"The Secret Life of Erik Cantrell, A Rock Star, in Memorandum" Complete

September 18, 2014


Chapter One-a: Fool Me Once …

Erik worked like a fiend, especially when he enjoyed what he was doing. He was back in the Entertainment track, unable to keep away from the drug called Fame. He needed to be noticed, to be something. Somebody. He wanted to share his music most of all. He found himself in a state of inspiration when working. The daily tasks were fun for him. He grew more confident in his guitar skills, made friends and, in general, found himself on the receiving end of a couple of promotions. But still no ideal mate in sight.

Sawyer was fun and they quickly became good friends. She also possessed some good traits that nestled nicely with his. She was self-assured, and like him, family-oriented and a music lover. Seemed like a match made in heaven. Ratna was a lover of art, childish (like his younger brother Joe, Jr.) And romantic. There were also possibilities here. Then he met Micha Arnada and Karen Norton. Karen was too gloomy in nature and Erik didn’t want someone who was that high maintenance. He also met Adalynn Davies, but she turned out to be evil. Erik shuddered. Not exactly the type of person he wanted to mother his children. Amira Cannon was also a possibility. They talked often, but he learned very quickly that she wasn’t looking for a life-partner. In fact, she was non-committal, hot-headed and lazy.

He practiced his guitar every day, and made it a point to go the park, rather than the bar to try to meet his mate. He was getting rather chummy with Sawyer when one day, out of the blue, there She was, The One, sitting at a chess table. Erik was instantly smitten. Her name was Madalyn Haley. She was clearly of Asian decent. Beautiful even without makeup and very, very open and charming. Her medium length dark hair flowed over her shoulders like so much silk. Unlike the other women, there were no awkward conversations between them. Erik quickly asked her out on a date. They went to the museum and spent most of the time talking away. Erik kissed her hands and she smiled at him, inviting him to continue his advances. Pretty soon they were both feeling rather flirty. There was something just so different, so mature about her, that soon had Erik on a hook. Before the end of the date, he professed his undying love for her and they shared their first kiss.

Perhaps, it was because he was tired of being alone, living in pretty much an open field with one room and a few walls, or that he had just turned thirty, Erik wasn’t entirely sure, but he found himself offering her a rose, which she readily accepted. Before he knew it, he was down on one knee and popping the all-important question. To his surprise and delight, she accepted and leaped into his arms! Erik sat down at the piano and practiced so that the next promotion might be quick in coming. He now had something more than merely his ego to spur him on. He had a wedding to pay for.

Like all things in life, just when he had close to the money he needed to make it a nice event, the bills came in taking slightly more than half of what he’d earned. Erik began to harvest the fruit from the apple tree nearby and the strawberry bushes, as well. He’d accidentally started a trash fruit bush, too, which he also harvested to sell. The very next day he had off of work, so he took the time to go to the park to play his guitar for tips. Years ago he would sing for such tips. Getting better at playing all of the time, suddenly the gratuities increased. He then worked on writing his own song, so that he might get it licenced and be able to sell that. He went to work, and was promoted and earned a bonus. With plenty of Simoleons set aside, he decided his next day off of work, was the time to make Maddie his wife. He couldn’t wait, in fact. He bought the perfect wedding arch, bought a bar, hired a mixologist and a caterer and then baked the white cake himself.

All that was left was inviting the guests. Madalyn showed up dressed in a gorgeous red formal gown. The red surprised him momentarily, but it confirmed her ethnicity. Red is the color brides wear in her culture. The caterer went right to work in the small, still, under-construction area designated as the kitchen. Erik tuned the stereo to classical music, topped the cake with a wedding topper and then thanking the guests for coming, made his way across the green grass to the wedding arch. Madalyn was soon right there by his side. As the multiple guests gathered around, the two exchanged their vows. At last, Erik thought! He was very ready to get his family started with the woman whom he thought was the ideal mate. The late afternoon sun gave way to a fully moonlit evening, the party by now in full swing. Erik danced with his bride and thought that her sudden gray hair was merely a trick of lighting, an ethereal effect, caused by the eerie gloaming of shadows and the field itself. He thanked the guests for coming, again, as they slowly trickled off the property to return to their homes.

All-in-all, it was a wondrous day.

Soon as they were alone, Erik gathered up his bride and they jumped into their brand new double bed together. He was hoping beyond hope to get started on his family right away. While woohoo was fun, something was terribly wrong. Remarkably fit, her muscles rather tone, Erik couldn’t quite figure it out. Nor could he shake the discomfiture he’d felt since they’d filled out their marriage licence a few days prior. He tried to tell himself it was merely the same cold feet he’d experienced in the past, and just continued forward with their plans. Afraid his problem was a commitment issue. Yet, in light of things now, a chill overtook him. In looking over their application, he noted the day of her birth. “Maddie, you transposed the numbers,” he’d said. “You’re not 82, you’re 28, if you’re a day,” he stated, pointing out the error on their paperwork. Madalyn just smiled that smile of hers. Was she blushing at his compliment? She also hadn’t bothered to change it, nor ask for a new application at the clerk’s window.

Now, he realized he should have listened to that little voice in the back of his head, suffering another chill. While she wasn’t 82 exactly, certainly, she was a Sim of experience. “Maddie,” he said, his head still nestled into the pillow. “Just how old are you? And don’t try to tell me you’re 82. You lied on the marriage application. Why did you do that?”

“You’re right, I’m not 82. I lied because I knew that if you knew the truth you wouldn’t marry me. I love you so much, Erik,” Madalyn draped her arm across him and laid her head against his shoulder. “We’re great together, and I’m so tired of being all alone.”

“How old,” he pressed. Silence filled the darkened room. Erik had the distinct sense Madalyn was beyond her child-bearing years. “Let me put it this way,” he said at long last. “Can we still have children?”

“No,” came her slow response. “Not in the natural sense, not in the way you mean. I haven’t had that ability in over fifty days. I’m 101 days old, Erik. But, surely we can adopt …”

“What Agency worth it’s salt would allow a mis-matched couple such as us adopt a child? Are you crazy? One hundred and one,” he muttered, stumbling to get out of the bed. Sickened that he’s just had woohoo with a shriveled ancient Sim. His foot got caught in the sheets, slowing him down. He was stuck in a nightmare, that’s what it was. “Adoption can take years. Just how long do you think you’ll be around? What about my legacy? I want my own kids and you knew that, too. Why did you lie? And just how is it you look like you’re only 28 days old!”

