family – Page 2 – Vicarious Living

Samuel

Who knew that one little boy could make such a difference to a person. Victoria Mortina stands in the doorway to the blue bedroom, staring at the little bassinet. The same bassinet that has sheltered and housed every single Mortina baby; ever since Danielle and Ricardo Mortina started their family. In the bassinet, fast asleep, his ginger hair reflecting the light, tiny balled fists next to chubby cheeks, is the ninth generation of Mortinas. Her son, her precious little Gift, Samuel. Or rather, Samuel Vince Mortina, for he isn’t just any baby. He is the Mortina who will carry on the fight for Justice.

Victoria blushes a little. It’s not only every day life that has changed, with the feeding and changing and all the rest of the Bundle of Joy activities needed to make sure that Samuel will get a three star Good Upbringing trait. That is a priority at the moment, of course, and even though he is just a tiny baby, he has got one star already; Chris and Victoria have made sure of that! No, it’s not just the daily care for Samuel that has changed, she has changed too.

Chris used to bore her silly with his endless rants about Injustice, and Destiny, and all his self importance, and his victim stance, his constant fussing about being misunderstood by the whole of Sims Mobile, and how difficult his life was. Now she finds herself remembering more and more of his endless litanies. Looking at the tiny Samuel, she can feel some of the excitement that Guinevere must have felt, looking at Little Chris. “No wonder she always called him ‘Little Chris’ even though he is by no means the smallest Mortina,” Victoria smiles.

Yes, she actually smiles about it now, whereas only a year ago it used to make her cringe. In the end it got so bad that Victoria just had to leave the room whenever Guinevere started off on one of her ‘Little Chris’ stories. It just made her so mad, the endless stories about all Chris’ doings, and the way he was talked about, as if he was going to save the Mortina race, at least the race belonging to ancestor Chris… Now she finds herself daydreaming, seeing Chris and Samuel standing up for justice together. Maybe they will lead a petition at the Court..mmmm, not so heroic, you just fill in some forms. With Victoria actually working there they don’t even need to go to the civic centre, she can just take it in to work with her.

Well, maybe they can do a protest in the market square? Not very many important people passing through, she objects, and it would look a little silly, just standing there. On the other hand, both of them have just received their last trait. Little worry lines appear, whilst she carefully straightens Samuel’s blanket. Having all their traits will mean retirement soon after Samuel grows up, no doubt. Of course, they can delay their retirement for a while, but then that would prevent Samuel from fulfilling his…his destiny, I suppose, she realises with a shock.

“Oh dear,” she whispers, sitting down on top of the blue bedspread, “oh dear, I’m starting to sound like Chris…and his Mum! Am I going to be as obsessive as them? Will I be nagging my little Samuel with Destiny, Justice and Restoring the Line, like Guinevere did to Chris? Oh Lord, please protect me and him from doing that! How awful if I put the same kind of pressure on Samuel!”

It was a busy time for Victoria. Many of her friends that she had grown up with were all taking retirement. She felt sad, and a bit lost, knowing that she wouldn’t see their familiar faces around anymore. Even some of her relatives are retiring, and she stand on the doorstep, watching them walk off, out of her life, and feels her stomach getting heaver and heavier. “Bye David, bye Alex,” she whispers, swallowing tears and with the tears the funny squashed feeling in her throat. “What will I do at parties without you guys there to have a chat? It will be so strange! Who do I talk to?”

Well, that is nonsense of course, she recovers herself, tugging at her bright green top, a reminder to be strong, to stand for what is right. “You have been to lots of parties,” she reminds herself in her sternest voice, “and you always find somebody to chat to. You have even been to parties where you didn’t really know anybody. Remember the last one you went to, Taylor Mason’s party! It was great, so many art lovers there…” It had been a great party, one that Victoria had never been to before, but Taylor was going to retire soon, and wanted to have one more party, so Victoria went, and had a great time. It did lead to words with Chris when she came back, and described the children’s bedroom at Taylor’s house. Chris was not amused, and felt that she was trying to make him feel bad for not having built a special room as big and bight as the one at her friend’s house!

David and Alex had told her about some of the others ready to retire; the one that stunned her the most being Sierra! Sierra Chisholm, retiring? Who had ever dreamt that would be possible! So when Sierra pops in for a moment, obviously on her way to something, she isn’t as shocked as Sierra was clearly hoping she was going to be.

“Well, you won’t be retiring yet, not with a baby,” says Sierra, lifting one eyebrow in her well known manner, “I can’t imagine Chris wanting anymore kids now he has got someone to carry on his world saving mission… Mind you, having an only child with such lofty ideals set before him is bound to turn it into a spoiled brat. You’ll probably be quite relieved you’ll only have the one child to deal with. Less damage…”

Victoria had gone very red and could feel herself starting to shake with anger and hurt, but Sierra had flounced off, waving over her shoulder, “Must be off, lots to do before I take life a bit easier…” Victoria was left standing on the doorstep, hot and bothered, too angry to speak. Of all the cheek…! She soon gets over her anger though, as holding tiny Samuel in her arms melts her heart, and makes her forget the whole of Sims World! She loves to sing to him, and watch his little face light up when she makes cooing noises. He is such a beautiful baby, so lively and has such bright eyes, that by the time the birthday cake appears, Victoria is convinced that Samuel is special.

“You see,” she explains to Chris, “I do worry about putting pressure on him, especially when he is so small, like your mum did to you. I’m not talking about that, but I do think that he is a very special child. The way he looks, and the speed with which he reacts to everything, I think that’s amazing. I am convinced that he is really going to make a difference in Sims Mobile.”

Chris couldn’t have been happier. All his life he had been prepped to make a difference, to Restore justice, to…to fix the Mortina Family Line. With his little son, it looked like he had done just that! He felt the sense of relief as well, relief that it wasn’t actually something he still had to accomplish, but rather, he had done it already! He felt happier than ever, and was beginning to feel that tiny spark of job satisfaction that comes from a task completed. He leaned back, watches Victoria hold his baby son, and a warm, tingling feeling starts at his feet, and works through his body, till it culminates in a beaming smile.

“I’ve done it, Mum, I’ve done it,” he whispers, “I’m not a failure, I haven’t let you down, nor Ancestor Chris for that matter… I have provided Sims Mobile with a son. My beautiful Vince, well, Samuel Vince, will Restore Justice. Not just for Ancestor Chris, but also for Ancestor Vincent, the one that…well, the tragic one…” Of course, Samuel was still tiny, but children grow up with the speed of lightning in Sims Mobile it seems, and birthday icons appear out of nowhere before you know it!

Samuel grows up, of course, Victoria knew it would happen sooner rather than later. He is a cute little boy, and she loves to watch him. “Don’t you think he really looks different in that top?” she asks Tabitha one day. Tabitha looks at her strangely and then averts her eyes quickly.

“No, I don’t,” she says softly, after a very awkward moment, “he looks just like any other Mortina boy I have seen in this family, whether it is this generation, our generation, or any generation. They all looked like little Samuel. I know to you he is special, you’re his mother, but don’t go down the line of worshipping him, and spoiling him.”

Victoria blushes violently at these words, and has to look away, horror written all over her face, shock widening her eyes. Spoiling him? She hears Sierra’s voice again, when she came to say goodbye, assuring her that her darling Samuel would grow up into a spoiled brat…! That mustn’t happen, and she is sure that it can’t happen. Samuel is such a smart little boy, and so handsome already…

It niggles away at Victoria though, and she decides to watch out for any signs that Samuel is being spoiled. She spends the rest of the day not just feeding and playing with Samuel, but also looking for any signs that he is becoming a spoiled little boy. That evening she talks about it with Chris, as she is starting to get a little concerned, now that she has observed Samuel a bit closer, but feels that as Samuel’s mother she might not be the best person to recognise the signs. She looks at Chris, a little unsure how to bring this up, without upsetting him.

“I watched Samuel today,” she begins, twisting her fingers, then realises she is wearing her favourite green top, which is showing signs of too much usage, and takes a deep breath, drawing in strength as well as air. “I watched him react to things he dislikes, and really, he went nuts! Do you think we should be concerned? He is really very demanding, you know, and he has such a temper….”

Victoria stops, as she can see Chris’ matching temper rising too. “Well, what did you expect?” he says, his voice already on edge, “He has a Destiny in life, you know, there is a Mission ahead. He’s not just any sort of kid, who can just wander through life, collecting his handful of traits, getting level ten in careers and hobbies, and then just pass into retirement, never to be heard of again! My son, our son, well, he is Special, he…he needs all the strength of character he can grow, and he will need sheer determination, stamina and will power to undo a Grave Injustice…” Chris stops, out of breath, glaring at Victoria, daring her to disagree, to belittle his son or his calling in life.

Victoria sighs to herself, but smiles at Chris, putting her hand on his arm, calming him, reassuring him, and says soothingly, “Of course I know all that, but you see, my family were heroes too, in fact, I helped out with various missions,” she plucks at her bright green top with her free hand, smiling at the distant memories now, “but we were always told that being strong is not the same thing as being pushy. It is easy to be forceful, to hit people over the head with a big stick, but it’s a different matter altogether to have strength of character. That is what makes a hero.”

“There is a Bible verse that says, ‘He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit is better than he takes a city’ so I know it’s important to have self control, and I do believe that it is important that Samuel learns that. I know he is a darling little boy, and I do agree that he is very, very special, but if he grows up without strength of character, he will bring heartache and harm to the Mortina Line, rather than restore the Line. I know he has the makings of a great man, a great warrior for justice, but if his temper is untamed, he will be a walking disaster.”

She looks straight at Chris, sees his frown, the blazing eyes, but her steady gaze, her calm face and sweet smile conquers, and in the end she can see his anger ebbing away. He takes a deep, shuddering breath, and nods. “Yes, yes, I know you are right, I just want him to do well…I love him, and I just know that he will be special, and I want him to succeed in whatever he does. I know he needs steering carefully, I don’t want his spirit squashed, but I can see he needs the right kind of upbringing.”

