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.

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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.

Generation 02, Chapter 16: Good-bye

I return to the city.  I've made up the excuse that I've got a doctor appointment.  Only Champ knows I'm here to "patch up my relationship" and even that's not the total truth.  I'm actually coming down to confront Rusty about what he did.

I manage to sneak into the building, convincing the security guards I'm there to cater to Rusty's going away party.

I run up the stairs to Rusty's office but it's empty.  As I walk out, I bump into Rusty.  Well, what a coincidence.

"Calla, is that you?" he asks innocently.

"You have me fired.  On purpose!" I start.

"What blasphemy are you talking about?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about.  You used me!  You wrecked my career and watched me suffer because of it.  When???  When did you put that document on my desk???"

"If you really must know, I put it there on the 28th of May," he replies calmly.  His eyes are icy as he continues.  "Now, I'm going to have to have you ejected from the building if you do not leave now."

I take his warning seriously and walk out, hot and angry.  I think back to May 28th and thank the Lord for my eidetic memory.  And of course, he lied.  The 28th was the day that we were all attending a conference in Starlight Shores and Rusty had just come back from France.  He hadn't even been to the office.

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

I go to my lonely apartment building and bump into Kar.  Fortunately, she is just the person I wanted to speak with.

"Kar?  Uh, may I speak to you?"

"Calla?  Is that you?"  She asks.

"I know this is unexpected and you probably don't want to see me but I have something serious to talk about.  Please just listen to what I have to say and I won't bother you again."

Kar contemplates for a second and finally says, "Go on."

For once I am happy that Kar lives in the same building as me.  It's very convenient and quick to get to my room and fall fast asleep in my messy apartment.  After our talk, I realize that she isn't as heartless as I had thought her to be.  She actually listened to what I had to say.  She promises to investigate and she will contact me tomorrow about any news.

The next morning, I wake up to the sight (and smell) of my apartment, which is in horrible condition.  It hasn't changed at all since I left but I never realize how dirty and plain it was before I left.  The clothes I have here are basically all suits and/or dark clothes.  I just throw on what I wore yesterday.

Of course, there's no food or cooking supplies in the kitchen so I quickly run out to the store and buy all the necessary kitchen staples as well as a good vacuum and some cleaning solution.  Then I get to work cleaning, dusting, and cooking some meals in my apartment.  Kar rings as I finish vacuuming.

"Hello?"

"Calla, I've spoken to a few people and I want you to too.  I need to know if you're available."

"Right, of course.  Yes, I'm available."

"Okay, meet in the Gainsboro office room at 8 tonight."

"Sure thing," I say and we hang up.  Hope rises in my chest.  They're could be offering me partnership.  I could get my job back!

After cleaning, I whip up some of the ingredients I bought and produce a beautiful plate of french toast.

Then I invite Ms. Rosado over to eat it with me.  She agrees confused and a bit wary.

"What brought this up, Calla?" She asks me as she sits down.

"I just wanted to thank you for watching out for me all those years and for taking my mail and packages"

She smiles and says it was no problem.  Then there's silence and finally she says, "You made this?"

"Yes, I've learned how to cook.  Please, take it.  It's a token of my thanks."
She just stares at it.

"Don't worry, it's not poisonous or anything," I chuckle.

She finally takes her fork and tastes a piece.

"You made this?  By hand?" She asks me again.

"Yes, I've learned a lot of new things while I was away."

"Where is it that you have been, my dear?"

"Just somewhere.  Somewhere different from here."

"Well, wherever it has been, it has transformed you.  You look so much healthier and.. and happy!"

"Thanks," I smile.  She thanks me again for the meal and after she leaves, I get ready to go to the office.

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

I arrive at the office in my usual lawyer attire.  It feels weird wearing such bland colors.  I wait outside of the meeting room while Kar, Blake, and the other partners discuss me situation.  During one of the breaks, Blake comes out and talks to me.  Before doing so, however, he takes out his phone and stares at it while he talks.  I've noticed that everyone seems to be addicted to their technology all the time.  Was I really like that?

"Calla!  Wow you look amazing.  Oh my God, and the way you figured out the thing with Rusty, I was shocked.  I knew you could never make a mistake."
What?

"No you didn't.  You specifically said that I had made errors and that I was unreliable.  Remember?"

"No, I said that other people said you had made errors."

I groan, "Fine, whatever.  It really makes no difference."

"Hey, where are you working now?  Hopefully not with any of our rivals," Blake grins.

"Oh no, of course not.  Uh, it's no one you'd know," I drift off.  "Alright, looks like the meeting is starting up again," I notice and he heads back in.

"We would like to offer you full equity partnership in the firm, starting immediately."

The words ring in my ears like heaven's song.

"Welcome back," Blake tells me.  I'm stunned.  I had been imagining this very moment but I have no idea how to react now that it has actually happened.
"Um, I actually haven't said it I'll accept the offer," I announce awkwardly.

"Excuse me?" Kar asks.

"Well, I'm flattered, really.  But... I've come to realize I didn't come here to get my job back.  I cam back to clear my name.  So I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline.  I've moved on to a job that I really enjoy."

They both stare at me as thought purple liquid is pouring out of my ears.

"Are you crazy?" Blake sputters.

"If it's a matter of salary we'll speak to the senior partner to wherever you've gone to.  Where are you now?"

"There isn't a senior partner.  Or a director."

"How can there not be?"  Kar asks horrified.

"I didn't say I was working as a lawyer," I say at last.

Now Kar and Blake have focused their attention on me.  "I'm working as... as a housekeeper."

"What do you mean?  Is this a new term I'm not familiar with?"

"No, I mean I'm a legit housekeeper.  I cook meals for my employers and wash their clothes," I explain slowly.

"You're... a housekeeper?" Kar repeats as though it's a foreign word.

"Yes, and I'm very happy with what I do.  I feel fulfilled and... alive.  So I'm sorry.  I'm going to have to decline your offer.  And uh, bye," I say and I walk out of the room, out the building, onto a train, and back to the world that I have grown love.

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

I find Champ in the bar, cleaning up some glasses.  He sets them down and runs toward me.

"How was the trip?  Is it over?" He questions me eagerly, grasping my hands in his own.

"Yes, it's over," I smile and lean in towards him.  I feel content and happy.

It's over.

It's actually finally over.