It had been several months since James passed and for once good fortune came to the Nolan Household; Vickie went into labor and with the help of Clifford's family gave birth to a healthy girl. She named her Florence May Nolan in honor of her mother-in-law who took her in after her and her own mother became estranged due to her and Clifford's quick marriage.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561651406_8922a11414_c.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561155523_195d855305_c.jpgVickie wrote to her parents immediately about Florence since she was still their granddaughter, regardless of her and her mother's relationship. Her father came immediately of course ( he was honorably discharged, due to an injury from the war), but she was disappointed to find out that her mother would not be coming. Maggie-May invited him to stay as long as he wished to enjoy his grandchild. Mr. Hilton took her up on the offer and stayed two full days, just long enough for Vickie's nineteenth birthday(which she mostly spent tending to Florence unfortunately ) and her graduation from school thanks to Maggie-May's encouragement.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561155453_d64ce58934_c.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561761146_05f4c9ed7f_c.jpgHe left after that, but from then he visited her almost on a weekly basis, always by himself and never with her mother, but it was something and that made Vickie happy.
Life went on like that for a year, simple with the awful war miles and miles away, but a year later on the morning, Florence was set to become a toddler the Nolans got another knock on their door. Maggie-May answered it, her stomach in knots and there stood another soldier with a letter. He didn't have to say anything for Maggie-May to know that one of her sons were gone. When he said the letter was for Vickie, she knew it was Clifford. The military personal left and Maggie-May gave the letter to Vickie. Her heart broke all over again when she watched her optimistic daughter-in-law completely shatter into her arms.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561883882_d17545acd6_c.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561891152_17a4fdb117_z.jpgFlorence's birthday was a bittersweet, short celebration that was mostly spent on Vickie and making sure she was all right. She smiled and put up an emotionless front for the family who tried their best comfort her. She was relieved when she could finally retreat to her bedroom and hold on to her daughter as if she was the only thing solid enough to keep the ground from going out from under her completely.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561155388_eb94da6cfd_c.jpgAuthor's Note : Bit of a shorter post, but this week is a little bit busy, and I think Clifford's death is a powerful note to end this post on. I'd also like to thank Wimmie at the Sims Resource for the dress Florence is wearing in the last picture. 
