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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 9, 2014 6:22:39 GMT -5
Iphigenia was certainly a surprise! She is cute as a button. <3 Any chance we can see some screenshots of Galatea's kids? I bet she passed on some really interesting genes. Lovely chapter, as always! Isn't she, though? I love those big eyes of hers You're in luck. I just recently aged Orpheus and Galatea's kids up for family tree photos. Here they are: The first is Jebidiah (why why why does my game insist on calling all male sims some variation of that name?), and the girls are Sheree and Shanta.
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Post by PeregrineTook on Jan 9, 2014 8:12:51 GMT -5
Nice update! I like how Orestus is all sorts of Indiana Jones and Orpheus is his smooth-talking sidekick. Clever usage of the characters. Iphegenia is a lovely little girl! Now I'm just waiting to find out how/why her mom exited the scene, yet he got full custody.
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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 10, 2014 8:34:42 GMT -5
4.1. The Babysitter(Cadence)
I knew what my dad would say now: “What have you gotten yourself into this time, Cadence?” And I’d reply: “It’s no big deal, daddy, I just got a job with the crazy people on the hill.” It sounded worse in my head. Definitely. Besides, they were just rumours, weren’t they? The crazy Ithacas up on the hill. But come on – every town had a rumour like that. People who did weird things, people who did their shopping in their nighties or who liked to dance exotic dances at the art museum, that kind of thing. All I knew about this Ithaca family was what they said in town: One day, some years ago, when I was still a kid, there was a kerfuffle of epic proportions in the Ithaca house. The paper boy swore he heard glass shattering, angry voices and then a woman came stomping out there, screaming and yelling that ‘THEY HADN’T SEEN THE LAST OF HER’. I didn’t even want to think about the stuff they’d said about Esther Luck… Yeah, okay, now I definitely didn’t want to go in there. And yet, I rang the doorbell and a man opened the door and I asked if I could come in. “Sure,” he said, and he led me in. “Now, why did you want to come in?” “What, oh, well, you know, because of my job. I mean the job. I applied. And I got it.” “The job?” Oh great, I’d gone to the wrong house – and he was looking a bit crazy actually – who seriously wore purple suits? “Ah, I see, oops, I must have- this is the wrong house, right? Because I was hired as a babysitter but this isn’t- this is the wrong house. Embarrassing, I’d better leave!” “Um, I think that’s probably a good idea. I don’t think we hired a-“ “Yes, we did.” I spun to see who’d spoken. Another man was in the room, this one obviously younger, but still weird-looking. What was with the way these guys dressed? “You’re Candice?” “Cadence, actually.” “Cadence, I see. How nice to meet you – care to come this way?” I followed him, and he led me in a door. “This is the nursery, and that over there.” He pointed. “Is my pretty princess. Iphigenia.” “Oh…” So these people had weird names, too? I pondered that only for a second because the room struck me. “This… this is a gorgeous room!” “Ah, you appreciate musical instruments, I understand. Are you musical?” “Sort of…” “Well, if you promise not to shatter any glass, you can use the instruments as much as you like.” “Wow, thanks that’s…” He was already leaving. “Wait!” “Yes?” “Um, who are you people?” “Name’s Orestes,” he said. “You met my father, Donte, and my mother is sleeping right now. Her name’s Kleio. I’m sure she’ll like you, actually.” “Iphigenia,” he said, and he walked over to her. “Hey sweetie, this is Cadence, she’ll take care of you when I’m away.” The girl giggled and didn’t look at him. She was preoccupied with a toy. “The two of you should probably get to know each other. Have fun.” Then he left and I was stood there like a fool, looking at the girl playing. She was totally focused, but when I kept looking down at her, she looked up at me with big, curious eyes. “Pway?” she said. “Oh, um, yes, of course.” I sat down in front of her and she giggled again. “Mui.” “Mui? Wait, you mean music? Right, of course. Music. Let me hear you play music then…” Well, at least she was just a normal girl. (Orestes)
