#vera grant

[queeniecook]

May 27- Part 2

The last thing I was expecting as we were getting ready to put Este to bed tonight is a visit from my baby brother.

Not that I'm complaining. I'm always happy to see him and Este was excited to see her "Unca Poewoe".

But, I knew he didn't just simply drop by this late at night to say hello. So while Caleb was putting Este to bed, I pulled him into the family room.

"What's going on, Apollo?" I asked him point blank. He stared at me for a bit, trying to figure out how to say his news. I knew it had be important.

"You know how Naya has been interviewing some famous vampire lately?' Apollo asked me.

I made a face but nod. It's almost all Naya talks about when I message her. That and AJ.

"It's Inna Cents." Apollo stated.

I stood there, frozen. My mind trying to process his words. Of course, nothing stays secret when you drop a bombshell like that in the room next to a vampire.

Caleb came storming in there, at vampire speed, demanding answers. I haven't seen him this worked up in years.

Apollo launches into telling us how Naya has been interviewing Inna but had no idea that Caleb had turned Inna. That there was any connection between her and Caleb at all.

"She just happened not to tell Naya all this, hmm?" I asked, wondering what her motives are.

Apollo scratched the back of his head repeatedly. "Yeah. Naya said Inna never said anything about Caleb officially....but did ask a few questions about him off the record."

"What questions?" Caleb asked, his voice tense.

"I didn't ask, to be honest. I booked the first flight I could get to come here." Apollo admitted.

Caleb went silent. The kind of silent I haven't seen from him since before we got together. He was brooding. Angry. And I don't blame him. I'm mad too but not at Naya. Clearly Inna figured things out and used these interviews to gather information on Caleb and his life.

I just don't know what - if anything, that we are going to do about it.

<- previous

[mosneakers]

Sending the happiest of birthday wishes to my longest sim friendship of all, @queeniecook!! 🥰🌸 I've known Ms. Queenie for over a decade now (wth!?) and if it weren't for her, I don't think I'd be nearly as passionate about my stories, because she's the one to blame for starting this specific legacy challenge in the first place, and from there it just blossomed! I seriously owe it all to you Keeny 😭💗 Thank you for being such a great friend and reader. Your support means the world to me! Here's a little render I created just to celebrate you, featuring Coraleye and her STUNNING mermaid friend Vera 😄 (@queeniecook's OC) Love you so much and hope your day is as beautiful and kind as you are🥺💘

[queeniecook]

June 2

Caleb arrived back very early this morning.

Lucky was very excited to see him.

So was Este. Me? I may have given him the silent treatment….

Nevertheless, it was a beautiful day and I plopped Este down in her kiddie pool. She absolutely loves water. It’s still early but I really think she might be a mermaid.

Unfortunately, fun was not all that happened today. When Este went down for her nap, my husband and I had to talk.

“Vera, I know you are upset with me.” Caleb told me, he timidly touched my shoulder. Which is funny if you think about it. He’s a vampire yet acted like he was almost afraid of me.

“What gave it away?” I asked, though it lacked bite.

Caleb grasped my arms gently and turned me to face him. “The silent treatment was a clue.” He commented before continuing. “I had to find Inna and warn her to stay away from our family.”

“So. You did find her.” I said it more as a statement than question. He simply nodded. I stepped back and thankfully he released my arms.

“I know you think you did the right thing. But what if it just ticked her off? Not to mention she could have sent someone after us while you and Lilith were off chasing her.” I said, maybe the last one was a stretch. She isn’t James but then again, I don’t know Inna. I don’t know what she’s capable of.

Caleb sighed “Inna has a good heart. I hurt her and I think she has never gotten closure over it.”

I remained silent for a moment. Caleb did hurt her. And that is what makes her dangerous in my mind.

“That is why I asked Dakota to stop in and check on you and our daughter. He is the only one, outside of Lilith, that I trust to protect you both.” He continued.

“You need to remember that Dakota has his own family now and while James has been leaving us alone, for some reason Dakota and Jillian are still dealing with him.” I state, though Dakota still made time to check on us. But that’s just who Dakota is.

Caleb stiffly nods.

“I just….I don’t like it when you do stuff like this. I know you have a valid reason – in your mind anyway. I love you. But I don’t particularly like you at the moment.”

With that, I left him standing in his study. I know I’ll forgive him for being away. It’ll just take time.

[queeniecook]

May 30

I wasn’t expecting Dakota to make breakfast this morning.

I wasn’t going to complain either.

Este has gotten to the point where she insists on not eating in her high chair. My little girl is growing up.

Caleb is still gone. I got one text late last night – he’s in Del Sol Valley with Lilith, still looking for Inna.

