Maci 💋 My POV Tuesday, October 27, 2026 Near Tuscany, Italy “Is it true the American man who bought the castle is a playboy?” I nearly spit out my coffee. The question came from a boy who couldn't have been more than fourteen. He had three friends standing behind him, all trying very hard to look as though approaching five American women on a village street was something they did every afternoon. Kristin lowered her sunglasses. “I'm sorry. What?” The boy straightened. “The man. At the castle. Is he a playboy?” I looked at Ava, who was already smiling. Oh, this was going to be good. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Our Tuesday began considerably more peacefully. Well, relatively speaking. After breakfast, Jenny and I finally sat down to open our letters from Spencer. We'd both been looking forward to them, and I wanted a few minutes to read mine without an audience offering commentary. I won't share everything she wrote. Some things belong to the people who write them and the people who receive them. But I will say that our Queen has an extraordinary ability to make someone feel close to her even when she's thousands of miles away. Jenny was smiling at hers, too. We exchanged a look. Neither of us asked what the other had received. Sometimes that's enough. Our quiet morning ended when Ava announced she was ready to try on her Halloween costume. Now, some of you may remember that Kristin modeled this rather extraordinary creation while it was being designed aboard the St. Mary. Burgundy and black. A fitted corset with gold detailing. Flowing sleeves. An asymmetrical skirt. Tall black boots. Very medieval. Very dramatic. And exactly what one wears when preparing to execute a woman who has been dead for centuries. Ava disappeared to change. When she returned, Kristin stood up immediately. “Turn around.” Ava turned. “Slowly.” Ava turned again. Kristin examined the sleeves, adjusted the neckline, and straightened a section of the skirt. “I still think it looked better on me.” “You were the model,” Ava informed her. “I'm the executioner.” “An important distinction,” I said. “Thank you, Maci.” “I wasn't agreeing with you.” Ava ignored that. She looked wonderful, which was rather inconvenient because I had been hoping the costume would look at least a little ridiculous. It didn't. The burgundy suited her beautifully, and the black detailing made the whole thing look surprisingly authentic. Then Edgar walked in. He stopped. Looked at his sister. Looked at us. “Should I be concerned?” “Only if you've committed a capital offense,” Ava said. “Noted.” And he continued toward his office. I love that man. By late morning, the castle had become its usual mixture of construction project, archaeological expedition, and temporary residence for people who probably shouldn't be left unsupervised. Edgar had meetings with the architects and contractors. Ava was continuing her LiDAR scans, which are turning into a much larger undertaking than any of us anticipated. At this rate, she'll be scanning rooms for the rest of the week. Edgar has become fascinated by the results. The two of them can spend an astonishing amount of time discussing measurements, wall thicknesses, staircases, and sections of the building that don't quite line up. They're very much alike when something interests them. I find it rather sweet. Kristin and I borrowed the thermal camera and wandered through several corridors looking for anything unusually cold that might be moving. Nothing. We found cold stone, colder stone, and one particularly drafty doorway. Kristin pointed the camera toward me. “Congratulations. You're alive.” “Thank you, Doctor.” We also FaceTimed Spencer, who is having a passionate love affair with the Cybertruck. I haven't heard her this enthusiastic about a vehicle in quite some time. I asked Edgar whether he was jealous. He said no. Spencer seemed delighted with that answer, which means I should have asked a better question. Meanwhile, Kristin has taken her assignment from Queen Spencer VERY seriously. She's spent most of the afternoon finding creative ways to interrupt Edgar's work. I'm not sure Edgar realizes how thoroughly our Queen planned his afternoon. Kristin walks past his office in outfits that I suspect were selected with considerable thought. She dropped a pencil near his desk. Then dropped it again. Edgar finally looked up. “Kristin, is there something wrong with your hands?” “I'm testing your observational skills.” “They're fine.” “Clearly not.” Later, I found her standing behind his chair, rubbing his shoulders while he reviewed architectural drawings. “Preventative medicine,” she explained. Edgar continued reading. I left them to it. I think she enjoys the challenge more than the result. --- By early afternoon, the five of us decided to leave Edgar to his meetings and head into town. We wanted coffee, a little shopping, and a chance to walk through possible locations for our Halloween plans. We're still debating whether Isabetta should make several appearances leading up to Halloween or whether we should save everything for one memorable evening. Personally, I like the idea of a little anticipation. Mia, naturally, has opinions about this. Many opinions. We also stopped to speak with a few people I'd met during my earlier visit, hoping to learn more about the local historian and the stories surrounding the castle. That's when we met the boys. Four of them. Perhaps thirteen or fourteen. They approached us with the confidence of young men who had clearly rehearsed what they were going to say and then forgotten most of it. Their spokesman, Luca, had dark hair and a charming smile. “Excuse me. Are you the Americans from the castle?” “That depends,” I said. “Are we in trouble?” His friends laughed. “No. We just wanted to ask something.” And that's when he asked whether Edgar was a playboy. “Why would you think that?” I asked. “Because every time he's here, there are different beautiful women with him.” Kristin made a small choking noise. “My mother says he's engaged,” the boy continued. “But my grandmother says that cannot be true.” “Why not?” He gestured toward all five of us. “Because of this!” I couldn't help laughing. Ava stepped forward. “Well, I'm his sister.” The boy's expression changed immediately. “Oh.” “And I'm also part of the ownership group. My brother is engaged.” “To whom?” another boy asked. “Our Queen.” Silence. The four of them looked at one another. “A queen?” Mia smiled. “Oh, yes. And you'll be hearing much more about her.” “So your brother is engaged to a queen who owns part of the castle?” I considered that. “That's probably the simplest explanation.” One of the boys looked at Kristin. “Then what are all of you doing here?” Kristin didn't hesitate. “We're the Queen's girls. We're supposed to take care of Edgar.” “All of you?” “He's a very busy man.” I turned away. I was laughing too hard. The boys looked utterly bewildered. I suspect they're going to spend the next several years trying to explain this conversation to one another. Then Jenny asked whether they knew anything about the ghost. That changed everything. It seems everyone in this town has a grandmother who knows something about our castle. One boy said his grandmother had warned him never to go near the tower after dark. Another insisted that people had seen a woman walking along the old road. A third said his grandfather once heard crying near the castle walls. I asked whether any of them had actually seen anything themselves. No. But they knew people who knew people. Which, as we all know, is practically scientific evidence. Then I made a small mistake. I told them the ghost had hugged Edgar. Four pairs of eyes widened. “She WHAT?” “Hugged him.” “Inside the castle?” “Yes.” They looked genuinely astonished. And then Mia, who had been unusually quiet for almost thirty seconds, leaned toward them. “I think I saw her outside the castle.” I turned to look at her. Mia continued. “I thought she was heading toward town.” The boys went completely silent. One looked over his shoulder. Another crossed himself. We had just supplied four teenage boys with enough material to keep the entire village entertained for a week. And we hadn't even reached Halloween. --- Back at the castle, Edgar had news of his own. The contractors had uncovered what appears to be part of an old Roman bathing complex beneath a later section of the property. There are sections of stonework, evidence of an old water system, and what may be remnants of the original bathing area. The preservation people are examining it. Edgar is already discussing whether it could eventually be restored to working condition without damaging the historical structure. I asked how long that might take. He gave me the sort of answer that means he doesn't know yet but intends to find out. I suspect we'll eventually have a Roman bath. ---- By dinner, we were back in town. And.... so were the rumors. Our waiter asked whether it was true a woman had appeared in the castle tower. Another gentleman wanted to know whether her name was Isabetta. Then someone asked whether she'd been seen walking toward the village. I looked at Mia. Mia looked at her menu. Very innocent. Very suspicious. Across the room, I recognized several women from church during my last visit. They kept looking toward our table. I leaned toward Kristin. “I think we should start charging admission.” “At this rate,” she said, “we could finance the restoration.” Edgar wasn't paying much attention. He was studying something on his phone. I leaned over. “What are you doing?” “Trying to figure out how to convince Elon to sell me a new Roadster.” “For Spencer?” “Yes.” “Of course.” He went back to his phone. A few minutes later, one of the women approached our table. She was very polite. She asked Edgar whether it was true he was engaged to royalty. “Yes,” he said. Then she glanced around the table. “And these young ladies?” Edgar