Cadence fit right in, even if she mostly tried to blend in with the wallpaper. She stuck mostly with Iphigenia. My parents were completely baffled. Why had I hired this mousy little girl when they were perfectly capable of taking care of Iphigenia when I was abroad? I had my reasons. I only said that they weren’t that young anymore and that there was no harm in having someone around the house to tend to Iphigenia. Both my mum and dad were still working, too. “Still not a reason,” Mum said. “There’s something going on, isn’t there?” “Maybe.” “Something about Egypt?” “Just let me worry about this. Make Cadence feel welcome, like a part of the family.” And so, a week after Cadence had joined the household, I left again. I talked to another of my contacts, looked through some other tombs. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t let the thought of that tunnel go. The one I hadn’t been able to swim through. It had to be there. It was the only place I hadn’t been able to go in all these musty old tombs and it was one of the only places where Minerva wouldn’t have gone either. I just knew it. None of the locals helped matters. “No, no,” the local merchant said. “That place is dangerous. No one goes there – there’s a curse, my friend.” “Maybe there are someone with machines-“ “No, no, no one will do that, friend. You see-“ I turned and left. There had to be a way. As I left the market, an idea began forming in my mind…
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Post by PeregrineTook on Jan 10, 2014 19:19:47 GMT -5
Hmmm, skinny, innocent, impressionable babysitter that could be shoved "through the rabbit hole" to get the treasure. That seems about right :=)
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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 11, 2014 1:29:51 GMT -5
He, he, yes, that is what happens when you work for the crazy people on the hill :b
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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 12, 2014 2:46:48 GMT -5
4.2. The Traveller(Cadence)
I had been staring out the window for some time, pondering everything and nothing all at once and that’s when the sound of the door opening startled me. “Oh, sorry, I scared you.” The man of the house was home. Strangely not at all sunburnt despite having spent time in Egypt. If that was what he’d done. I never knew with the Ithacas, even if I felt much more comfortable here after some months. “It’s okay. Welcome home.” “Thank you. I- What happened to your hair?” “It… grew out. As hair does.” “Oh… that… makes sense.” “Well, I’d better…” “Wait.” He turned as I spoke and looked at me. “Yeah?” “Look, I’ve been thinking of this for a while. A long while, actually. Iphigenia’s mother. Where’s she?” A smile played on his lips. “I think everyone will tell you that I locked her in the basement because I’m a horrifying monster.” “Ah. You… know the rumours. I mean…” Okay, I’d thrown myself into this, so I guess I had to just push on. “I don’t think everyone would say you locked her in the basement that’s… I mean, that’s the rumour they like where I’m from, but downtown they… uh…” He had a funny look on his face now. “Downtown they prefer to think you killed her and buried her in the garden.” He burst out laughing and I backed away, sure he was going to skin me alive, but he just smiled. “I don’t know whether to be proud or disturbed that there are regional differences. We sure caused a ruckus, Esther and I.” Then he looked sad, even while smiling. “Truth is, it wasn’t quite so dramatic with us. Esther and me.” “I tried to get it to work, even in our teens. She was a nice girl,” he said. “Unfortunately for her, I’m kind of a jerk. I tried to stick it out, year after year, even when I, at best, felt like she was a nice girl. I wasn’t attracted to her, I wasn’t in love with her. There were days when I hardly liked her, I’m ashamed to say.” “But you stayed together?” “I’d broken up her and her boyfriend – remember the jerk part? Yeah, that’s what I mean. I broke them up just because… Because I could, I guess. Because I couldn’t have the one I really liked and Esther was as good as any.” He laughed a dark, bitter laugh. “Do you feel like punching me right now?” “Not really.” I’ve never been one for violence but even if I had, it would have been like kicking a guy already lying down. He looked utterly miserable; but maybe he’d wanted to tell someone because he kept going