SHE, HER. Hey, is that GINNIFER GOODWIN , no that is just ANDREA WILLIAMS HAMILTON around Turtle Bay. I heard they are 42 years old, and their birthday is MAY 15TH, 1983. They rest their heads in the OCEANSIDE but they can mainly be found working as CHIEF EDITOR AT TURTLE BAY NEWS . Some say they are NURTURING, EMPATHETIC, TACTFUL and can be TEMPERAMENTAL, GUARDED, SUBSERVIENT If they had a theme song it would be, BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM ( TAYLOR SWIFT ). I hear they are NATIVES either way Turtle Bay is home and welcomes you!
FullName: Andrea Maureen ( Williams) Hamilton
Age: 42
Birthday: May 15, 1983
Birthplace: Turtle Bay, NC
Gender: Cis Female
Pronouns: She/ Her
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Status: Local Native ( Moved away at age 18 but returned sixteen years ago (2005) )
Housing Area: Oceanside
Occupation: Editor and Chief of the turtle bay news
Family: CJ Hamilton ( Husband) Noah Hamilton ( Son) Christina Hamilton (Daughter) Jamie Hamilton ( Age 9 NPC - Son) Audrey Hamilton ( 6 months old NPC - Daughter ) Victoria ( Sister ) Cassandra ( Sister) Jackson (Brother in law ) Henry, Nat, Claire Anderson ( Nieces & Nephew)
Relationship Status: Happily Married ( CJ Hamilton )
Faceclaim: Ginnifer Goodwin
Biography:
Full name: Andrea Maureen ( formally Williams) Hamilton
Nicknames: Andi, Your majesty.
Date of birth: May 15th, 1983 ( 42 )
Occupation: Journalist, Editor & Chief
Children: Noah ( 27 ) Christina ( 22 ) James ( 9 ) NPC Audrey ( six months ) NPC
Relationship status: Married to @christian-hamilton
Car pool mom, school volunteer
Friendly, compassionate, guarded, clumsy, hopelessly in love with her kids and fiance
Quiet by nature, fierce when angry, foodie,
Loves to read, knit and is a worthy scrabble opponent, loves tea, hates the feeling of sand in her clothes.
Still has a stuffed turtle Christian won her at the seaside carnival the summer they met.
Andrea wears her heart on her sleeve, always ready and willing to help a stranger. She comes from a wealthy background but ties with her parents years ago as they didn’t approve of her fiancé. She works very hard for all she has. She’s a journalist of the local news; a loving mother of soon to be three and adores her fiancé and siblings. She re-proposed to Chris on their most recent anniversary via a scavenger hunt with some of their favorite literary works. Recently; they finally purchased their dream fixer upper and are moving forward with planning a wedding years in the making all while digesting the news they are expecting another child in their early forties. Life for the Williams-Hamilton crew is never dull. Their story isn’t conventional. It’s full of a lot of hardship and loss, but above all else; so much love.
The oldest child of lawyer John Lionel Williams and his wife Kathryn, a former cellist who taught lessons, Andrea was born to be an ideal daughter, with that came a never ending pressure to please her parents. She felt like a puppet on parade at social events growing up. Not a hair out of place, or an uncouth act. Her parents kept her extremely sheltered and structured with piano lessons and studying, leaving little room for her to step a toe out of line. It was discovered after her mother’s death that she had an older sister, half belonging to her father. Her mother had died and so she came to live with them.
Her favorite pass time apart from her sister was losing herself in a book. She found solace in the worn pages, her mind venturing off on grand adventures she longed to take but never would. Her parents had done a good job of snuffing out any big ideals the girl had. She felt trapped, unable to go against them. Her life was comfortable but lonely, and mundane in existence. She had little friends outside of her family’s circle. Her first taste of freedom came when she began her Cotillion course during the spring of her junior year. For the first time in her life, she felt like she had true girlfriends and was able to have fun without her parents breathing down her neck. That summer while riding bikes along the shore with her new found friends her bike collided with a blue eyed boy she later deemed her Prince Charming. Her bike was busted from taking the ditch and they both ended up scuffed up but thankfully it was all superficial. . Mortified; she tended to his injuries and offered to buy him ice cream to soften the blow before making sure he got home okay. That night she didn’t know it; but she’d found her soul mate, thus beginning the long journey that would be their lives. They would tell stories of how they met to the children at bedtime, their family story was one rival story books; how against all odds they have made it and we’re still going strong over twenty years later. His name was Christian and he was in town for the summer with his family, a couple years her senior. Within the first week she was in love with him and she spent every waking moment she could with him. The two continued a secret romance through the rest of summer and she invited him to dance with her at her coming out ball. They were opposites; she was a quite soft spoken dreamer and he was a bad boy with rough edges. That didn’t scare her though. Her father of course didn’t approve of her dating a boy with a troubled past; and his dad had hated her from the start which meant she had to sneak around and be creative.
The summer ended and he left; leaving an ache in her heart. Being away from him was terrible; but they called and wrote keeping up with each other's lives; planning for their future together. She was proud of him for turning a new leaf and going to school, he had such potential and she was always there to cheer him on. As the summer turned to fall she discovered she was pregnant with his child. Scared and unsure of what to do, she hid it, hoping to figure out a plan of action in order to keep their baby. Her father was a cruel man, her mother was dead. Her father only cared about his reputation in town, not about his daughters. She was planning on turning to her sister for help but before she could a cruel school pitted her to her father. He was furious, and dismissed all rumors. He pulled her from school for the second half and told everyone she had gotten injured skiing that winter. Her letters to CJ stopped abruptly though when her secret was discovered. Both fathers ensured communication was several between the two teenagers and a plan was put into action.. Andi was kept on house arrest until she had the baby, a beautiful little boy whom she named Noah Landon after two of her favorite novels, the notebook and a walk to remember. He was forcibly taken from her and put up for adoption given she was a minor. It was devastating for her, and worse she had to return to life and school and pretend it never happened. The moment that she turned eighteen she took a bus to CJ. Abandoning everything but a few close personal possessions in the clothes on her back. She came to him hoping they could begin their lives together when she found out he was enlisting in the army. She suspected his father had something to do with it, and despite how handsome he was in uniform she wasn’t sure about it. Part of her was always terrified he wouldn’t come back. Still, she stuck by him, graduating with a degree in journalism and working near his base. She could never bring herself to tell him about their son though. It was too hard.
