Author’s Note: Welcome to Chapter 1 of Love’s Winding Road! This was so much fun to put together, I hope you enjoy it!
You may recognize some of the lots I’m using in this story because they made appearances in Noble Doubt. I liked them so much, I decided to use them again.
The Cast for Today:
The Wildes: Zachary, Lauren, and Lauren’s daughter Elodie
The Thatchers: Lilith and her nephew Chris
The Whittingtons: Joanna and her daughter Carla, and Joanna’s brother, Griffin Thatcher
The Wildes’ new house was so small, Elodie felt as if she, her mother, and stepfather were living on top of each other. No matter where they were, they bumped into each other, murmuring apologies and excuse-mes. The kitchen especially could only handle one person at a time and Elodie didn’t even want to think about the single bathroom again. In this house, they had to plan their showers and even time when they each brushed their teeth.
She’d lived in small houses before, and at least that wasn’t new. But this one was notably bad.
The worst of it was her bedroom. There was barely any room to turn around, and they decorated it for a nine-year-old. Her mother and stepfather had rented this house already furnished, so it didn’t matter that she hated the color pink or that her bedside lamp was ridiculously shaped like a rabbit. This was home now, and that was that.
The curtain billowed, catching her attention, the smell of fresh-cut grass wafting in with the hot air. Why was there a crib in her room? Would they let her store it in the garage, or would her mother and stepfather see it and plan on having a baby?
She shuddered at the thought, scratching her arms as her skin crawled. Her real father had died when she was a small child, and her stepfather had been around for years now, even adopting her.
But that had been against her will, happening because her mother wished it to be so. When he first came on the scene, she regarded him politely, all the time resenting his existence. Then they’d decided on the adoption and marriage, and that’s when he’d become enemy number one.
They’d moved a lot over the years because of his job. She missed the house she’d lived in when her father was alive, and she cried into her pillow at night sometimes when she missed her bedroom with the green walls and pretty bedspread.
“Quit walking around here like it’s the end of the world,” her stepfather, Zachary, said.
“Yes,” her mother, Lauren, agreed. “It’s little, but so cute. You’ll meet new friends and it will be lovely.”
And will I make new friends only to move away from them once again? Elodie thought as she ignored them and stared out the windows. Perhaps making friends will only be a waste of time and effort. Maybe I’m better off on my own.
“Are you even listening to me?” Lauren asked, running her fingers through her curly hair to fluff it up.
“Yes, I’m listening,” she moaned, just wanting them to go to work and leave her alone.
“All right, and what are you going to do today?”
Zachary leaned over the breakfast counter, gulping down coffee and toast while he turned his attention to the newspaper.
“Oh, now look at this,” he said, crumbs falling from his mouth onto his tie. “There is a brand new park just down the road, according to this article.”
Rolling her eyes, she wondered if he really expected her to be excited by that. As if she was a small child, clapping her hands because there were swings nearby.
Without another word, she left them, going outside to inspect her new yard. She loved the first thing she saw, which was a white metal bench that wound around a tree. And then, oh look, a swing in her own yard, as rusty on the outside as she felt on the inside having to make friends all over again.
Chris Thatcher made an impressive appearance, and he knew it. As a member of the wealthiest family in town, he had clout everywhere he went, even his high school. Captain of the football team and a wrestler, he was naturally athletic and expected those skills to take him far in life.
“What could possibly be so interesting, it’s got you staring out the window all morning?” his Aunt Lilith asked.
If only she knew what she looked like in front of that wallpaper, he thought. To him, it made a comical sight because his aunt was so proper and strict. In front of that wallpaper, though, her seriousness could only be a joke.
He figured it was the type of wallpaper only a super-rich family would pay someone to put up. Monkeys? For real?
Stifling a laugh by coughing into his fist, he realized she’d asked him another question.
“Oh, um, I saw a couple of moving trucks heading down Old Street.”
Her expression softened a bit, as the thought of making money was wont to do. “Oh, yes, your father finally rented out the cottage. And it’s about time, too. It does us no good to have empty properties.”
As she droned on about the advantages of being landlords, he opened one of the glass doors that led to an expansive balcony.