like he couldn’t stop. “I don’t think she knew at first. Esther isn’t dumb, don’t be fooled, but when she gives her heart to someone, she does it completely and I didn’t deserve it. Didn’t really want it, either. I went away, to Egypt, of course, and she became more and more bothered by that. Became more bitter until we started arguing over it. “She wasn’t always the one to start the fights, either. We became real good at finding a reason to argue about the smallest little things. The big fight, the one where I knew she broke, that was when I told her I didn’t want to marry. We had a daughter and I’d never even considered marrying Esther. I think that’s when she snapped.” “She started talking to someone else. The guy who cleaned for us at the time… And then she left.” “She left you?” I asked. This certainly was a lot less dramatic than those rumours. “Packed her backs, grabbed the cleaner and moved out. Left the both of us, me and Iphigenia.” “I would have thought she’d bring her daughter,” I said. “She didn’t want to. She said she wanted a clean slate and she was so bitter over all that, and well…” He let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know what I would have done with myself if she’d taken her, honestly. She’s the only thing I haven’t messed up.” “I’m sure that’s not true.” He smiled, the crazy Ithaca from the hill. “Well, at least no one’s locked in our basement. That’s a plus.” “Definitely.” I smiled and so did he, when suddenly something lit in his eyes. “Cadence?” “… Yes?” “You’re… skinny, aren’t you?" “I guess I am… but don’t ask for my weight. I’ve heard that would be rude.” But it was like he didn’t listen, because he went up to me with a big smile on his face. “Will you do me a favour?” I shrugged, but I wasn’t so sure he wasn’t a crazy man who lived on a hill. “Let me hear what it is first. And no basements!” He smirked. “No basements. Well, unless musty old tombs count.” Not sure I liked where this was going. “Will you come with me to Egypt?” “Come with you to where?” I said, even though I had heard him perfectly. “Egypt. Wait, first… You can swim, right?” “Swim?!” “I swear, it’s nothing weird. Well, a little… Can you swim… Dive? How long can you hold your breath?” “… Hold on, hold on. Yes, I can swim.” He nodded and smiled. “I’m a fairly good swimmer and I can dive. And I’d love to go to Egypt, but it sounds awfully expensive.” “Oh, don’t worry about that too much.” He shrugged. “I’ll pay. And I’ll pay you extra.” I opened my mouth to say no way. That he was still a crazy man and I’d worked for him some months and I adored the child but there was no way I’d follow him to Egypt and do whatever it was he wanted me to do. But then there was something trustworthy about him. If I’d had friends, they would have all warned me away. ‘He’s going to drown you! He’ll leave you for dead in a pyramid!’ I said yes. And we were off already two days later. He was practically giddy, a mood I’d never experienced him in. “You’ll love it,” he assured me. “The city’s great, oh, and the tomb we’re going in is one of the biggest there is. It’s legendary. Almost had my head chopped off by a huge axe there once.” Then he giggled like a boy. “You know, you’re not making a very good job of not being the crazy guy on the hill,” I said, and he chuckled. “Well, why would I?” It was like he was a different person in Egypt. He was always a bit moody and mysterious at home – frankly I’d assumed that was just who he was, but as soon as we were there, he kept prattling on about the country, the tombs, his home in Egypt. And, I had to admit to myself, the house he had there was absolutely gorgeous. “This is incredible,” I said. And he smiled a smile so cocky, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Not so bad what the crazy guy on the hill can do, huh?” “Crazy guy with his own oasis,” I said. “I think I can forgive you.” “I’m glad you say so. That’s why we didn’t go to the tomb first…” “… but I think it’s time we went.”
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Post by PeregrineTook on Jan 12, 2014 12:45:56 GMT -5
Nice! I liked the ginger brother better at first, but the "crazy guy from the hill" has really become a neat character!
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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 12, 2014 12:49:41 GMT -5
I'm glad he's growing on you I'm quite fond of my little tragic hero.
