Lemming 10: In the Middle of the Street

Mitchell Keilani

     Katherine and I have been dating for a little while now. I'm in love again, so much. Only this time, it's reciprocated. She keeps asking me if all that's happening is real because it feels like a fairytale to her. She says she didn't know men could be like me. When she said that, I knew I loved her. I can't believe what she's been through, raising her kids pretty much on her own. She's been so hurt, and I'm her second chance at romance in her life. I'm helping the one that is so very much helping me. I've told her what I went through with Monique, and she said she admired my strength in pushing her away like I did.

     Her kids are great. Her daughter is already a young adult and her son just became one. Currently, they still live at home but are making plans to each find their own place.

      Justin likes Katherine. He acts like he's happy that I'm happy again. I'm happy he has a girlfriend. I've met her a few times, and she seems nice. I hope it's more than 'seems.' She appears to really like Justin.

     My son is a busy young man. When he's not at school, studying, or seeing Annalise, he's on my computer, creating programs or mods. Although...sometimes I worry that what he's doing isn't always a good thing. I wouldn't be too surprised to hear that he's blown up my computer.
    Jenny: I don't know what's wrong with her. I can't help but feel it has something to do with me dating again. I try to talk to her, but she successfully brushes me away each time. She's not so far gone as to make me really worry that she'll hurt herself or that she's into something she shouldn't be, but she's more withdrawn than she's ever been. I worry that Monique is filling her head with a bunch of bull and that she's believing her mother. It could be that I'm only being paranoid and that it has nothing to do with me. She comes home from school and heads straight to her room. Sometimes, she doesn't eat dinner. She eventually does eat. I've caught her eating alone on those nights when I've worked later than normal, but she doesn't want to eat with Justin and Gavin.

     Monique has been "casually" walking by the house. It's getting kind of creepy. I catch her again one afternoon and walk outside, not bothering to put my plate down.
     I call out her name, but she pretends not to hear me and starts crossing the street.

     "Don't act like you didn't hear me," I say as I dart around her, and we stand in the middle of the street.
     "I didn't feel like answering. Can't you take a hint?" she replies and rolls her eyes.
     I know that if I beat around the bush, I won't get anywhere with her. I have to be direct. "Why have you been stalking around the house?"
     "I can't want to see my kids? I keep hoping I can catch one of them."
     "I'm not trying to keep you from the kids, and you know all you have to do is knock."

     "Yes, you are keeping me from them. They live with you."
     I sigh exasperatedly. "They live with me because my house is a better environment."

     She points at me. "Shows what you know. It's obviously not better for Jenny. Or...have you not noticed she's depressed?"
     "How dare you imply that I don't pay attention!" I snarl.
     "Well, it's not a stretch with you out all the time either working or with that woman that you're going to try and pass off as their new mother!"
      Ah. So, here we have it. This doesn't completely explain why she's been snooping around, but I'm at least gaining a beginning of understanding.
      "What makes you think that's my plan?" I ask, making an attempt to calm down my anger. I know I can't reach Monique if I'm being angry anyway.
      "Because that's why you're dating her! You're trying to get rid of me! I won't have it!"

     I close my eyes with a sigh. "I'm not trying to get rid of you in our children's lives."
     "So, just your life then," she says, and her voice cracks like she's in pain.
     I open my eyes, and the sun frames my ex like a halo. "Monique, I can't live with you if you're going to cheat on me."
     "I...who's to say I was cheating?"
     I don't believe this! "Well, obviously you and Blaze had a thing going, but not only that, I met someone named Summer who said you slept with her roomie. While we were still together."
     "Oh that. Well, that was just a one-time thing."
     I snap.

     "No. You don't do that to someone when you're in a committed relationship, Monique!" I yell. The mild cacophony of children's voices from the playground across the street stops for a second as my voice gets carried to them on the wind.
     "Mitchell, it doesn't matter. He doesn't matter. I don't even remember his name!"
     "It does matter! How could you do that to me?! How could you look at yourself in the mirror?!"
     "He...I...I don't know why I did it! It just...felt good to have someone want me like that."
     "I wanted you like that! Was I not enough?"
     She starts crying and looking at the ground while shaking her head no. I have the split-second urge to hold her and tell her that everything's okay, but then I remember myself and everything she's done. I don't hate her, but I don't want her in my life like that anymore. If we didn't have children, I would be just fine if I never saw her again.
     "I miss you, Mitchell," she cries. "I miss my teddy bear."
     "A little while ago, that would've worked, but-"
     She interrupts. "Then why did you throw me out?"
     "I couldn't be with you anymore! Why can't you understand that?"
     "You think I wanted to move in with Blaze? I didn't have a choice!" she cries, probably mentally throwing out what I said and keeping on her earlier thought. I have to state everything plainly to her.
      "I can't take you back, Monique. I love Katherine. Even if I didn't, I still couldn't let myself take back someone who treated me so badly. I wanted to be enough for you, but holy hell, I don't think such a man exists." I storm away before I say something I'll regret. It's bad enough to see the shocked hurt I put on her face. I'm not a monster.