This is easier said than done. Samuel is a very strong willed little boy, with a flaming temper to match his fiery hair, sparkling green eyes full of zest for life, and a cheeky grin. His ideas are as wild as his hair, and his parents look at each other in despair several times each day… What will become of their sweet little darling, when he isn’t little anymore? Victoria doesn’t know, but she is determined to be the best mother she can be for this vibrant little boy! How grateful she is every day for this little bundle of joy, this wriggling mass of chubby arms and sturdy legs, this wonderful boy with a zest for life that infects the most dour person around him! Samuel, a fitting name for the daily reminder that God had heard her prayers!

Advice

It is still early, the day hardly started. Victoria yawns, pads over to the post box, collecting the Special Events money on her sway. Such hard work, those special events, especially as most of them are done overnight. They can be six hours long, so to do them in the day is hard. She feels tired and wonders if she’ll have to smile a lot today, or whether she can just hide out somewhere and rest.

When she passes the lounge she can see little Esther staggering round already. She looks the spitting image of Eva at that age, in fact, it’s almost impossible to tell them apart at that age! She sighs, sadness crawling in past her defences. The fact Esther is up and about means that the bassinet is empty, waiting for a baby. Our baby, whispers her heart, our baby should be in there!

The post does nothing to improve her mood. In it is an information card from Sims Mobile Government that she and Chris both have started on their last trait, which means that in just a day or so they’ll be able to choose the last trait, work a bit longer, and the dreaded retirement notice will pop up! She sits down on the richly upholstered chair in the foyer, her legs jellified, heart beating wildly. She wanted a baby, wanted it so badly! Now it looks like it will never happen, she’ll be old and grey and retired, without ever carried a child, without having anyone call her Mummy.

She feels the resentment and anger against Chris growing, feels angrier with herself still. Surely she could have found a way to talk to him, how could she have let it happen? She knows it is because of his rages and tears that she has left it. She hates how he dissolves in tears, blaming the whole world, drowning in self pity. She hates the scenes, so she has avoided any issues that might cause a meltdown. She knows it’s the way of least resistance, and is disappointed in herself. “You know how he shouts though, and what with the others in the house… I can’t let it happen, what would his Mum say or think if I upset her son that way? What kind of a wife drives her husband that mad? They will all think I’m a bad influence on Chris, that I’m no good and incapable of handling him. What else could I do?”

She looks at the notices again, knowing their time will be up quite soon, and as they have no young children or other dependants, they have no reason to delay retirement, which means that they will be made to retire well before anyone else. Well before Richard and Tabitha for example, who have still got very young children, and can therefore delay their retirement without any problems. What to do? She feel stuck, stuck in a position she got herself into, but then, what else could she have done? Have endless shouting matches? Drive Chris over the edge, seeing how fragile his mental health is anyway? Go to the Court, and get a lawyer to draw up papers, but then, would Chris listen to papers any more than he would to a person?

She stares at the dark red wallpaper, thinking back over the years that she has been married to Chris. Victoria remembers the good times, for Chris can be great fun, but the gaps between good times are getting longer it seems. She breathes out, trying to release some of the stress that she can feel growing inside her. Sleeping is getting harder and harder, anger, resentment, frustration and yes, and hate, growing inside her at night, when she lies down next to Chris. A peacefully sleeping Chris, snoring away, unless somebody has upset him… Then he moans and complains, and keeps repeating how misunderstood he is, and how nobody loves him. He will constantly tell her that he has a task to fulfil, and that not a single person in Sims Mobile is supporting him. After a few hours of that, she can’t she can blame people!

When he does doze off after a bit, she has been tempted to put a pillow over his face, but stopped herself, as she knows it will go wrong, apart from any ethical questions. Nothing seems to stop or change Chris! “Lord, I don’t know what to do, I fear I’m starting to hate him, and I’m desperate to have a child. I know the anger towards Chris is mostly anger against my own weakness, Lord, but what else can I do? What should I do now? I have nobody to talk to, the house is full of people, and I have never been so lonely in my life! Please help!”

That morning Victoria learns a very valuable lesson: be careful what you pray for…!

The first thing that happens is that straight after breakfast both sets of grandparents announce quite calmly that they’re moving out! Of course, the move had been planned for ages, but it still comes as a shock. Secretly, Victoria is relieved to see Guinevere and Sebastian go. They were very friendly, and Guinevere has been very helpful, but they also have an unhealthy influence on their Little Chris, as they still call him.

Guinevere in particular is always concerned that Chris has everything he needs. “Make sure you don’t cook his beans to long, he doesn’t like them too dark green.” Once she even said, “I hope you’re not thinking of cutting your hair? Chris really doesn’t like women with short hair.” Victoria had smiled, of course, and only rolled her eyes and pulled a nasty face once she knew she was all by herself in the bathroom…

Now Guinevere is going, and although they might still visit, this is highly unlikely, and Chris will have no way of contacting his mum. Sims Mobile Government don’t approve of children contacting their parents once they have moved into the retirement homes, so unless they bump into her in the market, it’s very unlikely that he will see Guinevere again! Chris is very upset, hugging his Mum, crying on her shoulder, repeating over and over, “What do I do to fulfil my destiny now? Who will help me now? Can’t you just stay? Just don’t accept the birthday cake letter?”

Fortunately, even Guinevere can see how impractical that would be, so, before the day is over, Victoria is living in a much calmer house. It’s incredible how different it feels! Sebastian was very quiet, and kind, Guinevere was friendly, but it feels as if the air in the house has lifted. Victoria even senses a change in Chris. He doesn’t seem such a victim that lunchtime, and actually discusses some things in a very rational manner! Victoria doesn’t want to count her chickens yet, but it looks as if Chris has finally grown up just a tiny bit…long may it last!

The next answer to her prayer comes in the form of two of her friends. Afterwards she chuckles to herself, yes, beware of what you pray for, you might not like the answer…! It started soon after lunch. Friends often pop in for a chat, or a cup of tea, and they all enjoy it. Apart from Chris, of course, who says it cramps his style. After lunch Tabitha spots Victoria McDonnell standing just outside, checking her phone. Tabitha is busy, so she sends Eva to call Victoria in. Eva dutifully goes outside and says to Victoria, “My Mum and Auntie are inside, doing their hobbies. Mummy asks if you would like to come in for a bit?” She shows Victoria to the hobby room, where the yoga mat is, and the hatch to the kitchen. In that way, Victoria McDonnell can visit with Tabitha as well as Victoria, her aunt…

Tabitha’s hobby is cooking, which takes her all round the kitchen, using the red mixer, nuking things in the blue microwave. Then there are the three children, Eva, Theodore and toddler Esther, who keep popping in and out of the kitchen, asking for this, wanting that, needing all sorts of things, mostly attention… That leaves Victoria, who is confined to her little pink yoga mat. She can pretend to be bending, stretching, leaning, but there is only so much you can do that, and of course, it’s all very slow moving. There is plenty of time to listen to Victoria McDonnell of course, and no excuse or way to avoid her.

Victoria McDonnell is a straight talker, as Victoria knows, and her heart sank when she came into the hobby room. It starts soon after their guest arrived, whilst Vitoria K was trying to do an awkward stretch. Victoria watches her for a bit, looks at the kitchen where Tabitha is sorting out a snack for Theo, and says, “Well, the family bassinet is empty, isn’t it? So when are you and Chris starting a family? I mean, you’ll be getting your last trait soon, won’t you? For as long as I remember you’ve wanted a family, so when is it going to be?”

Victoria K plops down on the yoga mat, her breath leaving in one big whoosh. Really Lord, this is Your idea of getting someone to advise me? She groans, why did I even ask? She looks at Victoria, nope, the girl isn’t going anywhere, she sighs. She sits up, looks over to where Chris sits writing, and shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know,” she says, and suddenly her eyes fill with tears! Victoria McDonnell is there straight away, hugging her, helping Victoria to her feet.

Over a cup of proper English Breakfast tea, Victoria K explains how sad she is, how desperate for a child, and how Chris tends to lose it when she mentions it. Victoria McDonnell listens intently, and agrees that it can look like the easiest option is to go for peace. “Girl, you need to make up your mind though. Now his parents are gone, things might be easier, I mean, you need to do what is right, and you’re his wife, not his doormat, you know!”

Yes, Victoria knows, but even so, she hates confrontations, always believes stuff will solve itself, which it often does, Chris being the exception, it turns out… Victoria McDonnell stays a little longer, hugs Vitoria goodbye, and encourages her to really follow her heart in these matters, to push through, and to trust that everything will work out in the end. “You’re a very strong woman, I know you can do this. Chris does love you, I’m sure, and with his parents gone he will need you a lot more as well. Give it a shot, woman, give it a shot, I’m sure it will be ok! After all, what are a few broken plates, or a hole punched wall if you can get him to see sense?” She laughs, and goes off, beautiful, glamorous, wearing skimpy clothes and still looking stunning…how does she do it, wonders Victoria K, I would just look a tart dressed like that, and she manages to look amazing…!

The next one coming up to the house actually makes Victoria look up to the sky and say, “Really? This is NOT what I had in mind when asking for help…!” It’s Vivien, Vivien Leigh in all her splendour, striding along the pavement, making you look behind her to find her courtiers, or maids, or anyone waiting on her. She is so beautiful and stunning, yet so kind and understanding, with an amazing grasp of life, you just want her to be your friend. Just to feel supported, and seen as a person, and accepted.

She goes out to meet Vivien, and Vivien comes to the point straight away. She tells Victoria that she heard about her wish for a family, and the moods that Chris gets himself into, and that she decided to come and see her. After all, that is what friends are for, aren’t they? This is true, and Victoria feels helpless at this, as she did ask for a friend, but so soon… Not today, though, Victoria groans, not today, I don’t think I can take it if she asks me why I haven’t taken Chris to the cleaners yet… What will she think of me? She would never be that weak and mouse like, and she will despise me, and probably laugh her beautiful laugh, and I will feel a frump and…and… Oh Lord, really?

