--Chapter 25--
A/N—Moving time forward just a bit. It is one year since the accident (around April, 1993). Oh and Happy New Year's, everyone!
Carol is in the kitchen making breakfast for her family. Mike wheels into the kitchen.
Carol: Morning, darling. She bends down and gives her husband a kiss.
Mike: Morning. Sleep well?
Carol: Not really. I dreamed all night.
Mike: Oh, about what?
Carol: Passing it off as nothing important. Oh, just about the things I've gotta do today.
Mike: What's that?
Carol: I've got to show a couple houses downtown. Marcia, Traci, and Nora are dropping the kids off this afternoon because they've gotta get ready for a party they're catering this evening. I wanted to work on the Easter dresses I'm sewing for Sarah, Grace, Patty, and Chelsea. Then, the contractors are coming over to finalize the plans for the remodel. And of course, there's dinner, and the laundry....
Mike: Hold on! Carol, you're taking on too much.
Carol: I can do it. After all, I used to juggle eight kids.
Mike: Carol, no. You need to either say no or get them to help out.
Carol: The kids are busy and Alice has a cold, so I didn't want to ask her.
Mike: You're gonna run yourself ragged. Let me meet with the contractors. Jan can help there. Ryan and Carolyn can babysit. Jessica and Mickey can help.
Carol: Ryan and Carolyn have homework.
Mike: Carol, you're making excuses.
Ryan and Carolyn come into the kitchen and Carol serves their breakfast.
Carol: Morning kids. Sleep well?
Ryan: Yeah, I guess.
Carolyn: I suppose.
Mike: This afternoon when you come home from school, I need you to help your mom with your cousins.
Ryan: But Jason and I were going to the arcade!
Mike: You can help out your mom from time to time.
Ryan: All right.
Carolyn: Who's coming over?
Carol: Marcia, Traci and Nora are dropping their kids off so they can cater a party.
Carolyn: Oh.
Mike: Jessica and Mickey can help.
Carolyn: Right dad. Mickey will weasel his way out of doing anything like he always does.
Ryan: Mickey and I can pull Robbie around in that red wagon.
Carolyn: Brown noser!
Ryan: Kiss up!
Mike: All right you two. I want you to come home and help your mother.
Carolyn: Yes, dad.
Ryan: Yes, dad.
Mike: Good, now get going before you're late to school.
The kids return their plates, utensils and glasses to the sink, kiss their mother on the cheek and leave for school.
Carol is showing a house. She and the prospective owners pull up to the driveway. They get out of the car and walk up to the front, where Carol unlocks the door.
Carol: This one is a ranch house, built in the late 1970s.
Wife: What's the siding made of?
Carol: It's aluminum with faux stone trim on each side of the door.
Husband: What's the door? Metal?
Carol: Yes, it is. She opens the door. As you can see, the house opens into a foyer. They step in. The family room has vaulted ceilings and a fireplace in the corner. The previous owners put in skylights, which was fairly new to the 1970s. And as you can see, the kitchen is fully equipped, with updated appliances, including a space-saver microwave.
Wife: Looks in the pantry. The pantry's nice and big. Appliances all electric?
Carol: Yes.
Wife: Looks out to the covered porch. Ooh Reed, this porch is nice! Think of all the get togethers we can have back here. The view is lovely! It looks like the porch extends from the living room to the bedroom.
Reed: Yes, it is nice.
Carol: It does, but as you can see, it's a vaulted sunroom right behind the kitchen, extended from the breakfast area.
Wife: What do the bedrooms look like?
Carol: Leads them across the living room to the small hallway. The spare bathroom is right this way, and each bedroom is on either side of the bathroom.
Reed: And what's the size of the bedrooms?
Carol: They're twelve by twelve with nine feet ceilings.
Wife: Looks in one. Hmm, kinda small, but I think Tiffany can manage. At least the closets are fairly substantial.
Reed: It'll take both closets to hold all her clothes.
Wife: Non-committal. Mmm, let's see the master bedroom.