     My life continues to move forward, and I'm happy, so very happy. Katherine and Justin get along great. She tries to reach out to Jenny, but no one but Justin can reach her. He tells the two of us that it has something to do with a boy at school. At least I finally find out a piece of the puzzle that is my daughter.
     "She'll be fine, Dad. Don't worry. She's just like Mom is so many ways yet not if that makes sense. What happened was a shock to her. He didn't do anything bad, but she doesn't know how to deal with it," he tells me.

     The next day, I see Katherine walking down the sidewalk towards my house. I don't wait for her to get here. Instead, I run out and meet her.
     "You silly romantic," she teases.
     I chuckle. "There's more where that came from."

     I think about my plan for the upcoming minutes. If it doesn't work, it'll hurt, but I think I'll be okay. It might be too soon, but I don't feel like it's too soon. Sims only live so long after all. If it doesn't work, the only reason would be that it's too soon. Finally, somebody loves me as much as I love her.
     Katherine starts walking across the street because we're sims and she was programmed to keep walking if there isn't enough socialization.

     I stop her in her tracks.

    I hadn't really planned on doing this in the middle of the street due to the obvious hazards, but this is where it's happening.

    I'm only half-aware of the words coming out of my mouth, but I do get out the "will you marry me?" part.

    Her shocked silence just about kills me...

      ...before she gasps out a yes.

     My heart feels too big for my chest. I take a deep breath, but I still feel like I'm not giving it enough room.

     "Surprised you, didn't I? Was that 'silly romantic' enough for you?" I say with a light laugh.
     She laughs harder than I do and says, "You should see the look on your face. I love it. I love you." She kisses me.

     We tell the kids. Jenny mumbles out a congratulations before disappearing again. Justin hugs both of us.

    Her youngest, Bob. The Maker has no idea why he looks two-dimensional in this picture.

    And her oldest, Jocelyn. She's actually about to turn from young-adult to adult in a few sim days.
    They move in with us temporarily, sleeping in Justin and Jenny's old rooms.

     A few days later, my gorgeous fiancee and I sit down to a late dinner after I get home from work.
     "You'll never guess who paid us a visit today," she tells me.

     "Oh yeah?" I ask. "Who?"
     "Monique," she answers, and I have to work to keep from choking in surprise. "Justin invited her inside."
     "Uh, sorry. I told the kids that I don't mind if I'm not here." I know it's strange, but that's what we set up.
     "Oh, I didn't mind either." She actually laughs and goes to tell me what happened.

    Monique sat down at the bar with Katherine, and she smiled pleasantly. Katherine decided that she could be friendly if Monique could.
    "So, you're the new flame I've heard about," Monique said with her smile still plastered on her face.
    "Yes. I'm Katherine."
    "Well, Katherine, let's get some things straight here. Those are my kids."
    "I'm not trying to take your kids from you," Katherine said calmly, having heard about Monique's insanity from us and wanting to be careful.

     "And you can't take Mitchell from me either. He loves me, not you. He's just punishing me because I was bad," Monique continued, and Katherine gave her a wide-eyed look like she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
     "Mitchell isn't yours to have me take from," Katherine disagreed. "In case you haven't noticed, he tossed you out like a bag of garbage. I'm not going to try to take your place with your kids, but make no mistake: Mitchell wants nothing more to do with you; we're getting married; we love each other, and we're going to start a new life together."
     Monique snorted. "We'll see about that."

    "I told her to go ahead and try," Katherine finishes.
    "You don't have anything to worry about," I say, almost wishing I'd been there for that conversation. I would've loved to see Katherine shoot Monique down.
    "Oh, I'm not worried. I'm looking forward to proving her wrong. I had nothing personal with her before, but if she wants to make it personal..." She grins and stares off into space.
     I laugh. I'm so happy. Life would be perfect if only Jenny would let me help her through her slump. I just have to hold onto the hope from what Justin said that she'll perk back up to her old self in time.