Who would rent that place? It’d been empty for more than a year and then only rented out to weekenders who wanted to explore Mayfield Springs. The house was so tiny, he wondered about the family moving in.
Behind one of the moving trucks, there’d been a car with the saddest-looking girl he’d ever seen, staring out the window. He couldn’t ever remember seeing anyone so unhappy before. Why were her eyes so blank, as if she wasn’t seeing Mayfield Springs at all when she stared?
Something inside him wanted to know the answer to that question. Without another thought regarding his aunt, he bounded down the stairs, his feet hitting the sidewalk within seconds. He couldn’t see the cottage from his balcony, and he wanted to see it.
The moving trucks were gone, but there was a stack of boxes on the porch. He knew if they didn’t get those taken care of, his father would be all over them like a rash.
Who are you? He asked the mysterious girl, even though he couldn’t see her.
Turning toward his house with a sigh, he began walking back, crossing the road, then slowly climbing up the stairs that would lead him inside. The whole time, his thoughts never left her.
While Chris Thatcher was wondering who had moved into the little cottage, his father was confronting his other aunt at her house.
Joanna Whittington put her hands next to either side of her head as if she had a migraine. It was all she could do not to scream at him as he stood there, regarding her as if she was crazy.
“Why can’t you understand and just help me for once?” Joanna asked, her voice taking on a grating tone.
Griffin Thatcher knew that tone well, however, and was unmoved by his sister’s panic. It wasn’t his fault, after all, that she’d married that loser. How was he responsible? She’d made her decisions and now she had to live with them, plain and simple.
“You need to calm down.”
“Calm down? What? Calm down?” she shrieked. “You have the means to help us. You wouldn’t even miss it! Why can’t you throw me a lifeline here?”
“You’re really telling me you and Alex have gone through your entire inheritance? Already? Do you even understand how much money that is? Besides, I thought Alex was loaded?”
“You know he wasn’t. I’ve been telling you for a while now how dire things are getting. I can’t lose this house! If you can’t help me, think about my children!”
He shook his head, all the while knowing it wouldn’t be long before she threw her kids, Carla, and John, into the mix. It was her classic move since their births.
He loved his family and especially loved his sister Joanna’s children, but this was getting silly now.
“You know your children will never suffer. I love them as if they were my own. But you must admit this day was coming. What did you do to prepare for it? Even if I were to help you financially, you would just go through it all again within months.”
“I can’t believe this is your answer, that you’re doing this to us!”
He scoffed, raising his right eyebrow. “I didn’t do this to you. Your husband did. My offer still stands. If you, Carla, and John want to move back into the manor house, I’ll welcome you with open arms and I will care for you. But I do not invite Alex. That arrangement is only if you cut him out of your lives for good.”
She was about to tell him how unreasonable he was when her daughter Carla appeared in the doorway.
“Is everything okay, Mom?”
Joanna immediately assumed a position she thought would show Carla everything was fine. But her cheeks were still red and her eyes still stung.
“Of course, everything is fine, honey. Look who’s here.”
Joanna forced the fakest smile anyone had ever managed to use as she jerked her thumb toward her stupid, evil brother.
“Hi, Uncle Griffin,” Carla said, her eyes darting between them.
“Hello, Pumpkin,” he said, kissing her forehead before turning back to Joanna. “Think about my offer.”
After he left, Joanna took a few deep breaths. How much had her daughter overheard? She couldn’t be certain, but she didn’t feel as if she could ask either.
“Why don’t you open the garage for your father?” she instructed Carla. “He should be home any time now.”
She waited for Carla to leave the room before slumping in front of the counter, tears coming to her eyes. The truth was, she hadn’t known her husband was using her inheritance to live on. Now the money was gone. How would they live? What would she tell Carla and John?
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for editing this story and making the poses used in this chapter: Convo/Emotion Poses – Set 2, Just Standing – Males, and Adult Argument.
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting!
Other Credits:
Sims: Sonya Rose (Elodie Wilde) by Bee
World: Mayfield Springs
Lots: Evansdale County Renovations 2 (The Kellers), Evansdale County Renovation 3 (The Menkins), Gracious Green (The Fellowes), Red Oak Lane (The Wildes), Villa Elisa (The Thatchers), Ranch House from Alpine County (The Whittingtons), Hospital for Storytelling
CESARE HAS EXCELLENT TASTE IN CAPTIVATING STORIES!
