Since this story has grown so much bigger than I ever imagined I feel like its time to borrow a page from some of my favorite SimLit writers and offer you a synopsis of the characters and my thoughts on where to start for first time readers. With that said lets meet the cast shall we...
The Main Cast
Danielle and Londyn Huntley
Danielle(L) is a romance novelist. She was born and raised in Willow Creek with her lifelong friends Summer Holiday and Liberty Lee. She moved to Tartosa searching for her muse. She had seen all the stories about how romantic Tartosa is and she felt there could be no better place to inspire her to write thrilling romances. So she packed up and moved. Tartosa has been all that she had hoped for and so much more. It was where she met Londyn Huntley, at the time an actress from Sulani, and the love of her life. They live on the little island lot at the southern tip of Tartosa. Both are Starlight Accolades winners and their careers are really taking off, even though Danielle is currently searching for a new publisher.
Summer Holiday and Darian LaRue
Summer grew up next door to the Chabert's and Lee's. She has been friends with both as long as they can remember. Summer is a talented chef and with some coaxing from Danielle she joined her friend in Tartosa. Since she's arrived her career has taken off and she met her lover Darian. Darian was a Dotcom wonder boy along with some buddies in college. They decided to sell their lucrative Dotcom business to a larger tech company, pocket the money and take a break for a while. He arrived in Tartosa planning for it to only be stop number one on a globe hopping journey, but after falling in love with Summer he's decided to stay right here with her. They are about to launch their own web based cooking show that they plan to film in their home.
Liberty and Matteo Rossi
The third member of the Willow Creek expats. Her life was turned upside down by Travis Scott. He tried to take advantage of her and then lied to try and focus blame all on her. The fallout from that saw Travis booted out of the house, Summer finally answering Danielle calls to join her in Tartosa and left Liberty by herself in Willow Creek. She realized her dreams of being an astronaut were never going to happen so with a little nudge from Bella Goth she became a secret agent. On a trip to visit her friends in Tartosa she met Matteo and her life really changed. He was a hard partying play boy, or so he pretended. That lifestyle put him on the outs with his family and was threatening to wreck his dreams. He was instantly taken by Liberty and she saved him. They are now engaged and live in a lovely home overlooking the bay in Tartosa. Liberty is a star at S.I.M.S. where she is one of their lead investigators, and Matteo is back on track to realize his dream of owning his own restaurant.
The Supporting Cast
Allegra Rossi
Matteo's younger sister. She is fiery, feisty, sassy, and stylish. She lives in Windenburg and is a singer with the local opera company. She knows how to play Matteo like violin to get him to do things he should do but doesn't always want to. She is ready to slap sense into him if need be. Don't take that the wrong way, she adores her big brother and his fiancé. She has gone out of her way to welcome Liberty into the Rossi family. She currently lives in Windenburg and is a singer with the local opera company there. She dreams of one day coming home to sing with the Tartosa opera.
Izabella Bernard
Izabella is an aspiring businesswoman. She has plans to create her own line of clothing and makeup. She has worked as both a model and an actress to earn some money and make contacts to help her reach her goals. She also has a business degree so she is more than just a pretty face. She used her education to turn the money she made from modeling and acting into the seed money for a good life and to get her business going. She had a brief fling with Leonardo not long ago when she was in Windenburg, and later Tartosa, on business. She was unaware of his dating Summer at the time and she also thought she had seen the last of him when she returned home. Izabella is no fool but she admits she has a habit of making and choices in men, a trait she got from her mother.
Leonardo Ricci
A former friend and roommate of Matteo's who briefly dated Summer until she realized he was more interested in himself than her. He is a first class weasel and a raging misogynist who had his former friends in Tartosa fooled. After Matteo fell in love with Liberty they asked him to move out so that they could be alone together as they started their life together. Liberty had broken Leonardo's spell over Matteo when she rescued him from the party crowd. Quietly seething at Liberty and Matteo for ending his free ride on their dime he sought out an easy mark he could con into supporting him, Izabella. He turned up at her door recently full of charm and lies. He thinks because he got in good with Izabella once before that she will easily fall for his con. She took him in, but he's in for a shock. She's not the dummy he thinks she is. She has every reason to believe he's conned other women and she wants to put an end to it before he does it to her or another unsuspecting woman.
