Chapter 529) Sacrifice

Brindleton Bay
The Elysium

Seated around the dining room table were Chase, Hailey, Briar Rose, Brad, Brad’s mother Belinda and Brad’s father Dr. Jeffrey Cunningham. On the table a fresh, beautiful bouquet in uplifting colors. Every other day Brad had brought her a new one, first in the hospital, then here at her home. Including today.

“How are you feeling, Bri?” Brad’s father inquired politely.

“Still hurts a lot, the incision area is very sore, but definitely getting better. Glad to be back home, nothing against your hospital but … there really is no place like home.” Bri told him politely.

“Understandable, and there will be a lot of discomfort unfortunately, we had to cut through some muscle tissue, but you are healing very nicely and luckily, the other cyst seems to be dissolving as we had hoped. Slowly, but there is noticeable progress. We’ll keep on it.”

“Yeah, thank God, I really don’t need another surgery in my life anytime soon. This was miserable. Still is. I feel like an old lady getting up and don’t get me started on sitting down. Ugh.”

“About that … so, here is the thing. Dr. Sharma was going to walk you through all this in great detail, but as his superior and having personal interest in your progress, I took the liberty to come to you directly. While it generally is possible to conceive and carry a pregnancy to full term with only one ovary, in rare cases such as yours, there is some scarring, which significantly increases the risk for conception issues, as well as early pregnancy issues and ectopic pregnancies, which are not only very painful, but can be fatal. There are some options, which would require more surgeries, at least one, probably two or more, depending on how your body reacts to it, all of those options involve a form of reconstruction, utilizing a donor ovary. Full disclosure: it is not only pricy, but also bears a risk for the patient, it can lead to irreversible damage if the host body rejects the donor organ, sometimes requiring the removal of the entire uterus, meaning Bri would have to be on medication for the rest of her life and go into a form of early onset menopause. Now that is rare and only worst-case scenario for full transparency here.”

“Uh, yeah, no. I am not doing that! No more surgeries. Especially none that could send me into menopause at 17!! Hello!?! No way, not happening!” Bri said, gesturing animatedly.

“Umm, since you are a minor, Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, I would like to urge you to talk to your daughter about this some more, maybe provide her with some wisdom someone our age would have that she can’t possibly have yet. I can have some informational material sent over for you …” Dr. Cunningham addressed Chase and Hailey, when Bri grimaced and interjected.

“Excuse me!? Hello?! This is MY body, Dr. Cunningham. I already said that I don’t want that, no matter what my parents think. Happy to hear their side, but it’s me having to live with the consequences, not them.”

“Yes, my daughter makes a valid point. You see, Dr. Cunningham, I am no stranger to conception issues, my chances were very low as well, and it admittedly did bring me to tears more times than I want to admit, leaving me worse than frustrated, yet here we are three kids in, and we didn’t even have to resort to in-vitro. I am not thrilled about the surgery or surgeries either. Surely, I don’t have to tell you, as a doctor, that every surgery no matter how minor, bears risks. I am not going to talk my baby into a surgery she doesn’t want or even need, most definitely not over her head! I am no doctor, but that can’t be good for her.” Hailey told him.

“Agree with my wife. Same reasons as Bri listed. Not a priority. If she ever wants a child, I am sure we can figure it out, many years down the road. Bit premature to plan all that out when she literally just turned 17.” Chase added.

“Well, Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, it may seem premature, but bodies change and in ten years from now it may be too late for the surgery.” Dr. Cunningham reminded them, clearly not amusing Chase, as his responses became shorter and firmer.

“We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it. Like my wife and daughter both said, I am not keen to have her go under the knife unless her life depends on it. Which it doesn’t. So, not a priority.” Chase stated.

“Okay, it seems you are not understanding me here so I may have to be more direct. There is a sense of urgency for this to happen on my side. I do not want to cast myself into the role of the bad guy, which you all will undoubtedly see differently, but fact is, that I have a legacy to uphold, and because my wife and I faced our own conception emergencies, in a time before there were many sound options even available, we didn’t get the choice Bri now has, leaving our wish for two or three children unfulfilled, but luckily we were blessed to have one son whose capable hands to put the future of the Cunningham lineage into.Like any parent who loves their child, I want only the best for my son, I love him more than my own life, and I want him to have options. Any choice he wants to make, unless not safe or illegal, I want him to be able to make as he chooses. Sadly, there are some things Brad always knew would present him with choices he wouldn’t want to make, and he has long come to terms with that. The most obvious and currently relevant of those being that he will have to become a doctor, like I am, and my father before me, and his father before him, and so on and so forth for countless generations before us, and Brad will eventually run my empire with me, alongside me, which he seems to look forward to. But it also means that he will have to provide an heir when the time comes. Brad always knew that marriage and fatherhood won’t be a choice, but a requirement for him, so I am going to sound awful now, when insisting that Bri reconsiders her options and at least tries the surgery.”

