Hi everyone. š This is the continuation of a story I started back in March on the old Vanilla forum. If you were a regular follower of the 'What Happened In You Game Today' thread, you already know Aurora and her little family. Her save started out as just for fun. To explore things within the game that I never had before. I was just going to share a few screenshots with captions. The original idea for this save was to only be about Aurora and her sidekick, her Bernese, Piccolo.
But I realized a couple of weeks ago that, yeah, it had become a story. And it deserved its own space here on the new forum. This post and the next couple will help those of you who aren't familiar, become familiar. And since the previous updates were scattered over like 75-100 pages of the old WHIYGT thread it's a nice reminder for everyone that had been following along.
The title is also a hint at another change. I'm going to start writing each update like it was an entry in Aurora's diary. I may still write something here and there in a more traditional style with dialogue though. I'm also getting ready to start the reboot of my other story and by writing this one like a diary it's a lot easier to do both and still keep this interesting. So let me introduce you to everyone.
Aurora Westbrook-Carter
Aurora came back to her country roots. Her parents left Chestnut Ridge just as she entered her teens. She still came back to see her grandparents during the summers. She loved those visits and getting away from the city. After graduating high school she went to art school where she honed her painting and photography skills. But she never lost her love for the quiet country life in Chestnut Ridge. Now she's back where she feels most at home.
Tre Carter
Aurora's husband Tre came from an entirely different background. He grew up on the streets of Del Sol Valley just like his father. His mother came from Ciudad Enamorada. Yet Tre has always fascinated by the country life. He has an abiding love for horses too. Even if his first real life encounters weren't exactly smooth.
Piccolo
Aurora's loyal sidekick.
Peanut (l), Nashville(back), and Spirit
Peanut is Aurora's champion American Saddlebred. Nashville is Tre's horse and Spirit is the newest addition to the family.
DaniRose2143 So Glad that I found your story from the old forums again Do you have a link to your others stories here yet if you do mind dropping me a message in my mailbox for them or you still reworking on them
I'm happy you found this story and that you're enjoying it.
About the other stories, it's good news/bad news. The bad news, Schemes and Dreams is done. I had to choose between that and Under The Tartosan Sun. But there is lots of good news. Mimi is coming to the new story, 'Tartosan Sun: Journeys'. I think Mimi will be a great fit there. The diva with a heart of gold version of Judith Ward is joining her too.
For now Rayvn and Anna are on hold. Don't worry though, I have ideas for them later on.š All I can say is it will be focused on vampires and the occult.
The new Tartosan Sun will be coming in the next few days. I wanted to start it with Danielle, Summer, and Liberty but I hit a bit of writers block with their first chapter. I'm really close to finishing London's first chapter so she may have the honor of being the first. Whether it's Danielle or Londyn the first chapter will be up by Friday.š
It feels like just yesterday that Tre and I got home from Tartosa. The memory of the tornado still feels so vivid. To think both events happened two months ago is so surreal. The first chill of winter arrived this morning and it feels like the perfect backdrop for revealing the surprise trip that Consuela and I have planned for Tre. I couldnāt wait to see the look on his face when he saw the tickets. He still has no clue what his mother and I have been talking about. He thinks it was our usual ladies chat.
The reveal was better than I could have imagined. The happiness in Treās eyes made me want to melt. He was so excited when he saw where the tickets were for.
Weāll be leaving for Cuidad Enamorada on Thursday. In the meantime I need to fill Onyx in on the rest of the details for the storm cleanup and the to-do list before winter arrives. With him, and his contacts, I can rest easy and enjoy the trip knowing the ranch and my little ones will be well cared for.
Dear diary,
The plane landed this afternoon right on schedule. I canāt believe how gorgeous this city is. Itās every bit as breathtaking as Tartosa. I booked us into a lovely villa across from the Plaza Mariposa, Butterfly Square in English. The name alone sounds romantic and the pictures I found online were gorgeous.
Consuela gave me a list of places we should see during our trip and Butterfly Square was on it. Tre and I didnāt waste any time after arriving to go check out the plaza. It was simply stunning. The pictures did not do it justice. And seeing it all with Tre made it even more special.
There is a part of me that feels so connected to this place. Itās probably just my romantic nature, but, there is a lot about our familyās history we know nothing about. Could it be that we have our own familial connection to Cuidad Enamorada? Those are thoughts for another time. For the next few days I only want to be in love, and be with the man I love, in this beautiful place.
