Come What May: a short(?) Sims story

"MoonlightGraham;c-17956899" wrote:
I hadn't planned on using this save as the basis for a story. We created it as a way to have fun with some of the houses we found on the Gallery. We figured that if the show had a star, it would be a Sears house, not a Sim. The game had a plan of its own, however, and the connection between Cameron and Sofia became more and more intriguing as we played. That's why there were so few screenshots in the first posts. I hadn't seen a reason to take them until we'd been at it for a while.

I can totally relate to your story’s origins. In fact, my latest (and now favorite) save only came to be because I liked a build so much I decided I’d create a sim to live in it too lol!

And I can see now why it’s aptly entitled “Come What May”. :smile: It blows me away how all of this is spontaneously simulated by your game (and also how your creative storytelling stitched them all together). I’m kinda jealous, actually. My game never churns up anything worth sharing. It’s just hours and hours of them watching TV, playing on the computer, and talking to the plants. The neighbors don’t even come to visit! But yours is different. It’s fun! I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Cameron and the Bjergsens!

What I'm enjoying about your story so far is the whole realistic and down to earth characters. I have read a lot of Simlit with magic, aliens and the paranormal and I like a lot of them: There are some really creative writers who use that to good effect, but it's nice to see something that doesn't involve that.

@SnowBnuuy I'm very glad you're enjoying it so far! The fun we've had with The Sims has quietly been one of the highlights of an unpredictable summer. We're looking at a screen, but it has been much more than a passive activity in a number of ways. Z has a delightful imagination, so it's fun for both of us to work the things that happen in our game into the story.

@orenjiAi I think I got really lucky with the story the game is spinning out for us. After a couple days of the boring routine you've described, an invitation pops up on Cameron's phone and off we go.

To be fair, I usually keep Cameron busy. I rarely ever have him turn on the TV unless he's hanging out at home with a friend, and when he's on the computer, he's almost always writing his book. When I shift control away from him so I can move one of my other created households into a new home we've found for them, or to play Sim Deity and bestow a new skill to a fortunate creation, Cam parks himself on the couch and turns on the TV or starts browsing the web. He does nothing worth telling a story about. He's much more fun when he's not left to his own devices. :)

I hope our game keeps giving us fun things to work with...if it decides to stop, then the story might end up grinding to a halt. That's why I call it a "short?" story. Right now, I have one Sim-day's worth of events to write about. I have no idea what will happen tomorrow.

@Kellogg_J_Kellogg I've only been reading SimLit since June, but I've also discovered some really good stories with paranormal/supernatural/occult themes. I know I wouldn't write those kinds of stories well, so I'm not sure I'd have fun writing them.

I have Get to Work and Island Living, so there are aliens and mermaids in my game world. Cam has almost certainly encountered an alien. (Z admits she's used Manage Households to find out how many aliens we have in our game, but she's keeping that information a secret, and she won't tell me if she'll warn me if I'm about to have Cam interact with one of them.)

Cam can be a bit awkward socially, but he's yet to ask anyone if they're a mermaid. He also hasn't been to Sulani and he's only been around the water a few times (it's winter), so he hasn't discovered mermaids in their natural habitat.

Honestly, one huge reason why my story is a wholesome one is the fact that a twelve-year-old is an integral part of the project. Z understands what WooHoo is, and she "gets" what could possibly be happening when Sims use the bubble blower. I'm still being careful not to let things get too dark or racy, however. There's a lot of excellent SimLit that explores these themes, so I'm making an effort to add something else to the mix.

Thank you, all of you who are commenting and reading. It makes the process of bringing the story to life even more rewarding. <3

Chapter 6

Winterfest is almost here!

Although there was nobody in the house with him to hear him say it, Cameron announced this as soon as he woke up on that snowy Monday morning. It was a Ross family tradition and he honored it...although it gave him a twinge of sadness to do so.

There was no time for that, however. There were decorations to put up. And there was a bit of career-related business to do.

Elsa had loved One Blue Shoe, and she got permission from her parents to send him a text and tell him so. And while Cameron believed he could have made his writing a higher priority lately, he had still acquired enough skill to sell his book to a publisher. He wasn't sure how much royalty he'd receive, but he was now a published author, and that was what mattered the most to him right now.