Carol: Leads them across the house to the master suite. I think you'll like the master suite. It's got not only his and hers closets, but his and hers bathrooms, each with their own sink, vanity and toilet. The bathtub is huge. Something I would've liked in my own house.
Wife: Checks out the closets and bathrooms and is impressed. Ooh! I do like! Reed, you can take your shower while I take my bath in the morning.
Reed: Checking out the shower and getting a bit amorous. Well, the shower is big enough for two.
Wife: Trying to diffuse the situation a bit. She looks into another room, which is on the other side of the "his bathroom and closet". What's this?
Carol: It's an office or storage space.
Wife: This is really nice. We could make it your office.
Reed: Or your sewing room, Tammy.
Tammy: It's so nice and private!
Reed: I saw a staircase outside this room.
Carol: Yes. That leads up to the bonus room or den. She leads them upstairs. It's thirteen by twenty-eight and has a full bathroom and walk-in closet.
Tammy: Now THIS would be perfect for Tiffany.
Reed: And we could put Zachary in the back bedroom and use the front bedroom for a guest bedroom. They walk back downstairs.
Carol: The laundry is right over here by the dining room, garage, and stairs. It's hidden by louver doors.
Tammy: Nice! She peeks in the dining room. Are those hard wood floors?
Carol: Yes, they are.
Tammy: Reed, I want this house!
Reed: I like it too. I do want to look in the garage.
They retrace their steps and go out to the garage.
Carol: It's a two car garage, and over by this bend, there's a storage area. On the other side of the wall is the office. This is approximately eleven by eight, which would be great for storing lawn mower and other tools.
Reed: Looks at his wife. Do you want to make an offer?
Tammy: So excited, she can hardly stand it. YES!
Reed: I'd like to make an offer on the house.
They go back to the office and get the paperwork started on the house.
Carol gets home in barely enough time to greet her husband and daughter, and change clothes before the contractors arrive. The doorbell rings and she answers it.
Contractor1: Mrs. Brady?
Carol: Yes.
Contractor: I'm Doug with J&M Construction. My partner was the one who spoke with you on the phone. He's out on another job and may be joining us later.
Carol: Yes, it's nice to meet you. My husband and daughter are going to be meeting with us. She shows him in. Come in.
Mike and Jan enter the living room.
Mike: Shakes Doug's hand. I'm Mike Brady.
Jan: Jan Brady Covington.
Doug: Mike, Jan.
Carol: We can sit over here at the table.
Mike, Carol, Jan and Doug sit around the dining room table. Doug gets out the plans.
Doug: I've gone over the plans that Jan drew up and crunched some numbers on what it would cost to renovate the den and stairs, and put in an elevator.
Mike: We also wanted to renovate the Jack and Jill bathroom and the bedroom where the elevator will end up.
Doug: Looks at the upstairs plans. Oh yes. I see you want to extend that bathroom a bit, which with the elevator will eliminate that bedroom.
They go over the plans and crunch the numbers. Doug hands Mike the estimate. Mike, Carol and Jan go over the estimate.
Mike: Shakes Doug's hand. Well, we'll think it over and get back with you.
Carol walks him to the door.
Doug: No problem. Have a good day.
Carol shuts the door behind Doug and rejoins her family.
Carol: Well Mike, what do you think?
Mike: I don't think we can afford it. What do you think, Jan?
Jan: I'm not sure, dad.
Mike: It sounds like so much, but I think we need to renovate or sell.
Carol: Me too. Sighs. I wish we didn't have to, but it looks like we'll need to do one or the other. I just don't know how we're gonna find the money to renovate.
Mike: We can dip into my disability checks. After all, this is to help me get around the house.
Carol: Mike, no.
Mike: Look. It's either renovate or sell. You know I'm fine in the family room, but you're not.
Carol: Mike, I'm fine.
Mike: No, you're not. You've said the room's small and cramped and that you miss our room.
Carol: I know, but it's fine.
Mike: No, we're renovating.
Jan: Stands up, uncertain. Uhh, I'm gonna go get something to drink. Want anything?
Carol: I'm sorry, sweetheart.
Jan: That's okay. This is an important decision you're making. Looks at her watch. I need to go pick up the kids.
