My Boys Came Home

(A Note from Mandie: Hey folks! Guess what, it's a miracle! I got Fortune Shores back after much stress and heartache. Everyone is doing well and living happily as if nothing ever happened. I got a new memory card for my computer and it doesn't run as slow now with BV. I had to re-install it to get the families back. But for some odd reason, Fortune Shores is the only one that came back. But more on that in a later post. For now, I want to enjoy this time with the Berkley/Go's! There are lots of links to previous posts in this update, due to the fact that it's been so long since I last played them! Hope it helps you remember who everyone is! Enjoy!)

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The Berkley Family
3 Fortune Drive
$160,576
Title: My Boys Came Home
Lot: Berkley- Miles, RolandGo- Jeff, Demi, Philip, Phoebe
Last Visit: A New Family

Demi: Oh my goodness, it is so good to see you again! How long has it been? Too long, that's for sure. Things have been going crazy around here since you last came by. I guess I ought to remind you about who my family is; it's been so long ya know. Well, my first husband was Howard Berkley; one of the founders of Fortune Shores. I met him through the town matchmaker and fell in love instantly (see The Knowledge of Life). I know we didn't exactly look like we made a perfect couple, but I loved him and that's all that mattered. We got married and had three beautiful children: our daughter Tessa (see The Knowledge of Life) and our twin sons Miles and Roland (see Birthday Central). When the kids were still young, Howard passed away from plain old age (see Big Luau in the Sky). It was rough for all of us to get through that time. But we made it. I ended up meeting the second love of my life and my current husband, Jeff Go. Jeff and I had two beautiful children: twins Philip and Phoebe (see A New Family). Shortly thereafter, my older three children went off to college and I felt like I was living a totally different life. A new husband and new children, in the same house that I lived with my old husband and other children. It took me awhile to get adjusted, but now I am happier than ever. Especially since my two boys have graduated from college and moved back in with us. It almost feels like old times!



The boys (well, I guess they're men now!) had a great time in college, from what I hear. But I am happy to have them home. It's almost as if they never left! They still sleep in the same bedroom they did when they were kids. We haven't even re-decorated it or anything! But they're all grown up now and I am so proud of them. Miles got a job in Show Business. He didn't really have a preference as to what job he got. He just wants to get married and have a big family. But he's been promoted a few times now and is a Supporting Player! My little boy is gonna be famous! And as for Roland, he decided to get a job in Law Enforcement. He's done really well at his job and is now a Lieutenant. He didn't have a preference either, he just wants to make a lot of money. Heh. Both of my sons have a bright future ahead of them.



The boys bought themselves a car when they first moved back home. It's nothing special, but it's definitely convenient. They go out all the time together, and it warms my heart to see them so close. I know Howard would be happy to see his boys now.



They like to go downtown a lot. As I'm sure you remember, they both had girlfriends before leaving for college. Miles was seeing Jade O'Malley and Roland was with Cercie Reinhart (see A New Family). Well, those two girls were a bit younger than my boys, and didn't go to college at the same time. Jade O'Malley joined them when the boys were starting their Junior year (see Heart Breakers), but Cercie Reinhart just left for college a few days ago (see 3rd Generation). So she is way younger than Roland. So, since their girlfriends are not around, the boys have been having a good time going out and being "single".



Roland really started thinking about his relationship with Cercie, which was non-existent at the moment due to the fact that Cercie was still technically a teenager (although she became a Young Adult soon after). However, Roland couldn't stand being alone, and he actually enjoyed going out and meeting other women. In fact, he met one woman that he liked very much. Her name is Margaret Benson, and she made my Roland forget all about Cercie Reinhart. I'm sure this made Cercie's father, Edwin Reinhart very happy. It was no secret that he thought his daughter was too good for my Roland (see Growing Pains). That pompous jerk.



Roland and Margaret became a couple real quick. They spent all of their spare time together, and I just knew that she was the one Roland wanted to be with forever. It was so good to see my son so happy.