“What?! NO! No, no, no and NO! Mom, dad, I do not want that!” Bri looked at her parents for help, Chase’s face darkened and his voice became lower and less patient.

“You heard her. She does not want the surgery, so there will be no surgery. Gonna take our chances. Like my wife said, didn’t look good for us, but we have three healthy, happy kids anyway. I have faith in it all. How about you do too, Dr. Cunningham? To put it in your terms: I insist you try.” Chase’s tone had cooled yet more.

“Well, Mr. Cameron, Bri, that is unfortunately not enough for me. I need more than that to give me some sense of security. I’ll give you a week to think this over, maybe brainstorm with your parents and maybe even your brother, since Dr. Cameron will be able to provide you with all the medical insights of this, and we’ll talk about it some more. But to play with open cards here, if you haven’t found it in your heart to change your mind, I am going to have to insist that Bradford ends his relationship with you, as I see no solid future in it. I am sorry.”

“WHAT!? Dad, what the fuck!” Brad, who had been quiet and patient until now, exploded.

“Bradford! Mind your manners!” Dr. Cunningham called him to order, unsuccessfully so.

“Dad, you can’t do that! Mom, are you gonna say something – ANYTHING – at some point? He didn’t mean that, Bri! Tell them you didn’t mean that!” Bradford demanded.

“I did mean it, and you know very well I have every reason to. You have the best life imaginable, your mother and I absolutely adore Bri, love her like a daughter, but we are not talking about the future of a small neighborhood restaurant here, we are talking about a medical empire my ancestors build from a tiny neighborhood doctor practice into worldwide presence in several other countries. We’re the market leader in so many aspects. I can’t gamble that on some young girl’s unwillingness to be inconvenienced by another surgery which would change everything. If you want this life, Briar Rose, a life with Brad, you’ll have to sacrifice. We do not ask for much, he is free to choose any girl he desires, but she will have to be able to give us at least one, if not two heirs, or there would be no future for what my ancestors build. If you want to one day marry my son, the only thing I’d ask of you – other than to be good to him, love him and make him happy – would be to have his child. In return you would be granted a worry-free life in luxury, you would never have to work and my wife and I have never made you feel anything less than welcome.” Dr. Cunningham tried to appeal to Briar Rose again.

That was when her mother Hailey banged her fist into the table, glaring at the doctor through narrowed eyes, her tone and facial expression leaving no doubt that she was now unmistakably angry.

“Okay, that’s it now! I have sat here long enough patiently listening to this BULLSHIT, trying to be understanding and to NOT cast you as the villain here, as you asked Dr. Cunningham, but I can’t any longer! Bri already said – several times – she does not want another surgery. My husband and I have told you several times. Ergo, unless her life is in danger, neither my husband nor I will do anything along the lines of talking her into one, nor sit here and watch you try to bully our daughter into it! That being said, I may ‘only’ be a business major and have ‘only’ managed my husband’s band’s very successful music career for a few decades, which may not save people’s lives, but it definitely didn’t leave our daughters destitute enough to having to make it their life’s sole purpose to become the broodmares to cement in someone else legacy, and considering that we own the BY FAR largest and most expensive property here in the Bay, I think we do understand the concept and importance of such a legacy, not to bring up my husband’s heritage, which is a legacy much, much older and even greater than yours. I know we are not part of your uber-classy Brindleton Bay old guard, and you and the others who are the descendants from the old money crowd rarely miss a beat reminding us that we are ‘only’ that unsophisticated new wealth and will never be part of your well-guarded inner circle unless someone marries into it, yet I would rather bite my tongue off than expose any of my children or anyone else’s children to such gun to the head practices as you do! We do not own our children, Dr. Cunningham. If that would mean a legacy ends here, then so be it. It’s not the 1500s anymore, and last I checked none of us are royals, in whose cases this outdated way of thinking may be at least partially still understandable. In other words, the discussion on this topic is herewith closed, unless at any given point Briar Rose wishes to reopen it again. Have I made myself clear?!” Hailey ranted, clearly angry, but still remaining very businesslike.

