2.4 - The Surprise

I moved to the other side of the porch to get a different angle. Mom congratulated me again as I walked by.  I thanked her, but my attention remained on the ship.   It seemed empty.  I surveyed the road and surrounding areas, but in the dark, I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.  No, wait, something caught my eye.  A blob of some sort, no bigger than a plate, and it floated towards the house.

Any normal person would be terrified by now.  Not me, though.  I had spent most of my life researching these creatures.  I knew everything known to sims about them, which consisted of little.  I wanted to talk to them, learn more from them, and ask many, many questions.

The green bobbing thing moved closer until it finally stopped in front of me.   I could not help but stare at it.  It was just a face, with green skin.  I saw eyes that were bigger than mine and they were almond shaped.  My reflection stared back at me as I looked into them.  Its ears were pointy on top and just a little larger than mine.   It stared back.  I felt as if it were probing my mind.  I had read they could do that.  What a strange sensation!

Finally, it spoke.

"I am Ghint Traun," he said with pride.  "You're London Ramsey."

Taken aback at first, I realized that I understood everything he said.  I'm not sure why it surprised me.  My research showed they spoke Simlish, but no one had ever spoken to one of them.  I wonder if all the aliens spoke like him. Another question to add to the pile, I thought.

Oh, and he knew my name.  Then I remembered, they knew everything because they had created me.  Well, at least the physical things.  Honestly, it felt bizarre.  A stranger knowing my name without an introduction.

“Yes,” I nodded.  “Nice to meet you, Ghint.”  I held out my hand and he shook it, which surprised me.  An alien who shakes hands, too?

“I know you are full of questions, London.  We have the answers you seek.  Unfortunately, now is not the time,” he explained as he looked around.  “We do not wish to interrupt your ritual.  Could we meet in one month?”

I thought for a moment.  One month felt far too long, but I agreed.  Esmeralda and I needed time with each other, before something else was thrown into our newlywed life. I ran my schedule quickly through my head and found nothing on the day he specified.  Even if I had a meeting, I would have cancelled it.  I would tell Es.  She knew how important it was that I discover my chemical makeup.

“That sounds agreeable.  Are we meeting here?"  He nodded. "Oh, and you and your ship are invisible, right?  Otherwise, my family and friends would be a little more frightened,” I stated as I looked through the window.  I noticed Es, Sophia, Lynelle and my mom dancing.  Lynelle kept doing some crazy moves and everyone else cracked up.  I smiled, thankful no one had noticed my one-sided conversation or my absence.

“Yes. You are correct about the invisibility.  You're very perceptive, London."  He looked into the house as well and smiled at my sister.  "We don't like causing disturbances.  It is harder to accomplish our missions."

I nodded.  I could easily see that being a problem.  I shook hands with him and he left the way he came, noiselessly.  

I fumbled to find a seat near me.  My heart pounded inside my chest, whether from exhilaration or trepidation, I wasn't sure.  My mind tried to wrap itself around what had just happened.  As I took a few calming breaths, my heart started to steady.  I knew when the time came, I wouldn't miss the meeting with alien stranger. 

I stood up and went inside, back to my bride and our guests. Es noticed me first and seemed very excited.  Thankfully, she didn't ask any questions or mention my absence.  Instead, she said we had a marriage certificate to sign to make it official.  To celebrate, she dragged me over to the dance floor.   As she pulled me close, the lights suddenly dimmed.  We started our first dance as Mr and Mrs London Ramsey.

As the music played, I held her close.  I barely noticed anyone else.  I could only think about the smell of my Es and how she felt in my arms. As we moved around the dance floor, a thought popped into my head.  We were done!  No more planning no more lists.  I pulled her even closer as that realization sunk in.  My thoughts drifted toward our night together…alone.

A few hours later, we finished the cake and champagne.  We'd worn ourselves out, but it had been a memorable day.  Even more so with the alien.  Everyone seemed eager to leave, but kept glancing at us.  I just rolled my eyes and shooed them out the door.  I loved my family, but those girls had too many thoughts running around in their brains.

Once the blinds were closed, we worked on getting things cleaned up.  She seemed nervous as she fumbled a few dishes.  I just followed her lead.  I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

We decided to leave some of the cleaning for the next day. So, the lights were turned off and we made our way up to the bedroom for our first night as husband and wife. 

