Chain Reaction 2.24: The Kids' Table

Alex

     I'm back in Willow Creek, and the sight of my mother shocks me. She looks so... old! Of course, I don't dare tell her this. That would send her running back to her plastic surgeon.

     I proudly introduce her to my wife. It's strange that Laura and Mom are meeting for the first time, but The Maker really didn't intend, at first, to bring anyone from her old saves back into the story. Then, I introduce my son. She looks more happy to meet Drake than she does Laura, and I think Laura notices. The entire flight here, my wife was a jittery, nervous mess. It was all I could do to keep her from downing every mojito in sight. The only thing that really stopped her was she didn't want to be sloshed when we landed.

     I hear someone coming down the stairs. Mom speaks. "Drake, this is your cousin Aaron. He's only a year younger than you."

     "Cassandra's here?" I ask hopefully.

     "Yes. She's upstairs. She'll be down in a minute."

     It's so weird being a guest in the house where I grew up. Normally, I would've just dashed upstairs to find my sister. Now, I have to politely wait for her to come down.

     Mom turns to my wife. "So, Laura, Alexander tells me you two met when you were his assistant before the company went under."

     "Yes," she answers swiftly. Mom intimidates her! I've never seen Laura so nervous.

     "Indeed," I add. "And she stayed with me when my company was just a dream in my head."

     "That's very... sweet of you," Mom says cryptically.

     Oh no, Mom. Don't start. She's patronizing her. The blonde hair has thrown her off, and she's putting Laura into a stereotype.

     "Well, I wouldn't have gotten it off the ground if it weren't for her. She's brilliant." I reach out and squeeze her hand.

     Drake and Aaron start horsing around. From the looks of things, Drake is getting irritated while Aaron looks like he's having fun teasing his newfound cousin.

     Laura clears her throat. "I'm sorry for your loss, um, Mrs. Goth."

     Mom keeps being overly-formal. "Thank you, but in a way, I lost him long ago, thanks to that monster." Uh, maybe not so formal.

     I really don't want to talk about Graham. That would lead to talk about Brielle, and that could cause World War III. Laura is terrified that all anyone is going to do is compare her to Brielle, and with everything that's happened recently, she's extra sensitive about that. The last thing I want is to have another fight with my wife.

     Aaron distracts everyone.

     "Hey, so Drake, after this, we should really hit the clubs. I could introduce you to a few chicks if you want."

     I'm thinking that in Aaron's mind, that probably sounds polite. Just a guess.

     "I have a girlfriend," Drake snaps in reply.

     "All right, bro. Chill. Just trying to be friendly. Thought you might want to sample some of the local fare."

     Someone tugs on my sleeve. "Are you my Uncle Alex?"

    I turn and don't see anyone. Then, I look down and see a near-clone of my sister. "Hi. Yes I am. You must be Jacquline."

    "You pronounce the 'J' like the French one," she says in a matter-of-fact way. She reminds me of how Emily was as a child.

     "Then, you have my apologies, Jacquline." I say her name correctly this time. She stares at me like she's sizing me up intellectually. Right now, I'm too worried about my wife going into a fully-fledged panic, so I probably look like a simpleton.

     Mom and Laura have been speaking while I met my niece, but I missed what they were saying. Are they talking business? Then, I get distracted again when Cassandra comes down the stairs.

     "Alexander!"

     She spins me around and squeezes me hard. "Oh! My baby brother! My baby brother!"

     Jacquline laughs quietly.

     I hate that the reason I finally came home was because Dad died. I shouldn't have stayed away so long. I left Cassie with all the burden of dealing with our mother after Dad's arrest. Dad told me to stay away, but I didn't have to listen. He was worried I'd get linked to the scandal and be arrested as well.

     "I see you've met my children already." She doesn't let go of me.

     "Yes, I was just speaking with Jacquline."

     She laughs. "Sorry if she's a little intense. She reminds me of you."

     "Mom!" my niece whines.

     I laugh.

     "She actually reminds me of Drake's girlfriend when she was a child."

     Cassie smiles. "Oh? Who's that?"

     "Her name is Emily. She's..." Plum! "...Brielle's... daughter."