Finally, his contract was up and he’d be home for good. Right before leaving for his last mission he shocked her by proposing ; to which she told him it was about time and happily accepted and told him to hurry back so she could finally be Mrs. Hamilton. The next few weeks dreamed of their future children while thumbing through wedding magazines to get a head start on planning. A few weeks later she was shocked to discover she was pregnant. Ecstatic she wrote to him with the news; but no response came. She continued to write; sending updates and sonograms thinking the mail was delayed; but weeks turned to months with no word or sign of his unit. It all felt like a bad dream. He was officially declared a missing person two months before she had their daughter who looked so much like him it hurt. She kept writing, and hoping against hope they’d find him alive. He couldn’t be gone. They had a child he needed to see; a life they’d planned for since they were lovesick teens. Eventually though, he was declared dead. There was an honorable funeral with no body. She’d never made it down the aisle to be widowed. Her estranged father had disowned her, not that she cared, so she was on her own with a toddler. She clung to Chrissy like a lifeline; giving her all the love she could muster and vowing she’d know all about her father. She wasn’t ever convinced he was truly gone, believing she’d know in her heart if he really was. People called her crazy when she said it; or pitied her. His father tried to take her to court for custody of Chrissy, which was a horrible experience but she beat him. Like hell he’d get their baby. She had already lost one. The next few years felt like she was wading through water, she continued to search for leads and wrote to him as if he were still here. She wrote letters for chrissy too, should something ever happen to her. She moved back to Turtle bay; sharing a place with her older sister who helped with Chrissy. She’d call CJ's cell phone just to hear his voice on the voicemail, leaving him updates about Chrissy. Her first steps, first lost tooth, sometimes a funny little story she'd told her sleepy eyed over breakfast. She was his little mini me, and each day Andrea woke up grateful to have her. She refused to give up on CJ; on their love. Years later, she still wondered if it was that optimism and manifestation that kept him alive when he’s been a prisoner halfway across the world; thinking about her too. By some miracle, he escaped that hell and found his way back to her. She’d never forget getting a call from her sister to turn on the news. His own father hadn’t bothered calling her. She ran; lungs burning to catch the fastest plane with Chrissy and didn’t stop until she and their baby were both in his arms where they belonged. So began them getting reacquainted and picking up the pieces of their life together the best they could. He came back different, of course; how could he not? Chrissy also struggled with adjusting to a father figure in the house, sharing her mother who had been fully hers up until now. Andi loved them both dearly and did her best to help rebuild their relationship as a couple, a family, Chrissy and him as father and daughter. Their son, little Jamie was a tell tale sign of their reconnection. He was born just shy of four years after Christen returned and the little family fell into place. It was important to Andrea that they rebuilt their bonds as a family of three before adding new members. The road there was bumpy though, and they never did quite get around to getting married. Andrea didn’t want to rush it until things felt right, until Christian adjusted and felt comfortable with who he was. Life also kept on going and with kids and work, things like planning a formal wedding fell on the back burner. Their family came first, their wants second. That dream wedding she always wanted became more of a dream than a priority.
Andrea now works as editor and chief of the local news. She re-proposed to CJ on their most recent anniversary via a scavenger hunt with some of their favorite literary works. About six years ago they finally purchased their dream fixer upper and had that dream wedding years in the making, kids and all. Now, they are busy digesting the news that they are starting over with the birth of their surprise third child in their early forties while also managing their new family dynamic with the news that victoria, andrea’s older half sister was an identical twin- and the son andrea thought they lost all those years ago has returned to their lives- alive and closer than they thought all these years. Life for the Hamilton crew is never dull. Their story isn’t conventional. It’s full of a lot of hardship and loss, but above all else; so much love.
Andrea barely remembered how she got there, only the sound of her own heartbeat in her ears and the blur of hospital lights as she pushed through the door, eyes already red rimmed and glassy from her messages and calls with Chris. “Iza…?” her voice broke the second she saw her, afraid if she said it too loud it wouldn’t be real.
She stepped closer, hand coming up to cover her mouth for a second before letting out a small cry through tears. “Oh my God… it’s really you. Hi Beautiful…” She sat on the edge of her bed so gently. “Chris was right.. they made a mistake..”That poor girls family, but Andrea was thankful in a way. She’d gained her best friend back. Living without her had felt like a piece missing.
She dug into her purse and pulled out a purple Gatorade and held it up with a watery smile. “I brought this… I didn’t even think, I just… grabbed it. Felt right. Thought it would make you feel better, or at least earn a smile.” She laughed, shoulders shaking.
The days following had passed in a blur. Her family had spent months believing she was dead and life had gone on without her. How could some people come to terms with her being back?
People had mourned, but now it seemed as if the wounds had been freshly re-opened. Her parents had immediately jumped on the soonest flight to America. All of it had been overwhelming.
Iza's eyes fluttered slightly at the sight of another figure in the doorway.
Andi. A face most welcome that made her sag with relief on the hospital bed.
"Hi," she murmured. The memory of what her doppelgänger's family currently experienced sparked a pang in her stomach and she nodded. "You think you were surprised."
The sight of the purple Powerade bottle made her chuckle despite everything. Purple Propane. She remembered; one of the only things she had been able to keep down while pregnant with Nevena.
"Thank you, Andi," she whispered, a soft smile pulling at her lips. The massive overwhelm threatened to continue with every sympathetic person who passed through. She had heard the nurses whisper about the massive lawsuit from the other woman's family. Honestly, who could blame them? Her own parents had discussed consulting with a lawyer about all of it. The grief, pain, and suffering.
"How are you?" she asked, her head tilting to the side.
Andrea still looked a little overwhelmed every time she looked at Iza, like part of her brain still hadn’t caught up to the fact that she was really here. Really awake. Really alive.She sat close to the hospital bed, one hand wrapped tightly around Iza’s while the other rested protectively.