“It’s a little thing called ‘lifestyle lift’. Surely, you’ve seen the ads for it on television. It takes years off your face. That and hair dye to cover the gray. It’s simple, really, and it worked. I also workout daily. Couple that with a fast metabolism and there you have it. I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, grabbing at his hand as he all but fell backward out of the bed. “I should have told you when we met. But you were so handsome, so sexy, so interested. You looked at me like no Sim has in days and days. You swept me off my feet! Erik, please, don’t go. Don’t leave me. I don’t wish to spend my remaining days alone.”

Erik felt sick. Studying her in the dimness, the moonlight streaking across the roofless room, he couldn’t help but feel repulsed. While her face was quite young, nary a wrinkle to be seen, her once dark hair was now lifeless and gray. Tousled. How could she change so rapidly? The moment they were married, in fact. He’d married a Cougar! Erik was her boy-toy. Ashamed and feeling so foolish, he raced from the their bedroom and took refuge in the bathroom, on the other side of the wood-be kitchen. There in the privacy and sanctity of the only four-sided room in his almost house, he took an overly long shower and wept. How could he carry on the family name, when his bride was too old to bear a child? How could she do this to him? Why? His Legacy was over before it really began, relying on genetics as it was. His tears spent, he finally emerged from the shower. The moonlight was gone as the night wore on. Darkening, to a pitch black sky, it must be near dawn, he realized.

In a panic, Erik knew he had to do something, but what? Divorce? Or should he merely wait it out until Madalyn passed away? She married him because she didn’t wish to be alone, he reminded himself. When she told him she had no one, that her parents were both long deceased, Erik just didn’t realize it was because she, herself, was near the end of her days. Why would she lie? What Madalyn had done was unconscionable. She had tricked him and now he was stuck. It just didn’t seem right to divorce her.

Another glaring moral issue stared at him. What about all those gorgeous Simoleons she brought with her? 20,000 of them, to be exact. Maddie had prattled on and on about using them to help him finish some of the construction. She was materialistic in nature. Was it right or even fair of him to consider using the funds? His hands shook. Grabbing a small flashlight from a kitchen drawer, he fished for the blueprints of his dream house, carefully rolled up and secured beside the refrigerator. In looking them over, it occurred to him there was enough money to at least wall in the entire bottom floor. Perhaps, even some, if not all, of the inside walls. The house was only barely started. A fully enclosed bathroom, a designated kitchen area and the one ground floor bedroom, that needed a roof. So much construction lay ahead. Just what was he to do?

Erik put the plans back. He ran a hand over his face, stretched and realized how fatigued he was. He needed sleep. Wishing he had at least afforded a bathtub. Everything, he hoped, would look better in the morning. There was some reason for all of this, something he needed to learn, but what? He gave up a lucrative, thriving career for this? If he wanted to live with an old woman, he could have invited his grandmother to live with him. In some ways, he had. Erik sat in the cheap folding chair and rested his head against his folded arms on the tiny round table, that sufficed for a kitchen table. Before long, he was fast asleep.

Long streaks of daylight filled the kitchen area, splashing across the open field just beyond. Erik startled awake at Madalyn’s touch. She withdrew her hand from his shoulder after placing the steaming cup of coffee before him. “I’ve never been a wife before, but I imagine this is what one would do for her new husband. You never came back to bed. You poor, poor dear. Did you sleep here all night?”

“Where else was I to sleep?” Erik said, taking a sip of the coffee. At least she knew how to brew a decent cup. “Look around. There’s no furniture to speak of. I’m tapped out, Maddie. Broke. Everything I had, everything I’ve earned to date has gone into these few walls. This is it. This is all I have to offer.”

“Not all. It was a beautiful wedding. Such a wonderful wedding gift. I couldn’t have asked for more. I know you spent a fair amount of Simoleons on it. It was very generous of you and I wanted to thank you for that. I know I don’t deserve it after deceiving you like I did. I just hope one day when you look back on this, you’ll remember me kindly. And that you’ll let me stay here, with you. I hope in time you’ll come to understand why I did what I did. I really don’t have much time left and I didn’t want to die all alone. I just wish for a little companionship,” she said, when Erik didn’t answer. She placed her hand on his shoulder again. Erik reached up and patted it, gently. Maddie smiled.

“How are you at Canasta?” he said, with a small grin.

“Very good, as a matter of fact. It’s one of my favorite card games.”

“It is? Well, we’ll just see who’s the champ, now won’t we. I will remind you I have three brothers and a sister who more than provided the impetus for me to excel at all games— and not merely cards.”

September 18, 2014


Chapter One-b: Three’s Company …

Several days later Erik was still pondering the morality of using the Simoleons from Maddie’s account. Although he’d pretty much made up his mind, he kept putting off calling the contractors to get things started full scale. Especially since he’d made some pretty foolish decisions, of late. At last, he decided to seek a second opinion in the matter. He checked in on Maddie. Hearing her soft breathing and realizing she was only asleep, he quietly closed the bedroom door. They’d had a rather late evening of it. She beat him at so many rounds of Canasta, his pride was hurt.

The sun was up, and bright. Erik squinted as he took his cell phone from his pocket and called his friend, Sawyer. He stretched trying to get the kinks out of his back. He really needed to buy another bed, he just couldn’t fathom sleeping at this little bistro table too much longer. It was taking a hefty toll on him. Finally, Sawyer answered and Erik gave her a thorough accounting of his misery. He vented pretty good, leaving nothing out, not a single detail and then waited for her response. As usual, she had some good advice for him. “It’s okay, Erik, stop beating yourself up,” came her words over the phone. “Just calm down. She’s the one who took advantage of you, after all. Here’s what you should do. Use the money to build up the house so that the two of you have some privacy. Besides, as old as she is, you’ll be making her final days happy ones. And, if you get a little lonely …” Sawyer hesitated.

“If I get lonely, what?” Erik prompted. He already knew he couldn’t make woohoo with Maddie ever again. The thought alone sickened him. He’d come to view her more as a grandmotherly figure, now and no longer a wife. Whatever love he once felt for her had transmuted into a sense of compassion. He knew he wouldn’t leave her. So much for the children he had so wanted.