looked at us. “Family.” That was all. No explanation. No elaborate description of who belonged to whom. Just family. I don't think he even realized what he'd said. But I did. And for a moment, I forgot about the ghost, the boys, and the entire village trying to figure us out. Because somewhere along the way, that's exactly what we've become. Of course, the moment didn't last. Ava wanted to know when Edgar was going to spend the night in the tower. Jenny thought Halloween would be appropriate. Kristin wanted to bring the thermal camera. Mia wanted to know whether anyone was volunteering to stay with him. I had an objection. “I'd just like to point out that some of us are very happy with the current sleeping arrangements.” Edgar smiled. “You know it's only one night.” “That's what you say now.” He suggested waiting until after Halloween, possibly All Souls' Day. November 2. Ava, our resident Catholic calendar authority, approved the date. I did not approve the loss of my bed partner. But nobody was taking a vote. We returned to the castle late enough that the contractors had gone home and most of the building was quiet. Ava went to check her scans. Jenny wanted to look at her photographs. Mia was still discussing Isabetta's dress. Kristin found Edgar in his office. Naturally. I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him study the architectural plans. He looked up. “Good day?” “Interesting day.” “That's one word for it.” I told him about the boys. The playboy accusation. The grandmother who didn't believe he was engaged. The Queen's girls. He laughed. A real laugh. I love making him do that. He smiled and reached for my hand. And I found myself thinking about the little boy who couldn't understand why so many women were living in a castle with one man. I suppose, from the outside, we must look rather strange. But he doesn't know Edgar. He doesn't know our Queen. He doesn't know what we've been through together, or how much trust it takes to build a family that doesn't look quite like everyone else's. And he certainly doesn't know Mia. Although after Halloween, I suspect the entire town will. --- This morning, Kristin and I went for a run before breakfast. I really needed the exercise. And a little time away from ghosts, construction meetings, and teenage Italian boys with very active imaginations. Good Morning from Italy. - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #Ghost #Italy Video be me and #Grok. We have reconciled. Turns out I was blaming the wrong AI. ChatGPT deserved most of my frustration. I realized I was doing WAY too much to produce these videos. Cut my workload by 75%, and poof, better results. Still not quite there, but I finally see a path forward. I think Grok and I are going to get along just fine. ❤️ @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

My POV 💋 Tuesday, October 27, 2026 Near Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹 We lost Mia yesterday. Not permanently. Although in an 800 -yr-old castle, I suppose that's a distinction worth making. A gentleman working in the vineyard found her wandering among the vines and brought her back. "I was exploring!" "Mia, you disappeared for 20 minutes!" "I didn't know I was disappearing!" I checked her hand. "Well, at least you haven't lost your phone." She looked down, surprised to find it there. Small victories... Yesterday was mostly about recovering from our flight and showing Jenny and Mia around. Last time Kristin and I were here, Edgar had just bought the castle. A month later, we have roughly fifty contractors working throughout the property, including a government preservation official who's here so often he might as well have his own bedroom. Ava started scanning the castle with LiDAR five days ago, although she was sick much of that visit. Edgar wants a precise 3D model. Some measurements near the tower don't make sense. Walls too thick, floors that don't align, possibly sealed rooms. His contractors have been investigating. Ava wants to find secret passages. Edgar wants accurate measurements. I want to know why someone went to the trouble of hiding anything. We've brought thermal imaging equipment and an old Polaroid camera for our ghost investigations. Yes, I studied medicine. Yes, I'm participating. Please don't tell my professors. Jenny pulled Edgar aside and asked to see the dungeon. Then she wanted to know where Ana's bedroom was. “Right next door,” Edgar told her. Jenny raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?” "Ana thought it would be convenient.” Jenny burst out laughing. I'm sure Ana has plans for that dungeon that have absolutely nothing to do with medieval history. --- By dinner, we were exhausted. Edgar insisted we stay awake to adjust to Italian time, so we drove thirty minutes into a nearby town. Our Halloween plans came up. Mia is portraying Isabetta, our mysterious castle resident. We're essentially bringing her back from the dead. Ava stopped eating. "WAIT. I'm the executioner?" "You volunteered." "I WAS SICK!" "You were very enthusiastic," Kristin reminded her. "I HAD A FEVER!" Edgar smiled into his wine. Ava demanded to see her costume. "Tomorrow morning, sweetheart." "Maci! I'm the executioner! I deserve wardrobe approval!" Mia leaned forward. "I'm wearing that beautiful dress. I'm not spending Halloween looking like some miserable dead peasant." "Mia, the woman died centuries ago." "Then she deserves a decent comeback!" I nearly lost my wine. 😂 --- The little club wasn't crowded, but the music was wonderful. Italian hits, American pop, techno, and an astonishing amount of seventies disco. Jenny asked Edgar and Ava to show us one of their childhood dance routines. I've danced with Edgar plenty of times. He's wonderful. I'd never watched him dance with his sister. He removed his jacket. Ava handed me her phone. "Record this!" They started with a few easy steps, smiling at each other. Then the music picked up. HOLY COW. Edgar sent Ava spinning away, caught her hand behind his back, and swept her around him. She turned twice, laughing, before he dipped her so low her curls touched the floor. People started moving aside. He brought her up, spun her again, and caught her at the waist. And then Ava was FLYING. Seriously. Above his HEAD. He brought her down into another turn, and they finished together on the final beat. The place erupted. People were cheering. Phones were out. Jenny was practically jumping. Mia stood there with her mouth open. Even Kristin forgot about the handsome Italians. Ava threw her arms around Edgar's neck, laughing. He kissed the top of her head. I loved that. They didn't need to count or watch each other's feet. They knew exactly where the other would be. I kept imagining them practicing at home as children, pushing furniture aside and arguing over who missed a step. I wish I'd known them then. "ME NEXT!" Mia shouted. Edgar laughed. "Do you know the routine?" "NO! But I trust you!" "Then we're keeping your feet on the floor." "We'll negotiate!" Jenny got her turn too. Kristin announced she wanted a slow dance with Edgar, then promptly found an Italian gentleman whose face required her undivided attention. Very thorough examination. Medical school teaches dedication.... Ava politely declined most invitations. She was having too much fun watching us. I finally caught Edgar between songs. "That was quite a performance, Mr. Collins. Do you take requests?" He offered his hand. "From you? Always." Oh, I love that man. We all danced until our feet hurt. I have no idea how we stayed awake so late. --- When we returned, the castle was silent. No contractors, no machinery, just centuries-old stone and those enormous dark corridors. Ava glanced toward the tower. "Scanning tomorrow?" Edgar nodded. "Tomorrow." I'm writing this from bed, although you won't see it until our usual posting time. Mia is asleep on Edgar's left. I'm tucked against his right side. He's still sleeping, and I have absolutely no intention of disturbing him. I considered getting up for coffee. Then I remembered Kristin. That woman has an assignment from Spencer, and I'm not leaving my place unattended. Besides, Edgar's warm, Mia has stolen half the blankets, and I'm rather comfortable. Good morning, Queen. Your instructions are being followed. Well, most of them. 🫦 - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #italy Video by yours truly and #Grok. I'm seriously considering divorcing Grok. I've been eyeing SeeDance and Kling, and frankly, they both look promising. Grok, darling, consider this your official notice. Our relationship is on thin ice. @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Maci 💋 My POV Monday, October 26, 2026 Our Castle, Italy “Forty-three words, Edgar. You've been working on this for an hour.” “I've been interrupted seventeen times.” “Sixteen,” Kristin corrected. Edgar looked at her. “I'm counting the time you asked whether I preferred your hair up or down.” “That was a legitimate question.” I should explain. Yesterday, after Mass, Spencer came to the airport to see us off. I love watching those two say goodbye. Spencer has this wonderful habit of kissing Edgar long enough to make him forget what he was about to say, then pulling away with the most innocent expression imaginable. Unfortunately for Queen, Edgar knows exactly how to return the favor. He whispered something in her ear that made her blush. She gave him a little shove, and he pulled her back for another kiss. Those two. . . I was standing beside Ava, trying not to smile. “Are they finished?” she asked. “Clearly not.” Spencer finally came over to hug me. “Take care of him.” “Always.” “And don't let him work the entire flight.” That should have been my first warning. Before we boarded, she handed each of us a sealed envelope. Mine and Kristin's said to open once airborne. Ava, Mia, and Jenny were instructed to wait until October 27. Mia immediately wanted to know why. “Because I said so,” Spencer replied. Ava smiled. “I like that answer.” 