Residents: Jania & Blazej Jeffress, Louis & Loraine Proudmoore, Jenna Jeffress
Louis: I return from college with a heavy heart and a guilty conscience. I’m very happy to see Loraine again, but in doing so, my mind is even more tormented. She has no idea what happened while she wasn’t there… I wanted to tell her, but she was too eager to get married. I barely got a moment to speak before she started going on about the arrangements and whatnot.
By the time I was once again able to speak, I was in front of a crowd getting married. Yes, I do care for Loraine, and I did want to marry her… but it just seemed so sudden. I just wish she would have given me a moment, so I could explain to her what happened. Now I’ll never be able to tell her. If I did, it would ruin everything. At least before, there was a small chance of a ‘happy’ ending.
Despite my horrible self, the wedding was quite lovely. Loraine and my mother had done an excellent job. Though, I couldn’t help but think there was something on my mother’s mind, as well. The way she was looking at me… it was a little odd.
Kitty was at the wedding. I don’t know why I thought she wouldn’t be… everyone else was there. Wouldn’t it look odd if she hadn’t showed up? Loraine was her aunt. Ugh, saying that makes it seem all the more dirty. Which is why I can’t quite understand my reasoning for following her to a secluded place. I tried to tell her that this was over, it had just been a drunken college mistake… but she wouldn’t hear any of it. I suppose she knew better, as she was quite insightful.
Eventually I had to leave her, as to not arouse any suspicion. It was my wedding, after all. What would it look like if the groom were missing? More than that… Loraine would notice and she’d immediately become suspicious. She always kept a rather close eye on me while we were at college. I always laughed and said it wasn’t possible for me to stray, but apparently she knew me better than I knew myself.
I had no idea that my mother followed us and confronted Kitty. It wasn’t until my mother told me that I found out she’d known since my graduation. She’d caught us kissing right before I left. From what she told me, she said nothing cruel to my ‘mistress’, only that it would be a good idea to leave things alone. That there was no need to cause a rift in her family. Kitty apparently didn’t listen.
Eventually the party ended and we all retired to our rooms. Loraine and I took up in my grandparent’s old room, which was also the master suite of the house. It was starting to sink in that she was my wife now, not my girlfriend, nor my fiance… wife. I had a duty to her and our vows… anything I did from this point would affect her as much, if not more, than it did me.
It was a rather cumbersome weight to carry. I’m glad that she didn’t suspect anything…even when I slipped out during the night. I needed some air.
Eventually, everything set into a routine. Loraine’s job caused her to work odd hours, so she was always gone when I was at home. It was only a matter of time before Kitty started dropping by while everyone else was at work. It started out innocent enough… only to become so much more. I felt awful, but I couldn’t stop myself. Loraine and I… our feelings for one another are very strong, obviously. We got married, right? Well… Kitty is different. There is something between us that I can’t explain. Its like a strange pull. A very strange and dangerous pull that I am incapable of resisting.
This isn’t to say that I ignored my wife. I saw her during the night, which became very obvious when she started feeling ill. At first we thought she had the flu, but my mother advised we go to the doctor anyway. Loraine agreed and when we returned, my mother was not the least bit surprised to find out Loraine was pregnant. After that, she pulled me aside, giving me one of her looks.
She told me to stop what I was doing with Kitty while I still could. If it continued, I ran the risk of hurting my child.
It didn’t really sink in until Loraine started showing. She truly was pregnant. I knew that I had to stop seeing Kitty. This would be difficult, as she was about to graduate… which meant she’d be in the neighborhood again. She’d be even closer than before.
It didn’t matter. I made a resolution. From this point on, I would not speak with nor associate with her in anyway. It was for the best. I had my child’s future to think about.
It was around that time that Jenna headed off to college with Elle and Rex Derico. She may not look it, but Jenna is a borderline genius. She received every single skill scholarship, along with several others that involved less academic skils. I’m not sure why she went so overboard, I think she was trying to impress Rex Derico. The poor girl, that boy is a brick wall. I don’t think this generation of the Proudmoore line is going to do very well in the way of love. I’ve already screwed it up all but entirely.
With the house to ourselves now that she was on maternity leave, Loraine and I spent a lot of time together. Even if I had wanted to see Kitty–which I hadn’t seen nor heard from since she graduated–I wouldn’t have had the time. I enjoyed being with Loraine again. I was looking forward to holding our child and raising him or her to the best of my ability. Perhaps there was still hope yet to salvage what I had nearly ruined. I wanted so badly to tell her, but I knew that if I did, it would be all over.
So I continued living the lie.
Loraine’s water broke during the night. Its a good thing it happened in our bathroom, or I would’ve never heard her. We were off to the hospital in a heartbeat. My parents joined us not long after. Loraine did not have an easy labor, and the things she screamed during it made me fear for my masculinity. Once it was all over, and she was heavily sedated, I was able to see our child… Aiden Proudmoore. It was a boy.
Several days later we brought Aiden home. Surprisingly, he has my bright red hair and eyes. My mother said, with a slight grin, that the Proudmoore red hair would not be squashed. Loraine laughed, despite the fact that my mother was clearly making a jab at how the Derico’s are always going on about their ‘genetic line’ being so strong.
Things were going well, it seemed as if everything was going to be all right.
After Aiden’s birth, Loraine and I made it a point to spend time with each other, regardless of how hectic our schedules were. We were both climbing the career ladder pretty quickly. I’d taken a job as a natural scientist, while Loraine was working on her dream of becoming the Valley’s top criminal. Turns out her sister Serena is also into crime. She doesn’t care about being top dog, though, so she’s helping Loraine along.
Its ironic that the daughter-in-law of the mayor is set to be a criminal mastermind. I fear for Loraine, though… because my sister, Jenna, dreams of becoming the Valley’s savior from crime. I only hope they can avoid one another, as I don’t want either of them to get hurt.
Aiden is growing rapidly. He’s three now. I haven’t seen Kitty at all… its a little strange. I can’t help but wonder what happened to her. Is she all right? I know I shouldn’t, but I really need to find out. Its driving me crazy. I just have to know…