Carol: Oh! I wanna show you the patterns for the girls' dresses.
Jan: Sure!
Carol: They're in your father's den.
They go into the den and Carol shows her the patterns.
Jan: Oh, they're great!
Carol: Gracie's gonna look so cute in this one! Picks up the material and shows it. I thought I'd make Grace and Chelsea the pink dresses and Patty and Sarah the blue.
Jan: That's perfect! Blue's Patty's favourite colour right now.
Carol: Wonderful!
Jan: Well, I need to get the kids.
Carol: I'll see you later, sweetheart.
Jan: We still on for the picnic on Sunday?
Carol: Of course.
Jan leaves and Carol starts on the dresses.
A few minutes later, Marcia, Nora and Traci drop off their kids. Jessica and Mickey run up and greet their grandmother.
Jessica: Hey Grandma!
Mickey: Grandma!
Carol: Hey kiddos! How are you?
Jessica: I've got a cheerleading competition this weekend. Can you and Grandpa come? Our routine is awesome!
Mickey: Rolls his eyes. Cheerleading. Blegh!
Jessica: It's cool.
Carol: Sure, we'd love to come.
Marcia: Hi, mom.
Carol: Hi. Hugs her daughter. How are you?
Marcia: I'm fine. I'm so excited about this party.
Mickey: Can I get some Coke?
Carol: Sure, kido. How 'bout you and Jess say hi to your Grandpa. Ryan and Carolyn should be home shortly.
Nora: Gets Chelsea out of the car and makes sure the kids are in the house. Hi mom! Yeah, the party's gonna be awesome! Does dad know anything?
Carol: No. He thinks you're catering a business dinner.
Nora: Excellent! He'll have no idea.
Marcia: And we're gonna keep it that way.
Carol: Exactly! Now hand me the baby so you two can get going.
Nora: Passes the baby over to her grandmother. Thanks, mom.
Traci gets Robbie out of the car.
Carol: Holding Chelsea. Hey! Hugs her daughter-in-law and grandson.
Traci: Hey, mom. Robbie took his first steps today.
Carol: Excited. Really!
Traci: Yeah, Bobby and I were on the couch and Robbie was over by his playpen. Apparently Bobby had a toy he wanted, so he pulled himself up using the playpen mesh, walked along, holding onto the recliner, but then took a couple steps without holding onto anything.
Nora: Just wait. Robbie's related to Kevin, so he'll probably be running around in no time.
Just then, Ryan and Carolyn come home from school.
Carol: With relief. Good, you're home! Jessica and Mickey are in the kitchen getting cookies.
Marcia: That's all he's been talking about, is playing with Ryan.
Ryan: No prob. Lemme put up my books and I'll go see them.
Carolyn: Hands her brother her books. Can you get mine too? I think mom wants me to take Robbie.
Carol: Would you? Thanks.
Ryan takes Carolyn's books as Carolyn takes Robbie from Traci. The twins go into the house.
Marcia: We'd better get going.
Carol: Adjusting a fussy Chelsea. So, you got the menu down?
Marcia: Yes, mom. Don't worry about a thing. We've got it covered.
Traci: Teasing. So, you want a pink cake with "Happy Bat Mitzvah, Sherri" on it?
Nora: We'll just have to make sure the cake doesn't say "It's a Girl" or "It's a Boy," since we've made so many of those cakes recently in our family.
Traci: We sure have and we've got many more to come.
Carol: Surprised. Are you?
Traci: Laughs. No, not yet. We're gonna wait awhile before we try again. But we've got Peter and Christine's baby and they'll probably have another. Bobby and I want to have at least one more, and then there's Ryan and Carolyn. They may start families in another few years or so.
Nora: We need to get going if we're gonna get that dinner going.
Marcia: We'll call you when we're ready to set up.
Carol: Okay. See you later.
Marcia, Nora and Traci go on their way and Carol takes Chelsea in the house.
Mickey is running wild in the living room, running around, jumping on furniture. Ryan is trying to calm Mickey down. Mike wheels in to see what the commotion is.
