Dominic M. DeWitt | College Graduate. Class of '92
He did it.
Dominic found his passion, locked in, and completed his degree a year early.
Of course, Rodney and Beverly are immensely proud of their son. As the eldest of their three children, Dominic has set an example of where determination and hard work (even after being unsure/unmotivated in the beginning) can get you.
His path is not what any of them imagined it would be, but he is very grateful to his parents for pushing him to keep moving forward, and for supporting his changing dreams every step of the way.
Be sure to check your local Nordhaven television/cable stations Tuesdays-Thursdays at 5 p.m., and Fridays & Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. on the Nordhaven After Hours channel (pay-per-view). 😊
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Támar S. Hillard | College Graduate. Class of '93
Things got a bit shaky, but there was never any doubt that she would succeed.
Full time college student & a fast paced career in entertainment?
Well, if anybody could do it, it's Támar. All while dealing with the ups and downs of life, a flourishing career, and difficult losses; Támar managed to stay on top of everything that came her way.
Naturally, she feels extremely blessed to still have her grandparents and her biggest cheerleader of all, her mother, by her side. And while she's old enough to no longer need a male parental figure to guide her, she's equally thankful to have Isaan (who is now Selena's husband) in her corner as well.
Still a powerhouse dancing across stages all over the world, there's no telling where we'll find Támar next now that she's completed college and can focus completely on her career.
After the show, Dominic found himself examining equipment he didn't want to go through the hassle of replacing.
He was grumbling to himself when he heard a faint, familiar voice.
To his great surprise, Támar stood at a safe distance staring at him. It took no time for Dominic to rush over and pull Támar into his arms.
There was no scale in existence to measure how much he missed holding her, and it showed in how long he hugged her before finally letting go.
This hug was one he'd been waiting on for almost two and a half years.
When they finally let go of one another, Dominic and Támar held a quick conversation, ending with Támar agreeing to a simple meet up before she left to get her nephew ready for his little vacation.
Naturally, Dominic wanted more time than they'd probably have, but for now a quick lunch would have to do.
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Dominic : Ma, please stop bothering her. We don't keep up with each other and that's okay.
Beverly (every time she sees/hears something about Tam's career) :
Basically, she doesn't give a damn that they're not together anymore. That's her mf daughter-in-law, and she's going to check in on her whenever the spirit moves her.
** for the sake of the time period we're going to pretend that Bev is actually calling Tam from time to time to check in and congratulate her lol.
***also, before I get jumped ...
I thought the game was lying or just throwing out random shit.
I checked on them long after this and they broke up on their own 😭
My plan was to come back with them engaged/married with a baby on the way (Kerri and Quincy were supposed to be married with no child. Selena supposed to still be FWB with Isaan, not married.), so idk what this is but we gotta roll with it because I found out about ALL the chaos too late! 😩
Before the flight back to Selvadorada, there were some things Támar needed to get for herself and her nephew as she would not be doing her normal running around with him in tow.
They also needed a day or so to rest before their flight. She hadn't gone through the process of making her apartment more toddler friendly, as she usually went to help Quincy when they were living in Del Sol or her mother's whenever Samir was visiting in Copperdale.
She'd gotten a few things to get them through their short stay.
Samir was a bundle of wit, energy, and cute toddler antics that often left Támar in stitches. Tonight's mission on his little agenda was to avoid bedtime for as long as possible. Unfortunately, for once, his beloved teetee was far too tired to extend his set bedtime. Though they did not include what he wanted most, she laid out their plans for the next day and tucked him in while answering all of his questions.
As promised, the next day she called her mother before she took Samir shopping. Selena, who was in San Myshuno with her husband, was very happy to stop by and chat with her daughter and grandson. (She'd found very quickly that sitting in studios or Isaan's meetings was not very fun).
Though she already knew the answer, Selena thought it might be worth asking Támar about the current circumstances regarding Kerri. As much as Támar would have loved to give her mother a positive update, she just couldn't allow herself to be as hopeful as Selena. Fully immersed in the entertainment industry now, and less naive than she'd been at 18, Támar had seen and heard a lot of things and none of them were as sweet and pleasant as she and Kerri had grown up thinking and believing. Because she always kept her focus on her job and goals, there wasn't much that had gotten to or tainted Támar. The same couldn't be said for Kerri with her career as an actress.
Absolutely no one knew what happened, but it was not good and Kerri had been a ghost in everyone's life since the very end of 1989. Though it was unplanned and unexpected, it was assumed that maybe the birth of Samir would help her straighten up a bit, help her refocus on what was important. It seemingly caused more trauma.
