1.8 Of Evading And Telling The Truth

Bellandra invited a classmate to her house with the excuse of studying to avoid a conversation like the one they almost had that morning. It had not been necessary, because by the time Bellandra returned from school her mother had already gone to work.

Ramira was a little annoyed with her sister for how she had left that morning causing her mother to stop talking.

And also because it seemed that her sister didn't notice her friend was flirting with her.

Despite inviting Mario with selfish reasons, Bellandra ended up enjoying the afternoon with him.

Zoe's work night was not going too well, there were almost no clients to serve and her co-worker didn't want to share with her the mixes he knew. Top it off, it seemed that  thinking about him all day long brought Devin to the same bar. 

Zoe made no attempt to start a conversation and he didn't ask for a drink. She felt his eyes the whole hour he was at the disco but before she could take courage to talk to him, Devin left the place. Seeing him after so long of only hearing about him in the news was strange, and to realize that she was still attracted to him after so many years? That was a Pandora's box that she didn't want to open.

But seeing him again made her realize that she couldn't keep evading her children and to make them understand that she never wanted to deny their origins.

With that purpose she organized a family outing, her children didn't seem very happy to be outdoors but that was not going to discourage her.

The first thing she did was try to have a conversation alone with her oldest daughter, that was a lesson she'd learned a few days ago when Bellandra had suddenly risen from the table.

"Come on, let's find some eggs."

Bellandra looked at her sideways and nodded slowly, Zoe put an arm around her daughter's shoulders to hug her. "I'm sorry if the other day I made you feel uncomfortable."

"It's ok, mom. It's just that you took me by surprise."

"I know, honey. I'm sorry and not only for that but also for not trying this conversation a long time ago, you and your siblings deserve the truth. First of all I'll not make the same mistake as before and believe that I know best... so the first thing I'm going to do is ask you if you want to know who your father is."

"I truly don't know. On the one hand I want to know but on the other I don't want our life changed."

Zoe gave her a sympathetic smile. "You know that whatever you do with that knowledge is exclusively your decision, right? And your siblings. I wouldn't think of doing something contrary to what you all would like to do."

"I know that, mom."

For a long time they silently picked up the eggs scattered throughout the park.

"For now I just want to know who he is and if he knows about us." Her daughter spoke after a long time.

"Let's get closer to your brother and sister so we can talk all together."

Seeing that the previous conversation had gone well while touring the park together, Zoe decided to take the same strategy and talk about it while playing a game.

The twins were given the same speech as the teen, only they have the decision of what to do with the information that she gave them.

"His name is Devin Ashton."

"The actor?!" Franco exclaimed while his twin opened her eyes in amazement and Bellandra just listened quietly.

"The very same. We met when I just arrived in this city and he was just beginning his career, we were both very young."

"Was he your boyfriend?" Ramira asked and Zoe stopped to think about how to explain to a ten-year-old girl that not all romances are formal relationships.

"Not exactly, no. We met at a time when we were both very focused on our careers and where he began to travel a lot for his films, so we really didn't have much time to test if we would work as a couple."

The explanation was more for her older daughter who looked at her out of the corner of her eye.

"He knows about us?" Whispered Bellandra.

"No, I never told him. The times I tried to do it, I was scared of what could happen and then as time passed we stopped talking as often as at the beginning and at some point I stopped trying."

Bellandra had one last question for her mother but she was afraid of the answer, Zoe knowing her daughter answered before she could speak.

"I think if he had found out that he had children he would have accepted them without reservation." And maybe that was the fear that Zoe had always had, that Devin would have wanted to have their children with him and with the precarious economic situation she had he was more likely to win a legal claim. Or maybe it was just her fear talking.

Bellandra excused herself saying she had to meet with some classmates in the library, although the reality was that she didn't want to continue talking about this. Her mother smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead.

The twins just continued enjoying the outdoors.

Although they continued talking about the topic.

"If you had the possibility, would you like to meet dad?" Franco asked trying not to  fall on his face.

"I think so. You?"

"Yes."

For her part, Bellandra did go to the library but not to meet schoolmates.

With trembling fingers, she typed the name Devin Ashton.

