Roman walks away. Q stands there and chuckles to himself before re-entering the house.
Quincy: Sorry about that, ma. I had no idea. You really kicked his ass?
Alida: Right on his front porch!
Quincy: Damn…see I knew you were tough! I’m kinda proud.
Michelle comes over a bit later. After we hug…
Michelle: Mama Nadine is finally retiring! The twins are back with their dad. Claudia wanted us all to get together tonight before you leave for Sulani and treat her to dinner in San Myshuno. Do you think you can make it?
Alida: Yeah…I’d never miss anything like that.
Michelle: It’ll be at the Old Salt House in the Spice District…it’s a bit fancy.
Q assures us that he can handle watching Peri alone tonight. He checks his work email as I lead Michelle down to the bottom floor to help her get started on Peri’s room. After uploading his latest pictures to Simstagram, Q checks to make sure Peri is well occupied before he finally heads into the bathroom for a shower.
Peri is overdue for a nap…luckily Michelle finishes her bedroom right on time. I get my first glimpse of it as I carry Peri in. It’s perfect for her!
I read Peri a sleepy time story, while Michelle steps in to admire her work.
After working on Peri’s bedroom for half the day…it’s finally time for Michelle to leave.
Michelle: See you in a few hours…there’s something that I need to do for Mama Nadine. We’ll meet you in San Myshuno.
I go into the bedroom to change. A few hours later, I find myself in San Myshuno for the first time ever.
My S-Uber drops me off at the Old Salt House where Michelle, Raul, Claudia and Mama Nadine are waiting. Mama Nadine is all made up and looking glamorous.
Alida: You look absolutely gorgeous!
Mama Nadine: Michelle gave me a makeover as my retirement gift.
Now I see why Michelle was in a hurry to leave. I also notice that Mama Nadine has on two watches. She notices me looking at them…
Mama Nadine: These are my other gifts. One from Raul and Claudia and the other from Darwin. I couldn’t decide which to wear tonight, so I chose both of them.
Since everyone else has given Mama Nadine gifts…I decide that this dinner will be my treat. I approach the host to request a table.
As we are led to our table…we see that Darwin and his wife, Evie, are already there – seated at their own table. Mama Nadine is happy that we were all able to make it.
Claudia: So how are you enjoying motherhood so far?
Alida: It’s amazing…I just wish babies slept more.
Claudia: Tell me about it…my baby Maria is two now. She’s up every morning at 6 as if she has a job.
Alida: Peri did that today. Mama Nadine…what was your secret to keeping us in bed?
Mama Nadine: There’s no secret. I just got lucky with you all.
Raul chimes in…
Raul: Actually, it’s not true that we all stayed in bed. Michael was always up in the middle of the night whining about being scared.
Michelle: *resentful* My name is Michelle…and at least I didn’t pee in the bed like you did!
Raul: I –
Mama Nadine interrupts before the conversation gets out of hand…
Mama Nadine: *clears her throat* I have some news!
We all stop to listen…
Mama Nadine: I decided that I’m going to sell my house in Mirage Park and retire to Sulani. They have an amazing retirement community there and I feel like it’s a great way to live out the rest of my life.
Alida: That’s amazing news. Q, Peri and I will be there all summer.
Mama Nadine: I know…Michelle told me. I hope you’ll all come visit me while you’re there.
Alida: Of course we will! You can meet Peri.
Mama Nadine: That would mean the world to me!
The waitress comes and since Mama Nadine was always the last to eat while we were growing up…we insist that she place her order first. She orders one of their more experimental dishes and a glass of wine. The rest of us take turns ordering afterward.
Raul sees an opportunity to confront Michelle about what she said earlier.
Raul: *hisses* You know I never peed in the bed! Why would you lie like that?
Michelle: It’s true and you know it.
I don’t get the chance to intervene like I used to when we were children, but Mama Nadine handles it expertly.
Mama Nadine: *picks up her wine glass and takes a sip* I see that the years have done nothing to placate the storm that exists between you two.
Raul: What do you mean?
Mama Nadine: You have both been at each other’s throats all of your lives. My hope is that before I leave the sim world that you two work out whatever it is that makes you loathe each other so much.
Michelle smiles and grabs her glass as if Mama Nadine is joking.
Michelle: I wouldn’t say that we loathe each other.
Mama Nadine’s soft expression immediately turns hard and grim.
Mama Nadine: Call it what you want to…but it’s ugly, unproductive and it hurts me down to my soul.
Mama Nadine’s words effectively leave Michelle and Raul in quiet, pensive moods.
After Michelle and Raul have been reprimanded…we all find our way back to our previous talkative jovial conversations. Time passes and it’s eventually time for me to go. I say my goodbyes and give Mama Nadine a big hug…reflecting on a time when I was terrified of showing her any affection. I pay the bill, leave a tip and head home.
I find Q in Peri’s room when I get home. He looks incredibly frustrated…
Alida: How’d it go?
It sounds like a dumb question when I see his expression.
Quincy: I’m not good at being a dad yet. She ran all over me!
Alida: Aww…sorry babe.
I reach down and clean out the poop in Peri’s potty, feeling like it’s the least I can do.
Alida: Let me help you!
(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)