“Mrs. Cameron, it is unfortunate that you choose to look at it this way, and I am very sorry that I seem to have upset you so, that wasn’t my intention. I am merely being honest here, and not to down talk your work or your husband’s career choice and background, but being a musician is not the type of business one can hand down from generation to generation, as it is based off skill and the current music taste of your consumers, whereas mine very much is all skill and demand, always will be, so we are comparing apples to oranges here. But if this discussion is truly closed, I am sorry to say that I can no longer support my son’s relationship with your daughter.” Jeffrey Cunningham stated.

“DAD! Quit this shit – now! You are being so rude, and you are embarrassing all of us! You said you wanted to come here to check on Bri, not THIS BS! What is wrong with you?!” Brad snarled, staring at his father as if he had turned into a live cockroach.

“Bradford, know your place! Quit making a spectacle of yourself!”

“My place?! How about my stance: I am not breaking up with Bri! Not happening! And I am not forcing her into some surgery she doesn’t want, her mom is right, her condition isn’t life threatening, just an inconvenience. And I am not even 18, I am not having kids anytime soon, dad! Seriously now!” Brad ranted at his father.

“We will discuss this at home, Brad.”

“NO! There is nothing to discuss! I love Bri. I am NOT breaking up with her! Just NO! I apologize for him, but he is NOT speaking for me! Just ignore his banter!” Bradford said into the round.

“Enough with the disrespect! You are going to do what is best for the family, and that will be what I say. Otherwise, you can forget university and cars and vacations, and you will not ever see a dime! I WILL cut you off until you come to your senses. That will be a pretty painful lifestyle change!”

“Same! You’d go from ONE heir to zero! Who’s hurting now?! Didn’t think that all the way through, did you? Two can play THAT game, father dearest! You could go home and make a few more kids – oh wait, you can’t, which is why this is even a conversation, so guess you are stuck with me – and I am NOT breaking up with Bri. Cut me off, fine, I won’t study medicine then. Good luck with the family business then! Hope you live forever!” Brad snapped back at his father.

“You have that stubbornness from your mother, pardon me Belinda, but I can see why she needs to be that way, while it is ill advised for you. We’re going to discuss this at home. I think we are done here anyway. Briar Rose, think about this long and hard. You too, Mr. and Mrs. Cameron. Oh, and while I am sure you all made up in your heads that I am a terrible person, at least out of respect, do try to look at it from my side. It is always easy to judge from a distance. I am doing this FOR my son, not against your daughter. As I said, I wish things were different, as my wife and I have grown to love Briar Rose like our own daughter and this is sickening to me as well, but I have no choice here. Mrs. Cameron pointed out how strict society here looks upon heritage, so alternative methods to obtain children won’t be an option, if my son marries, the child must be his and his wife’s. My hands are tied, I have to insist. My son does have a point about fertility not being of much relevance yet, but this last year of high school will just fly by, then comes college, in the blink of an eyes they will graduate and suddenly there are engagements, and the kids are even more invested, their relationship would be several years old, while right now they have only been dating about a year, breaking up then, many years into it, would hit even harder. So, please, PLEASE reconsider. I am on my proverbial knees here, begging you to look at the facts again, Bri. I would perform the surgery myself, even with your brother if that would make you feel more confident.”

“Again with that! My son has already spoken to us about the reality of all this, and I tend to trust him with such medical things over anyone else, present company included. I am over this topic now too, looks like we are not getting our points across, while you keep insisting we consider yours, which I find rude. While I am not part of your esteemed old wealthy crowd as only a low-class musician whose wealth evidently is solely based on luck, I take great pride in providing a pleasant environment for my family, so yeah, we are definitely done here. Bri looks exhausted and so am I. Let me see you out!” Chase said firmly.

Chase got up, Hailey followed his example and Dr. Cunningham and his wife took the hint, Brad looked absolutely horrified as he said his goodbyes.

Brindleton Bay
Cunningham Estate
several days later

Lowering herself down slowly and very carefully next to him on the ground, groaning for discomfort, she leaned her head against his shoulder, he put his arm around her. A seated hug. A long one.

