Chapter 14: Let the Sunshine In
When day breaks, and the birthday wishes is starting to trickle in on her phone, Willow drives to Oasis Springs, where she has decided to celebrate her birthday in Desert Bloom Park. But before that, she starts by visiting her sister, and her newborn son, Sunny Springs.
He is the most adorable little thing, and makes Willow long for a child of her own. Perhaps she is starting to be ready?
While it is her birthday, she still offers Sandy a gift for the little bundle of joy.
Then they're off to the park. Willow has baked a honey cake with the honey from her own garden, and she uses the grill to arrange food. People talk, laugh and play games, and yet Willow has a hard time truly enjoying herself. As she watches her mother dressed in things far too elaborate for the occasion, she feels the burning shame of failure.
But for the most part, it's still a nice birthday party. The cake is very appreciated, which makes Willow happy.
When people return home, they do so full and pleased, and even though Willow can't shake her failure entirely, she tells herself that she's a little bit wiser than yesterday.
The next day she's arranged to meet her father in the park during one of her breaks. She tells him about her failure, and about how nothing now can happen until next year. To her relief her father isn't angry. "Am I disappointed that it's not ready and waiting, of course but truth is, we're far from that step. We aren't close to gathering the amount of money needed for the curse to be lifted, and before we do... well there is no potion in the world that can help. So don't feel like you failed your mother, you're putting effort into learning something just for her. That means something. That means everything."
She's not entirely ready to forgive herself for the failure yet, but at least she feels a bit better at the moment.
Back in Oasis Springs, little Sunny has aged up to an infant, and with that the family has had to extend the house. While it was more than big enough for just the two of them, it feels a bit cramped now that they are three, but they're making it work.
Sunny's new room is bright and light, as "sunny as he is" as Sandy says.
Life is hectic when you're both trying to raise a child and manage your job as a future astronaut. Sandy has been promoted to Command Centre Lead, while Rory is working on getting promoted from Technician. It's hard work, and they hate that it means leaving Sunny at day care for so many hours at a time, but they couldn't imagine doing anything else. Building rockets, working out in SpaceY's gym, experimenting in the flight simulator is a dream come true for both of them.
But it's not all work and no play, sometimes as parents of a very young child, you have to find your moments for some adult entertainment, and who hasn't wanted to try to woohoo in an observatory?
With life being so busy, they decide to just stay at home for Rory's birthday, with a simple cake for the three of them, or the two of them, as Sunny is a bit too young for cake still.
Instead they meet the family again for Harvestfest. As usual Charles and Candice is organising, and while Candice is still acting weird and talking more about money, status and business than world peace and the importance of being a good human being, she still knows how to cook a fantastic meal. And she does love her new grandson. But Sandy is still worried.
"Mom, you look really skinny," she says.
"Thanks!" her mother beams. "It's this new drug, insta-lean, it does everything for you and you look fantastic."
"Yeah I wasn't thinking fantastic, more like unhealthy."
"Nonsense, all successful people are skinny. Do you think the actresses in Del Sol Valley look unhealthy?"
"Well, yeah!"
For the family this is their first chance to meet Malik, who they have insisted that Neo brings. He's a bit uncomfortable in the new setting, and keeps scanning the rooms for valuables, having to remind himself that this is not a reasonable target, but his boyfriend's family's house.
How did he end up living with a boyfriend? He's not really sure what happened. Neo came over, and just never left, and what is more surprising, he doesn't mind. Could it be that he's almost... happy? Nah! That can't be what this is.
But truth is that Neo and Malik are near inseparable these days. They train together, go on heists together, rig boxing games together and woohoo - a lot - together. Malik even liked the fact that Neo wanted a matching tattoo to his. He's not as inked as Malik is yet, but he's getting there. He's also getting more fit. Malik definitely approves of that.
In Oasis Springs, it's almost time for Sunny's birthday. Sandy tries her hand at baking a cake, but her cooking is not the same as her mother's and she ends up setting the kitchen on fire. It's something she's been dreading since that awful Winterfest fire, but this time she acts extinguishing the flames and her own fear of fire all at once. Even the firefighters are impressed by her handiwork. Still, they have to get a new stove and a new refrigerator, which wasn't exactly how they had thought to spend their hard earned Simoleons.
Eventually, however, Sandy manages to get that cake made, and on the day they have arranged for a birthday party in the park as their house is simply too small for the entire family.
They make sure that Sunny is fed and happy before taking off.
Then meet up with both their families at the park where Sandy helps Sunny blow out his candles.
And then hands him off to her mother, hoping the weight of her grandson will bring her back to them fully. Remind her of what her priorities really are, or at least used to be. If it was only that easy.
Regardless, the families have a nice time, mingling and getting to know one another.
It's a great birthday party, but Sunny is really tired when they return home. Rory reads him to sleep in his new bed. It takes next to no time before he's fast asleep.
Sandy's birthday is spent at home. Neither Rory nor Sandy has any desire for another party so soon, but Rory bakes her a cake, she makes a wish, and now she too can call herself a real adult.
He is the most adorable little thing, and makes Willow long for a child of her own. Perhaps she is starting to be ready?
While it is her birthday, she still offers Sandy a gift for the little bundle of joy.
Then they're off to the park. Willow has baked a honey cake with the honey from her own garden, and she uses the grill to arrange food. People talk, laugh and play games, and yet Willow has a hard time truly enjoying herself. As she watches her mother dressed in things far too elaborate for the occasion, she feels the burning shame of failure.
But for the most part, it's still a nice birthday party. The cake is very appreciated, which makes Willow happy.
