Behold, chapter 2! It's a day early to boot! I couldn't stand waiting around to upload it. This chapter covers the rest of the Pleasantview residents' lives. Chapter 3 will resume with the characters from chapter 1, and so on and so forth. If you read this and enjoy, I'd really appreciate a comment and a rating! Enjoy!




Brandi Broke cheerily hummed to herself as she flipped buttermilk pancakes on a bright Monday morning. The sudden death of Brandi’s husband, Skip, left their family in shambles emotionally and financially. However, things were looking on the bright side lately. Slowly, Brandi was beginning to learn how to take care of their precious family on her own. The time for grieving had come to an end as the time to take care of family rapidly approached.


Brandi beamed, serving her sweet son Beau some mushy baby food. She was such a proud mother. Her two sons gave her something to live for after Skip. She knew they were wonderful boys, following in their father’s footsteps.


Brandi was especially proud of her eldest son, Dustin. After he lost his father, Dustin lurched into a downward spiral full of teen angst and bad habits. He began failing school and grew involved with the crime syndicates of Pleasantview. Brandi had been worried sick about him. Luckily, Angela Pleasant saved Dustin in the nick of time. Like an angel, Angela’s good nature deeply influenced Dustin. Brandi watched as her son changed his wild ways to impress the red headed young lady. She knew Angela brought him back from his darkness, and for that she was deeply thankful.


Brandi snuggled Beau, her youngest child. She was finally happy again, knowing her boys would manage without their father. Their whole family was beating the odds; she knew they were growing strong again. Brandi sighed in relief when suddenly, she felt the sweet pancakes she has just eaten begin to resurface.


Brandi set Beau down and bolted to the bathroom, not exactly making it to the toilet in time. Her mouth erupted. She choked and sputtered, soiling the freshly mopped black tile.


Brandi hunched over the stained toilet. After a few minutes, her stomach stopped heaving and the nausea dissipated. Brandi’s heart sunk. “Oh my…”, she whispered to herself. As a mother twice over, Brandi knew morning sickness could only mean one thing.




Mary-Sue Pleasant pushed hard to close the strong mahogany drawer of her dresser after slipping into her nightgown. Her heart pounded as she thought about confronting her husband over his affair. Their marriage had been “on the rocks” for years, but they had both grown accustomed to it. Mary-Sue chose to ignore their problems, and Daniel chose to find the love he needed elsewhere.


“I know you slept with the maid, Daniel”, said Mary-Sue bluntly. She didn’t announce her knowledge with flowery, sugary language. She was happy to get it off her chest though. Daniel didn’t speak. He was afraid. Why wasn’t his wife yelling at him, blaming him for his adultery?


Mary-Sue buried her face on her hands. “I know you did it. Don’t try to deny it. I don’t blame you. This is all my fault.” Her shoulders began to shake as she sobbed. Daniel was shocked. He didn’t dare move or speak.


Mary-Sue began pouring out her heart. “It’s all my fault, everything! I abandoned this family for my career. I ignored you and our marriage. I left Lilith and Angela to fend for themselves. I’m a horrible wife and mother! How could I be so selfish and blind!?” Daniel set down his book and sat on the side of the bed. He had been waiting years for his wife to notice her absence, but now that she bawled in their bedroom, all Daniel could do was hang his head and listen.


He couldn’t take his wife’s tears anymore. He got up and walked over to her, but she kept going. “I’m so, so sorry. I guess I knew what I was doing but I didn’t care. I’ve been obsessed with work. Now I have to pay the price of my greed. It’s too late for this family. I’ve spoiled everything.” Mary-Sue’s chest heaved as she said everything on her mind.


“I’ll never forgive myself”, she whispered through her tears. Daniel put his strong arm around his wife, hoping their closeness would comfort her.
“Mary-Sue, please. We…we can fix this. It’s not all your fault! I should have stayed faithful to you. We should have talked. It’s not too late!” Daniel held back his tears.
“It’s not too late. I love you”, his voice trembled.


After hearing those words, Mary-Sue threw her arms around Daniel and kissed him passionately. Neither one of them had ever been so true, so vulnerable with the other. Mary-Sue was tired and regretful for being so cold and withdrawn, she wanted to love her husband and family with everything she had. Daniel received the kiss happily. Mary-Sue was the only one he had ever wanted.


