Series: 15 - September 2022

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

Dave’s feeling better, I guess.  Sabby took him up to their room last night and, well, they didn’t come out again till the morning, and he seemed a little bit more chipper this morning.  I guess…  some things only Sabby knows how to do, right?

He wasn’t running around gushing about how great the morning was or anything, but you could tell.

I ran my prank idea past Sabby, and she giggled.  Not only is she going to be involved but Beth is too.  We went right to Amazon and clicky clicked…  Beth’s never pranked him before but this is a nice beginner prank.

I don’t think he reads this…

As pranks go, this is more fun than scary.  I think he’ll like it.

So… what else.  It was another relatively quiet day.  I took Beth to school and we did school stuff (Beth seems to be getting more into the swing of it and really seems to like her classes), and The movers left today with all their stuff.  It’ll take them a few days, so they’re likely to beat the movers down.  They leave first thing tomorrow.  Yaaaayyy!!!!

I asked Sabby if we could babysit Grace sometimes, and Sabby seemed a little hesitant, but said she didn’t mind.  Grace isn’t the type of kid to run around and break things, she just sits at a table coloring or playing with her dolls.

I can’t believe Jack’s coming to live here!!!

I asked Jack if me being here had anything to do with their move.  He said…  not really.  The way he explained it, Liz’s family is here too, his father found a really good job here, they’ve been thinking about moving to Texas anyway for other reasons…  and the fact that I’m here really didn’t have too much to do with it.  It did, however, ensure that Jack was not at all opposed to the move, not even the slightest little bit.

Good boy, we’d have to have a talk if he was.

He asked what a good place to look for a job was.  I said I heard HEB was a pretty good employer.  I don’t know myself, but that’s what I heard anyway.  So he’s going to apply there when he gets here.  The one sticky part is, I’m not sure whether his license will transfer.  I guess we’ll see.

Well, gotta go.  Marie is whining.  At least it’s not really hot outside anymore.

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

JACK IS IN MEMPHIS!!!

Well… near Memphis.  No one wants to be in Memphis.

I guess this morning they made sure the house was all clear (they’ll be selling it, or renting it, or something), hopped in the car, and left!!!

I know I just saw him but I want to see him again!!!

Other than Jack’s impending arrival for good, not much else going on, thankfully.  I got a bday present from my birth father.  I can tell he put a lot of thought into it, that was nice of him.  He sent me a music box with a pretty song.  I don’t know what the song is, but it’s pretty.  It’s made of solid wood and has flowers inlaid on it.  It’s certainly something worthy of putting up on the shelf to display.

I’m tired. I guess I should walk Marie and do bedtime stuff.

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

HAPPY LILY!!!

OVER THE MOON LILY!!!

Jack is here in Austin!!!

But I haven’t seen him yet.  They’re a bit busy.  I understand.  I’ll have plenty of time with him.

So they got here this evening, and they’re staying in a hotel overnight, and tomorrow they’ll get their apartment and start moving in!  I asked Jack if they need help.  He said… maybe.  He’ll let me know tomorrow.  It’s not all about me, though, not this time, so I get it.

The movers are still trundling their way down to Austin, they should be here in a couple of days.  I guess it takes longer when you’re driving a big rig.

He does want to go on a date with me though!  Maybe this weekend.  We’ll see.  They have a lot to do, for sure.  Grace is very tired, but happy.  She wants to go to the waterpark!  They told her to have some patience.

Five year olds don’t have patience, haha!!

Sabby sat me down and told me that she doesn’t want me spending every free hour with Jack, though.  She said that’s not fair to the family, but it’s not fair to Jack, too.  She explained that even though she and Dave are married, sometimes even they need a little bit of time to themselves, and I have to be careful not to smother Jack.

I… guess I can see that.  Would I?  I don’t know, but it’s a fair point.  I…  don’t know how to be a girlfriend to a boy who is actually in the same city as me.  I hope it works out, I really do.

Sabby told me what the music box my birth father sent me plays.  It’s a song called “music box dancer”.  The song has a nice story behind it too.  It’s a thoughtful gift.  Sweet without pushing too hard.  Sabby thought so too.

He doesn’t seem like a bad guy.  Just a guy who made a huge mistake at one time in his life.

Oh well.  Marie needs walking.

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

After school today I went over to see Jack and his family.  I knew they’d be a little busy, so I asked Sabby to make some cookies, and Sabby style, she made too many.  Haha!  So I went over with a couple trays of cookies.  They live in a big complex!  But there are some potholes in the driveway and the gate’s broken, so I hope it’s worth it.

Anyway, the apartment itself is actually really nice.  They have a three bedroom two bath, so everyone gets their own bedroom. Everything was empty because they were waiting for the truck, but we set up a little portable table and they ordered some food.  Grace, of course, gave me a big hug, and Jack gave me a big hug and kiss.  It was nice to see him again, but…  different.  He’s here for good now.  Is this a little like how newlyweds feel when they live together for the first time?

Grace was zooming around the apartment, I guess she had some energy to burn off.  Oh, Lily was there too!!!  She was happy to see me too.

