Married at 20 to "Big Dad" in The Old Country, Grammie and "Big Dad" immediately thereafter left for America because her family discovered she was already many months pregnant with Elaina. Grammie and "Big Dad" made ends meet working out of their rented home in New Bedford, MA. "Big Dad" ran a TV repair shop in the living room, Grammie did the bookkeepping at night and worked at Hathaway Mills during the days.
30 years ago "Big Dad", Grammie, Elaina, Wallace (married to Elaina), and 6yr old Caroline were driving to Grammie’s and "Big Dad's" 25th wedding anniversary party. Their car was struck by a train (read the newspaper here). "Big Dad" was killed instantly and Wallace was crippled for life. Grammie, Elaina, and Caroline were sitting in the rear seat and miraculously survived with no physical scars.
Wallace (in wheelchair), Elaina and young Caroline moved in with Grammie. "Big Dad's" TV repair shop was closed down and the living room cleared out. Grammie's Mill wages tided over the family while Elaina started her own business, miraculously finding a business angel to loan the money to construct the building and buy the machinery. Wallace could no longer work but became the stay-at-home dad for Caroline. The family prospered financially through the combined efforts of Grammie and Elaina.
Caroline went to college, dropped out to marry Jack (who graduated and became a school teacher in music and sports) and give birth to Maria. Caroline later became an international flight attendant. When Maria was 7 Caroline fell in love with a pilot, asked Jack for a trial separation, and moved herself and Maria "back home" to live with Grammie and Elaina and Wallace.
Nobody thinks it's oddly coincidental that Jack's house is right behind the family's house, which makes it very convenient