“You have no idea how happy I am to hear you’ve voice again. I still keep expecting someone to tell me this isn’t real, I don’t think my heart could take losing you again.” she admitted, eyes glassy again despite how many times she’d already cried. A shaky laugh slipped out. “You know how many times I yelled at heaven for taking you? Because it was a lot, Iza. So much I was sure you heard me, and were perhaps haunting me.”
She glanced down at with a small smile “Well, while you were sleeping I had another baby, I know, Audrey Marie Hamilton. She’s six months old now and absolutely runs the house.”Then her expression shifted into something equal parts emotional and exhausted amusement.
“And somehow that’s not even the craziest thing that’s happened.” Andrea let out a disbelieving breath, already shaking her head. “Because apparently my brother-in-law Noah?” She pointed vaguely with her free hand. “Is actually… my biological son. Mine and CJs… I thought he died, but turns out my father gave him to CJs father behind my back and everything feels like a lie….” She let the words fill the space, giving Iza time to process.
“God, it sounds so crazy out loud..” She laughed through her tears again. “You wake up from a coma and I sound insane immediately… I’m just so happy to live in a world that has you in it, alive and well again.. I need my best friend. My sister from another continent.”
Andrea slipped her hand into his the second he offered it, her fingers lacing through his like it was second nature. She glanced back at Victoria with a small, amused smile. “It’s a stubborn family trait.” She thanked her for the meal and gave her a quick half hug goodbye. Turning back towards her husband, her expression softened as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “We’ll figure out a way to pay her back.” she added quietly. “We always do.”
She let him pull her up, stepping closer once she was on her feet, her free hand brushing lightly against his arm. “A beach walk sounds perfect.” Anything with him do really, she loved the sound or the waves. “Late? Says who? Don’t tell me you’re getting old on me.” She patted his chest teasingly. “I have no intention of calling it a night yet, I’d like to do some star gazing with my lover. ” There was a small pause as she looked at him, really looked at him, like she was still grounding herself in the fact that he was here.
“It’s kind of wild, you know.” she murmured. “Our anniversary’s coming up… and we’ve been doing this, us, for what, half our lives? It’s been quite the adventure.” A quiet laugh. “Sixteen to now… and I’d still pick you every time. You’re my best friend.” Her thumb traced absentmindedly over his knuckles. “I thank the stars every day for bringing you back to me, for our children, for this perfectly imperfect life we get to navigate together.” She tilted her head slightly, a soft curiosity in her eyes as she looked out at the ocean. “What do you see when you think about us… a few years from now?”
"Oh, I am very aware of that stubborn trait." CJ chuckled lightly, while looking over at his wife before over towards Victoria. "I swear that trait is going to kill me one of these times." He teased lightly. Watching them say their goodbyes, he also gave her a small hug and told her goodbye as well. Moving out of the restaurant with her. "That we do so we will definitely pay her back. Even if I have to go over there and fix something again."
Honestly Christian was glad that she agreed to the beach walk because it did certainly sound amazing especially with her. "Never." He chuckled lightly, looking over at her. Walking out with her, he glanced over at Andrea for a moment before nodding his head a little bit. "That sounds like the best plan ever." It really did. Hell he would do anything for her. He really wood. Noticing her just looking at him for a moment, he raised a brow slightly. "Do I have something on my face or something?"
Listening to her, he nodded his head now a little bit. "I know after all this time, after everything that has happened that I love you more every day and nothing can ever change that. I hope you know this." There was no one else that Christian wanted to do this life with. "Trust me when I say you are the only one that I want to continue this life and the only one that I would ever want to do it with. I love you now and always. I'm thankful for everything that we have built, our children and our lives everyday. You were the reason why I hung on everyday while I was gone. The reason that I came back." Looking out into the ocean now before back towards Andi. "Happiness, supporting one another still, raising our kids. Being there for Noah and Chrissy. Just us being us."
“It’s one of the many wonderful reasons you married me, huh?” She flashed a smile when he spoke of the stubbornness. “Of course we will, I’m sure she’s got a to do list she’s been putting off we can help lighten.” Andrea’s expression softened so completely at his words that for a second she just looked at him, eyes glassy in that quiet emotional way only he could pull out of her after all these years. A reminder that she’d made the right choice in loving him despite her father’s reluctance that he’d ever amount to anything. Look at them now.
“You know….” she murmured, squeezing his hand gently as they walked along the shoreline. “For someone who used to be such a troublemaker, you got very good at saying things that make my heart flutter, and remind me that thier will never be anyone else in the world I could love a fraction as much as I love you. Apart from the kids, but romantically speaking.. you are the other half of my heart. I’m so thankful the universe put you in my path.”
A small laugh escaped her before she leaned lightly against his arm, her forehead resting on his shoulder. “I agree. Raising our own little softball team and making a life with you has been my greatest accomplishment.” When he spoke of the future she melted further. “God, that sounds like the dream. Growing old and continuing to embarrass and our kids together.” She glanced up at him with a warm smile. “And maybe eventually spoiling grandbabies rotten? Well totally be the coolest grandparents on the block.”
The ocean breeze caught her hair as she looked back out at the water for a moment. “You know what we never really did though?” she added thoughtfully. “A honeymoon? Or a couples vacation, Not a real one anyway. We’ve been too busy with life and kids, it’s been so long since we’ve been alone together without worrying about keeping tiny humans or dogs alive. Not that I regret it, I love it, the chaos, our beautiful family, but I think I’d like to spend some time with you. Not as. Mother, as a wife, a partner. I need that. ”
Her smile turned softer, almost playful.
“Maybe when Audrey’s a little bigger we can ask Victoria if she’ll watch her and jamie for a few days, Noah and Christina can take care of themselves and you and I disappear somewhere together? For a weekend? Somewhere calm, quiet… Somewhere with absolutely no responsibilities besides kissing you and taking naps and being all soppy and gross like love sick teenagers. How does that sound?” She asked, looking up with him with hopeful excitement. 
It was a decent day, but her head was still trying to wrap around the fact that Sebastian was back. But she shook her head a little bit. Trying her best to focus on work which would be the best thing right now. She knew that she had to talk to Melissa and the kids but she would do that sooner rather than later.