A couple months went by and the Pleasant family was on the mend. Mary-Sue and Daniel were delighted yet terrified to discover their passionate night of reconciliation had resulted in a pregnancy. In an act of despiration, Mary-Sue asked her adoptive parents, Herb and Coral Oldie, to move in. Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant needed help with their teenage twin daughters, especially while they worked to heal their marriage and prepare for the new baby.


Lilith Pleasant was one of the biggest reasons that her grandparents moved in. A notorious wild child, Lilith was doing poorly in school and spent far too much time with her boyfriend, Dirk Dreamer. Dirk and Lilith spent their nights sneaking out and getting in trouble with the law rather than studying. Both Daniel and Mary-Sue hoped an older generation living with them would be a good influence on Lilith. For a while, it seemed, that their idea was working.


It didn’t take long for Lilith to return to her old rebellious ways, taking her antics even further than she had before.




“Hey Dirk! How goes the algebra?” Darren rocked back and forth on his heels impatiently. He smiled down at his son who was actually doing his homework for once.


Dirk was suspicious. His father was far too smiley and excited for a perfectly regular night. He let the question hang while scribbling a few more numbers down in his notebook.“It’s fine dad. What’s up? Why are you so excited?”


“Well son. You know Cassie and Don broke up, and that we’ve been seeing each other more often since.”
Dirk smirked. “Yes dad, I’ve noticed.”
Darren sighed and continued, “Well. We’re not just friends anymore. You know how I’ve always felt about her. She tells me she loves me too now. Tonight…tonight I’m going to ask her to marry me.” Darren gulped, anticipating his son’s reaction.


Dirk smiled. “Dad! That’s great! Cassandra’s a great girl. I think you two will be really happy. Now I won’t have to worry about you getting lonely after I leave for college.”


“Oh Dirk! Thanks son. It really means a lot. I just, since your mother…”
“Say no more dad. I know you love mom but it’s time for you to be happy again. I understand that and I know she does too.”


After receiving the okay from Dirk, Darren darted over to the kitchen to begin cooking a romantic spaghetti dinner. He was so excited and delighted he ended up cutting his finger once or twice while chopping vegetables. He couldn't wait to propose to the lovely Cassandra Goth and eventually make her Cassandra Dreamer.


Darren’s stomach dropped when he heard his doorbell ring. He took a deep breath and walked outside. Cassandra stood on his walkway, staring off into the night sky. Darren’s heart began to pound. “You got this”, Darren whispered to himself.


“Good evening my lady.” Darren reached for Cassandra’s hand and kissed it. He flashed her a devilishly handsome smile, making her blush violently.
“Oh Darren! You’re such a charmer”, Cassandra giggled and swooned. Darren had a way of putting butterflies in her tummy, something she never experienced with Don Lothario.


The couple made their way inside, sat down, and began to dine. Darren felt nervous, but tried to act like everything was in the ordinary. “How’s the spaghetti taste? I tried not to injure myself too terribly while making it.”


Cassandra laughed. “It’s delicious Darren! I don’t care what you say, I think you’re a fabulous cook!”


Darren smiled boyishly and turned his body, hiding the ring box from Cassandra. “Oh yeah? So good of a cook that you’d maybe…want to move in and let me cook for you forever?”


Chuckling, Cassandra grew a little confused. “Well, yes I suppose it would be nice to have you as my personal chef. What, what do you mean? What are you hiding over there, silly?”


Darren set the black velvety box on the table. “Well then, I think it’s time I should give you this.” He slid the box across the table, Cassandra’s eyes went wide and she gasped.


Dumbfounded, Cassandra took the box with shaking hands and opened. A humble, yet beautiful, diamond engagement ring shimmered while stuffed in the white pillow. “Oh my…Darren..” Cassandra couldn’t think straight. She was so surprised and ecstatic, she didn’t know what to say.


Cassandra’s lack for words make Darren worry. “Cassandra Goth, will you please do me the honor of marrying me?” His heart pounded while waiting for an answer.


Finally, Cassandra spoke. “Yes!”, she cried while slipping the shining golden ring on her finger. “Yes Darren I will marry you!”