“Hey stranger. I snuck out of my house and am officially trespassing into yours, literally climbed the fence. Well, I can’t climb in my current state, I stepped over the low fence right here when I saw your curls from the street. Guess my criminal career wasn’t over yet after all. On the upside, I walked here, didn’t steal a car, so there’s that. How is it going, Braddy? No offense, but you look like shit. I know I do too, but I had life-altering surgery, what’s your excuse, Cunningham?” Bri asked, sitting up.

“THAT is my excuse, I am a Cunningham and my father is a douche! And you still look beautiful, Bri. I am glad you came, never been gladder to see a person in my whole life. I am stuck here, going insane, while my dad is trying to demonstrate his dick is bigger than mine and since I am not 18 yet, at the moment it kinda is. Grounded, not allowed to have anyone over, in case anyone comes looking for me they get turned away, lost my computer, my phone and can’t use the car … prisoner.”

“Yeah, I know how bad that sucks. Welcome to my world, you copycat. I’ll let you use my phone if you wanna send some smoke signals out to the others. This time my tech wasn’t confiscated, well, until now. I’ll probably join you on the remote island the minute I get back home. Needed to see you though, so, it’s worth it.”

“Nah, you can let the others know I am being held hostage by my previous gen. Now that I tried it, I really don’t understand why you keep doing things that get you into total lockdown all the time. This is absolutely brutal, I am borderline psychotic now, the worst case of cabin fever imaginable. You must be tougher than me. If we at least had school, so I could get out and see people for that, but of course we are off for another few weeks. Sorry, I am being rude. How are you? Want anything to drink?”

“No, I am good. Still get queasy a lot from the surgery so I prefer to drink and eat at home, where I know the shortest route to the bathrooms, just in case. I know how parental prison gets to you. Still grounded myself, probably even longer once they realize I snuck out, but I needed to see you. Figured since I got nothing back from you on my texts and chats, you may have lost your phone and pc access.”

“Yup. Completely cut off from the outside world in my little punishment bubble. In all the years, dad and I never once fought. Maybe a snippy remark or a stern “Bradford!” here and there, but never anything like this, so I don’t know what to do with any of this. All I know is that I just can’t roll over and show my soft underbelly. I am so sorry Bri. You should be focused on healing, not get exposed to this Cunningham breeding war BS or whatever you want to call it. My dad really is a good guy normally, I swear, and he and my mom totally adore you, so I just can’t understand why he has to be such a stubborn dick about this shit! But he’s not the only stubborn dick in this family. We shall see who outlasts whom. Cheer for me. I’ll need it, as it has been a Mexican standoff ever since we left your house. I haven’t spoken to my father since then, except a few brief yelling matches that ended with each of us slamming doors in the other’s face. My mom is about ready to move out. Unfortunately, she seems to agree with him, which SUCKS for me! She won’t take a side.”

“Ugh, worse than I thought. I am so sorry, Braddy. That is kinda the reason I came, I have been thinking too. A lot of thinking, being grounded does that to you. Brad, you are so sweet for going to war about this for me, but I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve you. And you don’t deserve this. I haven’t been the girlfriend you deserve and … how many more times can I say deserve in the same sentence? Jeeze Bri, English please.”

“Maybe you’re not what I deserve for whatever reasons you cooked up in your head, but you are what I want.”

“No, I am not. You want a sweet girl, who loves you and only you, who honors you and cherishes you. I thought I did all that, but I have let you down too many times. I love you Brad, I truly do, but I … I don’t love you the way I should, the way you deserve to be loved. I tried so very hard to fight the noise, but I realized I can’t. I was still fighting before this cyst thing happened, and even after, but seeing you being so miserable now is the last thing I ever wanted. I care for you so much it hurts, physically hurts me, and it hurts me to see you suffer and at odds with your dad just because of me, knowing I have done things, unforgivable things and I am not worth the battle you are in. You and your parents have always been close, like I am with mine, imagining being at war with my dad like you are right now – all because of me, after all I have done to you – is KILLING me. I don’t want that. Thing is, I DO understand where your dad’s coming from, as crazy as that sounds. Still don’t like it and think it’s fucked up, but I get it in a way. And maybe I can have a child, maybe I can’t, personally I really don’t care, but I can see how you need this. I was still torn about this when I came over here, but now it’s perfectly clear to me what has to happen. And I’ll make it happen. For you and for me.”

“Bri, what the hell are you talking about? Nobody is having kids right now. None of this really matters right now and my dad needs to realize that. Don’t go weak on me now.”

