Twenty Years

As the months passed Maggie’s pregnancy progressed with amazing speed.  As the baby’s due date came closer it seemed like it had only been mere days since we had learnt of his existence rather than months.

Grace moved out shortly before the baby was due saying that she wanted us to be able to enjoy our new arrival by ourselves but also that she would visit often.  She has moved the city I think that Appaloosa Plains may have become a little small for her.

During Maggie’s pregnancy I continued to pursue my music career, while Maggie started to make a splash in the art world. She was never far from her easel which she had upstairs near a large window or she was in the garage where she continued to work on her sculpting . Something else she was determined to try was inventing, she promised me that she would wait until after the baby was born to try it. She was determined to master all three fields. I would often take one of my instruments to wherever she was to practice while she painted or sculpted.

Soon it was time to welcome Isaac Liam Young into our world. My grandfather Liam  had recently passed away and to name Isaac after both him and my brother had seemed appropriate.

I loved being a father and Maggie is a wonderful mother. We hadn’t realised how much Isaac would add to our lives until he was a part of them. It wasn’t long before we decided that Isaac needed a sibling.

It was less than a year later that we needed to go to the  hospital where our second son Jonah Santiago Young was born.

It was about this time that Liam and Ava had announced their engagement. Their romance had gone from strength to strength and she admitted to me at the engagement party that she and Liam were far better suited to each other than the two of us had ever been. A statement that I more than agreed with.

Time can pass so quickly especially when you are chasing two small boys around. Isaac and Jonah grew up so fast. Isaac had started school before we knew it. On his first we drove him to school and took him to his classroom. After that he had insisted he was big enough to go on the bus by himself. Maggie had followed the bus into town for the next two weeks before finally admitting he was fine going by himself.

We still visited the falls often it became a place for us to picnic, fish and swim with the kids. We had somehow managed to acquire a puppy. Isaac had found Sophie in the yard one day and she had never left. We had tried to find out who her previous owner had been without any luck. Being the animal lover that she is Maggie loved the new addition.

While she loved her boys Maggie had always secretly wanted a daughter. Just after both of the boys had started high school we were blessed with a little girl, Eden Marin Young.

The years passed and our children grew. Isaac and Jonah were in high school and Eden was enrolled in the local primary school. Isaac like his aunt was very athletic and was in the local high school’s soccer team and seemed to coast along in every thing that he did.  He spends hours out the back of the house practising with soccer net that we had installed for him and when he was not practising he is usually surrounded by plenty of friends.

Jonah however was the cause of some concern. While his teachers have labeled him as exceptionally bright he was prone to sudden bouts of depression and mood swings that only Eden seemed to be able to talk him out of. The two of them had a shared love of the outdoors and were virtually inseparable.

In other respects Jonah is a lot like his mother, the two of them spend a lot of time in the garage with Maggie’s sculpting equipment and the results have been amazing.

If Jonah is our storm cloud, Eden is our ray of sunshine. If she was outside she was happy and like Maggie had been at the same age she was fascinated with the local wildlife and as a result loved the spring.

For our twentieth wedding anniversary Maggie and I organised to go on a holiday. It had been originally planned that we were to take the entire family but one by one our holiday party had shrunk. Isaac now fully grown had just started a new job at the Stadium and hadn’t wanted to ask for the time off. Jonah in his final year of school was for once studying. Something he had rarely needed to bother with in the past.  Seven year old Eden had been going to come with us until she had become sick just days before we were due to leave. Isaac and Jonah had insisted that we go without them. They could handle one little girl who was already on the mend.

Before we left town I decided to take a quick detour up to the Falls.

“Why are we here?” Maggie asked, “We could halfway out-of-town by now?”

“We haven’t been up here in a while, thought it was time to pay a little visit” I told her taking her hand. “For the first time in twenty years we have nowhere else we need to be right now”

“But we have a reservation?” Maggie protested.

“We do, but when we get there is up to us” I told her.

We spent a couple of hours there just enjoying the quiet before we decided it was time to get moving.

“I love it here” Maggie whispered as we made our way to the car.

“Me too” I agreed.

