Another sweet summer

Round 35: January 2041 (Summer)

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Royce-Nihill 1 household profile

Kit Royce is 81, Max Nihill is 54 and Zaria Royce-Nihill is 53.

(Josh and Elspeth are 27 and Jessica is 21)

Narrated by Max Nihill

As soon as I told Jessica that we’d be going away for a short vacation, her eyes lit up. At first, I thought she was thinking about throwing a wild party at our house while we were gone but I should have known better. 

Wild parties have never been Jessica’s thing. No, Jessica wanted to see over Front Page while I was away.

It was only going to be a couple of days, Jessie doesn’t have classes again until March and she was dying for the opportunity. 

I was dubious but she’s going to own Front Page one day. She might as well learn a little bit about running the place firsthand. 

Jessica was thrilled and I started to wonder if she’d let me have my restaurant back once I returned!

We decided to have Jessica stay here at home, so there’d be someone around for our new puppy, Freddie, at least some of the time as well. 

I’m pretty taken with the little guy, I have to say. 

Even so, I was happy to leave Freddie behind for a few days and visit Cape Elizabeth once again. 

I’ve been nagging Zaria about taking a holiday for the past couple of years and she promised after the election, we’d go. We’re only just getting around to it now. 

I really needed the break and I know Zaria did too.

We took Kit along with us. 

Zaria and Asha are both very protective of their mother and they wouldn’t dream of leaving her on her own.

Kit gets tired a little easier these days though, so Zaria and I had the evenings to ourselves.

At night, it was almost like a second honeymoon for us. 

Even during the day, Kit often preferred going off and doing her own thing. 

We got caught in a tropical rainstorm a couple of times but we didn’t mind too much. 

Cape Elizabeth is beautiful but that kind of weather is to be expected in the tropics. Most of the time, the rain stayed away and we could enjoy the great outdoors.

I have to admit though, I missed staying at our holiday house. We sold it a few years back, which I am now really regretting.

I like having a home away from home, rather than living out of a hotel room. 

I’m trying to talk Zaria into buying another place but she’s not having it so far. 

Zaria kind of likes hotels. She and Kit get a kick out ordering room service and having everything taken care of for them. I tend to be quite critical of other chefs’ cooking sometimes and would rather do it myself. 

I’ll have to work on Zaria a bit more if I want to make it happen.

Almost as soon as we got back, I had to go check on Jessica at Front Page. 

I tried to be subtle but Jessica saw right through it. In short, everything was fine.

The restaurant is still standing, our customers all left as happy as they usually do and there were no dramas to report. Phew.

Jessica told me she did an awesome job, which I have to admit, she did.

She shouldn’t get too comfortable; I’m not anywhere near wanting to hand it over just yet!

Not long after we came back, we had Josh and Elspeth over to see us. 

They’re living together now, or living together lite, as they put it. They’re rooming with Elspeth’s friend Sophie, so they don’t have the privacy they would if they were truly on their own. 

They both seem fairly content with the arrangement though. I don’t think either of them are quite ready to set up house together just yet.

Zaria is still not overly fond of Elspeth but their relationship is improving, finally.

It was easy enough to just barely tolerate Elspeth when she and Josh were just friends but now that she might be a more permanent and constant fixture in his life, it’s going to be more pleasant for everyone if they’re friendly.

They’re getting there. Elspeth has always been a bit much for Zaria to take but she’s doing her best. 

It’s nice to share a meal with a minimum of awkward moments.

Kit really likes Elspeth. I’ve never really known her to dislike anyone (except Luc, when he first starting dating Asha) but she talks Elspeth’s ears off when she’s over.

Elspeth will tell Kit about the latest game she’s designing and Kit will listen attentively, like she actually plays video games.

Zaria and I, as well as Asha and Luc, are completely done with children, so she’s waiting on Josh getting married now. 

Josh gets very uncomfortable when Kit brings up the topic in front of Elspeth! He thinks they should be together a little bit longer before they think about marriage.

They’ve been friends since primary school though, so as far as Kit is concerned, they already know everything they’re ever going to know about each other!

Kit probably has a point but I doubt Josh will be convinced by his grandma.

I’m quite happy for them to wait a while, personally. I feel old enough these days but once my kids start getting married and having babies, I think I’ll feel well and truly over the hill.

Notes:

• Title is from Another Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill by Jens Lekman.
• Max had the want for a puppy and when I had Veronica and Nick's dogs breed so Caleb could get his puppy, I got two puppies. So Freddie is Jessie's brother. I noticed their fur is slightly different, so I think Freddie's going to be a shaggier dog like Clancy, while Jessie will have a smoother coat like Christy. I never noticed puppies' fur textures were different sometimes. 
• Zaria rolled a baby want this round. Yeah, that's not happening, lol! Kit also has the simultaneous wants for a grandchild, a relative to get engaged and a relative to get married. She's definitely not getting any more grandkids but she definitely thinks Josh is old enough to get going on the engagement thing!
• Zaria also rolled the want to buy a vacation home once they got back to Sullivan, which made me smile. She and Max are obviously on the same page (Max has had the want since I placed him in the hood!)
• You guys, Jessica is starting her senior year soon! That's so crazy to me! I'm going to have four graduates next January birthdays!