Hearing the bell, Taylor's smile appeared on her lips. "Hello and welcome to the Coffee Corner. What can I get for you today?" She questioned, looking over at Andrea. "Seems like you could use a large one." She stated, glancing over at her little one. "How old?"
Andrea let out a tired laugh as she adjusted Audrey on her hip. The baby chewed enthusiastically on the sleeve of her cardigan.“Seven months on Tuesday.” she said, already sounding equal parts defeated and emotional. “Or as I like to call it, tiny gremlin age.”
She glanced down at Audrey with fond exasperation. “We’re either teething, sleep regressing, summoning demons… hard to say honestly. Maybe all of the above. The nights have all blended together.”Then she looked back up with a smile. “So yes.” Andrea added dramatically. “Please give me the biggest coffee legally allowed. Courtesy of my darling husband.” She flashed the family credit card. “This counts as a family emergency as far as I’m concerned. Maybe throw in a cake pop or pastry too. I need fuel to feed his adorable demon spawn.” She rolled her eyes but her tone was warm. She wouldn’t trade Audrey for anything. “Thank you for coming to tired mom talk. How’s your day going?”
“I’ll settle for up in the air with the men, that’s better than disaster looming.” Andrea let out a soft laugh, immediately wrapping her arms around Chrissy and hugging her tightly to her chest, swaying them just a little as she held her.
“Effortless? Please? I’ll let you in on a little secret, Chrissy. Us pro max adults? We don’t always have it together or know what we’re doing. We just try something and hope, that’s life, that’s motherhood. ” she murmured warmly against her hair. “I’ve had more practice at life than you, so I’ve tested the waters, seen what works and what doesn’t, and sometimes it’s about choosing your peace and just letting things happen instead of trying to micro manage it all because life is unfortunately unpredictable. ” She pulled back just enough to look at her. “And you’re already going to be an incredible mom one day, if you want to be, You’ve got the heart for it, that’s the part you can’t teach. You’re a great you right now though, and that’s enough. And you were helping, by the way. You were my moral support, professional snuggle yapper assistant! ”
At the safe word comment, her face lit up with amusement. “Oh, we absolutely need a safe word. College cheer drama sounds very NDA. You know I’m great at those..” She tapped her chin dramatically. “Okay… it has to be something ridiculous so we don’t accidentally use it in real conversation… what about Coconut?”
She laughed, already standing and grabbing a light wrap, tossing it gently toward Chrissy. “I know it’s totally ridiculously, but it could mean abort mission immediately.’ No questions asked.” Andrea slipped off her socks, kicking them aside before grabbing her shoes and then dropping them a minute later, shake of her head. “I think it’s a bare feet in the sand kind of night.” She reached for Chrissy’s hand, tugging her up with a playful smile. “Let’s go let the ocean fix what our brains keep messing up.”
"Why? Do you think disaster is looming?" Christina asked a little to quickly. The blonde was still holding on to her mom, but the thought of everything going on lately with Caleb and Isaac was making her nervous.
Chrissy let out a small laugh, "Well I just want you to know from the outside looking in, it seems like you have everything together. So you are doing a really good job one way or another." Even when things were trying, Christina remembered her mom always seeming to have it together. It was one of the reasons she thought of her mom being such a rock for her. "The difference is, when I'm a mom, I'm going to have to fight you all the time because I know you and dad are going to spoil them rotten. I just want everyone to be happy and okay. That's all I care about."
Fixing her sweatshirt, the blonde through her hair up in a messy bun. "There just seems to not be any filter or boundaries. They take trust to a whole other level." Nodding her head in agreement, Chrissy took one more handful of popcorn. "Coconut it is!"
The blonde grabbed the wrap and quickly put it around her. "What's the point of living on the beach if you can't let your problems wash way in the ocean?" As she walked towards the door and made her way outside, the ocean air hit. It was hard not to smile at how freeing it instantly made her feel. She could hear the waves hitting the shore as she waited for him mom. "This always feels like paradise."
Andrea laughed softly the second Chrissy spoke, immediately pointing at her with an arched brow.
“That right there is what we call a spiral attempt, which unfortunately you inherited from me.” she teased gently. “No sweetheart, disaster is not looming. I just know things with Caleb and Issac are a bit up in the air and so I just don’t want you to worry yourself sick over it. Your brain is already jumping through hoops overthinking again.”
She stepped outside behind her, pulling the door shut before moving closer, her expression softening warmly at the sight of Chrissy smiling at the ocean.
“Oh please, I absolutely do not have everything together all the time.” Andrea admitted with a grin. “I just learned how to look convincing while panicking internally, it comes with age, and motherhood. I knew if I looked worried in front of you, then you’d worry. So I got better at remaining calm. Your father has talked me down so many times after you and Jamie were tucked in bed..” She cringed as she admitted it. “It’s okay to fall apart, and not be perfect. Being a good mother, or a good person comes with bumps and hiccups. That’s life. Go easier on yourself baby.”
At the mention of future grandkids Andrea smiled then gasped dramatically. “So long as we’re on the same page. I’m going to spoil them rotten, but I’m still going to keep spoiling you. You’ll always be my baby. Hyping the grandkids up with sugar and toys and sending them home to you is literally the reward for surviving parenthood. So be warned.” She bumped her shoulder lightly against hers. “You and your future children don’t stand a chance against me and your father.”She glanced out at the water, breathing in the salt air for a moment.
“But this?” she murmured softly. “This helps. Being with you, right here right now, just breathing in salt air, listening to the world and the waves. It’s calming. I promise you. The ocean makes everything feel smaller somehow.” She rubbed her hand up and down Chrissy’s back. “And when you feel ready, we can talk more about whatever is bothering you. Boys, cheer, whatever you need. Or we can talk about fun things while we finish the bows, like planning a girls day. We could go shopping, maybe get your little sister her first pair of tiny matching shoes so we can all three match.”
"I can't even imagine my place being a mess. I honestly have OCD up the butt that I wouldn't even know what to do with myself if there was a mess here. I honestly can't handle clutter and whatnot so seeing all of the boxes were driving me crazy so I had to take care of them right away.