Hannah Taylor
A 5 Star chef who recently beat out Summer for the job of host of a new Foodie Network cooking Show. Hannah is Summer's shero and she works hard to open doors for other women to follow in her footsteps. She is going to mentor Summer and help her reach the same heights.
S.I.M.S. Director Shantel Bridges
Liberty's boss and a tough but fair one. She has a reputation around S.I.M.S. Headquarters as the Dragon Lady. It is a carefully crafted facade that keeps certain troublemakers in line or at a distance. The agents who work under her see a different side, but make no mistake she expects nothing less than their absolute best. If they give her that she will do anything for them.
Venessa Jeong
Londyn's friend and fellow actress. She is quite the comedienne and famously caused merry chaos when she officiated Londyn and Danielle's wedding. She later admitted to Londyn, that she intentionally, and hilariously, flubbed her part.
If you are new to this story after reading the bios above you can jump in anywhere really and not feel too lost. I will offer my list of chapters I think will help get you into the story and I will include the page number where it can be found.
I would suggest starting with Chapter 6 (page 2) where we see Danielle reveal the depth of her love for Londyn. Next I would suggest Chapter Fourteen Parts One and Two (page 6), this explains the rift that used to exist between Londyn and her parents and their reconciliation after learning of her engagement to Danielle. It is a wonderful story of mending relationships and acknowledging wrongs and coming back together in the spirit of love and understanding.
After that if you're interested in Venessa's virtuoso comedy wedding officiating you will need to read Chapter 20 (page 8). It's not something you have to read to get into the story but as time goes by I think her part gets funnier and funnier.
The next chapter you should read is Chapter 22 (page 10), where you get a glimpse into Matteo's wayward period and how Liberty pulls him back from the brink and then I you can carry on with the remaining 9 or 10 chapters that will catch you up to where the story is as we prepare to ring in 2023.
Thank you all so much for reading. I say this a lot, but it's true, I never could have imagined when I sat down back in April to start this that it would grow to become what it is. I owe it all to you the readers. You inspire me, and as you will see as you read through that inspiration has done so much to make me a better writer and storyteller.❤️
@luciusstorm @mightysprite I wouldn't call him a villain just yet, but I take back my slime ball comment. Slime ball would a few rungs higher up the evolutionary ladder. I've reread what I've written up to this point three times now and I hate his guts more with every reread. His relationship with Izabella is going to be really entertaining for us. Right now in my mind the way I have her character fleshed out, he has no idea what he's getting himself into. His extremely dismissive and misogynistic views of women are blinding him.
Edit: I just thought of how to describe him. As women no matter what our sexual orientation, we have all met at least one man who openly suggests that we should be down on our hands and knees groveling at his feet and thanking the Lord God almighty for granting us mere women the gift of his presence in our lives. That's Leonardo.
*Trigger Warning* This episode does include language, thoughts, and ideas of the character Leonardo that are of a sexist nature. They are under the first spoiler tag. I apologize to any who may be offended. Their inclusion is intended to show what he’s like and make his downfall later sweeter. I also apologize that this story has been up for several hours now without this warning. I pulled his dialogue from conversations I have overheard where men have been talking without realizing there were women within earshot.
Chapter Twenty Two
For Liberty and Matteo the last few months have been full of discovery, passion, and the coming together of two hearts. Their meeting at the bay in Tartosa on that beautiful spring day had been an accident. Summer and Danielle had known Matteo for a while but were still a little unsure about what to think of him. His seemingly close friendship with Leonardo wasn't exactly flattering to his image. Summer did feel a small spark of romantic attraction for Leonardo, but she wasn't completely convinced he was someone she could trust with her heart. He had an undeniable sex appeal, but he didn't inspire trust. Summer wasn't sure, but there were one or two times out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw a dismissive and condescending look from Leonardo. Those feelings were carried over to Matteo, a guilt by association thing. To Summer it felt like Matteo was trying really hard to keep up with, and impress, his friend. At the same time Danielle was telling her there was something about Matteo that she couldn't put her finger on. She told Summer that she sensed Matteo was a lost soul. That he was looking for something or someone to give him purpose. She wasn't convinced after talking with him on a few occasions that Matteo was the player he was trying to make himself out to be. Under the shallow bro cover, there was a deep thinker, a compassionate and sensitive soul. https://i.imgur.com/p7e4qKY.png
Danielle invited the guys to join them for a swim in the bay. She never thought that Matteo, or Liberty for that matter, would find such chemistry. It never occurred to her that either one was looking for love right then. Her conversations with Liberty since her arrival in Tartosa had barely touched on the subject of Liberty's love life. But Danielle saw the spark when they met face to face. From there, she knew she had to make sure those two got together again so that they could explore that connection further and see if something might come from it. It did, and soon their relationship became committed. Everything Danielle thought she sensed in Matteo early on was being proven true, and that she hadn't truly comprehended how right she had been. Matteo was showing himself to be someone very special, a unicorn even. Unlike the bro cover, this didn't have even the slightest hint that it was an act. The 'love 'em and leave 'em' Matteo, that was an act. Now the world was seeing the real Matteo Rossi, the one his family knows and loves. Liberty's love was the bump he needed to get his life back on track. She filled that empty space in his soul so perfectly you could imagine it was shaped exactly like her.