Mickey: Jumping on the couch. Boingy! Boingy! Boingy!
Ryan: Mickey, cut it out!
Mickey: No! I'm having fun!
Mike: Wheels in. Michael Wallace Logan get off the couch right now.
Mickey: Gets off and looks downcast. Yes, sir.
Mike: Now, if you need to run around, how 'bout the three of us play some basketball.
Mickey: Can we play HORSE?
Ryan: Yer goin' down, dude.
Mike: All right. Let's go.
The three go out to the driveway and start up a game of HORSE. Mickey is winning, with just an H, Ryan has H-O-R and Mike has H-O-R-S. Ryan's up. He runs up the driveway, jumps up and twirls once to the right and hooks it in.
Ryan: Beat that, Mickey. He passes the ball to his nephew.
Mickey: Dribbles the ball. No problem. He copies Ryan's basket and makes it.
Mike: Atta boy! Now, it's my turn.
Mickey passes the ball to his grandfather, who wheels and dribbles the ball up to the basket, tracing the same path the boys did. He gets up to the basket, spins his chair around, and tosses the ball toward the net. It stops short.
Mike: Rats! E. I'm done.
Mickey: It's you and me, Ry. Yer goin' down, foo!
Ryan: Hand me the ball, showoff.
The kids play a few more rounds and Ryan falls to his nephew with a final score of H-O-R-S-E and H-O.
Mickey: Pumps his arm. Yesss!
Ryan: Good job. I bow to his majesty.
Meanwhile, Carolyn and Jessica are playing with Robbie and Chelsea in Marcia, Jan and Cindy's old room. Robbie is toddling around the room, holding onto furniture. Chelsea is in her bouncy seat. Jessica holds her arms out towards Robbie, trying to coax him into taking steps without the help of the furniture.
Jessica: C'mon Robbie. You can do it.
Robbie squeals with delight and toddles into his cousin's arms.
Jessica: Good boy! You did it!
Carolyn: I used to help you walk around when you were that age.
Jessica: Really?
Carolyn: Yeah, you were so cute. You were always smiling and giggling. I felt like a big sister with you around. I wanted to be a big sister, but this was better because I got to love on you and spoil you rotten and then you went home with Marcia.
Jessica: Giggles and signs. Sometimes I wish Mickey could go home with someone else.
Jessica forgets that she was holding Robbie and he loses his balance and falls. He begins wailing. Jessica remembers her cousin, picks him up and starts to comfort him.
Jessica: I'm sorry, baby boy. Did you fall down? I'm sorry.
Robbie stops crying, so Jessica sits him on the floor. The girls set out toys for Robbie. Chelsea begins whimpering, so Carolyn picks her up and sets her in her lap. Jessica hands her a toy.
Jessica: Here ya go.
Chelsea takes it from her cousin and begins playing with it.
Jessica: I can't wait to have a baby. Do you want kids?
Carolyn: Mmm, maybe one or two.
Jessica: Not me. I want at least six.
Carolyn: Chuckles. You sound like mom and dad.
Jessica: Well, I think it's neat having a big family.
Carolyn: Still chuckling, and gives Chelsea a different toy. So, are you gonna marry someone with kids and then have more, like mom and dad, or do you wanna have them all yourself?
Jessica: Mmm, I wanna have them all myself. How 'bout you?
Unbeknownst to Jessica and Carolyn, Carol is listening from the doorframe and silently chuckles to herself. She goes back to sewing before she's discovered.
Carolyn: I want one or two.
Jessica: That's funny. I suppose I want a bunch of kids because it's just me and Mickey and you want only one or two because you're one of eight kids.
Carolyn: I suppose.
Jessica: So, are you and Jason still going out?
Carolyn: Yeah.
Jessica: Is he gonna ask you to prom?
Carolyn: Yeah. We're going to the prom with Ryan and Stephanie. We're renting a limo and eating dinner at that new French restaurant.
Jessica: You mean Au Petit Paris?
Carolyn: Smiling. The very one!
Jessica: Dreamy. Oh, you're so lucky!
Carol is sewing dresses for her young granddaughters. The phone rings.