When people return home, they do so full and pleased, and even though Willow can't shake her failure entirely, she tells herself that she's a little bit wiser than yesterday.
The next day she's arranged to meet her father in the park during one of her breaks. She tells him about her failure, and about how nothing now can happen until next year. To her relief her father isn't angry. "Am I disappointed that it's not ready and waiting, of course but truth is, we're far from that step. We aren't close to gathering the amount of money needed for the curse to be lifted, and before we do... well there is no potion in the world that can help. So don't feel like you failed your mother, you're putting effort into learning something just for her. That means something. That means everything."
She's not entirely ready to forgive herself for the failure yet, but at least she feels a bit better at the moment.
Back in Oasis Springs, little Sunny has aged up to an infant, and with that the family has had to extend the house. While it was more than big enough for just the two of them, it feels a bit cramped now that they are three, but they're making it work.
Sunny's new room is bright and light, as "sunny as he is" as Sandy says.
Life is hectic when you're both trying to raise a child and manage your job as a future astronaut. Sandy has been promoted to Command Centre Lead, while Rory is working on getting promoted from Technician. It's hard work, and they hate that it means leaving Sunny at day care for so many hours at a time, but they couldn't imagine doing anything else. Building rockets, working out in SpaceY's gym, experimenting in the flight simulator is a dream come true for both of them.
But it's not all work and no play, sometimes as parents of a very young child, you have to find your moments for some adult entertainment, and who hasn't wanted to try to woohoo in an observatory?
With life being so busy, they decide to just stay at home for Rory's birthday, with a simple cake for the three of them, or the two of them, as Sunny is a bit too young for cake still.
Instead they meet the family again for Harvestfest. As usual Charles and Candice is organising, and while Candice is still acting weird and talking more about money, status and business than world peace and the importance of being a good human being, she still knows how to cook a fantastic meal. And she does love her new grandson. But Sandy is still worried.
"Mom, you look really skinny," she says.
"Thanks!" her mother beams. "It's this new drug, insta-lean, it does everything for you and you look fantastic."
"Yeah I wasn't thinking fantastic, more like unhealthy."
"Nonsense, all successful people are skinny. Do you think the actresses in Del Sol Valley look unhealthy?"
"Well, yeah!"
For the family this is their first chance to meet Malik, who they have insisted that Neo brings. He's a bit uncomfortable in the new setting, and keeps scanning the rooms for valuables, having to remind himself that this is not a reasonable target, but his boyfriend's family's house.
How did he end up living with a boyfriend? He's not really sure what happened. Neo came over, and just never left, and what is more surprising, he doesn't mind. Could it be that he's almost... happy? Nah! That can't be what this is.
But truth is that Neo and Malik are near inseparable these days. They train together, go on heists together, rig boxing games together and woohoo - a lot - together. Malik even liked the fact that Neo wanted a matching tattoo to his. He's not as inked as Malik is yet, but he's getting there. He's also getting more fit. Malik definitely approves of that.
In Oasis Springs, it's almost time for Sunny's birthday. Sandy tries her hand at baking a cake, but her cooking is not the same as her mother's and she ends up setting the kitchen on fire. It's something she's been dreading since that awful Winterfest fire, but this time she acts extinguishing the flames and her own fear of fire all at once. Even the firefighters are impressed by her handiwork. Still, they have to get a new stove and a new refrigerator, which wasn't exactly how they had thought to spend their hard earned Simoleons.
Eventually, however, Sandy manages to get that cake made, and on the day they have arranged for a birthday party in the park as their house is simply too small for the entire family.
They make sure that Sunny is fed and happy before taking off.
Then meet up with both their families at the park where Sandy helps Sunny blow out his candles.
And then hands him off to her mother, hoping the weight of her grandson will bring her back to them fully. Remind her of what her priorities really are, or at least used to be. If it was only that easy.
Regardless, the families have a nice time, mingling and getting to know one another.
It's a great birthday party, but Sunny is really tired when they return home. Rory reads him to sleep in his new bed. It takes next to no time before he's fast asleep.
Sandy's birthday is spent at home. Neither Rory nor Sandy has any desire for another party so soon, but Rory bakes her a cake, she makes a wish, and now she too can call herself a real adult.
But that doesn't make her too old to play with her son.
Willow comes over to see her sister on her birthday and talk about Winterfest. Their mother is insisting on hosting, and to be fair, none of them live in a large enough house to have a chance to take on the arrangement.
"At least mum cooks well, and she's happy when she gets to show off her skills," Sandy says.
"Yeah, I suppose. Come summer I'll be able to fix her. I just need one more ingredient, but it can only be found in Granit Falls an only collected at night time."
"You'll find a way," Sandy says. "I know you won't give up until you do." Willow nods. While she's been trying to find a cure, she even failed to notice that she succeeded in her life aspiration, to be a freelance botanist. Even now the failure of her summer expedition weighs heavier than her success.
"You have to be kinder to yourself," Sandy says. "You will succeed, you just need more time."
Somehow Sandy always knows what to say to make Willow feel better.
"At least mum cooks well, and she's happy when she gets to show off her skills," Sandy says.
"Yeah, I suppose. Come summer I'll be able to fix her. I just need one more ingredient, but it can only be found in Granit Falls an only collected at night time."
"You'll find a way," Sandy says. "I know you won't give up until you do." Willow nods. While she's been trying to find a cure, she even failed to notice that she succeeded in her life aspiration, to be a freelance botanist. Even now the failure of her summer expedition weighs heavier than her success.
"You have to be kinder to yourself," Sandy says. "You will succeed, you just need more time."
Somehow Sandy always knows what to say to make Willow feel better.
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