Now that we’ve talked to my parents, it’s time to move on to Maia’s dad, and I’m not looking forward to it at all. We have to call him on the phone because Maia says he won’t know how to use video chat. I’m not too keen on seeing his face anyway. Maia dials his number, and he answers it on the third ring.
Maia: Father! How are you?
I stand up to release some of my nervous energy, although I’d prefer to sit next to Maia. But Luna is there, and it doesn’t look like she’s about to move anytime soon.
Clyde: *on the phone* Old, but alive. What’s up, Maia girl?
Maia: I have something that I need to tell you.
I’m glad she said “I” and not “we”. Maybe Clyde will take it better coming from her.
Clyde: What is it?
Maia gets straight to the point, just like she did with my parents. But this time, my stomach sinks straight to the floor.
Maia: Dub and I are having a baby.
Clyde: A baby what?
I’m glad I can’t hear Clyde’s response, but I can imagine what he says based on Maia’s reply.
Maia: A baby, a sim baby – you will be a grandfather soon.
Clyde: So, when’s the wedding?
Maia: We’re not getting married. Not yet, anyway.
Clyde: In other words, he hasn’t asked.
Maia: We’re talking about it.
Clyde: Put him on the phone!
Maia: I’ll put you on speaker.
Maia presses the speaker button, and I can suddenly hear Clyde clearly in the middle of his complaints. The loud voice on the phone scares Luna so much that she jumps off the couch and runs away. I think about doing the same.
Clyde: *on speaker* – don’t want to be on speaker! I want to talk to him in private.
Maia: So you can threaten him? No father. That’s not how it’s going to go. We’re a couple, and we’re in love. We’re having a baby together. So, you’re talking to both of us or neither of us.
My love for Maia grows in this moment.
Maia’s dad has no choice but to give in.
Clyde: Wade?
Wade: Yes, sir.
Clyde: This is not what I had in mind for my daughter.
Wade: It’s a surprise to us, too, sir.
Clyde: You’d better do right by her and the baby. Remember what I said? Protect her as ferociously as I would.
Wade: I will. I promise.
Maia: Father, there’s nothing for you to worry about.
Clyde: I’m your father. There’s always something for me to worry about. You’ll find that out as soon as that baby is born.
I’m sure my parents feel the same way.
Maia: We’ll update you on everything going on with us and the baby.
Clyde: No need. I’m coming out there to see for myself. I’ll take the train the day after tomorrow.
I cringe internally and pray that Maia says no, but she doesn’t.
Maia: Okay, father, that’s fine.
I figure I’d better speak up and say something.
Wade: Let us at least buy you a plane ticket.
Clyde: No way. I keep my feet firmly on the ground at all times.
I tried.
Maia: So we’ll see you soon?
Clyde: Very
Maia: Can’t wait
I can, but I add that to the collection of thoughts I keep to myself.
Clyde: Love you, Maia girl.
Maia: Love you too!
No love for me? Maybe that’ll come one day, but it might be way too much to ask at this point.
Maia ends the call and snuggles up close to me.
Maia: It’s done!
Wade: Yeah, we did it. And it went better than I thought it would. Thanks for standing up for me to your father.
Maia: Always. I know how he can be at times. When I first moved out here, I had to cut him off for a while.
I had no idea, but I can’t help but admire her strength. I kiss her on her forehead.
Wade: That had to be tough.
Maia: It was, but it made us closer in the end.
Wade: Hey – we should go out and celebrate if you feel up to it. It might be our last chance before the baby is born.
Maia: What do you have in mind?
Wade: I don’t know yet, but we’ll get dressed up, and I’ll come up with something.
Club Calico is a place that I’ve wanted to visit since moving here. I heard of its recent renovations from friends, and it’s a short walk away, so that’s where Maia and I decide to go.
Maia: This is nice. I’ve heard of it, but this is my first time here.
Wade: Same here
I glance at the bar longingly, but since Maia can’t drink in her condition, we seek out the second-best thing – food.
Luckily, the lounge also offers a pretty good buffet, so we make our way over, grab one of the better-looking selections, and sit down to eat.
Wade: I’ve started looking at names for the baby.
Maia: Have you seen anything you like?
Wade: Not yet, but I did find out what your name means.
Maia: Really?
Wade: Yeah, it means ‘mother,’ which proves you’ll be a great one.
It’s faulty logic, but it’s worth it if it makes her smile.
Maia: I never knew that. *smile* Yeah, maybe so.
We eat, then follow the music to the dance floor.
Maia and I find some comfortable seats where a headliner DJ is performing. I’m concerned that this may be too much for Maia, but after sitting for a while, she’s the first to get up and start dancing.
We finish our brief moment alone on the dance floor with a slow dance before the DJ suddenly quickens the tempo of the music. The floor suddenly fills up with people. But it’s not the crowd that proceeds to ruin the night for me. It’s the cold. The last thing Maia and I need is to get sick in this freezing weather. It’s time to go home.
Back at home –
Maia: That was fun.
Wade: It would have been if we weren’t freezing our butts off. We seriously need to consider relocating to someplace warmer.
I’ve said more than Maia probably wants to hear right now, but that’s how I feel, and we’ll have to talk about it sooner or later. But for now, Maia retreats to the bedroom after changing into more comfortable clothes.
I sit at my computer to upload another video and realize I’ve completed the “Friend of the World’ aspiration. Now that my popularity has grown, I can make it pay off and begin securing our family’s financial future.
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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