"I don't think it would be a bad thing to have actually. I don't know if a lot of people would want to have the welcoming committee on their front door because they can tend to be grumpy about that, but still I think we should do it because it sounds like a fun idea." She explained as she looked at Andrea and smiled wide. "I love me a nice big red glass of wine while I'm curled up on the couch and reading a good mystery and thriller. I say that we start it because someone needs to." Julianna said as she looked at her.
"The ocean calls you back? Are you Moana?" She asked before letting out a soft chuckle. She was glad that Andrea seemed to have a good sense of humor and a positive aspect on life and wanted to do things. "It's nice to hear that you have a pretty good life. I can only imagine how hectic your life is with three kids and all that. I don't want anything to do with that just yet." She said honestly. "Why not both?" She shrugged.
Andrea laughed softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “‘OCD up the butt’ sounds wild. Can I use that in an article?” she teased, shaking her head with a grin. “But I get it. There’s something about clutter that just makes your brain itch. I have three kids, so… I’ve learned to pick my battles. If no one’s sticky and the house isn’t actively on fire, I call it a win. I used to be more together. My desk at work is spotless but that’s about it.”
She leaned a little more comfortably against the “Oh, I agree. I’m absolutely here for that. We can be the nice version. Baked goods, smiles, maybe a little ‘you’re stuck with us now’ in a good way welcoming, nice and charming.”At the Moana comment, she let out a laugh. “Listen, if I start singing on the shoreline, you have full permission to stage an intervention.” A small smile lingered. “You do have a point, the ocean does kinda do that.”She nodded.
“My life’s a little chaotic, that’s true, but it’s a good kind of hectic. The kind you choose.” She admitted honestly. “No rush on your end though. Enjoy your wine, your mysteries, your very unsticky life. But I’m serious about the wine club slash welcoming committee. Why not both? We can multitask like pros.”
Andrea smiled softly, snuggling in closer to her daughter just listening, letting Chrissy get it all out before she spoke. “Yeah… that loud emotional side?” she murmured, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I know her well. Too well...” She sighed, leaning back against the lip of the couch behind them. “That little voice? The anxiety likes to try and run the show when it really shouldn’t. I know it’s hard, but remember you are in control of your mind and emotions.. I’m going to take a wild guess that some of the stress has to do with your suitor situation”
She reached for another bow, adjusting a rhinestone with careful focus before glancing back over. “You’re doing the best thing you can do, you know. Saying it out loud, talking to someone you trust, unburdening, keeping your hands busy, letting your brain take a break for a second.” She popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “That’s half the battle. The rest is just… practice. Why do you think I read so much? Or knit. It keeps me sane. That and you kids.” She kissed Chrissy’s temple just so. Motherly pride rung true in her tone.
“You know what always helped me when my head got too noisy and overwhelming?” she added, setting the bow aside. “Walking. Especially at night. The beach, the sound of the waves… it kind of drowns everything else out in a good way.”
Her eyes flicked toward her with a gentle smile. “We could go, if you wanted? A quick little stroll. Give our hands and eyes a break from the bows. Your father can handle it if Jamie or Audrey wake up and need anything. I pumped extra bottles for moments like this, and it’s a shame we live right here on the beach front and don’t go out nearly as much as we should to watch the stars or look for sea turtles.”
This summer Andrea was making more of an effort to enjoy her own sandy back yard with her kids. “We don’t even have to talk about anything heavy. We can just exist for a bit… talk about easy things, like cheer team gossip…” She offers casually, Her eyes glimmered in that curious mom way, not wanting to push.
Chrissy's expression shifter the second Andrea said it - suitor situation. A small huff of a laugh escaped her lips as she picked up her hot cocoa. "Wow mom..." she murmured,. "You really just went straight to it, huh?" There was no real protest behind it, just an unspoken confirmation. "I'm sure that's part of it in some way. But that's the best part. There's no crazy pressure, no labels. It's all just up in the air."
The blonde shrugged her shoulders, letting her mom's words settle in. The reassurance making her feel like she wasn't totally losing her mind. "I honestly don't know how you make it sound so manageable," she said softly. "You make it sound effortless."
Her eyes flickered with excitement at the mention of a beach walk. "...a beach walk actually sounds really nice." The grin on her face only confirming that fact. "And it's probably better than me sitting here in my thoughts pretending like I'm actually helping or that you're not doing all the work." Setting her mug down carefully, she reached over to gently. "One day I hope I'm half the mom you are." Without skipping a beat, she wrapped her arms around Andrea and gave her a hug.
"We might need to come up with a safe word for some of this gossip. I thought high school cheer drama was bad, college cheer drama is a totally different animal." she added with a chuckle. "It's a little unhinged."
“I’ll settle for up in the air with the men, that’s better than disaster looming.” Andrea let out a soft laugh, immediately wrapping her arms around Chrissy and hugging her tightly to her chest, swaying them just a little as she held her.
“Effortless? Please? I’ll let you in on a little secret, Chrissy. Us pro max adults? We don’t always have it together or know what we’re doing. We just try something and hope, that’s life, that’s motherhood. ” she murmured warmly against her hair. “I’ve had more practice at life than you, so I’ve tested the waters, seen what works and what doesn’t, and sometimes it’s about choosing your peace and just letting things happen instead of trying to micro manage it all because life is unfortunately unpredictable. ” She pulled back just enough to look at her. “And you’re already going to be an incredible mom one day, if you want to be, You’ve got the heart for it, that’s the part you can’t teach. You’re a great you right now though, and that’s enough. And you were helping, by the way. You were my moral support, professional snuggle yapper assistant! ”
At the safe word comment, her face lit up with amusement. “Oh, we absolutely need a safe word. College cheer drama sounds very NDA. You know I’m great at those..” She tapped her chin dramatically. “Okay… it has to be something ridiculous so we don’t accidentally use it in real conversation… what about Coconut?”
