Newhaven: Week Six - The Sibly Family
Terry’s infancy flew past and while he favoured his father in colouring, he had inherited his mother’s very curly hair. Aside from noticing he was incredibly neat for a toddler, they quickly noticed just how kind and gentle his temperament was (10/3/8/3/10).
Lucas’ long hours policing the streets of Newhaven left him exhausted and Veronica found herself up with their son whilst her husband was fast asleep. She was grateful for her brother-in-law’s nocturnal lifestyle during this time as he not only shared the responsibilities of caring for Terry but kept her company in the early hours.
The two became very close and Veronica sometimes wondered if she should be worried how Maurice seemed content to only be in her company. She chose not to worry, just as she chose to ignore her wondering thoughts under his cold but talented artists hands.
Lucas was very happy with his life and could never imagine doing anything to jeopardise everything he had.
But then he met her.
Gina Midlock and he had met through his work, and while he had great chemisty with his wife, the spark he felt with Gina was undeniable; she was his three bolter.
He invited her around for dinner with his family and not long after Veronica had excused herself to go to bed, he gave into his lust and tried to kiss her. She refused his advance, not because she didn’t want him just as much, but because she didn’t want to be responsible for breaking up a family.
Gina wasn’t as strong the second time he made his move and succumbed to his romantic advances. So caught up in their kiss, neither of them heard the cry of surprise from Veronica or the growl of anger from Maurice.
Gina quickly left and Lucas tried to apologise but, understandably, Veronica was both hurt and furious and Lucas found himself waking up on the couch that following morning.
Things were still tense as ever by the time Terry started school so much that Lucas, tired of sleeping on the couch, had set up a single bed for him downstairs with his vampire brother.
Their pretence of normality for their son was pointless who knew his parents were fighting and asked why.
Veronica suggested that maybe Lucas would like to explain why to their son.
Lucas, rather incredulously, asked if she really thought that was the best way to fix the problem.
The rest of the meal was finished in silence.
The truth was though Lucas himself was feeling pretty helpless about the situation. He knew the head he had been thinking with when he kissed Gina wasn’t the one that held his brain, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing his family. His friend Nicholas Baruch advised him to think about what was most important to him, and only when he knew that, could he make the right decision.
But while Lucas was trying to decide, Veronica had become close with a man she had recently met named Mayhew Raymond. His playful and gentle nature, and dedication to family, completely endeared him to her and she asked him out on a date.
On finding this out Lucas panicked and felt he must have made his decision as he suddenly couldn’t bear the idea of her being with another man. The next day he set out to prove that it was really she he wanted above all others.
Terry wasn’t used to seeing such displays of affection between his parents and wondered if this was actually an improvement.
But just when Lucas thought he had made up his mind, he found himself once again caught up in the intense feelings he felt for Gina.
Lucas would try and plead that Gina had just been wishing him goodbye before the carpool took her home but Veronica had seen their passionate embrace with her own eyes.
It only took one phone call to Mayhew who agreed to come around that evening to help her move her, and Terry’s, stuff into his house.