Quincy, Támar, Selena and their families worked tirelessly to assure that Samir never lacked love and tried their best not to speak negatively about his mother in his presence. While he knew she was not around, he still viewed his mother with the most loving attitude and Támar specifically wanted it to stay that way. She felt Kerri would need that unconditional love whenever she came around for good.
Not wanting to get overly emotional, Selena changed the topic to Támar's own troubles. With the swiftness she'd developed to avoid personal questions and commentary in the media, Támar politely pushed her mother out of the business of her love life. Or, the current lack there of.
Once Selena left, Támar and Samir got in a little playtime as they waited on their delivery to arrive. Right now, moments like this were all she needed.
The remainder of the afternoon seemed to drag, and by the time night came around it felt like time stopped altogether. Támar thought she was up alone until she left the guestroom she occupied to find almost all of the lights on.
Selena was up; cleaning things that didn't have a single spot of dirt on them.
She found Selena in the kitchen washing her hands for what was probably the hundredth time. Unfortunately, for both of them, sleep was evading. Unlike Selena who was wrecked with worry, Támar was angry.
So much time, too much in fact, over the last three years had been spent on an individual who often refused to take two seconds to consider anyone other than themselves.
Did Támar truly want to give up on her sister? No. She couldn't imagine the thought of someone throwing in the towel on her (whether the pain was visible or not), but what more could she do?
Kerri could keep the property in Oasis Springs. She could even keep the funds Támar set aside, she had no use for it. But Támar had no more energy for Kerri if Kerri couldn't find the energy to help herself. Támar had her own life to pull back together.
She wished Selena would fall back, even just a little, but Támar knew her mother wasn't built that way. It was what made her so wonderful.
But Támar felt this was only going to bring her mother more stress and heartache and she didn't want to be a witness to that either.
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So, remember I told y'all the game got messy? That heaux got dirty too.
Dom and Tam indeed had a true surprise pregnancy. The condom broke (first time I've ever had that happen in game), and she was on BC but I was going to let it go because apparently the game wanted them to have a baby before marriage. They'd have just missed being teen parents since Dom would have just turned 20 and Tam is a few months older than him, so cool. that also would have fallen in line with the plot of my unfinished second novel about them, so hey... sticking with book accuracy, I guess lol.
Well... the game and the childbirth mod decided they wanted to tag team and stress me tf out.
Technically, Tam had a stillbirth, but I didn't want to write that in and the game glitched and deleted the baby's urn (okay, whatever). THEN, an update I forgot was added to the childbirth mod... Tam had postpartum complications and almost died (I took that module/addon out my game so fast). I exited the game without saving and decided that I would not be writing that into the storyline either.
So, in story she had a missed miscarriage and made it through the subsequent procedure just fine (physically), Dom was by her side every step of the way and they agreed to keep it to themselves since they never announced the pregnancy.
I can tell y'all now, this is not the reason they broke up because I still had them together afterward. They were still supposed to be together but neighborhood stories wanted to dogpile after the game & that mod messed me over. 😩
October flew by faster than Támar anticipated, but she truly enjoyed her break and her time with Samir. Now it was time to get him back to Quincy so they could do all of their Halloween festivities together as a new family.
Before heading to Nordhaven, however, Támar was persuaded by her mother to make a pitstop in Cuidad. Miraculously, Selena had finally been able to reach Kerri and she maintained hope that her younger daughter would come through for her. And if not for Selena, for little Samir at least.
Támar wouldn't hold her breath, but she dropped in anyway. She was surprised to see Isaan home since she'd left him behind with Jamee and the rest of the tour crew.
As Támar and Isaan were catching up, they heard a joyful squeal and Samir excitedly calling out for his mother. His little feet tapping across the floors as he ran to Kerri just as she walked through the door.
Támar and Isaan both grew silent, deciding to keep their opinions to themselves. Isaan decided to stay on the balcony while Támar tiptoed inside.
Kerri was trying to speak in a hushed tone, trying to temper her son's excitement while also trying to avoid making the sweet child any promises.
Once Kerri realized her mother and sister were watching, she stood at a distance, staring at the floor. She could and would not will herself to move further or closer until Samir had been taken into the pool and lounge area by Isaan (who'd learned very quickly it was best to try to distract the toddler whenever it became evident Kerri was not as excited as him).
