Author’s Notes:
| The Chapters: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 |
| Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 |
| Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Special Edition |
| Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 |
| Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 |
| Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 |
| The Characters: | |
|---|---|
 Vera Lindor (née Cullen, Rose) ↫ (mama) |
 Erin Rose (20-year-old, daughter, and oldest sister) ↫ |
 Charlie Rose (17-year-old, daughter, and middle sister) |
 Kyree Rose (13-year-old, daughter, and youngest sister) |
 Tobin Lindor (Vera’s 2nd husband) |
 Andrew Lindor (19-year-old, and Tobin’s son) |
| Wade Rose (daddy; deceased, seen in flashbacks) |
 Donita Holt (Mildred Donita née Cushing, Lindor) (Andrew’s mother; Tobin’s ex) |
 Karissa Craig (friend of Andy and Erin) |
Grady Jewell (friend of Andy and Erin) |
 Jaron Green (friend of Andy and Erin) ↫ |
Nicolle Noland (friend of Andy and Erin) |
 Louis Cushing (Donita’s Uncle, Andy’s Great-Uncle) |
Brody Cooper (Charlie’s boyfriend, ex-boyfriend?) |
Stay tuned for bloopers at the end!
POV: Erin Rose
Mama was on the warpath. She didn’t even bother to take off her coat before she started in on me. I instinctively backed up the moment I saw the look on her face.
“Where’s Charlie? I know she’s here. You’d better bring her out or I am going to toss this house apart till I find her.”
Mama had not had “rain in Spain” lessons like I’d gone through. She sounded just as country as always.
“Mama, calm down. People are crawling all over this estate and I don’t want them to hear the family gossip.”
Her eyes widened into big circles, and her face filled with red. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears. Of course, I’d only made her worse by telling her to calm down. I didn’t like it when people said that to me either.
“Calm down? Calm down?” she screeched in a voice two octaves higher than usual.
“Mama, shhh….” I felt a headache coming on.
Don’t get me wrong about all of this. I could feel Mama’s pain and I knew she was worried sick. Charlie had put me in a horrible position, but I promised her I wouldn’t tell. So wild horses couldn’t rip the words out of me.
But how could I make her feel any better? Should I tell her Charlie was fine, while omitting that my sister was terrified and pregnant? How would that go?
Terrible, I thought. Truth was, Charlie was in Fortress Rock in another of Uncle Louis’s estates, and we were in contact by phone and texts daily. Uncle Louis had money crawling out of his ears, and he’d offered Charlie to stay there while we were on Donita’s campaign trail. I sure hoped Uncle Louis would back me up if Mama cornered him. I had no idea if he would rat us out or not.
“Please,” Mama said, her voice more under control now, but still agitated.
It was all I could do to resist her pleadings, so I compromised after all.
“Charlie is fine. I don’t know what happened at home, but she had to get away, just for a little while.”
Mama took a shuddering breath, her shoulders sloping downward
“Then she told you,” she said with a shuddering breath.
It wasn’t a question. I didn’t speak because I didn’t know what had really happened at home to make Charlie not trust Mama anymore.
Mama continued, “She said if I sent her back to that all girls’ school, she would make a break for it.”
Oh, brother. Charlie was going to an all girls’ school? Well, apparently, she’d met a boy, anyway!
Charlie, you’re so stupid, I yelled inside my head.
My headache was worsening by the minute. Was it any wonder why?
“Well, I sent her packing back to school anyhow. She’s lucky to go there. Is she grateful? Not one bit! All I wanted was for her to settle down and concentrate on her lessons. Is that so bad?” She paused for a breath, then her ship went out to sail again. I knew from experience I wasn’t supposed to answer her during this tirade. “Remember how poor we were? We were barely getting by! Tobin has given us so much without so much as asking for anything in return. Now here you sit on your summer break having a good ol’ time, and you won’t even tell me where my middle child is!”
“Tobin’s great, Mama. He’s done so much for us. Oh my, mama, you look so different! I barely recognized you.”
“Quit changing the subject.” She let out an enormous sigh. “C’mon, let’s sit down. I’m tired from the worrying.”
We sat on the couch, Mama speaking first.
“I can’t understand why you’d lie to me, Erin. We’d been getting along so well. But that sister of yours is some kind of wild child. She needs proper guidance.”
Wasn’t that the truth!
I took a deep breath, then plunged in. “All I can say is she is stupid as can be for not staying at the school she was at. But she’s fine. It should be her coming forward and talking to you about this. It’s not my place. And I’m not trying to disrespect you—I admire you so much! I just can’t tell you anymore than I have, though.”
Then, I saw my mama cry. Not big shaking sobs or anything, but a silent, tears rolling down her face kind of episode.
“And you’re sure she’ll come back and fill me in? How is she living?”
