Newhaven: Week Eight - The Maxwell-Spencer Family
Previously for the Maxwell-Spencer family: After inheriting her father’s magical abilities, Coco finally badgered her father into initiating her into the magical arts whilst the twins celebrated their birthday. Ebony grew into stunning young woman, with magical ability, who wanted to top the music career. Ivory grew into a determined young woman who was focused on family and dreamed of a being a grandmother to six. Leo and Dion were as in love as ever, Kendal and Coco opened an arcade/entertainment venue named The Dungeon, and the family grieved the passing of Clyde.
As I’m playing a couple of weeks ahead I realised I made an error in the last update saying Xun was the last of the original settlers to pass. I’m pretty sure this makes Leo the second last though :(
The loss of Leo was devastating for the whole family, but understandably, it was most upsetting for his partner Dion who couldn’t imagine life without him. As such Dion was relieved when the Grim Reaper appeared the next night to collect him, knowing he and Leo would once again be reunited.
Leonard Maxwell, or Leo to anyone other than his parents, had grown up in a wealthy family who prided themselves on being very liberal until it was their son who came out. Dion Spencer, the boy from the rough side of the tracks, had expected to be Leo’s secret lover forever and was ecstatic when Leo asked him to marry him and join him on the expedition to Newhaven.
Despite being wildly different in personality, Leo and Dion were madly in love. They both dreamed of a career in gaming, and, with their friend Clyde who came to Newhaven with them, topped the career, opening the way for the many future Newhaven citizens to follow in their footsteps. Additionally, it was Dion who honed the mechanical skills necessary to establish electricity and running water for the settlement.
Being in Newhaven meant the couple were too isolated to adopt, and despite many, many nights stargazing by Leo, they never had children of their own. That being said they were devoted ‘uncles’ to Clyde and Kendal’s children and never once felt they had missed out on having a family life.
The family opted for a quiet celebration for Coco’s birthday, although her mother made it extra special by giving her the deed to The Dungeon. The business continued to succeed under its new ownership.
Inspired by the success she and her eldest daughter had had with their business venture, Kendal decided to seize the opportunity to do the same when Chang’s Collectables came on the market.
Ivory and Ebony were quick to come up with ideas about the new shop, but were unsurprised when their mother informed them the decision had already been made.
After a short refurbishment, the store reopened selling items sewn by Kendal. These included home furnishings, soft toys, and clothes made to order. The store was named Maxwell & Spencer Haberdashery in honour of Leo and Dion who had been such an important part of their lives.
It was a struggle at first, but soon Ivory began to get the hang of making stock for the store. Kendal stressed how important it was for her to master sewing if she was to take over the running of the business in the future.
And even though Ebony dreamed of topping the music career, and had even begun working towards that goal, she still helped out her mother and sister when she could.
When they weren’t studying, or working at the store, the twins would still often be found together, often with one of their mutual friends.
The twins were still much closer to each other than their older sister. Ebony and Coco had begun to form a stronger relationship, but it seemed Ivory and Coco simply had conflicting personalities. Coco’s fondness for casting spiritus poultria on Ivory certainly didn’t help matters.
Ivory’s relationships outside the family weren’t all smooth sailing either. She had thought she had been happy with the way things were, having shared her first kiss and many dates with Terry Sibly, but then she found herself falling for the kind, although awkward, Luc Davidson.
Terry was heartbroken when he found Ivory kissing someone else. Ivory, on the other hand, had found herself unable to even pretend it had been accidental they had been caught.
When her mother asked her about the sudden change of heart, Ivory found herself unable to give a reason. Instead she chose to deflect the attention from her own love life by dishing the dirt on her twin Ebony’s romance instead.
Ebony had always been less outgoing than her twin, and certainly hadn’t shown the enthusiasm in boys that Ivory had. She had though begun a strong friendship with Gina Sibly who lived across the road.
Soon, despite the significant age difference, and the fact Gina was married with a son, the two refused to ignore their chemistry and feelings for each other.
Now it was only a matter of Gina telling her husband.