It was a nice enough morning, and Cam didn't want to be inside any longer. So, after he sent his manuscript on its way, he strolled jauntily up the block to the home of his next-door neighbors, the Wiles family. He found most of them--Damon, Kaylin, and their daughter Poppy--standing on the sidewalk, enjoying the gently falling snow. Their son, Noah, was probably at the park.

Poppy saw Cameron first, and bounced over to him with a huge grin on her sweet face. "Elsa told me you wrote a BOOK, and it's REALLY GOOD!" she declared, while her parents smiled. Poppy and Elsa were best friends. In fact, Cameron hadn't known it at the time, but Elsa was actually the first of the Bjergsens he had seen, while she was playing with Poppy in the Wileses' yard.
https://i.imgur.com/HJLU3CR.jpg

The Wileses were a bit quirky, and Cameron liked that about them. It was just like Damon to come outside and romp in the snow, without thinking to change out of his ubiquitous cargo shorts. He talked about his desire to move to a farm in Henford-on-Bagley and keep a llama. Kaylin was a gifted artist; one of her paintings hung in Cameron's house, a housewarming gift he'd appreciated much more than fruitcake. They're so happy, Cameron thought as they chatted. The Bjergsens seem happy, too. And while these thoughts made Cameron smile, they also tugged a bit at his heart.

Don't waste your time feeling sorry for yourself. Cameron heard the familiar voice in his head. It was one of his mother's favorite pieces of advice, and he decided to heed it this morning. Yoga and meditation might be exactly what he needed to ease his tensions, so off he went to the Perfect Balance Spa.

Cameron jogged up to the sleek modern building as several members of the spa staff arrived to begin their shifts. One of them, a massage therapist, caught his eye and smiled. Very prettily.

They walked into the spa together, and their conversation continued as she reached her station. Cameron learned her name was Kali McCabe. She was perhaps a bit older than he was.

"I've seen you here before," Kali confessed with a playful smile. "I was wondering if you would ever come speak to me."

Cameron simply smiled, a bit self-consciously.

"It's not fair for Kathleen to meet all the handsome guys," she added. Kathleen was currently busy with a yoga class, so Kali had him all to herself for now.

Kali was definitely attractive: her dark eyes were warm and her spa "uniform" didn't hide her shapely form. Cameron felt himself relaxing and enjoying their conversation.
https://i.imgur.com/O38BUz3.png
When Kali learned he lived nearby, her interest grew even more.

All the houses in Newcrest are expensive, she reasoned. If he lives there, he's got some money...

Cam was perceptive. He noticed how she perked up when she heard the word "Newcrest," too. Some of his buddies would have told him "Who cares? Use it, man!" Others, like Duncan and Damon, would urge caution. It was Duncan who understood that The One was worth waiting for, and if a woman had Simoleons in her eyes, she was probably not The One for Cameron.

"You know," Kali purred, "You look like you could use a massage today."

Cameron paused for a moment. "Thanks, Kali. Perhaps another time."

"I'll be right here."

A vigorous workout now seemed like a good idea to Cameron, and as he made his way to a vacant treadmill, he resisted the urge to look back to see if Kali was watching him.

She wasn't, having turned her attention to a woman who approached her for a massage.

But Kathleen Morrison was. Her yoga class had just finished, and as she relaxed and prepared for her next one, she smiled. Kathleen had watched Cameron chatting with Kali out of the corner of one eye. It had not been especially good for her focus, but by now, Kathleen could perform her class routines in her sleep. She continued to smile as a plan took shape in her head.

Shortly after 5 pm, Cameron's phone buzzed. He was surprised to see a text from Kathleen. He wasn't aware she had his number, but there it was.

"The Humor & Hijinks Festival is tonight. Want to come drink some tea with me?"

Cameron looked at his phone for a moment. Then he tapped at its screen with two fingers.

"Sure. Meet you there."

