Author’s Note: If you would like to read previous chapters of “Old Stone,” you can find them here:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
The characters are as follows:
Wade Rose – daddy
Vera Rose – mama
Erin Rose – 17 year old, daughter and oldest sister
Charlie Rose – 14 year old, daughter and middle sister
Kyree Rose – 10 year old, daughter and youngest sister
Tobin Lindor – old friend of Vera’s
I hope you enjoy the story…
The past of Wade, Vera, and Tobin…
POV: Vera Rose and Tobin Lindor, reminiscing about their younger years:
“We took long walks back then. Do you remember?”
“Oh, I sure remember, Vera,” Tobin answered.
Both of them had visions of themselves in their younger days, walking down the lane, deep in conversation.
They’d met as youngsters in school, but had not become friends until their teen years. After graduating from high school, neither Vera nor Tobin went off to college. In fact, very few of their fellow students had left the area unless they were joining the military.
From their junior year of high school on, everyone assumed Vera and Tobin would do as their parents before them had done. Both would help out at home until they married one another. Then, they’d start a family of their own.
Lately, Tobin’s friend Wade Rose had tagged along, and Vera couldn’t fathom why. She’d wanted to be alone with her intended.
Wade was boisterous and often rude, which rubbed Vera the wrong way.
Tobin, on the other hand, was friendly, but quiet. He was always polite with her.
There was no indication from Wade that he realized he wasn’t wanted as a third wheel.
On such occasions, it was impossible for Vera and Tobin to continue a private conversation because if they ignored Wade, he only got louder.
And he always only spoke about himself.
Tobin, although disappointed he no longer seemed to see Vera alone, attempted to wait Wade out.
Wade never got the hint, though, and Tobin considered Wade his best friend. How could he tell his best pal to take a hike?
After a time, Tobin’s father sold some cattle, and sent him to college after all.
Vera and Tobin shared a tearful goodbye, and he told Vera it would be years before they could marry. The whole town was proud of Tobin, often asking Vera how he was. But by that Christmas break, he’d told Vera she shouldn’t wait for him.
He explained to her now, “My parents told me I should back off of our relationship while I was in school. They said I needed to focus on my degree because once I got it, my future would be wide open.” He kissed her fingers. “They even said an educated girl might be more suited to me.”
Vera swallowed against the lump in her throat. “Here I thought all along they liked me.”
“They liked you just fine.” His voice was soft as he remembered the past. “I reckon they thought we were too young to make that kind of decision. In the end, if I’d still chosen you, I suspect they’d have been fine with it. But we would’ve been four years older when we decided, and that was important to them.”
This new information left Vera in a stunned state for several minutes because if she’d only known the whole story, so many things could have been different. Maybe her life wouldn’t have careened so far out of control.
In Tobin’s absence, Wade had gotten even more persistent. He’d also introduced Vera to alcohol, which was something she’d never tried before.
At first, the liquor burned her throat, making her cough. Wade told her that was normal and she’d get used to it.
It didn’t happen all at once, but over time, when she drank, she didn’t feel as sad. She even started having fun with Wade when they were both drinking.
Vera and Wade kissed a lot, but every time they made out, he pushed her to go further and further.
Tobin came home that first summer between semesters, only to find that his best friend and his girl were together.
Wade told Vera to forget about Tobin, but it was still hard for her to put him out of her mind.
One night, Wade told Vera he could make her forget all about his former best friend. While they made out, he’d put his hand up her skirt, and while she resisted at first, she ended up liking it.
After that night, she didn’t hear from Wade for a long time, even though she tried so hard to get in touch with him.
A few months after their night together, Vera thought she had caught flu. The problem was, it wouldn’t go away. Finally, when her period didn’t come, she took a pregnancy test.
It was positive.
Her poor judgment, aided by alcohol had put her in this predicament. She would never forgive herself.
But she was not the only one to blame.
Much to her horror, Wade questioned the paternity of the baby.
“We only did it that one time,” he kept saying as if doing it once was some kind of birth control.
The worst part was when he called her a slut and said he did not want it.
He’d never wanted Vera at all. Not long term, anyway.
When he found out what “type” of girl she was, he knew he didn’t want to marry her.
Vera was beside herself. She hadn’t gotten pregnant by herself, after all. But neither Wade nor Tobin wanted her now.
“Now, that isn’t exactly how it went for me,” Tobin said, interrupting her recollections. “I always wanted you, but you gave me the wind1. So, I thought you wanted Wade. I didn’t know this all happened between you and him.”
