Chapter 3.12: Moving On

Amira tortures herself over missing her mother's death. She stands, barely clothed, in the cold wind and snow and mourns. The grave is far enough away from the house that no one can hear Amira's sobs.

She throws herself into her hobbies and hits the gym. She doesn't need to be here, she could be working out at home but watching her father shuffle aimlessly from room to room is too depressing. She pumps iron for hours on end, letting her mind melt into nothingness.

Jude, on the other hand, focuses on training Cameo. The Hidden Springs Derby is later tonight and he has every intention of placing in the top 3. Cameo happily gallops through the racing course and revels in affection Jude gives her when she beats her personal record.

Claude decides to paint his feelings. Something about the smell of the paints and the way his hands easily flow over the canvas makes him, for a moment, forget how lonely he is now.

Michele allows Lindsay to tag along on a trip downtown. Michele has a work/school learning project to complete a the Broad Street Business Tower & Grill. Lindsay decides to investigate The Village Artist. The interactive art gallery and center just opened up recently and Lindsay has been dying to check it out.

She quickly finds an open canvas and happily starts spreading color across the canvas. She doesn't notice the sim standing behind her making evil noises and rubbing her hands together conspiratorially.

The sim makes herself known with an ugly remark.

"Hello, Little Trash Bucket. It's been a while since I've seen you. Happy to have the simoleons instead though."

Lindsay spins around startled and stammers, "A-a-a-are you ta-ta-talking to me?"

She wishes she could sink into the floor or disappear on the spot.

"A-a-a-are you ta-ta-talking to me?" Rebecca mocks. "Obviously I'm talking to you. There's no one else around. Where's your dad? Is he here?"

Lindsay shrinks away, "Who are you?"

Rebecca sees that there is no one else around and places her hands on her hips before cackling, "I'm your mother you moron! Jeez, not the smartest apple in the basket are you? What should I expect though, your whole family is full of idiots. I'm lucky I got rid of you when I did."

Lindsay sets her jaw and squares her shoulders.

"You are terrible," she yells. "I'm happy you're not my mother!"

She runs into the restroom before Rebecca can say anything else.

Her hands tremble as she tries to hold back her tears and dial. After two rings the call is answered.

Lindsay's voice quakes, "M-m-michele? There's a horrible lady here. She says she's my mother." Lindsay lets out a small sob, "She's so mean!"

Hot tears spill onto her cheeks.

Michele is there in less than 2 minutes and immediately sees her. Seeing Rebecca reminds Michele of how terrible this woman really is.

It takes all her strength not to slap Rebecca right then and there.

"You better get out of here before our parents get here."

Rebecca chuckles and her voice drips with venom when she says, "What parents? You don't have a mother and your father is too busy with his new family. You're pretty much an orphan, honey."

Michele sees red and shoves Rebecca.

"You're a bitter hag," Michele yells. "Go back into whatever vermin infested hole you crawled out of and stay away from us! NO. ONE. WANTS. YOU. AROUND!"

Michele punctuates each word and watches Rebecca's sneer crack ever so slightly.

Michele finds Lindsay cowering by the shower stalls.

"Are you okay?" she asks.

Lindsay scrambles to wipe the tears from her face and nods.

"Is she gone?" she asks shakily.

"She's gone. You don't have to ever think about her again. Rebecca is lower than dirt to us."

"She'll never be my mom," Lindsay says between dry sobs. "That's what I told her. No one would ever want a mom like her."

"She's an evil hag," Michele says. "C'mon, let's get out of here."

Lindsay goes to find Vera immediately.

"Hey, kiddo. How was the art gallery?"

Lindsay wraps her arms around Vera and rests her cheek against Vera's belly. She can faintly hear Vera's heartbeat.

"Is everything alright," Vera asks as she pushes loose hair out of Lindsay's face.

Lindsay can hear the words bouncing around in Vera's body and she buries her face against her.

"I met Rebecca the hag," Lindsay says.

Her words are muffled and Vera strains to make out what she's saying.

"What, honey?"

Lindsay pulls away and repeats herself, "I met Rebecca the hag." She rubs at her bloodshot eyes. "I've never been so happy that you're my mom instead of her."

Vera's heart bursts with love and aches with sadness at the same time.

"I'm sorry you ran in to her. Are you okay?"

"Much better now," Lindsay says as she snuggles back into Vera.

