The Cast for Today:
The Thatchers: Lilith and Joanna Thatcher-Whittington (Sisters)
The Wildes: Elodie and Luke Menkins (Friends)
Author’s Note: I made a family page where you can see who is who and how they’re related. Hopefully, this helps keep the characters straight. You can find that page HERE.
Trigger Warning: teenage trauma and one minor hint of suicide.
Lilith Griffin was a bitch. She was well aware others perceived her that way, but hadn’t she grown up in a man’s world? Her own father admonished her to stop getting “emotional” or “hysterical.” She’d only been a thirteen-year-old when he first showed his disapproval (because before that age, he’d barely noticed her at all), and although Father had labeled her as such, she never felt inside as if she were either thing.
She had merely been attempting to assert her own authority the same way her younger brother Griffin did. When Griffin was firm in his decisions or opinions, their father praised him, slapping him on the back, and telling him he would be a terrific leader for their family’s company.
So Lilith had to suppress her emotion. She’d learned to be cold and calculating… she became a bitch. It was only then, her father would nod at her, giving her a fraction of the attention she so craved.
Lilith and Griffin got along well, even though Lilith’s jealousy was so overwhelming at times, she wanted to punch him in the face. But then their father would say she was out of control and hysterical.
She learned to hate the traits Father rebuked her for. So when their much younger sister Joanna cried and carried on, Lilith responded with criticism and hate. She reprimanded Joanna, showing zero patience even when the child came to live with them after her mother died.
Perhaps if their mother hadn’t run off when Lilith and Griffin were small… perhaps if their father hadn’t shown appreciation for Lilith’s coldness… perhaps if Joanna hadn’t been the product of one of their father’s dalliances…
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
Joanna Thatcher-Whittington stood before her now, like a peasant in front of the queen, begging for money. Again.
“Father would be ashamed of you,” Lilith threw at her little sister. Joanna looked small from the end of Lilith’s nose. “What in the world did you do with the inheritance he left you? Did it really only take you two years to waste it all?”
Joanna wiped tears from her eyes, taking a deep breath.
“You know I didn’t get as much as you and Griffin. And I didn’t get any shares of the company.”
“It was still a large sum of money, more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life if you’re careful.”
Joanna gritted her teeth, forcing her next words out.
“That’s not true. You know my husband made some poor investments.”
Alexander Whittington, the complete dolt Joanna married… just the thought of his name made Lilith narrow her eyes in disdain.
“Father told you not to marry that idiot. I’m surprised he left you anything at all in his will after you openly defied him, running off with that twit. We all knew he would bring you nothing but shame.”
“So, your attitude is that I made my bed and I should lie in it? I’m your sister! My children are your niece and nephew!”
“Didn’t Griffin already tell you your children would not suffer? My suggestion to you is to leave Alex and bring Carla and John home.”
“You expect me to break up my marriage and move back home? Do you know what that would do to the kids? I can’t do that!”
Lilith wanted to choke her stupid sister. She could almost feel her fingers around that skinny neck, her nails digging into the tender flesh. Joanna would never be “one of them.”
“The summer is almost over. If you won’t leave Alex, then move your children here for the school year. We’ll pay their tuition for school and take care of them.”
Joanna’s chin dropped and her cheeks flushed. “You really think I’m going to send Carla and John to live here? With you? Why would I do that?”
Lilith’s lips turned upward in a cruel smile. “Because you don’t want to pull them out of their school and disrupt their lives. Can you imagine what their futures will look like if they have to go to a lesser school and make new friends? I can’t believe you would do that to them, Joanna.”
Joanna wiped more tears from her eyes, her shoulders slumped forward.
It was obvious in Joanna’s expression that Lilith had won.
Lilith’s smile became more pronounced. “Good, now that it’s settled, I will send people to help them pack and move here. You’re doing the right thing for them.”
Elodie was developing a crush on Luke Menkins. Since the day Chris Thatcher had been making out in the bathroom with that girl Zanna Fellowes at the teen country club, Luke and Elodie had been spending a lot of time together.
Even so, Elodie guarded her heart, pretending her feelings for Luke weren’t growing. As for how Luke felt, she couldn’t be sure. She seemed to always read people the wrong way. Look what happened with Chris, after all. She thought he liked her or was beginning to. And every time she thought about him, she’d gotten butterflies in her stomach.
But Elodie had been in the position before, many times. Whenever her family moved to a new town, she always found boys her own age and began crushing on them, only to find they never liked her that way at all. Even though they joked with her, smiled at her all the time, and acted like they wanted her to be around.
Every time, her heart stung when she found out they already had girlfriends. How did this keep happening to her? Would it happen with Luke?
Probably, she thought, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her shirt. Why did this happen?
She stared out the window, drawing her legs up, holding them in place with her arms as she rested her chin on her knees. She knew why it happened wherever she moved.
It was because no one needed her. They already had their group of friends, kids they’d hung out with since kindergarten. Because of that, she would always be on the outside. The new girl.
