Picking up where the last chapter left off, Paolo is waiting for Haliya to come home from school. He has no idea how to explain something he barely understands himself.
Your mom and I fell out of love, now she wants a divorce? It's simple, but still makes no sense. It all happened so fast...
He's so deep in thought that he doesn't notice Haliya come home and sit down next to him with a book herself.
"Haliya, come with me..." he decides not to put this off.
"Is everything ok?" Haliya asks, her tone tinged with worry. I only got a C on my literature test, but I didn't think Mr. Schroeder would call home about it.
Paolo doesn't answer, putting Haliya more on edge. Or is it the D+ I got in PE? Not my fault I got my period on the day of our obstacle course test... the cramps made it difficult to get through any of the challenges on time. Stupid Ms. Buckley and her "no retakes" policy. Now Haliya's GPA stinks and she'll have to do super well in all of her other classes to make up for it.
Paolo pulls Haliya into the study and puts their books away.
"What's wrong? You look so down.... is it the rain?" she tries to joke. Her nervousness makes it fall flat.
"No...Haliya...there's no easy way to say this...but your mom wants a divorce."
All Haliya can do is stare numbly as her father stumbles his way through an explanation. We always fought... communication...no trust...
"...she only said she needs time to think, but for now she's staying with your aunt Nakisha..."
She doesn't know when she'll be back.
It's not your fault, Haliya.
Why is that so hard to believe?
Weeks pass unbearably quietly. Tula's been keeping to herself, both out of the general discomfort her pregnancy is putting her through and to observe how her dad and sister are reacting to the divorce. But one chilly, rainy day, Tula gets up and feels pain radiate from her abdomen to the rest of her body.
Noooo you're too early! Tula thinks, gritting her teeth. The doctor said it would be at least three more weeks! William was supposed to be back by then. He's still deep into his double shifts. His phone probably isn't even on. Figures.
Close to midnight, Paolo brings home an exhausted Tula and newborn Yana.
In the end, Tula let her father pick the name, her and William having agreed to decide once he would be back from Bridgeport. Since he's not here, Tula was more than happy to let someone else choose.
Yana is a name in several languages including Hebrew and Hindi. Paolo liked the hebrew meaning, "God is Gracious." No objections here.
Tula sets Yana down gingerly into her crib. It's been a very long time since she held a newborn.
"Hmm, I guess it's not showing yet," Tula murmurs to herself. The doctor told her that, just like her father, Yana's a vampire.
"Quiet," Tula hisses. Yana continues to cry. Tula takes a deep breath. Babies... good thing William will be back soon.
The next few days around the house are quiet and uncomfortable. Paolo makes a conscious effort to be around for Haliya.
"...How's school?"
Haliya forces a smile onto her face. "It's ok." With all the drama going on with her parents, Haliya's assignments have been completely forgotten. She struggles to remember what she even has to hand in for this morning's class. Another 0 for participation....oh well.
Paolo frowns. How could Sun just leave the house without even talking to Haliya? How childish, he internally scoffs.
Thoughts about his failed marriage continue to float around his head. He takes a few days off from work to help out Tula while William's out of town.
His heartbreak must be making him sentimental, he thinks as he looks around the made over nursery, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to this pricey refurbishing when Haliya suggested it.
Paolo sighs. "I'm sorry, Yana. Grandma's not here..."
Yana is too young to understand him, and in time won't even really know who Sun is, but she wraps her tiny arms around his shoulders. Paolo decides to see it as a comforting gesture.
Tula is eager to be up and at it again. As soon as her back stops aching she's pushing herself through short workouts. She still needs to lay low for while, but she doesn't want to get caught unprepared in case her past catches up to her.
Days become weeks. Sun doesn't come back still. His messages go unanswered. Paolo feels melodramatic when he cries about her in the rain.
Tula feels good enough to stand for long periods of time again. She starts painting.
"Haliya, before you go, how about that homework?" Tula says, remembering that today is prom. She's not certain but suspects that Haliya has fallen behind on her school work. She never sees her sister studying.
"How do you even know that, you barely leave the house," Haliya sulks. She still obediently takes out her homework.
Tula smiles. "I have my ways." Those 'ways' are just checking the school's newsletter. Really, her dad is totally helpless at managing Haliya if he doesn't even keep on top of these events.
Though her sister helps her get ready, Haliya can't help but feel disappointed for some reason when she climbs into the limo for prom.
It's just 'cause I don't have a date, Haliya tells herself, wiping tears from her eyes, why would mom have to care about this stupid dance anyways...
Still, as the limo trundles away, Haliya can't bring herself to feel excited.
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AN: A shorter chapter. So I got a detail wrong last chapter, Sun did indeed accuse Paolo of cheating on her! That photo of her crying when Paolo comes back from hanging out with Tulip was her accusation scene (double checked with her memories journal). Why she did so after literal years of marriage, I have no idea. She's still in the house, I ended up only moving her out once Haliya aged up to young adult. She had some inventing related wishes I wanted to complete before she went!
The other guys Sun dated before were Glen Bedlington (Xara's ex-son-in-law whom I mistakenly called John), Keith Chandra (yes, this Keith Chandra ), and a vanilla sim named Fred Nixon. Fred actually dated most of the single women in town at one point and had a few kids.
Another fun fact- Sun and Pablo Parrott were actually first cousins! Sun's mother, Hayley Shepherd, was one of Jazlyn Parrott's (Pablo's mother) sisters. I never actually checked Sun's family tree back in the day since I was so focused on finding a single woman with compatible traits for the inventor career. I was just relieved Sun didn't have any kids or a boyfriend hanging around.
Other fun trivia- Tulip lives in the house at the very bottom of this picture and Xara lives in the house at the top. They really stuck together!
And a funny outtake for your troubles. Looks like Sun is planning to run off with little Yana there!
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