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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 13, 2014 1:52:17 GMT -5
4.3. The Explorer(Orestes) “Cozy place,” Cadence said, inspecting the tomb romb we first entered. The place was, as I remembered, humid and cool, but decorated nicely. As she looked around, she had the look of someone who had never set foot in a place like this before, but then most people had, and I’d learnt to recognise that look she had in her eyes: a mixture of awe and fear. “Right, so… What are we doing?” she asked. “If you’re sure you’re up for it, you’re going for a little swim.” “I’m sure. You gave me this trip and all.” She still looked less sure than was comfortable, and when we stood by the well, she really started looking pale. I hoped it was only the lighting in the tomb. “So you want me to go down there.” “There’s a tunnel at the bottom, if you go down and go right, it’s there.” “If I’m not mistaken it should lead to another room. Behind this wall. There has to be something in there.” “That’s… a bit vague. What am I looking for.” She had me a bit stumped with that question. I didn’t really know. “Anything that looks… important.” “Right.” Then I shook my head. “No, no, that’s dumb. Look, there’s a woman, a dangerous, insane woman, and she’s looking for something in one of the tombs of Egypt. I don’t know what it is she’s after, but she’s been really eager to find it. Whatever it is, I need to find it. If you can just go through there and find a door so I can have a look myself, that should do.” She looked doubtful. “I promise, you’ll be safe,” I said. “If you can’t find it, if there’s anything wrong at all, come straight back up and we’ll forget all about it. Okay?” She nodded and I didn’t let go. I couldn’t make another mistake. This was so important but I didn’t want to sacrifice her for the sake of finding out what Minerva was up to. “Are you sure you want to do it?” “I’ll do it.” “Okay, look. I’m going to stay here and I’ll listen for you. If I don't hear anything for a while, I’ll get help.” “I can handle it,” she said. She climbed on top of the well, and before she dove in, she turned around and gave me a smile. I saw the bubbles as she went down and I stood staring with bated breath until her head broke back through the surface. “It’s so cold!” she gasped. “And it’s dark down there.” “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…” “No, I’m still doing it.” She wiped the water from her face. “I know where it is now, I can get through.” “But maybe-“ She was back down again and I started pacing by the well, getting more and more nervous as the seconds passed. What took her so long? It had been fifteen minutes and then I couldn’t stand around anymore. I ran out of there, my mind on rescue teams and hospitals and Cadence trapped in darkness when- “Orestes? Is that you?” I stopped, my heart pounding and the door right near the exit started moving. “Cadence!” “Yes, give me a hand with this – it’s really heavy.” Her head could just be seen through the crack and I quickly dragged it open and pulled her out, into an embrace. “Wow, what…?” “You’re okay!” “I… Yeah, I am. I was just-“ “You’re sure you’re fine, right? You look a little pale? Were you scared? Did anything happen in there? I never should have-“ “Orestes, for goodness sake. I’m okay!” She laughed. “Gosh, you’re just like my dad. I thought you’d be less interested in me and more interested in what I found!” It was like that hadn’t even registered. “Uh… I… What?” “You’re going to love this.” “An elixir.” I stared at the green, lightly smoking contents of the bottle, and wondered what this particular one was. “Which elixir?” she asked. “I have no idea. That’s where my mother comes in. She’s an alchemist – she’ll know what it is.” She had a funny look on her face when I took the elixir and went to pack it in my suitcase. “Maybe you really are the crazy Ithacas on the hill…” I went back to the table where she sat, staring out over the oasis. I put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?” “Huh? Yes. I was just thinking… My dad would have loved to see this place and… Well, he died two years ago.” “I’m sorry.” She shrugged and sighed deeply and told me about her father. He’d found her when she was just a toddler, abandoned at a park without anyone knowing how or why she’d ended up there. There had been no records of her even existing before she was left. I already knew this, but I didn’t tell her. There were things I had yet to tell her, but not now. She was getting up and walking around the house, her eyes examining the oasis still. “I don’t regret anything,” she finally said, standing by the railing. “He was the best father I could have asked for. Even though I was basically discarded like trash, I never felt unwanted.” “That’s one thing we don’t have in common then,” I said. “You felt unwanted?” “It wasn’t my parents’ fault. I was always a weird kid, and then…” “Then what?” “There was someone who made me feel like I belonged and well, that was kind of a disaster. She wasn’t a friend like I thought she was.” “Who was she?” I gulped down on something. “She’s… Not now. I’ll tell you but she… I have to wait.” I told her that maybe she should get some sleep, and even though she looked at me weird, she did. Meanwhile, I walked around the deck, kicking sand and pebbles into the water. “You’re a coward, Orestes,” I whispered to myself. “She has to know some day, and you might as well be the one to say it.” But then I looked over at her. She was sleeping on the bed, so peaceful, and I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Not now. It was like I wanted the right time and this wasn’t it. But then… would there ever be a right time to tell her something like that? Author's note: We're all caught up! That means from the next update there will be swearing wow. Not excessive, but there will be less limits than there has been up until now.