Meanwhile, Miles was still going strong with Jade O'Malley. She only has two more years left in college, and Miles is determined to wait for her. Although, between you and me, I don't know why. You'll see why I think that later on.



Anyway, before I knew it, it was time for my birthday. I really didn't want to become an elder quite yet. I still had dreams I wanted to accomplish before I got old, but there's no stopping time. So, we had a family birthday party and everyone cheered for me as I blew out the candles.



And just like that I was an elder. And I think I aged pretty well, if I do say so myself! Barely a wrinkle on my face!



It didn't really sink in for me that I was an elder until the next morning at breakfast. I got up early to make the kids cereal before they went off to school, and I just felt...old. I never used to have a problem getting up that early. I was always full of energy after a good night's sleep, but that morning I was tired and ache-y. I could barely keep my eyes open as I poured the kids their cereal. And then I looked at the table where my youngest children sat. Philip and Phoebe were the age my other kids were when Howard died. I couldn't imagine leaving my children at this age without a mother. It was all I could do to not cry and have breakfast with them.



But that same day, I realized that I might be an elder, but I've still got a ways to go before I join Howard in that big luau in the sky! What changed my mind so quickly you ask? Well, I achieved my lifetime dream of becoming a Mad Scientist! I didn't think it would be possible now that I was old, but sure enough I got that promotion and I felt twenty years younger! You can't believe how happy it made me! I still feel ecstatic just thinking about it.



And then I got an even bigger shock later that night. Roland and Margaret sat me down to have a "talk" with me. It was then that I noticed something different about Margaret. She looked...fatter. I could barely believe my ears when Roland told me that Margaret was pregnant and that he was the father. I just about fell out of my chair. I mean, they weren't even married! Or engaged for that matter! What would the neighbors think?! How could he put our family through so much embarrassment?! I was just about to voice these panicky thoughts, but the joy of having a grandchild hit me instead. I was going to be a grandmother! And my Howard was going to have a grandchild, if only he could be here to see it!



So, after the initial shock wore off it was obvious that Margaret was going to have to move in with us. I wanted my grandchild to be as close to me as possible, even before it was born! So, she moved in (and brought a whopping $16,000!) and for the time being slept in Tessa's old bedroom until we could build them a room of their own. She actually looks a lot like Tessa if you really take a look at her.


Margaret Benson
Aspiration: Knowledge
LTW: Become Mad Scientist
4 sloppy, 8 outgoing, 4 lazy, 4 serious, 5 nice
Zodiac: Pisces
Turn Ons: stink/custom hair
Turn Off: swim wear

It wasn't too long after that when Roland finally proposed to her. It was nothing special because we really wanted to keep everything low-key. Fortune Shores is known for its conservative ideals, and we just didn't want to make a big fuss. Although I think every family in this town has had it's share of scandals, from what I hear.



We had a quick wedding soon after. Nothing big or spectacular like some of the other weddings that have been going on lately. Roland and Margaret had their wedding in our backyard, mainly because Roland wanted his father to be there for it and Howard just so happens to be buried in our back yard! Anyway, just the family came to the wedding, with their significant others of course.



Thankfully, Margaret was only in her second trimester of pregnancy, so we were able to find a beautiful wedding dress to fit her, and you could barely tell she was expecting a baby. Roland and Margaret looked so happy and the wedding turned out to be beautiful.



Of course, I had the photographer take some formal pictures of us all. Even though it was an impromptu wedding for the most part, I still wanted it to be remembered. So, this first picture is of the Bridal Party. Since Margaret has no family members, they decided to have Roland's brother and sister in the wedding. Tessa was the Maid of Honor and Miles was the Best Man. This, of course, made me very happy.



This next picture is of me and the three children I had with Howard Berkley. Tessa, Miles, and Roland. And of course, the lovely bride Margaret. I thought about having us pose around Howard's tombstone, but thought that would be a little too depressing and just a bit odd for a wedding picture. So, it's just us...Howard's beloved family.