“Huh? Oh, I was just going to say, you can always count on me. I’m here for you, whatever you need.”

“Meet me at the park in half an hour?” Erik said, shoving the cell phone back into his pocket. He grabbed up his trusty guitar and he headed out. By now, he could hear Madalyn stirring about in the bedroom. “Be back later, Maddie. I have to work on that piece and I need some inspiration. I’ll be at the park. Love you, see you later.” He hollered. Erik’s heart was all a-flutter with a renewed sense of hope, by the time he reached the park. Shortly after he arrived, Sawyer walked up to him. She smiled, warmly. How lovely she looked. Erik smiled back at her. Then something overtook him and his own actions surprised him. Rather unabashedly, he flirted with her. She flirted back and things only escalated from there. It was as if nothing had changed between them, as if his wedding had never taken place. Or, maybe Sawyer was just into married Sims?

Kissing her passionately, Erik found himself whispering seductively into her ear. “Move in with me?” he said. “I want you.”

“Okay, are you sure? What about your wife?”

“She snores. We’ve talked about getting separate beds. It’ll work out, I promise.”

“What will we tell her?” Sawyer wanted to know. “I mean, what reason can we give for my moving in? You just got married.”

“How about if we simply tell her your boyfriend threw you out and you have nowhere else to go?”

“O …kay. A mostly open field is somewhere, I suppose. If you think you can pull that off. Maybe we should wait until the contractor finishes the framing and such.”

They both knew this was a reach, but by this time they were both feeling very flirty.

“Once again, Sawyer, you’re the only one making any sense.” Erik took a deep breath, trying to cool off, wishing there was a shower nearby and called the contractor. After a short conversation, he clicked off his phone and slid it back into his pocket.

“Well, what did he say?” Sawyer asked.

“His crew will be there first thing in the morning.” Sawyer giggled and flung her arms around Erik’s neck, hugging him tightly.

Two full months went by before the house was ready enough. Erik had no idea what to expect or what he was in for. Permits, inspections, delays. Erik and Sawyer spent as much of that time together as they could, meeting at the park. Sometimes, it was in the evening after Erik got off work. They talked, they kissed, they shared secrets and generally fell in love with each other. When they weren’t together, Erik made sure to spend time with Maddie, playing cards. One such evening, Maddie surprised him. A neighbor she met while jogging had felt compelled to tell her what he’d witnessed at said park. This made Maddie very angry and she raised her voice at the neighbor. “Don’t you dare say such rude things about my young husband. What he does is none of your business. I’m not a fool. I know what he’s been about. Look at me, I’m a very old Sim. Why wouldn’t he want someone else? Erik and I have an … an arrangement. And that’s all you need to know. I’ll thank you to keep out of it and get off of my property!”

When Erik got home from work, he marveled at how much progress the construction crew had made that day. Guess it was the inspection that had held things up. What had been a fully framed house in the morning, was now enclosed with plasterboard, the exterior lapboard and brick siding. Most of the interior walls were in place. The wallboard was still naked, for the most part. Paint and the electrical were still needed. The interior mostly hung in darkness. But, the study was fully enclosed and so was the one bedroom across the entire width of the large dwelling. Maddie, being on the athletic side, had made sure both the bathroom and the kitchen, which could finally be called a kitchen had been wallpapered. It was looking more and more like a home. Erik smiled as he turned the knob on his very own front door and went inside.

Maddie was waiting just in the foyer. “Erik, do you believe how much they’ve gotten done, just since you went to work? It’s truly amazing. Wait until you see the kitchen and bath,” she said, tugging on his hand. She watched him as he took a good look around. “Do you like it?”

“Maddie, as usual, you’ve done an outstanding job of overseeing the work. And, you have impeccable taste. These rooms are very beautiful.”

“You seem very pleased.”

“I am.”

“Good. Then I have another surprise for you,” she said, taking his hand again and pulling him across the long dining room to the now enclosed study. “I’ve made a decision. I bought a single bed for myself and had the delivery guys set it up in here.” Maddie, opened the door to the study. “If you don’t mind, I’ll sleep here from now on, on the far side of the house. You can keep the front bedroom. That way what you do is your business. I won’t be getting in your way. Just remember I do so love to play cards from time to time.”

“Why, Maddie, I don’t know what you mean.” Erik said.

“Well, it’s a certainty, you can’t keep sleeping at the kitchen table.”

“No, on that you’re quite right.”

The very next day Erik met Sawyer again at her house, this time. He gathered up her luggage and they went to his nearly finished house. To his surprise, Maddie met them in the foyer. She seemed to be sizing the two of them up, with a keen eye. “Hm, brought home a friend, I see,” she grunted, with a sharp nod of her gray head. “I suppose you do need the company of someone more your own age.”

“Maddie, you remember Sawyer. She was a guest at our wedding. She needs a place to stay, I hope you don’t mind.”

“I see,” Maddie said, coolly. “Well, come inside, come inside. No use allowing the flies in. Now, that we don’t live in an open field.” Again, she ended her sentence with a harumph. Then she slowly made her way down the foyer through the archway into the dining room and across it to all the way to the other end where the study was. She made a point of slamming the door. Sawyer startled at the echo.

“Wow,” Sawyer whispered, “you didn’t tell me it was this bad.”

“She’s a bit hot-headed.”

Erik smuggled Sawyer into his bedroom, just off of the front door, and with a little more flirting, kissing and hugging, he asked, “Be my girlfriend?” After she said yes, they jumped into the bed and had their very first, long-overdue woohoo.

Erik lay on his back staring at the ceiling.

“Everything all right?” Sawyer asked, sweeping her dark short hair out of her full face.

“Yeah, everything is great. You’re great,” he said and leaned in to kiss her again.

“You’re feeling guilty, aren’t you.”

“Yeah, I suppose I am.” Erik fell silent. “I didn’t think I’d be one to step out like this. But when you said you’d be willing to have my baby … Doesn’t justify it, doesn’t make it right. But when Maddie passes away, I promise I’ll marry you. If you’ll have me.”

“You know, for a time there, when we were sort of dating, back before you met her, I got the definite impression you were going to ask me. Then when you didn’t … I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. Let’s just say you lost your head for a bit, but you’re back now. That’s what matters.”