The Next Step

It had been barely a day since Maggie and I returned from our escape from the madness of living in a house with seven grownup children and their parents. I’d been sharing a bedroom with Chris and Tom for as long as I could remember. It’s funny how the lack of privacy hadn’t bothered me until now. My thoughts lingered on what had occurred during on the escape. It had started innocently enough. “Where do you want to go”, I had asked Maggie once we had reached the car.

”I know just the place”, she told me before leaning over and whispering the location in my ear.

“We haven’t been there in years”, I replied.

”I know”,  she smiled ”and from what I remember nobody goes there much so..”

“So at this time of night it’s guaranteed to be deserted”, I finished. ‘‘I like how you think” I leaned over and kissed her.

We had ended up staying there all night, finally falling asleep on the blanket that I had found in the car.

In the morning the small waterfall fed lake had looked too inviting to pass up and so we had spent the morning swimming. By the time I had returned home it had been late the following afternoon.

Toby!

TOBY! TOBY!!

I was suddenly back in the present facing a cranky sister with hands on hips and eyes showing her amusement.

“Wha?”

”What on earth has you so spaced” she asked. ”I’ve been trying to get your attention for ages” I could feel the heat climbing up my neck towards my face ”Why Toby, I didn’t know you could blush” she teased, ”Just what have you been up to?”

”Did you want something Grace?” I asked, annoyed. I still wasn’t giving her my full attention.

”Nope, not really” she told me. ”You just ignored me when I said good morning, and now I’m curious about just what has you blushing and smiling like a fool.”

“I don’t really see how that’s any of your business” I informed her, the heat rising once more.

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll just have to ask Maggie. I’m thinking she probably knows”, she threatened me.

“Fine, I’m thinking I might like to move out. You know with Maggie. It’s starting to feel very crowded around here.” I stated, shooting her a look.

”Sounds great, any chance the two of you could use a roomie.” completely ignoring the reason for the look. ”I’m a little over sharing a room myself.”

“Grace!” I warned.

“Aww, come on it would be fun. Please, for your favorite sister?” She pleaded.

“What? Lily wants you to move out too?”

‘”Not nice Toby”, she pouted.

There was no way I was going to promise something like that when I hadn’t even asked Maggie yet. I turned to leave. “Are you coming to help me find a place or not?” I asked over my shoulder.

***

Today was the day,  over a week had passed since I had mentioned to Grace that I was thinking of moving out. Grace and I had checked out the local rentals with little success. Until Dad had finally mentioned a solution when he heard us discussing it at breakfast one morning.

“Why don’t you buy?” he had asked. ”All seven of you still have that money that was put in your name when you were small, you know from your Great-Grandfather.”

So our focus had changed from renting to buying, until we had found it a perfect little home not far from where we currently lived. I was waiting for Maggie to return so I could surprise her, she had gone out to do some shopping with Lily and Ava. What had meant to be a small outing had obviously turned into a marathon. As time passed my anxiety oncreased, feet shuffling nervously as I considered the possibility of failure. I glanced at Grace, “What if she says no?”

Grace gave one of those looks that indicated that she thought I was overreacting. ”Toby, don’t be a moron. She is going to say yes.”

“Maybe I should have bought the other one?”

”It’s perfect, she is going to love it.” She put her arm around my shoulders. ”You need to calm down” She ordered.

My hand touched the coat pocket to make sure that the key that was causing all the anxiety was still where it was supposed to be. Just as Lily, Ava and Maggie came barreling through the front door, laughing hands loaded up with bags from their day out.

Maggie came straight over to me giving me a small kiss, I instinctively put my arm around her pulling her close.  “Grace you should have come, we had lunch and did a little shopping”, Maggie told her.

“Sorry, I had to help clueless here with something”, Grace replied gesturing towards me. ”You two need to go. Now!” she herded us towards the front door, ”You were all meant to be back hours ago”.

“What?” Maggie glanced back at Lily and Ava. The two of them just waved us goodbye.

“Goodluck” Grace mouthed at me as the door closed behind us.

Maggie turned and looked at me, “Care to explain” she queried arching her eyebrows.

”Ah, not just yet. I think it might be easier just to show you. Walk with me?” I took her hand and pulled her towards the front gate.

”What’s going on your acting really weird” She questioned me. I didn’t trust myself to answer, half afraid that I would blurt it out before we got there. Maggie didn’t help with that peppering me with questions as I led her down the sidewalk.