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Post by PeregrineTook on Jan 13, 2014 7:52:09 GMT -5
Hmm, my mind is instantly swirling through possibilities for what this mysterious background of Cadence is. You write mystery into this very well.
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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 14, 2014 2:50:15 GMT -5
4.4. The Alchemist(Kleio)
We had gathered in the basement, most of us, and as Orestes sat down and looked at me, I shot him a look. “What?” “Where’s Cadence?” “We’ll talk to her later. For now, just tell. What is it?” He gestured towards the elixir on the table, and though I was tempted to ask him why he had involved her in finding it if she couldn’t know what it was, I held my tongue. Orestes was the one who had chased it all his life. He should know. I cleared my throat. “There are absolutely no recipes in any of my books that result in a concoction like this.” Donte blinked at me. “Really? None?” “None. Before you found it, this elixir was practically unheard of.” My son perked up at the practically. “But it’s not unheard of?” “No, it’s known from myths and there’s no doubt that’s how Minerva knew. I’ve found a lot of accounts of it. According to these myths, one can be found in three different locations all over the world, but the one that’s spoken most of is Egypt. It’s said the other two have vanished because of eager grave robbers, but the one in Egypt hadn’t been found… Until recently.” “Right, so…” Orestes sat up. “What is it?” “Magic. It grants the user magic. According to legend, the two others vanished years ago. Whoever found them used them on themselves and that’s how magic spread in the world.” “No wonder Minerva wanted it,” Donte said. “She doesn’t have her powers anymore.” But at that both I and Orestes shook our heads. “That doesn’t make sense,” Orestes explained. “When she started looking for it, she still had her powers. I don’t understand why she’d need it.” We all sat in silence until the sound of the front door reached us and we could all hear Cadence’s voice calling down. Anyone there? “Have you told her anything?” I asked him and he shook his head. “No I… how do I?” “One thing is being left behind as a child. I guess that’s sadly normal…” “She’s told me all about it even if she doesn’t like to.” “Her father told me the rest. How he found her in that park, all by herself and she was positively beaming with magic energy. He used to be a magician, before I knew him, but he cured himself and even then he could always feel the magic. She was teeming with it.” “That’s not the only reason he took her in, it was just how he was. I got to know him when I was just a teen and he’s pretty much the nicest guy I ever met. But it helped. They never found her parents, there were no records of her. There was just a tiny toddler, covered in magic energy and left all on her own… He couldn’t leave her to someone else, so he fought like crazy to make sure that she end up with him.” “I did feel an unusually great magic potential in her.” Donte said. “I thought that must be why you hired her because I couldn’t see any other reason.” “Yeah, well, her father would have liked it that way.” “He was a good father. He raised her just right. Perfect. I mean look at her – she’s healthy, happy, she felt loved. The only bad thing he did – and I can hardly blame him for that – is he died, only a few years ago. That left her all alone in the world.” Cadence had, apparently, given up looking for us upstairs and we could hear her chatting to Iphigenia. Orestes sighed. “So,” I said. “That’s why you hired her.” “That’s one reason. I promised her father that if she was ever left alone, I’d see to it that she had someone. I admit… I had my selfish reasons as well, though.” “Oh? That is?” “I think I know who left her behind.” Author's note: Dun, dun, duuuuun. Oh, the drama. (I'm so good at ruining the mood, am I not?) First chapter that I've only posted here on the site and not the other forum. Gasp! Which means that from here on out, swearing will happen. Mwahaha. *ahem* Anyway, I've also started linking to these chapters on ma brand new shiny blog: NotJustaBookSims and I'm adding downloads for the sims from this in case you want to make them servants to your sims or kill them horribly in housefires. Yay, sharing!