Vivien doesn’t laugh at all, and she certainly doesn’t look like she despises Victoria either. She smiles, and puts her fine, gloved hand on her shoulder and says, “Victoria, dear, you are a beautiful woman, and you have been a very good wife to Chris. You have been kind to him, shown understanding and acceptance where many women would have run a mile already. Don’t you think it’s time to use up the credit you have built with him, and talk to him? Yes, he might go off the deep end, but that is his choice, his responsibility. You are his wife, not his mother, and he is an adult. You are not responsible for his actions, he is. You need to point that out to him, if necessary. Now, he needs to grow up. All this talk about destiny and Restoring Justice, well, it’s just that: talk. I’m sure you will know how to deal with it all. You see, Greta and I were talking about it the other day with Clara, and she said, ‘She needs to remember what she was created for’ so you see, I’m sure you can do this!”

Vivien glides away majestically, leaving Victoria staring after her, deep in thought. “Yes,” she says to herself, “yes, they are right. I have actually forgotten. I have forgotten that people are created in the image of God, and nobody therefore has a right to look down on me, to treat me like I’m worthless! I know I’m precious, and yes, I need to speak to Chris, we need to solve this!”

Victoria wears a green top when she goes to speak to Chris. Somehow it helps her, as it reminds her of her superhero suit that she used to wear before she got married, before she somehow gave up her identity! They have a very long talk, Chris in tears at first, and angry, but when Victoria stands strong, the amazing thing happens! Chris draws from her strength, and starts to listen to her, and to actually think about his life, his choices, his real destiny as husband, and his need to be a father as well, unless he wants the Mortina Line to end on another Chris Mortina?

Victoria smiles to herself, nuzzling the red downy head, rocking gently, holding the most precious gift she could ever have, a gift she thought she had missed out on for ever. Her son, her precious, special sweet little son, Samuel Vince Mortina. Samuel, because she had asked him from the Lord, Vince because he is named after one of the ancestors who met a tragic end, which is another story in itself. Her dream has come true, her hopes are fulfilled, her heart overflows, “Sleep, my baby, sleep! You are my little treasure, I love you more than I thought possible!”

Clouds

Victoria watches her sister in law from the corner of her eye. It is only when her muscles start to tremble that she realises that doing a bendy dog whatever, and staring, eavesdropping, at the same time is not what yoga was made for. She straightens up, and does another move, who knows what it’s called. She is not into yoga at all, but needs to stay fit and trim, healthy…

She breathes out, more a sigh than a breath, and leans over, to hide her tears, hoping they won’t actually let go of her eyelashes and drop onto the mat. “How sad my life has become,” she sniffs, “when did that happen?” Then she takes another breath, and speaks to herself in a totally different voice, “Come on Victoria, what is going on? Having your surname changed isn’t the same as having a total personality makeover, old girl! You know you’re fine, you love Chris…mostly…well when he is in one of his rare happy moods anyway. Oh dear, here we go, right, try that one again: you love Chris, you get on really well with your kind cousin, you get on pretty well with your cousin’s wife Tabitha, the inlaws are ok, ehm, well, come on woman, keep counting your blessings!”

She sighs, this really isn’t working at the moment. It should though, she is normally such an optimist. Getting married, moving in, they are big events, and then that awful disease, Llama Flu, that hit cousin Richard…she shudders, and can still feel the stress, the fear, right deep inside her. She thinks back to those days, straight after their double wedding, and can still picture Tabitha’s face, eyes, staring, fear vibrating off her in huge waves. She was so scared herself as well. She has always been very fond of strong cousin Richard, and moving into this household didn’t seem such a massive deal with him under the same roof. The idea of him so ill, and possibly dying, scared her witless, as by then she was starting to get tiny inklings of the support she might need and want.

The first tiny ripples in her Pond of bliss came during the Wedding Event itself, and were totally unexpected. She was feeling regal and beautiful in her white wedding gown, Chris looked smashing in his tux, smile in place as it had been all during their courtship, engagement and still was now in the wedding. The change in his face came when they discussed having a family. She thought it was a nice intimate thing to chat about, you know, test the waters a bit, try and get onto the same page if possible.

She was not prepared for the dramatic shift in his mood though. “Kids?” he had growled, yes, growled! His voice sounded weird and angry and…scary! “What do you want to talk about kids for? We’re not even married, are we? Can’t I just enjoy you for a while, you know, just me and you, without having little kids crawling all over the place? Do you know how much energy and time they suck up? How can I concentrate on my calling with demanding kids around?”

He had stormed off, leaving her standing near the arch, too shocked to speak, too bewildered to move! Was this Chris? The same guy she had spent all that time with, the happy, smiley, charming guy? She had gone inside, trying to look busy and involved, smiling at the others, hoping that they hadn’t registered Chris’ absence. He had been back after half an hour, charming as ever, smiling at her, as if nothing had happened. She struggled, couldn’t change faces that quickly! He had been annoyed, she remembered, and had actually rolled his eyes at her!

“I’m here now, and talking to you, aren’t I?” he had sighed like a martyr, “I know you’re trying to make me feel guilty, and you probably feel I should be grovelling before you, begging your acceptance or whatever. Well, I won’t. I think it’s dreadful the way you try to manipulate me into apologies!”

She could feel her face going hot, even now, thinking back about the incident. “I should have known,” she mumbles whilst stretching the other way, “I should have run a mile then and there! I didn’t, I was sure it was just nerves.” It soon became clear that nerves were nothing to do with it, for as soon as they were securely married, he changed. In fact, Victoria hardly recognised him most of the time. When she mentioned it to her Mum, she had just smiled at her.

“Most men change once they are married, dear. There is nothing to worry about, I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s probably nervous as well, and with cousin Richard so desperately ill, well, no wonder Chris is a bit unsettled!”

Victoria had felt very alone, sure that it wasn’t just the normal change in a man after he has gotten married. She felt the change was too monumental for that, it was like a totally different man altogether. They way he glowered from morning till night, and sneered when she talked to him, dismissing anything she said offhand. Also, she felt sick and tired of his victim stance after just a few weeks. “Honestly, if he mentions Injustice or Restoring a Great Wrong one more time, I might just scream! It’s amazing how he manages to bring it up so many times a day! He is just obsessed with the whole idea of bringing justice for this ancestor, for restoring whatever went wrong. All it means is that one guy didn’t see his children take over the house. Not particularly a massive deal with this house if you ask me!”

After a while the constant moans and groans from Chris were starting to get to Victoria, something she would never have thought possible. He is so paranoid, she whispers whilst trying to get herself into a triangle shape. No wonder I’m getting paranoid too! Where has the real Victoria gone? She walks off quickly, and pretends to go to the gold bathroom. She washes her face, spending as much time as possible in the bathroom, whilst trying to find her smile back. “I mustn’t give in,” she whispers sternly to the pale face staring back at her in the mirror, “I really mustn’t give in. Or give up hope for that matter. I’m sure he’ll change back sometime, I’m sure I can help him, after all, without children he won’t be able to undo the whole ancestor thing, will he? He needs children, I just wished he wouldn’t be so hateful all the time…”

Watching Tabitha and Richard have their sweet daughter Eva had made things worse. As soon as Eva was born and started to get too big for the bassinet she had mentioned having a family again to Chris. He had exploded with rage, leaving her in tears. When he had calmed down enough to stop yelling he had justified his aversion against children. “Can’t you see how Tabitha dotes on that child? Can’t you see how she smiles at her, hugs her, and only has eyes for the girl? What about Richard? What husband wants to share his wife? I don’t want you to look at another person like that. I want you to only look at me in that way!”

After that he had become more and more suspicious. “Why are you so keen to have a family?” he had asked. “Have you got plans or something? Have a handful of kids, and then rush back to your fancy mansion, taking my children with you? Is it that I’m not good enough for you? Do you need children to make you feel better?”

Victoria had tried to placate him, making it worse. “Of course not, Chris, I love you, you know that? I really didn’t mind giving up the Knight house for you, I’d follow you anywhere, to any sort of house!”

That had not gone down well, she still grimaces thinking about the storm that had broken over her head at those words. Chris in tears, sobbing that nobody loved him, that he was never accepted for who he was, that even Victoria now said that his house wasn’t good enough for her and that she only lived here out of duty, sacrificing everything for Chris. Didn’t she know how that made him feel, why was she so hateful, manipulating him, forcing him to spend more and more hours at the office in order to earn a high enough salary to satisfy Victoria’s demands?

She stands on the pink yoga mat, and can still feel the shakes, and the cringing feeling in her stomach. What could she say to that? He hasn’t said very much about it since then. She has seen his mood deteriorating though, especially since Theodore was born a few weeks after the incident. Victoria daren’t bring the subject of children up again. She knows with the bassinet filled up, she won’t be able to have a child anyway. What is the good of setting Chris off again?

She struggles through the next few moves, watching Tabitha, feeling despair licking at the edges of her heart. Tabitha, about to have another sweet baby, smiling, and obviously on top of life, enjoying time with Richard and their beautiful children. A third child! “It is so unfair,” she groans, “so unfair, I could just cry for weeks. Why should they have three, and I can’t even have one? Not by choice either, at least not my choice! I can see them looking at me, wondering why we haven’t asked for the bassinet before. I have to smile at them, pretend life is hunky-dory, and our marriage is wonderful and living in this house is like…like living in a bed of roses. I miss my mansion, I miss my family, the beautiful carpets, the bubble blower, friends popping in and out. All I have is a miserable husband, too grumpy for words, sour and bitter, only concerned with his Destiny, mumbling about justice, never once thinking of anybody else…”

“I am desperate, Lord, I am so desperate to just have a child. I have three traits already, what if times runs out? Lord, please, change something, anything! Change Chris, change me, change whatever is needed, but please God, just give me this one child. I just need something to hold, something warm, something that belongs to me. I need someone to love, unconditionally. I am just so alone, and so unhappy! The worst part is that everybody expects me to smile and be upbeat. I can’t take it anymore, Lord, please help me!”

