Today is my birthday – the day I become an elder, and I’m feeling some kind of way about it. I’m beginning to understand how ma felt on her elder birthday. All I can think about are all the things I’ve never had the opportunity to do, and I feel as if I’m running out of time.
I wake up early to prepare breakfast, and the boys serenade me in a chorus of happy birthdays as soon as they come down to eat. Hearing it so many times creates a lump in my throat that makes it hard to swallow my breakfast. Of course, they mean well, so I try very hard to keep my feelings off my face, but I’m failing.
Upstairs, Me-Me gets a strange call from her brother-in-law, Stef.
Stefan: *on the phone* Melisa! Can you come over? Lia needs you right away.
Melisa: *on the phone* Is she in labor?
Stefan: No, but we have received some news, and I can not get her out of bed.
Melisa: *worried* Is the baby okay?
Stefan: Perfectly healthy, but – I would rather tell you in person.
Melisa: Okay, I’ll be over as soon as I can.
The boys finish, and I gather the dirty breakfast dishes. Dray is straggling behind, giving me time to pass on some news.
Kai: Guess what? Your mother and I decided to sign you up for scouts. You can start earning badges and –
Drake: *fills in with excitement* – wear a cool uniform!
Kai: Yes, that too.
Drake: My friend at school is a scout. I’m going to have way more badges than he does!
Uh oh. I hope signing Dray up for scouts doesn’t create a new problem. We’ll have to talk to him about keeping his competitive nature at bay.
Me-Me comes down after Dray leaves. She wants to invite a few people over for a party tonight, but we don’t get much chance to discuss it. Instead, she grabs breakfast and tells me she has to hurry to check on her sister.
Me-Me rushes off to Tartosa as soon as she finishes her meal. This is her first time coming to Stef and Lia’s home because Lia has banned the family from visiting until they’ve completed some renovations. Me-Me isn’t sure if everything is finished, but the house is beautiful.
She spots Stef sitting out front.
Stefan: Ah, you are here! Thank you for coming.
Melisa: I’m here, but please tell me what’s happening. Your call has me worried.
Stefan: Sorry for that. I did not want to scare you.
Melisa: What’s going on with Lia?
Stefan: *takes a deep breath* We received the news that Lia is having triplets, and she has now fallen into a deep – how do you say, uh, sadness.
Melisa: Wait, I’m sorry – did you say triplets?
Me-Me knows she should not be surprised because she and her siblings are a set of triplets. These things can run in the family.
Stefan: Yes, tre bambini. Lia has been in bed since we found out. She will not talk to me or even look at the nursery designed to make her feel better. I think she hates me now.
Melisa: I’m sorry. Stef. I’ll see what I can do to help.
Me-Me gets up and enters the house. She goes straight to the nursery to see Stef’s work. It’s beautiful. Seeing the three cribs solidifies the idea that her sister is expecting not one but three babies. Me-Me wants to be happy about it, but she can only imagine what Lia – who never even wanted children, is going through. She has to be extremely overwhelmed by the news.
As Me-Me walks through the rest of the house, she’s made aware of a huge issue. The place is tiny. There’s space for one, maybe two sims – not a family of five. There’s no way Lia and Stef can raise their family here. She sees the gorgeous backyard and immediately empathizes with her sister. Lia will not want to move out of her house, but there’s no way they can stay here with three babies on the way.
Me-Me climbs the stairs and enters her sister’s bedroom. Lia is crumbled on the bed, seemingly asleep. But, as soon as Me-Me sits down, she discovers that’s not the case.
Jamelia: *barely audible* I told him not to tell anyone.
Melisa: He’s worried about you, and I am too.
Lia sits up on the bed.
Jamelia: *deep sigh* Why is this happening to me? I’m not cut out for even one baby. What will I do with three?
Me-Me offers the obvious suggestion.
Melisa: Love them?
Jamelia: Of course, I’ll love them, Me. Do you think I’m a monster? But I also have a right to be very pissed off about it. Don’t I?
Me-Me moves over to sit closer to her sister.
Me-Me tries a different approach.
Melisa: Did I ever tell you that I never wanted a third child? Two was more than enough for me.
Jamelia: No. But at least you’re cut out for motherhood.
Melisa: Am I, though?
Jamelia: Yeah, I’m sure you adjusted with no issues.
Melisa: Honestly, Lia, I don’t think anyone is cut out to be a mother. Nothing prepares you for everything you give up to take care of one little sim. Adjusting isn’t easy for anyone – not even me.
Jamelia: *bitter* But I’m not having one sim. I’m having three. How the f^%k does this little speech help me?
Lia gets up from the bed in the most unbalanced, comical way ever, which takes away some of the stings from her words. Me-Me has to resist the urge to giggle despite the seriousness of their conversation.
Me-Me doesn’t address Lia’s little outburst but continues on a new subject.
Melisa: I saw the nursery. It’s beautiful. Stef did an amazing job with it; you’re lucky to have him.
Jamelia: You think I don’t know that? He’s my everything.
Melisa: Really? I can’t tell because you’re up here and not downstairs letting him know. He thinks you hate him.
Jamelia: *heavy silence*
Melisa: *gets up from the bed* I’m sorry, Lia. If I could do this for you, I would.
Jamelia: I know.
Melisa: Do you want to know what I know?
Jamelia: *nods*
Melisa: I know that you have always risen to any challenge thrown at you. Nothing is more demanding than being a mother, but you’ve never shied away from the tough things before. You can do this, just like how you taught yourself to cook and opened your restaurant. Raising triplets will be the biggest challenge of your life, but when you’ve hit a wall and you’re ready to throw in the towel, I’ll be here for you, and Stef will too. I promise you’re not in this alone.
Me-Me isn’t sure if her words have hit home until Lia suddenly steps over and pulls her into a big hug.
Jamelia: Thank you, Me! I’m not convinced, but I love you for trying.
Melisa: I love you, too!
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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