Vera nodded, slipping her hand inside of his as they watched the sun crest on the horizon, painting the sky with swirls of pink, orange, and purple.
“I was such a naïve girl,” Vera murmured.
“I was still pretty wet behind the ears, too. Anyway, I heard the two of you were getting hitched. You and Wade already had the three youngins when I saw you and Wade again.”
“That didn’t go over too well.”
“No, it did not.”
They sat in silence for a moment, each in their own thoughts. Then Vera sighed.
“You know, over the years, I grew to hate Wade more ‘n more. And it all started before the wedding even happened.”
“What happened?”
She was quiet for a time, then finally said, “There I was, alone and pregnant. I hadn’t seen him for days on end since the time I told him I was expecting. Then, one day, his mama asked me over. I was so nervous, sitting there in the kitchen, waiting for someone to explain, when I heard the kitchen door open behind me. I didn’t turn to look, but I knew it was Wade by his footsteps. He walked from behind me to the table and he plunked down a little ring there.” Although it was years later, Vera angrily wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “That’s it. No proposal, no apologies for how he acted before. Just the stupid ring, with some random stone in it so small, you could hardly make it out.”
“He never asked you to marry him?”
She shook her head with anger in her heart. as achy and big as it had been the day it all happened.
“No, he did not. He plopped it down there just like it meant nothing to him, then went back outside. His mama poured me some tea and sat at the table. She acted so proud, like he’d done me a great favor. I wish I’d said no.”
“Why didn’t you?” he asked, his eyes showing a deep concern she hadn’t felt from anyone in ages.
“Because I was pregnant. And because he made me feel so small like I deserved everything that was happening to me, and I had no other options. I figured I was ruined and he’d be the only one who ever proposed marriage to me.”
Tobin’s voice broke as he said, “I was so foolish to think what we had was gone. If only I hadn’t been so jealous and bull-headed.” He patted her hand, holding it in both his palms. “Well, you have your three girls now, and you have me again.” He waited for her to think about that and even smile some before he continued. “We’re gonna live life to the fullest from this day on, Vera. I promise you that.”
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for editing this story.
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting! I hope you have a terrific weekend!
Credits:
Poses: BMIT/Bee (Poses by Bee) – Pregnancy Yes or No, Adult – Bad News I’m Pregnant, That’s My Girl!, Adult Walk and Talk, Caught in the Act – Set 1, and Couple Poses
Lot: You can purchase Grandpa’s Grove from EA for 1,710 SimPoints HERE
World: You can purchase Hidden Springs from EA for $19.99 HERE
Custom Content/Mods: Pregnancy Test. Please click here to see a full list of CC & Mods that I use in every chapter: Credits
The Sims games © EA, created by Maxis.
Citations/Glossary:
1. slang: To give someone the wind is to reject them, usually a suitor.
© 2023 Copyright | KL Hawke & booomcha.com | All Rights Reserved.
It’s heartbreaking to hear how your life unfolded, Vera. You faced tough decisions and challenging circumstances. Tobin, it’s good that you’re back and wanting to make the most of life now. Did this reunion bring any sense of closure or healing for you, Vera, especially knowing Tobin’s true feelings and intentions all along?
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. Let’s hope Vera can heal from all that happened to her.
I sure hope this posts. I’ve been having a helluva time with comments lately not wanting to post or booting me out when I try to reply. Let’s hope this works.
This was so tragically sad. This kind of thing happens more often than we think – just variations on the same theme. 1) Young love thwarted, 2) You hook up with someone on the rebound, 3) That rebound person is a total jerk, 4) Rebound person gets brokenhearted girl pregnant and leaves, 5) Brokenhearted girl is stuck in a loveless marriage, and 6) Life just sucks due to circumstances. It took such a long time to happen, but at least Vera and Tobin found each other again. Sometimes you have to deal with the hardships before you can realize true happiness. It can be so unfair, but I think now being older and wiser, they will cherish each other more and grab onto what they should’ve had from the beginning.
Wade is not a good guy at all. Oh, I wanted to just shake both him and his mother. I mean, to just plop a ring in front of Vera like it’s a peperweight or something should have sent red flags right to Vera then and there. Intinct would be to tell her to run for the hills and dont’ give that bum a second look. However, there’s a lot to be said for the time and place this takes place in. In some parts of the country, even now, having a child out of wedlock is highly looked down upon. At least Wade stayed with the family, but who knows what kind of nasty dongs he got up to. I doubt he was faithful, and maybe he even knocked her around a little aftre he came home drunk. He seems the type to do all that and more. Disgusting!
