Chapter 25: Love and Loss
On returning from her holiday, there is something Willow must do. Visit Olivia and apologise for not being more supportive of her marriage and pregnancy. Granted, she still think it's irresponsible to have a child so late in life, but this is not her life, and she should have been more supportive.
She heads over and knocks on the door, to find almost everyone outside in the swimming pool.
Jumping in, she takes the opportunity to apologise for her behaviour, before she asks if she can see the new baby.
Olivia is more than happy to oblige and after getting changed, they head up to the nursery where baby Corinne is sleeping.
"Isn't she just the most wonderful thing in the world?"
Willow thinks little Corinne is unnaturally red, but that's not what she says. "She's beautiful, just perfect."
Having visited Olivia and seen Corinne, Willow decides to take another trip to Oasis Springs and see her mother. She and Sandy agree to go together. Candice is really happy to see them, and suggest that they sit outside to talk.
"Are you sure?" Sandy asks. "It's really hot outside."
"Of course, it will be lovely," Candice insists. As Sandy and Willow both like the heat they certainly don't mind and the three has a lovely conversation about everything that is going on in their lives.
"Are you sure you don't want to change into something more comfortable?" Willow asks her mother, but Candice shakes her head.
"This is what I've worn since your father died. I don't intend to change that."
But she is starting to sweat, even if she's too stubborn to admit it.
As she gets up to get a glass of water, she feels suddenly faint, and only too late does she realise how right her daughters were. Of course she should have changed into something lighter, and of course sitting outside in the sun was a silly idea. But not much to do about it now, she can feel herself collapsing. Her last thought goes to Charles. "At least we will be together again."
It's with a heavy heart that Willow returns home that evening.
The funeral is held the next day, and Candice is laid to rest next to her husband. Willow plant a rosebush in between their graves. "The roots will bind you together," she whispers.
It's a sad day for all of them, and lots of tears are shed, not least among dear friends like Summer and Annie.
After the funeral, they all gather at Willows. She has insisted on summer clothing, to make everyone more comfortable, and it's a laid back affair, with comfort and love and helping each other out in this time of grief.
For Willow the loss of her mother is what finally pushes her into the throws of a midlife crisis.
But in the midst of her darkest moment, a flicker of light appears.
She has to admit she's surprised. She had not thought she'd hear from him again, taking their night as a fling, something he did with more female hikers than she could count. Perhaps she misjudged him? She happily accept the invitation and they meet up in the park.
Derek is refreshingly honest, and makes no attempt to play games. He's thought about her since she left, and does not want to waste time to get to know her properly.
It's a quieter time, less passionate and more exploratory than last they met. Sure there are some kisses, but mostly they talk - and talk some more. Willow learns that Derek does not just love the outdoors, but that's he's cheerful and a hopeless romantic. She likes the combination.
He enjoys stargazing as much as she does. And knows the names of many of the constellations.
At the end of the night they hug good bye, and go their separate ways, with a promise to see each other again. Willow at this point is so tired that she can barely stand up, but she still takes the time to text her sister. "Could he be the one?"
The next morning she gets some unexpected news. Her experiment with the potions was greatly appreciated and the university has decided to give her a PhD for her research. She's now reached the very top of her career! In all that happened to her she almost forgot that this was something she'd been aiming for. She leaves for work this morning with a new sense of pride.
Willow is not the only one getting promotions. In San Sequoia, Christmas and Sunny are both progressing in their careers too.
Their little townhouse is constantly filled with people, especially Carolyn who is more there than at her own home.
"Look," Christmas tells Sunny one morning. "If she's going to live here, you might as well make it official."
"What do you mean, live here?"
"How many mornings have she not been here lately?"
"You're not getting younger, you know? It's about time."
Christmas herself has also been having some development on the romantic front, though less dramatic than Sunny. Jamie has been spending a lot of time there too, but mostly as a friend... with some flirting... a lot of flirting sometimes.
Sometimes the two go to the movies together, but neither really call it a date. Yet.
There has been times when Christmas has tried to take it to the next level, but so far Jamie has been reluctant, but just as Christmas was about to give up, he kisses her. About time, Christmas thinks.
And as Christmas is finally getting somewhere with Jamie, Sunny decides to take her advice and make it official with Carolyn by asking her to move in with them. She happily agrees.
And follows it up with a promotion of her own soon after.
As fall arrives, and Harvestfest approaches, Willow and Derek has started spending a lot of time together when he's not off in Granite Falls working. And he's been coming around her place a lot too. Together they've started working on his cooking skills (though Willow still cooks most of the food). Derek is enthusiastic company while she cooks.
Willow is still not sure she made the right call with the large dining table. The result is that she almost never use her living room anymore. She prefers this room.
But while the weather allows it, she and Derek are both happiest outside.
They get cosy in Willows new hot tub, and Derek still has the ability to make her giggle like a schoolgirl.
When things aren't getting more intense.
Sometimes a bit too publicly. This woman was so shocked that she had to stop and post about it on social media.
And while Derek spend most nights he can in the house, the bed is about the only place they so far have not woohooed in.
On Harvestfest, Willow has asked him to join them so that he can meet the family. She starts the day with feeding her new cowplant, whom she named Munch. "Don't go eating my guests, you hear?" she tells it. Luckily Munch, unlike Rosalie, has not yet acquired a taste for sims.
The rest of the day is all about preparing, decorating and cooking until the guests finally arrive.
Derek seems to get along with the family well, though Christmas looked a bit suspicious at first.
After the celebration is over, Derek feels it is time to get real. "What would you say to me moving in?" He asks after helping to clean up. "I'm tired of going back to Granite Falls all the time. I mean I love it there, but it's a job, not a life. We're not getting younger, and I don't want to waste the time I have left being somewhere other than where you are."
