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Lanie watched from the sidelines as her husband asked his brother the reason for his visit, but she was distracted by little Ingrid running straight towards her. The woman had just enough time to crouch down and open her arms to receive the little girl. The mother-daughter shared an embrace before Lanie stood back up, Ingrid now in her arms.


[color=khaki]“Mommy, Uncle Francis brought me a gift!”[/color] Ingrid said excitedly, her chubby-cheeked face alight with happiness. [color=khaki]“He brought me a pretty dolly with hair just like mine! Do you wanna see it?”[/color]


 [color=darkturquoise]“In a moment, darling,”[/color] Lanie replied to her daughter, kissing her nose to focus back on the conversation.


Just then, Francis was greeting her with a smile, giving her a wave. With a smile of her own and Ingrid still in her arms, Lanie walked the short distance to her in-law’s porch and hugged her brother in law. [color=darkturquoise]“Francis, honey. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”[/color] She looked around .  [color=darkturquoise]“Joaquin not here with you? [/color] Lanie asked, having missed that part of the conversation.


Francis Callahan coming out as gay was a huge deal in the town with such old sensibilities like the Ridge. He was a star of the football team, he had great grades and went to church every sunday and yet all of sudden, he became demonized because of his sexual preference. It took a while for the sleepy town to get over that one. [color=silver]”Sadly not”[/color] Francis replied as they parted from their embrace. [color=silver]”Hubby dearest is currently in Alaska doing one of his beloved survival documentaries”[/color] [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/36/a0/df/36a0dfca98fe4c8a85a1331728a18341.jpg]Joaquin Hernandez[/url] and Francis had met when they both went off to college. By the time they had gotten together, Edenridge had more or less come to accept that one of its favourite sons was a homosexual, so when Francis returned with his new boyfriend for visits, they were quite welcoming of Joaquin. The two had been together now for several years and married just over two. In Roddy’s eyes, Francis and Joaquin were goals. [color=silver]“Now let’s go inside. Dad’s making brisket and you know how good that man is in a kitchen”[/color]


Roddy watched as his brother and wife conversed and he felt a pang in his heart. Moments like this always transported him back to his childhood, especially when Francis was around. He was so loved, he had everything. Lanie was the same. Popular and beloved. Rod was just Rod. He was the nerdy son of the local butcher who ran into a school and got shot. He loved his wife and he loved his daughter more than anything in the world but sometimes he wondered, especially on days like today; what exactly had he accomplished in life?


In Lanie’s eyes, Francis coming out as gay wasn’t the big deal it was for the rest of the town. Having grown up in Los Angeles with parents that were never judgemental and friends who openly lived their sexualities had definitely given her an advantage in situations like this. In fact, Lanie had become one of Francis’ most fierce defenders, a long time before she and Roddy dated. Of course, this sparked rumors that she was probably a closeted lesbian or something of the sort, but as it happens with things like this the rumors died down eventually. When Francis eventually came back with his then-boyfriend Joaquin, Lanie had been the first to welcome them with open arms.


[color=darkturquoise]“Awwww, that’s too bad! I was really looking forward to catching up with him as well.”[/color] Lanie replied, visibly disappointed at Joaquin’s absence. She loved to hear all about his stories of his international trips, especially with that foreign accent of his. The feeling was short-lived, as Francis announced his father was busy in the kitchen making his famous plate. [color=darkturquoise]“Then, by all means, let’s get going then.”[/color] The blonde woman placed her daughter on the floor, who ran back to her grandparents’ house still clutching the doll her uncle had given her. Meanwhile, Lanie walked back to where her husband stood, took his hand and they both followed Francis to his parents’ house.


The Callahan house had barely changed at all since it was built. It was the quintessential white picket fenced, all American household. A mahogany dining room, a warm sitting room and a kitchen where Daddy Callahan spent most of his life thinking up new ways to tingle the tastebuds of family, friends, guests and customers. Holding onto his wife’s hand, Rod followed his brother into the family home and deeper into the mind numbing smell that was permeating the afternoon air. The smell of beautify prepared brisket lead the group into the kitchen where of course, [url=http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0004/078/MI0004078412.jpg?partner=allrovi.com]Colin Callahan[/url], father of the Callahan brothers and grandfather to little Ingrid stood cooking up a storm. “Well there is a sight for sore eyes” The greying blonde man’s beard hid a wry smile. [url=https://media2.wnyc.org/i/800/0/c/80/1/MumsTheWord_307redit.jpg]“Your mother[/url] is in the pantry grabbing us some wine. Now if you boys want to help your mom, that’d be nice. Some of those boxes are heavy. Lanie, always lovely to have someone with manners in the house rather than those knuckleheads” Indeed he loved it when Lanie came round, not just for the fact she often brought his only grandchild but also because she had a soothing presence, one that kept Roddy out of his own head.


Colin was born and raised in Edenridge but never had any intention to stay. In fact he left for college just like Francis did and was set for great things until his father died and he had to return to take over the family business. Hindsight is 20/20 and Colin was glad he came back. He found his calling as the town butcher, he fell in love with his beautiful wife and he helped make two sons to be proud of. It wasn’t his plan but he wouldn’t change a thing. He watched as the boys headed off to help their mother and left him with his daughter in law and grandchild. “Now that the idiots have left” He dropped his knife and walked over to the girls, picking up Ingrid as he did so. The little girl let out a giggle and hugged her grandfather. “How are you, Lanie? I know today must be hard but you look a little off colour”


Although the troubled relationship she’d once shared with her parents was long since mended, Lanie had always loved the Callahan’s like a second set of parents. The couple had been nothing but kind and supportive when both her and Roddy were hospitalized, and had been thrilled with the news of them dating, their engagement and eventual marriage. The wait and arrival of Ingrid had only helped to make their relationship stronger. Lanie knew that she’d made the Callahan’s -including Francis and Joaquin, of course- extremely happy for the gift of their first daughter, granddaughter and niece. Hopefully soon enough another little one could be joining their ranks. God only knew her and Roddy were trying.


Truth be told, the minute the smell of the cooking brisket had reached her nose, Lanie had begun to feel unexpectedly sick. It was an odd reaction: after all, Colin Callahan’s brisket was one of Lanie’s favorite dishes. But for some unbeknownst reason, the scent was causing the woman to feel her mouth water… And not in the good way. 


In an effort to suck it up, Lanie tried to ignore the nausea and instead focus on conversing with her father in law. Apparently, her feelings translated to her physical appearance, as Colin mentioned she was looking ‘a little off color.’ [color=darkturquoise]“Oh, you know, just the usual… Had a run-in with she-who-must-not-be-named, but nothing I could handle. Don’t get me wrong, I know you guys love her, but I’m not about to forget all the things this… person, put me through.”[/color]


At that moment, Colin chose to check on the brisket, sending a particularly intense waft of the smell in Lanie’s direction. The blonde woman was barely able to excuse herself before rushing off to the bathroom, locking the door behind her and vomiting the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl.