Chapter 19: Rah! Rah! Rah!

  Chaine studied the plans again, and then studied the bits of metal scattered along his bench.  Something wasn't adding up.  He frowned, and stared at the plans some more.  What if he----

 

  The jolt of electricity stopped him in his tracks.  His body getting engulfed by flames prompted him to howl, which brought Kei and the rest of the family outside.  Layla shrieked and carried on, screaming for help.  Kit grabbed his cell phone and started to dial 911.  Kei, Kei wasn't going to lose another guy.  She grabbed a fire extinguisher and put Chaine out, before putting the bench fire out.

  The she turned to Chaine, "What are you doing?  Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

  Chaine was prevented from answering by the arrival of the Firemen.  After they had assured themselves that the fire was indeed out; they lectured everyone on the hazards of playing with fire.

  When the Firemen finally left, Chaine held his arms out, and Kei fled into them.  "You scared me."

  "I'm fine Kei.  Just an occupational hazard, I promise I will be more careful."
 
  Later that night, Kei was pensively stirring the salad on her plate, but not eating it.  Kona sat next to her, with his own plate of sushi.  After a few minutes of watching her, Kona finally asked, "Kei, what's wrong?"

   "I always thought it was my fault,"  Kei said sadly,  "that Mama died."

  Kona was horrified by Kei's confession.  "Oh, Kei!  Whatever made you think that?"

  "Well, I thought if I did my best, that Mama wouldn't want to leave me.  But I wasn't good enough, though I tried my best.  She still left.  So I determined to be the opposite.  Logically, I understand she didn't leave on purpose, but emotionally?  Emotionally is a different thing all together.  I still miss my mother and it still hurts.  I'm angry at her for leaving, which makes no sense, I know.  "  Kei sighed.

  "I was angry at her for the longest time."  Kona quietly replied.  "Hearing you say that you thought it was your fault, makes me mad at her all over again."  He sighed heavily.   "It was never your fault Kei, I wish I had known that was what you were thinking and feeling.  Maybe I could have been a better father to you.  Your mother, she was really sick, and she was supposed to take this medicine, that would keep her from dying.  She told me she was taking it, but she wasn't.  She was concerned about the effect the medicine would have on the twins.  I was angry that she hid that from me, that she lied to me, that she wasn't talking to me about anything.  She was so headstrong and stubborn, your mother.  She left me to raise 4 girls, what do I know about girls?  At least Kale was a boy."  Kona stared at his plate.  "I finally had to let go of that anger, there was no room for it in my life.  I had 5 kids to raise and support.  But I talk to her, every now and then.  I tell her what lovely people our children have grown into."

  "Oh Daddy!"  Kei threw her arms around him.  "You are the best of fathers.  You never gave up on me!  Now that I have my own kids, I can only imagine the pain I put you through!  I am so sorry!  If I could undo it, I would.  I have so many regrets.  My biggest regret, is that I never even told Ethan I loved him.  I always tried to protect myself from pain and hurt, but it seems life is full of both.  It is also full of joy, and hope, and happiness as well, and I forgot about that.  It surely seems that by trying to protect myself from the hurt, I lost out on love, and all that it could have been."

  "What are you going to do with this new guy in your life then?"  Kona asked gently.

  Kei smiled at him.  "I think I'm going to marry him."

  The next day, Kei did just that.  It was just a simple exchange of promises and rings, just the two of them.

 
  

  Coach Fury patted Kit on the back.  "I'm so glad you are a part of our team Son.  The day you joined, Heaven was smiling on me!  You have such raw talent!  Amazing leadership abilities!  Son you are going places!  Under my coaching, we can take the Green Llamas to State, and win the Championship this year!"

  Kit had joined the Green Llamas Highschool Football team on a lark.  He was well liked, and very popular at his school, and all his buddies told him he should play football.  Kit had never played on a team before, he just played football with his friends in the park, and that was the extent of it.  But they swore he was good at it, at the strategy part as well as the actual playing part.  So why not join?   To his surprise, the Coach had been ecstatic to have him on the team.

   "Do you know how long it's been since we've won a Championship?" the Coach continued.  "No?   Well, then, let me tell you, it has been years!  Years I say!  We're the laughing stock of the league, and then, there you are!  My star player!"

