The time between Maia telling me those dreadful words and me moving into my new place feels like a blur. I’m here, but I don’t want to be. I’m a new divorcee, but I can’t even comprehend that right now because I’m still shocked that it’s over. All I want to do is crawl into bed and cry myself to sleep, so I head to the bedroom.
I remain in bed until my sides are stiff from lack of movement. I’m not even interested in exploring my new place. I did what was necessary to move in, but it’s not home, and I don’t know if it ever will be. How could it be? I no longer have a wife, and my only child lives across town. Right now, it’s just a place to lay my head and stay dry from the rain. The smell of the room and the creaks of the walls settling are foreign. The entire building is devoid of energy. Hiro isn’t here barking. Tami isn’t in the next room complaining. And Maia isn’t playing her focus music while contorting herself into a complicated yoga move. I’m alone here, and I want to go home.
The rain outside eventually lulls me to sleep. When I finally wake up, it’s very late in the morning. I’m tempted to crawl back into bed to avoid facing the day, but my phone alerts me to a message.
I check my phone. A new message from Tami on the Social Bunny app completely breaks my heart. She’s obviously heard the news of our breakup. I can imagine how she feels right now. It could be sadness, confusion, or even abandonment. I regret not taking the time to talk to her before moving out, but then again, what good would it do? How could I have smoothed over the fact that her mother and I are divorcing? Nothing I could’ve said would have helped.
My phone rings, and I look down to see it’s Luca. I think about our last visit, when he told me he was pregnant with an alien baby. My heart sinks in anticipation of more bad news. I hope Luca is okay.
I put the call on speaker. Luca tells me that his sister is throwing him a baby shower today. The words sound so strange coming out of his mouth, almost like a terrible joke, but his tone reminds me that his situation is serious. He also lets me know that getting his friends together today will serve another purpose. He’ll be revealing his news to those who don’t know yet. I almost want to tell him I won’t make it. I’m not ready to shout the news of my divorce to the world, but it’s Luca. He’s been there for me through thick and thin over the years, and I owe him my support, no matter how I feel.
I tell him I’ll be there and end the call. Showing up for him is the only thing that could get me out of the house right now. So I’m grateful.
I get up and walk through my unfamiliar room into a bathroom I’ve never used before. This is not what I want at all. How will I survive being away from my family? Can I even still consider Maia my family? The uncertainty of my future threatens to send me back to bed, but I have to endure for my friend.
I step inside the shower and turn it on. The hot water scalds me out of my thoughts. I adjust it to keep from injuring myself and finish my shower. Moments later, I’m clean and dressed. I pause and pack away my negative feelings, because today is about Luca. I remind myself of this over and over as I walk out the door.
(If you’re interested, you can read about Luca’s baby shower here on Stories by Jes2g’s page. This link takes you to her website!)
Tami hoped to meet up with Enzo and his sister, Kisha, at the water park today, but the rain has dampened her plans. And instead of a fun-filled summer day, her mother hits her with the news that her father has moved out and she’s asked for a divorce. It’s all bullshit, and Tami doesn’t want to believe any of it.
She leaves the room and runs into her dad’s office. The space where his media station should be confirms the truth. Tami looks around for further evidence and notices that the shelves are missing their pictures, and his SimTube plaques are gone. It’s all so stupid, and Tami tries hard not to care, but the pain coils into her stomach like a snake, making her want to lash out, curse, and cry like a toddler, but she’s no longer a baby. She’s a teen now, which means she has to accept the reality that her father no longer lives here.
Tami steps out of the office and sees Maj watching her. Tami’s heart fills with affection for the cat, so she leans over to pick her up. Maj was a gift from her father after their other cat, Luna, died. Maj never replaced Luna in Tami’s heart, but she made room for her and grew to love her too. Maj softly purrs as she settles into Tami’s arms. But Tami is feeling the opposite of calm. Holding Maj brings back a memory of her parents arguing in the kitchen after her dad brought the cat home.
Is Maj part of the reason her parents are now divorced? Could a cat cause something like that?
Tami wants answers, so she goes to find her mother
Maia is sitting outside at the table when Tami walks over to join her.
Maia: Are you okay? Did you want to continue our discussion?
Tambara: Are you divorcing Daddy because he gave me Maj?
The question is so out of the blue that Maia has to pause and process it.
Maia: What? Why do you ask?
Tambara: Because I remember the two of you arguing the day he brought her home.
Maia: You’re right. We argued that day, but it wasn’t just about the cat. None of this is that simple.
Tambara: Then what is it about, because nothing is making sense to me right now? I thought you were going to counseling. I thought everything was going to be better. Why did you kick him out? Why are you divorcing him?
Tami’s words build until they have no place to go. The sentence ends in tears. The last thing Maia wanted was to hurt her daughter, and Tami’s confusion and anger are natural. Maia wishes she had the words to explain, but she’s also trying to get a grip on her own emotions. She places her hand on Tami’s, but Tami jerks it away as if Maia’s touch burns.
Tambara: Why did you make him move out? Why couldn’t he just live next door?
Maia: We talked about this. Remember back when your dad went to visit his family in—
Tambara: Yeah, but that was bullshit too, and you know it. You’re just being a b*tch, and I want to live with Daddy!
Maia recoils at Tami’s response and tries to stop this line of thinking before it gets out of hand.
Maia: Tami, that’s not going to happen.
Tambara: Why not? Don’t I have a say? You can’t make all the decisions. I’ll ask Daddy, and you can’t stop me!
Maia’s anger rises to match Tami’s tone. She can’t take any more of this persecution.
Maia: Fine. Do what you need to do, but I won’t sit here and let you talk to me like this.
Maia gets up from the table and escapes into the house. Tami stands too, feeling a little better now that the coiled snake in her belly has struck. She’s pissed at her mom, but she didn’t mean to say everything she said. Then again, no one wanted this divorce but her—so maybe she deserved it. Tami walks away from the table, deciding to leave the house.
Maia goes through the motions of being okay, which includes taking a shower and changing her clothes. But she’s anything but okay, and trying to busy herself with menial tasks like doing the laundry isn’t helping. It hurts, but she understands Tami’s anger. Maia went through something similar with her own father when she was old enough to understand how her mother lost her life. She lashed out too, often blaming him and accusing him of not doing enough to save her.
Maia leaves the garage and sits down in the foyer. Will Tami actually call Dub and ask to live with him? If she does, what would he say? The easiest way to hurt Maia would be for him to agree, but would he be that petty? She knows that living apart from Tami will be hard for him. Maybe that alone would be enough to push him toward saying yes.
Either way, Tami’s right. Unless Maia wants to battle for custody in court, there’s nothing she can do if Tami wants to leave.
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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