Victoria wants to trust, to be accepting, even accepting Chris and his bizarre moods and anger issues, but it’s getting harder and harder. She just busies herself with her yoga, hoping it will keep her in shape, keeping her strong enough to carry a little one, even when she will have all her traits if it comes to that! They all are busy with their hobbies most days, and Richard just loves his piano. The sad truth is, Chris loves the piano, he loves the kitchen, and he has chosen writing, because he loves it… The fact is that Chris tends to love whatever somebody else likes, especially when he can’t have it! He chose to be a writer, explaining that it was part of his Destiny, his Quest for Justice, that he would need to let the whole of Sim World know how he was going to rectify the Grave Injustice done to his ancestor. So Tabitha decided to do the cooking hobby.

“Well, I will need the kitchen a lot as the table is large, and I don’t think it will be a good idea for you to work in the kitchen when I’m trying to concentrate.” He had protested that Tabitha would squash his Gift, and that of course, she wouldn’t understand how important his lifework was, that nobody understood him, least of all his family! He had sulked and moped about for a week or so, until Victoria had chosen the yoga hobby. That had really set him off, exclaiming that he could not cope with being shamed by his wife. He wondered what he had done in his life that made people hate him so much, that all he got from everybody was contempt, and everyone was out to block him on his mission.

Victoria had sighed, then dressed her face in her widest smile, and moved the mat as near the kitchen as she could. She had explained that she had to take up a hobby, and that having a fit, trim, healthy wife would surely be an asset on his Quest. He had grumbled at that, eyeing her suspiciously, studying her bright smile to see if he could spot scorn anywhere. By now, however, Victoria could blank out any hateful or spiteful or disgusted feelings for this man, with a perfection that stunned even herself! He didn’t spot anything, so the grumbling went back down to the normal, daily rumblings, and normality as Victoria had come to know it was restored.

That is, until Richard chose the Piano hobby…! Chris had ranted and raved for ages, furious with Richard for taking up such a creative hobby. “You need a genius to play the piano well, everybody knows that. It should be part of my calling, my destiny, to play the piano. How can I write and put my thoughts into words for the whole world to benefit when someone who didn’t even carry over his Good Upbringing trait is banging away, pretending to be a playful plunker! Right next to my desk too, I can’t even hear my own thoughts or inspiration, and I know he just did it to mock me. He has never liked me, and always tried to belittle my existence in this house, and now he is doing his best to destroy me completely!”

Victoria sighs, she is aware of how much the other do despise Chris. He brought it on himself though, as none of them started out that way. In fact, most of them feel quite sorry for him, the only child of a rather obsessive mother and old father, he didn’t have an easy life as a child. On top of that, his Mum filled his head with talk of his destiny, and how he had to restore justice for his ancestor Chris, and how he was set apart to do great things. No wonder he is odd, and hard to live with… That is no excuse for his obnoxious behaviour though.

“It might be a reason, but not an excuse,” Tabitha had said one evening, Victoria, stretching just outside the kitchen window, heard Tabitha and Richard discuss Chris. “I know he had a tough time, but so do lots of other people. Doesn’t mean to say you can do what you want, and get away with it. I do feel sorry for Victoria, I wonder what…” Her voice had disappeared then, as the two of them had left the kitchen, leaving Victoria to mull over their words. Well, she wonders too, wonders where her sanity can be found again! She twists, bends, stretches…and prays…with all the frantic longings of her heart, “Please Lord, one child, just one child…”

Calm Waters

Tabitha is standing in the middle of the kitchen, staring at the Peacock table, trying to think why she had gone into the kitchen in the first place! She looks at the table, looks round, catches sight of two little pigtails, and remembers! The spare nappy bags! Quickly she digs through the drawers where she was sure she had some stashed away, and dashes out of the kitchen the moment she lays hands on them. Great! Now, where is Eva? “Eva, where are you, sweetie, come here quickly, because Mummy needs to check on Theo.”

Tabitha grins to herself, and can feel her smile growing the moment she lifts Eva high up in the air! She has a daughter! A sweet, cheeky toddler, cute little face, little pigtails, auburn hair of course. She still needs to remind herself that it is really true, she has a daughter, and now, in the bassinet there is a little baby. She actually laughs out loud, which sends Eva into a fit of giggles!

“Do you think that’s funny?” She croons, tickling her, “You have no idea how special you are, little one, you really have no idea! One day, when you’re old enough, we will tell you. We will tell you about the miracle that you are, and why we called you Eva. I suppose we will tell you also why your little brother is called Theodore, which means Gift from God. You are, yes, you are, you both are,” she continues, and probably would have continued a lot longer, but for the footsteps coming into the lounge.

Cousin Chris, she groans to herself, just what I need. I wonder how much he heard. I know I shouldn’t care, really, but I do. She looks up, mainly because of Eva, who is looking up with a very confused expression. She never knew that toddlers could look that confused, and it worries her a little. Chris is standing nearby, a scowl making his eyes almost disappear under his bushy eyebrows. “Great way to go, cousin,” he grates out at her, “nice and kind, ha ha. Great to rub it in, as if you’re the only ones favoured by your God. You know, some peace and quiet in the house could also be a gift from God, and that is exactly what I would be enjoying, if your kids didn’t make such a racket.”

With that, he is out of the lounge again, leaving Tabitha almost as confused as Eva. The little girl looks at her face, and Tabitha brings on the sunniest smile she can pull, and they both giggle, and spin round, and play, until Tabitha feels all the anger floating out of the huge latticed windows. She tidies herself up a bit, straightens the lounge, and as she turns to go to the room with the bassinet, she glimpses a shade of red going round the corner. Victoria.

Tabitha’s happiness has a little wobble, she feels so sad for Victoria! After all, the girl grew up in an amazing house, a mansion, richly decorated and furnished, with fun loving people. Now she is living in their cluttered house, as varied in colour as the ‘amazing technicolour dreamcoat’, apart from the amazing bit that is. She wonders if Victoria ever regrets marrying Chris? Not at first of course, as Chris was all smiles and hugs whilst courting her. He dressed immaculately for their wedding, and even for the wedding reception. The pictures show him smiling broadly at Victoria, hugging her, talking to her.

Tabitha tries to think when that changed. She knows that straight after their wedding Richard was diagnosed with Llama Flu. She shivers, like she always does when she thinks of that time. Her stomach still does a flip when she remembers the fear and anxiety of those days. Victoria had been so sweet then, helping her, supporting her and Richard. They had lived in the Granny Annexe for a while, until just before Eva was born. Victoria had suggested they moved back, and she and Chris would live in the Annexe.

Tabitha thinks through the moments they have had, and that is when Richard notices her. He is feeding Theodore when she walks into their room. “You alright?” he asks, looking a bit concerned, but still focussed on his son. His son! He can’t get over it, one moment he is going to live with Llama Flu, and all that entails, the next moment he is the immensely proud father of two children! “You look like you’re thinking,” he smiles at Tabitha, “trying to remember something you needed to do? Bath Eva? Clean Theo? Kiss me?”

Tabitha laughs, honestly, Richard can cheer her up any time! “I was just thinking about Victoria,” she says, “I was trying to remember when Chris stopped being outgoing, smiling, and returned to his usual sulky self. I spotted Victoria walking past the lounge, and I just wondered how she really is doing at the moment. You both grew up in such a lush environment, with so much luxury, it must be hard to leave all that behind.” She looks at Richard, and tries to smile at him. She doesn’t want to sound like she thinks he is ungrateful or materialistic, but she is a realist!

Richard looks at the tasteful blue room, the little boy in his arms, beautiful wife standing in front of him, and his smile reaches from one ear to the other ear, splitting his face in two. “Oh sweetheart, don’t you worry about that, not ever! I have all I need, all I want, you’re the best thing any man can have. I also have two adorable kids, what more would I want? I’m the richest man in Sims Mobile, who cares about stuff? You know, having the Flu helped to get life into perspective. It’s so sweet of you to think about that though, you’re my love!”

Tabitha is relieved, she knows he really means it. He really is the kindest man she could imagine, and to be married to him is, well, amazing doesn’t really do it justice! She looks round the room as well, happy with the blue bedspread… “I’m so glad we have a blue bedspread,” she says with great conviction. Richard straightens up from the bassinet, and stares at her.

“Excuse me?” he hesitates, looking totally confused, “did I miss part of the conversation? I thought we were talking about something different?”

Tabitha laughs, “It’s my wild train of thought,” she jokes, “it just took an unexpected turn. I was thinking about the Llama Flu, and the horror of those days, and how I used to wake up looking at the yellow bedspread. I vowed at one time that I would get rid of it, and never sleep under a stripy yellow bedspread again! Life is so different now, the Llama days seem a different lifetime, something that happened to another generation, and I just thought how grateful I was to have a blue bedspread.”

They laugh, her wild thought patterns a standing joke between them. Tabitha maintains that it helps her in her job, that it makes her a more creative photographer. Richard winds her up, and says that she just uses it as a smart excuse in order to get away with chaotic conversations! They look at each other, holding hands, smiling into each other’s eyes. “Can you remember that party Victoria threw for us? The one straight after Eva was born? Everyone seemed to turn up in yellow! In fact, one of the guests thought they had misread the party invite, and missed the fact that it was supposed to be a yellow party!”

“That was such a wonderful night, and I remember the feeling of your hands, your kisses, when we renewed our vows…It was so special, I was so moved…” Tabitha’s throat isn’t being very cooperative just now, she can only swallow, not speak. “I remember,” she manages to squeak out, “I remember us both promising to love and to hold, to cherish, in everything, in sickness and health… By then we really knew what those words meant, we weren’t just rattling our way through them in order to finish the Event. We meant them. Doesn’t that seem forever ago? But I can still see us both, standing under the arch, you in your canary shirt…” she can’t talk, she is laughing too much now, remembering Richard, by then the picture of health, wearing a ridiculous getup, love radiating off him in huge waves, encapsulating her, captivating her, enveloping her, until they were the only people on Sims Planet, let alone Sims Mobile.

Nothing else mattered, nothing else was needed, just the two of them. She remembers the tiny pitter patter of Eva’s staggering first few steps, and how it had reduced her to tears, overwhelmed with God’s goodness in all their riches.

Looking at the little bassinet, just able to spot a tiny fist waving about, she thinks back to those days, dreaming, floating on the memories. She looks up at her Mr Handsome, and says, in a much more serious voice, “You know, I can’t ever forget those hair raising days, the heartache and grief, but you know, I realise how easy it is to become placid. It is so easy to slide into everyday life, and to just take it all for granted!”

