The Goth Legacy: Chapter Eight
Content warning: This story contains mature themes and is not suitable for minors. For this chapter, sexual references and bubbles and slight references to infertility and sim-eating cow plants.
Izzy pulled into the driveway after taking her parents and brother to the airport. After several years, Alexander and Tosha had saved enough to build a small cabin in Three Lakes. They had told her they wanted to take Hugo before he started school and more importantly, while they were still physically able to enjoy all the mountain activities with him. Tosha had dismissed her parents' concerns over how fast time was passing, but considering she and John had now finished university, she conceded they had a point.
When she entered the door it appeared John had been thinking the same thing.
"Is this what I think it is?" she asked as he came over to her.
"Well you once said it didn't matter how much you loved someone, that if they didn't put effort into asking you to marry them, you would say no," he replied.
"I don't remember that."
"You were on the bubble blower at the time," John laughed nervously as he dropped to one knee.
"Ah, college. Was it really only a month ago?" she replied wistfully, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach at the sight of John kneeling in front of her.
"Could you stop being comical? I'm nervous here."
"Oh, sorry. The answer is going to be yes if that helps."
"Immensley. But I'm still not taking my chances by not doing this properly," he grinned.
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"I hope you know I believed you. I really thought you couldn't come to the airport because you were preparing for a job interview."
"Well, I kind of was," John offered, "the job just happened to be your husband."
"Can you ever forgive me," he asked, knowing full well there was nothing to forgive.
"Maybe," she said coyly.
At that moment the phone rang.
"That will be your parents wanting to know if you said yes," John told her.
"You told my parents?"
"Who do you think helped me plan this?" he smiled.
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After hearing that Izzy had accepted John's proposal, the rest of the family's attention turned back to their holiday.
This included seeing the local sights.
And participating in local activities such as log rolling.
After much cajoling they even convinced Tosha to have a turn.
After all the excitement of log rolling, Tosha decided to stay home and let the boys have their own adventure following the map they had found.
The last thing she was expecting was for them to return full of excitement with the news they had met a real live sasquatch.
Although this surprise was topped when Alex returned the following evening asking if she minded if said sasquatch came and lived with them.
Alvin, a name the sasquatch explained was picked at random as his real name would be unpronounceable to sims, was excited to learn of Alexander's role as an Environmental Guru. It wasn't long before the two were deeply involved in a discussion about deforestation and sustainability.
"Have you ever considered sharing you firsthand experience?" Alexander asked. "You've have been forced out of your natural environment due to our ecological behaviour, perhaps sharing your story would help sims understand the consequences of their actions. I'd be delighted if you would accompany me home and join me on my speaking engagements."
The question caught Alvin by surprise, "I would do anything to try and preserve our environment. But if I was to come with you, to this place Pleasantview, where would I stay?
"I would need to speak it over with Tosha, my wife, but we could convert our shed into a living space for you. Or if you would prefer a place of your own I would certainly do all I could to help arrange that for you."
"If it is acceptable to your mate I would like to take you up on your offer of staying with you. I am not sure how I would fare by myself in a place even more foreign to me than this one."
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Soon after their return from Three Lakes, Alexander joined Izzy and John at the table. "How's the search going?"
"Which one?" Izzy asked.
"Either of them," Alexander answered.
"Job wise, not much," John admitted, "I'm pretty close to applying for the first job I see and just hoping for the best."
"Place wise though, John's brother is looking for someone to share the rent in his two bedroom apartment," Izzy added.
"Brother huh? Which one?" Alexander asked playfully.
John eyed Izzy past the paper, "yeah, Izzy which one?" Izzy still struggled to remember the names of John's siblings to his continued amusement.
Izzy paused in thought before responding, "the single one."
"Well, you know you're both welcome to stay as long as you need," Alexander smiled.
Izzy thought back to the awkward incident that had occurred the other day. "Thanks Dad, but I think we can all agree it's getting a little crowded in here."
Alexander nodded understandingly.
"And if I do ever get a job, I'll pay for Hugo's therapy," she promised.
Izzy stood and announced she was heading outside to help Tosha in the garden. "I can't believe how much work Mum is putting into the garden for the wedding. I did tell her it was family only right?"
"Yes. But we assumed that also meant your fiancé's family. What are their names again?" Alexander replied.
"You're very funny."
"I thought so," he chuckled.
John spoke from behind the paper, "So did I."