With Lindsay and Michele finally asleep after their adventurous day, Vera finds Amira.

"Can't say you didn't see this coming," Vera says.

"What's that?" Amira asks as she scatters some hay.

"Apparently the girls ran into Rebecca downtown today and she said some pretty mean things. Lindsay was very shaken up."

Amira turns to look at her daugher, "I'll take care of it."

"Mom, you don't have to. . ."

Amira interrupts her, "You wouldn't have mentioned it to me if it wasn't a big deal. I'll take care of it. We've been more than lenient with her shenanigans. It ends now."

"I want to come with you," Vera insists.

"Pppsshhh, look at you, ready to pop any day now. No. I will take care of it and you should rest before your little one gets here."

Vera lets out a long sigh, " You're right. Please be careful."

"I always am, darling, " Amira calls over her shoulder.

After the Rebecca debacle, Jude insists on taking the girls to school. He's exhausted from the derby race but is happy to coach Michele as she tries her hands and feet at driving.

Michael meets Amira and Claude at Sunny Acres Retirement Center. He's bubbling with excitement when he sees Amira at the other end of the lobby.

"What are you doing here?" Amira asks softly.

"I did it!" he squeaks, trying to keep his voice a low whisper.

Amira tilts her head in question.

"I got promoted! I'm the Game Studio Head!" he bellows, unable to contain his excitement. 

Amira gasps and claps her hands excitedly.

"Congratulations," she says as she pulls him in to a hug. "You have worked so hard for this. I'm very proud of you."

Michael melts into her hug and lets his excitement bubble up inside of him.

"Van Hofwegen?" a nurse calls from the doorway. "You can follow me."

Amira looks up at the nurse and pulls away from Michael, "Are you going to come in with us or. . ?"

"I'll head home. She doesn't remember me and I'd rather not cause her any additional stress."

Amira presses her lips together and nods. She gives him a quick kiss and then disappears behind the doorway.

Leila is sitting in the middle of the couch in her room.

"Dad!" she calls excitedly when she sees Claude. "You came!"

"I did," he confirms. "Amira is here too."

Leila looks from Amira to Claude. She shakes her head softly.

"No, Amira is just a baby, dad. She's just a baby," Leila mumbles.

Claude settles in next to Leila and Amira sits on the other side.

Claude takes Leila's hands into his, "Remember, sweetheart? Amira and Moira are all grown up."

Leila pulls her hands free and frowns, "Stop lying!"

Amira sinks a little deeper into the couch, seeing her sister like this tears her up inside. Leila has always had a loose grip on reality but she used to be able to grab hold when needed. She used to be able to recognize. She used to. Not anymore.

Claude sighs heavily, shoots Amira a sorrowful look, and rubs his hand on Leila's back, "Okay. It's okay."

His long life is becoming more and more of a curse with each passing day. 

Michael arrives back home just in time for Vera to go into labor. Jude jumps out of the shower when he hears Vera yowl from the dinning room.

"Is everything alright," he calls while he fumbles with the towel.

Lindsay screams, "BABY INCOMING!"

Jude would give anything for Vera to walk faster but she waddles slowly from the car to the hospital doors.

2 hours after starting labor Vera gives birth to Brooke.

Amira leaves Claude to 'run some errands' after their visit with Leila. She breaks into Rebecca's apartment and waits for her to return.

As soon as Rebecca arrives home Amira pounces.

"Didn't I warn you to stay away from my family," she growls.

Rebecca takes several steps back toward her door, almost stumbling over her son, Ben.

"I didn't," Rebecca starts.

"You should have listened!"

"Croak! Cr-CROAK?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 Rebecca is the WORST!

Gen 2 Goals are finally COMPLETE

Marital Status: Couple ACQUIRED
Number of Children: 2 (+1 surprise Alien baby) ACQUIRED
Primary Career: Criminal (Thief) ACQUIRED
Secondary Career: Video Game Designer (Engineer) ACQUIRED
Generational Goal: Perfect Careers ACQUIRED
     Amira: Master Thief Athletic - 10
     Michael: Game Studio Head Logic - 10, Writing - 10
Miscellaneous Fun: Opposites Attract/Perfect Match ACQUIRED
     Amira: Athletic
     Michael: Couch Potato

Brooke Van Hofwegen
Genius
Loves the Outdoors