“You seem nervous” she stated

”Terrified actually” I led her up the street until finally I pulled her to a stop covering her eyes with my hands.

”Toby, what are you doing?”

”I bought you something. Bought us something” I clarified “and I’m really hoping you like it”  Turning her around gently to face the right direction. “Ready?” If she didn’t like this or if it was step she wasn’t ready for I didn’t know what I would do.

”Can I look?” Maggie asked.

I took a deep breath, ”Yes, you can look now” I told her, I removed my hands from her eyes waiting for her to react ”Do you like it?”

”I don’t understand, do I like what? she said in confusion.

I put my arms around her pressing my lips to her temple. “It’s ours, do you like it?” I repeated.

”You bought us a house?” she looked at me in shock.

”Umm yeah, what do you think?”

”You bought us a house” she repeated.

”You don’t like it” I accused, disappointment starting to take hold.

”No, no, no Toby that’s not what I meant” she assured me.”It’s beautiful, I love it. When do we move in?”

***

Early Days

Maggie and I have been officially  a couple for over six months now. Initially the change in status from best friends was a little strange. Sometimes it felt like nothing at all had changed, other times I felt like everything was different. It was an interesting mix. I’ll admit I was loving it.

The pair of us have been inseparable since primary school. The day our friendship began the two of us and other members of our kindergarten class were playing catch and kiss in the playground. I’d been doing okay – I had already caught two other girls when I caught Maggie.

My shins still remember the pain of being on the receiving end of her tiny black school shoes. I’m still waiting for that kiss.

After that I admit I was smitten following her around and generally making a nuisance of myself. I was obsessed. My brothers found it amusing, and never stopped teasing me. Grace of course, general organiser and pain in the butt that she is, helped me out by always inviting Maggie over to visit. So I was able to spend quite a bit of time with my very first crush.

Soon enough it wasn’t Grace inviting Maggie around to our place, it was me. We seemed to spend a lot of our time in the barn. Inside the house was always too crazy. The entire top floor of our house is virtually taken up by the seven of us all day everyday and downstairs was our parents domain.

The days when we were not required to attend school were taken up with wandering around the neighbourhood catching butterflies and other small animals. Mum always made us let them go, we were never allowed to bring them inside the house. One day we even found a small terrified kitten whom Maggie completely fell for.

Twelve years is a long time to have someone in your life. It is all too easy to start taking that special person for granted to see them as an extension of yourself, rather than the centre of your world. Always there, alway constant you fail to see or manage to forget their true importance, their rightful place in your life. I am always going to be grateful that Maggie voiced her feelings that day, even if she hadn’t meant to. When I think of how close I came to losing her because I wasn’t paying enough attention to my feelings it scares me. I am however certain that she wouldn’t have been gone long before I would have followed her, I have discovered that I don’t feel whole unless she is here.

Other things around here have changed too. Surprisingly Ava still spends a lot of time here, she and Lily have been nearly inseparable recently. Frustrating Liam and  amusing me. I can tell that Liam likes Ava a lot, and Lily tells me that she thinks Ava likes Liam too. Both of them however seem afraid to make the first move. It’s one area of my life that I feel guilty about. Ava doesn’t seem to blame me which I am grateful for, but I somehow feel that I am to blame for the current standoff.

My family and friends were all gathered on the back deck barbeque for our latest meal when I finally decided to see I could do anything about it. I walked up behind Ava and noticed who she was looking at. “He really likes you, you know?” I informed her.

”Hmm, what?” she jumped.

“Liam, he likes you” I repeated.

“Toby, I don’t know. You don’t think it’s a little weird?”

”That depends, why do you think it is weird.”

”He’s your twin, your identical twin” she looked at me and then Liam as if to push the point.

”Trust me we have never been all that much alike.” I told her, “Ava we dated for what? A couple of months?” She looked at me confused, ”My question is do you like him? Because if you do and the only thing holding you back is a relationship with a guy that lasted a couple of months back in high school. I don’t see why you would let that stop you.”

”You would be okay with it?” she asked, looking unsure. “I caused enough problems last time, I’m lucky anyone here even talks to me.”

“Ava, that wasn’t your fault. If it was anyones it was mine…  or Matt’s. No one blames you for what happened, so I think you should stop worrying about it.” I said, smiling at her.

