Hi everybody! As promised, I'm back with the final chapter of Pleasantview Soapbox. It took me a while to decide how to end it all and I must say I took the easy way out. I really couldn't bring myself to reconstructing the entire neighborhood, too much work! But I did want to end the story with a final chapter and share some of the wedding pics with you. You've all been so supportive and I really appreciate all your comments. I'm not sure if I'm going to write another story, but I might just start another one when I've had some more time to play with the game. I'm kind of lazy when it comes to pics, I just make 'em as a play along. Anyway here's the final chapter, I hope you enjoy it!
CHAPTER 15 --- Sweet Dreams ---In the backyard of the Lothario household a big wedding party was taking place. Finally Brandi and Don would tie the knot and make their relationship official.
Both Don and Brandi had been married before, but this wedding was very special to them anyway. All the painful mistakes and hardship had only made their bond stronger. Brandi felt her stomach tingle when Don pulled her closer and gave her a long passionate kiss. Who would have thought that after all there could be a happy ending for Don and Brandi.
“This wedding is a piece of cake!” Don remarked to his blushing bride. “I’ve should have come to my senses years ago!” Don tenderly took a little piece from his cake and let Brandi taste the wonderful vanilla cake with white chocolate icing. “Hmmm, almost just as sweet as you”, Brandi replied with a wink. The couple acted as if they where young lovers. They where constantly flirting and kissing. But not everyone seemed to appreciate their behaviour. Their daughter Donatella, who normally is very outgoing, had been silent all day and seemed to avoid her mother.
“what’s wrong sweetie, aren’t you enjoying yourself?” Brandi carefully asked her daughter. “ Mom, you know that lady Dina Caliente? I kind of called her this morning to make sure she wouldn’t come over. I warned her their would be trouble if she tried. And then she told me why she had been so mean. You know mom, dad has pulled some real nasty stunts on you. He left you alone with four babies. How can you forgive him for that?”
“Sweetie, your dad hasn’t been mr. Perfect. Actually, he’s been more like mr. Disaster. But despite everything, he gave me the big family I always wanted. I’m so glad to have you in my life sweetie, I don’t have any regrets. I came from a very bad place. My first husband had just died and I found out I was pregnant with twins. Life couldn’t get much worse for me and now I have all this!” Brandi told her daughter with a smile. She wasn’t sure her daughter would understand, but she wanted her to know she was happy now.
But Donatella did understand. She would have never done the same, but well, family wasn’t her priority either. To show her mom she was ok with it all she decided to do a toast on the newly weds. Brandi never felt happier in her life before. Here entire family was here to celebrate, even Dustin, his wife and their two kids. They had such a troubled life when Skip had only just died. And if she was honest, even when Skip was still alive their life wasn’t all she had hoped for. But after all the hardship, and maybe even because all the hardship, she ended up in a better place than she ever could imagine.
While her lips were about to touch the champagne glass, she started to wake up. Brandi desperately needed something to drink. Her throat was so dry she could swear she was in the desert. With her eyes still adjusting to the light, Brandi slowly pushed herself to the side of the bed. Her feet touched the cold stone floor. Hmm, she didn’t recall having a stone floor. While the clouds of sleep where leaving her brain, a panic struck her heart. This isn’t her home! Where the hell is she? “ What is this place. Am I losing my sanity, this looks like some kind of castle”. At first Brandi thought Dina had been pulling another stunt, but finally her memory came back to her and made her realize how wrong she was. “It was all just a dream. Stupid hormones!” It was strange for Brandi to realize that all the adventures she thought had been so real were nothing more than the hormones from her latest pregnancy raging through her body.
Brandi recalled how she had a long talk with the lady from the social services when Dustin had been brought home late at night by the police. The lady turned out to be very nice and helpful when Brandi had told her she was pregnant again and didn’t know how to make ends meet. She had said she knew a nice couple in Strangetown that were looking to adopt. They had already adopted a child before so they had a pretty good track record. Brandi was at her wits end. She knew she already had trouble providing for Dustin and Beau, she could never deal with two new hungry mouths to feed. It seemed the logical thing to do, even though her heart was crying. She had however one condition, she needed to see the “ would be” parents to assure to herself her kids would really be better off with them.
