Margaret and Teddy have a fourth child, Poppy.

“Another sister,” says River who is 8.

“When am I going to get a brother?” he asks.

“Maybe next time,” smiles Teddy,”Would you like to hold her.”

River nods. His face lights up as he looks at little Poppy’s face.

Ivy is the oldest. She just turned 13. She loves her family and her home, but the work is never ending. She worries about school. She doesn’t have many friends. Sometimes, the other kids make fun of them. They don’t have the nicest, newest clothes or the newest things. Most of their furniture is made by her father. They grow their own vegetables, never had a washer or dryer. She gets teased for their way of life. She keeps this to herself, not wanting to burden her family, but often she cries herself to sleep.

Megan, is also, unhappy. Her life had changed so much in the past few years. When it was just her mom and her, they had been close. Then Kurt had moved in and she had two adults who helped take care of her, at least when Kurt was sober. Then she met Finley and sometimes it felt like she no longer existed. She couldn’t go to school or see her friends anymore. She had to clean and help care for the babies. She wished things could go back to before her mom met Finley.

Sally, on the other hand, wished she had never met Nancy. She grew increasingly resentful. She was supposed to be Finley’s wife, the most important person in his life. Yet, her came Nancy, younger, thinner, and carefree. Mother of Finley’s son.

Finley, assured Sally that she was number one wife. She was above Nancy.

It was Sally that did the cooking, the cleaning, the childcare. What did Nancy do?

All Nancy did was seduce her husband thought Sally. Her daughter, Audrey, was no better. She practically swooned when Finley walked in the room. Sally wanted to scream in frustration, but what could she do. She didn’t want to be alone again. Maybe Finley would grow tired of Nancy now that he had his son.

A son that Nancy barely took care of . Yes, that too fell on Sally’s shoulders. Sally in turn would give Megan more and more responsibilities and ended up doing most of the care of William. Sally could barely look at him. Finley doted on baby William. He gave little attention to Bailee or Megan.

Of course, Finley was there for the good times. A birthday or celebration, he was there for the party. Afterwards, Sally was left to clean up the mess or often pass it on to Megan.