I nodded. “I’m certain about that. She’s living well, don’t you worry. She’s just honestly not here.”
“I swear, I don’t know if I can ever forgive you girls for putting me through this.”
Then she left, her shoulders still slumped.
POV: Erin Rose
Tonight was the big night and my headache still lingered, no matter how much Excedrin I took.
When I saw his car pull up through the gates, my breath caught in my throat.
He’s here!
My mouth curled into a smile.
When he came inside, I just stared at him, wondering how I got so lucky.
He kissed me, and my pulse raced.
“You’re beautiful, just like a picture,” he murmured, leaning in for another kiss.
His strongly muscled body felt so good next to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better boyfriend.
I briefly told him about Mama’s visit, and he listened quietly.
“So, where is Charlie? You obviously know.”
“Yeah, but it’s a secret between me and Charlie.”
He took a step backward, away from me. My arms felt empty and my head swam.
“You’re keeping the secret from me, too? I thought we were together!”
I didn’t like how his eyes narrowed, and his chin went up. And, I wasn’t sure how to read his body language. “Yes, I mean no! I mean, we are!”
He shook his head, crimson filling his cheeks. “You’re a mess, Erin,” he said, tossing up his hands. “I just don’t understand you sometimes.”
My heart was beating against my chest, and I could feel the heat rising in my own face, as he stared into my eyes. Almost challenging.
We stood like that for a few minutes, then he suddenly smiled, let out a laugh, and said, “Hey, no big deal. It’s okay. I just wish you trusted me more.” His muscles relaxed, and he looked okay now.
My eyebrows shot upward, my eyes enlarged. “I trust you. It’s just that I made a promise to my sister.”
He suddenly pulled me against him, saying, “It’s not like we’re married. If that ever happens, though, you will ruin everything with secrets. I don’t want you to ruin everything, Erin.”
My body was shaking by then.
“Erin, I have something important to say.”
“Okay.” I was trying to will my body to stop shaking so I could listen.
“I love you with all my heart, Erin. I love you.”
Tears welled in my eyes, but not because I was happy. Something inside me, the slamming of my heart against my ribs that wouldn’t calm down, the shuddering… I was confused.
And unhappy.
“Aren’t you going to say it back to me?”
Bloopers!
Someone always gotta get stuck in the wall.
She did not have patience for me at all today!
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for editing this story.
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting! You are important!
Credits:
Pose Packs: Bee (Poses by Bee) – Adult Argument, Casual Sitting Poses
World: Hidden Springs by EA
Lots: 1 Lake View Way by EA, remodeled and decorated by Kymber
Mods/Custom Content: Please click here to see a full list of Mods & CC that I use in every chapter: Mods/CC.
If you can’t find something, please send me a WCIF (Where Can I Find?) in the comments. I will try my best.
Graphics/Photos: Copyright © 2025 | KL Hawke & booomcha.com | All Rights Reserved.
Glossary/Citations:
↬ The Sims games © EA, created by Maxis. ↫
↬ Copyright © 2025 | KL Hawke & booomcha.com | All Rights Reserved. ↫
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This site and its author are not affiliated with EA or any of their games.
13 comments
Oh thanks for making this easy. I was going back to look.
Hi there! 🙂 I hope you’re finding your way around all right.
there is a lot is on Erin’s shoulders trying to keep a secret for Charlie, which isn’t really fair. Of course mama Vera is worried. It is great that you have a list of the characters with pictures before story. It really helps, especially since there is a time lapse between each chapter.
Thank you, Thomas. I think Erin is carrying that secret unfairly, too. And Vera is going out of her mind trying to figure this out. I’m glad you like the list of characters. I’m hoping to have chapters closer together so it will be easier to keep up on them all.
Happy Weekend!
Keep it going, Kymber. Hugs.
Thank you, Teagan. Hugs. xo
Ohhh man, this was a bit of cliffhanger at the end! Your writing is so immersive and beautiful, Kymber ❤️ I love your images and the expressions on the character’s faces. It really makes the story complete!
Thank you so much, Laura. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you like it. Thank you for your encouraging words. ❤️
You’re very welcome! ☺️ always 🙏
I would not want to be Mama right now. Not knowing where her child is and if she is safe. I would go out of my mind. Yet even more heartbreaking since she doesn’t know her daughter is pregnant. I can not imagine how I would feel if that was one of my daughters. But that, that, guy. GRRRRRR. Erin must end this now! So I’m sad for mama and fearful for Erin. Well done! This chapter was powerful.
Thank you, Bee. And thank you for editing the chapter. You are so helpful and I wouldn’t want to write this story without you.
I don’t know if we’ll see sunny skies ahead or if it will be more painful for them. Hehe We’ll see how it goes.
It’s nice to get more of the story!
Thank you, Jacqui! I appreciate you stopping by and reading! 🙂