  Kit was uncomfortable with the praise.  "Not really Coach. It's a team effort."

  "Exactly!" the Coach clapped him on the back again.  "Team effort, those boys really banded around you!  They act like a team now!  Now, go on out there and let's play some Football!"

  Kit obliged the Coach, and jogged out to the field and took his position.  He wondered if his Dad was athletic?  He knew his mother couldn't be bothered with something as mundane as a silly football game.  Kit shrugged the thoughts off, and forced himself to concentrate on the here and now.    

 

  After practice, Kit liked to jog around the field and let his mind wander.  He found it a great way to unwind after practice.  His buddies teased him that it was because the Cheerleaders held their practices after Football practice.  Kit never answered them.  He did like jogging, but he did enjoy the pretty scenery as well.  What guy wouldn't?

  He knew he had caught the eye of Whilamina Wolff, head Cheerleader, and the most gorgeous girl in school.  Her eyes followed him around, and she started showing up extra early just to watch Football practice.  He made sure to jog close by. 
 

 

She made sure to watch.                                                                                                 

 

  Suddenly, Kit finds that he is running into her everywhere, not that he really minds.  She's in the halls, in the Cafeteria, they even share several classes.  Somehow she even got herself installed as his new lab partner in science class.

  He was brought back to present as the subject of his thoughts sidled up to him.  "So Kit, that Science Project we have to work on?  How about you come over to my house after school today, so we can get started on it?"

  She really had the perfect body, Kit found himself thinking, his eyes taking in her flawless features and perfect strawberry blond hair.  He tried to keep his eyes on her face, but his eyes tended to wander down.  She also smelled heavenly, he decided.   She was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, and he was definitely not immune to her.  "Sure." he found himself saying.

  Once at her house, she didn't seem too interested in pursuing the Science Project.  After a few half hearted attempts, Kit gave up, and let her lead the conversation.  She promptly turned the conversation to the matter of children.

  "Um, no," Kit told her, "I hadn't thought about how many children I may want someday.  I haven't been a teen very long, and I still have a ways to go before I worry about that."

  

  After several broad hints thrown his way, Kit obliges her and asks her to go to the Prom with him.

 
Layla meets Bryce Younan.

    


    They hit it off, and become fast friends.   Bryce even seems like the Family type, he's already talking about when he graduates and gets married, and has kids.

  After some nervous stuttering, Bryce asks Layla to go to the Prom with him.  She eagerly accepts, and they go quickly from just friends, to Steady.  Layla doesn't even wait until Prom night, she seizes the opportunity and drags a very willing Bryce into the shower with her.

   
  Kona has a new generation to worry over.

 
  Kona performs a live stage show to a huge audience.  He is well known and well loved in this little town.  His little magic tricks brighten up people's days, and make them smile.  Kona tries out a new stage entrance, and he gets a thunderous applause for his efforts.

 
  He also has a new Assistant for the night, his daughter Lani had agreed to help him on a couple of new tricks.

 

 

   Lani was never worried, not one little bit.

Another Epic performance by Kona!

  Kit and Layla are on their way to pick up their Prom dates.  Layla is so nervous, she feels like she might puke.

While Kit is ready for whatever the night will bring. 

  

 Kit was named Prom King, and Mina was named Prom Queen.  While they were slow dancing, Mina kissed him, and asked him to go steady.  Kit immediately agreed.  He felt like the luckiest guy in the world, he was dating the most gorgeous girl in school.

  Kit remembered his Mom's stories about when she had gone to Prom with his Dad.  So Kit talked Mina into doing the Chicken Dance, as a salute to his father.  Mina was not so sure about the dance at first, but then everyone started copying Kit's moves, and it was okay then.  Mina thought, most popular guy in school as a boyfriend?  Snagged.  Mission accomplished.  Now on to step two.

  Prom picture (it was an informal Prom, lol):

 
   Layla had a great time at Prom.  While her brother's popularity overshadowed the evening, Layla really didn't mind too much.  She danced with Bryce almost non-stop.  They only stopped dancing when Kit and Mina were crowned King and Queen of the Prom, but once their dance was over, Layla was back in Bryce's arms, twirling away.  She even participated in her brother's goofy antics, the Chicken Dance indeed!