“I should have asked you. You should be my bride. Not that old … I feel like a sailor caught in the spell of a Siren. Why am I so stupid when it comes to romance? And how could a Sim as old as her hide her age so well?”

Sawyer sat up on her elbows. “So, just how old is she? You never said.”

“101, if you can believe it.”

“No, way! Is this another one of your preposterous stories? Stop it, Erik. Just stop it,” she laughed, trying her best not to be too loud.

“No, I swear it. She wrote 82 down on our marriage licence application and when I called her on it, she didn’t fix it. When I asked her about it after the fact, she confessed to her real age.”

“But, how …”

“Something called ‘lifestyle lift’, or so she claims. Oh, and she’s a fitness freak. You should see the woman do push-ups. And she jogs. Every single stupid day.”

‘Really? Well, you probably won’t catch me doing that,” she said, dragging her hand down her round belly. “I’m quite fit and comfortable with how I look.”

“Yeah,” Erik smiled broadly. “I think you’re beautiful just the way you are, too. But, please don’t go gray on me too fast.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of time to give you a baby or two. Now, get up and get going, you have work.” Sawyer playfully swatted at him, pushing him out of the bed.

September 20, 2014


Chapter One-c: Crowded Dwelling


Sawyer jumped out of bed and quickly made her way to the bathroom. Maddie was in there, taking her old sweet time about it, too. By the time Sawyer could get in she’d nearly soiled herself. Carefully, she undid the package on the pregnancy test. Reading over the instructions, she couldn’t wait to see the results. Yes! Yes! Yes! She squealed quietly to herself. She was eating for two. She couldn’t wait until Erik was home from work. She knew he would be ecstatic. The moment he walked in through the front door, Sawyer flagged him into the bedroom. Madalyn pretty much kept to herself these days. If she was aware of what was going on between her very young husband and their new roommate, she never let on. Never gave them any grief about it.

Sawyer embraced Erik and kissed him passionately. “I have Big News,” she said. “I’m pregnant!”

Erik smiled and held her tight. “Thank you, Sawyer, I’ll never forget this. You’re giving me such a gift. You have no idea.”

“It’s a good thing I’m chubby. She may never catch on.”

“Well, she may be old, but she isn’t blind. I think this is where the ‘boyfriend kicking you out’ story might well suit our situation.”

“Well, I’m not too keen on that story. You’re my boyfriend, after all, and well, unless you sent me a text I never received, I haven’t exactly been kicked out, either.” Erik hugged her tightly.

“I love you,” he said. “I have never been so happy as when you moved in. I was a drowning Sim, and you saved me.”

“Oh, Erik, you make me feel so flirty,” she sighed.

Despite her figure, Sawyer did show. Toward the end of her pregnancy, she waddled so badly, a Sim would have to be totally blind not to guess the reason behind her weight gain. Still, Maddie didn’t meddle. Oh, she was quick to inspect the bassinet when they set it up in the corner of the master bedroom. But, she said nothing about it. Just patted the side of it and walked off. Erik figured it was due to her profound sense of guilt for having tricked him into marrying her. Nor did Erik provoke Maddie in any way. Instead, he worked extra hard at balancing his attention between the two women in his life. Aware that Sawyer, in her ‘delicate’ state needed attention, to know that he still desired and loved her and Maddie, who was starting to slow down and was noticeably prone to aches and pains. She was also very tired, bordering on exhaustion, these days. She hardly ever jogged anymore. Erik feared the end was near and kept a strict eye on her. He catered to her so much, in fact, that it drew out a side of Sawyer he’d never even knew existed.

After spending the entire evening losing to Maddie at cards, he crept into the master bedroom, so as not to awaken Sawyer. “Oh, so you’ve finally had your fill of playing the dutiful husband and now you think you can just slip between the sheets next to me? Did you really have to give her the entire evening, Erik? The whole, plum evening!” She was red-cheeked with rage.

“Sawyer, sweetness, you know my situation. Maddie’s given us a lot of latitude here. She’s been very generous where most women wouldn’t. This isn’t like you to be so selfish.” Suddenly Sawyer was in tears. Erik felt like a monster. He wrapped his arms around her.

“We were supposed to pick out names,” she sobbed. “You never even checked in with me. I’ve been having pains. I think I may be in labor. Oh, ow …” Sawyer grabbed at her swollen belly and groaned loudly.

Erik jumped out of the bed. “What should I do, what should I do?” he panicked. “Hospital. Let’s get to the hospital.”

“Oh, it’s too late …” The healthy squalls of a new born filled the air. Sawyer held the wiggly newborn tightly in her arms. She gently kissed his little cheek and smiled, making cooing sounds at him. “It’s a boy,” she proudly declared and settled him into the bassinet.”What should we name him?” Sawyer said.

“Braylon. His name is Braylon,” Erik affirmed. “Look at him, he’s so perfect.”

September 23, 2014


Chapter One-d: Erik’s Folly


Tristan was born at the hospital this time. Mother and child both were fine. Maddie was in a mood. Braylon was busy playing with his laboratory table and Erik prayed the child wouldn’t start a fire, or worse, blow something up, himself included. But, Erik didn’t hover. He checked in on him from time to time. Braylon seemed to have it under control. He was a bit of a Whiz Kid, Erik decided. His uncle Joe was a genius. Maybe Braylon was gifted, too.

Waiting for Sawyer was difficult. Erik tried to talk to Maddie, but she was really annoyed. He wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong. He kept losing, dutifully, at cards. Kept trying to balance his time between Maddie, his children and Sawyer (not necessarily in that order). He really was trying to be a good husband. Happily, Sawyer and little Tristan made it home and gave Erik an excuse to leave the dining room, where he and Maddie sat playing endless games of Canasta at the picnic table.

After a time, they all went to bed. Maddie to the study, Braylon to what was supposed to be a sun room, and Sawyer, Tristan and Erik to the master bedroom. Erik was having trouble sleeping. Work had become strenuous, he was having a tough time keeping up. He’d also forgotten how much a new baby disrupted a night’s sleep. Several times that first night Erik was just drifting off to sleep only to be startled awake with the elongated sounds of a cat being stepped on!

The next morning, Erik stumbled out of bed, dragged himself to the kitchen for something to eat. He never did get his daily task done. Maddie complained all morning long. Nothing was right. She seemed intent on picking a fight.