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When writing this chapter I realized that I didn't have good screenshots that would be useful for the conversation. So I hope that the conversation in the middle of an group outing has not been a bit out of place.

1.7 Questions and Doubts

Zoe knows that she has a lot of love to continue giving and wants to have more children, but she is not so young to go through the whole process of a pregnancy again.

So one morning she decided to call the adoption agency and ask what were the requirements to start the process. It turned out that there were not that many and with her growing fame the adoption was quite simple.

Bruno, an absent minded genius little boy, joined the Russell household one sunny day. Zoe was immediately besotted with him.

The new addition to the family brought many questions, especially to the twins.

One afternoon, while her mother taught the skills to her new brother, Ramira decided to talk to the person she trusted the most. Her twin brother Franco, that knew her better than anyone, realized that she had something in mind so he kept quiet waiting for her to speak.

"Do you think we're adopted too?" She finally said after several minutes.

Franco rolled his eyes, sometimes his sister could become quite dense.

"Looked at yourself in a mirror lately? Don't be silly, you're like a copy of mom."

Ramira was offended by the comment and didn't want to talk about it anymore. Franco sighed and wondered why everyone thought he was the grumpy one.

Regardless of the seriousness of the subject, they were only children so they continued to act as such.

But the question was not forgotten.

"Mom, are we adopted too?" Franco asked Zoe, taking advantage of his sister's theory, he knew it wasn't true but it was a good way to start the conversation.

The question took her by surprise and felt a lump forming in her throat, this was the conversation that she feared so much.

"No, of course not. I carried the three of you." Sighed, then she took a deep breath to continue speaking. "I suppose you want to know about your father."

Ramira and Franco looked at her with anticipation while Bellandra played with her food.

"The first thing you need to know is that all three of you share the same father..."

"I don't." Her eldest child interrupted her in a whisper. "I don't need to know it and I don't want to."

Zoe watched as Bellandra got up from the table and took her books. "I think I'm going to walk to school, to take advantage of the sun."

When the door closed behind her daughter, the woman wondered if she had waited too long to speak. And if it was too late to do it. Then she looked at the twins' faces and knew tit's never to late for this kind of conversation.

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After so many months without playing, I really do not know where I'm going with the story, but somewhere interesting, I hope.

Random thought: Bruno is absent minded and genius (????). The game could be so absurd sometimes.

1.6 Family

Not much happened since the twins birth so in a blink of an eye they were toddlers.

This is Ramira, she seems to be her mother's clone.

Her brother Franco is more of a mix of his parents.

There's one question Bellandra needs the answer to, but every time she sit with her mother to talk her bravery goes away and ends up stuttering some inconsequential question.

Zoe has some idea of what her daughter wants to ask but her bravery leaves her too. She needs to really think how to approach the topic because soon her daughter's going to gain courage to speak. If not, one of the twins when they'll age up.

For now they're toddlers but soon she's going to have three children and the chances of one of them wanting to know about their father is high.

Regarding her work, Zoe's now trying to learn recipes from differents bartenders, it's a little difficult because sometimes it's requires to buy the drink several times to figure it out and the money's still scarce.

And the paparazzi with their cameras are a little annoying.

She's recognized now and long times friends, like Barry Tenderlove, are acting like she's something of another world.

"It's very disconcerting to see my friends acting like this." She said to her coworker.

"I'll said." He agreed. "You don't have to worry with me I'll continue treating you as my inferior."

Zoe rolled her eyes.

"Let's talk about something different like your twins."

"Loriel and Cecile are the best part of me." Todd's face lit up.

She smiled with him because she knew the feeling.

***

Zoe continued with her nectar collection.

The celebrity gifts she's receiving in the mail are decorating the nectar corner.

Dancing is Bellandra's main form of fun (the only one really).

She loves doing it all the time.

But she also helps her mother in house's chores and does it independently. She's a good if goofy daugther.

Who loves to tell ghost stories to her mother and her friends.

And like every older sister complain about the little ones.

In no time there's another birthday, this time a triple one.

First Ramira, her traits so far are Good, Couch Patato and Heavy Sleeper.

Then Franco. Virtuoso, Good, Grumpy.

And last but not lest, Bellandra. She's Artistic, Friendly, Frugal and Hopeless Romantic.

