As they continued planning their lives as a family, the decisions were many but not complex. They were of one mind from the evening they met at the opera. That never changed. During each discussion and each decision the air of cooperation infiltrated the room. Compromise was rarely an issue, since it is only necessary when there was disagreement. The ugly specters of disagreement and discord did not inhabit this union. They disagreement and discord were an aberration not to be found within their friendship. They were an uncommon and fortunate couple.
Their endeavor to create a family soon achieved its first success. Not so many months after their crusade began, a visit to the doctor confirmed that Caitlin was with child. The good news was tempered as the pregnancy became fraught with difficulties and complications, some challenging for both mother and child. The ordeal was the first real challenge to their fairy tale life. Caitlin was brave. Robert was supportive. Both were vigilant. They were adept at confronting the perils of the difficult pregnancy and childbirth. They were up to the task.
Caitlin’s time had come. There was good news and bad news. They had become the parents of a lovely and healthy baby, a girl. But, their plans to have a family of five were not to be. Caitlin would not be able to have another child after the difficult pregnancy. The couple was terribly and predictably disappointed. Their misfortune however was immediately overshadowed by the news of the successful birth and the good health of mother and daughter.
They had every reason to be pleased. They both vowed that the inability to have other children would not be perceived as a disappointment but rather a rare chance to concentrate their efforts to enrich the life of their only child. They interpreted this happening as a sign that this child would be special. They would make her special. She would be most fortunate to have such devoted parents who would focus all of their attention on her.
The planning during the cruise to New York had progressed this far, but now with the arrival of Cassidy and the certainty that only three would comprise their family, formulating the details of the rest of their lives was now necessary. Toward this end, they decided that their love of teaching at the university, their fondness of the opera and the arts, the unparalleled history and culture, and the educational choices for Cassidy shouted to make their home Central Philadelphia. Everything was perfect. Their lives could be devoted to the nurturing of their darling daughter surrounded by all the resources to make that happen.
Cassidy’s pre-school upbringing posed a real challenge with two working parents. But, Caitlin and Robert were not about to let that interfere with their goals. Long sessions of care by others were not what the parents had in mind when planning a family. They combined their inventiveness and creativity for a solution.
The unparallel history of the city, the cultural organizations, the educational opportunities from preschool to an advanced degree and their own long-term employment future meant that they were in the right place to flourish and raise their daughter.
Based on her experience and her interests, Caitlin secured a position as a faculty research assistant at the university with much of her time spent working at home with Cassidy’s constant company. Robert pursued a regular teaching schedule with time to return to Cassidy’s care two or three half-days during the week.
This imaginative schedule resembling a relay race provided each with the time to discharge their employment duties with ample time for valuable growth with Cassidy. Local friends and several responsible high school students were occasionally called on to fill a schedule void or conflict. Their planning was perfect.
Caitlin and Robert frequently researched child development and then sat and discussed what they had learned to provide the best possible preschool experience for the love of their lives. These sessions were enjoyable for them since they were working together on the most important endeavor they could imagine – the education and nurturing of their child, their offspring, and the one that would carry their legacy into the next generation.
The parents began casually researching and observing educational facilities during these preschool years. Their observations developed into intense searching for a school for their daughter. There was no shortage of educational facilities very close to their apartment. They wanted the best educational curriculum, the best school, and the best educators. They soon found that the options were many.
They decided it should be a private school that incorporated religious values compatible with their own beliefs. Philadelphia’s rich history as the birthplace of the nation was profuse with the Quaker influence and a selection of “Friends” schools. The choice was not difficult since they had a bevy of excellent institutions with fine reputations, long histories, and superior faculty from which to choose.
Selecting one of these schools would not be inexpensive, but cost was not a consideration for them. After all, this phase of Cassidy’s education combined with their augmentation and guidance would provide the foundation for her development and ultimately determine her success in life. There was nothing more important to them.
Some of the evenings, all of the weekends and holidays were filled with the magic that a large and unique city with a rich history and culture has to provide. Visits to museums, the historic sites of Philadelphia, and excursions to places of interest in the surrounding suburbs were wonderful educational adjuncts to her formal learning at school.
Cassidy’s education was not limited to that taught in the classroom, but she was also taught the refinements of life. All manner of sports, etiquette, music appreciation, composition, and participation were incorporated into her exposure.
This rigorous schedule was followed through all the grades up to graduation from high school. Cassidy absorbed every bit of the teaching her parents made possible. Naturally, the choice for a university gravitated to the University of Pennsylvania where her parents love blossomed, where they had graduated, and where they were currently employed. It was a choice she readily chose and accepted. How wonderful to have two generations of graduates from this fine institution.