“I am not, I am trying to be strong enough for both of us. You see, Brad, right now it may not matter to you, maybe not in a year or a few, but eventually it will, so I am setting you free, Brad. It’s the right thing to do. The only thing I can do for you to redeem myself at least a little bit. I may not love you the way you really deserve, but I love you enough to know that it’s what you need. Man, this hurts like hell already.”

“NO! No, Bri. I know about this whole Jackson thing, you’ll get over him, and I don’t care. Well, I do care, but … I don’t want us to end. No way. I am not accepting this. There has to be another way!”

“Well Brad, you’ll have no choice. My mind is made up, trust me, this isn’t easy for me either, I really don’t want this at all, but it is what has to happen. I am doing this for you, because it’s what you need, and sorry, you don’t get a say here either. If anyone asks why we broke up, blame me, tell them whatever you want, I’ll take the fall, make me into the worst person ever, I don’t care. But it is what it is and this is happening. It has already happened. I am bowing out. Exiting stage left. I hope you’ll forgive me and understand why I am doing this and maybe one day we can at least be friends again. Just please don’t hate me.”

“Bri – NO!”

“Yes Brad. It’s done. I have just done it. It’s over. Irrevocably so. Please please please say you don’t hate me.”

“I could never hate you, Bri, even if I tried, but no. This is NOT what I want! I am fighting this so we don’t have to break up. Give me a few more days, I am sure my dad will come around … or my mom will end this for him. He may talk a big game, and my mom usually let’s him, but if she’s done, he doesn’t have a prayer.”

“It’s not what I want either, but we’re young. Right now we can correct the direction our lives are going. Sadly, they can’t go in the same direction, but maybe we can float near each other. Before your dad went on his rampage I didn’t even really think this through further, what my surgery really means, but it finally sunk in, and now I need time alone anyway. This is big, Brad, huge, even for a girl like me who doesn’t dream of kids, and all that, but being faced with the reality that it may not even be my choice anymore is tough stuff. I need to just bury myself and heal physically but also mentally. And I need to really get on the college stuff. You are all set, I haven’t even started yet. Any help and guidance would be much appreciated.”

“I’ll do anything for you. I love you, Bri.”

“I love you too, Brad. Always will. But we need to be friends now, not more. I need to hear you say it.”

“Do I have to?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Fine. We’ll take a break until I can fix this BS with my parents.”

“BRADFORD CUNNGINGHAM the …. however manyeth you are!”

“Second, technically, but there are a few gens in between me and the namesake, never met the dude I owe this name to. Bri, give me some more time to fix this …”

“Fix what, Brad? There is no fix, which is why I am doing the literal hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. I need to be the sacrificial lamb here, whether we like it or not. I am not having the surgery and your dad wants guaranteed handmade heirs. We need to do this. You know I am right. There is no chance your dad will roll. Not like this. You are too smart to deny that you know I am right. I need you to say you are hearing me.”

“Yeah, yeah, I heard you. So, this is really it then for the big Bri and Brad show?”

“Afraid so. Trust me Brad, I am going to have to rethink my entire future, I never made any plans that didn’t have you in them. That’s why I am hoping we can figure out how to be friends. I can’t have a life without you in it.”

“Same. Friends then. Honestly, I know you are right, and as much as I am hating this, I am glad when this prison sentence is over. I can’t live like this. Never thought my dad would ever do something like this. So, we break up, be friends, we’ll be off to college soon anyway and maybe things change, my father’s mental outage fixes itself and he’ll realize how stupid he’s being about this, and we can get back together. Sucks, but I am holding on to this. Don’t say anything, just let me have this, even if you don’t agree.”

They held each other, cried together. By the time Briar Rose left his house, over an hour later, she felt a strange sense of numbness.

Brindleton Bay
The Elysium
right after leaving Brad's home

As soon as she entered her home, her parents were waiting for her, but held the verbal spanking upon seeing the condition their daughter was in, sobbing, face and eyes reddened and swollen, as she ran right up to her room.

“Ugh. Yikes. Not another one of those talks, whatever this is now. I wanna cry too, nobody warns you about this when you have kids! You or me? Flip a coin?” Hailey grimaced, expecting the worst.

“I think this is a mommy thing, babe, reeks like girly type sorrows all the way, so, tag, you’re it, cos my girl talks suck. Call me if you need backup.” Chase told her.