“Maddie, Maddie, Maddie,” he pleaded, trying to calm her down. “I have an idea. Why don’t you go for a jog. You used to love that. When was the last time you stepped outdoors? Come on, it will do you good,” he urged.

“Shut-up! Did I ask for your advice?” she barked. Erik leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek, nonetheless.

“I have to go to work, I’ll see all of you when I get home. Maddie, try to have a nice day.

The day was long. Erik was perpetually hungry, weary, tired and sleep-deprived. Grueling, he thought the clock was stuck and would never reach the five o’clock mark. When it did, he got held over for a bit of a chat with his boss. Erik confessed that he was having ‘problems at home’ which satisfied his boss. “Next time, Erik, please just come to me. We can be very understanding here at Sims Music, Inc. Just don’t get lost. You have real talent and are quite the asset. But don’t get lazy on us. We still view you as a Serious Musician, so don’t blow it.”

“No, sir and thank you, sir.” Erik said. He grabbed his briefcase and headed for the door.

Crossing the lawn, he made it up the few steps to his front door. He came in quietly, so as not to disturb little Tristan. The kid could really wail, when he wanted to. He found Sawyer, Braylon and Maddie in the large dining room, seated at the picnic table that sufficed for a dining table, for now. Maddie was still antsy. Without thinking, Erik leaned over to peck Sawyer on the cheek. He whispered into her ear, “She been this way all day?”

Sawyer nodded. “Uh-huh. Braylon, finish your dinner and get your bath. You have your first day of school tomorrow. Hurry up, please don’t dawdle.”

Braylon took his plate to the kitchen and went to wash up. Tristan let it be known he was hungry, too. Sawyer and Erik both got up to tend to their newborn. Maddie followed closely on Erik’s heels. “So, I see how it is, mister!” Maddie began her tirade, pointing her skinny old finger at his face. “I give you everything you want, I even look away when you bring your little tart into my home. And this is what I get as a thank you?”

“Your home? It’s our home, Maddie. I am your husband.”

“You treat me more like a worn out slipper! Kissing her on the cheek when you first get home, as if she were your wife. I’m your wife! Your kisses belong to me. How dare you. How dare you flaunt it in my face. As if I don’t exist. As if I don’t have feelings. I loved you, Erik. Why or how I just don’t know anymore. I just know I’m sick to death of you and your…your… fat hussy!” Maddie, still pretty quick, grabbed up a cup and threw the contents in Erik’s face, drenching him. “This is what I think of you, mister so-called, Husband. Cheater, liar, deadbeat. Two children and another one on the way when you can’t even take care of the first one! Get out,” she seethed. “I want you out.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Maddie. I know you don’t mean what you’re saying. You are understandably upset. I’m sorry. I never meant to make you feel this way. Forgive me. This isn’t what I wanted, either. I wanted to do things the right way. Believe me.”

“Believe you? Never!” Maddie stormed off and slammed the bathroom door behind her. Erik startled. He was at a loss. Of course Maddie was correct, he should have refrained from kissing Sawyer right in her presence. It was a stupid error. One he regretted instantly, even before Maddie went off on him. He deserved the chewing out he got, the entire rant. He felt like dirt. Erik waited until he heard the water flowing into the bathtub. He was genuinely worried for Maddie. She was really old, and much slower these days than she had been. He wondered if she’d gone jogging at all after he left for work. She had always been active. Always jogged in the early mornings. Always. Lately, not so much and she complained at how she ached. A twinge here a twinge there. She was looking old, frail and tired. He wanted to make her last days happy ones. But tonight, he’d royally screwed that up. She was angrier than he’d ever seen her. Hot-headed, she’d get in a snit from time to time, but never like tonight. There was no soothing her, no calming her down. She was red-in-the-face angry.

He went and checked on Braylon. The boy was busy at his lab table again. Erik shook his head, smiling. He was a lot like his uncle Joe. A bit later on, Erik decided to crawl into bed. Sawyer tended to the baby and joined Erik, shortly thereafter. As exhausted as he was, however, Erik just couldn’t sleep. He got up and headed for the bathroom. He found Braylon, whom he thought he’d put to bed, dancing in front of the bathroom door. “Braylon? Why aren’t you in bed? You have school tomorrow.”

“I gotta go pee! Aunt Maddie’s in there. She’s sure taking a long time. Oh, oh, oh, I gotta go!”

Erik, gently moved the boy aside and opened the door. “Maddie, it’s Erik, I’m coming in,” he warned. “Maddie? Oh, my God, Maddie! Maddie, oh no, Maddie. Oh, no, Maddie,” he wept. Maddie was splayed out on the cold cement floor of the bathroom.

“Mommie, Mommie, Mommie!” Braylon’s cries filled the entire house. Being so barren of furniture, his plaintive calls echoed throughout the dwelling. Sawyer jumped out of bed and followed her son. “Something’s wrong with Aunt Maddie. I think she must have slipped and broke her neck or something!”

“Wait, what?”

“Daddy found her on the bathroom floor!”

By the time Sawyer reached him, Erik was kneeling on the floor, gently rocking Madalyn. Tears streaked down his handsome face. Sawyer gulped back her own tears. She knelt down beside him, and putting her hands on his broad shoulders, she rested her head against his back. “Erik, sweetheart, I’m so sorry. Is she … gone?”

“I think so.”

“Did she fall?”

“There’s no blood, I don’t see any bruising. I think she just … left.”

Sawyer got to her feet. “We should call someone,” she said, taking out her cell phone. Several minutes later the ambulance arrived, along with the police. A few minutes after that the coroner arrived to take Maddie’s body to the mortuary. Sawyer put Braylon back to bed, tucking him in nice and tight and kissing his forehead.

“Will Aunt Maddie be okay in the morning?” he asked.

Sawyer sat on the edge of his bed. “No, Sweetheart, not this time. Maddie was very, very old and it was her time to go,” she said, grasping for words. How do you make a child so young as him understand about life and death?

“Go? Go where? You mean she’s moving out? I’m going to miss her. Even if she was mean sometimes. I don’t think she liked me much.”

“She liked you fine,” Sawyer corrected. “She just had a hot temper, is all.”

“So, if she liked us so much, why did she go?” Braylon sobbed. “She made Daddy sad. That wasn’t nice of her.”