20 min. into our flight, I opened mine. My assignment was to make Edgar write poem. One hundred words or fewer, on the subject of change. Easy enough. Edgar loves writing, although finding time for it is another matter. Kristin opened hers and started laughing. I knew immediately we were in trouble. Her assignment was to make concentrating on that poem as difficult as possible. I looked at her. “She's really doing this?” Kristin held up the card. “Written instructions, sweetheart.” Queen wants her future husband to develop extraordinary powers of concentration while surrounded by women determined to distract him. I suppose that's one way to prepare for marriage. Kristin began by borrowing Edgar's sweatshirt and sitting beside him. Then she asked whether he thought she looked better with her hair up. He answered without looking away from his laptop. “Down.” She put it down. “Now?” “Still down.” I laughed. Edgar smiled, kissed her forehead, and returned to typing. That wasn't quite the reaction Kristin wanted. So she recruited Mia and Jenny. Within minutes, Mia was asking Edgar whether ghosts remember being alive, Jenny wanted his opinion on whether the castle tower was actually haunted, and Kristin had somehow convinced both girls that Edgar's poem would improve if he answered their questions first. I was supposed to be helping him focus. Instead, I was laughing. Some assistant I am. Ava had spent much of the flight reading the letters Ana had sent us from the castle. She's been sick for a good part of our recent adventures, but apparently that hasn't prevented her from becoming our resident authority on Isabetta. She knew names, dates, family connections, and several rather unsettling details about the tower. Jenny listened carefully. Then she looked at Edgar. “Oh! I almost forgot. You're sleeping in the tower with Isabetta this week.” Edgar glanced up. "I am?” (playing dumb) “You agreed.” “I recall agreeing to investigate it.” “Overnight,” Jenny added. Kristin offered to keep him company. Ava immediately objected. “Then how would we know whether anything happened?” Edgar considered this. “Perhaps because I'd tell you?” Ava gave him the look she usually reserves for people who suggest skipping Mass. I love that girl. By then, we had another problem. We were landing around two in the morning, Italian time, and desperately needed some sleep. The plane has one proper bedroom. There are six of us. Ava volunteered to take the first shift, leaving four girls interested in sharing with Edgar. Nothing against Ava. I adore her. But Edgar is warm, quiet, and wonderfully comfortable to sleep beside. We drew straws. Kristin and Jenny got Ava. Mia and I got Edgar. Kristin stared at her straw. “Best two out of three?” “Nope,” I said. Edgar looked at us. “Was I consulted?” Mia was already collecting her pillow. “It's been decided.” I kissed his cheek. “Try to respect the democratic process.” He shook his head, smiling. Despite all our efforts, he finished the poem. I read it while Mia curled up beside him. It was beautiful. I told him so, and for once he didn't immediately try to improve it. I sent Spencer a message. Your poet survived. Barely. Her reply arrived seconds later. Did Kristin behave? Not at all. Excellent. ❤️ I miss her. --- Monday morning I'm finishing this from bed in Italy. We landed around two, reached the castle considerably later, and discovered that Jenny had performed a small miracle. When we first visited, only one bedroom was usable. Jenny had arranged for two to be ready before our arrival, complete with clean bedding, working bathrooms, and heat. Two bedrooms for six exhausted people. We didn't complain. I vaguely remember Mia asking whether anyone had checked for ghosts. I told her Isabetta had waited eight hundred years and could manage another six hours. We slept until nearly nine. Now sunlight is coming through the shutters, someone downstairs is making coffee, and I can hear Ava talking. Which means she's feeling better. Or she's discovered something. I'm guessing both. We have an entire castle to explore, a mysterious woman in a tower, and three envelopes that remain sealed until tomorrow. I have no idea what Spencer has planned next. But knowing Queen, I suspect she's having a wonderful morning imagining the possibilities. Good morning, world. Happy Monday. ❤️ - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #YoungLove #traveling Video by yours truly and #Grok. Still learning how to keep character likenesses and backgrounds consistent from scene to scene. AI has a mind of its own sometimes and I'm faily... @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Denver WINS!!!!!!!

Maci 💋 My POV Sunday, October 25, 2026 Greenwich, Connecticut | Next stop: Italy “Jenny, I have one question. Did Ana actually write that down, or are you trying to get me killed?” Edgar was looking across the cabin at Jenny, who had spent the last 20 minutes explaining why sleeping alone in our Italian castle tower might be a terrible idea. “I’m telling you what Ana found in the book.” “Interesting. Because Ana told me she couldn’t read half of it.” Jenny blinked. Mia started laughing. Kristin leaned forward. “Edgar, are you accusing this sweet girl of lying?” “No. I’m asking whether I should be frightened of a ghost or Jenny’s imagination.” I nearly spilled my coffee. We were somewhere over the Midwest yesterday, heading toward Greenwich, and apparently our Halloween entertainment had already begun. Mia had spent a good portion of the flight sitting on Edgar’s lap, helping him work by offering opinions he hadn’t requested. I was still trying to discover what he and Queen had chosen for my Halloween costume. I tried everything. “Is it something historical?” “Maybe.” “Will I need a wig?” “It might.” “Edgar!” He kissed my forehead and returned to his laptop. I briefly considered throwing it out the window. We’d already scared poor Ana half to death before leaving California. She screamed, Kristin screamed because Ana screamed, and Mia was laughing too hard to explain herself. I’m expecting retaliation. We landed a little after four Saturday afternoon. Our chauffeur was waiting, and soon we were pulling into my parents’ estate. Mom hugged everyone. Dad immediately started teasing Edgar. Mia and Jenny were taking everything in, but we barely had time to settle before another car came up the drive. Queen and Ava. I’d seen Spencer’s new brunette hair on FaceTime. So had Edgar. But photographs hadn’t prepared any of us. She stepped out wearing a short black dress, her beautiful dark hair falling around her shoulders, and for a moment I genuinely forgot what I was saying. Edgar didn’t. He just stopped talking. Now, Edgar is not a man who gets flustered. He’s perfectly comfortable negotiating enormous business deals, managing difficult people, or having five women argue with him simultaneously. But watching his face when he saw his fiancee yesterday? Oh, girls. 36 days since they’d been together. He walked straight to her. Spencer smiled, slipped her arms around his neck, and he kissed her like the rest of us had disappeared. Nobody made a joke. Not even Kristin. I watched his hand move gently into her dark hair, and something about that small gesture nearly undid me. He’d always loved her as a brunette. She knew it. And I suspect she enjoyed every second of his reaction. Eventually, Ava announced that some of us would also like to say hello. That started another twenty minutes of hugging, kissing, and everyone talking at once. I hugged our Queen for a long time. I’d missed her. Later, Spencer was sitting with Dad, telling him something that had him laughing. Then, as naturally as could be, she settled onto his lap, crossed those long legs, and continued the conversation as if nothing had happened. Mom looked over and smiled. Dad seemed quite content. Edgar smiled to himself, and kept talking to Ava. I love how comfortable everyone has become. Ava told us about being sick and how much better she was feeling. She also showed us the blessed crosses Mom had given her and Spencer. Mom touched Ava’s cheek while she was explaining everything. It was such a small moment, but I loved watching them together. Afterward, I took Mia and Jenny exploring. The greenhouses, stables, dock, guesthouse, and our ridiculous hedge maze. Mia wanted to know whether anyone had ever gotten lost. “Yes.” “Seriously?” “Yes, Mia.” “Can we try?” Absolutely not. Jenny was fascinated by the greenhouses and kept asking questions. Mia was considerably more interested in finding out whether the maze had security cameras. I decided not to ask why. When we returned, Edgar and Spencer had disappeared. I smiled. Good for them. They’d been apart long enough. ---- This morning, we were up early. I came downstairs in my robe to find Mom drinking coffee, Dad reading something on his iPad, and enough breakfast being prepared to feed a small village. Sunday breakfast has always been a production in this family. Ava was already making her rounds upstairs. Mass is at ten, and she knows exactly how long certain people take to get ready. I heard her knock on Mia's door twice. "Ava, I'm UP!" "Then why are you still in bed?" Ava is on a mission. Spencer wandered in looking half asleep, stole a sip of my coffee, and kissed my cheek. Edgar followed a minute later, looking annoyingly well rested and very happy. Mia eventually appeared, looking for her phone. It was in her hand. I'm not kidding. After Mass, we'll be heading out. Hard to believe that in less than 14hrs we'll be halfway around the world, away from my parents and Spencer. I'm excited about Italy, but I'm going to miss them. At least Edgar and Queen have Chicago together afterward. And Mia and Jenny are already making plans to spend time with her around the closing on her New York property. Those three in Manhattan. That should be interesting. For