Richard agrees, “Yes, I sort of vowed that I would never take good health for granted again. Most days I do, though, and it’s scarily easy to do so! Life is so full and busy, and we lap it up, and we forget to actually stop and thank God for it. We just live it, love the gifts, enjoy the gifts and use them, and we actually in all our busy moment forget the Giver! It’s only when things go wrong that we look for something or someone to blame. We never blame anyone when things go the way we want them to go… It’s just so easy to do, I mean, life is so amazing, and the days just glide from one day into the next, it’s so surreal after the manic stress and devastating terror of those Llama days!”

Tabitha goes back to the kitchen, thinking about this. Victoria helps her to get dinner ready, and they chat a little in between grilling and stirring. “How are you doing?” asks Tabitha, “I meant to ask you the other day, we just seem to move past each other all the time!”

Victoria smiles, she always smiles thinks Tabitha, and shrugs, “Oh, I have been busy too, although not in the same way as you have of course! The Court is just quite busy at the moment, there have been quite a few parties in town, so that always brings extra work of course.” Tabitha grimaces and nods, parties can be like that. Looking at Victoria’s cute pixie like face, she realises that she could actually listen to Victoria’s voice for ages, it’s so sweet!

“I saw your friends quite a while ago, you know, the guy with the cowboy hat? They came in to register their daughter’s birth! It can’t have been that long before Eva was born, it was definitely around the time of…of…well, you know, that awful time, when everyone in town was so worried. Penny they called her, so sweet! She really is a cute little girl, and they are so happy! They were both at the Celebration Party as well, you know, after…after…” Victoria’s melodious voice actually harpers a bit, Tabitha notices in shock, “They said they had someone keeping an eye on Penny, and they took it in turn to pop back home to double check. I wonder if they have had another baby yet, or whether they will just have the one. Its such a responsibility, you know, so I can understand about families with just one child. Seems a tiny bit sad for the child though, if you know what I mean. Also, it’s then easy to put all your hopes and expectations on the one child, which could be awkward, like with…” she stops, blushes a bit, and turns to the microwave, “Oh, this one is done, I just love how you can nuke things quickly!”

Tabitha is a bit dazed after all that, and grins in herself, “I know I said I could listen to her sweet clear voice all day? Well, I think I just did…!”

Victoria breezes out of the kitchen once they’re finished, smiling, and chattering to Adrianna. Tabitha looks at the two of them disappearing off to some project no doubt, Mum loves projects, an Victoria always seems to have a surplus of energy… I wish I could borrow some, at least till Theo sleeps through the night… Interesting that she suddenly stopped though, when talking about small families. Maybe she isn’t as happy as she looks. After all, Chris is Mr Awkward at the best of times, with his longsuffering attitude…with the stress on suffering… Honestly, I’m sure he just looks for opportunities to become the victim of something or other! I wonder what they think about our children? I have seen Victoria watching, smiling as usual, and Chris seems to glare every time they make a noise. I just wonder…poor Victoria,, I hope she really is alright?

Shadows

Tabitha is hiding in the golden bathroom. Her eyes are sore, her nose is red, her face wet with tears. How can life go so badly wrong in such a short time? She sobs and sobs, trying to stifle them as much as possible, for fear that Richard will hear. Richard! That brings on a new flood of tears. “Oh, Richard,” she groans “my Richard! My wonderful, strong, handsome Knight in shining armour! What am I going to do? What can we do?”

Just a day or so ago Tabitha had been dancing on the mountaintop of life. Her heart was fit to burst, her cup was overflowing. She and Richard couldn’t have been happier, their future together stretching out as an endless golden dream. Now, in just the blink of an eye, their future looks a black gaping abyss.

Tabitha looks round her beautiful bathroom, all golden and shiny. What she wouldn’t give to have her dreams restored and polished till they shone again, too. Never, when going through all the worries about getting engaged and getting married, having to share her life and bed with a virtual stranger, never for once did she imagine this. Sure, arranged marriage is a huge gamble, it could lead to heartache and all sorts of issues. Sure, there is a lot of unfaithfulness, even in Sims Mobile, but Tabitha hadn’t banked on this. This horror, this…this unimaginable horror.

All was well during the wedding event, in spite of it lasting for ages. The sweet times together still play in her mind, in spite of their bittersweet aftertaste. The event did last, and last, and at one point Richard changed back into his green superhero suit. Tabitha stayed in her wonderful dress, it made her feel the queen of the house, even if it was just for a limited time! They discussed all sorts of things. They confessed all sorts of things. Tabitha confessed that she had toyed with the idea of just getting eloped; Richard didn’t like that idea!

The tears subside a bit whilst Tabitha is replaying the wedding, and the wonderful tender times they had. Until she remembers that conversation about having a family, planning how many children they were going to have. Tabitha slides down on the cool bathroom tiles, crying as if her heart will break. Children! They were going to have a house full of them, filling the little bassinet as quickly as it would empty! They had dreamed together about playing with their children, playing with the castle, watching them draw, encouraging them, praising them.

Tabitha cries and cries, until she is totally spent, and can not possibly cry anymore. She can’t get off the floor, she is too worn out. She doesn’t care about her wonderful career, she doesn’t care about the beautiful wedding dress she managed to buy. She doesn’t care about life anymore. What sort of life is it, anyway, which lies ahead? Bleak, empty, dark…never ending…

Once the wedding event was over, and they were officially pronounced husband and wife, life soon went back to normality. All four of them, as Chris and Victoria were married by now as well, went to work on the Luxury Events. They had totally neglected these as their courtships and weddings had taken top priority. Now that they were all four happily married, and both Victoria and Richard had been allowed to move in, it was time to resume normality.

That was when disaster struck, or rather, when the effects of the disaster became apparent. Tabitha stares ahead, not seeing the sparkling bath, or anything else for that matter. All she can see is the horror, the dread, the shock on her beloved’s face. Richard had gone to the restaurant to do the event there, she was at home, doing the Leisure event. First there had been a very garbled message from Jalisa Key. Jalisa is the manager at the restaurant, another one of the ancient workers that never seem to retire. According to Jalisa, Richard had collapsed, and was in fact beyond recognition.

Tabitha had absolutely no idea what Jalisa was talking about, the woman sounded completely out of breath as well as out of sense. She tried to get her off the phone as quickly as she could, just a little worried, wondering if the move and long wedding had been more tiring than they had realised. Tabitha wasn’t over concerned, as Richard was a very competent doctor, as well as young and strong, his muscles bulging under his wedding shirt!

Until she saw him, standing on the doorstep. Her world caved in, and everything went black. When Tabitha came round, she was on the bed in the Granny Annexe, a sad Lancelot and Adrianna by her side. She could tell that Adrianna had been crying, and she couldn’t remember her Dad ever looking so sad! “What happened?” she asked, then it all came flooding back in her mind. Her darling Richard, looking like a pink blob, standing on the doorstep, looking more distraught than she had thought possible. Her handsome, powerful husband, with his kind eyes and ready smile, reduced to a blob. It was beyond comprehension.

Richard knew what it was, of course. So did her Uncle Sebastian. They explained it to her, much later, when she was recovered of her initial shock. They all sat down in the Granny Annexe, looking sad, although for now Richard had recovered a little, looking just like his normal self. Tabitha looked at him, his strong arms, his eyes sparkling, just like he had looked for the last days or so whilst courting her, marrying her. Hope crept into her heart, she allowed it to sneak in quietly. Surely it couldn’t be that bad, with him looking the picture of health and manliness?

All her hopes were dashed though, and she felt her heart disintegrating with each sentence. The one word that started the destruction of her dreams was ‘Llama Flu’, and all hope fled from her heart. Llama Flu, the dreaded disease that Sims Mobile Hospital had been battling for centuries! The best doctors over the years had tried various vaccines, but nothing seemed to completely eradicate it. The vaccines prevented some of the cases, and in fact, she couldn’t remember having heard of a single case. Until now, that is.

She had heard of people displaying some of the symptoms: no growth in Traits, not retiring, not being able to move out… Nobody had ever told her about a single person having a full blown case of Llama Fly, though. Now it was here, in town, in her house, in her family. Her sweet, sweet husband was struck down with it! Tabitha closes her eyes, covering her face with her hands, and sobs.

Nothing in life has prepared her for this. There had been no warning, no way of knowing. No way of dealing with it either, it seems… She is utterly heartbroken, and looking at her wonderful husband, it is impossible to picture them together in the garden, wearing a white dress and a tux, whispering, laughing, kissing…

She cries out, wails, shrieks, clings onto him with all her might, their tears mixing whilst they kiss each other wildly, desperately, two young people crushed by the weight of calamity. Time stands still whilst they weep together, but eventually the cries subside, tears run dry, desperation turns into utter sadness. Richard looks at his sweet wife. He has come to really love and care for her, however independent she might be! He had been insanely happy during the wedding, eager to pack his bags and move in with his dearest Tabitha. Now all that seemed a dream, and the awakening had been abrupt and rude, shattering the dream, leaving just a faint memory of it.

“I’m sorry, my love, my sweetest Tabitha,” he whispers, his throat sore from crying, “I’m so, so sorry, more than I could ever express. I’m so sad on your account, having married a useless husband…My greatest wish was to provide for you, to take care of you the way you deserve…” He can’t speak anymore, his throat closed up, tears, new tears finding their way down his face.

Tabitha shushes him, putting a shaking hand on his lips. “Shhhh, my beloved, shhhh, Mr Handsome. I still love you, like I promised, ‘In sickness and in health’, and nothing will change that.” She swipes at some tears that managed to escape her eyes. “I love you, and to me you will always be my own special Mr Handsome. We will get through this, we are still together, you will still have good moments, as well as…as…” her voices quivers and almost breaks, but she won’t allow it to, “it won’t be easy, I know that but together we will make it, I promise!”

