#day 10.7

[mysimsloveaffair]

Mina: Yeah...sure.

Mina turns to allow Adwin to place the expensive gift around her neck. He massages her shoulders a bit after fastening the clasp. His touch feels good, but her anger doesn’t allow her to completely relax. She turns back to face him.

Adwin: I really hope you like it.

Mina: I do...thank you.

Adwin appreciates the thanks, but Mina’s expression looks unmoved and hard. Her next words reveal why...

Mina: It’s a start.

[mysimsloveaffair]

The waitress brings their food, but Adwin doesn’t stop talking…

Adwin: I’m not talking about the past in the way you might be thinking. You already know that she was my friend…my only friend besides my cousins and my brother. I didn’t intentionally lie to you when I said I didn’t have feelings for her…I just didn’t realize it until I saw her again. But understand, it’s not the type of feelings that I have for you. Carla is like a link to when my parents were around. Being around her was like being transported back to when I’d wake up in the mornings and hear my dad playing piano. I could almost hear his voice again…singing loud and proud. And my mother…I could smell the fresh coat of paint that she’d put on a blank canvas. I was back to a time before I was abandoned by who I thought was the love of my life to raise a son alone. But Mina…it didn’t take me long to realize that that’s not truly what all of it was about. Those moments with Carla was really about saying goodbye to it all. You see…I wasn’t even home when my dad died. He was there that morning and gone by the time I came back. Then the very next morning…my mom joined him. *pauses and blinks back his tears*. Did I ever tell you that I was the one to find her? Days later…my brother left to move in with my Uncle Hollis. Carla was all I thought I had left, but I looked up one day and she was gone too. Once again…with no goodbye.

Adwin takes a moment to study Mina’s face. It’s softened and full of understanding. He goes on…

Adwin: I never had a chance to say goodbye to the most important people of my past until those days with Carla in Windenburg. But now I have. And I’m glad because you and the boys are my present and future. And you all deserve my full attention. I no longer have a need to look back and wonder ‘what if’ because the only thing to make all those losses worth it is knowing that it all led to you. I love you… I want you and Marvel and Opus. The past is back where it belongs and if you’re willing to stay by my side baby… I will never give you a reason to doubt me again. I swear on everything that’s important to me. 

[mysimsloveaffair]

Gretchen’s eyes briefly land on Ajay’s bare chest before she averts them down his puppy Cain. 

Gretchen: So...I take it that you forgot about our interview this morning - even though you agreed to it just a few hours ago.

Adwin-Jamie: No...I was up, but I had some extra time so I - *changes the subject* I’ll just go wash up and get dressed. I’m sorry...give me about five minutes. *looks down at Cain* Keep her company, okay.

Ajay hurries away, leaving Gretchen standing there waiting. 

[mysimsloveaffair]

Adwin thanks Ajay again and heads home. The house is unnaturally quiet when he gets there. It makes Adwin extremely nervous.

Adwin: Mina! Mina...are you here?

Adwin can imagine her taking the boys and leaving him. He prays that’s not the case.

[mysimsloveaffair]

Adwin: Okay babe…I’m going to do my best to explain what happened. I don’t know if you’d ever understand, but I pray you do.

Mina: Don’t try to make me understand. That’s not what I’m looking for. Just tell me the truth…the whole truth - your truth without holding back. 

Adwin: *takes a deep breath and begins* Being around Carla for those two days was like a portal - a portal to the past…

[mysimsloveaffair]

Adwin-Jamie: Yeah…I raise bees too…you know - for the honey. Don’t worry - they’re calm right now. They won’t bother you!

Gretchen cautiously follows Ajay past the beehive. 

Adwin-Jamie: This is my garden and over there is where I do laundry using a wash bin. I learned that from my step-mom too. And there is where I workout. I try to either box or run every morning.

Gretchen: So you don’t use any electricity?

Adwin-Jamie: No…I’m almost completely off-the-grid. I do have running water though. 

Gretchen: Do you have any advice for others trying to live off the grid? **

Ajay and Gretchen sit down on a wood log under the tree.

Adwin-Jamie: Other than just doing it? Not really, maybe buying plenty of lanterns and starting a garden right away. 

Gretchen stares at the view for a while.

Gretchen: I can see why you chose this lot.

Adwin-Jamie: *follows Gretchen’s gaze* Yeah…I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. 

Ajay begins to feel a bit uncomfortable sitting there so close to Gretchen, so he gets up and walks away under the guise of trying to get an unobstructed view of the ocean. Gretchen follows him.

(**Question from @spicedplumbob )

[mysimsloveaffair]

Ajay doesn’t even bother asking for details. 

Adwin-Jamie: What can I do about it?

Adwin: It’s Love Day today...and I want to take her somewhere nice, but I need you to watch Marvel and Opus for us.

Adwin-Jamie: I don’t know dad...they didn’t really have a good time with me last time.

Adwin: Ajay...I’m begging you! My marriage may be at stake.

Adwin-Jamie: Okay...I - maybe they’ll have more fun roasting marshmallows or something.

Adwin: *relieved* Thank you so much! We’ll send them over in about an hour.

Adwin follows Ajay’s eyes to the kicked over trash can.

Adwin: Sorry about that...I’ll clean that up.

Adwin-Jamie: Don’t worry...I’ve got it.

[mysimsloveaffair]

Gretchen: But you’re not really free are you? Not with the complaints that have been filed against you. 

Adwin-Jamie: *slight grunt*

Gretchen can tell that’s hit a nerve, so she attempts to turn her statement into a question.

Gretchen: Let’s help people understand your lifestyle. So…you basically live off the land, right? 

Adwin-Jamie: Right

Gretchen: What’s the best thing about living off the land?**

Adwin-Jamie: The freedom…like I said. I’m not on a schedule. I wake up when I want to and I get to do things that make me feel good. I enjoy fishing, so I do that for food and money. My step-mom used to garden, so I started doing that too. That’s how I get a lot of my food and what I don’t eat, I sell. It’s doesn’t cost me anything but time…which I have plenty of. Eventually, when I make enough money…I’ll travel and explore. My lifestyle doesn’t cost much, so I’ll be able to do that as much as I want to.

Gretchen: Okay, but there have to be drawbacks. What’s the worst thing about living this way?**

Adwin-Jamie: The worst is the way people perceive how I live.

Gretchen: Not the weather?

Adwin-Jamie: *becoming agitated* I can deal with the weather! Rain doesn’t hurt me. It’s people that I can’t deal with.

Gretchen: Let’s get to that then. Do you get lonely sometimes here all by yourself?***

Adwin-Jamie: I’ve been lonely all my life. Being here is no different! At least I’m not being smothered surrounded by walls all the time. I can breathe here!

(**Question from @alittledaylight , ***question from @stsciurussimblr )