Generation 02: Chapter 18: Second Thoughts

"At what cost?" Champ finally asks.

"What?"

"You've changed since you got here.  Before you arrived, you were tired and pale as a ghost.  Now you're healthy, glowing, carefree..." he trails off.

"Well, yes, I've relaxed.  But this has been a vacation and now I need to go back to real life."

"They don't care about you, Calla, don't you see that?"

"Well, at least I'm trying something new."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You still live in the town you grew up in!  You run your family business even though you hate it and you won't even try to do something you truly love!  You're... you're old fashioned.  You haven't changed a bit!"

Champ backs away and a look of hurt fills in his eyes.

"You're right," he admits.  His words surprise me.  "I should do something more than what I've done.  I was looking at a property a few hours away but I decided not to look into it.  I didn't 'want to be away from you.  I suppose I am pretty narrow-minded."

"Champ, I... I really have to return.  But we'll still have the holidays.  You won't even realize I'm gone.

Blake comes out from the Dhaval's restroom.  "No you won't," he quips.  "You're going all the way to Shang Simla for a business trip right when we get home tonight and next week you'll be going to Al Simhara."

"I was kind of hoping my weekends could stay free..."

"Not anymore.  I thought you knew.  You've had your vacation.  Now it's time for work.  At this rate you'll probably be free around Christmas."

"Christmas?" Champ breathes.

"No!  I'll find time.  I swear, Champ, I'll find time."

"Don't turn it into a duty," he flinches.

"A duty?  No, I meant... well you know what I meant!"

"Look you should probably go now, Calla.  So I'll see you around?"

"Champ, just tell me, what did you say to me at the property?"

"It was nothing.  Just long and boring.  And badly put," he adds, his face tense.

"Calla, you should pack.  We need to go soon if we want to make it back in time," Blake glances at his watch.

"I'll just go and get out of your way." Champ says solemnly.

I want to stay and continue to convince Champ that everything will be alright, but Blake taps at his watch and says that we don't have much time until the train leaves for Bridgeport.

I walk upstairs to pack my bags.  Thoughts about Champ and my decision whirl in my mind as I also pay attention to my packing and to the voices downstairs.  There are harsh tones and I pack quickly, so I can go check it out.

By the time I manage to pack all my belongings and haul my suitcase down the stairs, the door slams and Blake is standing alone in the entry on his phone.

"What happened?  What did you say to Champ?" I demand.

"I told him the flat truth.  You won't be coming back.  He'd be an embarrassment to you hanging around all the time.  I mean, can you imagine him in the office?  He'd stick out like-"

"An embarrassment?" I trill.  "No, you're the embarrassment!"  And before I know it, I slap Blake right in those gorgeous cheekbones of his.  "You're worth nothing compared to him." I hiss in his face.

"What the fuck?" is all he can say.  I walk off just as Blake manages to say "meet me at the train station at 10."

I head to the bar.  There's still time until the train leaves.  If I'm not going to be seeing him for a while, I need a proper good-bye.  I need to tell Champ that I love him and that he's more important than my job.  We have to end on a good note.

Champ is not there, but Antares is.  "He told me to give you this," he tells me as he hands me a small piece of paper.

Calla,

I think we both know this is the end of the line.  Let's quit while we're ahead.  Just know that this summer was perfect.

C

A tear smudges the "C" and my heart breaks inside.  He's just leaving me like that?  I guess I knew this would happen.  I just didn't want to believe it.

I stand there for a while and then realize it's nearly 10.  I run to the train station and Blake is waiting there impatiently tapping on his phone.  As always.  As we head into the station, Blake hands me a large envelope.

"Kar would like you to get these done by tomorrow please."

There's a big brown stain on the front, unusual compared to Kar's usual neat and organized ways.

"Wow, a stain?!" I laugh.

Blake looks up from his phone confused.  "What?"

He wasn't even listening.  Annoyed, I don't bother to repeat myself, knowing he probably won't get the sarcasm anyway.

The train comes and Blake gets on.  I see a bunch of other partners heading the Bridgeport, all staring at their screens.  That's when I realize for a second time that I don't want to be a lawyer.  I now realize how Champ must see me and I know that it's not right.  I don't want to be a drone.  I'm partner and they're already piling work on me, just as they have always done.  They don't value me at all.  Champ was right, why didn't I listen?

"I'm sorry, I can't do this." I tell Blake.

"Shit, Calla, not this again. Come on, the train is about to leave."

"No, this is for real.  I'm leaving.  Tell Kar hello for me!" And I run up and out of the station before Blake can stop me.

My heart is pounding as I run back to the bar.  "Antares, where is Champ?"

"Uh, he mentioned something about going to Bridgeport tomorrow.  I think he's packing."

Bridgeport?  "Thanks!" I yell as I head over to Champ's house.  I catch him just as he's about to get into his truck.

"Champ!"

"Calla?"

I run over to him.

"Antares gave me your letter.  Why are you going to Bridgeport?"