So anyway, the food arrived and we ate and chatted.  It was nice.  I guess Liz and her family will come over when they’re a little more settled, but I couldn’t wait!  Their drive was pretty uneventful.  They have to register Grace and Jack for school this week, and Jack’s a little nervous, but I told him Texans are pretty cool for the most part, and he’ll be fine.  And if not, we’ll sic Sabby on them!

He laughed soooo hard!!!

They seem happy to be here.  I’m glad.  Ohio isn’t too bad but this is where they wanted to be, and here they are!

So, as we were finishing eating, the moving truck arrived, and, well, things got really busy.  I figured that was my time to scram and let them get to it.  I couldn’t help much, the movers would do most of the heavy lifting and they had to tell the movers where to put stuff, so I was really just getting in the way.  It was okay.  I got to see Jack again!  But they asked if I could take Grace and Lily for a walk around the complex instead of just leaving – they were kind of getting in the way too.  Yay!  I didn’t mind at all!  I love Grace and Lily!  So I put the leash on Grace… er, I mean Lily.  Hahah! And we went out for a walk.  I threw the toy for Lily and Grace was just running around having a good time.  There was a surprising amount of green space at the complex, it’s kind of a square of buildings around a central lawn, and there’s even a playground!  You should have seen Grace’s eyes light up when she found the playground!  I just sat on a bench and let her climb all over!!!  Lily laid down next to me and took a nap.

So after an hour we wandered back to the apartment, and the movers had already done their thing!  There was furniture and boxes and the beds were even mostly put together!  I helped a little, but then I had to get back.  Jack gave me a big hug and a long kiss and told me that we’ll have a date this weekend.  I can’t wait!!!  I don’t know what we’ll do, but it’ll be fun!!!  Oh, once Grace’s bed was set up, she just climbed right in and went to sleep, Lily cuddled up to her.  I guess I tired them out.  Haha!!!

Honestly, I just like spending time with him, that’s all.  We could just sit there reading next to each other and I’d be happy.

But I won’t discourage him from buying me chocolate!!!

Anyway, I’m home now.  I miss Jack, but I don’t too.  I’ll see him again.  Now I know I will.  Almost any time I want!!!  I remember when I first had to leave Jack, it hurt soooo much, I cried and cried and I wasn’t sure we’d ever see each other again, and now here we are, in the same city!!!  Maybe it’s meant to happen!!!

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

And it’s Friday!!!  YAAAAAAAYYY!!!!!

So Jack’s settling in, they spent all day unpacking and getting everything set up.  The housing market is kind of on its way down in this area, so they’re just going to stay in the apartment for a while and see if the houses become more affordable, so they’re making themselves at home in their apartment.  They’re having to tell Grace to calm down a bit to not bother the neighbors, but she’ll be alright.  Apparently she saw another little girl outside and ran right out and introduced herself.  They spent an hour playing!  Yay!!!  She needs friends her age.

I wish it was that easy.  She just runs out and says “want to be friends?”  We teenagers and adults make a huge game out of it.  Sigh.

There are a lot of kids in their complex, of all different races too.  Grace will have a good time.

Jack wants to go on a date tomorrow night!  Of course I said yes!!!  I don’t know what he has planned, but I’m sure he’ll come up with something.  Or he’ll just ask me for ideas!!!  Now that we’re in the same city, we don’t have to work so hard to make our dates memorable.  Maybe we’ll just have dinner with his family and play with Lily (the dog…  or.. haha).  I don’t know.  Maybe that would be nice.

But tonight, Liz is over.  The other girls have plans, but that’s alright, they can’t come over every weekend anyway.  Beth and Liz and I are having a pretty quiet party all our own, and it’s nice.  As I said, I love Crystal and Diana, but they’re a lot rowdier than Liz.  And Allison just zooms all over the place.  We’re not even really playing games this time – Beth is reading a book, and Liz and I are chatting and eating cookies.  Well, when I’m not writing here!  Hah!  Liz and Marie are getting along great now!  I think Liz wants a dog of her own.  But her parents really aren’t keen on the idea.  So she gets to be Marie’s aunt!  How cute!!!

Okay!  Bedtime!

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

Jack was quiet today.  I texted him and asked him why.

“You remember, I can read your diary, right?  Even the subscriber parts?”, he said.  “I want see what you write there.”

Aww.  I had forgotten.

“Are you mad?”, I said, very fretful.

“No,” he said.  “Not mad.  I just..  don’t know what to do.  I mean, usually my first thing to do with you is buy you chocolate, but…  it doesn’t seem the right thing to do this time.  You have plenty of chocolate.  I don’t like just throwing chocolate at you to try to make things better.”

“It… does usually make things better, you know that, right?”

“Yeah,” he said.  “But you’re more complicated than that.”

Thing is… maybe I’m not.  I’m a simple girl.  Chocolate in, Happy out.  But I know what he means.  And maybe he’s right.  Maybe I’m too easily bought with chocolate.  But I do love chocolate!!!

“But,” he added, “I don’t know what else to do to show you I really mean it.  I…  maybe I don’t know you that well after all.”