Cameron knew what drinking Sakura Tea did to you. He'd seen its effects at the Romance Festival, where it unlocked the romantic in everyone who tried it. He was, therefore, a bit cautious about sampling the offerings at the fountains that had been set up outside the Casbah Gallery.

"I think they just make you silly," Kathleen offered. She had never tried the tea, either. They watched as several other Sims filled their cups and drank them down. Sure enough, within moments, the tea drinkers began to tell jokes and play pranks.

"That honestly looks like fun," Cam admitted.

Kathleen agreed. "Let's do it. Light or Dark?"

"Light." Cameron had watched a woman who had chosen Dark tea pull out a voodoo doll and begin to mess with it. That didn't seem like his style.

The two of them hurried to the Light tea fountain and filled their cups. "Let's sit over here," Kathleen suggested, pointing to a nearby table. Cameron followed her, and the two of them sat down and drank their tea.

The tea acted almost immediately. Cam felt his mood changing. Suddenly, everything seemed hilarious. A woman nearby told a stupid joke, one Cam wouldn't usually find funny at all...but this time, he broke up with laughter! Kathleen responded the same way, perhaps even more outrageously.

Cameron felt the sudden urge to perform an impression, which finished with him clucking like a chicken. Kathleen burst into giggles. So did Dominick and Moira Fyres, who had sat down at the table with them.

The strongest effects of the tea wore off before long, but Cameron found he was still enjoying the festival vibe. He and Kathleen listened to a comedy routine, performed by a fellow called Diego Lobo. Kathleen found Diego's jokes especially funny.
https://i.imgur.com/7iACFjm.jpg

Cameron was having fun, too. Kathleen was good company, energetic and cheerful...even more so with some festival tea in her system. She was definitely cute. And, best of all, she was very easy to talk to; again, was it the tea, or was a more natural kind of chemistry at work?

At one point, Cameron leaned over and playfully shared a secret with Kathleen.
https://i.imgur.com/PP0RLha.jpg
There was nothing the least bit salacious about the moment, but from across the square, a young woman was watching them. She smiled devilishly, took out her phone, and snapped a picture just as Cameron whispered close to Kathleen's ear.

That night, Cameron lay in bed and thought about the events of the day. Kali's flirtatious interest had been flattering, but that was it. He'd had fun with Kathleen, and he'd probably enjoy hanging out with her again, but he hadn't felt sparks flying. He wasn't sure what he was feeling, but he knew he wasn't in love.

At about the same time, in her bedroom in a house in Windenburg, a girl took out her phone. She hesitated, because she knew she was about to do something mean. It wasn't truly her nature to be malicious, but she was part of a crowd that expected that of her. With a deep sigh, she typed a short message to go with the picture she'd taken, and pressed "send."

I'll apologize in advance for the lack of screenshots to accompany this chapter. It happened in the "theater of the mind," inspired by the in-game events in Chapter 6.

I really ought to make the Bjergsens the active household from time to time so I can get some shots of them talking to each other.

Chapter 7

Sofia had been sound asleep when the text arrived. She awakened in a joyous mood...but that changed as soon as she checked her phone. When she saw the photo, her heart sank. Then she read the message with it, and it sank deeper.

Just thought you might wanna know what your boyfriend was up to tonight…

Her blue eyes filled with tears. But why am I crying? she asked herself. He’s not my boyfriend. But do I want him to be? This hurts. But why am I letting it hurt me?

One soft sob, and then another, and another...

Sofia didn’t have school today, since the next day was Winterfest. It was mid-morning by the time she pulled a fluffy white robe around her and emerged from her bedroom. She hoped she had waited long enough for her dad to go to work and for her sister to find something to do. She didn’t want to talk to anyone besides her mom right now.

Clara took one look at her daughter and knew something was wrong. She got up from the table, moved to the sofa in front of the fire, and patted the seat beside her. “Come talk to me,” she invited.

Sofia sank down onto the couch beside her mother. She took her phone out of the pocket of her robe and handed it to Clara.

Clara looked at the photo and paused to compose her thoughts. She smiled softly and wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Oh, sweetie,” she murmured.

Sofia began to cry, and Clara held her tighter. “I...I..this is so hard,” she whispered.

