My Sims Love Affair

After dinner, Maia and I complete Tami’s bedroom routine together. As I watch Maia kiss Tami goodnight, a new goal for my bucket list pops into my head. I hurry downstairs and add it to my list. It says, ‘I’d like to have another child!”

Meanwhile, Maia walks into her yoga room to relax away the thoughts and doubts that her father put into her head. What he said wasn’t wrong, but it didn’t make her feel better. It only led to more anxiety, and now Maia is asking again and again—‘How do I make time for myself and my goals when everybody else needs me?’

I’m just finishing up when Maia returns. She peeks around the corner into the kitchen.

Maia: You’re making dinner?

Wade: Yes, ma’am. You’re not the only one with skills in the kitchen.

Maia: Really? I can’t wait to taste these skills.

Maia grabs a serving for herself and Tami and sits at the table. I’m not hungry, so I sit near them, feeling proud of the great fathering that just took place.

I put my arm around her for a hug, hoping it conveys my love.

Wade: I love you so much! And I'm going to be a better daddy from now on.

Tambara: I'll be a better Tami.

Wade: You're already the best Tami that ever lived!

She has her mother's beautiful smile.

Tambara: I'm hungry daddy.

Wade: Are you? Let's go in the kitchen to see what I can scrounge up for you.

In the kitchen, I open the refrigerator and pull out the ingredients for spaghetti because it's one of the few meals I can't mess up.

Wade: I wanted you to know that daddies aren’t perfect, and we sometimes make mistakes. I’ve made some mistakes with you in the past. So, I’ll do things differently from now on, but I want you to know that it’s because I love you and not because there’s anything wrong with you. Okay?

I can tell by the look on Tami’s face that all I’ve done is confuse her.

Wade: You didn’t understand a word of that, did you?

Tambara: *shakes her head*

I want to get my point across without mentioning Tami’s past behavior. This moment should represent a fresh start for both of us, so I get straight to the point.

Wade: I’m just trying to tell you I’m proud of you, and no matter what you do, that won’t change.

Tami scoots closer.

Tambara: I’m proud of you too, Daddy.

Wade: Hi princess. Did you have a good time at your grandpa’s?

Tambara: Yeah. Mommy is still there. She says she’ll be back soon.

Wade: I need to talk to you about something.

Tambara: Am I in trouble? I didn’t mean to tell Grandpa he’s too old for Simtube.

What the heck? She’s not wrong, but that type of thinking does not help in my quest to become a better father. I get back to the point.

Wade: What? No, that’s not what I want to talk about. Let’s go upstairs and sit somewhere comfortable.

I lead Tami to the couch in the living room and call her over.

Part 2 will continue to post here on Tumblr tomorrow. Or you can read the rest on my website by clicking the link above.

I return from my visit with Luca** feeling some kind of way. As always, he gave me some good advice, but I still feel like a failure as a father. And that’s made worse by me comparing my child to his. Tami doesn’t deserve that. She’s her own person with a one-of-a-kind personality. She’ll never be like Desi and I don’t want her to be. I need to make some changes, which may require more direction.

I sit down at the computer and create a bucket list of things I want to accomplish before I die. The first few goals are straightforward and shouldn’t be too difficult to complete. But nothing on my list relates to my family or, more specifically, my relationship with Tami. I review the list and add one last goal—to make sure that I tell Tami that I’m proud of her just the way she is.

Right on cue, Tami enters the house.

Tambara: Hi, Daddy.

**Link takes you @storiesbyjes2g's tumblr page

Maia puts the freshly cooked meal into the refrigerator for later and decides that preparing breakfast for her father now would save her time in the morning. 

Meanwhile, Clyde leads Tami downstairs to show her the fancy computer.

Clyde: Do you know how to work this thing? Maybe I’ll get me a camera so I can spend all day talking into it like your father. Can you show me how to post on that tube tube?

Tambara: It’s called Simtube, and nobody wants to watch old people on there, Grandpa.

Clyde: Word of advice, little darling-nobody likes a brat.

Maia: Now you see why I say I don't have time for another child? It's not like I planned on putting it off. But I need to be here for Tami and you. I also have responsibilities as a wife.

Clyde: What about your responsibilities to yourself? I bet your husband hasn't put off his career plans. He still standing in front of that camera, talking to himself?

Her father isn't wrong. Dub's career is taking off, and she hasn't even had the time to start hers. But caring for her father won't make it any easier. Clyde's comment sends her emotions into a whirlwind. She needs a moment to herself.

Maia: I'll make you dinner, so you'll have something to eat later. 

Clyde: The kitchen is yours. Do what you want.

Maia gets up and grabs the ingredients to make a chicken stir-fry with her father's words still ringing around in her head. He has a knack for making her feel like she's not in control of her life. Now, she's feeling a slight resentment towards him and even towards Dub. But maybe it was always there, and her father's words have only brought it to her attention.