"Just remember I can make the both of you cluck like chickens," she threatened playfully before joining her mother in preparation for the big day.
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Izzy and John had their honeymoon at her parent's cabin in Three Lakes.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of time was spent indoors.
When they did manage to leave the house it was mostly for food, but Izzy made sure to take enough pictures of the scenery so that it least seemed like they had spent some of their time outside of the bedroom.
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Izzy and John did move in with his brother Juan after their honeymoon and soon life in the Goth house returned to the normal routines of work and school.
After many years teaching at a local high school, Tosha had been invited to be a guest lecturer at Sim State University. She enjoyed the work and as a bonus her employment at the university had meant a discount on Izzy's university fees. But between Hugo's private school fees and expenses occurred during the build in Three Lakes, it would still be a while until she could afford to retire.
Hugo excelled at school and during music classes had discovered he had a natural talent when it came to playing instruments. Alexander and Tosha surprised him with a keyboard which he diligently practiced on every day.
Hugo had friends that he'd met at school and on the school bus, but he was proud to tell anyone that his best friend was Alvin.
As he had originally planned, Alvin joined Alexander on many of his speaking engagements but this still left him with a lot of free time. It was during a conversation with Martin Ruben, a long time family friend who was currently working as a senior professor with Tosha, that it was suggested he should apply to give some lectures of his own at the University.
The University fully supported the idea and accepted him as a guest lecturer. He felt nervous but also quiet excited as he headed to his first day of work.
His lectures were a tremendous success and Alvin was adored by everyone on campus. In fact it seemed that every day he came home with a gift from either his colleagues or his students.
Remembering that John had always been interested, Alexander kept an eye out for any positions in the science field. It wasn't working with the natural sciences like he had done, except for the rats of course, but eventually he was able to recommend his son-in-law for a position as a lab assistant.
John thoroughly enjoyed his new position and impressed his employers with his hard work and dedication. It wasn't long before he was invited to join them on other projects.
After some private tutoring from Samantha and Kimberly Cordial, Izzy had developed her magical abilities including divination. After a few recommendations, she was eventually able to earn an income as a dowser for a brief time before her skills were requested by the local police force.
Izzy had been very proud of her appointment as a police psychic. She only wished Alexander, who still seemed opposed to his daughter really having anything to do with the supernatural, had been as enthusiastic.
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Alexander's lacklustre response was still on her mind when Izzy and John went to her parents for their weekly dinner. "You never asked me what I used the remaining wish for?" Izzy prompted.
Alexander was surprised by the question, he hadn't given any thought to the magic lamp at the Mortimer Goth Society for years. "No, I suppose I haven't. Is it important?" he asked cautiously.
"Yes!" Izzy replied emphatically. "Perhaps it would ease your mind if you didn't think my being involved in the supernatural was a recipe for disaster!"
"This is about the new job isn't it?" he mused.
Izzy looked at him intently, hoping he knew just how important his approval was to her.
"Please don't think I'm not proud of you Izzy, because I am. And if I've made you feel any different I can't apologise enough," he told her sincerely. "I guess old habits die hard, and that includes worrying about what you can handle," he admitted.
"I love that you worry about me Dad, I just need to know that you trust me," she told him.
"Of course I do," he replied without hesitation.
"Good, I'm glad that's sorted," Izzy smiled, hopeful that she could finally lay to rest her concerns that her father still held her actions as a teenager against her.
As always, dinner was a lively affair as the family sat down and caught up on the week's events.
Hugo had been tucked in and read a story, Alvin had retired to the shed and John and Alexander were playing a game of chess. Tosha took the opportunity to ask Izzy about the possibility of grandchildren.
She was taken aback by her daughter's defensive response.
"Sorry," Izzy quickly apologised, realising she had snapped unfairly. "I just feel like John's family have all asked the same question too," she offered in explanation.
Tosha looked at her daughter with concern, not entirely convinced by the reasoning offered.
It was true that one or two of John's siblings had asked the same question, although that had been in jest. The reason that Izzy was so sensitive on the subject is that while she and John hadn't technically been trying to get pregnant, she also hadn't been using contraception since they went on their honeymoon. But knowing all too well her mother's struggles she couldn't bear the thought of burdening of her with the concerns that were starting to form in her mind.
"John and I want to save up and get a place of our own before we think about children. But believe me, if you're going to be a grandma, you'll be the first to know," she promised.