“I know it is.” Mother and daughter snuggled together for a few moments, as Sofia sobbed softly.

Clara recognized the woman in the picture with Cameron. She’d taken a few classes from Kathleen, too. She used the quiet time to think about what she might say to her distraught daughter.

Sofia was the first to break the silence. “She’s the yoga teacher at the spa, isn’t she?”

Clara nodded. “That’s right.”

Sofia looked up into Clara’s eyes. “She even has hair like mine!” She tried to laugh, and Clara admired her attempt to rally her mood.

“I feel so stupid, Mom. I didn’t know she and Cameron were dating,” she whispered.

Clara thought for a moment. “Do you know they are?” she asked. When Sofia didn’t respond right away, she continued.

“I’ve seen you joke around with Aron Swanson. Does that mean you’re dating?”

“Of COURSE not!!” Sofia shook her head decisively. Then she jabbed her finger at the picture on her phone. “But look at them. They’re out at the festival together.”

“Do you go places with people...guys, even...without it being a date?”

“All the time. Actually, it is never a date.”

“So why do you automatically assume Cameron is on a date here? Do you see anything that looks really romantic here? They’re not holding hands, or cuddling.”

Sofia had to admit her mother had a point here. “I can’t assume that,” she said softly. Clara felt her relax a bit beneath her arm.

“And, honey...Cameron does spend quite a bit of time here. Why do you think that is?” She smiled and touched the tip of Sofia’s nose with her fingertip.

“We have good food.”

“Nope.”

“He and Dad have a bromance.”

Clara laughed. “Yeah, they do. But that’s not it.”

“Then it has to be Elsa. He’s gotta connect with his Number One Fangirl.” Now Sofia was smiling, the first real smile she’d allowed herself since she looked at her phone.

“I clearly have a lot of things to teach you about how guys think. Do we need to have a talk?”

“NO! Sofia shook her head vigorously. “No, we do not!” Mother and daughter giggled.

There was still one thing Clara wondered about. She tilted her head and looked Sofia in the eye. “Will you tell me who sent you that text?”

Sofia nearly didn’t answer. Then, she thought about saying “It’s none of your business.” Two years ago, she probably would have. But not now.

“Morgan Fyres,” she said.

Clara nodded. That’s not a huge surprise, she thought.

Morgan and Sofia were part of rival clubs. Sofia was part of the Paragons, and Morgan was connected to the Renegades. While Clara naturally believed the Renegades were more to blame for the mean-spirited nature of their rivalry, she knew Sofia and the Paragons were far from innocent. Antagonizing the members of the other club was part of both groups’ “code.” The Renegades would consider Morgan’s text a pure power move. The situation was starting to make more sense now.

“Honey, do you think there could be a reason why Morgan would want to create some drama for you?”

Sofia’s eyes opened wide. “Ummm...yeah, I do. Do you think she wants me to think I’m being two-timed...not that I am, but...ummm…” Her cheeks turned bright pink.

Clara smiled and let her daughter’s reaction slide. “I think as long as she’s hanging around with...certain people...she might very well want you to think that.”

“Morgan isn’t nearly as mean as Wolfgang Munch,” Sofia mused. “I think she just wants to fit in with him. And I totally don’t get why they feel like they have to impress that little punk, Max Villareal, except that his family is so rich.” She paused, and smiled. “Honestly, Morgan’s kind of a poser Renegade.”

“So there might not be nearly as much going on as you thought.” Clara gave Sofia another squeeze. “There’s only one person who knows the truth here. And I think he’ll be honest with you.”

“How do I talk to him about it?”

“Don’t accuse him of anything. Beyond that, trust your feelings.”

Not two minutes later, Bjorn came home from work. Sofia was looking infinitely happier than she had been an hour ago, but she was still far from her usual self. Her eyes were red and her face was puffy. She had obviously been crying.

Bjorn came over for a hug. “Is everything OK?” he whispered to his daughter.

“Pretty much.” Sofia squeezed him again, managed a smile, and told her parents she’d be in her room.

Bjorn sat down beside Clara and listened to her explain the reasons for Sofia’s sadness. At first, his protective nature took over. Big time.