"To see you," he replies, flinching.  "Where are your friends?"

"There's not my friends.  You were right, they don't care about me.  Not one bit.  I hit Blake," I add.  Champ stifles a chuckle.  I continue.  "I... I quit.  For good.  There's no going back there."  I take out my train ticket and rip it up.

Champ slowly takes some papers out of his pocket and starts to rip those as well.

"What's that?"

"Oh, just a long letter.  It's very boring.  And badly put," he starts to grin.  I start to smile back at him.  It's nice to see him happy again.

He slowly wraps his arms around my waist and I accept it.

"So," I say.

"So," he repeats.  "Now what?  Where do we go?  What do we do?"

I feel so comfortable in his grasp.  This is where I belong.  Not in an office, not with boring workaholics, but here, in this beautiful, peaceful town of Winchester.  I have all the time in the world, I can do anything, be anything....

"There's really no rush," I finally say, pulling Champ down for a kiss.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

So, in the book, the ending is a bit different but I had to change it because I couldn't really do some of the things that happen in the book in Sims.  I mean, I probably could have but I was feeling lazy while taking pictures.  

Anyway, this is the end of the book, The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella!  WOO!  Now I will post a couple chapters (including a wedding!) and then I will post photos that I took while playing this legacy for fun, as opposed to the photos on this blog which are planned out and staged.

The reason I am doing this is because I've come to realize that for such a long time with this legacy and with the 100 Baby Challenge, I was just planning out everything and it wasn't fun because I wasn't even playing the game.  I've read a few legacies where people just play the game for fun and take pictures randomly and I really really like that idea a lot more.

I hope you enjoyed my book idea for this legacy, even thought it barely lasted one generation.  :P  Thank you so much for reading and I hope you check out my tumblr where I will continue this legacy.

Generation 02, Chapter 17: I Said "No Comment!"

The next morning I answer the door and am nearly blown over by the energy of this unexpected guest.

"Hello!  I'm here with The Bridgeport Times.  Are you Calla Cohen?" She asks me wide-eyed.

Before I can respond, she bombards me with questions.

"Is it true that you chose housekeeping over full partnership at Gainsboro?"

"What kind of advice would you give to other housekeepers?"

"For years women have fought for equality and independence.  Are you tell them to go back to being housewives?"

"Ugh!  No!  Go away!!" I scream and shut the door in her face.

"Calla, what is going on out there?" Myrtle asks cautiously as she and her husband appear at the bottom of the stairs.

"Nothing, just a politician," I lie and quickly leave the seen.  The sound of Fir's voice just brings me back again.

"Blanche!  Come here!  They're looking for a lawyer.  It must be you!"  He calls to his niece.

"OMG!  I cannot believe this is happening.  It must have been that paper I wrote for my torts class. Do I look alright?"  She starts fiddling with her hair.

"What?" Myrtle asks.

"That's what she said," Fir explains.  "She asked me if I knew that I had such a high-flying lawyer in the house."

"That's amazing, Blanche darling."

There's a pause as Blanche continues to fix her hair.  I take this opportunity to speak up.  "Um, Mrs. Dhaval, I should have told you something earlier but..." I get cut off by the racket that is outside the front door.

"Here she is!  Our legal star!" Fir and Myrtle beam at Blanche.

"Not her.  Her!" the reporter states, pointing at me.

"What?  Our housekeeper?  Now why would you want to talk to her?" Myrtle asks, aghast.

"Don't you know that your housekeeper is a top city lawyer at Gainsboro?  She has an I.Q. of over 160 and is the youngest ever partner.  Except she turned down the six-figure partnership to work for you."

I smile sheepishly and Blanche's jaw has dropped.

"You're a lawyer?  You work at Gainsboro?"

"Yep, that's me," I grin.  Then add, "Does anyone want tea?"

Of course, not one is paying any attention to that.

"You're a lawyer?  But I don't understand.  How did you have time to train at the cooking academy and still manage to get a law degree?" Myrtle asks blankly.

Oh God.  Are they really that dense?  "The thing is, I'm not an actual housekeeper.  I lied.  I'm a fraud.  A fake.  I'll... I'll go if you want me to."

"No!  Don't go!  We don't want you to leave.  We love having you here, Calla," Myrtle and Fir both cry out.

"Thank you, both of you.  I'm really grateful."

"'I'm grateful,'" the reporter echos.  "Now could you elaborate on that more?"

"No!  I am not doing an interview.  Please, no comment on everything."

God these people are crazy.  No scratch that.  The WORLD is crazy.  Blanche and the Dhavals are scanning a large newspaper article that one of the reporters hands them.

"You charged §500 an hour and you turned it down?!" Blanche asks as though I'm a lunatic.

"Yes, I enjoy what I do here and I love it.  My life is different in a way I never imagined it could be."

"...in a way I never imagined it to be," repeats the reporter.

"STOP IT!  I told you to get out.  Shoo!  Leave!"  Finally I bolt the door shut but the reporter still hang around, looking through the windows and snapping photos.