That was yesterday, and Tabitha still means it. The thing that almost hurts the most is the fact that not only does he regularly turn into a useless pink blob, he is also unable to give her any children. Not only are they unable to bear children naturally, Richard suffering from Llama Flu also excludes them from adopting children! The grief over that was almost Tabitha’s undoing. When her Uncle had explained the infertility issue, Tabitha had taken it quite calmly. In fact, she had thought by herself, “Oh well, there are other ways of growing a family. Surely it’s just a sad consequence, but not totally the end of our large family dreams.” Turns out that she was wrong. It was the end of her large family dreams, any family dreams in fact.

The most hurtful in the whole thing had been Chris’ remark the following day. It was that remark that made her flee to the safety of the bathroom, and open the floodgates of her heart. Chris had looked at her sad face, and remarked, “Seems like you needed those prayers after all! Seems like you can’t even get married without a little extra help. On the other hand, maybe if you hadn’t relied on your God, this might not have happened…!”

She had been so shocked, so utterly speechless, that all she could do was stagger to the bathroom, and lean against the wall, carefully avoiding all mirrors. Now she is here, in this bathroom, worn out, alone. She carelessly wonders what time it is, she does still have a job, after all! She sighs, nothing makes sense. Was Chris right after all?

Tabitha sits up straight, remembering the despair her Aunt Guinevere had been in, and how she had overcome all that. She was the one who had brought God into Tabitha’s life, and Tabitha would cling to Him now, in her despair.

She leans her head on her knees, wondering if she would ever feel a semblance of happiness again. Would she ever smile again, properly smile that is? Soon the wedding reception will be here, she will have to wear her special gown, smile, greet guests…Could she cope with their pitying looks, their whispers or well meaning advice? Part of her shakes and trembles, and shrieks ‘No’, but then, from deep in her heart, she hears the tiny whisper, ‘Yes, yes, you can do it, you’re not alone, not ever! Not on top of the mountain, not in the deepest valley. You will never be deserted, you will never be forsaken. You will be carried through the hardest parts of life. Never will you be alone!’

Tabitha sighs, it’s not going to be easy, but it is going to be possible. She needs her friends, their kindness and sympathy, and Richard? He needs her too, he needs her to be strong and brave and to love him through this deepest of valleys! She can do it, yes, she can do it!. Now…what about shoes…and jewellery? Should she wear makeup…or not…? No time to lose, the reception will be here before she is ready at this rate!

Transitions

It is Monday afternoon, and Guinevere and Adrianna have just finished work Downtown. Mondays are always hard, and today was no exception. Guinevere especially had been very busy, as it’s a Bank Holiday Monday. It’s Whitsunday Monday, or Pentecost, and everyone is off work. Well, almost every one. Guinevere is actually relieved to be at work today, it helps to take her mind off things. She spots a few regulars, and of course, her ancient manager is there as usual. When will he retire, or rather, will he ever retire? He never takes a day off, either…She wonders what his home life looks like. It can’t be great, that’s for sure. Guinevere can’t remember him talking about a wife or family, so presumably there isn’t much to go back to for him. The fact that he is old and stooped is strange though. Surely that should mean he’s had his papers served and accepted, and therefore should be unable to go to work?

Soon her shift is finished, and Guinevere decides to go and pour the Tea in the little café. She spots Sierra, looking her usual happy self…not! She has a few cups with her, trying to keep a conversation going. Guinevere sighs, sadly, Sierra reminds her too much of her moody son, and it’s really not something she needs at this moment! Life is depressing enough as it is, with boxes all round the Granny Annexe, Sebastian walking round with checklists, and Chris trying to look like the Victim of Injustice and Overcomer of Injustice all at the same time… She pushes any slight twitches of guilt away. It really was an injustice, after all, and the fact that it is in the past, and really not her problem doesn’t matter, surely! It’s always good to stand against injustice, she says to herself.

Guinevere sighs,and looks round the café. During one of the mentoring Events, will she be able to come back here by choice? Or will she be like some of those other elders around the café, stragglers, aimlessly wandering round the Park, in and out the café at random? Guinevere feels the lump in her throat, and breathes in deeply, and out again….and in…and out. She still has that quiet peace in her heart from yesterday, she knows it’s the way things should be, but even so, that doesn’t make her immune to sadness now, does it?

Looking at the slim, beautiful and especially young Sierra doesn’t help either. She realises that all this time in the café, she has been eyeballing people and labelling them. The put them into age categories, and felt resentful and judgmental towards anyone who fell into the ‘very young, probably only just promoted’ category. She recognises the other category, the group of people who look like her, ‘definitely got all their traits, probably holding off retirement as well’. The group she deliberately turns her eyes away from are the elders: stooped, grey, somber, dressed in dowdy clothes…

“How awful they look, and so unhappy,” she whispers into the steaming mug off very bitter tea, “none of them look at peace, none of them look attractive. Yet in a day or so I will be joining them! Oh dear, I know I need to accept and trust, and yes, I know it’s for the best, but oh, how painful to let go!” She leans over the mug, pretending to look into it, whilst covertly wiping her eyes. She breathes in deeply again, sits up straight, and feels strength flowing into her heart, followed by peace, a quiet knowing that all is well.

Yes, she thinks, it is well with me, and I will accept, and I will rejoice and be glad in this day. She smiles to herself, eyes drying quickly of their own accord, that was one of Great Auntie Alicia’s songs! She used to sing that song whenever we grumbled about something that day. She was right of course, and yes, I will decide, I will choose to rejoice.

She finishes her tea, finishes the Tea Event, and decides to go home, to check the post, to check, well nothing really, just to be home, she admits to herself. When she gets home she has a shock. The others are all there, sitting around the large sitting room. Their faces look gloomy in some cases, like Adrianna’s, and exuberant in other cases, like Tabitha’s and Chris’. Guinevere looks round the collection of Mortinas, and drops into the nearest chair. Her legs just won’t support her any longer.

“Has it come?” she is shocked at the thin, wobbly voice wafting across the lounge. Is that her voice? That old, quivery sound? “Surely the Gems haven’t come yet? Last time the Gems only came Wednesday night! Why have they come so early, why couldn’t it wait? I’m not ready, I still want to…” the tears drown out the sound of her voice however, and the family looks on, uneasy, shuffling their feet, fidgeting their fingers, as Guinevere wails and rocks herself in her grief.

Sebastian goes over to her, “Come my sweet,” he whispers, “come, don’t take on so! You know we will still have some days, we will still have time to do things together. You know there is a time for everything under the sun. This is a time to let go, to enjoy the twilight of our lives, a time to move on. There is a time to start as well, start our days here watching the new generation grow and bloom. A time for Chris to be active, to meet his future wife properly, to lead his family…”

Guinevere calms down after a while, Tabitha brings her some water, and then Guinevere looks at them all again. “So it is true, then,” she asks softly, “they really have come? Do we really have to send off for the papers right here and now?”

Tabitha shakes her head, “No aunt Guinevere, there is still a little time. Chris and I still need to make the arrangements with the Knights. We still don’t know when the meeting up party will be. I’m sure there isn’t much time, but there definitely is some. We do know that both Richard and Victoria Knight have been mad active, and as far as I know Richard managed to get that position as a doctor that he applied for. Victoria has started at the Court already, I believe, so it won’t be long before we meet up with them.”

Guinevere smiles her bravest smile and gets up. “Good,” she says, and all of a sudden there is a glimpse of the old Guinevere back in her face, “good, for I just want to lead the music one more time!” With that, she is off, back to the night club, to have one more shift. Then maybe a bit of a make over, her dress is fine for now, but once she is old and grey she wants something more flattering. The frumpy looking elders in the café come to mind… No, that would never do!

The Mortina home is buzzing with activity. Josiah and Jephta have their bags packed, most of their things in boxes stacked high in the new apartment they found. Chris is actually smiling a lot, his sour mouth and suspicious eyes looking more relaxed than Guinevere has seen them for some time. He is getting ready too, applying for a position in the office, filling in the necessary form to become Active in the House. Rooms are rearranged, plans are made, knickknacks are packed.

Time for a last complete family portrait…and Guinevere’s two sons are off. Another portrait, this time with everyone left in the Mortina home. It will be the last portrait with Lancelot and Adrianna and Sebastian and Guinevere in the active positions. The next time the family photographer will come four of them will be grey headed…Why is change so hard and painful?

Guinevere finds herself in the kitchen with kind hearted Tabitha, who is on top of the world it seems! “Well, then, have you seen this young Knight yet? Has he sent a picture to you? Now that he is active, he has probably changed quite a bit?”

Tabitha smiles, and looks dreamy, which is very sweet, Guinevere thinks. She remembers her own romance, all arranged of course, as all the townies were old. Her parents had to resort to arranged marriages for them. She loves Sebastian though, and is very happy with him. She was a bit sad and disappointed in the beginning, she remembers, as he had several traits already, and a tummy to match… But he was kind, and good natured, and he won her heart in the end! It’s obvious that Tabitha has none of these problems, she is glowing and eager to meet her Knight in shining armour!

“I’ve got a picture,” gushes Tabitha, “he just sent it this afternoon! Look, here he is, sitting round the bubble maker at their house…” She trails of a little, and her sweet smile seems to become a little bit too bright. Guinevere sees Tabitha’s green eyes darken a little. I bet she is worried, she thinks.

“Don’t you worry about their house, Tabitha, I know it’s absolutely gorgeous, and huge. That is not what is important though. They are lovely people, hard working, caring, always ready to help out. The fact that we have no bubble blower, no palace, no piano even, or any of those things, none of that will worry your Richard. I am absolutely sure of that. They are not snobbish at all!”

Tabitha sighs, and looks relieved at her aunt’s words. It is something that she is very conscious about, the fact that Richard, and Victoria too for that matter, will have to come down quite a bit in the world. She fears that the lack of niceties and fineries might cause resentment in the end, and she hopes and prays that Richard will really fall in love with her, as a person, and truly find happiness in their relationship. She is quite sure that he isn’t materialistic but still, it can be hard to do without certain things all of a sudden!