Liberty soon moved in and Leonardo was out the door. That was fine by him. He didn't need all this nonsense, and his 'friend' was turning out to be a real flake. He gave them both his best fake smile as he was packing up to leave. " Just like he was back in school. He was soft then and he's as girly as that Liberty chick" Leonardo thought as he was walking away, all the while mocking the lovers talk he'd heard Matteo and Liberty share since they met. He should have known Matteo wasn't man enough to hang in the real world. "Good riddance" he added out loud even though by that time Matteo and Liberty were well out of earshot. "I'm getting tired of her friend too. When is she going to get the hint? If she doesn't break things off, and soon, I'll boot her out myself" Leonardo fumed. "She isn't very bright but I thought she was smarter than this. Dumb women are the best but only if you get the right one Leonardo! Remember that the next time" he added as he drove on towards another friends home where he could crash for a few days. That would work while he found his own place. Even better, someone else he could leach off of. Then it hit him, Izabella. In Leonardo's mind she had everything a woman needed to be perfect. She was rich, like super rich. She was gorgeous, and in his mind dumb as a rock. "Time to start thinking about a move to San Myshuno Leo" his reptilian brain was working overtime. "San My is the perfect place for me, and it'll be even better with Izabella's bank account to play with! Thank you Matteo, loser."
Liberty settled in quickly and got busy renovating. https://i.imgur.com/NqdkOsU.png
Matteo meanwhile had rediscovered his magic. A career that was falling apart has found new life. https://i.imgur.com/tuu1ovn.png https://i.imgur.com/IOIqgnS.png
They both feed off the love they share, and they aren't shy about showing each other just how much they're loved. https://i.imgur.com/tHMnKYN.png https://i.imgur.com/ZvlnLJl.png https://i.imgur.com/oHBgrCL.png
With his life on track, and Liberty to thank for it, Matteo knew in his heart it was time to really and truly show Liberty how much she means to him. Liberty is his muse, his confidante, his rock, his soulmate. It's the perfect time to propose and he wanted to make it as memorable as possible. He needed help though, and he knew exactly who to ask. The romance novelist who was the cupid that brought his angel into his life. Even better she lives next door so they can get together and plan this properly.
"You're not going to believe the phone call I just got", Danielle said to her friends, barely able to contain her happiness. "I'm sure it was something big judging by that squeal I just heard you let out" Summer said as the smile bloomed on her face. "I caught a couple of words too. Is it what I think it is?" "Matteo's on his way over" Danielle deadpanned. Londyn knows her bae well, and she knows when Danielle is setting them up. "That's all?" she asked slyly, playing into Danielle's hands "No. He's coming over to discuss his proposal to Liberty!" https://i.imgur.com/WkmM8Rq.png
"Your kidding? Your not kidding! OMG!!!" Summer screamed, totally unable to stop herself. "I don't know her like you two do", Londyn said, "but she is so sweet, and I'm so happy for her! Matteo is such a wonderful man and they are good for one another."
A few minutes later Matteo arrived and they got down to business. Matteo told them that he wanted to make the night as special as he could. "Who better than you Danielle to help me plan the perfect surprise?" he asked in his charming way. "I watched you with Liberty and you're really good with affairs of the heart yourself. But I would love to help you anyway I can" Danielle added. "Liberty is very dear to us too and we're all very happy for both of you." "I can't believe Liberty is getting engaged! Oh my god, she is such a lucky girl for finding you!" Summer said still feeling as giddy as if she was the one getting engaged. https://i.imgur.com/3UvB87U.png
Matteo mentioned a few ideas and quickly hit one that the ladies really liked. He told them about this wonderful little family owned restaurant right there in Tartosa. His father Davide used to take the family there once a month. His dad often slipped away with his mom Francesca so they could enjoy a romantic dinner without the kids, which did wonders to keep their romance alive.