Champ comes in chomping on an apple.  "These are really delicious.  Is there some sort of recipe you could make that uses these?  We have a ton from the back."

"Champ, there's something I need to tell you," I begin.

He looks at me after looking out the windows.  "What's going on?  Who is that?"

Myrtle interrupts.  "And who are you?  A rocket scientist?"

"What the hell?  Pardon my language but what the fuck is going on here?"  Champagne asks again.

"I'm... I'm a lawyer," I finally admit.  "I had been meaning to tell you but... I was scared, Champ."

"You're... a lawyer." Champ echoes slowly, then he snarls, "Why would  you lie to me like that?  For God's sake, I thought you had been abused, Calla.  I was extremely worried for you."

"Champ, I didn't mean to not tell you the truth like that.  Please, don't get mad." I beg.

"Why didn't you just tell me?"  He asks more calmly.

"I was going to.  But then I found out that you hate lawyers.  I thought if I told you, you wouldn't like me.  I was going to tell you eventually, but you seemed so happy and I didn't want to ruin your life with my problems.  But now the lawyer part of my life is over.  These people will give up eventually," I gesture to the reporter outside.  "I'm sure of it."

I look Champ in the eye but all I can see is anger and disgust.

Tears start to form.  "I thought that if I told you, you'd treat me like you're treating me now," I confess.  I bit my lip to prevent the tears from falling out but it's no use.

Champ sighs.  "I'm sorry.  You're right.  Come here, darling."  He holds out his hands and I fall into them with relief.

"Trust me, it should die down soon," I assure him again.  "They'll get bored.  I mean, how interesting can one woman be?"

Despite my belief, I must be pretty interesting because the reporter does not go away.  Other reporters come too, but they're not as persistent as the fairy.  I walk past the front door the later that morning and notice that she is still standing out there.  I bend down to sneak past the door so she doesn't see me.  So far so good, I think as I reach the kitchen.  I begin to get ready on the morning drinks.

"Calla, you're awake!  Fir, make her a cup of coffee."

"No, really Mrs. Dhaval.  I'm still your housekeeper.  I can make the coffee."

"Nonsense, you're our guest.  Blanche, get some toast ready for Calla."

"Mrs. Dhaval," I recite her name firmly.  "I told you that I'm your housekeeper and I want you treating me no different than before.  Please."

"Oh, alright...." she shrugs.

"Calla, you're in every newspaper in the entire country," Blanche reveals as Fir scrolls through articles presumably about me on his phone.

"Oh I'm not surprised.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have my household duties to complete," I dismiss myself without looking at a single paper.

The doorbell rings but I ignore it.

"Calla!!  You have another guest," Myrtle informs me.

I let out a groan and walk to the entry.  Standing in front of me is the immaculate, obviously out-of-place Blake Nero.

"Blake," I murmur.

"Wow, you weren't lying," he notes, gesturing to my housekeeper outfit.

"Nope, I wasn't. Do I ever lie?" I ask sweetly.

I lead him into the kitchen where I begin to prepare lunch for today.

"I have a job offer for you.  I think you should look into it."

"No, I'm happy as a housekeeper, thank you very much.  You really don't need to help me."

"You haven't even looked at it.  Here."  He shoves his phone in my direction.  I glance at it and then return to the meal.

"I'm not interested.  I'd rather you not help me.  I'm happy here."

"Calla, you have a fucking law degree.  You shouldn't be throwing away your brain just to be some... domestic.

"Excuse me, but I have a job to do so if you're just going to keep criticizing me on what I do, please leave."

He sighs, pulls up his sleeves, and speaks.  "Then I'll help.  What do we do?"
I can't help but laugh at the hilarity of the situation and the confusion and... fear on his face.

"Alright, if you want, please help me carry out these dishes,"I instruct him and we walk out into the dining room."

"Calla," Blake tells me after we've served lunch. "Do you understand what your leaving has done to Gainsboro?  They're going berserk.  The company looks bad to the press and they'd pay big money just to see you walk back into your office."

"I'm not interest.  I already told you."  Why is he still here?

"They'll pay big money," he continues.  "You could retired in fewer than five years. Then you could go back to... this.  You've earned your partnership, you should use it," he adds.

The conversation is now over.  That night, I think about Blake's words as the tumble around in my brain.  Then I make my decision and call Blake, who comes straight to the Dhaval's house once I tell him my decision.

I say farewell to the Dhavals before going to pack and Mrs. Dhaval gives me my uniform as a farewell gift to remember them by.  I really have no use for it but the sentiment is nice.

Blake arrives after I've said good bye.  He stops at the restroom and I catch Champ before he leaves for the night.

"Champ, I'm going to go back.  I'm going to be a lawyer again.  I'm trained to be a lawyer.  A fellow colleague of mine was able to convince me.  He... he made me realize that I'm a lawyer and that is what I am meant to be.  And, in a few years, I'll be able to retire and come out here and live with you."

My plan sounds convincing, until I see the look on his face.