After I had a slice of cake, I changed into the new clothes that dad bought me and got Gwen to style my hair a little differently.
In case you were wondering about the man in pink behind me, that was my roommate, Felix Bull. He and dad were great friends and dad kept gushing about how he
had to have Felix live with us because he was uncle Marc's son. And he had ulterior motives too.
"I think that Felix is just perfect for you!" he said.
"Yes, the man who says 'I never want to marry' and wants to be the ultimate woohooer is perfect."
"But he loves the outdoors and music, just like you."
I loved Felix. As a friend, of course. He and Gwen were the best people I knew, but I had no intentions of romancing Felix. Not at all. I had bigger things on my mind.
Soon after that, mum stepped out of the bathroom after a relaxing shower and felt a little different. Dad was out at the Greenwoods while it happened, but I saw it all.
When the Reaper greeted her, she was calm. "Hey Grim, it's a little early, but I've had a great time on this earth with my wonderful husband and my lovely daughter. In fact, I couldn't ask for anything better."
And she jumped into her urn as a happy camper.
I relayed her message to dad, but it didn't heal him. He was heartbroken for a long time after that. Later on he told me about his romantic past, and how it took him so long to find mum. I wish I understood it better at the time.
Mum and I weren't very close in her later years, but I was still saddened over it. Even worse than when uncle DeAndre died. I don't care what dad thought; I flung myself into Thomas Castor's arms for a good cry.
Dad was so intent on me and Felix becoming a thing, which so wasn't going to happen.
Thomas and I were good friends since high school. He was a good deal older than me, yet the kindest person I knew. As great as Felix was, he was a bit of a jerk and just a friend. Thomas wasn't.
That night, we both realized how we mattered to each other.
Though I still had work to do. I jogged around Twinbrook, since dad was too occupied with his job and the final promotions to take me to Shang Simla.
And I had to stop procrastinating. I got a job as an acrobat. Maybe more like a glorified mime, but I looked forward to the day where I would be on stage.
Meanwhile, Gwen had her own romantic endeavors. When she brought Tim home, I almost wanted to tell her off, saying that she'll just be down the same road that her mum was as an early widow. I didn't want to see her heart broken so soon.
But it was too late. She was captivated by Tim.
Dad was a little more stressed. He was one promotion away from the top of his career, but he was already in his 80's, and I prayed that he wouldn't go as soon as mum did. Not after all his success.
He tried to make more friends, but the success was marginal.
Gwen was happier. In spite of the age gap and Tim's erratic schedule as an acrobat (like me!), they were absolutely in love and thrilled to have their first and only child. I hoped that the stuff on his face was just pie filling.
In fact, she wanted to take it to the next level. Dad later told her that there was absolutely no way he'd allow Tim into the house, but it was the thought that counted.
And not a moment too soon.
Gwen spent days enchanted by her new son, Peter Racket. He was adorable, but I was hardly romantic with Thomas (and still not willing to marry Felix; sorry dad) while Gwen was as settled down as a Grave roomie could get. I was told this was a common feeling.
I met Thomas at the diner, away from any comments dad had to make about his small ears, or the fact that a stiff wind could knock him over (which it could, true). I gazed into his eyes.
"Thomas, I've been feeling so lonely since I graduated."
"I've been wondering if I'll ever find love myself."
It seemed so familiar, and I overheard mum and dad talk about it long ago. "Those normals, they're cursed and that's why I'm here," dad told her. Could the curse be a life without love? I couldn't let Thomas resign to that life, whatever it was. I had to ask dad about that later.
"Why should we stay that way?" I asked him.
He was a little shocked, but I smooched him at the diner. The same spot where mum and dad confessed their love for each other. I didn't care what dad had to say, I wanted Thomas. I instantly invited him to live with us.
If nothing else, Felix would be happy that he could carelessly woohoo instead of languish in marriage with me. I would have been such a terrible wife for him.
And with some magic, I couldn't think of anyone in Twinbrook more handsome than Thomas.
-
(Leave it to my sims to throw a wrench in my spousal plan. First Cricket with her suddenly dead fiance, and now Willow actually resisting a son of Marc. I expected Felix and Willow to hit it off immediately due to a shared trait, but they really just wanted to be friends. Yet Willow popped a ton of romantic wishes for Thomas. Funny how that happens.
Yes, Felix's favorite color is pink. He pulls it off very well.)