Carol: Hello?
Marcia: Hey mom.
Carol: Is everything going okay?
Marcia: Yeah. We've finished the entrée. The cake looks really good.
Carol: Wonderful!
Marcia: Christine and Traci are working on the sides and Nora's got the salad all fixed up.
Carol: When will everything be ready?
Marcia: Around seven. So, I'd try to leave around six-thirty or six-forty five. Does dad suspect anything?
Carol: All he knows is that you're catering a dinner, so that's why we're babysitting the kids.
Marcia: Thinking. Okay, I'll see if Greg and Bobby will pick up the babies at six and tell dad that Wally called and that he's invited you guys to dinner.
Carol: Perfect!
Marcia: Good. I'll call the guys and fill them in on the plan. Jan, Peter and Cindy know where to meet us. We'll all be there around six-thirty, so take your time.
Carol: Okay. Thanks. See you soon.
Marcia: You're welcome.
They say their goodbyes.
Carol goes downstairs and finds the guys watching TV in the living room.
Carol: Mike, that was Wally. We're meeting him at seven at Marioni's.
Mike: What about the babies?
Carol: Greg and Bobby are picking them up after they get off work.
Mickey: Cool! I like Marioni's. I want to get a pepperoni, sausage and onion pizza.
Carolyn and Jessica descend the stairs with the babies.
Jessica: Eww! I want double cheese.
Carolyn: I'm with Jess.
Ryan: Not me. I'd rather have a supreme or taco pizza.
Carol: Repulsed and curious. Taco pizza?
Ryan: Yeah, it's the best. It's got sausage, hamburger, tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, cheddar cheese, onions and topped with salsa.
Carolyn: Actually, it's really good.
Mike: What will they think of next? Seafood chowder pizza?
Jessica: Shudders in horror. Eww no!
Mickey: Mmm, actually that's on their new arrivals menu.
Carol: Yuck!
Mike: If it's okay with Wally, we can get a taco pizza and a double cheese pizza. That should satisfy everyone.
Jessica: Can we get the chocolate pizza for dessert?
Carol: We'll see. It's up to your dad.
Carolyn: Mmm, those things are soooo good!
Mike: Would you guys stop? You're making me hungry.
Carol: Speaking of hungry, it's time to give these little ones their snack. Carolyn, would you get the formula and make up Chelsea's bottle? I'll get the arrowroot cookies for Robbie.
Carolyn fixes Chelsea's bottle and feeds it to her. Jessica feeds Robbie his snack.
At six, Greg and Bobby pick up their babies.
Bobby: Picks up Robbie, who reaches out to his daddy and squeals. Hey boy! Did you have a good day with Grandma? How was he?
Carol: He was a good boy.
Jessica: Yeah. I helped him walk some.
Carol: Traci was telling me he took his first steps.
Bobby: Grinning proudly. Yeah. This boy's gonna start running in no time. I think he's gonna be a track star. Aren't ya boy?
Robbie giggles.
Greg: Picks up a sleeping Chelsea. How was she?
Carol: The perfect angel, as always. She kisses her granddaughter on the cheek.
Chelsea squirms.
Greg: I'm glad. I need to get this little girl home.
Bobby: Yeah. We'll see you later. We still on for the picnic after church on Sunday?
Carol: Sure. See you guys then.
The Brady men and their babies leave.
Six-thirty rolls around and the Bradys and Logan kids prepare to leave for dinner.
Mike: Everyone ready to go?
Jessica: Yep. Got my backpack.
Ryan: Roger that.
Carol: I guess we're all ready.
Carol locks up the house and they head to the restaurant.
--End of Chapter 25--
A/N—I'm winding up this story as it feels like it's coming to a natural conclusion. Next on my agenda for this series, is to do a prequel (basically some before the wedding and during TV canon). I may take a bit of a break from this series and write other stuff for now. I do have some ideas for the Bradys after this story (and also the sequel to Welcome Aboard), but I'll put those aside for awhile so I can do those with a fresh mind. I've enjoyed writing this series and I hope you've enjoyed reading it.