Dakota and I talked about his family while we ate our breakfast. Slade is growing like a weed too from the pictures he showed me.

Sometimes, in moments like those, it hits me. If I had made different choices, my life might more simple now. But Este wouldn’t be who she is and I would have missed out on my life with Caleb. Even though I’m a bit upset with him right now, I love him and I know he loves me.

After breakfast, Dakota headed back to Brindelton Bay. I spent the rest of my day taking care of Este and the pets. Cleaning.

Cutting my hair.

Lucky approves anyway. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go into the clinic and see if Rashidah can watch Este. It’ll keep me busy.

[queeniecook]

May 29 – Part 2

After Dominic and Ellie left, I laid Este down for a nap. I was restless but not in the mindset to to try to go into the vet clinic. So I redecorated the foyer a bit.

And cleaned up a mess in the spare bathroom -after I got Lucky to stop rolling in it that is. It was a good distraction. The day went on as normal but not normal. Caleb texted me that he and Lilith are safe. It did little to ease my nerves.

I turned to yoga after Este went to bed – until there was a knock at my front door. The moment I saw him it all came out.

“Caleb’s gone. He’s off chasing Inna Cents across who knows where. I checked her social media and she’s been silent for days. I tried to find out where she lives but apparently she’s really secretive about it. What if something happens? What if he doesn’t come back?” I asked. I barely took a breath during my whole rambling.

Dakota hugged me tightly. Next to Caleb walking through the front door, it’s the thing I needed most.

“It’ll be okay. Caleb is crafty and infuriatingly hard to kill. Plus he has Lilith with him.” Dakota whispered to me.

It hit me. Caleb had asked Dakota to check on me and knowing Dakota, he wouldn’t hesitate in agreeing to. We had a small discussion about that fact before I invited Dakota to spend the night, given the fact that it was pretty late when he arrived and we do have a spare bedroom. I gave him some clothes of Caleb’s to wear – Dakota was so thrilled over that, ha.

We decided to watch movies together like we used to do years ago. It actually has made me feel a bit better having Dakota here.

“This movie doesn’t make sense. If Grandpa Joe has been in bed all this time, how the heck can he jump up and start dancing?” Dakota asked me, confused.

“Don’t use logic, just enjoy it.” I told him. We had found the old Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie on TV.

<-previous

[queeniecook]

May 29 – Part 1

I had a hard time sleeping – knowing Caleb is off looking for Inna. That he isn’t here.

I think Tucker sensed something is off because he slept on the bed with me, something he rarely does. Thank God for pets.

Still, I know I can’t stay in bed all day. I have animals to tend to. A daughter who needs me. A daughter who won’t understand if her Dad doesn’t come back soon.

Thankfully we had some vistors today.

Dominic brought Ellie over to visit us. We’ve transitioned to Ellie only staying with us one night a week, but she comes over often for visits. That’s the benefit of having her living just across town.

“You seem down.” Dominic commented as sat down on the porch, stepping out for a bit but not far from the girls.

“Oh…just life stuff.” I said softly, not really wanting to talk about it. Thankfully, Dominic has known me long enough to know not to push.

“They set the court hearing to make Ellie’s adoption legal. It just happened this morning so I’m sure you’ll be notified soon.” Dominic shared, beaming. The happiness radiates off him and I’m happy for him, Zoe and Ellie. I truly am. It’s good to have something happy to focus on right now.

next ->

[queeniecook]

May 28

I knew it was coming. Between what happened yesterday and the way Caleb spent extra time with Este, Lucky and Tucker. I could feel it.

“Tesoro?” Caleb asked worriedly, sitting down beside me.

“You’re going to go find her, aren’t you? Inna…” I said with a sigh. My anxiety about the situation was and still is gnawing at me. I don’t see what good can come from confronting her.

Caleb sat back as I sat up. I didn’t look at him, trying my best to keep my emotions in check.

“We need to know what she is up to. Why did she keep Naya in the dark during the interviews? It is troublesome.” Caleb stated calmly.

It’s not that I don’t agree with him. I do.

“Inna has a lot of good in her but I did hurt her. I am concerned she may have waited all these years to extract some sort of revenge. If that is the case, I need to know so I can protect our family.” Caleb continued.

“What if you’re walking into a trap? What if she wants you to confront her?” I asked. Too many what ifs. Too much that can go wrong.

“Lilith is going with me.” Caleb assured me.

It made me feel only slightly better. I stood up and tried not to pace.

“I will be back. Remember all we have come through?’ Caleb asked me after pulling me close to him.

I do. We’ve been through a lot. Even up to Este’s birth when we thought James might try something. I blew out a breath and tried to focus on all that.

My husband will be leaving after midnight.

[queeniecook]

Doesn't everyone garden in their finest robe?