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Post by PeregrineTook on Jan 15, 2014 10:59:33 GMT -5
The magic-giving elixir which could be used on either of Donte and Kleio's children to make them become monsters. Nice thinking, Minerva. I know Minerva's the "bad guy," but there's a small part of me that is rooting for her.
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Post by Hazelstar on Jan 15, 2014 18:08:41 GMT -5
Is it weird if I'm shipping Minerva/Orestes and Minerva/Kleio? I mean, I just get that vibe off Minerva. I ADORE her, and I know, she's the villain, but I'm Team Minerva 100%.
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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 16, 2014 3:30:06 GMT -5
Oh, dear, I wrote that kind of villain :b I'm both oddly proud in a weird way and facepalming because she wasn't supposed to be the one people was rooting for xD Oh well, she can freak people out yet, I hope.
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Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 16, 2014 6:18:55 GMT -5
4.5. The Girl(Orestes)I picked up Iphigenia and cuddled her close while listening to Cadence’s playing. She was getting quite good but she seemed on edge and had since we returned from Egypt. It probably didn’t help that we had been whispering in the corner about her past… I still felt bad about that. I should try and talk to her and I had tried, to mention Minerva and find out if maybe… just maybe she knew something. “Cadence is really good at playing, isn’t she?” I asked of my daughter, and the little thing nodded enthusiastically. “Musi!” she said. “Cadie plays musi.” “She does, yeah.” Just then Cadence stopped and turned. “Do you want me to take Genny now?” “What? No, actually… I’d like to talk to you, if that’s okay.” “Oh… Sure.” I was feeling clammy as we walked into the basement together. Mum and dad were in the living room so it was the only place we could really talk. Just tell her this time, Orestes. Tell her everything you know. Stop procrastinating. But she sat down and looked over at me and I noticed that she looked trusting. Loyal, even. I sat down next to her on the loveseat. “I… have some things I really ought to tell you.” “Ah, yes, you mentioned. When we were in Egypt,” she said, but then she added: “Well, you didn’t so much mention as just kind of… act really awkward whenever you mentioned my past. But that counts, right?” “I have been a bit awkward, haven’t I?” “Yeah, that doesn’t even begin to describe it.” She sighed. “I’m really sorry.” “Look, if there’s something you want to tell me, just come out and say it. I’m tired of the whispering in the corners and everything. I swam through that damn tunnel because I trust you and because I wanted to help you.” “I will tell you, Cadence, I will. It’s just… hard.” She let out an annoyed groan and got up. “Yes, it’s really, really hard. I get that.” She turned on her way to the stairs. “You know, it’s pretty hard living in a house with people giving you weird looks without them wanting to say what’s going on. I’m sick of this.” I was left sitting on the loveseat until I managed to force my legs to get up and follow her up. I caught her on her way out. “Let go!” “Cadence, stop. I’m sorry.” “Oh, God, just let me get away from here, just for a while.” She looked so tired, a little sad, too, and I gently let go of her arm. “Let’s talk. About your dad.” “Orestes, do we have to do this now? I just want to go for a walk, get out of this crazy house and-” “I knew him.” “What?” “Your dad, we were friends. That’s why I hired you. Please, let’s just go and talk about him, just for a while.” Her shoulders fell and she nodded, not without suspicion on her face. “I’ll… get my jacket.” The sun was already setting but it was still light enough to see her face, to see the snow that was falling gently and landing in her hair and on her jacket. She walked quickly next to me, her tense jaw and brisk movements telling me all I needed to know about her frame of mind right now. “You knew my dad but you didn’t tell me.” “I didn’t want you to think it was special treatment or anything – I gave you the job because I knew your father and he was terrified what