. (more…)
October 10, 2009
Fall 2010 – Kalen is 25 and Taj is 3
Sometimes Kalen wishes he could be called a decent father or even act like one but it’s not in him. At best, people would call him an absentee father and at the very worse, dead beat, but he’s never cared too much about what people thought. He might not spend his time caring for his son but he always makes sure someone does, only she isn’t there yet and right now Taj is getting on his nerves with his shrieks for attention.
“Stop screaming and use your words, Taj or I’m going to make you sit in there all day.”
September 23, 2009
Fall 2010 – Arthur is 27, Marie is 26, A.J. is 4 and Sarah is 2
His mother always told him he had none of that red head spark, always cool and calm like a mountain lake. Arthur had realized at a young age that she meant he wasn’t boisterous and fun like his older brother; that unfortunately like his father, he was better suited to spending his life among the soil.
The implication never phased him. He’s grown up on his ancestral farm, at his father’s side learning how to properly plant the food that not only nourished him and his family but many families living on the Cove. It’s what Heredons have done for generations, how could he not be proud especially since he’s moved the home based business to its own building across the street.
Waving to Quinn and Jacob, Arthur locks the doors to the greenhouse and the building and walks slowly across the street toward the house. He can hear the baby crying about a taken toy, Marie scolding A.J. about his behavior and goes into the greenhouse instead.
September 1, 2009
Summer 2010: Dina Caliente is 29
Dina often dreams of what she’s lost. The people rarely cross her mind but the jewels do. The money, the vacations, the sheer luxury of it all often visits her while she sleeps and in those brief moments she feels genuinely happy. Her dreams reinforce what she’s always known, that she deserves all of life’s monetary gems and none of its silly tragedies. How could men like Mortimer and Michael compare to delicate pearl necklace?
August 28, 2009
Summer 2010: John is 30 and Rachel is 29. Last update: Summer 2010
Rachel is adept at ignoring certain things, it is skill her mother insisted she perfect and cultivate in an effort to make her adult life easier to bear. In between croissants and afternoon tea Rachel had been taught that the first thing a society woman learns to do is ignore certain unpleasantries, especially in regard to her husband – so she does.
She ignores the nights he comes home in the early morning smelling of cigars and pungent perfume. She ignores knowing looks mixed with envious ones when she goes shopping or to get her hair done. She ignores many things not because her mother told her to but because she remembers why she got married and it wasn’t for love. Rachel doesn’t need someone to tell her to ignore the love that grows within their seven year marriage, she already does.
A call breaks her away from her thoughts and the long abandoned book, drawing her eyes toward the window where John stands smiling. He waves at her, beckoning her to come join him outside.
August 22, 2009
(mini-update) Summer 2010: Rev. Noble Greene is 46, Fabrice Lemieux is 26.
Noble appreciates the quiet days when he can slowly work on a stimulating crossword before revising the next day’s sermon. For him, it can only be God’s grace that allows quiet contemplation and reflection in an area that is normally filled with the noise of traffic and people with places to go. It reminds him that he is grateful for his posting here despite it being several years now since he first came over on the ferry.
Noble finds himself wondering what life would have been like if he’d turned down the island posting. He would have probably been in large city, where a strange face is a common occurrence and most believe the church is a thing of the past. Shaking his head at his dramatic thoughts, he continues working on his crossword puzzle until he hears footsteps on the stone pathway.
He isn’t surprised to see Fabrice Lemieux, the troubled young man often coming to him after service to simply talk. However, Fabrice surprises him by opening up about some of his problems.
August 19, 2009
Summer 2010: Joaquin is 28, Gabriela is 25, Maribel and Nadia are 2
Despite the usual calm that overcomes her while cooking, Gabriela can’t stop the jolt that makes her flinch when she glances out the window. It still startles her to see lush green grass and farmland from the kitchen window, the absence of ocean swells and lazy beach goers tugging at her mostly buried desire to be in Argentina again. Gabriela would even take her native country of Panama at the moment, anything to once again experience the familiar but she knows that she’s where her heart is.
She stops chopping briefly, allowing her mind to conjure up images of Bahia Blanca in summer. She can see the brightness of the warm sand and feel the heat of the sun on her shoulders and sighs in pleasure, the knife falling slack in her hands. Gabriela doesn’t complain when the image shifts and blends into heavily sun-kissed skin over high cheekbones and golden brown eyes that smile more than his lips
They had moved for him and she couldn’t regret that.
August 4, 2009
Summer 2010: Fabrice is 26, Elise is 23, and Severin is 2
Elise has always known how to get what she wants. She learned at a young age that the sensual sway of her hips could make men follow her for miles and combined with her full lips they are always easy prey to her whims. She ignores Fabrice’s protests, sliding her body along the long length of his.
Fabrice pulls back briefly from her kisses. “Elise, the baby is downstairs by himself. We can’t just -”
His moans cut off the rest of his sentence and he arches his back when she caresses the sensitive spot on his neck. Elise leans down and whispers softly. “I never thought I would have to convince a Frenchman to make love to me.”
July 29, 2009
Summer 2010: John is 30, Rachel is 29, Nicolas is 6 and Frederic is 4
To most of Heredon Cove they are what families should aspire to be, the picture of normality, family values and success. John bears the name that settled the cove and is steadily working to create a new niche for the Heredon name besides farming. He often ignores the Heredon Herald and the branch of the family that produces it, preferring to read the Advance Press that ships from the continent.
July 17, 2009
Warning: A bit long.
Spring 2010 – Gregory is 31, Nina is 29, Alexa is 4 and Reagan is 1 (Samuel Heredon is 30)
Even after their worse moments her husband can still surprise her. When Gregory pulls her outside on his way to the company car and tenderly kisses her in full view of the neighborhood, shock can barely describe how Nina feels. His grip on her waist is firm, he holds her left hand over his heart and she melts, allowing this past week of frustration to sail away on the bliss of his lips.
For Gregory to show this level of affection outside of their house and in full view of the people he works with means he is truly sorry for taking his work home with him. The honk and cheers of his coworkers pull them apart and they smile at each other, tension and hurt easing with flaring passion.
“I know,” Gregory hesitates, averting his eyes before continuing. “I know I’ve been a bit unbearable this week and I’m sorry. I know better than to take my frustrations out on you. My father always -”
She kisses him firmly, cutting off his sentence. Nina already knows what he’s going to say and she made a promise to herself that she would keep both of their pasts from ruining their marriage. She had left Pleasantview behind and all she asked is that he leaves his father’s faults and indiscretions out of their marriage. “Do you love me?”
“Of course,” Gregory presses her hand closer to his chest, his heart beating faster. “How can you ask that?”
Heredon Cove 