“Are you sure?”

”Ava, I finally admitted my feelings to a girl who if I’m honest about it  I have loved since primary school.” I said smiling at Maggie as she came outside onto the deck, “I just want everyone to be as happy as I am. Especially you. I not saying to rush into anything, I just asking you to maybe give him a chance.”

”Toby, just so you know sometimes you are such a sweetheart” she leaned up and kissed me on the cheek before walking away.

”I try” I shrugged, turning to watch Ava walk across the backyard towards Liam.

A small pair of familiar arms snaked around my waist from behind. “She’s right, you know. Sometimes you are soo sweet”

“Nah, not me” I told her turning to take her in my arms.  ”You however” I leaned down and kissed her. “Have you had enough of the Young family en masse tonight?”  I looked around the backyard, it sometimes felt like we where having an almost constant  party.

”Most of them, yes” she informed me. “I do know that there is one I wouldn’t mind spending more time with.”

”Really” I murmured,”ready to escape for a while?”

“Always”

***

Moving On

”Can we talk?” Ava asked

”I’m not sure we have anything to say to each other?” Looking up at her.

”Please?”

”Toby it’s fine, you two should talk.” Maggie stood up from where she had been lying and made her way to the door looking back as she reached the entrance ”I’ll be inside”

Ava took a large breath, ‘Congrats, glad you two finally worked it out” she glanced back at the door where Maggie had just departed.

”You knew, how I didn’t?”

”Worked it out at the party” she smiled slightly at me. “Seems I was the last to know”

”No not the last, pretty sure that was me. I’m sorry about that by way”

”I’m sorry too, I didn’t mean for that thing with Mat to happen either. I was upset and I just had to get away from everyone and your parents room was the closest and he was already in there and saw how upset I was.” She smiled sadly at me. ”I kissed him, realised immediately it was a mistake and went to leave and then he kissed me again and I was upset with you and I know it’s not an excuse, but I’m so sorry.”

”You’re rambling.” I smiled at her.

”I’m just sorry.”

”Friends?” I asked her, I had nothing to gain from holding a grudge and besides I was happier with Maggie than I had ever been before.

”Sure, I think I’d like that.” She looked relieved. ”How’s Lily?”

”Hasn’t been out of her room since it happened, Mum and Grace are starting to worry. We all are.”

“Think I could talk to her? I really want to apologise”

“Sure, it can’t hurt. Maybe it will even help.”

“Lets go then”, she said brightly.

”You sound nervous?” She nodded her head saying nothing.

I slowly led her through the house to my sister’s room. Ava did well, but I could tell she was a little nervous.

Liam smiled at Ava from behind the bar, I think that helped. Not everyone here blamed her for what had happened.

“Toby, I’m not sure this is a good idea?” Grace questioned me as I opened the door to Lily’s room.

”At this point it can’t hurt” was all I said in reply

.

Introducing Toby

During my life a few things have been consistent. My family.

And Maggie.

She’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Over the years it has never really made a lot of sense to me as to why she always spent all her time with me, I do have two sisters the same age as us after all. I asked her about it once…..her reply?

“You need me more Toby” flashing me one of those secret smiles that girls sometimes get.

She has supported me in nearly everything I have ever done, encouraged me when I found my music difficult. I tried to do the same with her sculpting but it always struck me that she was better at being supporting than I was. In my defence I tried.

I guess I should tell you more about myself. I am a septuplet. Yep you heard me right. Amazing huh?

Well, not really…unless you enjoy not having a moment to yourself. So yeah, there are seven of us. I have four brothers and two sisters. All my life people have been getting me mixed up with my brothers. Most of us take after Mum in colouring so that doesn’t help matters.

Speaking of Mum she’s pretty amazing, she raised us by herself until we were five years old. That’s when Dad was finally able to return to us.

My parents don’t like to talk about it and I can tell that Dad still feels guilty about the separation but from what I have been able to work out it wasn’t really his fault that his crazy brother wanted him dead and Mum too if he had known about her.

There’s only one more person that you really need to know about my girlfriend Ava, we have been going out for a  couple of months now and things seem to be going well. Only thing is Maggie has been acting a little strange when she’s around us and I’m not sure why?