Ch. 10- One down, Two to Go

Days with Calictus started at first light no matter how late he stayed up the previous night.  Cyrena on the other hand went to bed at a sensible hour and liked to sleep in late.

The love of late mornings and beauty sleep was another characteristic Cyrena and I shared.  Being the caring mother and giving goddess that I am, I went without the extra hours of beauty rest to take care of her and her brother.  Besides if I got too much beauty rest I'd become too lovely to look upon with mortal eyes, which would ruin my vacation and crusade to break the Alistair curse.

"Good morning my little sleeping beauty.  I'm going to tickle those sleepy eyes away so we can start our day!"

After the twins were changed, fed, and occupied with their toys I went out to talk to Alena, who was downstairs poking around at the decorations by the gazebo.  

"You know mom if you plan on having our party out here I wouldn't mind cooking at all," she told me excitedly.  The already placed decorations had her convinced their up coming birthday party would be held at home.  Little did she know I had an entirely different party planned for those decorations in a few days.

"I will not have you serving meals at your own birthday party Alena.  Besides you just want to get your hands on that grill."

"The Home on the Range Grill is not just a grill mom, it's an experience in outdoor cooking and cuisine.  The Range is a finely tuned cooking machine that can barbecue anything."

"Uh-uh I'll have to test that out for myself one of these days.  Time for you to be heading off to school now.  Oh remember I'm picking you, your brother, and sister up after school today to look at more locations today."

The designer that had remodeled the temple for me had become, surprise surprise, inspired by me and what I was doing for Cornucopia.  I was consulting with them on the plans for a small park and the triplets were helping me look for a location.  We weren't really going looking for locations after school today.  I had a surprise in store for the three of them this afternoon.  As I was letting in the baby sitter for the twins before leaving to do my errands they canceled at the last minute.  And by canceled I mean she had taken one look at the coffin in the foyer and run away screaming.  I had no choice but to rely on Bonehilda to take care of the twins.

"Okay Bonehilda I'm leaving to go do some errands and host the birthday party for the triplets.  I won't be back until the evening so I'm leaving Calictus and Cyrena in your care, Blasius has scouting after school so don't worry about preparing him anything for dinner.  And be sure to mind yourself around the twins, they're teething werewolf toddlers and you're their dream chew toy come to life."

Bonehilda nodded her understanding and set off to her task.  She brought Calictus down and fed him in his highchair being sure to keep her hands out of reach of his mouth.

I left for the grocery store to pick up the birthday cakes for the triplets from the bakery.  After dropping them off at the Pink Flamingo and making sure everything and everyone was in their place I went to pick them up from school.

  "I want to take a look around the Flamingo to see if the beach theme is something to focus on with the park or if we should go in another direction," I told Alcander, Alesia, and Alena as I led them inside.

"Surprise!  Happy Birthday!"  The triplets were really taken by surprise as none of them expected to be celebrating their birthdays two days ahead of time at the Pink Flamingo.  The Flamingo was one of the island's premier dance clubs and not a place usually frequented by teens.

Octavio had set up the cake table on the stage knowing it would please Alesia.  She had always wanted to preform at the Flamingo but the late hours the club kept conflicted with her curfew.

JC joined Alesia on stage to cheer her on into adulthood.  Alesia looked right at home on the stage and I couldn't wait to see the woman she would become.

As Alesia blew out her candles Octavio approached me to whisper in my ear.  "Alcander and Alesia's special friends RSVP'd right away when I sent the text out about the early birthday party but Alena's did not.  He just messaged me today saying he has work and will be late."  I could tell by his voice that he was a bit upset by that.

"Give Armando a break Octavio he has been working very hard to earn the money to take us on that fancy dinner he and JC insist on.  His parents are not as well off as JC's.  And they're not special friends they are the triplets boyfriends and girlfriend."

"I think they are too young for such relationships," Octavio huffed out stubbornly.  

"A tough argument to make at the party where our son and daughters are becoming adults," I chuckled.

Just then Alesia blew out her candles and made the transition into adulthood.

Alesia aged into a stunningly beautiful young woman.  It was plain to see on JC's face that he thought so as well.

His thoughts were so plain in fact that Octavio gave him the beady eye for the rest of the party.

Next to blow out their candles was Alcander, who was cheered on by the lovely Wendy.

Alcander's father could barely hold back tears of pride and joy as his only son became a man.

To keep my own tears in check I put everything I had into blowing on my little party horn.  It seemed like only yesterday I was in the nursery with the triplets feeding them bottles and teaching them about their powers in between diaper changes.