And despite all the doubts as to what she will do when the questions begin, Zoe can not help but feel proud of the family she put together.

1.5 Worry and Joy

Maybe it was not the best decision she had made, Zoe mused while cleaning the glasses. It was a slow night with no client in sight, so she had time to think about her problems.

Even though no test had been done, she knew her body enough to guess that she was pregnant again. And that was something that filled her with worry and joy at the same time because she didn't have enough money to feed one more mouth but the mere idea of another baby made her smile like only Bellandra manages it.

Spending time with her daughter was one the thing she loved the most, teaching her skills or simple making her laught. So, despite the little money she made, another baby would only be a good thing.

Her suspicions were confirmed a few days later.

With a new pregnancy, the dilemma of telling Devin began once again.

Again the nights thinking if it was her right to hide it or not, again the silences on the phone when they talked about how the life of each one was going.

"The last time we saw each other I wanted to tell you something but I couldn't do it." Devin said at the end of one of his usual calls, Zoe understood the feeling perfectly. "And I'm embarrassed to admit that maybe I would not have done it if it wasn't because tomorrow will be on the news."

A few hours later, when the conversation was over, she stared at the empty space of her kitchen thinking that she should feel more angry than she was but the problem was that he wasn't the only who had deceived and hidden the true. But at least her doubts were gone and the certainty that Devin would never know about her children had taken hold of her.

The next morning, the news of the engagement of Devin Ashton and Calorine Custard were everywhere.

This second pregnancy was a little more uncomfortable than the first, her belly had grown more than the previous one but it didn't stop Zoe from holding Bellandra to blow the candles.

It was a shock to see her daugther was a mini Devin.

She's a friendly girl that dazzle sims with her smile.

Zoe had a couple of opportunities to teach her mixology skill that put some money in her account, it was at the end of one of them when the contractions came.

She gave birth to two babies, Ramira and Franco. Almost immediately she had to leave them in the care of a babysitter, the need for work and money was more urgent than ever.

With two babies crying at all hours in her room, Bellandra began to sleep in her mother's bed.

It was the only way to get some hours of rest.

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I think I didn't mention it before but English it's not my first lenguage, so if there is any error don't hesitate to point it out, this story is part of my learning.

It's also one of the reasons why the chapters are not very long, it takes me twice as long to write this to what I'm used to.

1.4 Wild Thought

With each new skill that Zoe taught her daughter, she realized that she wanted to have more children. She loved the giggles, the funny gestures and even the tantrums.

In fact, she left her job aside, going to the bars to work only a couple of times a week to spend more time with her daughter.

What she didn't leave out, was her weekly purchase of Nectar. As soon as she sees her enter, the clerk goes to find the most accessible bottles so that Zoe can choose between them.

Her life continued quietly during the following months, she took advantage of the time at home to practice mixology more frequently. It was turned out to be a time consumed skill, but it was worth it every time that she created a new drink.

During all that time she also continued to communicate with Devin. In the last conversation they had had, he told her that he would be in the city for a few days and wanted to see her. She accepted quickly, weighing that maybe this was the right time to tell him about Bellandra.

The meeting resulted in a dinner in his apartment.

"You are very beautiful tonight." He said with a smile.

The date was a little uncomfortable at first, they mostly ate in silence, Devin looking at her intensely while she avoided his gaze.

"Something wrong?" He finally broke the silence.

She sighed and pushed the plate away from her. "No, it's just... I didn't think this was going to be so awkward."

He scratched the back of his neck.

"I think it's my fault. I should not have assumed that after two years without seeing each other everything would be the same."

She wanted to tell him that it was not his fault, that this was caused by herself and the sense of guilt that she was feeling at that moment. All the reasons she had for not telling him about Bellandra seemed to lose meaning when confronted with his warm gaze.

And in spite of everything she felt, she remained silent.

"Why don't you tell me about the new movie you are filming? In Monte Vista, right?"

He smiled at her effort.

"Come, I have a good bottle of nectar that I want to share while I tell you everything about my first protagonist roll."

He took her hand and she let herself be dragged to the loveseat and between laughter and chats, a bottle became two and then three. So with her head spinning and her thoughts clouded, she found herself taking Devin to his own bedroom, eagerly undressing each other and falling into the bed.