They chat a bit longer, her aunt sharing some stories of the posh party she went to at the Knight’s house, how Alex used to be a bit of a bounder (Guinevere actually blushed at that point, so Tabitha discreetly looks away!), but that rumours have it that Alex has been given the responsibility of the House, and that he takes this very seriously indeed. “Well,” Guinevere looks very mischievous all of a sudden, “well, they have a saying the Netherlands, that a fox can lose its hair, but not its tricks…So you might want to tread carefully round Alex, just in case!”

At that she laughs, hugs Tabitha suddenly, and says softly, “I am glad. Yes, I know it’s all been painful, and I don’t doubt that I will shed a few more tears, but I am glad. Yes, I still have peace in my heart, and acceptance to go wherever God leads me, and He will go with me. I can honestly say that I’m glad, as I can see the excitement in your face, and I will see this new generation moving in, taking up the mantle, growing, blossoming, thriving… I’m at peace, and I wish you and your splendid Knight peace too, when your stories begin, when highs and lows ebb your way… Have peace, dearest Tabitha, have peace always, in sadness and in joy!”

Time is up

Is time up?

Raised voices can be heard from the Granny Annexe. Adrianna and Lancelot look at each other with raised eyebrows, curiosity and weariness on their faces. This must be the third argument this week, although this one sounds a lot more dramatic and involved. “Will it have anything to do with the letter that arrived for Guinevere this morning? Do you think it will be her retirement letter? She looked absolutely horrified when she opened it. After all, it has been a while since she got her last trait…” Adrianna’s whispered voice trails off as Lancelot holds up one hand to stop her, tilting his head to hear better.

“I’m sure I can hear Chris’ voice as well!” he whispers back, a frown screwing up his face in what should be a concerned look, but because of his new hair do makes him look like a weird teenager with beard. Adrianna looks away, as the new hair style still annoys her. She loves class and great taste; Lancelot seems to just have reached a midlife crisis, dressing in gaudy colours and a wild hair style. She sighs, and in the silence that follows she can hear the three voices quite clearly. It sounds as if Chris is really agitated. Well, nothing new there! The poor chap is a mess, to be honest.

It isn’t that long ago since Chris reached adulthood, which did nothing to improve his moods or his attitude. He can be very charming and sweet, but only when he will benefit from it. When a situation feels slightly out of his control, well, you will see a totally different Chris! Adrianna is convinced that he grew his hair long just to wind up his parents. It doesn’t actually suit him, and Adrianna, like all the others in the Mortina household bar Chris, can’t stand long hair on the guys. She might be old fashioned, or rather, they might all be old fashioned and prejudiced and what ever else people like to call it, but the fact remains that they don’t think it looks good.

Of course, Guinevere moaned and fussed over Chris’ hair, and Sebastian made his usual vague but snide comments, and Chris just sneered at his parents, enjoying their discomfort. He dresses in ripped jeans and a hoodie, and glowers at everyone he meets. That is, until he needs something. It’s like the sun comes out then, he is fun and charming, and you would never recognise him as the sullen overgrown teenager.

“Extended adolescence,” says Lancelot suddenly. “That is all it is, and I’m afraid they had it coming too, with all their crazy schemes and talk of ‘Injustice’ and needing to put the record straight!”

Adrianna looks confused, “What are you on about?” she says, trying to keep the edge out of her voice. She is tired and actually a little worried about life in Sims Mobile.

“I mean the lad, Chris. He is a basket case, he is. One minute crying, next minute laughing and spreading charm like a farmer spreads manure… It’s all this talk about ancestor Chris that has done that. The boy doesn’t know whether he is coming or going, he doesn’t even know if he will be able to stay in the Mortina Home! Who knows what will happen, no decision has been made yet with regards to the Line, and who will carry it on. I’m not even sure that the boy should be considered, he isn’t particularly a great representative now, is he?”

Lancelot walks off, ready to do more work. The garden patch is almost cleared, and in a very short time they should have enough Simoleans to clear the next patch! What about those shoes he saw the other day…he does fancy some new shoes, but reckons that the ladies will want to go to town first. After all, he did pay quite a bit for his new hair do! He touches the wavy bits, worried that it will all go down and just look flat again. So far so good though, and when he passes one of the many mirrors he can’t resist a look and a smile.

Adrianna is left behind by herself. She sits down for a moment, tired and worried. She has been so distracted lately, thinking and fussing bout the future. Somehow she feels drawn to the past, and people have already commented about her frequent visits to her old home. I just need to touch base with my roots, she argues in her head. What is wrong with me visiting the old Family home? Anyway, I’m sure I can be of help there to, the Knight family is growing as well, and there are bound to be younger people there who need an auntie’s input!

The thing is, Adrianna is scared. Scared of changes ahead. After all, the children are all grown up, even little Jephta, and it seems that all four of them have been served their retirement papers. They can hold off, naturally, but really only for so long. For one thing, it is always possible to accept the next reminder, and you’ll be retired before you realise. On the other hand, the next generation will want to live out their lives, find spouses, have careers, and how much longer will they wait?

It isn’t that long ago that Jephta had his birthday, so obviously nothing has been mentioned yet. Also, she is quite sure that Guinevere had her notice only this morning. She must have waited till after the Events, between shifts, to show Sebastian. What is Chris doing, though, how did he get involved in all this? Mind you, he is very hyper vigilant, always worried that he will be the victim of some imagined injustice, so he was probably hanging around, watching everything with those black eyes of his…!

Adrianna gets ready, relieved to be able to still make it to work at the Court, paranoid that she will accept the retirement call when it comes again! How awful that would be, in the middle of your shift, really in the middle of your life, to accept the call and find yourself back home, grey and useless…It has happened to others recently; even one of the Starlettes retired like that. She shudders, if it can happen to Betty, it can happen to anyone!

Things have changed in the Mortina Home, that is for sure. When Adrianna comes back from the Court she can just sense it. Things aren’t as they were. Guinevere looks different, even has a new (expensive!) haircut, and brand new boots, and a totally different style of clothing. What is that all about? Then there are her angry comments that keep reminding the others that she is not old, that she is not ready for retirement, whatever the Sims Mobile Government might think, and that she has still many years of service left.

Sebastian, Lancelot and Adriana avoid her, Adrianna feels her own adrenaline rising whenever Guinevere goes off one. She knows the score, she knows that the papers are served soon after your last trait, and she knows that once the next generation is all grown up, you really can’t avoid reality. Guinevere isn’t so good at reality though. The arrival of the letter took her completely by surprise. Yes, of course she knew she’d had her last trait, but this feels so final. To hold a bit of paper that coolly states that it is really time for you to end life as you know it…the cruelty of it took her breath away.

“I’m not ready yet!” she wails to Sebastian that evening. “I have still so many things that I enjoy. I have friends I want to get to know better, I have just become better acquainted with Audrey Hepburn of all people. Do I really need to give all that up, all the chances I have at this stage, just to move into some dreary old people’s flat somewhere Downtown? It’s just so unfair, I’m not ready at all, and why should I give everything up?” She sobs as if her heart would break, and Sebastian runs through a list of tranquilizers in his mind. He hates sedating people, it never really helps long term, and it takes away healing tears as well. Guinevere got herself into a real state though, and he knows the number on her birth certificate, even if she herself denies it… Soon she falls asleep on the double bed in the Granny Annexe, and Sebastian breathes a sigh of relief. He can’t think of anything worse than Guinevere’s hysterics! Fortunately, she is usually quite calm and self controlled, something that hasn’t been passed on to their son, he thinks, scowling in the semi darkness of the room.

Guinevere is not the only one that had a letter that fateful day. The postman seems to have a regular beat to their postbox, with many letters in a sprawling handwriting found there in the morning. Tabitha is the one making off with these, her pretty face looking prettier still under a blush. Even Chris seems to get some post, and he looks a bit less like he’s suffering all the world’s ills after the post has been.

Days go by, but before too long, the children ask for a Family Conference. Guinevere promptly bursts into tears when Sebastian tells her. “This is it! This is the end, I know it is! They want to throw us out, stuff us in an old people’s home, tuck us away! What about my Chris, what about my boy, will they cut him off as well, just like ancestor Chris? Will the injustice in this family be perpetuated? What if I refuse, what if I carry on working, will they really force me to accept my retirement? Can they actually do so?” She cries and throws herself on the bed. When she is calmer she goes into the gold bathroom, and upon seeing her face in the star shaped mirror burst into new floods of tears. Sebastian is at a loss, he hates dramas, and he suspects that a lot of these tears are crocodile tears…caused by fear, and a dislike of change.

In the end the whole family sits in the spacious lounge of the Granny Annexe, as it has more sofas to sit on. Josiah scrapes his throat rather pompously, and looks round. “Ahh well, ehm..we as children would like to discuss a few things…ehm..you know, about the house and all that…eehm…well, yes, just to see what you think.” Guinevere stops herself just in time from rolling her eyes. Adrianna is watching her, and however pompous and over the top Josiah might seem, his mother adores him.

The adults look at each other, and in the end Lancelot speaks up. “Well, as you know, we all have been served our retirement papers, irrespective of how we feel about that.” He looks down at his bright red trousers, new red loafers on his feet, and sighs. “You know that we love this house, we love the family, and we don’t really feel old enough to go into a home and just play snooker all day…or darts…or whatever they do Downtown…” he trails off, unsure of what to say next. He certainly doesn’t feel ready to leave, but then, on the other hand, the children must feel ready to leave Limbo, and start living their lives and building their dreams. Surely they have a right to be heard in this matter?

“I understand that you will have a view about all this?” asks Adrianna, her courtroom voice clear and crisp, but Lancelot can hear the tiniest tremor in her voice. “We do understand that now you’re all grownup you might want to share your ideas with us.” She looks at her three children, cute little Josiah, so grownup and sure of himself, even if he is not the best speaker in Sims Mobile. Tabitha, her little girl, beautiful and sweet, considerate and kind…and her baby, Jephta, how did he get to grow up so fast?! Then there is Chris…looking sullen and stubborn, twisting his fingers in and out, shuffling his feet, glowering at whoever looks at him.