  Prom picture:

 
   After Prom, Mina went home with Kit.  He gave her a tour of the house, and they sat up and talked all night.  They talked about football, cheerleading, school, families, everything.  While talking to Mina about the little bit that he did know about his father, it occurred to Kit, there was a whole lot he didn't know about his father.  He knew just the person to ask too, the one who would have answers to his questions.  At least to some of his questions.

  Mina allowed several make out sessions, but she didn't allow it to go any further.  She wanted to leave Kit with just enough to make him want more, but she has no plans to go further.  At least, not yet.  She has her plans for Kit, and timing is everything.

  Mina stayed overnight, sleeping in a bunkbed with Layla.  It was the most uncomfortable bed she had ever slept on.  The first person she ran into in the morning was Kona.  Mina wanted to make a favorable impression on him, she needed Kit's family on her side.  So she did the one thing she could think of that might gain her attagirl points, she asked Kona for his autograph.

  Kona can write these things in his sleep.  He finds it odd that Mina would want his autograph, but since she is a guest and Kit's friend, he gives her one.

 

_____________________________________


Challenge notes---since I rolled Idle Career and Sports career, I went and found poses to make my story work without actually having Kit gain any athletic skill.  So while I say he practiced---he didn't really.  lol

  I know zilch, zippo, nada about Football or any other Sport.  So---for those of you that do, my apologies.  This is going to be Football Sims style.  lol

  Mina is a very pretty sim, imo---I can't believe EA made her!  She's ambitious too---

  I am so looking forward to Generation 3!


Next: Chapter 20: Myths and Legends

Chapter 18: Life's a Party!

    "I'm starving!" Kit complained as he attacked his sushi.  "Raw fish!  Yummy!"  Kit has the same table manners as his parents.

 

   Chaine loves being a father, and either carries Rylan or Nira with him wherever he goes.

  
  "Come on Layla!  Just one game!"

  "Nuh uh, I'm done playing hopscotch with you!  You always win!"

 
 
  Kale hates school with a passion.  He hates homework even more.  He cannot wait to graduate!  Just a few more days and he is free!

  

  He tried to talk his Dad into letting him drop out of school early.  The conversation went something like this:

  Kale:  Dad, I hate school and I want to quit and join the Gypsy's that just came into town.

  Kona:  Kale, no.

  Kale:  But Dad...

  Kona:  Do I need to get Kei to talk some sense into you?

  At which point Kale dropped it.  His oldest sister quite terrified him.

  Kona went to meet these Gypsy's that Kale wanted to join so badly.  He was skeptical at first, but the wizened old woman converted him pretty quickly.  She had grabbed his hand, and traced the lines on it.  "Oooh!" she cackled in glee.  "I see you have had a hard life, raising your children on your own.  One of them, a daughter, she is near and dear to your heart...." as the woman went on, she sucked Kona in completely.  He couldn't believe how much she knew about him.  He gladly parted with 150 dollars to keep hearing more and more.

  When he came out, he ran into Kei.  "Kei, that woman is..."

  "A scam artist Dad.  She's a scam artist.  She applied for protection from my Boss, to keep the Police off her tail.  How much did you lose?"  Kei asked him.

  "Lose?  Well, I gave her 150 total, but Kei she knew all about us and ..."

  Kei sighed.  "Dad, Kale was talking to her yesterday.  He told her all about us.  I overheard your little conversation with Kale, and I had a few words for him.  He won't make that mistake again."

  Kona stared at her.  "I was fleeced!"

  "You were fleeced."

  Kona frowned.  "Kale wants to be a Gypsy, did you talk him out of it?"

  "Actually no, I didn't.  I have my reasons for wanting a friendly ear in the Gypsy camp.  Why don't you go home Dad, I'm going inside to get your money back."

  Kona was embarrassed that he fell for the Gypsy's tricks, and he went home feeling like a chump.  Here he thought he had actually had information about what the future held, instead he found out that he was gullible.

 

  Chaine found a secret hidden compartment in the Inventor's table.  Inside, he found a set of plans.  Ethan's plans.  He studied them intently.  "Unbelievable!" he muttered to himself.  "Maybe, it could be done.  Ethan my friend, what were you up to that you were trying to build such a device?"  Chaine picked up the phone and called his work.  "Mr. Hendricks?  I'm calling to let you know that I quit.  I have decided to become an Inventor."