She laughed, already standing and grabbing a light wrap, tossing it gently toward Chrissy. “I know it’s totally ridiculously, but it could mean abort mission immediately.’ No questions asked.” Andrea slipped off her socks, kicking them aside before grabbing her shoes and then dropping them a minute later, shake of her head. “I think it’s a bare feet in the sand kind of night.” She reached for Chrissy’s hand, tugging her up with a playful smile. “Let’s go let the ocean fix what our brains keep messing up.”
Chrissy pressed her lips together, trying to hold back a smile that she quickly gave in to. "Wow, yeah, no...we're definitely the most level headed people I have every met." she added, nudging Andrea's knee lightly. "Not a single dramatic bone in our body."
The humor pacified a bit as Andrea reached for her hand and Chrissy stilled, letting her. Her gaze dropped to their hands for a second, something quieter settling in her chest. "In between versions of myself..." she repeated quietly, like she was trying to convince herself of the truth. "That sounds a lot better than how it actually feels."
As Andrea got closer, Chrissy's shoulders began to relax as she leaned into her mom without really thinking. "I don't feel like it's too much to ask for the laminated life plan." Glancing at Andrea before changing focus, her voice sounding sincere. "I know I don't have to figure it all out right now. I just wish I could tell my brain that sometimes. There's the logical part of myself that knows this is all part of growing up, being a person all that stuff. The problem is the emotional, wanting everything to be perfect side gets in the way and tends to be so much louder than the logical side."
The silence that followed her last statement was brief, but just enough for Chrissy to a bit freeing from her moment of honesty. "Honestly? This helped a lot. Just being able to say it out loud," she admitted. "And all this helps too," gesturing to the craft club they had going on. "When my mind is busy, I don't seem to get to caught up in my own thoughts."
Andrea smiled softly, snuggling in closer to her daughter just listening, letting Chrissy get it all out before she spoke. “Yeah… that loud emotional side?” she murmured, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I know her well. Too well...” She sighed, leaning back against the lip of the couch behind them. “That little voice? The anxiety likes to try and run the show when it really shouldn’t. I know it’s hard, but remember you are in control of your mind and emotions.. I’m going to take a wild guess that some of the stress has to do with your suitor situation”
She reached for another bow, adjusting a rhinestone with careful focus before glancing back over. “You’re doing the best thing you can do, you know. Saying it out loud, talking to someone you trust, unburdening, keeping your hands busy, letting your brain take a break for a second.” She popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “That’s half the battle. The rest is just… practice. Why do you think I read so much? Or knit. It keeps me sane. That and you kids.” She kissed Chrissy’s temple just so. Motherly pride rung true in her tone.
“You know what always helped me when my head got too noisy and overwhelming?” she added, setting the bow aside. “Walking. Especially at night. The beach, the sound of the waves… it kind of drowns everything else out in a good way.”
Her eyes flicked toward her with a gentle smile. “We could go, if you wanted? A quick little stroll. Give our hands and eyes a break from the bows. Your father can handle it if Jamie or Audrey wake up and need anything. I pumped extra bottles for moments like this, and it’s a shame we live right here on the beach front and don’t go out nearly as much as we should to watch the stars or look for sea turtles.”
This summer Andrea was making more of an effort to enjoy her own sandy back yard with her kids. “We don’t even have to talk about anything heavy. We can just exist for a bit… talk about easy things, like cheer team gossip…” She offers casually, Her eyes glimmered in that curious mom way, not wanting to push.
"You're good." Grace said softly, already shifting her notebook a little to the side to make more space on the table. A small, reassuring smile settling in. "Really." Her eyes flicked briefly toward the little boy, giving him a quiet, acknowledging nod before her attention moved to the baby. Something in her expression softened almost instantly. Little ones had this effect on her, despite Grace not feeling ready to take on the responsibility of motherhood just yet. Perhaps under different circumstances that opinion might shift but right now her focus was on career and preserving nature. "She’s… really calm," Grace murmured, like she was a little surprised by it. "Or at least she looks like she is." There was a faint warmth in her tone, the kind that came naturally around animals—or anything small and a little fragile.
Grace tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, mirroring the motion unconsciously, before wrapping her hands back around her cup. "I’m Grace," she added, voice still gentle. "And you’re not interrupting anything—I was just… sitting here." A slight pause followed, like she was deciding whether to say more. Her gaze drifted down to her notebook. "Hey," she turned to the little boy, "do you know I work at a place where we help little turtles hatch, isn't that cool?"
Andrea’s smile softened instantly at the compliment, a quiet little glow of pride settling over her as she glanced down at Audrey. “She really is.” she said warmly, brushing her fingers gently over the baby’s blanket. “I got lucky with this one. Don’t let her fool you though, she can be dramatic when she wants to be.” A soft laugh slipped out before she looked back up at Grace. “But yeah… she’s a happy little thing mostly.”
Shifting slightly, Andrea adjusted Audrey in her arms before tilting her head. “Do you… want to hold her?” she offered gently. “Only if you want to. She’s pretty easygoing, I promise.”
At the mention of turtles, her expression lit up even more. “Wait really? That’s amazing!” she said, leaning forward a little, genuine excitement in her voice. “We’re right by the beach, so we see them sometimes. Well, mostly the signs and the little nests, but still.” She glanced over at Jamie with a grin. “He’s obsessed. Like, fully convinced he’s going to be a marine biologist one day. I’m sure he’d love to talk your ear off.”
Andrea barely remembered how she got there, only the sound of her own heartbeat in her ears and the blur of hospital lights as she pushed through the door, eyes already red rimmed and glassy from her messages and calls with Chris. “Iza…?” her voice broke the second she saw her, afraid if she said it too loud it wouldn’t be real.
She stepped closer, hand coming up to cover her mouth for a second before letting out a small cry through tears. “Oh my God… it’s really you. Hi Beautiful…” She sat on the edge of her bed so gently. “Chris was right.. they made a mistake..”That poor girls family, but Andrea was thankful in a way. She’d gained her best friend back. Living without her had felt like a piece missing.
She dug into her purse and pulled out a purple Gatorade and held it up with a watery smile. “I brought this… I didn’t even think, I just… grabbed it. Felt right. Thought it would make you feel better, or at least earn a smile.” She laughed, shoulders shaking.
