#hal roth

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Round Twenty Seven: Capp

Ginger's birthday party was more fun than Miranda thought it would be.

It was a prediction she kept to herself, as the issue was mostly about herself. She just didn't feel like being besieged by hordes of Capps right this second, not after the gaffe she'd made when going to visit the pregnant Patience and being turned away for bringing two sisters with her. Being frowned at by a burly bodyguard butler who was literally Bigfoot was an experience she never wanted to repeat!

However, needs must, and Miranda slipped on her signature ice cool blue glasses to meet guests arriving in the foyer. Patience was among the first and the young woman, clad in soft cashmere, lilac and grey, wrapped her arms around her 'aunt' (her mother Juliette was Miranda's cousin, so aunt was an easier term than some clunky alternative that everybody guessed at but nobody really knew). "Clovis sends his apologies, he's home with Lysander," Patience said in Miranda's ear, still holding her. A very polite thing to issue the status of the plus one to the party host.

The birthday girl herself enjoyed the benefits of being a guest at her party rather than the burden of organisation. Miranda gifted her baby sister a mocha brown suit to wear in her newfound years as a woman of a more distinguished age; Ginger changed into it immediately and sang the praises of her sister's choice all throughout the evening. "Ladies, gentlemen, honoured guests - my style icon," she had announced after tapping a silver spoon to a champagne glass. Her sweeping arm and upturned palm were directed at Miranda, who received applause.

Fear not, Bigfoot, Miranda thought. Next visit to a golden child, I will be hand-in-hand with Ginger alone.

[sacredwhores]

Loren Sterling & Hal Roth - California’s Golden Boys (1985)

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Interlude: Roth

Xander wonders if it's just them who's found the Christmas pudding tasting more sickly lately. Either the holiday heyday is over for the Roth family or divorce is taking its toll… the kids better make cookies next.

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Round Twenty Seven: Bigfoot

Patience had taken a picture of her grandmother to the hairdresser.

The portraits of Rich and Lana Mann still hung in the upstairs foyer of the country home, with flowers arranged and candles lit underneath them as offerings at the feet of their expensive frames. Patience never wanted them taken down; it would be like forgetting her beloved grandparents. For the same reason, she had been inspired by the lady Lana's perfectly coiffed bob, and tracked down a hairdresser who would not raise an eyebrow at a vintage look that wasn't from Pinterest. If it really didn't suit her, nobody was saying anything to her about it. Actually, Clovis had said she was more beautiful than ever, and that's how she became pregnant with Lysander.

The news of an incoming baby brought about a new era for the Capps. Family members came to visit, maximum two at a time so as to not overwhelm the nesting family (Galaad enforced this very strongly, even turning away the sister-trio of Miranda, Ariel, and Ginger and advising them to arrange separate appointments).

Older generations would have frowned at the news of the baby being a boy but the severity of this had lessened in the face of modernity - the Capp line was in the safe hands of many strong women, including Patience, who might still very well end up with a baby girl. Besides, their line was certainly looking healthier than the dwindling numbers of the Monty heirs; that kind of one-up always counted for something.

In the moment of holding her son in her arms, though, Patience cared little for inheritance matters. She only hoped her parents and grandpa Rich and nana Lana were smiling down on them.

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Round Twenty Five: Roth

Relieved to recover from the flu, Sandra turned to her family's wellbeing.

Poor Hal was still mostly sick in bed, though he wanted to be up and at 'em to be present for his sister Ariel. Sandra understood the feeling - she couldn't believe the divorce from Xander had really happened. Her and Hal's younger siblings had been in love since they were teenagers! The papers cited irreconcilable differences, which was something that made sense in legal terms, but according to Ariel: "the spark was gone." So while things were amicable and two could still be friendly co-parents to Camembert, really, it was over.

Xander changed his name back to Roth and moved in back in with Sandra and Hal's family. He spent his days swimming and relaxing by the pool with a pile of dog-eared self-help books he'd swooped up second hand from the market. When Camembert was dropped off after a week with his mum, they'd pack picnics and go to the park. Sandra would watch Xander help Cam into a coat with a lump in her throat.

The girls fashioned matching holiday dresses with snow white trims and Mrs Claus-like aprons. They were practising their hosting, which included reading the room, a social skill Sandra was determined all her children practise as easily as breathing. Xander, Ariel and Camembert were all family, regardless of the elephant in the room. No sense in hanging a bright star on its trunk!

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Round Twenty Four: Roth

Village teens walked the halls of the Roth country house in droves.

Capp cousins, school friends and possible partners alike were frequently invited by Marley, Summer and Hollis for hangouts. Marley's video game collection was a hit, with snack breaks in between, although the bar in the entry hall was only stocked with cranberry juice - boo! The Christmas brandy was strictly reserved for special occasions, and even if anyone just slightly coated their lips with it, mum would know.

That being said, mum and dad caught a bug from afternoon tea at the neighbour's place and were keeping to their room. It was a cynical silver lining, but while they were recovering, the teens could achieve the independence they so coveted.

Mum's cough sounded really bad, though... so the kids eventually decided to pause gatherings. She needed hot lemon and honey.

They'd all share a brandy when she and dad were feeling better again.

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Round Twenty One: Roth

How could it be, that Hal was all... distinguished?

Ariel's eyes travelled the snow-top peaks of her brother's hair and the valleys of his moustache. She was grinning and couldn't help it. His wild, mud-coated inner child was likely on his tippy-toes to get a look-in within the tailored bright red coat of his contemporary self. When did he - when did all of her siblings get so old? Where did the time go?

Well, it went towards the next generation, and how. Hal's three children were either in tumultuous teenage time or close to it, with the twins teetering on being too cool for their matching nightgowns and already wanting to try palettes of Sandra's makeup for the first time. Then there was Ariel's own kid, wee Camembert, all serious as Xander plonked him on the potty to learn all things toiletry. That's where the time went - towards the new kids on the village block.

The Roth family home was now bursting, like a gift under the tree wrapped with paper cut just a tad too short, allowing for a simple peek to give the game away (it's clearly a dollhouse, with eight dolls and a dog, thanks Santa!). Ariel and Xander were poring over the Capp family property portfolio and pondering a possible move, so Camembert wasn't lost in the shuffle of his cousins' teen angst.

It would be a crying shame to give up grinning at Hal's elderly countenance every day, though. It was the little things in life for little siblings!

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Interlude: Roth

The house in the country has become a lifelong home for the Roths - but after all the fuss and fruitcake, do they really have room for Camembert? Can Sandra cast away the clouds of Christmas past?