“Braylon, that isn’t nice of you to say. Yes, Daddy is sad at her passing. We’re all sad and we will miss her, too. But she’s gone now, and we’re not going to say anything mean about her, all right? Do you understand me? It’s not nice to say bad things when a Sim … goes away.”

“But where’d she go?” Braylon insisted. Erik entered the room. He gazed at his little son, far too young to understand what his mother was trying to tell him.

“Bray-bray, you know how a flower gets all limp after you pick it?” he said.

“Yeah, Aunt Maddie said it died.”

“Yes, Maddie was correct. All things die after a time. Even Sims. Maddie is like that flower that wilted and died.”

Braylon’s big blue eyes filled with tears again. “And no amount of water will make it live again,” he said, resolutely. “Maddie’s gone?”

“Yes, son, she’s gone.” With that Erik walked out of the room. Sawyer got up, re-tucked the bed and kissed her son again.

“You get some sleep, you have school in the morning.”

Sawyer worried for Erik. He was so sad, he seemed so lost. She wished there was something she could do for him, realizing that all of this time, he did still feel something for Madalyn.

September 25, 2014


Chapter One-e: Emptiness

Erik sighed, heavily. The sun shone brightly outside, but yet, he felt as if a cloud hovered over his head. He hadn’t realize just how much Maddie meant to him. Couldn’t get over how he’d made her so angry right before she passed. Stupid. Stupid and selfish of him. The best thing he could do for her, now, he decided was to write that song he promised her. Erik got out his guitar and began to write a Lament: Ode to Maddie.

What was more disturbing, in fact, was how her death hung over the entire family. Both Braylon and Tristan dragged their feet when doing their homework, cried a lot, and in general misbehaved. How could his whole family be falling apart like this? Maddie was still a part of their lives. She may as well have been a ghost pestering them as they went about, or tried to, their daily lives.

The only really bright spot was the birth of their third child. Another son, Stuart, who arrived again so quickly, Sawyer didn’t have time for the hospital. Everything was fine, however. Mother and baby were both doing well. Erik just wished he could say the same for the rest of them. Money was tight. Sawyer made a point of running around their large property, and areas nearby, harvesting fruit and flowers to sell.

Erik knew they should plan the wedding she so richly deserved. Sawyer had put up with quite a bit these past several days. Quiet, uncomplaining, patient. He was waiting until he could afford it. Just when he had enough Simoleons set aside, just as before, the bills came in, double what he had set aside. With nary a complaint, Sawyer went out again and did some harvesting. She even tried her hand at fishing.

Then one evening, she kissed him and getting down on her knee asked him the question, he should have already asked her. Of course, he said yes. Erik pondered if they should just elope and be done with it. The boys needed a stable home, with married parents. But, again, he had already short-changed Sawyer. She deserved a wedding with all of the trimmings. In so many ways, Maddie had robbed it from her, too. Had he not allowed his eye to stray, Maddie would never have been in this picture. Erik carried a great deal of guilt. Constantly denied that impending promotion, he was beside himself. He had to try to make this right.

“I’ve taken a job,” Sawyer announced one day, out of the blue. “Don’t try to talk me out of it. This place needs some furniture. And I don’t mean those sticks in the livingroom, pretending to be a couch and a coffee table passing itself off as a TV stand, either. And a second floor would be nice. The boys are in the sun room.”

“You found my plans?” Erik said, dumbfounded.

“I was cleaning and found something stuffed between the wall and the refrigerator. So, I had a look, yes. Oh, Erik, this house will be magnificent, once it’s done. I want to help. Maddie got to be part of it. I want to contribute, too.”

“Maddie put her life’s saving into the main floor,” Erik said, quietly. “I’ve always been grateful.”

“Maddie put her indelible stamp on this house. As a second wife, I wish to leave my mark, too. I have to own some of this. It’s like she’s still here. Looking over my shoulder. Watching us. Not as an actual ghost, mind you, but … you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I do. But what about Stu? He’s just a baby.”

“There’s always daycare. He’ll be fine. I promise. This will be good for us. For all of us, you’ll see. Once we have more income, the pressure will be off. You’ll be better able to concentrate on your music.” Her gaze was earnest as she patted his chest. “You really do have such talent, Erik. You shouldn’t have to worry over things so much.”

Erik quietly acquiesced. There was no doubt about it, things were very expensive these days. He barely brought enough home to feed his family. He felt like a failure in so many ways. It had been some time since his last promotion, too. He worried about that. Sawyer, as usual, was correct. This could be a more positive change in the family. No doubt about it, he needed the help.

Fixing up the house and being able to add on would give them all a lift. And, then there was that wedding he really needed to prepare for … He owed her that. Sadly, the way things kept going wrong, no matter how hard they tried, Erik wasn’t able to give Sawyer that wedding, after all. Again, another piece of baggage was added to his load. He was growing older, too. Slowing down. One day, out of sheer desperation, he just grabbed Sawyer and off they went to elope. Short, sweet and quite permanent. Not the way he wanted to do it, but at last they were ‘legal’.

Finally, there was a slight break in all of this seemingly bad run of luck. He got that long sought after, over due promotion! He got a cash bonus and a beautiful antique piano, besides. Erik felt energized once again. Ready to roll up his sleeves and get his daily tasks done and on time, too. There was always that next promotion to attain. Eagerly, he set the contractors to work again. The early stages of framework went up for the second floor, complete with a barren staircase, that for now, went nowhere. It did make for quite the conversation piece.

The boys kept growing. Eventually, everyone seemed to get over their grieving, too, and once in a better mood, the boys began to do better in school. Braylon was the first one of the three to bring home a good report card. He’d worked extra hard, doing his daily homework and some extra credit on the side to raise his grade to a solid B. Tristan was doing his best just to keep up. And finally, little Stuart was ready to begin school.

Erik marveled at how quickly time was passing before his eyes. Pretty soon all three boys would be grown. Too soon, he sighed.

Sawyer plugged away at her job as a writer’s assistant. Working so hard, giving it her usual push, she got promoted to blogger. This brought a bit of tension with it, but she was happy. While she had given Erik something Maddie never could, now she was truly his helpmate. One day as she meandered about their sizable property, stopping to harvest some wild fruit and a few flowers, she was greeted by a couple of neighbors out for a jog. “Hey, Sawyer, I was hoping we’d run into you,” Dayna Galloway said, stopping on the path.