“If he breaks her heart, I’ll break his…”

“Stop it, Bjorn. Remember what you said about Cameron the first time we talked about him?”

Bjorn nodded. He’d always thought Cameron was a good man. He’d called Cameron “genuine and real,” and sensed that, with Cameron, what you saw was what you got.

“I don’t think he’s the kind of man who would sneak around. I think he’d be really bad at it,” Bjorn reasoned. “And, I hate to say it, but even if it was a date, Cameron can date whom he pleases.”

Clara looked her husband directly in the eye. “Except our daughter.”

Bjorn took a long, deep breath. “Touché. Except our daughter.” He looked at his hands, which were doing nothing interesting enough to hold his attention as long as they did.

“It feels weird using the word ‘man’ to describe someone who could possibly be dating Sofia,” he admitted.

“It feels weird to use the word ‘woman’ to describe Sofia, but that’s pretty much what she’s become.”

Bjorn smiled and nodded. “Another good point.”

“I’m on a roll.” Clara winked playfully.

“You sure are.” Bjorn got up from the couch and stretched. There were a few more things he wanted to know about Cameron, and the events of the past day had made his questions feel more urgent.

“I’m going to talk with Cameron,” he said. Clara opened her mouth as if to protest.

“No, no, not an interrogation. A conversation. I want to know him better, in case…”

“In case.”

Chapter 8

Bjorn wasn’t going to waste any time. Winterfest was tomorrow. However this turned out, he wanted things to be as settled as possible before the holiday, so everyone involved would have a chance to enjoy the day.

If they deserved to enjoy it.

Bjorn texted Cameron and invited him to join him for a cup of java at South Square Coffee. South Square was usually quieter than The Hare and Hedgehog, better suited for real conversation. Cameron was delighted to receive the invitation; he had no idea it was more than a casual meet-up with a friend.

But as soon as he saw Bjorn, Cam could tell something felt different. He might not have been a secret agent like Bjorn, but he read people and their emotions fairly well. And Bjorn, who was used to making himself seem inscrutable, found his emotions shaped by a father’s love for his daughter. No wonder Cam sensed a difference.

Bjorn did smile as he offered Cameron his hand. “It’s good to see you,” Cameron said.

“You, too. Find us a table, and I’ll buy our coffee.”

“Thanks, Bjorn. That’s really nice of you.” Cameron walked to a table in the corner. It had only two chairs, and Bjorn was pleased that it was unlikely for anyone to join their conversation.

The older man came to the table with a cup of coffee in each hand. Cameron took his and motioned for Bjorn to sit. He did so, and looked across the table at Cameron.

Start with something light, Bjorn thought. No need to cut to the chase right now.

“Do you have plans for Winterfest, Cameron? Are you going to spend the day with your family?”

Immediately, Cam looked down at his lap. So much for keeping things light…

Cameron swallowed hard and looked up. “Unfortunately, no. I...don’t have any family.”
https://i.imgur.com/KVcOYJG.png

The silence that followed was only a few seconds long, but it felt endless. Bjorn’s features relaxed completely. Cameron forgot the slightly weird vibe he’d gotten from Bjorn a few moments ago.

“I’m so sorry. Please forgive my question,” Bjorn asked.

Cam shook his head. “Nothing to forgive, Bjorn. You had no idea.” He took a long sip from his cup and continued.

“I grew up in Sunset Valley. When I was about Elsa’s age, my mom and dad were killed in an accident. I went to live with my grandparents then. They couldn’t have been better parents, honestly.”

Another long sip. Bjorn merely listened.

“Grandma passed away a few months ago. I was afraid Grandpa wouldn’t last much longer. It was only a few more weeks before he was gone, too.”

Bjorn watched Cameron struggle to maintain his composure as he told the story. He’s so young, and he’s lost so much, he thought. And two of those losses are still very new.

“Cameron, I am so sorry for your losses,” he said, his voice soft and gentle.

Cam nodded. “Thank you...that’s very kind of you.” He swallowed hard. “I’m the only child of an only child. So, when Grandpa passed away, he left what they’d had to me. I planned to live in the house while I decided what to do next...but it simply got too hard.”