No one ever needed the new girl. It was a fact.
The more times her parents moved her, the more despondent she became. Elodie was sure her parents must not care how she felt or what she thought. She lived with her mom and adoptive father, yet they felt miles away from her.
“You’re daydreaming again,” Luke said with a small smile on his lips.
Elodie let go of her legs, sitting with her feet on the floor, still leaning on her elbow.
“I’m sorry.” She smiled back at him, but did his smile mean anything? He hadn’t seen her for a few days, so he’d called and then come over to see her. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why are you so nice to me?”
He laughed in surprise and shrugged. “I think you’re really sweet and I want to be your friend.”
It was hard to trust him, but oh, how she wanted to. “Why would you want to be my friend? Don’t you already have friends?”
Confusion fluttered through his eyes, then he smiled softly again. “Sure, I have lots of friends, but I have room for one more.”
Now she felt confused. It was clear he didn’t understand why she would ask something like that. Her cheeks flushed with warmth and she knew they were red now.
“Elodie, are you okay?”
Forcing a laugh, she said, “Of course. Yeah, I’m fine.”
But was she “fine?” Probably not. People who were fine didn’t feel like their insides were shredded, did they? Kids who were okay didn’t stand on the very top of the playground slide at the age of ten, wondering if they fell that distance to the ground, would it kill them?
She knew beyond a doubt she wasn’t all right, but that didn’t mean she understood what was wrong with her, either. And for sure, she didn’t know how to ask for help.
Did she really need help?
No, she figured, what she needed was not to be so stupid all the time where people were concerned. Smart people didn’t mistake someone’s kindness for wanting to be friends.
Sure, Luke said he had room for another friend, but it wouldn’t be long before he found out about her, that she wasn’t worthy of any real friends. And opening yourself to friendship always hurt in the end.
If only her dog hadn’t run off at the last place they lived. It was excruciating that even a dog didn’t really care for her or love her.
“Earth to Elodie,” Luke said.
Shaking her head, she said, “I’m sorry. I guess my mind is a thousand miles away.”
She thought she recognized concern in his dark eyes. Or was she mistaken? It sure looked like concern.
And then, as if he knew what was in her heart, he said, “I won’t hurt you. I just want to be your friend.”
Did he, though? Would he still feel that way if he got to really know her? The prospect both thrilled and terrified her.
After a time, he left for home, and her hands shook as she locked the door behind him.
It would be an hour or two before her parents got home, so she got ready for bed.
Once she had bathed and was in her pajamas, she laid down in bed. It was too hot for covers and her hair was still damp.
“What do you want, Luke?” she asked her stupid bunny lamp. “You don’t think you’ll hurt me, but you will. And it will be my own fault, and I don’t know why I’m like this.”
She smiled despite the lump in her throat and the fear in her heart. Wouldn’t it be nice if she really found a friend this time?
Elodie decided she would do everything in her power to spend the rest of the evening, not thinking about her woes. Instead, she would pretend Luke meant what he said, and she wouldn’t find a way to ruin it all.
With a smile on her face, she fell asleep.
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for editing this story and making the poses used in this chapter: Adult Argument and Casual Sitting Poses.
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
[…] LWR Chapter 4: Money & Love […]
It was an interesting peek into Lilith’s character. It explains why she’s so cold since it appears she barely had any warmth from her family as a child, or rather any from her father.
This first picture of Joanna reminded me a bit of Blue. I think it might be the hairstyle?
I don’t like how Lilith has manipulated Joanna into bringing her kids to live with their aunt. What’s her deal in that? She doesn’t seem like a loving type of aunt who would want the best for her niece and nephew…
To be fair, it’s possible Chris liked her, but hey, they’ve barely met so I don’t see how he would suddenly break up with his, I’m assuming, girlfriend just because he met some girl he doesn’t yet know that well. Although I know Elodie is obviously not looking at this from a rational viewpoint since she’s just a teen with a crush on a guy so probably mostly self-absorbed at this point. And um… Elodie, just because they have already had girlfriends doesn’t mean they didn’t like you? Just because you’re in a relationship it doesn’t mean you no longer feel attracted to other people and then they’re teenage boys so I would say they’re probably not super skilled at regulating their emotions and could be having fun flirting with a couple girls at a time, which is of course not okay. But I don’t like the self-hatred and only coming up with explanations that center around her not being liked. It is so sad to read about, knowing that’s how Elodie views the world 🙁
It sucks that Elodie always felt like an outsider and no one seemed to want to welcome her into their friend group. You can struggle with the same even when you’re not moving; sadly, some people are like that and just not open to new friendship. I can relate to always being the one people of various groups would occasionally talk to and yet no one really considers you their friend and they don’t think of you when planning get-togethers etc. It hurts.
It feels like the word ‘friend’ immediately sparked something in her. It seems too good to be true at this point. I like that close-up of Luke. He looks cute in that pic. The pretty guy any teen girl would swoon over, haha.