And this picture is of our entire family. All five of my kids and all of Roland's siblings. His twin brother Miles, full sister Tessa, half brother Philip and half sister Phoebe. Also, his step-father Jeff Go. And myself of course as well as his new bride. The whole family. I really couldn't imagine what this wedding would have been like had Cercie Reinhart been the bride. I would have had to put up with her parents, and that would have just been terrible. I am so glad Roland chose Margaret instead!



There were two other guests at the wedding. Tessa insisted on bringing her boyfriend, Samuel Cox. He's the son of Kennedy and Louise Cox who live just next door to us. They've been together since they were teenagers (see A New Life Goal) and went to college together too (see The Next Bunch and Heart Breakers).



And Miles brought his girlfriend Jade O'Malley. They've also been together since they were trouble-making teenagers (see A New Family) and went to college together for two years until Miles graduated (see Heart Breakers). Jade is the daughter of Quincy O'Malley and Andrea Landgraab, the only couple in the history of Fortune Shores to have gotten a divorce (due to the fact that he was sleeping with another woman), which was big talk around the neighborhood for weeks (see Change of Heart).



The wedding was beautiful and romantic, right up until the very end. Evidently, Tessa's boyfriend Samuel and Miles' girlfriend Jade, had some sort of fling in college (see Heart Breakers). We of course didn't know about this until it came out at the wedding when Samuel thought noone was looking and kissed Jade! A horrible battle ensued. Miles and Tessa were crushed of course, and they both lost control. Tessa attacked Samuel, and Miles' yelling could be heard for miles! Honestly, I expected this kind of behavior from Jade O'Malley...her father's knack for heart-breaking seems to have rubbed off on her. However, I was completely surprised by Samuel. I always thought of him as a respectable young man, and I just know his mother is going to have a fit when I tell her what happened. I really don't know what's going to happen to all of them. I mean, Miles can easily move on with his life if he wants to. Jade's still in college and he can easily break off the engagement and find someone else. But Tessa...that's a different story. Tessa and Samuel moved in together after they graduated college and are in the middle of planning their wedding. I don't know what she's going to do. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.



However, life went on and we all settled back into a normal routine. And then the moment we had all been waiting for finally arrived! Margaret went into labor! Of course, we all panicked and ran around the living room not knowing what to do. It was quite a sight.



Before we knew it, Roland and Margaret had a new baby daughter! She looks just like my Roland (which means she also looks just like her grandpa Howard)! She's got a dark skintone with black hair and brown eyes, just like her daddy! They decided to name her Cheyenne...Cheyenne Berkley, has a nice ring to it don't ya think?



I obviously had to hold my granddaughter right away. I couldn't believe (and still can't) that I'm a grandmother! As I looked at my son and my new granddaughter, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness that Howard couldn't be here to see this beautiful new baby. She is the beginning of Generation 3 for the Berkley family, and Howard would be so proud of his legacy.



I have a feeling Howard was with us in spirit when his granddaughter was born. I can almost see his great big smile!



Oh yes, and one more thing before you go. My younger twins had their birthday finally! They're now teenagers, and I still can't get over how quickly they grow up. They are both beautiful, and already planning the fun they're going to have! I look forward to seeing you next time! Say hello to Tessa for me when you see her!



Philip Go
Aspiration: Family
LTW: Become Captain Hero
5 neat, 9 outgoing, 7 active, 3 serious, 7 nice
Zodiac: Aries
Turn Ons: hats/athletic
Turn Off: good at cleaning



Phoebe Go
Aspiration: Romance
LTW: Have 20 Simultaneous Lovers
5 neat, 3 shy, 7 active, 3 serious, 7 nice
Zodiac: Pisces
Turn Ons: charismatic/mechanical
Turn Off: formal wear

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Berkley Funny Pic:

(Not really about the Berkley's, but Miles and Roland saw this when they went clubbing!)


"Watch out Dustin, Malcolm is about to take your wallet!"