“I can imagine.”

“So, I sold the house in Sunset Valley and moved here, to Newcrest. I think Grandma and Grandpa would be happy about that. Don’t you?”

At that moment, Cameron seemed very young and completely incapable of doing anyone wrong, including Sofia. And, Bjorn thought, now I understand how he got that house in Newcrest. It all checks out.

Bjorn smiled warmly. “Yes, I really do.”

After a moment, Bjorn spoke again. “You mentioned deciding what to do next. Have you had any time to think about that, or is it still too soon?”

Cameron chuckled softly. “I think about it all the time. I really love to write. I always have. Grandma used to tell me I had a writer’s soul. I didn’t know what that meant, but it sounded cool. I’m still not sure exactly what that means, but I think she could be right.

“I’m going to see if I can make it as a writer. I have some Simoleons left from my grandparents’ estate, and as of today, I have royalty payments coming in. So I’m not completely living off them anymore, right?” He chuckled again. Bjorn did, too.

“Grandpa was a very successful businessman,” Cameron explained. “He taught me the basics of investing, and I’m thinking about trying that with some of the money he left me.”

“Be careful, Cameron. Don’t risk more than you can afford to lose.”

Cam laughed. “You sound just like him!”
https://i.imgur.com/McwFaKs.png

Bjorn now had the answer to one of his questions about Cameron, but the other--the one that had pushed the timetable for this conversation so far forward--hadn’t been addressed yet. And Bjorn still had no real idea how he’d steer the conversation that way, short of asking Cameron a question that seemed terribly direct and awkward, especially after the young man had shared so openly with him.

Then Cameron solved the dilemma for him.

“I really appreciate how friendly your whole family is to me, Bjorn,” he said. “Now you know: it’s just me. No parents, no wife, no girlfriend…”

Bjorn saw his opening and took it. “No? You’re telling me a lad like you--a smart, fit, good-looking young dude--is completely single?”

“Completely. I haven’t had a date since I moved to town.”

“No way!”

“Way. I guess I’m too picky, or I’m hoping for lightning to strike or something. Take last night…”

Bjorn held his breath. Here it comes…

“You know the yoga instructor at Perfect Balance, right?”

Bjorn nodded. “Sure. We’ve taken classes with her. Clara says she’s the best instructor she’s ever had.”

“Well, she texted me and invited me to hang out with her at the festival in San Myshuno last night. We drank some tea, we joked around. I had fun, and she seemed like she had fun, too. But...I don’t know; there’s something missing.”

“There’s no spark,” Bjorn said. “You don’t know why there isn’t, but there’s just not.”

“That’s exactly it! You get it.”

Cameron saw Bjorn’s grin widen. To Cam, it was simply a smile, the kind you share with a friend over a cup of coffee. He had no idea how much relief lay behind it.

Nor did he know how delighted Bjorn would be to share what he’d learned with Clara.
https://i.imgur.com/kBakXmG.png

“Yeah, Cam. I do get it. Completely.”

Chapter 9

Bjorn had, honestly, prepared himself to share bad news with his wife and older daughter this afternoon. So you can imagine how light his heart felt when he thought about how different the conversations he was about to have with them would be.

He couldn't find Sofia or Elsa when he arrived home. Elsa had come in from playing outside and had immediately noticed how sad her sister seemed to be. The Bjergsen girls had not always gotten along well--Sofia had always thought Elsa was a pesky little know-it-all--but Elsa couldn't stand to see Sofia looking so blue. She had asked Sofia to take a walk with her, and when Sofia looked over at her mom, Clara had given her an almost imperceptible nod. In mom talk, that meant "Yes, that would be a very good idea. You girls run along."

This gave Bjorn an opportunity to talk to Clara alone, which he decided was a good thing. He shared what Cameron had told him about his family and his life goals.

"I honestly just want to give him a hug," Clara admitted.

"I do, too. I almost did, right there in the cafe."

Clara leaned closer to Bjorn, even though they were alone in the house and couldn't be overheard.

"I'm still curious, though. Did you find out anything about...ummm...the other thing?"