  He held the phone away from his ear as his former boss squawked and carried on about what an idiot Chaine was being.  Chaine ended the call as quickly as he could.  He had not the same skill as Ethan, or even the Genius brain of his friend, but Chaine swore he would do his best to get his friend's last invention made.  Or at least discover enough about it that Ethan's boy would be able to finish it.  Kit had his father's intelligence.

 

  That night, the Kahekili's had one large family birthday party.  The youngest twins had kicked it off earlier in the day.

  Rylan:

   

  and Nira:

 

  Then later on, it was Layla:

  and Kit (I couldn't resist the hair, lol):

  Followed by the older twins who become young adults and left childhood behind.

  Lani:

  and Kale:

  Kale and Lani were leaving in the morning, they had rented an apartment together.  Lani was going to pursue a career at the Police Station, while Kale was going to learn how to become a Gypsy.

  After a lot of time off because of maternity leave, the carpool arrived for Kei.  It was time to get back to work.

 


  The next morning found Lani giving her Dad a good bye hug.  "Stay safe Lani"  Kona told her.  Sometimes it hurt to look at his youngest daughter, because she so closely resembled her mother.

  "I will Daddy, don't worry about me.  Kale will have my back."

  "I'm more worried about Kale, keep an eye on him."  Kona muttered.

  Lani rolled her eyes.  "Yes, Daddy."

 

   Kona hugged his only son goodbye.  "Kale," Kona started to say.

  Kale interrupted him.  "I know what I'm doing Dad.  Let it go."

  In the end, it was the only thing Kona could do.  Let him go.

 
 
 "Well Kanani, what do you think of how our children have turned out?  I have not done such a bad job I think.  I could have done better with you at my side.  Kei, she probably wouldn't have given me nearly the amount of grey hair she has, if you had been around.  Kale.  A gypsy."  Kona snorted.  "Let's home that is just a phase!  Our little Poulani is married now, to a nice young man, Pip Goodfellow.  Even Keilani is engaged, to a fellow named Ayden Van Gould.  They are very rich, and he will provide a good life for her and her two boys.  Kei, she lost Ethan, but is taking another chance on love.  She is braver than I.  I avoided love like a plague."

  Kona's voice trailed off, as he thought about the one female that he had not been avoiding.  "I miss you Kanani, I still miss you.  I am sort of seeing this one girl, Crissy.  What would you have said about her, I wonder."  Kona chuckled.  "No, I know what you would have said about her. "  Kona sighed heavily again.  "Crissy does not seem to want anything permanent, and I am not so sure I am up to such a casual relationship.  And yet I can't seem to break it off with her either.  I am a doomed man."

_______________________________________________

 I failed at taking good birthday pictures this time around.  I thought I had taken them, but couldn't find them later.  So I used CAS pics on some of them.  I had one of Layla, but it really didn't turn out very well.  Crossed eyes and the whole bit.  :\

   I have decided that Kit is going to be my 3rd gen heir.

  He looks a lot like his father, but he definitely has his grandfather's mouth!

  I rolled single with double help, so I get to keep 2 of his siblings.  Yay!  I have decided I want to keep Rylan, so now I just need to figure out which girl will stay.  Nira or Layla.

  The third generation is going to be a lot of fun---  :D 


 

Next: Chapter 19: Rah! Rah! Rah!

Chapter 17: Second Chances

  Kei sighed, disgusted.  She had broken yet another computer!  This one didn't belong to her, it belonged to Chaine.  Electronics hated her, she knew it.

 

  She glanced at the clock, it was only a little bit after noon.  Chaine wouldn't be home from work for another three hours.  She and Chaine had planned to spend some alone time without the kids, and Kona had volunteered to watch them.  Kei had planned to do more research into a last name that kept popping up, Wolfren.

  That idea was toast, and now she had time to kill, and no idea what to kill it with.  She slumped on the couch in the living room.  She could watch tv, but tv really wasn't her thing.  She liked to move about too much.  Then she remembered that Chaine had an old record collection and record player in his attic.  She could listen to some old records.

  Once the music was playing, Kei found she couldn't sit still.  She just had to dance, the Smustle!  Oh yeah--she still had it.  Her and Ethan had totally rocked the dance floor at their Prom with their epic moves!

