The Marsh Siblings Legal Guardians
Melissa "Missy" Ray (nèe Paulson)
She's a housewife/stay at home mother
Born in the mid-1930s to a large, tight-knit family; she grew up taking care of her younger siblings since her parents worked a lot
A phenomenal baker. Cookies, sweet bread, and simple cakes are her love language. The kitchen is where she feels most in control.
Such a gentle soul but can be strict when she needs to be
Never raises her voice unless someone is in real danger or she needs to assure they understand that she's not playing around
Never pressures Beverly and Malachi to call her “Mom,”
She treats Beverly and Malachi like she gave birth to them. She's overprotective and very loving.
Loves to garden. It's free therapy for her
She wants to adopt all kids who come from broken homes but knows she doesn't have the money to take care of them properly
Loves the losers club. Thinks there an adorable little bunch and has very strong maternal instance over them
Missy sometimes wonders if she failed her own younger siblings by growing up too fast and pours everything she has into making sure Beverly and Malachi get to just be kids
Works as a High School Facilities Manager
Like the Marsh siblings, he was also adopted out of an abusive household in the 1940s, so he is very sympathetic and understanding with his adopted kids
His adopted family was loving but not very present in his life. He was only close with his oldest brother, Derek.
Ray is his adopted last name, not biological. He had his adopted parents legally change it because he didn't want to be connected to his biological parents in any way besides blood
Rarely talks about his own childhood unless asked directly.
Is a MASSIVE civil rights and LGBTQ advicator.
He used to be a police officer back in 76 but got fired when he let a black kid who was under suspicion of having drugs walk free
He keeps his old police jacket in the back of a closet. It still smells faintly like cigarette smoke. He hasn’t worn it in years and probably never will.
He has an old habit of sitting with his back to the wall in public places. Something that would often happen when he was about to get beaten
He gets sick to his stomach with anger when he hears about the horrors his adopted babies went through. Seriously, he's thought about hunting, Mr. Marsh down and murdering him (papa bear genes really kicked in)
Lets Beverly and Malachi set physical boundaries. Never forces hugs. Never makes them feel guilty if they pull away.
He wishes he had the money to spoil his family they way they deserve. He often feels guilty about it