Bjorn pretended to be shocked. "Of course I did! Do you have so little confidence in my...conversational skills?"

Clara rolled her eyes, but she smiled, too. "And....?"

Bjorn proceeded to share what Cameron had told him about the context of the infamous photo Morgan Fyres had sent to Sofia. Immediately, Clara's features relaxed into a warm, knowing smile.
https://i.imgur.com/P7EIngN.jpg
"So Cameron told you all this without you prompting him?" she inquired.

"That's pretty much it."

"I don't think that was an accident, darling."

Bjorn looked a bit puzzled. "What do you mean? I don't think Cameron knows anything about the picture. He has no reason to defend his actions."

"Goodness, Bjorn...for an investigator, you can be a bit slow on the uptake," she teased. "Can you think of a reason why Cameron might want to make it very clear to you why he's not dating anyone?"

Then Bjorn nodded. "Just in case the topic happened to come up in a conversation with Sofia..."

Clara beamed. Then she paused. 'You know you can't just randomly say "Hey, Sofia! Cameron told me he's single!'...right?"

"Aww, Clara...you know that's what I was about to do!" He laughed, and so did she.

A moment later, they heard footsteps on the stairs. Sofia had come back inside, heard her parents talking, and went upstairs to tell them about Elsa's sweet attempts to cheer her up. As she walked into the room, she heard them laughing.

"What are you two so happy about?" she asked, managing a decent attempt at a smile herself.

Clara looked at Bjorn. "Honey, I had a talk with Cameron today..."

Sofia's mood immediately spun 180 degrees. Her pretty face turned blotchy, "Tell me you did NOT do that! Dad....!"

Bjorn quickly put his hands up, palms outward. "No, no. It wasn't bad. Let me explain."

Sofia remained both unconvinced and feisty. "Oh, please do!"

And Bjorn did.

He watched Sofia's face soften as she heard how Cameron lost the people he loved. He is such a sweet guy, Sofia thought, and he deserves to have a girlfriend he can have fun with. That thought made her blush, and she felt a tiny tweak of sadness, too. I hope he and the yoga teacher will be happy together...

Mothers sometimes seem to be blessed with a special intuition, granted to them when they first look into their baby daughters' eyes. From that moment forward, they sense intuitively what their girl children need most from them...a loving touch, a comforting word, a warning, a look that says "Don't you DARE." Clara Bjergsen possessed this intuition. When her husband paused to take a breath, she rather directly stated, "Dad knows the story behind that photo Morgan texted you."

Sofia's mouth formed an O, and Clara quickly continued. "Not bad. Right, Dad?"

He nodded. "Not bad at all." And he told Sofia what Cameron had told him about his evening at the festival with Kathleen.

"Whatever she thought it was, Cameron is one hundred percent sure it wasn't a date."
https://i.imgur.com/kw3M9oc.jpg
Sofia wanted to jump up and down and giggle. Then she remembered she had never actually admitted she liked Cameron "that way," perhaps not even to herself. But one look at her face told Clara and Bjorn anything they needed to know about her feelings.

And one look at theirs gave Sofia a pretty good clue that they were fine with that. Still, a girl couldn't be too sure.

"You...don't mind it when Cameron comes over, do you?" she asked.

Clara looked at Bjorn before she replied. "Not a bit, sweetheart. We like Cameron, and we like seeing how happy you are when you're with him."

Sofia blushed several shades deeper than the pink sweatshirt she was wearing.

"We aren't OK with you spending hours and hours alone with him here, but we're just fine with him coming over," Bjorn added.

Sofia nodded. "I understand. Thank you. Thank you both."

Bjorn stood up and smiled. "I'm going to see what my other daughter is up to," he announced.

Once Sofia was alone with her mom, the urge to giggle and bounce on her toes became irresistible. "Now I don't have to have an awkward conversation with Cameron about last night," she pointed out.

"Nor does he have to know about the picture," Clara added.

"No, he doesn't." That's not to say I won't let Morgan know how I feel about what she did, however...Sofia thought.

"I'm so happy," Sofia declared. Then she wrapped her arms around her mom and hugged her tight.
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