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Family: Return to 1230 Holland
Topic Started: Jun 9 2015, 10:47 PM (145 Views)
AlbieGray689
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Family: Return to 1230 Holland
By: AlbieGray
based on the series, Family created by Jay Presson Allen

Stepping out of the car, after so long, was a shock for Letitia Lawrence. She had never thought she would ever come back to the old house that she grew up in. It was almost too surreal to her. She looked at the large house on 1230 Holland Street, in Pasadena, California, and instantly, memories started to flow.

The house looked as grand and glorious as ever. However, she hadn't thought about what was so important that she had to drive all the way out to Pasadena. She had long stayed in Southern California and went to college, much like her sister, Nancy. Nancy had taken over her father's law practice and Letitia (she had long since given up her nickname, Buddy) worked as a successful producer in Hollywood.

She had received a call from Nancy, who had seemed worried. So, she had to fight the busy rush hour traffic to get back to Pasadena. When she drove back to the Los Angeles suburb, she looked at how little her home town had changed. As she had not been in any hurry to get home, she drove a bit around Pasadena. The City Hall, still as graceful as ever; the Rose Bowl, which made Pasadena world-famous; the Norton Simon Museum, on Colorado Boulevard. How things stayed the same, so to speak.

Finally, she walked up to the door, and rang the bell. Kate Lawrence, her mother, saw her at the door. "Oh, honey," she said, hugging her daughter tightly, "Nancy said she had something to tell us. I have no idea of what it is."

Kate led her daughter into the family room, where Letitia saw her other siblings. Her brother, Willie, who was a successful photographer, was sitting with his wife, Salina, and their child, Doug, Jr.; Nancy was with her son, Timothy, who was now a college sophomore at UCLA; and her adopted sister, Annie, was sitting, looking more and more goth than anyone ever saw. She went goth while she was in high school, and was now living in the very cutting edge area of West Hollywood.

Willie came to his sister, his best friend, and hugged her tightly. "Hey, squirt," he said, "how are you doing?"

"Things are fine, Willie," Letitia said, feeling the strength that only her brother could always give, "it's good to see you too." She gave Salina a hug, "How are you doing, Salina?"

"I am fine, Letitia," she said kindly, "Doug Jr. is growing like crazy."

Letitia and Salina were always wonderful friends, and when she married Willie, she was overjoyed. When she gave birth to their son, Doug Jr, Letitia was truly thrilled. In fact, she was in there with Salina when Doug Jr. was born. It was a wonderful rush that she was able to help her sister in-law with her child.

Nancy gave her sister a hug, "I am glad you came, Letitia," she said, "I know you had a meeting, and I am sorry that I had to pull you out of it."

"It's all right, Nancy," Letitia said, "That meeting was something I could make up later. The producers will meet with me at eight tonight, so that isn't a problem. What is going on?"

"Well, you know, ever since Dad died," Nancy began, "I've run his law office, and I think the firm is going well. I am not sure of how to say this."

"Why not just say it?" Annie said, "Nancy, you said you had something to say, just say it!"

Letitia smiled at Annie, although she had gone goth, she still knew how to get to the heart of the matter.

"Mom said she wants to sell the practice," Timothy said, looking nervous, "I don't see why she does. After all, it's a great law practice, and it was Grandfather's pride and joy, aside from us."

"Nancy," Kate said, never really understanding her eldest daughter, "what caused you to want to sell the practice?"

Nancy looked down at her shoes, "I was offered a job at a more prestigious law firm in downtown Los Angeles," she explained, "and I think it would be a good idea, since I do have the credentials."

Letitia held her tongue. Her sister was so transparent! She might have known. Her sister was only thinking of herself, and not her family!

Annie squeezed Letitia's hand, letting her sensitive sister know that she understood. Letitia had always been the most vulnerable of the siblings, which was something that Kate and the rest of the family always had realized.

Kate glared at Nancy. "Have you even thought of what the rest of the employees want?" she said harshly.

"Yes, Mother," Nancy snapped, "I have. You all seem to think I am selfish, but I have already thought of that!"

"I don't believe you have," Salina said to her sister in-law matter of factly, "Willie told me that ever since you took over Dad's law office, that you've been forever angling for a position in one of the fancy LA offices, ever since."

"I don't believe I asked you anything," Nancy shot back, "remember, you married into this family!"

"That's right, Nancy," Kate said, "and that makes Salina a part of this family too. That does allow her to have some say in this."

"I don't think so," Nancy said, "otherwise, Letitia would have brought her partner in!"

Kate couldn't believe that this cold-hearted creature was her own eldest daughter, "Nancy, I already know about Lynette," she said, "Letitia told her to stay at their house, so she could come and deal with it alone."

"Well, for once, she did what she was told," Nancy snapped.

Letitia looked like she was about to cry, it was always the same thing, no matter what the situation was, Nancy had always tried to make things all about her. She wasn't surprised that she would try to sell her father's law practice so that she could get her foot into a major law office in Los Angeles.

Kate put her arm around Letitia, sensing as she always had, whenever her daughter was hurt, "Don't worry, sweetheart," she said, "don't let her get to you."

Letitia felt her mother's arms around her, Annie also stood next to Letitia; as did Willie and Salina. Willie hugged his sister tightly. Doug Jr. joined his parents; and even Timothy stood next to his aunt Letitia. Nancy was shocked, and angered at this.

Wordlessly, Nancy stormed out of the house, not even worrying about Timothy. "Don't worry, honey," Kate assured her frazzled grandson, "I will drive you back to UCLA."

"Thanks, Gran," Timothy smiled, "I appreciate it."

"I can get him back to school, too," Letitia said, "I have to go that way anyway, Mom."

"Thank you, sweetie," Kate smiled, "I'll have dinner ready for you when you get back from there."

Letitia drove her nephew back to UCLA, which was not so hard, given the light traffic, unusual for this time of the day. After she dropped Timothy off at his dorm; she stopped off at her apartment and got her partner, Lynnette Anderson, and they went back to the Lawrence house. Her meeting wasn't until eight that evening, and she could come in at any time.

Willie and Salina were there; as was Annie. Nancy had still not come back, she was still sulking. Willie hugged her, feeling really bad about what happened earlier. Salina gave her sister in-law a kiss on the cheek, "You're a great sister in-law," she said kindly, "don't let ol' Nancy get to you."

"Sometimes, I don't get why Nancy behaves the way she does," Willie said.

"It's so hard to imagine," Annie said, "she can be so good one minute, and then she turns all nasty!"

"That has always been Nancy," Kate said, as she dished up dinner to her family. It was so tough on her, ever since Doug had died of a heart attack in 1982. Not long after that, Nancy had gained control of the law office. Ever since, she ran it with a iron hand. Which irritated some of the employees. Some of the employees had called to complain to Kate about the austere rules with which Nancy had always enforced.

Sometimes, that iron-fistedness came into her home life. It was because of that, that caused Timothy to move out from his mother's house into an apartment near the UCLA campus. He wasn't far from where his Aunt Letitia lived; or his Uncle Willie and Aunt Salina lived. Annie also lived near her sister and brother; and they often spent time together whenever their hectic schedules warranted.

It was hard, but Kate always managed. It made her life more fulfilling that she was there. And she would always be there for her family.
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