The journey was long and tiresome, but finally she arrived in Strangetown. She had heard stories about this strange little town. She had heard about the rare genetic skin condition that would cause green skin and there were claims that Bella Goth had been seen. The couple that was looking for adoption looked very normal to Brandi though. Circe and Loki Beaker seemed to be just what Brandi was looking for. They both had successful careers, a gorgeous home and the son they had adopted earlier had gone off to college.
Circe had been very interested in the babies. She made sure Brandi had everything she needed. “ Would you like something to eat, or maybe to drink? You must be so tired after the trip, please relax a bit in our comfortable sofa. Oh, why don’t you stay the night. It’s such a long trip back and you shouldn’t tire yourself to much while pregnant!” Brandi was reluctant at first, but Circe was right, she was very tired and she wanted what was best for her unborn babies. And so she ended up in this strange environment.
Brandi coughed a bit, darn she had such a dry throat. “Stupid dry desert air!, I’m going to get me something to drink”. It seemed like the door was locked. “Hmm, probably for my protection? But I really need something to drink right now!” Her body was screaming for fluid and she knew better than to deny her body something while pregnancy hormones were raging through her body. She was uncomfortable enough. Brandi hadn’t always been the perfect daughter in law. Actually in her teens she was quite the rebel. Dustin’s behavior actually matched her own behavior at that age. That’s why she knew she had to keep a good eye on him. With a hairpin and a bit of wiggling, Brandi was able to open the bedroom door.
Brandi had the scare of her life when she walked into the kitchen of the Beaker home. “Aaargh, a burglar”. Poor Brandi nearly peed her pants, but the guy she ran into seemed in shock as well. Before Brandi could scream her longs out, he started to explain. “No, no, I’m not a burglar. I live here!” Brandi was stunned, “but the Beakers told me they were living alone since their adopted son Nervous was off to college”. Nervous started to frown, “off to college?, I could only dream of such a thing. They’ve been holding me captive ever since I came here as a little boy. They’ve used me for experiments. But I’ve told them I’m not taking their crap any longer. They locked me up, but released me a couple of hours ago. They said they didn’t need me anymore and I could get my stuff and leave”.
Brandi knew exactly why the Beakers wouldn’t need him anymore. They would have her children to replace him. “Never!” she thought to herself. Carefully she asked Nervous more information, “Do you have any place to go to?” Nervous stared at her and then looked away, “Well I’ve got a friend right here in Strangetown, but I really have trouble getting along with his brothers. And he doesn’t want to leave his family now he’s in a certain condition. So I really don’t know”. Brandi took a good look at him, “You really have to get out of here, you know. Because I’m not giving my babies to these freaks! You can be sure they’ll turn to you for their nasty experiments again. So If you can arrange a ride back to Pleasantview for me, I’ll think I can place an extra bed in Dustin’s bedroom.” Nervous replied eagerly, “Oh please give me a chance. I can baby sit and cook and, and, …I’ll call Pascal right away. He’ll give us a ride!”
Nervous had kept his word and Brandi was happy to be safe in her home again. She called the social services on the Beakers and they had been jailed thanks to Nervous confessions. He was a welcome addition in her small home. Sure Dustin had been complaining and their house was as crowded as it could be, but Nervous turned out a great cook and baby sitter. He also recently had been awarded a lot of money as compensation for the abuse by the Beakers. The future was sure looking up for Brandi and her family.
But sometimes Brandi still wonders about the strange dream she had in the Beaker house. Was it really all just a dream or had it something to do with the strangeness that is Strangeville. She recalls a strange meeting. When she was doing some shopping, her eyes crossed those of Nina Caliente. The passionate redhead had just come out a dressing booth where she could swear she had seen a guy enter earlier. And when their eyes met, Nina gave her a wink and a broad devilish smile. But then Brandi shakes her head and knows it's no use hanging on to a dream when you've got to face the harsh day to day reality. But it sure was a sweet dream...
