Desert Love

October 2028 - Oasis Springs, Nevada
Madison Craig is 33, Bryant is 32, Summer is 6, Skye is 4

“Hey, Madison,” Tucker Craig calls out as she walks into the laboratory. “Ready for a busy day?”

“Aren’t the days always busy around here?” Madison asks.

The days in the laboratory in Oasis Springs are busy. Madison is always testing something each day to find exactly what is in it and how it can help the declining atmosphere around the world.

Working this job had required a move across the country for her family. First her Uncle Tucker and his family had moved to Nevada, to the small town near Area 51 and all the things the government tried to keep secret. Then Tucker convinced Madison that the lab in Oasis Springs was the perfect place for her. It hadn’t been a struggle to talk Bryant into moving across the country. The biggest struggle had been convincing her best friend and step-sister Anna to move to Oasis Springs too with her family. But having them around made it feel not so far away from the life she’d always known.

Madison had been worried about how her daughters would react to the move. But Summer and Skye both seemed to be happy.

It helps that they are still young and that they have each other.

Being the older sister, Summer helps Skye with her preschool homework each night.

Of course, there are a lot of nights that Summer needs help of her own.

Bryant tries to remember everything he learned in school as a kid so that he can help when Madison, who he always considers to be a genius, is working late.

Bryant has his own long days. He’d like to open his own investigating service here in Oasis Springs, but for now he works with the local police department.

It’s not exactly the work he wants because he doesn’t really like spending time in the lab.

He wants to investigate the suspects in the cases.

In between the busy days, Madison tries to be with the girls as much as she can. There are all kinds of things to see in Oasis Springs.

They love playing at the park and meeting other kids.

Madison gets in a quick jog for workout while the girls play. She doesn’t run too far away so she can keep an eye on the girls.

Even time at home includes a lot of reading and thinking about her work.

The girls love to spend time with their mom and help out when they can.

Summer spends time in the kitchen, trying to learn how to cook. “When you’re late coming home, I’ll start cooking our suppers!” she tells her mom.

Skye helps too, carefully putting dishes in the dishwasher. The dishes aren’t always where they should be, but Madison still appreciates the help the girls give.

They like to join Madison in the small study room when she’s home.

Madison works on sorting out thoughts from the projects she’s working on.

Even the girls stay busy with school projects and events. The calendar hanging on the wall is full of notes.

A night out finally arranges itself in between their busy schedules and so Madison and Bryant go out on the town.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a night like this,” Bryant says.

“I know,” Madison agrees. “It feels like a lifetime ago.”

“I miss these moments,” he says. “I still love you as much as I did when I was sixteen and went on my first date with you. Or I considered it a date, even if it was only to make Anna and Dewey sit down together.” Bryant laughs and gives her a wink.

Madison laughs too. “Our first date and I didn’t even know it.”

”I’d do it all over again, even if you didn’t like me at first,” he tells her.

At home, the girls are playing together in their room while Aunt Anna is downstairs with her baby. Madison wouldn’t have imagined having kids with Bryant long ago, but now she won’t change it at all.

———————-

Madison and Bryant, the romance that took a long time coming. On Madison’s side at least. Bryant always knew it would happen one day! I wouldn’t change their love story. I think it was just right for them. Oasis Springs is a good setting for them with Madison working in science. I don’t like the game’s investigator career. It’s more police, not the kind of investigator I want for him. We’ll see what I can find.

Bryant fell asleep in the bath tub after a long day at work.

Anna and Dewey are already created and living in Oasis Springs but I didn’t get any pictures of them. They’ll have their own update coming up in the schedule later on.