The Reeds

Here we have the Reed family.  Gavin, Bryan, and Adrian are brothers, in birth order.  Their parents died in a car crash 6 years ago after their father had one too many drinks and got behind the wheel, when Adrian was only 17 and Bryan 18 and were still living at home in Riverview.  Gavin had just married his wife Natalie.  Brokenhearted, with no close family to take them in, Bryan and Adrian went to live with their older brother and sister-in-law in their new home in Rosedale.  Through their loss, they banded together and became inseperable, and now six years later, still live together.  Gavin has always been a do-gooder, and currently works as the only Private Investigator in central Rosedale, partnering with the local police force.  His business has been modestly successful. His wife Natalie, his "tree-hugger" as he refers to her, is an environmentalist.  She works over at Smithfield Science Center.  Bryan is pursuing his goal of becoming a big film director; he used to record small films of his brothers when they were young and throw tantrums when they didn't cooperate with his sophisticated vision.  Landing a gig at Warner Brothers studios was his biggest dream come true. Adrian  turned to music after his parents' untimely death, and is working on getting a record deal of his own; the tips from playing his guitar in the park just ain't cutting it.  Adrian was the youngest brother and the closest to his parents when they passed, and is still trying to sort out his own inner demons.

Natalie likes to get up before the boys and make breakfast if she can. She always jokes that her and Gavin don't have children yet because they boys ARE her children.  Except it's not always lovely to pick up their messes...

Living with a bunch of guys isn't always glamourous.  Her brothers-in-law see nothing wrong with walking around the house in their skivvies...

Adrian is feeling stressed and irritable today, and wants to spend his morning alone.

Adrian doesn't go into work at the theatre until later, so he spends the morning at the gym.  The gym has become one of his favorite pastimes over the last few years, gives him time to think and clear his head. It's a lot better than his other stress-killer, which he's so far managed to keep hidden from his brothers...

Back home, before work and after breakfast, Gavin and Bryan play a game and talk about Adrian.

"He seems to be going through a rough patch again," Gavin tells Bryan.  "He's shutting us out, not himself."  "I know.  Sometimes he reminds me so much of Dad. You think he's going to meet that Judy chick? He was crushing on her for awhile there." Bryan suggests.  "Dunno. Let's try to talk to him later. How's your lady friend, by the way?" Gavin smirks.  Bryan rolls his eyes. "I don't know how I ever let that start. I suppose I'm just lonely. We can't all be happily married ya know. Thinking of ending it today. Need a clean break." Gavin chuckles and remarks, "Well, good luck with that bro. Hell hath no fury.  I've got to head to the Police Station for awhile, and shouldn't you be heading to the studio?" 

After Gavin finishes up some paperwork, he heads home to see his wife after her shift, and greets her with an embrace and a kiss. "Hey handsome.  It's too damn hot in here, wanna spend the afternoon at the pool?", Natalie asks.  "You? In a bikini? I'm there.", Gavin winks.

Pool!

At the pool, Natalie meets a new friend, Charlotte Robinson.  Natalie is 7 years Charlotte's senior, but the two it it off right away.  Natalie keeps to herself a lot- it's nice to make a new friend.

After a long work day at the Science Center, Natalie relaxes...

....and Gavin dozes.

They are unaware of the drama unfolding back at the house, as Bryan does indeed end things with Lawanda Tinsley, his girlfriend of 2 weeks.  Loneliness does strange things to people. She's not exactly his type.

When Natalie and Gavin start to get hungry, they head to McDonalds for some grub.

Gavin trys to order a hamburger, but vegetarian Natalie "Save the Cows" Reed lets out a strangled moan and gives him a horrified look, and Gavin resigns to Mac n Cheese.

Natalie gets a mischevious look on her face when they're finished eating and challenges Gavin to a videogame tourney- winner gets to choose the rest of the evening's activites.  With that kind of motivation, is it surprising that Gavin wins?

Is it a also a surprise to anyone what Gavin has in mind?  Didn't think so.

Natalie and Gavin, giggling under the covers, and Bryan, fuming about Lawanda, are all too caught up in their own lives to realize that their little brother hasn't come home....