The conversation was a rough one. One that Kerri tried every tactic to avoid, but Selena could not let well enough alone. Though both girls insisted she not blame herself, it was inevitable. It was just the type of mother she was. If there were moments she could not reach Támar (though they are very close), she sends herself into a fit of worry until she hears from her. That fit of worry is multiplied by 100 when it comes to Kerri (especially because Kerri distancing herself from everyone came out of nowhere).
When it became evident that they were getting nowhere, Selena decided to step away to dry her tears.
Deciding, for once, not to take a harsh approach Támar did what she told herself she wouldn't. She tried to plead and reason with her sister. No one wanted to control Kerri, though the 22-year-old seemed to think so. No one wanted to keep tabs on her, force her into anything she didn't want to do. Támar had struggles too, there were little things she hid from others as well. But unlike Kerri, she didn't purposefully leave people wondering if she were safe or alive for months at a time.
For Támar, personally, seeing her mother hurt and grieving upset her more than anything. Normally she kept her mouth shut and her thoughts to herself out of respect for her mother, but Támar had to say something this time.
Though Támar didn't find her words harsh or insulting, something she said set Kerri off. And in her retaliation, Kerri said something that she knew instantly she'd never be able to take back.
The words cut Támar deeply, especially because they were hurled her way in such a vicious manner. However, Támar would not give Kerri what she was likely looking for. A real fight, an excuse to lash out and walk away from her responsibilities again. Támar would never let Kerri's choices sit on her shoulder. In a dry, monotonous tone, Támar expressed the thoughts and feelings she'd been holding in since Samir was born, and she walked away.
Eventually Samir left Isaan to find his mother. Kerri sat with Samir for a little bit before telling him to let the adults know he was going to the park with her. Very sweetly he invited his teetee. Támar politely declined, knowing that while she would always take care of Samir, regardless of how Kerri truly felt... for the time being, she could not be near or around her sister.
** family photos were taken prior to the sit down & argument.
** Xavier, Isaan's son, does not like to be seen so I doubt will see him unless there's a family event lol.
It didn't take long for Samir to get settled once they made it to Selvadorada.
All little man needs is good food/snacks, dance parties, & cool toys.
He loves the rain, but not the rain that makes Támar believe they need to take naps.
He LOVES the outdoors ... until his energy mysteriously gets wiped out after he's zoomed around the entire yard and garden.
(Támar took him inside during the first nap. He went back out and passed out again, lol).
Also, a rock should hate to see Samir coming because it will be collected once he lays eyes on it.
Lastly, he loves to play hide & seek. And he LOOOOOVES meeting new people. Of course, the little charmer is going to compliment everything he 'yikes' and 'yoves' because a gentleman always pays compliments.
Támar wasn't surprised to get a visit from Ms. Rosalie Saldivar. Rosalie had become a surrogate grandmother to Támar when she first started frequenting Selvadorada more. Of course, Rosalie came with a bit of a plan, but it was going to have to wait until Támar came back alone.
Assuming Támar allows the kindly old woman's antics.
** in my mind, Samir can't pronounce his 'L's properly, so he very cutely says "yikes" a lot lol.
Dominic made it a point to catch Quincy before he left for his honeymoon. It wasn't his intention to come in with an attitude, but he was deeeep in his feelings.
Feelings he thought had faded until he saw Támar again. He needed to vent the things he thought he would have to keep to himself forever.
While the day had been a good one, and he was glad for the chance to reconnect with Támar; Dominic's afternoon and late night found him down in the dumps.
He was lost in so many thoughts, memories. His and Támar's voices bouncing back and forth in his mind. He'd made it through The 411 taping, but by the time he got to The Night Cap, it was a miracle he'd managed to keep up with Dallas' more upbeat energy.
It didn't help that on the drive home he'd heard "Walking After Midnight" by Patsy Cline playing on two separate stations, a clear and cruel sign from above that he was going to have to deal with the torture for the night.
He asked himself over and over why he didn't keep going with the conversation that had triggered a somber look on Támar's face. The very somber look that told him immediately to stop before she got up and walked away, for good this time.
Over time, Dominic had begun to experience enough loss that shifted his competitive and arrogant nature for the better. This loss, their relationship dissolving to nothing more than friends who'd see each other every few years (it seemed), being the hardest of all.
He thought he'd had himself in check, that he'd be okay whenever he did see Támar again.
He'll probably lie to himself now that she might be around more, fake it 'til he makes it. He's most certainly not okay.