“Maybe I don’t know me that well either,” I said morosely.

“huh,” he said.  “I’d forgotten.”

“What?”

“The memories.”

“…  oh.  I see what you mean.”

He went quiet.  I was worried a little, and he wasn’t answering my texts.  About twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door.  Sabby yelled for me, and I went down to see what it was about.

Jack was there, and he just pulled me to him, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed me senseless.  Right on the doorstep.

“Jack?  What was that about?”, I asked.  It was nice, but I was very confused.

He took both my hands in his, looked me straight in the eyes, and said “I just gave you another memory.”

OMG.  That did it.  I melted.  I seriously melted.  In fact, I busted out crying and just clung to him, blubbering.  How did he know?  Even when I didn’t?  How did he know that memories were one of the few things in my life more valuable than chocolate?

“And I gave you memories yesterday, and the night before, and…  I’ll keep giving you memories.  Memories of fun, of love, of happiness, of…  of me.  That’s what I’ll give you.”

He kissed my forehead, turned around, got in his car, and drove away.

I turned around and looked at Sabby, tears running down my face.  I sniffled and wiped them away.

“He… he told me he was going to give me memories.  That’s how he’s going to show me he loves me.  He’s… he’s going to give me memories.”

Sabby sighed.  “No grandkids yet.  You promised.”

I nodded and sniffled.  And then we ate dinner.  But my mind was elsewhere.  On that boy who figured out what I needed more than nearly anything else in the world.

I’m not worried anymore.

He’s perfect.

He loves me.

I know he does.  He loves me.

He loves me enough to give me memories.

I am such a lucky girl.

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

Well, things are a little bit back to normal now, I guess.  Jack registered for school today, and he’ll be starting soon, so he has to get his supplies and all that kinda thing.  He told me he was a bit jealous that I got to go to community college, and I told him it’s hard, and besides I have to drive a lot further than he does.  The school is about a half mile from him as the crow flies, but he’s on the other side of the tollway, so that’s a little bit of a production.  Oh well, he’ll figure it out.  I hope starting fresh will give him the chance to make new friends.  Heck, I don’t even mind if he makes female friends, as long as he’s very clear on who gets to date him and who doesn’t.

He doesn’t seem the type to wander, so it’ll be fine.

I told him that he has my permission to say he has a girlfriend in college if it will give him a little “street cred”.  He blushed, but he might do that.  I think that’s funny!!

Anyway, other news, I guess.  There’s not much of it.  I’m just going to school and doing other lessons with Sabby and… I might have some news soon!  Still working on some details.  Aww.  Guess you’ll have to wait, but it’s okay!  I’ll tell you soon!

Beth is really kind of jealous of me with Jack, to the point where Sabby had to sit her down and tell her that she’s too young yet, and her time will come, and to snap out of it because her jealousy is one of the worst things about her.  They had a bit of a yelling match, but that’s not unusual.  She went stomping up to her room and that’s where she is now.  But she’ll get over it.  She’ll turn sixteen soon and then she can find a boy and date him and learn that it’s not as easy as it looks.  Speaking of boys, Liz has her date this weekend, and she wants me to meet him.

I’m sure he’ll be fine.

Liz isn’t dumb, it’s just that the heart sometimes wants what it wants, when the mind says “whoa, hold up there, this isn’t a good idea”.

Oh, Sabby wants to send a tin of cookies to our “benefactor”, and wants to know how to deliver them.

Anyway, bedtime.  Other than Beth flying off the handle, it’s been a pretty quiet day.  I like quiet days.  Hopefully nothing soap-opera-ey will happen for a little while.

Love you all!!!  ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

Another nice and quiet day.  It’s about time I had a few of those in a row, don’t you think?  Well, mostly quiet.  Beth is still in a snit.  She’s not a bad girl but she has a jealous streak the size of Texas.

I had to take her to school today, so in the car, I had a talk with her – while she couldn’t leave.  Haha.  I asked her why she doesn’t want me to be happy.

She said she wants me to be happy, she just wants to be happy too.

So I asked her why she thinks finding a boy would make her happy.  After all, I didn’t even want a boyfriend until Jack came along.

Long and short, I think she’s lonely.

Yes, she does have more friends than she did, or at least better friends, but she’s a quiet girl who prefers to read a book than do “friend” stuff, and…  I think there’s something she needs and is missing.  I’ll have to talk to Sabby about it.  She almost seems desperate and that’s… not good.

I wonder if Sabby’s attempt at a “friend dating service” did more harm than good, actually.  Maybe Beth got the wrong message out of that.  I dunno.  Poor Beth.

I did tell her she’s my sister and will always be my sister, and…  it’s not personal, I guess.  She doesn’t hate Jack, or me, she’s just jealous of me.

It’s hot again.  Booooo!!!

Jack starts school on Monday.  He’s a little nervous.  I think he’ll be fine.  Texas is not Ohio.

Well, I’m going to take Marie for a walk and brush Beth’s hair.  Yes, we still do that.  Even if she’s in a snit.

Love you all!!! ❤