“Hi, Dayna, London,” Sawyer smiled. “What’s up?”

“That’s what we wanted to ask you,” Dayna said.

“Noth…ing. I’m working as a blogger these days. Just trying to help my family out a little bit We do have three very active, growing boys, you know.”

“No, I meant why have you been keeping such a secret?” London Sumner chimed in.

“Secret?” Sawyer grew slightly uneasy. She hadn’t a clue what these two were going on about. She needed to finish up her harvesting so she could freshen up and get to the office. She gave them both a furtive glance and headed back down the path toward her back door.

“Yes, about your husband.” Dayna called out. Sawyer stopped in her tracks and slowly turned to face them. The two were both oozing with some juicy gossip they obviously couldn’t wait to share.

“What about Erik?” She said. “Out with it, I’ve got to get to work.”

“I was doing a routine internet search and I came across some compelling photos of one Erik Cantrell.”

“What kind of photos?” Sawyer was growing weary of their little game of cat and mouse. “If you have something to say, I wish you would just say it. And, please, tell me this has nothing to do with sexting …”

“Sexting?” Clearly this intrigued London. Sawyer was immediately sorry she’d brought it up. Not that Erik had done any such thing. She knew she really had nothing to worry about. He’d more than proved he was in this relationship for the long-haul.

“Not at all,” Dayna said, filling in the silence. “At least, none that we stumbled across.” She reached into her pocket and retrieved her cell phone. A few clicks and she handed it to Sawyer. “No, he used to be the Erik Cantrell back in Sunset Valley.”

Sawyer advanced through the photos. Yes, that was Erik, all right. The color left her face. Of all the secrets he’d shared, this wasn’t one of them. She just wasn’t sure how to take this bit of news. Why was he so secretive about his past? She thought they had shared everything. Hadn’t he told her when they exchanged vows that she was his Soulmate? That she had ‘completed him’. This was unsettling. She just wasn’t sure what to think.

“You didn’t know?” London’s eyes grew wide.

Sawyer put on her brave face. “Don’t be silly, of course I knew. Erik has his reasons for keeping that part of his life separate from the life he’s leading now. I’m sure this won’t set well with him, either, now that this has leaked out. Please, ladies, for the sake of our children, keep this under your hats, would you?”

With that, Sawyer marched to her back door, waved at her neighbors from the porch and went inside. She barely had time to wash the dust from her hands before she had to scurry off to work. Sitting at her desk later, still bothered by it, Sawyer ran an internet search of her own. There were far more photos and stories about his climb to fame. How beloved he was, how talented and just how large a following his talent had brought him. In looking over things, it occurred to Sawyer, that perhaps, just perhaps, he wanted to raise his children away from the trappings of fame. He really was so modest. So very sweet. She’d heard him sing in the shower from time to time, wondering why he didn’t make use of those terrific pipes of his more often. Now she understood.

When she got back from work, she got busy making dinner for her family. Each of their sons showed some sign of musical talent, certainly they were each creative in their own ways. Later, when she watched Erik with the boys as he chatted with them, giving each of them their own moment with him, helping with homework, she knew he did what he did so that they would get the best of what he had to offer them. Not a Rock Star constantly on the road, but a father there to help them grow up.

Sawyer smiled to herself from the hallway, just off of the large dining room. “Don’t worry, Erik, your secret is safe with me.”

October 1, 2014

Chapter One-f: Darker Days …

Everyone was up early that morning. Erik was busy playing his guitar, trying to finish writing that song he’d started. The contractors worked late into the day, yesterday, and the walls for the second floor had gone up. Sawyer seemed pleased. Until the lights went off. Erik was at a loss. Hadn’t he paid the utility bill? He knew it was on his agenda just a few days ago. Then was suddenly very pleased to see the amount in the bank account, so he called the contractors to get just a little further into the build. It didn’t occur to him until after the construction was completed, what he had forgotten to do. Now, he just felt stupid. But, if he could finish writing this song, he had a gut feeling it was going to be a hit. They could sure use the royalties.

Braylon, Tristan and little Stuart got themselves ready for school. Braylon missed the day before, but Sawyer thought he seemed much better rested today. Certainly, she knew his homework was finished. She secretly wondered if that was what was behind his grueling fatigue. It was a good thing he wouldn’t be needing another note to excuse his absence. Power was out, computer no workie. She was pretty steamed at Erik at first, but like in all things, she could never stay mad at him. No Sim was exempt from mistakes.

Before she knew it, she had to take off for work. She left out the front door to the strains of Erik’s guitar. “Boys,” she hollered as she left, “Don’t be late for school!”

Braylon knew she meant him, too, but for some odd reason, he tarried. Something was troubling him. He stood before his father, as Erik mentored Tristan on the guitar. Erik seemed fine, for a moment, and then he was slowly sidling to the wood floor.

“Dad!” Braylon ran over and cradled his father. He wept. A few moments later his mother suddenly arrived back from work.

“Bray —” Braylon looked from his father to see his mother collapse as well. This couldn’t be happening, he thought. For a long moment he was filled with panic. Alone. With two younger brothers. Stu was still a kid. Tristan not a teen for very long. What was Braylon to do? He still had days until he graduated. He felt so sad. Slowly, he got up and pulled the cell phone from his pocket. He remembered how quick his mother had been to call someone when Aunt Maddie … left. In what seemed to take forever, the proper authorities arrived, pronounced both of his parents dead of ‘natural causes’, which translated to old age.

Tristan and Stuart walked back through the front door. Was it that time already? Braylon realized it was up to him to keep the family together. He was the Head of the Household, now, by default. He followed Stuart into his bedroom. Neither boy seemed to realize something was very wrong. It was normal for them to get home before their parents returned from work. Braylon leaned down and took Stuart by the shoulders.
“I have some bad news,” he said, hoping he sounded calmer than he felt. “Dad’s gone. And Mom, too.”

“Gone? I hate to break it to you, Bray, they’re at work.” Stuart was quite the jokester.

