Winter wasn't just cold, there was also thick fog and snow. Mom's side of the property wasn't really any warmer than dad's side, yet he and grandpa spent most of their days in mom's living room playing domino's. Mom may not have thought her side was all that spectacular, yet dad was always going on about how nice our side was. If dad wasn't playing domino's, or painting on the walls, he was playing guitar. Things were going fairly well. Mid winter the science center asked the school to have students try to find butterflies that might not have left. Colm decided to give the challenge a shot. Everyone, including Colm, was surprised when he was able to find half a dozen butterflies. The downstairs was always cold, and mom moved all my toddler stuff, as well as Tara and Colm's toys, upstairs; but even with the heat rising it wasn't to much warmer, and mom was always cold. The lack of heat was so problematic that dad got sick. He ran a fever for a long time, both mom and grandpa worried for him. Tara overheard grandpa telling mom that if dad's fever didn't break he could die. Colm would sit and do his homework near dad. He told me that dad would frequently mumble about music as he tossed and turned. Eventually the fever broke, but not before everyone but me, had a milder version of it. Now when dad plays guitar his music has even more energy to it. Mom says it's as if dad's trying to convey his gratitude for surviving through the music. Dad even started to help with meal preparation. Tara and Colm overheard mom telling grandpa how she tried to keep up with housework, but it just wasn't in her nature to clean. She was trying, but it didn't come naturally to her and she knew the mess bothered him and dad. We often wonder, especially mom, if that conversation is what led to grandpa spending so much time in the cold at his work bench. Mom managed to find some wanted materials for the science center despite the several feet of snow on the ground. She asked Tara and Colm if there was anything they would like as belated birthday gifts. Tara asked for a globe, she liked looking at all the different places on the map and learning about their music and culture. Colm requested a computer. He said "Since we don't have a book store, I want to write stories for us to read to go with the pictures I paint." As the days crept by, Tara would ask mom about the stuff she had done as a child. Mom talked about going to the theater with her parents. Grandpa became so preoccupied with his workbench that we barely saw him for meals. Instead of asking him to help more mom and dad left him alone and took on all repairs on their own. Mom and dad would often thank each other for doing something, only to have the other brush it off as no big deal. "It was so weird, they were always trying to be extra nice to each other if any of us kids were in the room, but if they didn't think we were around ..." Tara started, "... if dad didn't realize we were nearby, he would constantly glare at mom, or tell her to get lost." Colm finished. Both mom and dad have expressed remorse on not checking on grandpa more. No one is sure what he was trying to create, and with no medical staff on the island his exact cause of death is still unsure. One of mom's contacts at the science center thinks he electrocuted himself. Dad shut down, sold grandpa's work bench, and closed his side of the station off from everyone. Mom, was beyond grief stricken, and because dad wouldn't even answer the door or his phone she was left to plan without him. Mom insisted on a wake. She had grandpa's remains on display, in a simple urn. Everyone was surprised when dad showed up. Tara and Colm both insist that dad hasn't been the same since grandpa passed. Colm thinks that grandpa's unexpected death did what nearly dying from fever hadn't done. Yet what that is no one will explain to me. Tara says, she's never seen mom cry as much as she did during the wake. That dad sought her out to try and comfort her was a big shock. "What shocked me more than dad pulling mom into his arms, was seeing dad cry on moms shoulder." Colm told me. After the wake dad hired a sitter for me, and everyone went to the graveyard, where grandpa was laid to rest beside Grandmother AnnMarie. Dad thanked mom for handling all the arrangements. He also apologized for being so hostile towards her over the last year. Tara and Colm both insist that that day was pivotal in mom and dad's relationship, it was the day that everything really changed. Dad was no longer openly hostile towards mom, and all of his interactions with her weren't forced politeness. A few days later snowflake day arrived. Even though everyone was still mourning grandpa's unexpected passing mom insisted on a party with a gift exchange. She invited Mr Peoples, several classmates of Tara and Colm, as well as a few folks from the science center. Opening gifts from grandpa with his handwriting on the tag was hard. Mom and dad gave each other funny looks when everything they opened from grandpa had mistletoe in it. Mom said she was humoring grandpa's memory when she hung a single sprig in the living room, the rest was sold to the science center. Colm bawled when he opened his gift from grandpa to find a bicycle. His tag read "Great adventures lead to great stories. Love Grandpa" Tara tried hard to keep a stiff upper lip, but she broke down and cried when she found a bike from grandpa too. The note on hers read "A little something to help you explore the world. Love Grandpa" They keep the tags taped to the bed frame by their pillows. Tara and Colm frequently would do their homework on dad's side. Tara explained that sometimes when dad was painting he would start telling them stories of grandpa. Tara said that the furniture on dad's side was just a little bit nicer. One day a stray cat showed up, and took a nap on grandpa's old bed. Colm was slightly surprised when not only did dad not shoo it away, but dad put out a bowl with some food and a post with rope attached for the cat to sharpen it's claws on. We didn't see that cat again, but dad still puts out cat food just in case. As the weather finally started showing the first hints of spring, mom scrounged up enough to get a proper table and chairs. She did her best to keep everything clean, but more than once she was overheard mumbling that she wished she could afford a maid. For the record, No! I did not plan the demise of Paul Stone, aka grandpa. Sadly while there are two perfectly good showers on the lot, both were occupied when he had his building mishap. Yes, I did grumble, mutter, and possibly let loose a few swear words when grim showed up; even more so when I didn't have the option to beg for his life. If anything, I'm very grumpy about it as I've had to scrap some plans I had on a back burner for possible story line. As the house stands per the end of winter.
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