“Eeesh – wish me luck!” Hailey said, heading for the stairs.

When Hailey came back down a long while later, she went straight to Chase, and just kissed him. Long and intensely.

“Chase – our daughter is a wonderful person. We didn’t fail. We are amazing parents. She did the most selfless thing, without having to lose herself or her convictions. She snuck out to break up with Brad, who is apparently very miserable right now and in a standoff with his father. She broke up with him, amicably, so he could make peace with his dad and not be just sad and miserable all the time. They are still friends, they even cried together. Oh my God, that is our sweet daughter, Chase, I want ten more of her!”

“Oh gawd no, no more Bris, please! I admit, that is pretty mature of such a young girl. I am more than impressed.”

“She’s miserable. She really loves him. And we both know he loves her.”

“Yeah, just hoping this isn’t her making room for the other one. Whom she also loves, supposedly.”

“I thought the same, but she is pretty sober and level-headed about that. I actually asked her straight up about Jackson and her ideas with him now. She said she didn’t break up with Brad to be with Jackson, which is still pretty much impossible, just as it always has been, but to help Brad. She also said that she wants to be single for a while, heal in peace and reflect on her future. Said by the end of the week she’ll have a list of colleges for us that she wants to tour and after that, she will have a better idea on what she wants to study. I believe her, Chase. This isn’t a rouse. She sacrificed for Brad, no ulterior motives. And from the sounds of it, he knows that too. I am really proud of our daughter. Didn’t think I’d be saying that anytime soon.”

“Yeah. That’s the Bri we know and love. Iris has always been the more analytical one of the two, the one that never gets in trouble, aside from when she has given us some attitude here and there. Bri always was the dreamer, kind and sweet and soft. Speaking of soft, I am thinking maybe we could sweeten the blow a little by ending her punishment early, maybe one more week and then let her off the hook.”

“Agreed.”

Hailey’s cell phone rang, she answered, grimacing, frowning, giving one syllable answers.

When she hung up, Chase’s eyebrows were arched.

“Do I wanna know? I don’t want to know, do I?”

“Nope. But you’re gonna anyway. That was the girls’ school. We both are expected to report there tomorrow at 5 p.m. sharp, as some review of the school security footage has revealed our daughter engaged in – and I quote – unsavory things. With a boy. Yes, mommy’s really proud already, I am sure daddy too.”

“Bursting for pride. How … unsavory? Better not be Bri being unsavory with yet another boy! I will build that basement and stick her in it! Can’t wait to sit there in front of her principal tomorrow and listen to how her bad behavior is all my fault, since I am in a grunge rock band and our music just makes kids do crazy things, even though I can’t remember one single song we have that talks about girls being unsavory with boys at their high school, but okay. Oh joy. Jeeze Bri.”

“Nope, the other one this time, so much for Iris never getting in trouble, evidently she thought go big on this and decided to take Sterling down with her. If this turns into another dinner like with the Cunninghams, just this time with the Covingtons, then I am running away from home. Do we even really care how unsavory? If it is unsavory enough for the principal to call us in, does it really matter? I swear the lady said something about bleachers and there are certain things that happen in bleachers that we both won’t like to hear.”

“Oh, come on now! Ugh. Still want ten more of those? Goddamn Cameron genes. The jumped a gen, straight from my dad into my daughters.”

“No, thank you, my brain started working again and I sincerely apologize for that statement. Let’s go find Iris and let’s ask her about details on those unsavory things, unless you wanna google what unsavory things teens these days tend to get into. And quit acting like you didn’t get into trouble as well at her age, and because of your dad and grandpa’s fame, anything we got caught doing was magnified. I remember when we were both 16 or 17 YOUR bare butt made the news and was all over the front pages everywhere when a goddamn paparazzi caught us at Avalon Park being ‘unsavory’. At least I could finally show you off to my classmates who had been bugging me about my mystery boyfriend, well, some parts of you at least. So … how bad can that talk with Iris’s principal really shock us tomorrow, right? If we haven’t seen it by now, we probably have done it ourselves. So much for jumping a gen. No, Gump, you’re just as Cameron as all the rest and our daughters take after you.” laughed Hailey.

“Well, at least I sacrificed my behind while hiding YOU beneath me, so they never got a picture of the girl I was being unsavory with, you are welcome! And you said we shouldn’t have boring kids. Mission accomplished. This has been a lot of things, but boring was definitely not it.”