 

    When Chaine made it home from work, he found her still dancing the Smustle, a big grin on her face.  "Oh no!" he groaned.  "Don't tell me you like the Smustle."

  "It's Epic!"  Kei told him, her face was flushed and her eyes sparkled.  "Come on Chaine, dance with me!"

  "Dancing is not for me."  Chaine declined.  "Ethan loved to dance, I hated it.  I didn't even go to my Prom."

  "Oh, that is so sad!"  Kei said, as she twirled around the room, dancing circles around Chaine.

  Chaine stopped her dancing with a kiss.  "Let me show you something."

  Kei followed him downstairs, and into his bedroom.  He led her to his old wardrobe.  "In here?" she asked him dubiously, peering into the wardrobe.

 

"I have some ideas I came up with while at work that I wanted to share with you."  He grinned as he kissed her and pulled her into the wardrobe.

  A while later, they emerged from the wardrobe, both of them adjusting their clothing.  "Shouldn't your mind be on work while you are working?"

  Chaine kissed her.  "Are you complaining?"

  "By no means!" Kei blushed.  "But really, Chaine, the things you think of!"

  Chaine winked at her.  "I'm going to take bath.  Care to join me?"

  Kei lightly punched his arm.  "Not this time."

  Chaine shrugged.  "Your loss."  He kissed her, and ambled towards the bathroom.

  Kei went into the living room, and turned the television on.  Her energy level was not where it should be, she was getting soft from the lack of proper exercise.  At least that is what she hoped it was, what she feared it was, that was another story.  She put one of her exercise tapes in that she had brought over from her house and started to do a workout, intent on firming her muscles up a bit more.

 

    A wave of nausea hit Kei hard.  She stopped what she was doing as her stomach roiled.  She barged through the bathroom door as she made a beeline for the toilet.  Chaine was startled by her sudden appearance and he winced at the sound of her puking violently into the toilet.

 
  He got out of the bathtub.  "Kei, are you okay?"

  She leaned her head on the toilet.  "I have this awful feeling I am pregnant again.  We weren't careful enough the other day!   I'm so tired all of the time, and this nausea." she groaned as she puked again.  "This nausea is going to kill me."

  Chaine sat on the floor next to her, and handed her a hand towel.  She leaned up against him.  "I'm sorry you feel so sick.  Would it be so bad, being pregnant with my baby?" he said hesitantly.  "I know I am not Ethan."

  Kei cut him off, "Chaine, we already established that.  This has nothing to do with Ethan, and everything to do with my paranoia about dying in childbirth."

  Chaine looked at her confused.  "Why would you think you would die in childbirth?"

  "If we're going to have this conversation, could you put some clothes on please?  You're quite distracting, and while I am feeling nauseous, I am not blind!"

  Chaine grinned at her, but did as she asked.  He picked her up and carried her to the couch in the living room.  "There, now you are more comfy.  Tell me why you fear childbirth?  Obviously you have gone through it before."

  Kei smiled sadly.  "Yeah, and Ethan was there to help me every step of the way.  He knew all about my mother you see.  My mother, she died when I was really young, she died while giving birth to the twins, Lani and Kale.  It absolutely devastated me.  I have had this irrational fear that I will die the way she did.  And that my kids will grow up without a mother like I did."

  Chaine was silent for a moment.  "So, what do you want to do about this baby?"

  "Do?"  Kei looked at him quizzically.   "Chaine Szlachta!  If you think for one moment, that I am getting rid of this baby then you are..."

  Chaine kissed her.  "Well, if I did, you have disabused me of the idea."  He hesitated a moment before saying quietly, "I want to marry you Kei."

  Kei leaned against Chaine and sighed.  "One day at a time Chaine.  I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that I am pregnant again, I'm not quite ready for marriage.  Give me some time."

  "Take as much time as you need Kei.  Just know, that on my end,  I love you, and I want to marry you.  Just say when."

**

  "Grandpa, these chairs are horrible!  When are we going to get new ones?"  Layla complained.

  "I suppose they do look a little rough now, don't they?"

  "And mismatched." added Lani as she sat down at the table.  "I hate these chairs too."