I’m sorry her problems are so deep-rooted she could even trace it back to when she was 10. I thought she at least had a happy childhood, but seems she didn’t even have that. It’s so saddening. And the dog 🙁
I hope Luke can help her feel like she is worthy and deserving of friends! Right now, I think she might try not to focus on her crushes that seem to be developing on just any guy who shows interest in her and just try to find a friend. It might be a good start.
Thank you so much, Jowita. I’ve been planning these characters for a while now, so expect a lot of back stories. lol Lilith might just get a rush because she feels so much control over her sister. I don’t think she’s a warm or loving aunt either. I wonder what Griffin would say about this? Although in Chapter 1, I think it was, he hinted that he would take care of Carla and John. He seemed to like the idea of Joanna splitting up with her “unworthy” husband, too. As if breaking up a marriage or leaving your spouse is such an easy thing. It’s not.
I hadn’t thought of Blue, but I can see why you say that. I think you’re right, that it’s the hairstyle.
You’re right that Chris might like Elodie, but Zanna just seems so available and she is his girlfriend. I think Griffin really likes the idea of Zanna and Chris being together. There’s no way the Thatcher family would approve of Elodie. But that disapproval can sometimes make a teen want that even more, if that makes sense.
Elodie definitely has deep rooted issues. I don’t even know if her parents are aware of how troubled she is. There is a lot more to this story where the Wildes are concerned.
I’m glad you like that pic of Luke. I think he’s a pretty good guy.
I hope Luke can help her, too. I totally agree that not focusing on her crushes would be a good start.
Great story. Love the first line–“Lilith Griffin was a bitch”
Thank you, Jacqui. I’m so glad you loved that line.
A powerful addition to the story, Kymber. Love it! I enjoyed seeing behind the scenes a little more on some of these characters and part of what’s led them to where they are now. Have a wonderful week. Hugs 💕🙂
Thank you so much, Harmony. 💗 I’m so glad you enjoyed it. You have a wonderful week, too, my friend. 💗
OMG the last thing Joanna’s kids need is to be cared for by Lilith or Griffin. They’re better off going to a public school and staying at home.
Elodie is so guarded. Why can’t her parent’s see how much all this moving around is effecting her? She’s miserable and all they can think about is his work. I think even if she stood in the middle of the road screaming they wouldn’t even hear her.
I hope Luke means it when he says he wants to be friends. She needs a friend. I had hoped Chris would be a friend but I don’t trust his family to let him be that friend.
Thank you so much. I totally agree with everything you say. Hopefully, Joanna will see that she should keep her family home and not dole out her children to the likes of Lilith.
As for Elodie, I think you’re definitely right here. And there is more to the story, but it’s true that her parents don’t seem to notice how much in distress she is.
I have high hopes in Luke, but Chris isn’t completely out of the picture either. This story will definitely have lots of ups and downs.
I told you to keep up the good work and you said that you will try. The most talented people are always so humble!
You do not have to try what I already know you are capable of doing without a doubt.
Awwww thank you so much. My cheeks are so red right now. LOL I’m so glad you are enjoying the story, and I really appreciate your encouragement.
You deserve all the praise and encouragement.
❤️❤️❤️
The characters in your writing are so well developed and believable and their thoughts and feelings so detailed. The graphics really adds to the story. I love it.
Thank you so much, Thomas. That is so kind of you to say. And thank you also for the generous donation. I appreciate it so much.
I’m amazed by your creative output. Go girl!
Thank you so much! xo
Poor Carla and John having to go live with Lilith. What a nightmare. Eek. And I feel for Elodie. She’s so insecure that its painful. I hope she learns to trust Luke. Another entertaining episode, Kymber. Thanks for the fun.
Thank you, Diana. I’m glad you had fun with this episode. I think it would be great if Elodie learned to trust Luke. Hopefully, she can overcome this insecurity that she has.
I feel bad for Carla and John, too. Let’s hope their mother finds a way around this bullying.
😀
One word for everyone in this chapter: therapy. They’re all so hurt and desperately need help!
Thank you, Cathy. Therapy does seem the word that applies here. Hopefully, we’ll see them grow and with that, gain insight.
Great chapter! We are finally getting some background info on the individual people to start to understand them. On that note, I really want to feel bad for Lilith, but I just can’t! She chose that manner, it wasn’t forced upon her. Not like she was stuck in a marriage with no way out and had to make the most of it. No she chose that and now I wonder what the rest of her life will be like. Bitter old bitty is in her future. Now Elodie makes me sad. I just know there is some true past trauma we will eventually learn about and I can’t wait to unfold her full story!
Thank you, Bee. I’m hoping as the characters become more familiar, we can delve more into their backgrounds. I’m glad you liked learning more about them.
As for Lilith, you don’t have to feel bad for her. Even though her upbringing may have been difficult, she chooses to lead the life she leads. You just might be right about the bitter old bitty thing unless something causes her some growth and awareness.
Elodie is very interesting to me right now, and you might be right about this childhood trauma. We’ll definitely be digging in more here. 😀