LOL Thank you so much, Jonathan. 😀 He’s definitely the one in charge around here.
MEOW OUT LOUD-!
LOL 😺😻
Nice introduction to the characters, sorry its taken me a while to catch onto this.
No worries. 😀 Better late than never, right? I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
What a great 1st Chapter!
You are so kind! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
I sure did! I’ll read the rest tomorrow😊
That’s awesome! 🙂
I feel for Joanna. Looks like her husband wasn’t honest with her at all.
Thank you, Violincat. Exactly right. I can’t wait till you see all there is with this styoryline.
This is a cute story. I want to pick up where I left off.
I like the photos and seeing how the characters are introduced as I continue to read through the passages.
You are talented!
Thank you so much. You’re very kind. I hope you will like the story. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing unique information in your blog post i really like it.
Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I feel like a giant in a small bedroom too, Elodie. I get it. But the room decor is pretty cute! I’m now very grateful there are two toilets in this house though 😆
Is it just me, or is Zachary kinda hot?
Poor Joanna Whittington, sounds like things are going to be tough. Is she going to become a bank robber? Or maybe make fake money (like in Good Girls)? xxxx
In this story, you just never know, Caz! LOLOL
I was hoping Zachary was kind of hot, but is that a good thing? We’ll find out in future episodes. lol 😀
I’m so excited to see your story unfold! It must be nice to write something not ND-related for a change. I also like the occasional poems and short stories you publish. I remember Dax in Paris! So interesting to see you write not in a diary form.
I think the characters are fleshed out and relatable so far. I LOVED the bench that goes around the tree trunk. It looks so cosy and romantic.
Enjoyed this first chapter ❤️
Thank you so much, Jowita! ❤️ It felt freeing if that makes any sense, to write something that wasn’t ND.
Oh yeah, Dax in Paris! LOL I only did 4 episodes of that, I think, but it was a fun change of scenery.
It felt so weird not to say, “Dear Diary…” LOLOL I reckon I still have to get used to that.
I know! I wish I had that bench in my yard. 😀
I’m so glad you liked it.
Thank you for sharing!!… looking forward to another interesting story!!… let your fingers do the walking and your heart do the talking!!… 🙂
Until we meet again…
May your troubles be less
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
(Irish Saying)
Thank you, Dutch. I will do that! Great advice. 🙂
So fun to enter this story on Chapter One, Kymber. Great start and introduction to the main characters. Now to see what happens! Happy Writing. 🙂
Thank you so much, Diana. I’m glad you get to see this story from the beginning. 🙂 I hope you will continue to like it. Sending you hugs and wishes of happy writing.
I can’t wait to read, Kymber.
💗💗
Looking grand – well done.
Thank you so much, Peter. 🙂
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next chapter! If you need any background characters, just PM me and I’ll whip someone up. blinks That sounded silly. LOL! All your sims are great-looking and their stories are….. interesting so far 😉
Thank you, Hilly! And thank you for your offer of background sims. That’s a great idea. 🙂 I hope you’ll continue to enjoy the story as it unfolds.
What a fun start! This is going to be the best treat!
Thank you so much, Cathy! I’m so glad you like it and are looking forward to what is to come. 🙂
A wonderful mix of characters and conflicts! I especially love the line … ‘… as rusty on the outside as she felt on the inside having to make friends all over again.’ Bravo, Kymber! I can’t wait to see how this all unfolds. Hugs, my friend 💕🙂
Thank you so much, Harmony. ❤️ I’m glad you liked that line. Sometimes things like that pop out of me onto the page. LOL Hugs back at you, my friend.
What an interesting mix of characters! I keep wondering where Chris’s mom is? Working? Divorced? Dead? What about his Aunt Lilith? Does she have a family? So many questions and I can’t wait to discover the answers!
Thank you so much, dandylion! ❤️ I love that you have these questions, and I can tell you that over time, all these things will be explored. 🙂