"What's the name of this restaurant?" Danielle asked. "La Cucina Toscana" he said.
Matteo had barely finished talking when Danielle said it was a lovely idea. She and Londyn had been there once not long ago and thought the atmosphere was prefect for the occasion. Also that ravioli was to die for! Summer added that she and Darian visit often, it's not far from their love nest, to enjoy how the place gets them in the mood. That little tidbit was met with three sets of raised eyebrows and knowing smiles. Summer quickly blushed a shade of red that most doctors would say was impossible.
"I've got their website up" Londyn said. "Do you have a day in mind? I'd be happy to make a reservation for you two if you want?" "Actually I have an idea, if Matteo is willing?" Summer said, excitement all over her face. "I'd love to hear it!" he said "How about we make this a couples night out. It will make it even more of a surprise for her."
Danielle was already getting into this. "We could start the night with drinks and dancing at Celebrazioni, and then head over for a late night dinner." "We were there", she said reaching to touch Londyn's hand, "around 11pm the night we went. It was quiet which would better. I do get a little squeamish when men pop the question in crowds. It can feel very awkward for the woman with all those eyes on her. And feeling pressured to say yes. I feel like having us there, as her lifelong friends wouldn't be awkward for her."
Summer said, "Liberty would love to have us there. I know that for a fact!" "It's settled then. Would you like me to make the reservation Matteo? I see here, we can book the entire main dining area after 11pm! That would make it just the six of us." Londyn asked hopefully. "Yes. If we can get the reservation for Friday... "We can." Londyn beamed. "Perfect" "Alright, it's done." "I don't know how to thank you ladies for all you've done for Liberty and I" "You can thank us by just being you and making Liberty very happy" Danielle said before giving him a friendly kiss on the cheek. https://i.imgur.com/Na0ppYC.png
The rest of the week flew by and before they knew it the day was here. Earlier they got together for a little fun on the beach before they started to get ready for the evening. Danielle even brought along her new guitar to entertain everybody...and serenade Londyn.https://i.imgur.com/jelO12f.png
They met up again later that evening at Celebrazioni. The dancing soon commenced. https://i.imgur.com/vNyZXPU.png
And so did the romance. https://i.imgur.com/jNXT8jX.png
The group gave Liberty and Matteo space to be together. They couldn't resist the temptation to have a couple of slow dances.https://i.imgur.com/L2j3BjW.png
"Dear sweet Liberty, you have no idea what's in store for you. You are going to be so happy." Summer thought while watching her friend dance. https://i.imgur.com/kfDlaSV.png
It's just about time to leave for La Cucina Toscana. A quick moment alone to calm the nerves. Matteo wanted to be sure he didn't mess this up. He had no worries about Liberty's answer, he knew it was going to be yes, but he was still a bundle of nerves. https://i.imgur.com/bL2nac0.png
The couples arrived at La Cucina Toscana and were seated quickly, the moment drawing nearer and nearer. The romantic vibes the restaurant puts out were already working. Danielle and Londyn couldn't help making eyes at each other over their menus. Summer sitting there trying not to laugh at what was going on next to her. https://i.imgur.com/ilUZTM4.png
With their orders placed head chef Caleb Vatore and his staff swung into action. They are a marvelous crew of professionals that make some of the most wonderful meals inspired by the founding owner's home of Tuscany. https://i.imgur.com/MSI58S6.png
https://i.imgur.com/GWyBbmq.png Liberty ordered Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Oil and a glass of Monte Vista Reserve Renoit. Matteo had Ravioli Pomodoro and Old Yorkshire Classic 16 which he didn't touch until after the proposal, he was so nervous. Danielle chose Linguine Al Pesto instead of the ravioli and a Soft Shadow Avornalino. Londyn's choice was Butternut Gnocchi and a glass Soft Shadow Avornalino too. Summer couldn't pass up her regular order, Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe paired Soft Shadow Avornalino, combination guaranteed to please. Last but not least Darian ordered the Volcano Pasta which seemed to hold his attention. So much so he missed Matteo's lovely proposal. Darian chose to pair his pasta with a Ridgeport.