  "They look fine to me."  Kit mumbled, as he was stuffing food into his mouth. 

  Kona smiled at Kit.  Kit looked a lot like his father, but Kona could see Kei's spirit within the boy.  Ever since Kit was a baby, Kona knew there was something extra special about him.  He didn't know what the future held for his grandson, but he was sure Kit was destined for great things.

 

  Chaine began to spend even more time over at Kei's house.  Half the time she was feeling miserable and would just lay on the couch with her eyes closed.  Chaine would help Layla with her homework.  He would have helped Kit, but Kit had inherited his father's genius abilities and was already way ahead of Chaine.  After their homework was finished up, he would take them outside and play catch.  Chaine loved playing catch, and he was excited at the thought that someday he would be able to play catch with his own child.

  He never thought he would have kids, he would have said he wasn't interested in having children not all that long ago.  But then Ethan asked that promise from him, to protect his family if anything should happen to him.  Ethan died, and Kei and the kids had practically shown up on his doorstep.  He had never meant to fall in love with Kei, she was Ethan's widow.  Ethan was as close as a brother to him.  And if Ethan had lived...Chaine dropped that train of thought.  Ethan had died, that was all there was to it.  He tried not to think too hard about how Kei felt about Ethan, versus how she felt about him.  From everything that Ethan had told him, she hadn't balked at the thought of marrying Ethan.  Chaine shut that thought down as well.

  Chaine really loved the days when Kei was feeling good.  She had a glow about her, and was the most beautiful girl he had ever met or seen.  Pregnancy seemed to soften her, and she was more relaxed, and playful.  When he asked her about it, she simply shrugged.  "I have put everything else on hold for the moment, and I am just enjoying life."

 

  When she started to really show, Chaine broached the subject of moving in with her.  "Kei, I know you're not ready to get married.  But what about if I moved in?  I could be a lot more help if I lived here with you."

  "Okay."

  Chaine was shocked silent for a moment, he had been preparing for more of a fight.  "Excellent!" he finally said.  "I'll go pack my things, put a bunch of stuff in storage..."  Within a couple of days, Chaine had all of his things in either storage, or already at the house.  He was content, now he got to sleep with Kei every night, his arm across her with his hand resting lightly on her stomach.  He loved to feel his child squirming around inside.  "I don't know how you sleep, with him carrying on like that."

  "Pure exhaustion." was Kei's response.  While she no longer suffered with such debilitating nausea,  she was extremely tired all of the time.  Tired enough that she took some time off from work, she just didn't have the energy to cope with work.

  Kit loves a good challenge.  Layla likes to think she is the best at hopscotch, and she goes around bragging about it.  She even puts Kit down when he declines to play a game of hopscotch with her.  Layla is a poor winner.

    But Kit has been secretly practicing while Layla does her homework with Chaine.  He challenges her to a hopscotch duel, which Layla eagerly accepts.  Kit easily wins the first time.  The second time.  The third time.  The fourth time, Layla walks off.  "I don't want to play anymore!"  Layla is also a poor loser.

 
 Kona has throughly checked out all of the venues that Moonlight Shores provides.  He still has to make a living, and while he does an occasional show, most of his money is still earned through tips.  He wasn't too impressed with any of them, until the new Rodeo Go Go opened up.

  Kona was entranced!  The place already housed lots of regulars, and he found they were good tippers as well.

  He had never been to a cowboy style bar before.  He wanted a cowboy hat of his own,  in the worst way, but unfortunately none of the stores carried cowboy hats.  He would have to order one through the catalog.  He couldn't talk Crissy Rain, the Proprietor and owner of the bar, into letting him have the hat she let her customers use when they rode the bull.  "I'm sorry Kona." she said regretfully.  "I need that hat for the pictures I take.  It's an extra ten bucks, and they get a picture of them riding the bull to take home and put on their walls."

  So while Kona was on break, he would put the hat on, and try his luck at riding the bull.  He discovered he was a natural, and it was great fun!

 

  He always made sure to have an impressive pose for the camera.  Crissy would shake her head at him.  "You are crazy Kona." she would tell him.  "But I also think you are hot.  Maybe we could hook up?"