I was forced to take a few steps back as more than a few of the female party guests rushed forward to see if Alcander would age as well as his sister.  Even though Alcander had eyes only for Wendy, he still had a devoted fan club that would enjoy him as much as they enjoyed his art if given the chance.

"That's my man!"  Wendy shouted out as Alcander posed for pictures for the art club.

 She was so taken by the older Alcander it was hard to tell if the hearts floating around on stage were from the props or teenage hormones. 

 Just as Alena came on stage to blow out her candles Octavio came and linked arms with me.  "We had wonderful children together Aphrodite.  I just wanted to thank you again for choosing me as their father and setting me free to follow my dreams.  For that you will always be the goddess of my heart."

"Oh you beautiful blue man you," I sobbed and kissed him hard on the mouth to compose myself.  "If you keep up with talk like that I'm going start crying like a baby."

Always the cook, Alena sampled a bit of the frosting and was able to decipher the ingredients used and which pastry chef at the bakery made the cake before blowing out the candles. 

 Armando was still running late so he wasn't there to cheer for Alena as she blew out her candles.  Alcander gladly filled the position when he realized Armando must still be held up at work.

I knew exactly when the poor boy showed up because Octavio started staring daggers into a particular corner of the room as a few late arrivals came in together.

Alena saw him enter as well and waved excitedly to him as the birthday celebrations continued on stage around her.

 Alena became a dazzling young woman.  I had to drag Octavio away to the bar as Armando gave Alena red roses in apology for being late to the party. She easily forgave him and pulled him outside for some stargazing by the pool.

Octavio whisked the triplets and the rest of the party guests away to an acrobatics show after everyone had their fill of cake.  I decided to opt out and stay behind to over see the cleaning up and have a drink before going home to Blasius and the twins.  I needed a little time to admit to myself how sad the triplets moving on made me.  

The sadness lasted as long as my drink as I began to get excited about helping Alcander, Alena, and Alesia start out on their own.  House hunting and wedding planing was soon to be abound. 

Blasius was still awake by the time everyone got home.  He was still too young for the dance club so I allowed him to stay up and listen to his older siblings tell him about their night and plans for the future.

"So Alena when you become a pastry chef at a fancy restaurant can I come and get sweets to eat any time I want?"  As a fairy Blasius's sweet tooth knew no bounds.  He was always looking for a way to get extra sweets.  I knew Monte let the boy raid his beehives on a regular basis but pretended not to so they could have a boys only secret.

"I'm not sure about any time you want at the restaurant but I can guarantee you'll always have a seat at the table in my house in exchange for some fairy dust." 
  
The triplets graduation was the following day after their birthday.  Before the ceremony at Cornucopia's City Hall Octavio told me how amazing the acrobat at last night's show was.  Apparently he had no problem performing his contortions while juggling flaming batons dressed in a moon costume.

The graduation ceremony was wonderful, Alena, Alesia, and Alcander all graduated with honors.

Alesia proved she was the total package of beauty, brains, and talent by graduating valedictorian and winning the Most Likely to Become a Rock Star award.  Alcander was nominated Most Popular by his peers and Alena was voted Most Likely to Have a Big Family.

While I'd like to say I was the proudest parent at the ceremony I will gladly concede that title to Octavio.  He rained confetti down on stage as Alcander walked across it, released doves into the air as Alena received her diploma, and conjured rose petals and glitter to fall from the sky as Alesia sang on stage.

"You were wonderful on stage Alesia.  I'm so proud of you and Alcander and Alena."
  
"Thanks dad, you and mom cheering me on encouraged me to sing my own song instead of playing it safe and singing the school song."

Octavio's heart swelled with joy as he hugged Alesia and spun her around.  "Your mother and I will always be your number one fans.  I was worried I went a little over board with the glitter and rose petals.  I know children some times become embarrassed when their parents publicly display their love for them.  But since you found it so encouraging for your first show I was thinking we have a slide show of all your childhood pictures on the mega screen."

"Dad!"


After speaking with the girls Octavio took Alcander aside.  "I need your honest opinion about the boys that hang around your sisters Alcander.  Both of them approached me after a show about taking your mother and I out to dinner to discuss important matters.  I've got a sinking feeling I already know what they want to talk about but I'm not sure of them.  You've gone to school with the two for many years, are they good enough for your sisters?"

Alcander chuckled inwardly to himself as he remembered his lunch date with Wendy's parents.  He could admit unabashedly that he would take the vice president of a major corporation and professional writer over his parents any day.  

"JC and Armando are really good guys dad.  They really make Alena and Alesia happy."


