Chapter 2.10: Face Your Troubles

Vera spends a lot of her free time playing in her new room.
"Space Cadet Vera reporting for duty!"
She doesn't have many friends but she doesn't mind because she has all the books she could want. She spends hours enthralled in her fantasy worlds.

Dahlia spends many hours sitting in this swing. So. . .many. . .hours.

Michael isn't usually far from her though and he keeps an eye on her while he updates his blog. New Post: The Truth About Gnomes. His followers do not agree with Michael's views on gnomes but he's sticking to his story. That sprigtime gnome is constantly breaking the radio.

Vera found a music box while playing.

It's a lovely gnome music box. She loves it.

More blogging. More napping.

Amira and Michael decide to through Dahlia a birthday party. They've never had one for Vera but Amira feels it's important this time.
Her sisters and their children descend upon the house to celebrate.

Salvatore, Maeve's second child, is a teenager.
"How is school? Who are your friends these days?"
Salvatore shrugs.
"I dunno. I guess I just started dating Windy Gates."
"Roman's daughter?" Amira asks tentatively.
"Uh, yeah. Whatever. We're not actually related."
"I guess. . ."

The ginger in the background is Jess, Slema's oldest.

As with almost all the Van Hofwegen parties, it is hosted outside. Claude can't wait to be able to go back inside. Everyone makes it a point to congratulate Moira on her second pregnancy.
"I'm hoping for a girl this time," she says to anyone that will listen.
Michael's father, Jeffrey shows up even though he's practically estranged. Salvatore seriously reconsidered his hair style after he sees Old Man Castor with it.

Claude does the honors of bring Dahlia to blow out the candles. He figures the sooner they get it over with the sooner he can get away from all this sun and fresh air.

Excitement all around. Vera was going to wear her astronaut costume to the party but Amira insisted that she change.

Interesting.

She got Michael's nose, Jeffrey's hair color and she shares eye color, ear shape, and skin color with Varinia and Amira.

Dahlia immediately makes her presence known to everyone at the party. HUNGER!

"Congratulations on your second child. I hope you have an easier time with it than I do." Amira admits.
"I, I love children," Moira says eagerly. "Norman is such a sweet toddler. I can't wait to do it again."
Moira gushes on about the wonders of motherhood. Amira just nods along realizing that maybe, just maybe, she's the problem.

"I could just gobble you up! Do you think your parents would notice if I snuck you home with me? Because you are the cutest!"
Moira has a serious case of baby fever.

None of her cousins really want to play with her so Vera busies herself with cleaning up. No use letting good food go to waste as Claude would say.

Then it's off to the bath for a scuba adventure. She enjoys her alone time even if other sims find that weird.

Vera ends the night with some homework. It's so easy she breezes through it with plenty of time before bedtime. She cuddles up with a book to pass the time.

Other kids ride the bus to school but Vera rides her broomstick. Her grandpa Claude gave her the broomstick on her last birthday. She loves zooming down the streets on her way to school.

"How was school?" Amira asks.
Vera is startled by the question.
"It was good," she chokes out. "Easy as always."
"Isn't that better than it being hard?"
"I guess."

Michael follows in the steps of every husband ever and plays on his phone while sitting on the toilet. He spends what seems like hours sitting there watching cat videos.

"Your father has really taken to his painting. He would like to paint a portrait of you."
"I don't want another portrait. We already have the one Moira did."
"For your father, Amira."
Amira sighs heavily.
"Fine."

Snuggle. Play with. Be motherly. Amira coaches herself. Dahlia doesn't notice so that's a plus.

"Grandpa, will you read me a story?"

The Dreams of Jerome is the best bedtime story. Dragons flying across purple skies are so exciting!

But eventually she gives in to sleep.

Maeve and Laila come by for a visit.

Michael takes a photo of Maeve and has more gnome theories confirmed.

Dahlia still spends far too much time in this swing.

"I think we could put a spare bed in the laundry room. Just in case."
"Who would ever sleep in there?" Claude asks.
"I work late into the night. Sometimes when I get home I don't want to wake Michael."
"Amira, it's never been a problem before. Stop trying to run from your problems."

Vera bakes more muffins. They go pretty quickly in this house.

"I could read you books. Do you like books?"

Vera's cousin Jess calls.
"I'm not giving you the homework answers," Vera says matter-of-factly.
"I'm not calling about the homework. I read that book you suggested. The Dreams of Jerome."
"Yeah? How did you like it?"
"You were right, it's very fun for a chapter book. I liked the part about the dragon."
"Me too!"

"Mama is in the garden. She spends a lot of time out there. It's just you and me for now."
"Mama!" Dahlia squeals.