Custom concern

Round 24: Spring 2020

last update/Nick's last update/next update/Nick's next update

Mina Lachance is 70, Abigail Carmody is 37, Jesse is 35, Mitchell is 1 and Nick Moretti is 17.

Narrated by Mina Lachance

When I heard about Maria's death, I decided to invite my brother Emil around, together with some other family members. Maria and I never really recovered our relationship after Abigail's graduation party and my relationship with Emil suffered as a result.


Thankfully, it doesn't seem like any permanent damage has been done. We picked up right where we left off.

Because Emil and I are only half-siblings, he wasn't technically related to most of the other family I invited but I want everyone to know each other anyway.

Any excuse to see my grandkids.

Emil brought his own children, Nathan and Hope and they enjoyed playing with Dominic, Audrey and Edward. And with my nephew, Adam, who's like a big kid himself.

Everybody met Mitchell soon after he was born but it's only recently that he really cares about anyone other than his immediate family, so it was nice for him too.

Dominic took to Mitchell right away...

...while Hope regarded him with mild curiosity but kept her distance.

I'm really enjoying Mitchell at the age he is now. I'm home with him all day while Jesse and Abigail are at work, and Nick is at school, so I feel quite bonded to him.

Abigail and Jesse both want another child but I try not to mention too much how I'd like another grandchild. It was so hard for them to conceive Mitchell, eventually having to resort to fertility treatments, and Abigail is very touchy about it.

So I usually just listen, because I don't want her to feel like I'm putting pressure on them. I would really like another grandchild though!

They're not sure why they have such trouble conceiving - they're both in their mid-30s now but
plenty of people have babies at their age. They're planning on trying a bit longer and then having another look at fertility treatments.

Before any new baby arrives, we'll need to move. Nick shares his bedroom with Mitchell (which he's never complained about, I'll add) and he shouldn't have to. I know Jesse and Abigail want to avoid having Mitchell share his room, if they can.

Mitchell's walking now and he's following his daddy around everywhere.

Abigail has to chase him down when it's time for a nappy change or a bath now. Watching them with Mitchell reminds me of when she and Jonas were that age and I wonder how Abigail handled Nick as a toddler, all while going to class.

Speaking of Nick, he now only has about a week left of school before he graduates. There's not much work to do, naturally, so he's just been lazing around.

He'll leave for college very soon in the new year. Classes won't start for a while after that but he's probably keen to have his own space again, even if it's in a dorm.

And of course, the boy actually likes to study! He's very keen to get started with university! I'm hoping he leaves some time for other things, like dating. I hope he finds someone nice while he's away. It would be wonderful if I lived long enough to see him marry and maybe even give me a great-grandchild!

Abigail came home from work the other day saying she had amazing news! The first was that she'd been promoted - she received a tip about a possible game-fixing scandal and she blew the story wide open, which earned her a lot of cred around the paper. She also told me there was one more bit of news but she wanted to wait until Jesse got home for that. I just crossed my fingers and hoped it was what I thought it might be!

And it was! Abigail went to the doctor after work and found out that she's pregnant! I'm thrilled to be becoming a grandmother again but I know Jesse and Abigail are at least twice as happy as I am. They didn't even need fertility treatments this time - it was a big surprise but a very joyful one!

Extras:

Audrey, ever the animal lover, made a beeline for the aquarium as soon as she entered the house and stayed there for ages.

I cannot imagine who she gets that from!

And some family reunion spam that didn't really fit in anywhere!






LOL, those farm kids! You can't play in the middle of the road in the city like you can at home!

Notes:

• Title is from Custom Concern by Modest Mouse.
• Mina's family ties are probably a little confusing. Mina's father was Anton, who was also Emil's father. Mina's mother was Anton's first wife, Steffi, making her Nathalie and Petra's half-sister. Through Petra, Mina is also the aunt of Adam and Hanna, even though there's only 5 years between them.
• Mina had the want for a family reunion, hence the get-together. I always find those fun anyway. Mina's secondary Family aspiration has been much more prominent that her supposed primary of Romance since Pascal died. She's all about grandkids - the ones she has and the ones she wants to have - and nary a woohoo want in sight!
• And yay for a baby! That's three babies due so far in Round 25 and the round hasn't even started yet! This baby is due at the same time as Ione's - Winter 2021.