Another 20 Days: Roland’s Case

I thought it would be fun to go back in time and see what happened behind closed doors. I know you were probably surprised to see Alayna pregnant after she repeatedly stated that she was not interested in having more children. Throughout their marriage, Roland always had the “try for a baby” whim. I honestly don’t recall if Alayna ever did. So, thanks to Roland, we have Devan and Anthony :-). After Anthony was born, Roland got the whim a few more times. Personally, I wanted them to have another child–preferably a girl. But, given their ages and the incredibly long lifespan of children in this game, I got cold feet. I know, I know…it’s a legacy story. They will grow old and die. I know! But, it’s always so sad when the parents die when the kids are still teenagers and the adult children have to raise the younger children shortly after they just became adults. We had waaaay too much of that in this story, so…yes…it’s my fault Roland never got his daughter. I’m sorry, Roland! I want him to know that grimaced each time I X’ed out those whims. Needless to say, Roland’s case is really the thought process I was going through when I was contemplating whether I wanted to do it or not.

If I was smarter, I would have thought about making this conversation part of a chapter, but it didn’t work out that way. I think it’ll be more fun as an after thought :-). However, because it was an after thought, there are no pictures to go with this. At least I get to practice descriptive writing. Enjoy!

Roland’s first day as the vice president was long and tiresome as he was getting adjusted to his new responsibilities. It seemed like he spent all day meeting people–mostly all the big wigs he wasn’t high enough on the food chain to know before. At least now he could sleep in a little longer with his new hours. But, he had worked the same schedule throughout his working life and was still used to waking up early.

Tuesday morning, he was awake a bit earlier than usual, but he didn’t get up. He had a lot on his mind and wanted to talk to Alayna when she awoke. He lay on his side with his head in his hand and watched her sleep. He liked seeing her  at rest with peace all over her face instead of constantly running around doings for everyone. Around 7:00, she slowly opened her eyes and was surprised to see him looking at her.

“Good morning, Mr. Vice President,” she smiled.

He leaned over and kissed her and said, “Good morning, my beautiful wife.”

“You’re a bit attentive this morning. What’s up?”

He was sure the conversation he planned to have was not going to make good pillow talk.

“I’d like to talk to you,” he said softly while stroking her hair. “Let’s get up.”

They got up and stretched and sat in their sitting area for the first time since moving into the house.

“I didn’t get much sleep,” he began to say.

“Oh? Still not used to the house yet, huh?”

“It’s not that. I couldn’t stop thinking.”

It wasn’t like him to lose sleep–especially over something being on his mind. She turned toward him in the chair with a concerned look on her face.

“What were you thinking about? Is everything all right?”

“Ever since we drank that potion last night, I’ve had only one thought in my mind. I tried to dismiss it at first, but it wouldn’t go away.”

“And that is…”

“We should have another baby!”

“Seriously? Why, Roland? We’re old,” she said and slouched in her chair.

Roland slid to the edge of his to make his case.

“We’re not old anymore, baby! We’re 40 again! We’re almost the same age we were when Anthony was born. A little younger, actually!”

She opened her mouth to contest this on auto-pilot, but she realized he was right. She drank the potion because she wanted to have more time with her sons. She never considered all the other possibilities drinking that potion opened up.

She sighed and said, “Ok, yeah…that’s true, but…I don’t know, Roland. I kinda like things as they are! Don’t you think a four person family is perfect?”

“Alayna! We just got 20 more days added to our life! We got half of our life back! In 20 days, we can have a baby, celebrate her child and teenage birthday, and then be preparing for her young adult birthday in, like, three days. Devan will be a grown man…hopefully with his own family, and Anthony would be right behind him. We could do all of that and still enjoy our golden years as empty nesters! And you….You have time to do whatever you want. You could get a job, open a business, start a charitable organization…anything!”

Roland sat there at the edge of his seat and waited for her response. She was slouched comfortably in her seat in another world. She didn’t hear anything he said after the first mention of “her.” Roland always wanted a daughter, but she was indifferent to the idea of having girls. It was strange. One would think that because she grew up with boys she would want girls, but she was quite elated to have her own sons. But, as Roland spoke of their fictitious daughter, she suddenly fell in love with the idea…but she wasn’t going to let him get off that easy.

“She?”

“Oh…yeah,” he blushed. “You know I always hope for a girl.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of your insatiable desire to be wrapped around another female’s finger,” she said sarcastically.

“Baby…don’t be like that.”

“I’m kidding, Roland…although…it’s true.”

“What am I going to do with you,” he sighed.

“So,” she said more seriously, “…hypothetically speaking…when will this ‘Alayna Jr.’ be coming on the scene?”

“In three days.”

She sat up straight in her chair and furled her brow.

“Three days?? We’ll be in the woods in three days!”

“We will be just getting home from the woods in three days.”

“I don’t know if I want to be pregnant in the woods, Roland. That doesn’t sound appealing at all.”

“You’re thinking about it all wrong, baby! You’ll be on vacation through the whole pregnancy! This should be your most relaxing pregnancy ever!”

“But, Roland, we’re going to the woods not an all inclusive resort. I won’t be relaxing at all!”

“You could relax if you would let someone else take care of things for once!”

He didn’t mean to raise his voice, but that struck a cord. Alayna was taken aback a little.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Layna…I’ve been watching you take care of everyone and everything our whole marriage. I know you enjoy it, and I’m glad you do, but you don’t allow anyone else to help you. You’re a perfectionist, and you have to have everything done your way. You need a vacation because you do too much when you don’t have to! But, it’s a new day, baby! You are going to learn how to slow down and relax and let others do for you and live with things not being perfect, ok?”

She wasn’t expecting all of that. Part of her was disappointed for not realizing how he felt while another part of her was proud of him for taking charge. In a way, she had been waiting for him to do that.

“I’m sorry, Roland. I didn’t…I just…I thought you liked me doing everything. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I don’t know. I mean…I was living in your house with your family playing by their rules…it felt awkward to suggest.”

“Oh. I never thought of that. Ok. I will try to be happy with less than perfect.”

“You will be happy with less than perfect.”

“I will be happy with less than perfect.”

She sat back in her chair and smiled as she thought about the next 20 days.

“So…I guess I’m getting pregnant tonight?”

“You’re getting pregnant right now.”

“Roland!”