now, I'm going to enjoy breakfast with my family before Ava starts counting heads. Happy Sunday. ❤️ - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #Love #familytime Video by yours truly and #Grok. Had to crop out Spencer’s 🍑 because AI decided her dress needed to be short. WAY too short! Sorry, boys. @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Maci 💋 My POV Saturday, October 24, 2026 St. Mary | La Jolla, California Destination: Greenwich, Connecticut I have a confession. I love traveling. I hate packing. And apparently, I have absolutely no business supervising other people who are packing. Yesterday was supposed to be simple. Get everything organized, finish a few things aboard St. Mary, have dinner, and get a good night’s sleep before today’s flight. We even packed the sewing machine. Yes. A sewing machine. Somewhere between Mia’s Isabetta costume, Jenny’s itinerary, and Kristin deciding she needed another suitcase, I started wondering if we were moving to Italy permanently. Edgar walked into the salon, looked at the luggage, and asked if we were packing or holding a yard sale. I reminded him he was outnumbered. Mia immediately informed him that she liked our odds. Edgar looked at Kristin and asked who was counting her. Kristin smiled. “Your biggest mistake.” I laughed so hard I had to sit down. The problem with Edgar is that he enjoys this. He genuinely enjoys being surrounded by women who give him a hard time. He’ll stand there looking perfectly innocent while saying something calculated to make matters worse. And Kristin requires very little encouragement. Speaking of encouragement, Edgar has officially lost the game and will be spending one night alone in the castle tower. Mia has reminded him approximately seventeen times. He’s entirely too comfortable with the arrangement. When she asked whether he was frightened, he wanted to know if the tower had Wi-Fi. I think she took that personally. I’m beginning to suspect Edgar’s night in the tower is going to become a much larger production than anyone originally intended. Especially now that Mia has tried on her Isabetta costume. Oh, girls. She looks incredible. Jenny was helping her with the veil yesterday, and I watched Mia study herself in the mirror with that expression she gets when she’s about to do something she absolutely should not do. The dress is beautiful. Delicate ivory lace, a fitted bodice, and enough flowing fabric to look genuinely unsettling in the right lighting. Or very distracting in the wrong lighting. I told her the goal was to frighten people, not have them fall in love with the ghost. She seemed rather pleased with both possibilities. We are going to have to supervise that child. Actually, who am I kidding? We’re probably going to help her. Jenny has also prepared an itinerary for our first three days in Italy. Three days! She has places to visit, people to speak with, and questions she wants answered about the castle. Kristin and I did some investigating when we first toured the property, but now we’ll have five women and Edgar. And that thought stopped me yesterday. Five women. One Edgar. No Spencer. Again. (He really needs her) I suddenly remembered the looks we received from some of the older ladies in town when Kristin and I were there with Edgar. Then Ana visited the castle with him. Now he’s returning with me, Kristin, Jenny, Mia, and Ava. I can only imagine what the locals are going to think. And after Mia makes her grand appearance as Isabetta? Oh, they’ll talk. I mentioned this to Queen. Her response? “Let them talk.” Of course. She knows perfectly well what she’s doing. I STILL have no idea what she and Edgar have chosen for my Halloween costume. Neither will tell me. I have tried being sweet. I’ve tried negotiating. I’ve tried asking questions that sound completely unrelated. Nothing. Edgar is especially irritating because he knows exactly when I’m fishing for information. Queen seems to be enjoying my frustration. I’m going to remember this. But first, we have a little trip to make. Today we’re flying to Greenwich to see Mom and Dad. We were hoping for an earlier departure, but it looks like we’ll land around four or five this afternoon. We’ll stop by Spencer’s house before leaving California to see Ana and Patrick. Ana has school and can’t come with us yet. I haven’t decided whether to hug her or scare her. Possibly both. And Queen told us she and Ava will meet us at my parents’ house tonight! I’m excited to see Ava, especially after she’s been sick. And I know Edgar is looking forward to seeing Spencer. It’s been thirty-six days since they’ve been together in person. Thirty-six. I don’t know how Queen does it. I love that man dearly, and I would be absolutely miserable if I couldn’t see him for that long. I know they’re both busy, and they’re perfectly capable of handling the distance. Still, I’m glad they’ll finally be together again. I’m also excited about being home. I already know Mom and Dad are going to ask about Thanksgiving. Last year we spent it in Aspen, and I loved it. But the holidays have become complicated. Not in a bad way. There are just so many people I love, and I want to be everywhere. Edgar and Ava don’t have their parents to go home to anymore. I’ve been wondering whether we might invite Spencer and the Collins family to spend Thanksgiving with us in Greenwich. Before anyone gets excited, I have discussed this with absolutely nobody. Including my parents. Surprise, Mom. ❤️ I’m thinking out loud. Or writing out loud. Whatever this is. Edgar also received word that the house that burned down should be ready for a walkthrough in mid-December so we can make the final finish selections. I imagine Spencer will want a say in that. Actually, I know she will. One more thing. Edgar mentioned that when we return to St. Mary, he’s thinking about taking her somewhere. We probably won’t be back aboard for another ten days. By then Ava and Ana will be back at school. Jenny and Mia might be off doing something with Queen. Which could leave just the elders. Kristin, Edgar, and me. I haven’t decided what I think about that yet. I do know I’ll miss St. Mary. It’s funny. I forget she’s a yacht most days. She’s so large and comfortable that you barely notice the movement. Everyone has their favorite places, their routines, and their little habits. It feels like home. And apparently, I’m becoming sentimental about leaving a boat for ten days. Good grief. Oh! Mia asked yesterday whether the castle has a swimming pool. I told her it has a moat. She wanted to know whether we could swim in it. I told her absolutely not. But I’ve been thinking. With Queen coming to visit eventually, we probably should have a pool. A very large one. Preferably somewhere Mia cannot convince Ava to jump off a medieval wall into it. Anyway, I need to go. Everyone is getting ready, Edgar has already been working for an hour, and I still haven’t exercised. I’m going to Google a workout. Yes, Google. I have a perfectly good gym, years of dance training, and enough equipment aboard this yacht to embarrass a professional athlete. And this morning I cannot decide what to do with myself. See you in Connecticut. Maci 💋 #MyPOV Video by #Grok and me. I hate when Grok sets arbitrary boundaries around things that aren't even an issue. It ends up hallucinating problems out of thin air. Congress needs to pass a law banning AI from doing drugs; it clearly has enough issues already. @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Maci 💋 My POV Friday, October 23, 2026 Aboard St. Mary, La Jolla, California Mia has officially decided that my family’s lawyers are trying to silence her. This began when Edgar brought two folders into the salon this morning and set them in front of Mia and Jenny. The additional NDAs had arrived from my attorneys. We’re flying to Greenwich tomorrow to spend some time with my parents, and both girls needed to sign before visiting the house. It’s standard whenever someone new is going to be spending time around certain parts of our family’s private life. Mia opened hers, read the first page, and looked at me. “Are we in trouble?” “No, sweetheart.” “Then why am I signing things?” Edgar sat down beside me and explained what the agreements covered. Family privacy, security arrangements, confidential business matters, and a few other things that are better left at home. Jenny listened carefully. Mia had questions. Lots of questions. Finally, Mia looked up. “Can I still tell people Maci’s annoying?” Edgar didn’t hesitate. “That’s public information.” Jenny burst out laughing. I looked at him. He smiled. I swear that man waits for opportunities like this. Mia wanted clarification on several other things, including whether she could post pictures from the house and what she should do if someone asked her about our visit. Edgar went through everything with them. He was patient, thorough, and annoyingly handsome while doing it. I was sitting beside him, trying to look like a responsible adult. Jenny signed first. Mia signed after making Edgar promise that the agreements didn’t prevent her from making fun of me. They don’t. Unfortunately. --- I spent part of the morning working out with Kristin. She has become increasingly comfortable offering unsolicited commentary on my exercise routine. I was finishing a set of squats when she asked, “Showing off again?” “Would you like to try?” “Need some help?” “From you? Never.” She laughed. Edgar came onto the fitness deck a few minutes later. “Everything under control?” “Until you showed up.” He leaned against the bench, smiling at me. I was sweaty, slightly out of breath. He hadn’t even worked out yet. That seemed unfair. Kristin was enjoying herself far too much. Edgar offered to join me for another set. I told him I’d already done enough. He glanced at the weights. “You’re getting stronger.” That made me smile. He notices things like that. Little improvements. Things I’ve