would become of you when he was gone. But I also had my own reasons. The person who left you behind, I think I know who it is.” “That so? No one else knows. Pray tell how you got a hold of that information when everyone else has been trying for years and found nothing.” “Remember the woman I mentioned? Minerva.” “She’s my mother?” “Maybe. I don’t know, but… Well, you don’t look like her. Not at all, actually.” “Right. So she kidnapped me? Or adopted me?” “No way. There are no records of you before you were found by your dad in that park. For all I know, all I’ve been able to find out with your father and others’ help, you didn’t exist before that day.” Cadence stopped looking out over town, sighing deeply. “That’s nothing I didn’t know. Other than this… Minerva woman. I already knew that there’s no way I should exist. I figure my parents were drunks or druggies who left me behind and that’s why there are no records. I appreciate you coming clean, Orestes but… I already knew.” “I’m sorry.” She let out another deep sigh but then turned and smiled. “I already told you, it never bothered me much. Dad loved me and he was the best father I could have hoped for. I never felt unwanted or anything. I’m okay. I don’t need to know.” “You’re not curious?” “Well, maybe but… You know, when I was a kid, I thought I was this big mystery and that everyone would think it was weird and would keep talking about it and yeah… when I told people about my past, they did ask but other than that, they didn’t care. Nobody did and I started caring less. I had barely thought about it and right after Dad died, I spent a couple of years just trying to get back on my feet. I never moved out so I wasn’t used to being alone. I didn’t have time to think about my past because I had a present to see to: Before you hired me and let me live here, I had crummy part time jobs and a small room over a coffeeshop.” “But how about now?” “There’s a new present to think about.” She chuckled. “I mean I miss my Dad, but I have Genny to think about and there’s you and you have that weird family of yours. I have to keep on my toes here – don’t want you to lock me in the basement or bury me in the garden, now do I.” She elbowed me in the ribs and I laughed. Then she smiled sincerely and put a hand on my arm. “Look, I’m really happy that you took me in. I’m glad that you cared enough about dad to do this for me.” She turned and gave me a hug and for a moment I thought I’d let her turn around and leave and that would be it. End of conversation. But she didn’t let go. I felt like I was moving in a daze when I took her head in my hands and kissed her forehead. For a long while we just stood there staring at each other. I wondered if she had always been this wise and funny and pretty, or if maybe my eyesight had suddenly and inexplicably improved this snowy evening. I wondered if my legs were going to give in and throw me to the ground to give her something more to laugh at. I wondered if her father would have shot me if he’d seen me holding her like this. “You know, it was because of your father I took you in, it really was but… Now…” She cocked her head with a tiny smile. That did it. I covered that smile with my lips. I felt a small jolt of surprise from her and then her arms wound around me, she settled in against my body, opening her mouth ever so slightly with a soft sigh… When I broke the kiss, the smile still hadn’t left her face and I must have looked dumb because she laughed softly and took my hands. “I think I know what you mean,” she said. “I came for the baby, but I stayed for the crazy man on the hill.” Author's note: I simultaneously like and hate this chapter. It's always been my plans to have them get together but I know it's really contrived and out of nowhere but... gah, I'm sorry if you hate it, too. Like the shots, don't like the story... I'll stop self-deprecating now. Ijustreallywanttoapologiseifthisrelationshipoftheirstotallysucks. I'm also afraid that by drawing attention to how contrived the relationship is, you'll notice it when you wouldn't if I hadn't mentioned it and now you're going to hate it even more. I know, I'm so super confident.
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