"But you love your job," Willow says.
"I love you more."
What can a woman say other than yes when he puts it like that?
She heads over and knocks on the door, to find almost everyone outside in the swimming pool.
Jumping in, she takes the opportunity to apologise for her behaviour, before she asks if she can see the new baby.
Olivia is more than happy to oblige and after getting changed, they head up to the nursery where baby Corinne is sleeping.
"Isn't she just the most wonderful thing in the world?"
Willow thinks little Corinne is unnaturally red, but that's not what she says. "She's beautiful, just perfect."
Having visited Olivia and seen Corinne, Willow decides to take another trip to Oasis Springs and see her mother. She and Sandy agree to go together. Candice is really happy to see them, and suggest that they sit outside to talk.
"Are you sure?" Sandy asks. "It's really hot outside."
"Of course, it will be lovely," Candice insists. As Sandy and Willow both like the heat they certainly don't mind and the three has a lovely conversation about everything that is going on in their lives.
"Are you sure you don't want to change into something more comfortable?" Willow asks her mother, but Candice shakes her head.
"This is what I've worn since your father died. I don't intend to change that."
But she is starting to sweat, even if she's too stubborn to admit it.
As she gets up to get a glass of water, she feels suddenly faint, and only too late does she realise how right her daughters were. Of course she should have changed into something lighter, and of course sitting outside in the sun was a silly idea. But not much to do about it now, she can feel herself collapsing. Her last thought goes to Charles. "At least we will be together again."
It's with a heavy heart that Willow returns home that evening.
The funeral is held the next day, and Candice is laid to rest next to her husband. Willow plant a rosebush in between their graves. "The roots will bind you together," she whispers.
It's a sad day for all of them, and lots of tears are shed, not least among dear friends like Summer and Annie.
After the funeral, they all gather at Willows. She has insisted on summer clothing, to make everyone more comfortable, and it's a laid back affair, with comfort and love and helping each other out in this time of grief.
For Willow the loss of her mother is what finally pushes her into the throws of a midlife crisis.
But in the midst of her darkest moment, a flicker of light appears.
She has to admit she's surprised. She had not thought she'd hear from him again, taking their night as a fling, something he did with more female hikers than she could count. Perhaps she misjudged him? She happily accept the invitation and they meet up in the park.
Derek is refreshingly honest, and makes no attempt to play games. He's thought about her since she left, and does not want to waste time to get to know her properly.
It's a quieter time, less passionate and more exploratory than last they met. Sure there are some kisses, but mostly they talk - and talk some more. Willow learns that Derek does not just love the outdoors, but that's he's cheerful and a hopeless romantic. She likes the combination.
He enjoys stargazing as much as she does. And knows the names of many of the constellations.
At the end of the night they hug good bye, and go their separate ways, with a promise to see each other again. Willow at this point is so tired that she can barely stand up, but she still takes the time to text her sister. "Could he be the one?"
The next morning she gets some unexpected news. Her experiment with the potions was greatly appreciated and the university has decided to give her a PhD for her research. She's now reached the very top of her career! In all that happened to her she almost forgot that this was something she'd been aiming for. She leaves for work this morning with a new sense of pride.
Willow is not the only one getting promotions. In San Sequoia, Christmas and Sunny are both progressing in their careers too.
Their little townhouse is constantly filled with people, especially Carolyn who is more there than at her own home.
"Look," Christmas tells Sunny one morning. "If she's going to live here, you might as well make it official."
"What do you mean, live here?"
"How many mornings have she not been here lately?"
"You're not getting younger, you know? It's about time."
Christmas herself has also been having some development on the romantic front, though less dramatic than Sunny. Jamie has been spending a lot of time there too, but mostly as a friend... with some flirting... a lot of flirting sometimes.
Sometimes the two go to the movies together, but neither really call it a date. Yet.
There has been times when Christmas has tried to take it to the next level, but so far Jamie has been reluctant, but just as Christmas was about to give up, he kisses her. About time, Christmas thinks.
And as Christmas is finally getting somewhere with Jamie, Sunny decides to take her advice and make it official with Carolyn by asking her to move in with them. She happily agrees.
And follows it up with a promotion of her own soon after.
As fall arrives, and Harvestfest approaches, Willow and Derek has started spending a lot of time together when he's not off in Granite Falls working. And he's been coming around her place a lot too. Together they've started working on his cooking skills (though Willow still cooks most of the food). Derek is enthusiastic company while she cooks.
Willow is still not sure she made the right call with the large dining table. The result is that she almost never use her living room anymore. She prefers this room.
But while the weather allows it, she and Derek are both happiest outside.
They get cosy in Willows new hot tub, and Derek still has the ability to make her giggle like a schoolgirl.
When things aren't getting more intense.
Sometimes a bit too publicly. This woman was so shocked that she had to stop and post about it on social media.
And while Derek spend most nights he can in the house, the bed is about the only place they so far have not woohooed in.
On Harvestfest, Willow has asked him to join them so that he can meet the family. She starts the day with feeding her new cowplant, whom she named Munch. "Don't go eating my guests, you hear?" she tells it. Luckily Munch, unlike Rosalie, has not yet acquired a taste for sims.
The rest of the day is all about preparing, decorating and cooking until the guests finally arrive.
Derek seems to get along with the family well, though Christmas looked a bit suspicious at first.
After the celebration is over, Derek feels it is time to get real. "What would you say to me moving in?" He asks after helping to clean up. "I'm tired of going back to Granite Falls all the time. I mean I love it there, but it's a job, not a life. We're not getting younger, and I don't want to waste the time I have left being somewhere other than where you are."
"But you love your job," Willow says.
"I love you more."
What can a woman say other than yes when he puts it like that?
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