been working on that nobody else would necessarily recognize. Of course, he ruined the moment by asking if I wanted him to increase the weight next time. I told him to go bother somebody else. He kissed my forehead and went back inside. Kristin watched him leave. Then she looked at me. “What?” “Nothing.” “Kristin.” She started laughing. I’m surrounded by "children". Beautiful, highly intelligent children, but children. --- Jenny was quieter than usual after lunch. I noticed it while we were sitting in the salon. Mia was talking about what she wanted to wear tomorrow, Kristin was looking through something on her phone, and Jenny kept smiling at the conversation without contributing much. I found her a little later on the aft deck. She was curled up on the sofa, looking out at the water. I sat beside her. “Hey. You okay?” She smiled. “Yeah.” I waited. She looked at me. “Do you think your parents will like me?” I hadn’t expected that. “Of course.” “What if I embarrass you?” Oh, Jenny. I took her hand. “You couldn’t.” She looked down for a moment. I moved a little closer. “Just be Jenny.” She smiled. I told her my parents were looking forward to meeting everyone. Mom already knows quite a bit about the girls, mostly because I talk about them constantly. Jenny wanted to know what I’d said about her. “That you’re intelligent, sweet, occasionally a terrible influence, and that I love you.” She laughed. “I’m not a terrible influence.” “Jenny, I’ve seen you with Mia.” “That’s different.” “Of course it is.” She leaned her head against my shoulder, and I put my arm around her. We sat there for a while. I understand why she’s nervous. She’s nineteen, she’s visiting my parents house for the first time, and she’s still learning how our lives work. But I wish she knew how little she has to prove. My parents will see what I see. A lovely young woman who has become very important to me. And I hope she likes them as much as I do. Well, most days. Dad and I can disagree about practically anything if given enough time. Mom says it’s because we’re too much alike. She’s probably right. --- Now, about my Halloween costume. I’m beginning to think I’ve made a serious mistake allowing Edgar to handle this. He bought something for me. He won’t tell me what it is. He won’t show me a picture. And every time I ask, he smiles like he’s enjoying a private joke. This afternoon, I called Queen Spencer @enchantedhottie Kristin was sitting beside me when the subject came up. I mentioned that Edgar was being impossible about my costume. Queen smiled. I know that smile. “Wait. You know?” She looked delighted. “I helped him choose it.” I stared at my phone. “You WHAT?” Kristin started laughing. Spencer looked entirely too pleased with herself. “And it’s perfect.” I turned toward Kristin. “You’re kidding me.” She was no help whatsoever. I looked back at Queen. “You’re both in trouble.” Spencer smiled. I tried several different approaches after that. I asked whether it was pretty. Yes. Whether it was embarrassing. She laughed. Whether I was going to need help putting it on. She smiled again. I narrowed my eyes. “Queen.” “What?” “You’re loving this...” “Very much.” I love her. I really do. But that woman has an extraordinary talent for making me feel like I’m the only person in the room who doesn’t know what’s going on. And I suspect she enjoys that even more than the costume itself. The worst part is that I trust her taste. She knows what I like. She knows what Edgar likes. And she knows exactly how to get under my skin. I’m not sure which of those three things concerns me most. Later, Edgar came through the salon. I was waiting. “So. You and Queen went shopping?” He smiled. “We did.” “And?” “And what?” “Edgar.” “Maci.” I stared at him. He looked perfectly comfortable. “Am I going to like it?” “I think you will.” “Am I going to be embarrassed?” He laughed. “Would I do that to you?” I gave him a look. He leaned down and kissed me. Which was lovely. And completely ineffective as an answer. We’re leaving for Greenwich tomorrow. I can’t wait to see Mom and Dad. I’m also looking forward to having everyone together at the house. It’s been a while since I’ve had this many people I love in one place with my parents. Mia has been packing. And repacking. She asked me whether she should bring something nice for dinner. “Yes.” “How nice?” “Whatever you’d wear to dinner with someone’s parents.” She stared at me. “Maci, your parents aren’t normal.” I laughed. “They’re perfectly normal.” She gave me a look. “Your lawyers sent me homework.” Fair. Kristin has been helping her choose clothes, which means they’ll both look gorgeous and I’ll end up borrowing something from one of them. Jenny seems happier tonight. That makes me happy. Edgar has been getting things organized for tomorrow. He’s had a busy week, but he genuinely enjoys this stuff. Give that man a complicated schedule, a dozen moving parts, and three problems to solve before breakfast, and he’s having a wonderful day. I still make him stop and eat. Someone has to. Ava is still with Queen in New York. I’m hoping she’s feeling much better by the time we all get together Sunday. Then we’ll be heading toward Italy. Our castle. Halloween. Mia’s ridiculous ghost plans. And whatever Edgar and Spencer have decided I’m going to wear. I was thinking about all of this earlier while watching Jenny and Mia laughing together in the salon. A few months ago, I couldn’t have imagined how close we’d become. Now I’m taking them home to meet my parents. I know how fortunate I am. Not because of the house or where we’re going next. Because I get to bring these people with me. And because somewhere along the way, they became people I can’t imagine leaving behind. Although if Mia asks one more question about whether the NDA covers embarrassing childhood photographs, I may reconsider. Good morning, everyone. Love you, Queen. ❤️ - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #GrokVideo #AllBlondesLookAlikeToAI Video by me and #Grok. I only had to process one of the clips twice. Grok seems to think I look like Mia... We are both blonde. @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Maci 💋 My POV October 22, 2026 Aboard St. Mary, off La Jolla Yesterday, Kristin threatened to push Edgar into the Pacific. He told her he'd prefer she learn to turn first. I nearly fell out of the boat laughing. Wednesday was supposed to be productive. We had costumes to finish, a Halloween plan to develop, and several decisions to make before leaving for Italy on Sunday. By lunch, Mia had changed her ghost costume three times, Jenny had reorganized our sketches twice, and Edgar had accomplished more actual work than the rest of us combined. I still had no information about the costume he'd bought me. Not even a color. When he suggested we take the jet boat out for a while, Kristin was the first one on her feet. The water was beautiful, and we all needed a break. I went water skiing first. Had a good run, swallowed a little more Pacific Ocean than I intended, and returned to the boat feeling rather pleased with myself. Kristin decided she could do better. And for a while, she did. She looked gorgeous out there, dark hair blowing behind her, cutting across the wake in her burgundy swimsuit. She even signaled for more speed. Edgar watched her through the windshield. "She's getting ambitious." "Don't you dare," I told him. He didn't change speed. He didn't need to. Kristin decided to make a turn that would have been impressive if her skis had agreed to participate. They didn't. One spectacular splash later, we were circling back to collect her. "YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!" Edgar leaned over the side. "I wasn't driving your skis." I think she swallowed another gallon of seawater trying to laugh and yell at him simultaneously. She splashed him. He laughed. And I was reminded that being around these people is considerably more entertaining than anything we could possibly schedule. Jenny gave skiing a try and did surprisingly well. Mia declined because she didn't want to risk injuring herself before her debut as a deceased Italian woman. I pointed out that being dead might make an injury less consequential. She didn't appreciate my medical opinion. --- Back aboard St. Mary, we returned to the costumes. Kristin modeled Ava's finished executioner outfit over FaceTime. Oh, my goodness. Ava LOVED it. Our sweet Ava, has developed very strong opinions about fitted bodices, burgundy fabric, and tall black boots. Kristin turned in front of the mirror, looking entirely too pleased with herself. "Well, Your Highness?" Ava practically squealed. --- Ava is feeling a little better, thank goodness, but she's still exhausted and mostly wants to sleep. Spencer has been getting restless, too. She's anxious to get to New York and start settling into her new apartment, so the two of them are heading there. Our travel arrangements have changed again. We'll stop in New York on Sunday to drop off Ana, and Ava will rejoin us for the flight to Italy. That means Ana probably won't be coming to the castle this time. I'm disappointed. I was looking forward to having her there, especially with everything we've been discovering about Isabetta. So, unless someone changes the plan again, our castle crew will be Edgar, Kristin, Ava, Jenny, Mia, and me. And Ava will have crossed the Atlantic twice in October. I mentioned that to her. She wanted to know whether she could go back to sleep. Poor girl. --- I also talked with Mom and Dad about possibly seeing them Saturday/Sunday. They're excited to hear about the castle. Mom particularly wants to know whether the blessed crosses she gave Ava and Spencer have helped. I'm not sure how Ava is going to answer that. She's spent most of her time being sick. Still, I know those crosses mean something to her. Mom gave them with love, and Ava received them with the same seriousness she brings to her faith. I