     Of all the things for my mother to hear, she picks up on this. Turning to Drake, she asks, "Your girlfriend is Brielle's daughter?"

     Laura slouches; Drake defends his choice; and I worry how I can keep this from going in a worse direction. "Hey, Mom. Did you ever replace that old dinosaur of a refrigerator?" She doesn't answer me. "Who's hungry?" I ask the group. "Mom, you don't mind if Laura and I fix something to eat, do you?" Anything to separate my wife from my mother and sister at this moment. Me and my big mouth. I think Drake can hold his own, but Laura looks stressed.

     "Sure, if you insist, Alexander," she says, waving her hand dismissively. She then launches into an interrogation to get information about Emily, asking Drake some very irritating questions that I'd actually rather he answer than the two of us.

     "Great!" I say with false enthusiasm. Then, I grab Laura's arm and drag her away from the scene. As I walk with her, I mumble into her ear, "I'm sorry."

     "It was bound to happen sooner or later," she breathes, looking more relaxed the farther we get from Mom.

      I calm Laura down, but we don't have much time alone before Mom decides she wants some coffee. At least I don't have to worry about Drake continuing to be interrogated.
     "So, Brielle has had a son and a daughter," Mom says.
     I guess I spoke too soon.
     But apparently, the little moment we shared before Mom came into the kitchen strengthened Laura. She replies to Mom's statement. "Yes. She has a son named Ethan, and you've heard about Emily. Emily is a delightful girl."
     Mom snorts. "So was Brielle."
     "Mom..."
     "Don't 'Mom' me. You left for Eden to get Brielle back-"
     "And to start a business," I interrupt. I dare her to scold me for it. Glancing, I see all she does is shoot me a reproachful look for interrupting her.
     "And you didn't come home when that didn't work."
     "Because I met Laura and started my security business. Need I remind you?" I'm not taking it. I'm not going to listen to how I 'failed' to 'win' Brielle.
     Mom turns around and finally sees my wife standing there awkwardly. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I'm not really myself lately. Ever since Mortimer was arrested, I've been off-balance. Now, he's truly gone." She stares at Laura like she's not really looking at her, like she's just staring off into space in Laura's direction.
     Laura takes a breath. "It's nothing."
     "No, it isn't. Let's go have a seat." Mom implies the two of them can go and talk.
     I've finished preparing the meal at record sim speed, and everyone goes to get a plate.

     Cassandra and I sit at "the kids' table" for old times' sake. She tells me all about how she met her husband, Jude. He was one of the lawyers working for Dad. With Mom going out of her mind and Dad ordering me to stay away, Cassandra was the one to handle the legal issues. She'd spent a lot of time in the firm's office, and she and Jude grew close.

     While Cassie and I eat, Jude comes in and sits down next to Drake. I'll meet him later.

     'Later' arrives. This is the best pic the Maker took of me meeting my brother-in-law. It sucks terribly.
     We have the same taste in hairstyles.

     Eventually, things get okay with my wife. She relaxes, and I'm glad.

*******

Drake Goth

     I finally escape that idiot cousin of mine when they all leave to go to their house. Tonight, I'm sleeping in Dad's old room.

     I knew Dad came from a powerful family, but I'd never really thought about it before. The Goth family is the oldest-surviving family in Willow Creek. Even though my grandfather went to prison, they didn't lose the family home. If they had, that would've been a shame. It's not like the place is a mansion, far from it. It's the history of the place. I like it, and I have a strange sense of power knowing that I'm the one to carry on the Goth name.

      Tonight, I learned from my grandmother that Emily's father is somehow responsible for my grandfather's arrest. I'd thought Graham was an accountant! Apparently not. What a plumbing liar! I'm tempted to text Emily and find out if she knows what her father really does for a living. After all, he's been lying to her all her life, but something makes me pause.

     It would be more to my benefit to keep this information as something to hold over Graham's head--just in case I should need it. I'm sure he wouldn't want his precious daughter to think less of him.

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Jude is a sim I made years ago. AFTER I started shooting and was already halfway through the scene did I notice how similar he looks to Alex. Oh well. irl, people have the same hair styles.

I TRIED to make Bella an elder, but every time I'd load the lot, she'd die. Grrrrr.

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