The Witch's Tale

Changes in Attitude and Latitude 

With the exception of a few visits from the local burglar(s), the Summer had been business as usual for Kris. He tended the small basement garden every morning, worked on his novels throughout the day, and fixed dinner for the family in the evening before family time in the exercise room. His novels had done well, and he was bringing in over 23,000 simoleons a week by mid-summer. His cooking had come along nicely as well, and he could put his cuisine up against just about anyone else's.

 Rebecca had opted out of working for rest of the Summer after accomplishing what few other authors had. She decided to spend more time with Hanna, or just relaxing for a while. Long days by the pond fishing ... And she was rocking a serious tan. Kris had noticed that Rebecca was becoming quieter around the house though. She still had fun with Hanna and her relationship with Kris was just getting stronger by the day ... But there was still something on her mind.

They would take regular trips to town together and spend the day doing whatever they could find. Kris had gotten to know many others in Hidden Springs, and like Rebecca, he didn't have a hard time making friends. Hanna was just as good, and almost everyone in town had met Mr. Dinosaur ... At least if she had met them.

Rebecca had also started training Kris in Sim-Fu regularly, usually on Saturdays at the Toyotama Hime Dojo in town. He was coming along nicely and could occasionally defeat her while sparring. Hanna would go with them, and she liked all the interesting things at the dojo. Kris did notice that Rebecca was serious about Sim-Fu and a difficult competitor. He saw things in her when they sparred that he hadn't seen before.  She didn't give any quarter or offer mercy on the mat ... He had heard that she was a Grand Master and it showed when she bowed before a bout and came out hard.

Summer also offered relaxing evenings for the family sometimes. They would often accept invitations to get togethers around town. With the two of them, conversation with the neighbors eventually went to books. That was work for them and they always tried to steer talk back to everyday life and asking about friends and family.

Anna Menon ran into Rebecca at Sebastian's house, and cornered her again for another interview, as rumors still lingered about her possible nomination for an award. Rebecca did her best to dismiss it ... She had never been writing for accolades. To her, it was just something she could do and earn money. She liked the fact that what she wrote sold ... But her last masterpiece had taken something out of her. She had poured her heart and soul into The Climb ... And she often wondered whether or not she could do that again.

Nearing the end of Summer, Rebecca got a call from her publishers. It seems the interim mayor of Hidden Springs and her publishers had gotten an idea to promote her and hold an event at the library. They wanted her to bring 3 first edition signed copies of her works to City Hall and then hold a dedication ceremony at the library. The publishers thought it might bring more light to her works, and the interim mayor was entering campaign season.

Rebecca was pleasant on the phone ... "Sure thing ... I have some around here, is there anything in particular you desire?"

The conversation went on a little longer as they made their requests, and Kris could hear at least her end of it. He was surprised when she hung up after pleasant goodbyes ... "Oh **** ... Now I am just a gravy train for the machine."

Kris figured there was something more behind all that but opted to leave it alone at the moment ... Something was bugging Rebecca, and it wasn't just the previous phone call.

They headed to into town the next day and Rebecca was prepared to deliver what had been requested. Kris decided he would go ahead and take Hanna across the street to the park while Rebecca took care of things in City Hall. Rebecca hadn't said a thing on the way to town and was a bit distant as he approached.

He asked as he took Hanna ... "Are you okay ... You seem a little off?"

Rebecca sighed and replied ... " It's nothing ... Just more crud. Let me go take care of this and make them happy. My goodness, I own the library, and if I had wanted to dedicate the books, I wouldn't need them to do it. They are just getting what they can out of it ... And there is a reason I didn't name the library after myself."

Kris understood ... "Oh, just shake it off, Becca ... I know it is bothering you, but don't let it. Hanna and I will be waiting for you in the park, and if not there, in front of the grocery store. We love you and that's all that matters."

That night, they had another visit from the burglar, and it went the same as usual. Kris had gotten one of those steering wheel locks to protect the vehicle, but now the burglar would make it inside and set off the alarm. They did everything they could to keep the burglar distracted and occupied until the police would show up ... But Officer Keisha Wyatts would walk right past the burglar to come tell them that they had gotten away again, and that she hoped the police would catch them next time.

Rebecca had already gone back to bed, and Kris had had enough ... "Why don't you just leave so I can go back to sleep ... Y'all are about worthless. I have photos of the burglar and Rebecca asked them for a DNA sample. Either give me a badge long enough to arrest them myself or get the heck out of here."

A few days later they had finished their work out and put Hanna to bed. They usually spent a little time together after showering and before they went to bed. Kris found Rebecca standing by the weight machine on his way back up, and again, she was somewhere else ... "Becca, you have to talk to me ... What are thinking? You have been in a mood for over a week, and something is the matter."

Rebecca shook her head and came back to the real world ... "No ... It's not you, Hanna, the house, my work or anything ... It's me. 

I lived pretty fast and easy for a while ... Travelled a lot before I dug in and started to actually accomplish anything. When I did dig in, it became habit forming. I didn't slow down ... I sped up ... But with more focus. Then I met you, we had Hanna ... And I am so thankful for that. 

I miss it though ... Running the trails ... Pushing the limits and exploring. It will pass ... Hanna will get older and no longer be under the travel restrictions. But sometimes I feel guilty and selfish ... Because I want to be back out there, badly."

Kris understood immediately ... It was that fire in her that had attracted him to Rebecca in the first place. He had dug in when he got to Hidden Springs, trying to catch up with her ... And although his life had changed, he was still running hard to keep up. Rebecca hadn't run out of steam ... She had hit a plateau that was understandable as much as unavoidable in the current conditions. It was affecting everything from her work to her mood ... She had stopped writing because she didn't have anything to write about. She had even started painting on rainy days just to pass the time ... And he was amazed that she was getting pretty good at that.

He offered her the only thing he could think of ... "A while back you mentioned that you wouldn't travel without us. Now ... I know you are aware that I think of myself as more than Hanna's babysitter. Becca ... If you need to go, take a trip ... We'll be okay and right here when you get back. I don't want you to go ... But I don't want you to be miserable either."

Rebecca just smiled and responded ... "Kris, I am not going anywhere without you, or Hanna for that matter. When I decided to have Hanna, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, and I would have to deal with this. It's a choice I made then ... And I don't want to start doing things that I know could turn into bad habits for me.

I want someone to share everything with ... Running alone was fun, but not enough. It's just part of growing up I guess ... Letting other people into your life, on their terms ... Or whatever it requires. We should be able to travel by mid-spring ... And if I don't drive the two of y'all crazy by then, we will all get to do something new."

Summer gave way to Fall ... And the family spent time together as usual. Rebecca continued to paint some, and Kris split his studies between gardening and learning how to make nectar. They enjoyed the comfort of knowing what they were looking at, as the love between Kris and Rebecca grew even stronger. Kris did add some foreign foods to their diet ... And they helped a little. Whenever Rebecca would start thinking about what she was missing ... Kris would break out a map, and they would start making plans.

Kris started making plans of his own ... He was going to ask her to marry him ... He had convinced himself that he was in it for the long haul.

Happy Simming ... 💖