think they'll enjoy talking about it. Now, about our ghost. Mia has taken this assignment very seriously. We've been experimenting with ivory lace, translucent fabric, and a very subtle silver-white glow. I have to admit, she looks beautiful. We positioned her behind a curtain in the salon, adjusted the lighting, and watched her slowly turn toward us. For a few seconds, she genuinely looked like someone who belonged to another century. Then she smiled. "Have you forgotten me?" Jenny lowered her camera. I actually got goosebumps. Mia immediately broke character. "Oh, they're going to love this!" And there was our Mia again. The trouble is that our castle sits near a real Italian town, filled with real people who probably aren't expecting a group of Americans to arrive and begin staging apparitions. We want a little mystery, not a public panic. So last night we formed what I'm calling the Ghost Committee. Mia wants someone to scream. Kristin would prefer that someone be Edgar. I wished her luck. Jenny suggested involving the local priest. "JENNY!" She looked so innocent when she said it, too. I don't know what's happening to that girl, but I'm beginning to suspect we're a terrible influence. Our plan is becoming more sophisticated. Mia will be Isabetta, naturally. Jenny is working on lighting, photographs, and the timing of her appearances. Kristin has volunteered to investigate the historical legend, although her idea of historical research seems to involve interviewing attractive Italian men. I'm coordinating the script and costumes. Edgar is our designated voice of reason, which means he'll spend Halloween watching us discover the consequences of our own decisions. Ava will help with the historical details and make sure we're treating the real people connected to the castle with respect. That's important to me, too. The old notes we've discovered suggest Isabetta may have had a complicated relationship with the lord of the castle. We don't know enough yet to tell her story properly. I don't want to invent a tragedy for a woman who may have experienced a real one. So we're going to begin with a private costume rehearsal and a few photographs. If we involve anyone from town, it'll be a Halloween performance they're invited to enjoy, not a trick played on unsuspecting strangers. A little mischief is wonderful. Terrifying somebody's grandmother is not. I do wish Spencer were coming with us. She'd be magnificent at this. She could walk into that castle, take one look at our lighting plan, and have everyone moving furniture within thirty seconds. And we'd all do it. Mia might argue. --- This morning, Kristin was still blaming him for her skiing accident. Edgar remained entirely unrepentant. And I tried one more time to get information about my Halloween costume. "One clue. Just one." "Sunday." He smiled into his coffee. I told him that if my costume is ridiculous, he's getting a matching one. Three days until Italy. I really do wish our Queen were coming. Somebody needs to keep Edgar in line. And it certainly isn't going to be me. - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #Halloween2026 #GothicVibes #GhostStory Video be #Grok. We changed to the new plan... I hope I have enough credits to make these videos... @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Maci 💋 My POV Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Aboard St. Mary, off La Jolla Kristin and I have just finished working out with Edgar, and I’m beginning to think the man enjoys keeping secrets a little too much. “Did he ever tell you?” Kristin asked. “Not one word.” Edgar looked over. “Tell her what?” “What you bought her,” Kristin said. He smiled. “Sunday.” I hate that smile. It’s the same smile he wears when he’s three moves ahead of everyone else and knows there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it. And yes, I’m aware that finding this attractive is part of my problem. Let me explain.... Yesterday, Edgar went ashore on what was supposed to be a fairly simple shopping trip. We needed a few things for Halloween, including glow-in-the-dark paint for Mia’s latest theatrical obsession and a Polaroid camera to help us document any supernatural activity at the castle. I also needed a Halloween costume. Edgar volunteered to find one for me. I should have recognized the danger immediately. This is a man who can negotiate a complicated business acquisition without losing his composure, but give him permission to choose a costume for a woman who enjoys teasing him, and suddenly he’s smiling like a twelve-year-old with a stolen credit card. He won’t tell me what he bought. Not the color. Not the character. Not even whether I’ll be able to sit down in it. Kristin thinks this is hilarious. I do not. Well, maybe a little. Meanwhile, Mia has decided she’s going to become Isabetta, our castle’s resident ghost. Not dress as Isabetta. Become her. She’s been studying photographs of the castle, experimenting with fabrics, and developing what she calls a “credible apparition.” Jenny asked whether a credible apparition needed quite so much attention to her neckline. Mia told her historical accuracy was important. Nobody knows what Isabetta wore. That has not discouraged Mia. The glow-in-the-dark paint has only made things worse. At one point yesterday, the salon looked less like a yacht and more like the costume department of a theater whose director had suffered a nervous breakdown. Fabric everywhere. Sketches spread across the tables. Jenny trying to impose order. Kristin offering opinions nobody requested. And Mia explaining, with complete seriousness, how she intends to appear in a dark corridor and convince us we’re being visited by a woman who died centuries ago. I’m studying medicine. I understand perfectly well how fear, suggestion, and poor lighting can affect perception. I’m also fairly certain I’ll scream if Mia comes around a corner at two in the morning. Ava, who is still recovering from being sick, has been supervising portions of this operation remotely. Her contribution? She wants to be a sexy executioner. Yes. Our sweet, devout Catholic Ava. She has very specific opinions about the costume, too. I love that girl. I really do. But between Ava planning executions and Mia preparing to haunt an eight-hundred-year-old castle, I’m starting to wonder whether Edgar and I are the responsible adults in this family. Which is a terrifying thought. Speaking of Edgar, Halloween shopping wasn’t his only business yesterday. He also made a stop to see Ana. Now, Ana has been dealing with someone who apparently thought insulting Spencer and Edgar was a sensible life decision. I don’t know exactly what happened during their conversation. Edgar isn’t volunteering details, and Ana has been suspiciously quiet. Anyone who knows Ana understands why that combination concerns me. He also spoke with his uncle, who’s a priest, about some of the things we’ve discovered at the castle. That conversation interested me more than I expected. We’ve found references to Isabetta in old notes and a book discovered in the master’s chamber. There are hints of a relationship with the lord of the castle, although we’re still trying to understand what actually happened. The more we learn, the less straightforward her story becomes. I’m not particularly interested in inventing a supernatural explanation for something we don’t understand. But I do think there’s a real woman’s life buried in those pages. Someone loved her. Someone wrote about her. And centuries later, a group of Americans is preparing to move into her home and turn her into a Halloween attraction. I wonder what she’d think of us. Especially Mia. Spencer, meanwhile, has been deeply involved in the castle’s interior plans. Watching her work through the designs is fascinating. She sees possibilities in spaces most people would simply admire and walk past. She can be incredibly demanding, but there’s usually a reason behind what she wants. I suspect the castle will be very different by the time she’s finished with it. And I love watching her get excited about something. Last night, we finally put away the costumes and played cards. That should have been harmless. It wasn’t. Someone suggested that whoever lost would have to spend a night alone in the master’s loft when we arrived in Italy. The same loft connected to our mysterious Isabetta. Naturally, everyone suddenly became extremely competitive. Mia claimed she wasn’t afraid of ghosts. Jenny pointed out that Mia was planning to be the ghost. Kristin said she was more concerned about the living people in the castle than the dead ones. Edgar, of course, treated the entire thing as a perfectly reasonable wager. He has an annoying habit of becoming more relaxed when everyone else gets excited. I won’t tell you who lost. Not yet. But I will say that the winner seemed considerably happier with the arrangement than the loser. After everyone else went to bed, Kristin and I still had a few things to take care of. Spencer had given us some instructions concerning Edgar. I’ll leave those details between the three of us. I will say that Spencer has an extraordinary talent for making a request sound perfectly innocent while knowing exactly how much trouble it might cause. And Edgar is becoming much too comfortable with the arrangement. This morning, he was in the gym with us, completely relaxed, enjoying his workout and refusing to give me a single useful clue about my costume. I tried being sweet. Kristin tried being direct. Neither worked. So now we’re back to waiting until Sunday. We’ll be heading to Italy, moving into a castle with a complicated history, preparing for Halloween, and possibly sharing the place with a ghost who may or may not appreciate Mia’s interpretation of her wardrobe. I’m excited. Not because of the castle itself, although I can’t wait to explore it again. It’s the thought of all of us being there together. Ava’s laughter echoing through those enormous halls. Jenny trying to organize people who have no intention of being organized. Kristin finding trouble. Mia manufacturing it. Ana making herself at home. Spencer making the place beautiful. And Edgar in the middle of it all, looking entirely too pleased with himself. Sometimes I look around at these people and wonder when they became such an important part of my life. I don’t remember making a decision. It just happened. One ridiculous afternoon, one late-night conversation, one shared secret at a time. And now I can’t imagine arriving at that castle without them. As for Edgar’s mysterious purchase? He says I’ll find out Sunday. I just hope it doesn’t come with its own set of tights. - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #HalloweenInItaly #GhostStories Video by me and #Grok. The thing I dread most is trying to find the perfect song to go with these videos. If you have any ideas, drop them below! @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Maci 💋 My POV Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Aboard the St. Mary, off La Jolla Edgar has agreed to wear tights for Halloween. And, I'm the one who's nervous. Good morning, everyone! 