And then it was time. Matteo turned to Liberty and asked her to join him by the fireplace. Meanwhile things were heating up with Londyn. It seems the fireplace wasn't the only thing on fire. Truth be told, things were heating up all around that table. La Cucina Toscana is a powerful love charm. https://i.imgur.com/eT5vCV3.png
"Liberty, when you came into my life I was lost and alone. I had become someone even I didn't recognize. I was living from one party to the next. I had no direction, no purpose, and life had no meaning. Then that day on the beach. I met you, we talked, and I knew I didn't want that moment to end. I wanted to stay right there and keep talking to you. It hurt when you had to leave for home. But I knew when you left that I would see you again." https://i.imgur.com/2uWhDTJ.png
"I knew the miles were not going to keep us apart. And so I came to you, and you welcomed me into your life. Little by little our love grew until you came back to Tartosa, and that night by the sea, we both knew there was no staying apart any longer. I knew I wanted you in my life from that day on. I know you felt the same, you packed up your world and joined me here. And now I want to take the next step, the step that will bind us together forever." https://i.imgur.com/dvN3JMr.png
"Liberty Lee, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" https://i.imgur.com/wDTBVSA.png
"There is nothing in the world that would make me happier!" https://i.imgur.com/BQ2w692.png
"Yes, baby I will marry you!" https://i.imgur.com/rb1xFgO.png https://i.imgur.com/vt4G5ZM.png https://i.imgur.com/J1pNwmg.png https://i.imgur.com/7aE5VWB.png https://i.imgur.com/8nKPsrq.png
Yes!!!! https://i.imgur.com/FIghWoQ.png
Allow me to show you just how happy I am..big boy! https://i.imgur.com/cp2qmJw.png https://i.imgur.com/fJIMWc3.png
Thank you for hanging in there when it takes me forever to do an episode. As always, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading.? I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did creating it.
I really wanted to make Leonardo the bad guy he is in my mind and I wanted readers to really hate him. I just hope I didn’t go too far with his dialogue. I sincerely apologize to anyone is offended by his thoughts of women. He is going to rue the day if he continues on this path, because he’s judging Izabella on her looks. Just because she looks like a certain negative sexist stereotype. She just happens to like those clothes and makeup style. She feels empowered and confident even though others look down on her or make rude comments. She feels pretty and nobody is going wreck her mood with those remarks. As Leonardo will discover eventually, there is a lot of truth to the saying ‘Never judge a book by its cover’.
I think you kept Leonardo within the rated T confines while making him sufficiently sludge-like to be despicable. I'm rather looking forward to seeing him again... ideally crushed under the heel of a fashionable stiletto pump. :)
Great job! @DaniRose2143 What a fun read. Sometimes, it's wise to take time on a chapter. You did yourself proud.
"DaniRose2143;c-18195911" wrote: @luciusstorm Thank you very much. That breakfast break on Saturday cost me time. I was in the flow and afterwards I lost it.
I really wanted to make Leonardo the bad guy he is in my mind and I wanted readers to really hate him. I just hope I didn’t go too far with his dialogue. I sincerely apologize to anyone is offended by his thoughts of women. He is going to rue the day if he continues on this path, because he’s judging Izabella on her looks. Just because she looks like a certain negative sexist stereotype. She just happens to like those clothes and makeup style. She feels empowered and confident even though others look down on her or make rude comments. She feels pretty and nobody is going wreck her mood with those remarks. As Leonardo will discover eventually, there is a lot of truth to the saying ‘Never judge a book by its cover’.
You shouldn't have to apologize for showing how a character is. Yes, there are people who think like him in the real world. You are just depicting things as they are. But, I would suggest you substitute a word such as boofoe (which is the phonetics of what I heard my Sim Teen say several times) or plum. I was distracted trying to figure out what word he used underneath the censoring hearts.
@GalacticGal Thank you very much for the kind words and advice.
It was an abbreviation, one I meant to go back and change once I had that part written. I included it help me get into his mind, what would a guy say. I just forgot to clean it up in the editing stage.☺️ This was a very rare time when I initially wrote it exactly how I think the character would say it in the real world. It was salty in places. That’s a dangerous way to write for just this reason.
I’m so glad you pointed it out.?
My worry, and why I decided to add the warning, was in case the picture I was painting of him, could bring back painful or traumatic memories for someone who has been through an abusive relationship. That’s something I would never want to do.