Our trip has only just begun, but it was time to reveal the real surprise. It was the surprise Consuela and I couldn't wait to spring on Tre.
āMama! Oh my God you're here.!ā
āWhat does a mama have to do to get a kiss from her hijo*?ā
I was so happy when Consuela popped in and surprised Tre. I had been so worried that he had figured out our plans. It's been over a year since he had seen his parents and I know how much he loves them both. I love his smile so much and I just knew seeing them would put the biggest one on his face. He's my big sexy teddy bear.
And if I'm honest I had been dying to meet Consuela in person. We have so much in common and we had a lot to talk about. She's been helping me bone up on my Spanish. I took classes in high school but never really got to use it. As I become more fluent we tell each other funny stories about Delmond and Tre and it gets to be our little secret. Not that we would ever say anything mean about them. It's a wonderful way to bond with my mother-in-law and feel like a part of the family.
I felt really awkward about Tre and I's marriage and the way it happened without meeting his parents first. Consuela and Delmond have been very forgiving and gracious about it. Reading between the lines, I suspect their marriage had begun under equally unorthodox circumstances. I'm trying very hard to gloss over the fact that my parents still haven't met Tre either. Not yet anyway.
Del Sol Valley and Cuidad Enamorada are just a short distance apart. Getting through Customs at the border takes longer than the trip itself. Tre's parents made the drive down to meet us, spend the night, and then show us around the following day before heading home. It's obvious where Tre gets his charm from. Tre and Delmond are so much alike. Both of them are warm, charming, and funny. Watching his parents it's easy to see where he learned to be such a wonderfully supportive partner and lover. He had a great example to follow.
There are mercados every other block it seems. And street vendors on every corner with the most delicious food you can imagine. I just needed to walk past one and I could feel myself gaining another five pounds. The ranch chores will melt those pounds off in no time. It was worth every calorie.
Before Tre's parents left to go home we stopped to see where Consuela grew up. It was very touching to see her face light up to see it all again.
Even the little taco stand that occupied the corner of their home and where her family made their living was still there. There was a new family living there now. Her family had moved on and are living in a rural village many miles away now.
We found a seat nearby and listened to her share stories of growing up here. It reminded me so much of growing up in Chestnut Ridge. It wasn't about the locations. It was the little things that formed such lasting memories that took me back.
For the second time in as many months I find myself with alone Tre in a very romantic city. First Tartosa and now Cuidad Enamorada.
The vibes are the same and yet they're different. Romance is everywhere in both cities. It's what they're famous for. Tartosa is fairytale romance and dreams of true and abiding love. It's finding your soulmate and building a life together in the most beautiful place you can imagine. Cuidad Enamorada is a steamy bodice-ripper romance novel come to life. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
With two days left before we caught our flight back home Tre and I lost ourselves in this fantastic city. Consuela had pointed out a spot just down the street from her childhood home called "The Wall of Love." She said before we left Tre and I had to come here by ourselves and leave our declarations of love on the wall. She said she would be very sad if we didn't send her a picture of us in front of the wall.
Tre and I explored a cute little Spanish mission not far from our rental. It was beautifully decorated for some lucky couple's wedding and I really wanted to renew my vows right then with Tre. We will someday, but I want our parents to be there when we do. We still went through the motions though, even if it was only make believe.
We'll be on our way back to the ranch soon. Both trips have been a wonderful distraction when they were needed most, but we have a ranch business to run. I've thoroughly enjoyed Tartosa and Cuidad Enamorada. I will always cherish the time Tre and I have spent together on these romantic getaways and the memories we made. I miss my quiet life in Chestnut Ridge though. I miss my girl Piccolo. I miss Peanut, Nashville, and Spirit. We have so much work ahead of us when springtime comes again but I can't wait to get down to it. Tre and I made one vow that was real. Someday when we're too old to run the ranch and we hand it off to our kids, the kids we hope to have, we're going to come back to Cuidad Enamorada. We're going to share a kiss at the fountain in the Plaza Mariposa just like we did to end our trip. Who knows, may be when that day finally comes we may just decide to stay forever. The only thing I know for sure is I'm the luckiest woman in the world.
Enjoyed this update, Treās parents are so sweet and seeing where he gets it from āŗļø now in the future hope weāll get to see her family tooš maybe with a surprise from Treš¤Ŗ
