Chapter Text
WEARY MEMORY
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Kate, age 10
Kate lives with her parents, Kaveri and Maaran, in Bangaluru, until her mother dies from injuries sustained in a car accident both she and Kate were in that was caused by hydroplaning during a heavy storm. Maaran moves Kate and himself to London afterwards. He had been offered a promotion that he had been considering turning down because of the required move, but changed his mind to give Kate a fresh start.
Kate, age 11
Maaran marries Mary a year after he and Kate arrive in London. Kate, a grieving preteen, doesn't readily accept Mary as a mother figure. Another year later sees Mary giving birth to Edwina. Edwina brings Kate and Mary closer together, and Kate comes to love her as her Bonus Mum.
Kate and Anthony, ages 17 and 20
Anthony and Kate meet by chance on campus at Oxford, Anthony being three years ahead of her, and almost done with school. He’s a writer who plans to write children’s books full-time after he graduates, his parents owning a generations-old publishing house, The Bridgerton Press.
Kate and Anthony, ages 19 and 22
By the time Kate and Anthony get engaged, Maaran is terminally ill. His death about six months into their engagement pushes their wedding back a year, due to Kate's own grieving and feeling like her relationship needs to take a backseat to caring for Mary and Edwina, who is seven years old when Maaran dies. The fact that neither of her parents lived to see her get married is devastating to Kate as well as Anthony. The two become Edwina’s de facto parents while Mary struggles with her depression.
Kate and Anthony, ages 24 and 27
Edmund (Ned) and Maaran (Maan), ages 2 and 0
Three years into their marriage, Kate and Anthony are happily married with two children, two year old Edmund Jr (“Ned”) and baby Maaran (“Maan”). Kate is a budding independent fashion designer, and Anthony is living his dream of writing children’s books, which Kate illustrates. Their life is again turned upside down when Edmund Sr dies from anaphylaxis. A bee had made its way inside of his and Violet’s home while he was alone. He didn’t always carry his epipen on his person when he was home, and couldn’t reach it in time after he was stung.
Anthony feels compelled to take over as President and CEO of The Bridgerton Press. His mother’s long term grief leaves her unavailable, and none of his adult siblings volunteer to help him take over running the company. Nor does he ask for help.
Much like they did with Mary and Edwina, Anthony and Kate take on the care taking of Violet and Anthony’s younger siblings, Gregory and Hyacinth. This, along with heading up The Bridgerton Press, leaves Anthony with no time to write his own stories.
Kate and Anthony, ages 29 and 32
Edmund, Maaran, and Kaveri (Riri, Kav), ages 7, 5, and 0
Anthony and Kate’s third child, Kaveri (“Riri”, “Kav”), is born five years later, and Kate's resulting postpartum depression is debilitating. Anthony tries to be as understanding and supportive as possible, but they soon find themselves in a rapid decline of their marriage. Kate and Anthony are divorced by the time Kaveri is three years old.