TW: Milly’s Story contains Coercive Behaviour
Hunter despised outside interference. He was reluctant to invite Eliza and Scarlett. Their presence was a most unwelcome experience. Their remarks were sharp, expressing their sense of distance from Milly. She was his wife, and they belonged together. He would not have her family trying to break his happy home. The number of unanswered messages on her phone irritated him. Something needed to change, so this lunch was his way of trying to end the intrusion. It seemed checking in with the cousins once a month on her behalf was unsatisfactory. Could they not understand Milly was busy with the children? They were unreasonable, expecting her to respond at all hours. He hoped an invitation to meet the newest arrivals would go some way to quell their need to know everything.
Milly hummed, busying herself with cooking, Selena at her side coping with her mother. James looked up from his homework. Hunter may have deemed it work for women, but it looked more fun than learning new words. The smell was not helping. James felt hungry and jealous of his sister getting to sample the goods. The presence of his father meant Selena and Milly would ignore him. Both feared repercussions as their had been in recent weeks. Hunter scolded Selena for letting James taste the soup. A small teaspoon held to his lips burnt his tongue and dripped onto the book he was reading. James had not cared. He desired inclusion, but witnessing Selena sent to her room seemed severe. Later that evening, he had crept downstairs for some water to see his mother crying. She spotted him and beckoned him in for a hug. It was a safe moment as Hunter had left. Milly whispered it was not his fault. Hunter just liked to see the world a certain way. James squeezed Milly tighter, a distant understanding of what their life entailed.
Eliza remained pleasant, entering the home and placing armfuls of gifts by the door. Crouching with open arms, she recognised Milly in the rounded face of Selena. The dense ginger curls and large green eyes seemed oversized for her face but were endearing. James paled next to his sister. Eliza could see the mirror image of Hunter, except with tight greenish-blonde curls. It unnerved Eliza that James would be a replica of his father. She hoped there was more of Milly in his personality. The twins stood together, glued to the spot and wary of the two strangers entering the home. Milly had shown them pictures, sharing stories of her life with Eliza. She romanticised how Scarlett became a part of their lives. James considered Eliza a grandmother figure. Her features were like Ziva’s, and her role in raising Milly supported the Grandma mantel. The notion of Eliza taking on this persona amused Milly. For Eliza, she sighed and stood, a sorrow in her eyes that she and they were so estranged.
Hunter broke the bittersweet introduction, ushering all to the kitchen. The food Milly prepared was too delicious to waste on sentimental ramblings. The addition of Scarlett needing to respect this was not his wife’s profession and did not go unnoticed. Hunter felt the need to request they also give Milly some pointers so she could improve. Milly lowered her eyes, self-conscious of the food Scarlett was about to eat. James and Selena had not budged. They eyed the pile of gifts, curious to know the contents. Hunter spoke with a stern voice, bringing disappointment to their intrigue. They picked at the food, wishing they could open at least one.
Scarlett and Eliza: https://www.patreon.com/posts/family-reunion-86147095?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
James and Selena: https://jitterysims.tumblr.com/post/728661350831849473/twin-children-pose-pack
By the Grace of Sim Gods 