There would be more joy to come than just graduating from the same university as her parents; much more joy. In her second year of attending the university, Cassidy met Dillon Brian O’Malley. He became the love of her life. Another generation of alumnae of the university and lovers of the opera was born. History was truly repeating itself. Dillon and Cassidy even decided to attend Cambridge to receive their advanced degrees to become medical doctors. The strong, shall we say, advice and guidance, of her parents had not had an insignificant influence on this decision.
Dillon and Cassidy received their degrees and decided to follow in the foot steps of her parents and to get married in the same chapel as her parents did right after graduation. They would return to the United States as Doctors Cassidy and Dillon O’Malley.
Caitlin and Robert had truly executed their goal to become “The Good Parents” with distinction. Indeed, they had become “The Best Parents.” Their darling daughter was now their prized achievement in life following their foot steps. It was a remarkable triumph for them of which they were deservedly proud.
Caitlin remarked to Robert how wonderful it would be if Cassidy and Dillon could return to the United States as they had done so many years ago. They would be able to relax and plan their lives together as she and Robert had done. What a marvelous wedding present such a voyage would be for the newlyweds. Robert agreed. It was settled. The return would mark the end of their formal parenthood and the beginning of their daughter’s independent life with the man she loved and had chosen to be her mate for life.
Robert and Caitlin wasted no time making the plans for their generous wedding present to their daughter and their son-in-law. Father and mother were rightfully excited to give this gift and be reunited with Cassidy. A surprise party had also been planned the day after the arrival back in the United States. They could hardly contain themselves to keep it secret.
The
planning for all the events was nearly complete. It was a brisk January day and Robert started a robust fire in the study fireplace. As he sat at his desk, he could see the postman walk by and place the day’s mail through the mail slot in the front door. There was a long-awaited communication among the mail from the cruise line.
The literature and paperwork for the voyage arrived for his final commitment and an invoice for full payment. As he opened the ledger he could not help to realize a sense of joy and accomplishment that Caitlin and he had achieved. He thought, “There was no better feeling in the world.”
He sat at his beautiful walnut roll-top desk. As he began writing the check for the full price of the voyage, he felt a rather strange chill enter the room despite the warmth from the fireplace and the sun’s rays streaming into the room. All the windows and doors were tightly closed. It was most unusual, but he dismissed the feeling and completed the check. He recorded it neatly and looked at it proudly for correctness. It was perfect.
He placed the check in the envelope, sealed it, completed the return address and stamped it to go out in the next day’s mail.
He was a father so proud. They had done everything that good parents should, and more.
Robert’s check to pay for the cruise
Cassidy’s boarding pass
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dillon’s boarding pass
Apollos Rivoire, Jr
“A Night at the Opera”
A Tragic Trilogy – Part I
First published: March 27, 2015 – 3160 words – Adult - fiction – free
By Apollos Rivoire - ISBN – 9781311317605
This short story is the first of three interconnected stories that lead to an unexpected place.
Many of us are creatures of routine. We establish an activity or series of activities in life that we love. The pleasure they give encourages us to pursue a like pattern over and over. Such was the life of Robert Coninghame. His love was immersing himself in the art of opera. The highlight of that enjoyment was attending an expertly composed and executed opera by unequaled performers and musicians in a magnificent theater. When he was not attending an opera he was immersed in reading and learning about every aspect of this marvelous world. His passion for the opera was equaled by no other endeavor, until . . .
One night, in a moment, a chance encounter crushed his precisely arranged life and neatly compartmentalized existence. It rearranged his priorities for the rest of his life. Follow Robert through a trilogy of stories that began with “A Night at the Opera” and ended most unusually. The “no smoking” sign is on, buckle your seatbelts, and check the life preserver under your seat (literally). This may be an unconventional, thought provoking, and turbulent trip to a place you were not expecting to go.
“The Good Parents”
A Tragic Trilogy – Part II
To be published: Coming soon – 00000 words – Adult - fiction – free
By Apollos Rivoire - ISBN – 000000000000
“The Good Parents” begins with the marriage of a young couple who met at college. They were completely compatible and lived a story-book life devoting their lives to their professions and to the upbringing of their only child. They became, not the good parents, but the best of parents. Follow them on their journey to the joyous day of their daughter’s marriage and the generous wedding present given her and her husband.
The perfect union encounters rough seas and ends in a terrible misfortune.
“The Voyage Interrupted”
A Tragic Trilogy – Part III
To be published: Coming soon – 00000 words – Adult - fiction – free
By Apollos Rivoire - ISBN – 000000000000
This fictional account is told with intermingled with non-fictional historical events as a backdrop. It is the last of a series that blends the lives of two parents and their daughter through tragedy and joy. The fictional rendition morphs into non-fiction as the circumstances of their tale provide relevant lessons to guide each of us through our own lives and the uncertain future ahead.
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