Family affairs: Maddie watched her life literally go up in flames when Grandma Ursula stepped in
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We are kicking off the series with the most sought-after, granddaughter-grandma duo, Maddie Boulton and Grandma Ursula who've shared a life full of twists, turns, and plenty of surprises. Now back together at the Mansion, they take a closer look at the bond they share.Growing up in the Mansion with Grandma Ursula was a great big adventure for Maddie. “I’ve heard all the stories. Apparently, we’d pick flowers, bake pies, and play hide-and-seek for hours,” Maddie recalls.
Grandma Ursula chimes in. “Well… until we had to call in fire and rescue because Maddie found the ‘perfect hiding spot,’ and it turned into an entire afternoon of frantic searching across the Mansion and grounds. I aged by a year. It’s a wonder we didn’t put up ‘Missing Maddie’ posters.”
It’s a wonder we didn’t put up ‘Missing Maddie’ posters.
For most teenagers, growing up means pulling away from family, but Maddie had no such plans. “I mean, come on, my grandma flies planes, practices marksmanship, and is in a biker gang. Who wouldn’t want to be like her?”
But life has a funny way of shaking things up. As Maddie went off to college, the once-inseparable duo began to drift. “Looking back, I know Grandma didn’t approve of some of my choices – like the red flag I almost married for life. I don’t blame her. I regret those years we didn’t keep in touch that much.”
Grandma Ursula reflects, “Well, dearies, it’s a grandparent’s job to step back and give children space to make their own decisions (mistakes – following an emphatic correction request, we’ve ‘correcting’ this accordingly) , even when they involve breaking out half a dozen dogs and cats from the local shelter. I had to spend weeks begging and bribing friends and neighbors to adopt them because the shelter wouldn’t take them back!”
When every door was closing, she opened one to the Mansion—and a whole new life.
For Grandma Ursula, it wasn’t so much a heroic rescue as it was simply what family does in times of need. “We don’t always see that what’s happening is part of a grand (meticulously crafted – after careful consideration, we acknowledge that this is an implication we are unable to support with evidence, and hereby redacted the aforementioned addition with apologies) plan, until we look back and connect the dots. I’ve always been fond of Maddie; for her, I’d do anything, apparently, including adopting half a zoo and hosting more parties than I care to count, even though I’m not the biggest animal (nor people! – the interviewee insisted this was more of a ‘jovial exaggeration’ rather than an actual dislike) person.”
Now, with Maddie back at the Mansion, the duo is in their golden era. “I’m excited for this new chapter with Grandma, but I’m not too sure if her secret-keeping ways will change anytime soon. After all, old habits die hard. One thing’s for sure, I’ll never stop trying to get to the truth”, says Maddie. “In the meantime, Grandma and I will definitely keep working on our relationship. We’ll throw the best parties Hopewell Bay has ever seen, with friends, family, neighbors, and maybe even a few romantic interests. It’s about time she had a little romance in her life, don’t you think?”
Grandma Ursula has other ideas. “Well now, darlings, I think I’ve had my fill of excitement. A quiet and private life suits me just fine, one with Maddie, the occasional pie, and any and all mysteries buried deep where they are best left.”
It seems this grandmother-granddaughter duo is just getting started. And if you ask Maddie, the best is yet to come.
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Next up: the unfiltered truth behind the strong and sometimes dramatic bond between sisters Deb and Ursula Boulton. Got a local family you'd love to expose... we mean, see featured? Drop us a note with your suggestions, and who knows? We might just put them in the hot seat.