Chapter 16 - Changes

I did not want to leave the house when my parents did.  Not only have we established that my father is a jerk and my mother is a flake, but Roman has always been much more of a father to me than my own was.  My cousins have been like brothers to me.

I'd expected for my father to go ballistic when I told him but he didn't have much to say about that.

For once in his life, he recognized futility when it reached out and smacked his jaws.  I was right on the heels of adulthood.  

Anyway, Roman and Yvette have been kind enough to let me stay.  I do my best to make sure that they don't regret it.

I threw a surprise party for Roman's birthday; I think he was a bit non-plussed at being the center of attention.  Of course, is anyone ever really plussed?

As soon as the party ended, he shocked everyone by adopting a baby girl.  Had he not always wanted a girl, I'd have feared senescence.  Is Monique spoiled? No, babies always smell that way.

No sooner had Monique arrived than Lizbeth discovered that she was pregnant with Pierre.

Roman is right in his element with babies in the house again.   They're babies for such a short time.

I thought I'd outdone myself with Roman's birthday party but it didn't hold a candle to his collaboration with me for Yvette's.

I don't know where she found time to have a birthday; when she comes home from work, she races to the computer to program some more.  She relaxes by entering game tournaments, which she nearly always wins.

Lizbeth is phenomenal as well.  Besides working in the garden, she's the most athletic woman I've ever met.  I try to keep in shape, but she puts me to shame.

My career is taking off nicely, thanks to the cooking I've been doing since my teens.  I'm learning quite a bit about mixology as well.  Etienne's career is quite literally taking off.

Alain is becoming quite the sensation in the art world.  Somewhere between paintings, he managed to complete Josette's collection of elements.

Monique is following in his footsteps.  She spends a lot of time with her niece, Shannon, Edouard's youngest.  She met her Uncle Luc as well.  I didn't warn her about him; if he hasn't mellowed by now, she'll find out for herself soon enough.

Pierre would much rather play video games than study.  His parents and grandparents ride herd on him, so his grades remain respectable.

Now that the children are in school, Roman seems to be at loose ends.  He helps with homework, continues to work in the garden, paints a bit and forages for collectibles.  He's always worked so hard that I don't think he knows how to relax.  It's a shame, because if anyone has ever earned his relaxation, he's the one!

All too soon his time has come.   I'm too devastated to say anything beyond  "Godspeed, Roman Desjardins.  You were far and away the best father I ever knew".