In the end it is Jephta who explains what is on their minds. He is a lovely young man, Arianna had high hopes for him; saw him as the next Mortina Clan leader. It isn’t to be, she realises as soon as Jeptha takes the floor. “We know that you all have had your papers served, we also know that you’re all four young at heart.” He pauses for a second, hesitates, and the others all try to avoid looking at Sebastian at this point. Sebastian who actually allowed his hair to go grey, who looks, dresses and walks like an old man…

Jeptha looks around at the family, and carries on. “We do know how you feel, and it’s not that we want to get you out, or stuff you away somewhere Downtown. The thing is, though, Josiah has got plans already, even got his eye on a little apartment, and so have I.” He looks at his mum apologetically, as he knows the dreams she had for him. “Tabitha and Chris, well, that is a different matter. You see, we can see aunt Guinevere’s point, and Chris has really been well prepared to take on the Family Line. It would be a shame to stop that from happening. We, as children, feel that there is no reason why he shouldn’t stay here, and carry on the Line.”

Apart from his mental health, Lancelot fills in quietly to himself. On the other hand, being placed in a position of responsibility might do him some good. Who knows, he might find a good wife who will be able to help and support him?

“Tabitha also would like to stay on, she met somebody the other day, and has been in touch with him a lot.” Jephta smiles at his older sister, who is blushing, and looks even prettier than usual, sitting on the warm coloured sofa, looking round with her large eyes glowing.

Tabitha takes a deep breath. She doesn’t like these type of meetings. Her parents look anxious, and Aunt Guinevere looks like she is on the edge of a breakdown! She smiles at her brothers, glad for their kindness and support. “Yes, I met somebody, the son of one of mum’s posh friends,” she laughs, “His name is Richard, which I thought was really providential. You know, with our Founding Father being called Ricardo,” she explains as all the faces around her have gone completely blank. “He is very kind, considerate, and has excellent manners. I love him, and really want to marry him. His parents have already agreed, and he even has a Moving Permit promised to him as soon as we need to. In one of his letters he explains how he is conferring with his parents about his career and hobbies. Just as an example of his character, which I thought said a lot about him!”

She breaths out, only then realising that all this was said whilst she was holding her breath! Honestly, how stressful families can be!

Then Chris speaks up, and waves a letter that he has just pulled from his pocket. “I’ve also been writing to a girl,” he states matter of factly, “Her name is Victoria, she is Richard’s sister, so she comes from a very well to do family, Mum’s friends, the Knight Family. She is very sweet, and loves me a lot, and is prepared to move in as well. Of course, we talked about this at great length, and she totally gets my important position in the Mortina Line, and will do all she can to support me in setting past injustices to rights.”

His parents gasp, they had absolutely no idea he had found a girl! Sebastian’s eyes are dark, he blames Guinevere, and her hysterics, for this oversight. If she hadn’t taken up so much of my time I might actually have noticed something, he thinks. Who knows what this girl is like, and what she really has promised Chris? I know she comes from a very well to do family, and is she really prepared to give that up, just to marry Chris? I hope she knows about his moods…! The boy has a very skewed take on life, I just pray the girl can cope with that…

Not much is left to be said after all this. It seems very much a done deed, Adrianna thinks to herself. In a way she is relieved, this dreaded retirement has been hanging over them all for sometime, and at least it’s all out in the open now. The decision is made that nothing will be done until the Gems are handed out by the Government. After that they will retire, and Tabitha and Chris will take over the house, and a double wedding will follow soon after that.

Guinevere is secretly relieved as well as upset about having been kept in the dark by her darling boy! Not much time is left them, so Guinevere is determined to make the most of the little time she has! There is a party to attend…friends to chat to…work to be done. Then there is the packing and sorting for the retirement home…No time to waste!

Chedworth

Drifting. That is what it is. Drifting apart, drifting away from everyone. Guinevere is sad, and discouraged and whatever she does seems to make matters worse. Yes, she can be busy with her job, and she still loves her job.

“The problem is, when I’m feeling down, even my job can be hard, and Sebastian is so critical of my job. I know he is, even though he doesn’t say it very clearly, but I can tell. Now I find myself looking around the club, looking at the people that come, and it’s really hard to totally disagree with him. I mean, it is noisy, and it is crowded, and my get up is maybe not really designed for people with all their traits. But I love it!”

Genevieve can’t remember seeing her little sister so sad! She had such a shock when they met up. Genevieve moved out when Lancelot and Guinevere and their spouses took over, and although she has seen Guinevere a bit, definitely not enough! The change is shocking though, and Guinevere is looking so sad and depressed. She is also a little bit obsessed, decides Genevieve. She has heard the whole spiel about Chris and ancestor Chris, and the line that died out, and how it will be Chris’ destiny to revive that line…very odd, and a bit out of the blue, to be honest!

Genevieve looks at her younger sister, and gives her a hug. “You poor thing, it sounds as if you and Sebastian have been too busy lately! You guys need to spend some quality time together, you know, get out for a bit!”

Guinevere rolls her eyes (When did that start?!) and laughs, but not a very amused one. “Get out? You must be joking, have you seen Sebastian’s workload? He struggles to get out briefly for the Luxury Event, and that’s it! Even then he grumbles, and he hardly ever will agree to take the Leisure one, as it takes six hours… No, I can’t imagine him going on a holiday!”

Genevieve and Guinevere actually get the whole morning together, and Guinevere blossoms during that time. Her eyes sparkle again, and she actually seems to like the granny annexe, which is now for Sebastian and her, since Christie and Joash got their moving papers. Genevieve loves the Annexe, she loves the warm colours, the fact that it’s a bit separate, and there is of course the gold bathroom…

Guinevere agrees, “Yes, I like the colours as well, we still need to change some things round, of course, and we’re almost able to buy a new plot of land. Did you realise land was that expensive here? It must be because it is so near the seaside… I wish we could get enough money together to get right down to the beach! I can’t see that happening in our generation though, maybe darling Chris will manage?”

Genevieve quickly moves the subject before Guinevere will go off on one again about the Line, and ‘injustice’ and all sorts… “Are you sure Sebastian wouldn’t even take a day off to take you and Chris somewhere nice? You both like history, what about some historical site?”

Guinevere sits up with a shock, and grabs Genevieve’s arm. “Yes, of course, oh, clever you! Yes, Sebastian has gone on about the Romans for ages! We could take a day to see a Roman site, they are always in the most incredible places, so it would be stunning at this time of year! Great, let me see…!” and Guinevere dashes off, and comes back with some leaflets.

Together the two sister look through the materials, and in the end decide that really the best place would be Chedworth Villa. The site isn’t very big, you would need to go to Cirencester if you want to see stacks of Roman stuff, but Chedworth is the actual site of a Roman Villa, with some mosaic floors still there, and work being done to restore them as well. There is bound to be things to do for kids as well, although the amazing Chris… Genevieve interrupts Guinevere’s thoughts before she goes down that track again!

That evening, when Sebastian asks how her morning with her sister Genevieve went, Guinevere explained about the interesting Roman site they talked about. Sebastian listens at that point, of course! “I wondered if we should drive out one morning, just for a day. It would be so interesting, and if we go soon, the trees will still be covered in blossom, it will be stunning!” says Guinevere, hardly daring to breath… She so badly wants this day out, they desperately need to reconnect as a family!

She needn’t have worried, for Sebastian agrees straight away! “As you got your last Trait this morning, how about we take a day off as a family, and just spend some time together?” he asks, not realising that poor Guinevere had been holding her breath all that time!

Guinevere is so relieved, and Chris is looking forward to the trip as well. He really is a lovely lad, not half as obsessed as him mum, fortunately! So preparations are made, and a date is set.

The day of their trip is gorgeous. The evening before it was tipping it down, but the morning looks all fresh and clean, full of promises and sweet smells. They set off in their car, and are soon on the Fosseway, an old Roman road, that was later used for the extensive wool industry as well. Soon the turnoff looms up, and they leave the main road to dive into this tiny lane.

“Dad? Are you sure this is actually a road?” chirps Chris from the back, looking very anxious, as he looks up and down the tiny lane, which is like a very narrow green tunnel, finished off neatly with Cows Parsley.

Sebastian laughs, his wonderful kind laugh again, and explains, “Yes, I know it’s very narrow, it’s called a single track road. You shouldn’t really drive too fast, but as you can see just there, every few yards is a passing place. It’s quite early in the morning, so I’m not actually expecting much traffic!”

Guinevere smiles. This is just so wonderful! The scenery is amazing, even better than she thought! The different shades of green, a bright yellow rapeseed field, a dark brown, rough square of newly ploughed earth…she doesn’t even know where to look fist!

“This is so very, very beautiful!” she sighs in the end. “No wonder the Roman built their houses here, it’s amazing!”

The site of Chedworth Villa itself is in a beautiful location. There isn’t very much left, and a mock Tudor house is actually built in the courtyard. Of course, when they built it, they didn’t know there was all the Roman stuff underneath! They look round the various buildings. One of the better kept ones is the public toilets! Chris is tickled that they went to the loo together, and explains that if he was a Roman he would make sure he would only go to the toilet at weird times, when nobody else went!

Chris gets to dress up, Sebastian reads all the labels on everything, Guinevere and Chris look at the artist’s pictures everywhere that explain what everything is, and what it probably looked like. Before they know it the afternoon is half gone, and it’s time to drive back. Guinevere is a bit quieter on the way home, she is drinking in all the beauty, full of wonder and gratitude and awe at the greatness of the Ultimate Artist, who makes everything unique. She is feeling so much lighter, and bouncier and ready to accept the day again! Oh, she knows nothing really has changed in the circumstances, but she feels ready to cope with them again.

At home, Sebastian and Guinevere decide that it is really much wiser to move into the Annexe, and just the one trip out together has opened so many doors again. It has revitalised their lives together, and made them realise again how special their bond is, and how precious family is. It also showed them that really in the grand scheme of things a generation is so puny! “I can’t believe that we looked at mosaics that have been there for nearly two thousand years! How incredible is that! And nobody knows what family lived there, who built the house with the fifty rooms, who they were, what they were…Incredible!”

They both enjoy sitting on the warm coloured sofa, looking at the pictures of their family day out, and they smile at each other, and it’s a smile of contentment. Never mind what tomorrow will bring, after all, Chris is just a child, and well, one day at a time just seems to work for now!