Andrea smoothed her napkin over her lap, glancing around the restaurant with a soft, almost amused eyes lingering on the place settings like she was afraid to touch the wrong fork.“Okay… I know I grew up going to places just like this, but I still feel like I need a manual.” she murmured with a small laugh. Her gaze settled warmly on Kate. “Thank you for inviting me out. I’ve missed you.”
She reached across the table briefly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get out of the house and actually be a person again. Six months flew by in a blur of diapers and no sleep. Having a baby in your forties is not for the weak.”She shook her head and took a sip of her drink. “I’ve been thinking about you. How have you been? How’s the book coming? The next one, I mean. Are you in the fun part or the staring at a screen questioning your life choices part? You know I’m always happy to weigh in.”
Chrissy let out a quiet laugh, rolling her eyes as she reached out and took a handful of popcorn. She made a show of it for her mother, letting a quiet laugh escape her mouth. "See! I'm eating. I'm eating. It's delicious." Chrissy let out a chuckle, "And here I thought I would be able to pull a fast one on you."
It was during this time that the blonde felt her shoulders relax. Whenever her mother said they would do something together, it did leave her feeling less overwhelmed. Things felt smaller. More manageable. Her gaze began to drift towards her mug, tracing along the rim to gather her thoughts.
"Deal," she muttered, a small breath escaping before looking back up. "I think..." she started, then paused. "Okay, this is going to sound dramatic, I know." She shifted slightly, tucking her leg in closer. "I just feel like I'm a little lost right now. Like I don't know who I am exactly or what I'm doing. Maybe it was the accident, recovering left me too much time to get into my own head." she admitted. The blonde was aimlessly playing with a piece of popcorn that was in her hand.
"It's silly, right?" She sounded like she was trying to convince herself, more than her mom. "Just say I'm being dramatic, I know that's all this is."
Andrea gasped softly, hand coming up to her chest in mock offense. “Dramatic? In this family?” she said, eyes widening over the rim of her glasses. “Absolutely not. We are calm, collected, completely rational women at all times.” She nodded with a straight face before breaking into a soft laugh. “Oh darlin girl.. You get it from me, obviously.” She nudged her knee.
“Hey now.” Andrea said gently, reaching over to still the piece of popcorn in her daughter’s hand with her fingers. “It’s not silly. Not even a little bit.” She shook her head slightly. “When things feel big to you, they are big. You don’t have to shrink them down just because you think that people will find your problems silly in the big scheme of things. That’s not fair..” She shifted a little closer on the couch.“And feeling a little lost? That just means you’re in between versions of yourself. That’s not a bad place to be, it’s just… uncomfortable. Believe me I’ve lived it.”
Andrea offered her a warm, steady smile. “You don’t have to have it all figured out tonight. Or tomorrow. Or even this year.” She reassured. “Even though I know you’d love a five-year plan color-coded and laminated on life.”Her thumb brushed lightly along Chrissy’s arm. “We’ll figure it out. We always do. You’ve got me and your dad and siblings behind you. Now, how can I help my girl feel a little less lost? Even for just tonight.”
Chrissy sat curled up on the couch, one leg tucked beneath her as she watched her mom work with that same soft, familiar focus she’d grown up knowing. She smiled at the comment, reaching for a piece of popcorn and tossing it in her mouth. "Okay, okay. First of all-these do matter," she said as she laughed. "You're basically helping build team morale. The sparklier the bow, the more we shine." She looked down at the bows and then back at her mom, a comfortable smile coming over her. "And yeah, I do like the sparkly stuff," she admitted, playing with one of the finished bows. "But it's only because I have excellent influences."
At the mention of cocoa, she leaned forward, grabbing her mug and let the warmth sink in. For a moment, she just sat there enjoying the moment. it was comfortable, it was home. Her smile softened as Andrea spoke and became more tender. "I like it too," she said gently. "It's nice not having to share you with tiny humans for five minutes, regardless of how much I love them."
Taking a moment, the blonde glanced down at her mug like it would give her the answers. "Things are just kind of a lot right now," she admitted. "Not bad, just…busy and scattered." Gripping her mug tightly, she offered a small, apologetic smile in her mom's direction. "And before you say it, I know, I know - I don't have to have everything figured out. I just don't like the feeling of the unknown and lately it feels more unknown than not." Pausing for a moment, she tried to lighten the mood, the corner of her mouth lifting. "Also, for the record, bedazzling is very therapeutic. We could even consider it part of my recovery plan, even if my arm isn't 110% yet!"
Andrea laughed softly, nudging another finished bow toward her. “Team morale, huh? I knew there was a reason I was out here risking permanent rhinestone blindness.” She glanced over the top of her glasses with a teasing smile. “And yes, you do have excellent influences. Present company included. I raised you on sparkle and emotional support snacks. That’s good parenting 101.”
She reached for the popcorn bowl, took some for herself then held it out, shaking the mix around in a toss the salad fashion, the mother in her unsatisfied that Chrissy had only taken a little bit. “Eat some more. You’ll feel and think better when you snack. It’s scientifically proven.”At the mention of recovery, her expression softened. “Mm, yes. Bedazzling as medicine. I’m sure your physical therapist would be thrilled to hear we’ve replaced all official exercises with glitter crafts.” A beat. “Although… don’t think I forgot about the actual physical therapy. You’re still doing that, miss girl.” Andrea set down the bow in her hands and turned a little more fully toward her.
“Oh, I get it. Unknowns make my skin itch too.” Her thumb brushed lightly along the edge of her mug. “So let’s not look at it like one giant terrifying cloud. Let’s divide and conquer.”She smiled, warm and steady. “One thing at a time. One box at a time. You tell me what’s feeling loudest in your head right now, and we’ll sort through it together. Deal?”
Andrea sat back in her chair with a soft exhale, one hand gently adjusting the blanket over Audrey’s pop up sleeper before giving it a light, instinctive rock. She glanced down, smiling when the baby stayed peacefully asleep, worn out after a dip in the ocean and crawling around through the sand. Andi applied some sunscreen to herself and the baby, then reached into the cooler and pulled out a bottle of lemonade
“Okay… I feel like this is the first time we’ve actually sat down and breathed since the snowstorm in janurary.” she said, letting out a small, almost disbelieving laugh. “Everything’s been so chaotic since, getting the town and all our lives back on track. Im sorry it’s taken so long to meet up. I promise I always have time for you.”