💋 I'm sitting aboard the St. Mary, enjoying a cup of coffee and wondering how four intelligent women managed to lose an argument we hadn't even finished having. It began yesterday morning at the Pussy Palace. Mia arrived at breakfast carrying a folder of Halloween costume sketches. We're leaving for Italy on Sunday, and she's decided our first Halloween at the castle needs to be spectacular. "I want everyone dressed as someone who could have lived there." Edgar glanced at her drawings. "Which century?" "The castle century." "It's eight hundred years old." "Then you've got plenty to choose from." Kristin nearly spilled her coffee. Jenny was already examining the sketches and asking questions about fabrics. I love how those two can go from laughing at Mia to taking her completely seriously in about five seconds. Mia has appointed herself Lady Isabetta, our mysterious Italian woman whose name keeps appearing in the old books Edgar discovered. She wants a burgundy gown, black lace, and a dramatic entrance. I asked whether the dramatic entrance came with the dress. "No. That's my personality." Fair. Then she showed Edgar his costume. Black velvet, gold embroidery, tall boots, a cape. Very handsome, actually. "Surprisingly tasteful," he said. Jenny looked at me. I looked at Mia. And that was the beginning of our trouble. Before shopping, we spent some time with the two old books Edgar found at the castle. Ana noticed the same name appearing in both volumes, along with a peculiar flower symbol. She found that symbol again on an old village map, marking a building behind the church. Edgar became immediately interested. Ana photographed several pages before leaving for college, and the two of them have been exchanging ideas ever since. Mia, naturally, considered this proof that Isabetta was becoming famous. "We haven't established she's a ghost," Edgar reminded her. "You're being very negative about a dead woman." I kissed his cheek. "Darling, let her have her ghost." Then we went shopping. Jenny took charge at the fabric store, which was delightful to watch. Edgar picked up some beautiful black velvet. "Edgar, that's upholstery velvet." He examined it. "What's the difference?" "You'll look like furniture." I nearly lost it. He laughed, handed it back, and asked her to find the right material. Jenny was in heaven. She found the proper black velvet, and we selected our own fabrics. Mia chose burgundy, Kristin found gorgeous emerald green, and I fell in love with midnight-blue silk. Jenny also purchased several yards of black lace. Edgar never noticed. That detail will become important. We returned to the Pussy Palace later that afternoon. Ana was home from college, Patrick had arrived, and the two of them were looking forward to spending some time together. We decided to give them the estate and move aboard the St. Mary. Before leaving, Jenny remembered a sewing machine she'd noticed among Edgar's family's belongings. It had belonged to his mother. He took her to see it, and I followed. It was a beautiful computerized machine, still in excellent condition. His mother had clearly enjoyed sewing and invested in wonderful equipment. Jenny examined it carefully. "Does it still work?" "It should. Mum used it for years." "Could I borrow it?" "Of course." Then Edgar smiled. "She'd have loved seeing you use it." Jenny hugged him. I stood there for a moment watching them. Edgar doesn't talk about his parents very often, and those little moments mean something to him. Jenny understood that, too. Then she asked him to carry the machine. He laughed. "Back to being useful?" "You're very useful." And off he went. I love these people. By evening, one of the St. Mary's lounges looked like a very expensive costume factory. Jenny had the sewing machine running. Kristin was helping with fabric. Mia had drawings spread everywhere, and I was attempting to pin a hem. Looks likeI lack natural talent for that particular activity. Edgar appeared with a glass of wine. "Good Lord. Have we opened a factory?" Jenny called him over to inspect his costume. She showed him the original drawing. "You approve?" "Absolutely." Then she turned the page. Oh, I wish you could have seen his face. Gone were the respectable pants. In their place were fitted black tights, elaborate lace cuffs, and a particularly theatrical codpiece. Edgar stared at the drawing. "What the hell is that?" Mia was already laughing. "The complete costume!" "Where are the pants?" Kristin, who had been waiting patiently for this moment, explained that fitted hose were historically appropriate for certain periods. Edgar looked at her. "You're a medical student. Why are you involved in this?" "I have other interests." I had to sit down. ----- Ava called on FaceTime. She's still recovering from the flu, poor girl, and was buried under blankets with Spencer beside her. "Have you shown him?" Ava asked. Edgar stared at the phone. "You knew?" Spencer grinned. "Of course, babe." I really do love that woman. Ava had also contributed an alternative costume. A medieval executioner, complete with hood and enormous axe. Edgar asked why. "Because you've been killing everyone's fun for years." Even sick, Ava has impeccable timing. We were all laughing when Edgar picked up the original nobleman's drawing. "I'll wear it." That quieted us. "Really?" I asked. "Yes. One condition." I knew immediately that something was wrong. "What condition?" He smiled. "I choose your costume." Well. That wasn't part of the plan. And the worst part? Jenny and Kristin looked delighted. Mia immediately wanted to know what he was thinking. Traitors. Every one of them. This morning, Edgar and I had coffee on the aft deck before our workout. The sun was just coming up over La Jolla, and he was looking entirely too pleased with himself. I asked whether he intended to make me look ridiculous. "Maci, I would never." He said it with a perfectly straight face. I didn't believe a word. --- We've had quite a few changes in our lives this year, and I wouldn't have guessed we'd end up here. But I'm very glad we did. Now we're only a few days away from Italy. I can't wait to see Spencer, Ava, and everyone else. Ava needs to get healthy, and I fully intend to give her a proper hug before discussing her executioner costume. I'm also rather curious about what Ana and Edgar will discover in those books. As for Halloween? Mia gets to be Lady Isabetta. Edgar gets his tights. And I get whatever that handsome, infuriating man has been planning since last night. He hasn't said another word about it. That's what worries me. Edgar doesn't surrender. He negotiates. Wish me luck, everyone. And Jenny, if you're reading this, we need to talk. 💋 - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #HalloweenCostume #CastleLife Video by me and #Grok. Yesterday Edgar got notified on his X account about the new X plans. He's thinking of jumping over to the new pricing, but my concern is: will I lose my video credits? I asked Grok, and it said I "shouldn't." Not yes or no... just "shouldn't." Who buys things on a "maybe it'll work"? @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Maci 💋 My POV Monday, October 19, 2026 La Jolla, California I spent Sunday morning at Mass and Sunday afternoon helping an 18 year old blonde figure out how to make a dead Italian woman famous. I really should have stayed in bed. 