Introduction

Lark  (dress by Juliana - look for those links on the CC page!)

Hi.  My name is Lark Elaine Langdon, but you can simply call me Lark.  My traits are artistic, family-oriented, great kisser, nurturing, and charismatic.  My favorite food is PB&J, my favorite music is kid's (don't judge!), and my favorite color is blue.  I'm your typical Gemini.  My lifetime wish is to be surrounded by family, which, you'll soon find out I'll have no problem achieving. I'm here to tell a pretty incredible tale, and it's my own personal story.  It all goes back to about 20 years ago, when my parents met and fell in love.

My father, you see, was a soldier.  He was about to head to the Gulf War when he fell in love with my mom.  They had a quick wedding, and he was off to fight for our freedoms.  My mom, Elaine, found out she was pregnant with me the day after he left.  Two months later, she received word of his death.

She was devastated, of course, but she had other things to worry about: me.  I was told that I was the only thing that kept her going.  Two weeks after my birth, my mother passed away.  They said she died of a broken heart, but I think there were complications of my birth that she couldn't handle.  So, within two weeks of my birth I was an orphan.  My parents had no family members.  They were both only children of only children.  I was completely alone.

Someone came to my rescue though.

Reg Courdery

Reg Courdery was a well-known billionaire in Riverview.  I found out later in life that he had been madly in love with my mother since they were in middle school.  On my mother's deathbed, she made an agreement with Reg (which we'll definitely get to later.)  In their discussion, he agreed to take full responsibility for me, raise me, take care of me, and be financially responsible for me (my parents were basically broke, despite my father having a small insurance policy.)

So, Reg became my "father."  I had even taken his last name so people in the town wouldn't ask questions.  I've taken my father's last name recently, but we'll get to that.  I knew at a young age that we shared no blood relation, but he was always my emotional rock.  It helped that, because he was pretty wealthy, I was spoiled.  He must have sure loved my mother because I got everything I ever wanted.  A pony at age 9 (I named her Lulu, but we had to give her away once I entered college), all of the newest designer clothes, great birthday parties, and a bedroom that would make any teenage girl envious.  He never married, never even seemed to date, but dedicated his life to me.

I love Reg, but I had no idea what was coming.

I have just graduated college.  I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I graduated with an English degree. Safe enough, right?  Anyway, as a graduation gift to me, Reg bought me this house:

I remember thinking that, as a billionaire, he could have done better, but I was grateful nonetheless.  A place to call my own!  A starter home!  It was located in Sunset Valley, far from my childhood home in Riverview.  He brought me to see it on my graduation day.

That's when he dropped not one, but two bombs on me.

First, he was sick. Dying of cancer.  He wasn't sure how long he had left to live.

I didn't know what to say.  This man, who had been my only family, was dying?!  How was I supposed to cope with that?

I  was just getting over that shock when he dropped another bomb on me.

"Lark, you know how much I love you, but remember that your mother and I had that little agreement before she passed away?"

"Yeah, that you'd take care of me and always be there for me and everything?  What about it?"

"Well, that's not quite the whole story," he replied.  "I've always wanted children of my own, but my agreement with your mother forfeited that desire."

I never knew that Reg wanted a family.

"When your mother ask that I raise you alone, I needed something in return: grandchildren.  I needed to know that you would give me that."

"Yes, eventually.  Of course!  Once I find the right guy, settle down..." I began.

"You don't understand," he cut in.  "We signed a contract that you would give me 100 grandchildren."

"Wha... What?" I said in shock.

"It sounds ridiculous, I know.  Why would your mother agree to such a thing?" he wondered aloud. "I know why.  You are the last of the Langdon lineage.  After you, there is no one to pass on the name.  Your father desperately wanted to pass on the name.  Your mother agreed to this because she knew that after you birthed 100 children, it would be nearly impossible to wipe out the Langdon name."

I knew I was the last of the lineage.  It was why I changed my last name back once I had turned 18.  I was planning on carrying on the name.  Why was this necessary?

"Are you CRAZY?"  I exclaimed.  "Why would I EVER agree to this?!"

"If you back down on the contract, then my part of the contract is void as well, which means you would owe me back the millions of dollars I spent on you as you were aging.  I'm doubtful that a measly English major with no job prospects would be able to do this," he replied.

"If you're dying, why is this even NECESSARY?"  I ask as I glare at the man I once called "Father."

"Lark, honey, you must understand that this is a promise I made to your mother.  I can't back down," he said.  "Won't you do this for me?"

"You DID your end of the bargain!  Now let's just forget about it!"

"I... I can't," he said sadly.

"What's going on?  Is there more to this story?"

"There's always more to the story..." he begins.

"Please forgive me for this, but before you were born... before the deal, I made some bad choices.  I was caught up in drugs and alcohol... I made a deal with the devil.  I told him that if I didn't have 100 grandchildren someday, I would give him my fortune.  When your mother asked me to raise you, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to seal the deal for me... selfish, I know. It doesn't matter whether I'm dead or alive when it happens... but if I don't get the deal done, he said he would make my family's life hell until I got him the money.  That's the issue: with the horrible economy, I've basically lost everything or else I would just hand the money over.  I've spent my last penny on this house for you.  If this doesn't happen, it means your life, and the life of your children, will be cursed."

"What?! What?! That's just ridiculous.  Reg, it's a stupid deal you made when you were young! This guy surely doesn't remember?" I ask inquisitively.  Is Reg going crazy?

"He does remember.  I get a letter from him every year as a reminder.  I see him and his spies watching me sometimes.  Even worse, I see them watching you sometimes.  I can't let this happen to you."

I'm speechless.  So this is real?

"I'm sorry," he says to me with tears in his eyes, "I'll send you a list of the rules once I get settled in the hospital."

I have so many mixed feelings for him. I feel bad for him, but I'm so angry at him for making this wretched deal.  I'm sad because he's dying, but still mad because that means he's making me do this alone!

"You know, you look so much like your mother," he says to me as a tear rolls down his cheek.

He turns away, and I wonder if it's the last time I'll ever see Reg Courdery.