"I had a feeling you would say that.  It's just the three of you are so young compared to how long your mother and I have been around.  As a father it is hard to let go of your children so they can find their own way.  If the gods bless you as they have me you will know what that is like one day.  Speaking of which how did your lunch date with Wendy's parents go?"


Watching Octavio and Alcander share some father/son time together as they chatted about cutting gems reminded me that I hadn't dismissed Bonehilda yet.  Blasius would be up and about and I had completely forgotten to explain her presence to him.  I hoped she wouldn't give the boy too much of a fright.


Back at the temple Blasius went downstairs for some juice when he ran into Bonehilda for the first time.


"Oh man, oh man, oh man, Paulina must have died while cleaning up the house.  I've got to call mom!"


One frantic call from Blasius and visit from Paulina to confirm she was still among the living later, we were back at home relaxing after the festivities of graduation.  


I was watching the weather channel on the television to better plan my outdoor parties when Alcander came to join me in the living room.


"Mom can I talk to you for a bit?  It's about something really important."


Oh it was so exciting watching his face as he thought how he would  tell me he was madly in love with Wendy and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.  With all the gadgets and distractions of this new modern world it was easy for my children to forget I was a goddess that could sink the entire island on a whim.  I found it a refreshing change from my past experiences raising children.


"Of course I do Alcander.  What did you want to talk about?"

"Well some time at dinner tonight I'm going to ask her to marry me," he said and showed me the ring he intended to give her.


"Wendy is going to faint when she sees that ring.  That's the stone you and your friends have been searching for all this time isn't it?"

Alcander nodded proudly.  "Yeah, Davin and his pack helped me find it in time and dad had it cut and set for me.  So I have your blessing to make Wendy a part of the family?"


"Of course, she's practically family already.  You've chosen a fine young woman Alcander and I'm extremely happy for you.  Now you go get ready to make this a night the two of you will remember forever while I make reservations at the spa for a day of pampering with my future daughter in-law and her mother this weekend."


"It's wild how packed it was in the bistro tonight," Wendy said as she and Alcander braved the bad weather outside for some privacy and a break from all the noise in the restaurant.

"Well it is the night of graduation and Alena is cooking in the kitchen tonight."

Wendy's eyes widened in surprise.  "Is that where she went after desert?"

Alcander nodded proud of his sister's culinary success.  "At home she told us if they ran out of the food she prepared earlier today she might have to go help in the kitchen.  She built up quite a fan base at the cooking competitions so they all showed up in force tonight when they heard the bistro would be hiring her soon after graduation.  Add to that all the reservations they already had it's a wonder they didn't run out of food earlier."


"So that phenomenal meal we just had was her cooking?  If it wasn't for the bad weather people would be elbow to elbow out here eating on the lawn.  Can you imagine all the lovely nights people are going to have eating Alena's food under the stars?  I can see birth rate increases coinciding with clear nights and couples that eat at this restaurant."

"I love it when you get all logical," Alcander replied as he stroked Wendy's cheek.  "Congratulations on landing the research position at the science facility by the way.  And for the good of science I'd be more than happy to help you test out your theory on one of those clear nights."

"Yes for the good of science," Wendy laughed until Alcander's hand stroking her cheek reduced it to a nervous giggle.  The way he had been looking at her all night made her knees feel like jelly.
   
"I know I've already said it more than a few times tonight but, you really look lovely tonight."


"Oh stop it you.  I'm all damp from the rain, my makeup is probably running all over the place."

"Wendy my Starlit Beauty, you look wonderful in all kinds of weather."


"Why Alcander Divine you are really turning on the charm tonight. I'm already on cloud nine just being here with you and landing my dream job. If the night gets any better I may just float away."


"Well grab on to something heavy because I've got something special for you," Alcander told Wendy as he dropped to one knee before her.


It took Wendy few seconds to realize what was happening as Alcander pulled a little black box out of his pocket.


"Wendy Kidd would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Alcander nervously blinked rain out of his eyes as his heart hammered relentlessly in his chest while Wendy stood motionless for a full minute staring at the ring.  


"Yes!  Alcander I will!  A thousand times yes," she finally exclaimed as she gave him her hand.


"Oh Alcander its perfect.  It's a ....wait, my goodness Alcander this is a pink diamond."


Alcander grinned broadly at Wendy's astonished expression.  "A pack of werewolves helped me find it."


"I can't believe you just asked me to marry you!"

"I can't believe you said yes!" 


"Ha ha very funny now get over here and kiss me before I slip in these heels."


Octavio and I ordered a round of drinks for everyone in the restaurant when Wendy and Alcander came back inside to announce their engagement.  Octavio made his a double after I made a touching toast to Alcander and Wendy and ended it by proclaiming, "One down, two to go."