She took a sip, then popped a couple of Doritos into her mouth from the snacks she brought along for the beach day. “I’m doing better, though. Head’s healing, stitches are out… just a little reminder left.” she added, brushing her fingers lightly near her temple with a faint smile. Her sunhat covered it mostly.
Her gaze lifted back to Victoria, curious now. “How’s the Waterfront? Henry told me you had to replace all the outside seating because, and I quote, ‘the tables and chairs went bye-bye in the storm.’” She huffed a soft laugh. “Please tell me that’s been handled and you’re not out there running a restaurant with… imaginary furniture.”Andrea leaned forward slightly, warmth in her expression as she listened to the waves against the shoreline,
The place was louder than anything Grace was used to.
Not overwhelming—just…full. Voices overlapping, music humming low through the walls, the clink of glasses and laughter that didn’t belong to her. She’d picked a corner table, half out of the way, half out of habit. Somewhere she could sit without feeling like she was in it all. Her coffee had gone lukewarm, forgotten between her hands as she absentmindedly traced the rim of the mug with her thumb.
Grace didn’t notice them at first. Just the shift of movement nearby, the pause that felt different from the rest of the room. It wasn’t until their shadow crossed the edge of her table that she glanced up, blinking once like she was pulling herself back from somewhere else. Her gaze flickered from them to the empty chair across from her. Then back again. There was a beat—brief, quiet—where she seemed to consider something. "The seat's free, if you want it."
Andrea offered a soft, grateful smile at the invitation, shifting the diaper bag higher on her shoulder.“Thank you, are you sure?” she asked gently, already easing into the seat like she didn’t want to impose. She glanced back toward her nine year old son Jamie for a second. “Hey, bud, stay close, okay?”
She adjusted baby Audrey on her hip, brushing a light kiss over her head before settling her comfortably. “I promise we won’t be too loud or get crumbs all over you.” she added with a small, apologetic laugh. “Or… I’ll at least try. He’s actually really sweet and listens to me most of the time.” she nodded toward Jamie. “And she’s six months, so mostly just smiles and likes to snuggle, and wat, with occasional dramatic cries.”
Andrea shifted, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m Andrea, by the way.” Her voice softened, easy and kind. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” // @oceangraces
location: Public library, Sunniside
@turtlebay-starters
Dealing with working and going to school was starting to take a toll on Claire, to the point she would consider a good rest if she was able to get more than three hours of sleep, but that's what she had to do in order to become a doctor then that's what she would do.
She always had been stubborn even as a child but deep down she couldn’t help but to question if the reason she was studying at the public library was because she was avoiding her family, ever since she heard about her father being back she felt the floor underneath her just collapse, would she be a bad daughter if she tried to connect with the man that broke her mother’s heart?
“Good i need coffee,” she groaned before pushing her book away from her, after three hours of studying about heart diseases she had about enough, looking down at her watch she saw that it was three in the afternoon, just enough time to grab some coffee at coffee bean, maybe she would even get to study some more before her shift at the dinner, but right now her brain was having a hard time even just find the exit of the building.
Andrea slipped quietly through the library doors, balancing a tray with two coffees and a small bag of snacks, her eyes scanning until she found Claire.“There she is.” she murmured with a soft smile, making her way over. “My favorite overworked future doctor.”
She set everything down gently in front of her. “Aunt Andrea to the rescue.” she added lightly, nudging the coffee closer. “Extra caffeine, something with actual sugar, and… I’m pretty sure I grabbed whatever looked like it might keep you alive or at the least, I feel like nostalgic treats.”
Her expression softened as she took in Claire a little more closely. “Hey.” she said, quieter now. “You don’t have to run yourself into the ground to prove anything. I’m already ridiculously proud of you.”She reached out, brushing her fingers lightly over Claire’s arm. “How long have you been at this anyway? You look exhausted. Maybe it’s time you take a break. Talk to me, or whisper to me, Tell me how your been. Slow down and enjoy that drink for a second.”
Andrea sat cross-legged on the living room floor, a soft blanket thrown over her legs, reading glasses perched low on her nose as she carefully lined up another row of rhinestones along a bow.
“Perfect. Just like you.” she murmured, adding another finished bow to the pile. “If these things earn you extra style points in the competition, I’m taking full credit. If they blind the judges enough to give you beyond perfect scores, which you all deserve, even better. Strategy is everything.” She added more stones then paused to blow gently on the last piece she’d set, making sure it held. Around her, the coffee table was a controlled chaos of glitter, ribbons, and tiny gems, the faint smell of sugar still lingering from the candy popcorn she’d insisted on making from scratch.
“Also, for the record, I refuse to believe cheer uniforms require this level of craftsmanship. I think you just like the sparkly, missy. Just like your grandma.” she added, glancing up with a small, teasing smile. “I feel like I should be getting college credit for all this.” She’s smirked, a playful glint in her eyes. She loved doing things like this with her kids. Adjusting her glasses and shifted slightly, her fingers brushing absently near the faint mark on her forehead before she dropped her hand back down, like it was nothing now. “Cocoa’s still warm, by the way,” she said, nodding toward the mugs nearby. “And if you don’t eat more popcorn, I’m going to assume you hate it and take that personally.”
A soft hum of joy followed as she picked up another bow, her tone easing. “…I like this.” Andrea admitted quietly. Not that she begrudged the other children, but she craved the quiet solo moments with Christina from for to time, “Just us. Like when you were little.” She smiled. “ No little adventurers climbing all over me, or the trying to jump off the couch, or shooting nerf guns and getting the dogs riled up, which then upsets the baby.... Just… rhinestones and sugar and whatever you want to talk about.” She glanced up again, gentler this time. “So talk to me, baby. What’s going on in your world lately? Besides over committing yourself to bedazzle all of the cheer uniforms while you’re recovering from an injury.”