And in the midst of all the heat and passion, the kisses and caresses that burned her skin, her mind swimming in alcohol, she had a wild thought. Maybe this was the moment to make a sibling for Bellandra. So when he made the motion of seeking protection, she interrupted him with a lie.

When Zoe woke up the next morning she felt a little disoriented at first, her head was killing her and her stomach was upset. And there was a warm breath in her neck. Devin.

Everything that happened the night before returned to her head making her sat abruptly on the bed. What was she thinking?! She just wanted to tell him about their daughter! And now there was the possibility of being pregnant again!

Silently, she got up from the bed, the best thing now would be to go home and think properly about the possibility of another child before speaking to Devin.

A few hours after leaving his apartment, she received a call from Devin saying that he was leaving for Monte Vista unexpectedly and that it was a shame that she went away that morning without saying goodbye. Both said goodbye with promises to continue talking and seeing each other when he was in town.

And in that way, Devin left the city again and Zoe was back in the same place with a secret, possibly two, once again.

1.3 Working Hard

Zoe is having a very uncomfortable pregnancy, and she'd like to have a few words with the sim that came up with the "morning sickness" idea because her nausea lasts all day long. Nonetheless, she continues working in mixology; she wants to be perfect in this and for that she needs to work a lot on the skill.

The following months were dedicated to working constantly to collect the money needed to decorate the baby's room. Mixology is a really badly paid job, she barely makes simoleons to buy food and the weekly nectar, in addition to paying the bills.

Beyond all her concerns, she was hesitant to tell Devin about her pregnancy, his career seemed to be on the rise and the movie that he filmed in China had been well received by the critic. His role had given him some prizes and he was already in the preproduction of a new movie, this time in France. They continued to communicate during these months. In one of their conversations, he assured her that the romance between his co-star and him was only an invention of the media and that the producers of the film had advised that they continue with the farce to promote it. She was not so sure if she believed him or not.

In the midst of all this mess, the baby announced her arrival.

Bellandra, is friendly and artistic and the light of her mother life.

Going back to work and leave Bellandra in charge of a teenager was something that bothered her greatly, but she didn´t have many alternatives. 

Barry visited her a few times at work and discreetly tried to inquire about her daughter's paternity, but Zoe was absolutely silent on the matter. She knew he and Devin were still in communication, though not as frequently anymore.

In the end the concern for the care of her daughter had no foundation, the babysitter was a good one and attended Bellandra's needs without problem.

Zoe created a new drink, with this are five in total, but she learned from a good source that to work in the most exclusive places and earn better money she needs to have at least 25 original drinks. That added to the advice of the vampire mixologist to practice until making 500 mixes, becoming the perfect mixologist seems like a herculean task.

At least customers had stopped ordering food and began to taste her drinks. Zoe was beginning to be recognized among the nightlife.

"Hey, I heard about you at the Bridges Times hallways, you're mentioned as the 'sim to keep an eye on' in the next release."

"Really! That's great. I'm working very hard to improve myself. Maybe you want to try my new mix? It's really good, if I said so myself."

The months passed without many changes until Bellandra's first birthday arrived. It was a surprise for Zoe to see how her daughter looked so much like her father. She was almost a copy of Devin.

To celebrate the birthday, Zoe decided to take the rest of the day off and dedicate herself entirely to her daughter.

The day at the autumn festival was the plan.

Bellandra had a lot of fun, her laughter echoed throughout the park, so much that she didn't want to get off the bee in all afternoon. And even made a small tantrum when her mother tried to lift her.

While playing with the toddler, Zoe discovered something. She loves being a mother and definitely wants more children.

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Poor Zoe had the sickness moodlet constantly until the game announced the pregnancy, as soon as she finished throwing up the moodlet appeared again.
Not much in this chapter, if wasn't clear, this generation goal is Perfeccionist, wich it's a nightmare added to single parent and mixologist. More time devoted to the skill, less time for moonlighting, which means less money, less money means more time cleaning and repairing because there's not enough to hire services. All this means even less time to practice and to work on bars. It is a continuous circle and they're bankrupt. I'M LOVING IT! It's so good to be in the fourth week without being filthy rich. xD