Clyde: That child needs a sibling.

Maia: A sibling? I don’t think so, father. There’s barely enough time in the day as it is.

Clyde: Having only one child ain’t natural. Kids need other kids to play with.

Maia: You only had one child.

Clyde: And you know why…*brief pause*  But your mother wanted more kids. Money was tight, but she always believed we’d find a way.

Maia: I didn’t know that about her—you know, what you said about how she loved cooking.

Clyde: Oh yeah! There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss her cooking.

Maia: I’ve considered opening a food stand-over at the Manzanita market.

Clyde: Oh yeah? You should.

Maia: I planned to get started this week, but then we went to CE to get married. And now, some other things have come up. I’ll have to put it off for another week or two.

Maia would never tell her father that he’s the ‘other thing’ that’s come up. His pride would have him moving right back to his old place. 

Clyde: You can’t keep putting your plans on hold, Maia girl. Before you know it, you’ll be too old to get out of bed in the morning.

Tambara: Did my grandma like to play?

Clyde: Play? With, like, what, toys? No, playing wasn’t her thing. But she liked to cook. We never had money, but if anyone ever visited the house—she insisted on feeding them.

Maia doesn’t remember that about her mother, but maybe that’s where she got her love of cooking.

Tambara: Will you play with me?

Clyde: Sorry, little darling, Grandpa doesn’t have time for games. But we can listen to music.

Tambara: No thanks, I’ll play with my toy now.

Tami gets from her chair to find a spot to play. Maia walks over to take her place.

While Maia is busy in the kitchen, Clyde sits down with Tami.

Clyde: Let me tell you about your grandmother.

Maia suddenly remembers that it's Ancestor Day—the perfect time for Clyde to reminisce while teaching Tami more about Maia's mother.

Tambara: What was her name?

Clyde: Her name was Elise.

Tambara: Hey, that's my middle name!

Clyde: It sure is. Your mother gave you her name.

Tambara: If I have her name now, what does she use?

Clyde: That's not quite how it works, little darling, but maybe they don't rely on names in heaven. 

Tambara: Is she on a trip?

Clyde: No, darling - your grandma died a long time ago. But I can see she lives on in you because you’re just like her.

Tambara: Oh

Tami doesn’t quite understand, but she’s satisfied with what her grandfather has told her.

Maia: Is everything working okay? Our last tenants had issues with the dishwasher.

Clyde: You know I won’t be touching that dishwasher. I only trust my own hands with soap and water.

Maia moves over to the kitchen to check it out, anyway.

Maia: *continues* There’s nothing wrong with fancy living now that you’re older. Think of it like the retirees who move to Sulani. You’ve worked hard all your life; you deserve to be fancy.

Clyde: *smiles* I do, don’t I? 

Maia: Definitely

Tami interrupts the conversation.

Tambara: Grandpa, what’s this?

Clyde walks over to see what Tami is talking about.

Clyde: Oh, that’s my old record player. You used to dance to the music I played on it when you were a baby.

Tami reaches out.

Tambara: How do I turn it on?

Clyde: You don’t because only Grandpa can touch it. This record player is older than your mother. It was the first thing that me and your grandma bought together.

Tambara: Where’s my grandma now?

Clyde: She’s no longer with us.

Clyde reaches down and hugs Tami.

Clyde: There’s my darling! You’ve gotten so big... let me look at you!

Tambara: You missed my birthday.

Clyde: Did I? Well, happy birthday. Are you going to bite me again?

Tami doesn’t remember biting her grandfather, so she laughs as if it’s a joke.

Tambara: *giggles* No!

Clyde: Good, because those teeth are like shark teeth!

Tami giggles some more. Clyde steps away and walks over to Maia.

Maia: So, how do you like the place so far?

Clyde: This place is too damn fancy for me. And there are way too many stairs. Do you want me to fall and break my neck?

Maia: No, father. Almost everything you need is up here. You don’t have to go downstairs unless you want to.

Maia finally receives the text that she’s been waiting for. Her father has finished moving in. She gathers Tami from the backyard, and they go next door to see him.

Tambara: Let me knock, mommy! 

Maia: Okay, but don’t pound too hard. We don’t want Father thinking it’s the cops.

Tami knocks, and they wait for Clyde to invite them in, which he does immediately.

Maia: Father, you still aren’t locking your door!

Clyde: I knew you were coming, so I didn’t bother. Isn’t this the bougie part of town?

Maia: Criminals are everywhere.

Clyde: Yeah, and my cane is always ready to go upside their heads.

Maia knows there’s no sense in arguing. Making sure her father is locking his door is another task she’ll take on.

Part 1 will continue to post here on Tumblr tomorrow. Or you can read the rest on my website by clicking the link above.