  The first time she told him she thought he was hot, he blushed and stammered like a school kid with his first crush.  He had hastily backed out of the bar and had run home.  He had had no intentions of ever going back to that bar.  But he had forgotten his gear and everything at the Cowboy bar.  He would have to go back, at least long enough to retrieve his things. It took him three days to get up the courage to return to the Cowboy bar to get his stuff back.

  Crissy was waiting for him.  "Hello!" she practically purred.  Kona had nervously stammered a hello back to her.  "You came back for your stuff?"  He had nodded, and held his hands out to retrieve his belongings.  "Do I scare you Kona?"  Crissy laughed.  He liked her laugh.

  "Maybe a little." he told her.  "I, uh, I haven't, well, I haven't been with anyone since my wife died many years ago."

  "That is so sweet!"  Crissy, instead of handing his stuff to him, moved into his open arms instead.  Kona was startled, he was expecting his work things, not this female.  He was even more startled when she kissed him.  He didn't know why, maybe because it had been so long, but he kissed her back.

  Crissy kissed him even more passionately, and Kona responded.  So when she led him upstairs to a photobooth, he followed her willingly.  He had no idea the things that could be done in a photobooth, but the pictures were quite embarrassing!

 

  
  And that is when his pseudo relationship with Crissy began.  He didn't know what they had.  He would perform his magic tricks, but when the bar was slow, Crissy would take him upstairs to the photobooth again.  And again.  Kona almost hated himself, he thought of his wife, how he and Kanani would never have done anything so, risque like having sex in a photobooth machine.  He would swear he would never do it again when the guilt would overwhelm him.  But everytime, when Crissy came up to him, with that hungry look, he followed her willingly.

  He didn't know if this, whatever they had, would ever go further than what it was now.  Just sex, a way to sate his body and hers.  They never met outside of the bar, and Crissy never said she wanted to.  The one time he tried to bring it up in conversation, she only said, "I like how things are right now, Kona."

  So he had sex, multiple times, daily, in a photobooth, with a woman much younger than him.  Kona was mortified by himself.  He was a grandfather, not some young hormonally driven teen.  Though he acted like a hormonally driven teen when he was around Crissy.  He hoped that news of this, whatever it was, never reached the ears of his children or grandchildren.  He hoped even more fervently, that he could put an end to it.  Though so far, that last hope, was pretty slim.

  Kei went into labor, and she started to immediately panic.  She wished Ethan was here to hold her and tell her everything was going to be alright.  She still misses Ethan, and yet she cares a great deal for Chaine.  She hesitates to say love, it is not one of her favorite words.  But Ethan had always had a way with words, a way to reach her, when no one else could.  Not even Chaine, though he tries.

 

     But this baby wanted out, and he did not give Kei much of a warning.  Chaine was still blissfully sleeping in bed----

 
 
  When she gave birth to their son, Rylan, in the upstairs hallway.

 
    She carried Rylan into the nursery and carefully placed him into his crib.  Then she felt more labor pains, and a few minutes later, she gave birth to their daughter Nira.

 

  Kei was stunned.  Another set of twins?  Someone in heaven was laughing at her today.  She had something to say to Mr. Sleepy as well.

  She marched into her bedroom with a rolled up newspaper, and woke up Chaine in a hurry.  "Don't ever!" she yelled, "Sleep while I am giving birth to your children!  Children plural!  Do you know what you have done?" she continued to yell hysterically as she thumped Chaine with the newspaper.  "Twins!  We have twins!"

  

  Chaine grabbed the newspaper away from her.  "Kei!" he tried to get her attention, but she was having none of it.  He grabbed her wrists and pulled her in close to him.  "Kei, would you calm down!  Why are you so---" he thought about saying the word, crazy, but thought better of it, " upset?" he finished.

  Kei broke into sobs.  "I don't know!" she wailed.

  Chaine held her as she sobbed, mystified.  He was discovering that Kei was not the easiest person to live with, and he was jealous of Ethan's easy way with words.  Chaine had no words for her. 


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  Challenge notes---Half siblings complete.  Kei owns 1 out of 3 businesses.  She did have 2 while in Sunlit Tides, but I had the family sell them to help pay for the move to Moonlight Shores.  She hasn't gone much further in her career yet---she is still about half way to Empress of Evil.  The maternity leave is slowing her down.  lol




 
Next: Chapter 18: Life's A Party