It makes me wonder if Erin will ever know the truth abot her father. She’s so busy romanticizing him. She’s either in denial or her mind has blocked out undesirable things she might’ve seen. I can’t help but feel she’s gonna get a rude awakening one of these days, and it’s not gonna be pretty at all.
Anyway, I hope she and Tobin can help each other heal from the choices they made in their younger days and enjoy the loving relationship they should’ve had. I think the biggest obstacle for them is going to be Erin, who could try to throw a monkey wrench or two at them. The younger girls seem to be on board, but Erin is gonna be the one to watch out for.
It was nice to get a perspective on what happened in their lives, which led to the current timeframe for the story. We now have a much better idea of the heartache and hardships they had to face to get where they are now. It really just goes to show that the heart still wants who and what it wants even after the passage of so mamy years.
Great chapter as always, my friend. Can’t wait to see the next one. 🙂
Thank you for sharing!!.. glad things worked out for Vera and Tobin… sometimes one needs to experience the not so good things in life to better understand the good things, what the heart knows… “While you’re busy looking for the perfect person, you may miss the imperfect person who could make you perfectly happy” (Author Unknown) .. 🙂
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and until we meet again…
May your day be touched
by a bit of Irish luck,
Brightened by a song
in your heart,
And warmed by the smiles
of people you love.
(Irish Saying)
Just read all the chapters. Awesome! I’m glad I decided to follow 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the story so far. I’ve really loved your articles about websites. It’s the kind of information what is invaluable to me. 🙂 🤍🌺
great writing and love your art work! No idea how to follow when you are not WP?
Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂
In the sidebar on the right of the page, you can follow through email, or you can use the blue wp button to follow. 🙂
Oh that Wade was such an ass wipe, a regular anal passage…ugh!!! Now, it’s much clearer why Vera loves Mr. Lindor. I love him too! Thanks so much for the update on this intriguing story Chickie Pot Pie! 😍💖🥰💞😘
Wasn’t he, though? I’m glad you love Mr. Lindor. Now that we’re looking at him through Vera’s eyes instead of Erin’s, we can see how great Tobin Lindor is for Vera.
Thank you so much for reading and giving me feedback, chickie. It means the world.
Oh yes indeed, I agree Kymber. Vera and Mr. Lindor (had he not gone off to college) should have gotten married. Wade was such a backstabbing, abusive jerk! 😝
He really was. Some friend he turned out to be.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Douche bag! 😡
Exactly! 😡🤬
OMG “a real anal passage…” Girl, you had me. ROTFLMAO!!!! I’m over here KMSL. This was rich. 😀 😀 😀 😀
🤣😝😂 LOL…yeah honey, I know a few “Wades” and they aren’t pretty! That phrase I can get by with if I am in front of someone I try not to cuss in front of! 😲 Glad I brought a smile to your face! 😁
This explains so much. Especially why Mama Vera hadn’t liked the screen room divider.
Thank you so much. You’re right about that, for sure. Now we finally see Wade and Tobin through Vera’s eyes instead of Erin’s, we have more clarity now.
Wade was not a good friend to Tobin (or anyone else). The story felt very real, as if it is happened to someone. Excellent character development and story.
Thank you so much, Thomas, for your encouraging words. This was rather difficult for me to write, but thankfully, it’s not autobiographical. I’m glad it felt real, and even more happy you like the character development and story. 🙂
Hi Kymber, I enjoyed this story. I am glad it worked out in the end. People shouldn’t have to pay endlessly for one mistake.
Thank you, Robbie. I so agree with you! Vera and Tobin should finally get a chance at happiness.
💘
Poor Vera! Wade clearly was not a good person at all. The only good thing he ever did was stay with Vera for their girls. He could have walked away but probably didn’t want to be shunned by his parents or the town.
I honestly didn’t like Tobin at first but now he’s a better man than Wade had been.
Thank you, Hilly. Those are good points about Wade. Seems like his mother had something to do with his non-proposal.
Because we’ve been following the story through Erin’s eyes, and she doesn’t know all this that Vera went through, it’s been hard to see if Tobin was good news or bad. At least there is some clarity now.
What a sad, sad story. And what makes it even sadder is that I’ve known so many women who could claim it as their story. Vera and Tobin have a chance to reclaim happiness now. There’s still a lifetime of healing that needs to happen for Vera!
Thank you, CT. Hopefully, Vera is on her way. She has a chance of real happiness now.