“Stu, that’s not what I mean. Stop making this harder than it already is. The fact is, they were old. They didn’t have us until they were almost middle aged. They were both 110 days. That’s pretty old for a Sim, you know? They both went quietly. Dad just sorta slipped away right after you left for school. Mom came home from work early. Very early, in fact. I think she either knew something was wrong, or wasn’t feeling at all herself. She crumpled just outside in the drive.”

“Wait, what are you saying?”

“Dirt nap.”

Tristan slammed the front door as he arrived. Coming through the kitchen he stood in the hallway just outside of the room he shared with his baby brother. “What’s all this talk about a dirt nap?” he said.

“Braylon’s telling some pretty outrageous stories, just like Dad.” Stuart started to sob.

“Hey,” Tristan said, flicking his older brother on the arm. “Stop messing with the kid, can’t you see he’s upset?”

Braylon pushed Tristan’s hand away. “I’m not messing with him. Tristan, we’re alone. All three of us. Dad and Mom … left today.”

“Left? Did they finally take that honeymoon they used to dream about? I thought Dad screwed up on the bills, which is why the lights are still off. How could they go anywhere?”

Braylon pulled his cell phone out and dialed the sadness hotline. After a short chat, he hung up and searched the web for a job. Luckily, his parents had given him access to their bank account very recently. He took a look at the pittance left. He found the over due bill in a stack on his mother’s desk. §2,158 Simoleons were due if they were to get the power back on. This was a problem. But, since he was the eldest, that automatically put him in charge. They had no one else.

He got a part-time job, although not the one that would net the most, since that one would cut into his school hours. 40 Simoleons an hour would have to do. Then he took a look at their scant possessions to see what he could pawn. He was determined to get the lights back on and keep them moving forward. He had to take care of his younger brothers. He knew Erik and Sawyer would expect him to take the reigns. He knew they were trying to prepare him for this day, when they gave him their banking information and indeed, put him on the account, so he wouldn’t have any trouble later. It was eerie. Did they know just how little time they both had left? Did they expect to go on the same day? Braylon tried to see through the sudden blur. Guess Mom couldn’t live without Dad, he thought. Or, maybe the shock of losing him …

One day, Braylon thought as he gazed about in the darkening room. Sunset had come, the light from outside waning. One day this will be the mansion Dad had designed. And I will be its Baron. We’ll have Simoleons galore, Simoleons to spare, in fact. Bills won’t be a problem. They won’t have to run around like maniacs filching the wild fruit and flowers to sell, or go through their few paltry possessions to make a buck. One day, he was determined, the Cantrell’s would rise again.

Before he settled down to yet another really dark night, Braylon sat in front of his mother’s computer. He hated to have to sacrifice it, but he had no choice. He just wanted to pull anything of importance off of it, save it to a flash drive, before he cashed it in. Turning on the battery back-up, he found a few items of interest. The latest book his mother was working on entitled, “The Secret Life of Erik Cantrell, a former Rock Star, in memorandum.” Braylon sat back in the chair, dumbfounded. Was Mother writing his father’s story, even before he passed? Braylon got caught up in the well-crafted words his mother had written. Before he knew it, it was passed midnight. The battery lights began to flash, warning of their depletion.

Tearing himself away, he saved the files to a flash drive, with the hope that one day in the future he’d be able to purchase another computer. If he could, he’d even see if the book was finished enough to publish. It was a thought.
Braylon tossed and turned that entire night.

Dragging himself out of his parents’ bed, Braylon shook Tristan, who was beside him, awake. Then he padded to the kitchen to fix a meager breakfast for the three of them. Mom had been adamant about their eating a good meal before school. She always said the mind needed fuel before it could take in lessons. After ushering the younger two out of the door, he carefully gathered up the computer intending to sell it on his way home again.

The Pawn Broker gave Braylon a pretty good deal on his mother’s computer. Carefully banking the money, Braylon went about gathering the ‘harvest’. He was able to cash in the apples, pears, basil, strawberries and several wild flowers as well. He went to work for the very first time early that same evening. Tristan was put in charge. Braylon sounded like their father when he told them to get their homework done before any dessert was had. Not that there was much in the way of dessert, just some stale birthday cake in the less than cold fridge.

With what Braylon made at work, and all that he’d sold, he was ecstatic to realize he had enough to pay that over due power bill. He paid it over his phone, the way his parents had showed him. Within minutes, the lights came back on. This made the younger two quite happy. They snapped on both the stereo and the TV in celebration. Braylon just shook his head. After checking over their homework, like their father used to do, he sat down and got his own homework done. By then he was dog-tired. At ten o’clock, he called lights out.

Something crept into his thoughts. Braylon stirred in his sleep and came awake. He sat up on an elbow and listened. Was someone in the house? Had he locked both the front and back doors before retiring? He got up and quietly crept around to see what was going on. There in the hallway just outside of the kitchen he saw a figure. It was mostly shadowy, and although he thought he recognized it, he was also seeing right through it at the same time!

“Dad! Dad, it’s you,” he said, falling into the apparition’s arms. It felt solid, whole and the ghost gave him a hearty hug right back.

“Braylon,” came what sounded like his father, though all echo-like at the same time, as if his father were speaking through a tunnel or a barrel, or something. “I just wanted to check on you boys. I’m sorry I left so abruptly.”

“We got the lights back on,” Stuart said, coming through the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his tired eyes.

“Who are you talking to —” Tristan began, as he came around the bend in the hall from the master bedroom. “Dad? Is that you?” Tears streaked down his face.

“What’s it like being dead?” Braylon wanted to know. He just blurted it out. “How could you just leave us like that? Don’t you know how hard it’s been for us? No lights, mostly spoiled food in the fridge. I have to work AND go to school. This is too much. What were you and Mom thinking? It was a good day to … to die? You left us on the same day!”

“Bray,” Tristan tried to cut in. He shortly realized his older brother hadn’t gone nuts, but in fact, there was some sort of entity in the hall. It looked like their Dad, anyway. Especially when it when up in a colorful swirl and seemed to disappear. Moments later it reappeared and playfully rushed the three boys, as if to scare them. That was Dad, all right.

With this sudden appearance, ghostly or not, of their father, Braylon’s tension eased and he knew things were going to be okay.

Here ends the ill-fated Legacy Challenge. About a year later, I restarted. I edited starting just where the backstory left off. Things took a far different bend and it wasn't nearly as exciting as this started out to be. But, at least, now it's been shared.

Thanks for reading!