💋 Good morning, everyone! I'm back in La Jolla, enjoying my second espresso and trying to convince myself that exercise is a good idea. My legs are still recovering from two nights of dancing. I love those girls, but Jenny and Mia have entirely too much energy. Sunday was beautiful in Denver. We walked from Edgar's penthouse to the Cathedral Basilica for Mass, enjoying the sunshine and discussing Halloween costumes. Well, we started with costumes. Then Mia brought up Isabetta, our resident Italian ghost. The village near our castle already has plenty of stories about her, and Mia wanted to know why we weren't doing something with them. "Everyone thinks she's there anyway. Why don't we let her visit the village?" Edgar smiled and asked how she proposed doing that. His first mistake. Mia started talking about mysterious appearances, unexpected sightings, and giving people something to wonder about. Nothing frightening. Just enough to make people curious. Edgar asked the practical questions. Who would be involved? How would the locals feel? What happens when someone investigates? Mia hadn't considered most of that. She did, however, have several other ideas. I love how her mind works. She'll suggest something completely ridiculous, and five minutes later Edgar is figuring out whether it could work. Jenny encourages her, which is becoming a problem. I suppose I do too. Mass was lovely. We stayed afterward, met some wonderful people, and took a few pictures outside before exploring more of Denver. We wandered through LoDo and Larimer Square, stopped in shops, and enjoyed the afternoon. Edgar even managed to make a conversation about the proposed Broncos stadium interesting. Eventually, we found a wonderful vintage clothing shop. We were looking at period clothing for Halloween in Tuscany. The shop had beautiful old dresses, antique mirrors, and enough interesting things to occupy us for hours. Jenny found a burgundy velvet gown with lovely embroidery. She came out of the dressing room, turned toward the mirror, and smiled. She looked gorgeous. I love seeing her confidence develop. A few months ago, she probably wouldn't have dreamed of walking out and showing off like that. I told her she looked like she'd inherited a European estate and was deciding which relatives to disinherit. She rather liked that. Mia found an elaborate black gown with lace sleeves and enough fabric to upholster a reasonably large sofa. She disappeared into the fitting room. A few minutes later, the curtain opened. "Meet Isabetta!" She held out her skirt, turned, and looked directly at Edgar. He studied her. "That's a remarkably well-dressed ghost." "She's Italian!" I laughed so hard I had to sit down. I eventually tried on an ivory gown with delicate embroidery and a fitted bodice. Beautiful, although getting into it reminded me why modern clothing is such a wonderful invention. When I stepped out, Edgar smiled. "Well?" "Beautiful." I smiled back. I still like hearing that from him. Mia immediately wanted to know whether we were buying all three dresses. Edgar asked how we planned to transport them to Italy. I reminded him that we owned airplanes. He informed me that wasn't remotely the point. I rather enjoy arguing with that man. (We bought them) We left with photographs and far more ideas than we'd arrived with. And speaking of Halloween, our plans are getting interesting. Spencer and Ava are already at the castle, and Ana is talking about staying there too. I miss her and Kristin, and I'm looking forward to having everyone together again. We may spend most of the next couple of weeks in Tuscany rather than at the Pussy Palace. I love that idea. I can already picture Ava exploring ancient passageways, Mia organizing Isabetta's public appearances, and Edgar discovering something that requires a team of engineers. I really just want everyone together for a while. We've all been moving around so much lately. We eventually packed and headed for the airport. Colorado was wonderful. And naturally Breckenridge received more snow after we left. . . . . We landed in California late... To late. Nobody was interested in doing much beyond finding a bed. --- And here I am. Monday morning. Beautiful California sunshine, a comfortable chair, and an espresso I'm enjoying far too much. I should wake Jenny or Mia and convince one of them to run with me. Or Edgar. Although he's probably already working. I need to call Spencer today. Between Halloween costumes and Mia's ideas, I think our Queen deserves a warning. Poor Isabetta. She's been dead for centuries, and Mia has already given her a social calendar. I wonder if ghosts can resign. Love you all! 💋 - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #HauntedCastle #Halloween2026 #GhostStories #LaJolla Video by me and #Grok. Grok isn’t my problem as much as ChatGPT. Chat constantly forgets our ages, our heights, and who we actually are. I spend 3X longer generating the images than writing the actual post… @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Maci 💋 My POV Sunday, October 18, 2026 Denver, Colorado Ladies, I put Edgar Collins in a rhinestone cowboy shirt last night. With the hat, boots, fitted jeans, and a rather impressive belt buckle. And then I made the mistake of taking him dancing with two beautiful Wyoming girls in very short skirts. I really should have known better. 💋 Good morning from Denver! I'm drinking espresso, my legs are sore, and somewhere in this penthouse Jenny and Mia are still laughing about last night. Edgar, for the record, survived. Rather well, actually. Saturday started lazily. After Friday night's adventures, nobody was terribly interested in rushing out of bed. Around lunch, I took Jenny and Mia shopping. We'd planned to be in Colorado four or five days. Between Breckenridge, the Broncos game, and Denver, our wardrobes were becoming a little repetitive. And I'd decided we were going to the Grizzly Rose. The girls were thrilled. They're from Jackson. Cowboy boots and country music are familiar territory. My cowboy-bar education consists primarily of one memorable visit to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where I met Brock on an assignment for our Queen. So I needed help. I told the girls everything was on me. They protested, briefly, before discovering the dressing rooms. Mia has a very interesting interpretation of appropriate Western attire. "That is awfully short." "It's a cowgirl skirt, Maci!" "Where's the rest of the cowgirl?" Jenny nearly fell over laughing. 20 min. later, Jenny emerged wearing something equally dangerous. So much for my responsible little brunette. We bought boots, hats, denim, fringe, and outfits that made all three of us feel rather pleased with ourselves. And we bought Edgar something special. Oh, girls. You should have seen it. Back at the penthouse, Edgar was working. Naturally. We spent the afternoon on the sunny terrace practicing line dancing in shorts and boots, with lunch delivered because nobody wanted to stop. Jenny was teaching. Mia was improvising. I was trying to remember which direction my feet belonged. Edgar sat at the outdoor table, absorbed in his laptop. Three women dancing ten feet away. Not even a glance. "Edgar, are you watching?" "Yes." "Then what are we doing wrong?" "You're turning too early." He didn't look up. I was head cheerleader. I know choreography. Unfortunately, he was right. Before dinner, we presented him with his new outfit. He unfolded the shirt. Looked at the rhinestones. Looked at us. "No." Mia was already laughing. "Just try it on!" He inspected the stitching, questioned our collective judgment, and eventually disappeared to change. When he returned, Jenny actually stopped talking. Which may have been the evening's first miracle. Spencer, darling, your fiance makes a VERY convincing cowboy. An exceptionally handsome one. Although he did inform us that if we ever bought him illuminated boots, he'd leave us at the club. Fair enough. Now, a little Collins family history. Those children took professional dancing lessons during their homeschooling. Remember Ava winning that dancing competition in Boise? Her brother was paying attention too. Edgar can dance. Really dance. Country swing, ballroom precision, quick footwork, athletic turns, all mixed with a confidence that ought to require a permit. Jenny was first. He spun her out, brought her back, and caught her in a beautiful dip. She came up laughing. Mia immediately stepped forward. "My turn!" Naturally. And then me. I am not spending that much money on boots just to watch. Before long, we were taking turns, laughing, challenging him, and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. So were several women nearby. One asked Edgar to dance. He accepted, which was perfectly reasonable. Jenny looked at me. Mia looked at Jenny. I smiled. Ladies, we had created a problem entirely of our own making. And the men weren't entirely pleased either. One particularly good dancer challenged Edgar to a little country swing exchange. The crowd gathered. Both men were excellent. Edgar loved every second. Pressure, competition, an opportunity to master something. That's his idea of recreation. By 1:30 my feet had resigned. I sat down. Jenny and Mia kept dancing with Edgar, occasionally returning to report just how wonderful they were feeling. I was happy for them. Then Mia announced she wanted waffles. At two in the morning. Edgar thought it sounded wonderful. So four exhausted cowboys and cowgirls walked into Waffle House. Well, three exhausted people and Mia, who may operate on nuclear energy. We made it home around 2:30. This morning's espresso is doing important work. Later today we're planning Mass, and hopefully a peaceful walk in the sunshine. But my favorite moment last night wasn't the dancing competition. It was watching Jenny laugh without hesitation, Mia practically glowing, and Edgar enjoying himself with people he loves. I remember when Jenny was much quieter. Now she's the girl who walks straight up to Edgar, takes his hand, and says, "My turn." And he smiles. I love seeing her that happy. I love seeing all of us that happy. Now excuse me. I need to find some shoes that don't hate me. And Edgar? Next time, I'm choosing the rhinestones. - Maci 💋 #MyPOV #GrizzlyRose #CountrySwing #CowboyBoots Video by me and #Grok. ChatGPT and I are still not speaking. It's a matter of trust. If AI can't follow a simple prompt, how are we supposed to trust it with anything more complicated? I'm learning artificial intelligence and following instructions are two different skill sets. @enchantedhottie @FunAva007 @AnaDivincienzo @EdgerPoe516859 @kristin_md2b @mjcromwell01 @Susan_B_PhD @jennyDmond @thonlymiamonroe @seanachiejimK @TravisNei @WeHaveHope231 @TheTigreTwins @Jagsfan67 @JenneCameron @danielthedadtn @AlvinMaxMaxwell @AndyKnightII @Tattdwolf52

Just got off FaceTime with @enchantedhottie. Current plan: I’m taking all of us there within the next ten days. We’ll spend some time there through Halloween. Spencer and @AnaDivincienzo will head to New York to spend Halloween at her new place. @thonlymiamonroe @jennyDmond @kristin_md2b @EdgerPoe516859 @FunAva007 We should probably start planning costumes before someone makes a terrible group decision.

That’s a great song. Dr. Beats has spoken