As we walked into the narrow hallway of our room, I caught her hand.  I softly kicked the door shut behind us and kissed her forehead.

"It's over.  You can relax now," I said with a smile.

"I know, but it will be hard going from all the planning to doing nothing.  Maybe I should learn to play guitar.  Or I could find a part-time job."

I walked over to the closet and opened the door.  "The guitar sounds fun," I answered as I took off my jacket and tie.  "The part-time job could be enjoyable if you find the right one."

"I don't know.  Maybe.  I'll think about it.  I just don't want to be stuck in retail forever.  That's why I quit my last job."

She seemed lost in thought after that.  I wanted to help her talk it out. I knew she worked best that way.  I offered to talk more about it tomorrow.  She agreed because tonight we had other plans...

____________________________________________________________________

The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed.  Disappointment coursed through me for a moment.  We had such an intimate time the previous night and I would have loved to have a repeat of it.  As I lay there, I heard a noise.  It sounded like it was coming from the bathroom.  I threw my robe on and made my way to the bathroom.  As I kicked the clothes from the previous night aside, I knocked on the door.

“Es, are you ok?”  I said worriedly.

Nothing.  I heard the water turn on at the bathroom sink.

“Honey?”

A faint, “yeah” came and a sigh of relief escaped my lips.

The door slowly opened and Esmeralda came out naked. I saw her pale face when she looked at me with pitiful eyes.

I drew her into a hug and asked what had happened.

“I don't know.  I just suddenly had to throw up.  It woke me up and I barely got to the bathroom in time.  And,” she said dejectedly, “there's a mess in there.  I'm so sorry.”

“I'll get it. Don't worry about it.  Go back to bed and I will make quick work of the clean up.  I could go to the store, too, if you need anything.”

She shook her head.  “No, I just want to lay down again.  I'm sorry.  Can you help me get some clothes on?"  I nodded.  "I'm sure this isn't exactly how you pictured our first day as husband and wife."

I didn't respond as I helped her get clothed and back in bed. Instinctively, I touched her forehead, expecting it to be hot.  It was surprisingly cool to the touch.

I covered her up with blankets as I said, "Honestly, honey, I just want you to feel better.  I'm sure you also didn't picture our first day like this.  Rest well."  I kissed her forehead as she closed her eyes.

I went to the bathroom, dug up some cleaning supplies and scrubbed the whole bathroom.  “There!  Good as new!”

I put everything away and walked into the bedroom.  Esmeralda slept peacefully and her cheeks were rosier than before.  Satisfied, I went downstairs to eat something.

After I ate, I found her still sleeping, so I left a note on the table next to the bed telling her to text me if she needed me.  

Originally, my office wasn't sound proof.  But recently, I'd done some work on it.  I could still hear sounds, but only if the door stood open.   

Once seated at my desk, I started working.  A few hours passed before I noticed.  Funny how that happens when I'm writing.

I checked my phone and didn’t see a text message from Es.  I saved my work and went to check on Es.  I found her still sleeping and felt her forehead again. Hmm...still cool.  Her eyes fluttered open.

“Baby, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to wake you up,” I said with a frown.

“It’s ok.  What time is it?  I probably need to get up and make breakfast.”

“It’s 11:00.  I already made myself something to eat.  Are you hungry?  I could bring up some toast.”

She thought for a moment, but shook her head.  I could tell she wanted to get up.  She slowly sat up on the edge of the bed, and then I helped her to stand.

“Are you ok?”  I asked concerned, hanging onto her arm.

“Yeah, I think so.  I feel a lot better.  You know how it is.  You feel so much better after you puke,” she looked disgusted when she said it, but then smiled.

She started walking to the bathroom and stated that she needed a shower.  Maybe a shower would help even more.

I went downstairs to finish cleaning the kitchen.  I heard her get out of the shower as I opened up a container of yogurt.  She came down just as I put the bowl on the table.

As we ate, we talked about what we were going to do that day.  We would leave the next day for the honeymoon.  I didn't voice my opinion, but I wondered if we should even go. Her sickness troubled me. If needed, I would postpone the vacation.

She stated relaxation was the key.  Visiting some place in town we’d never been to before sounded fun to her.  I had wanted to take her to the new bakery, but the mere thought of mentioning food scared me.  Well, technically, I wanted to take myself and drag her with me.   Our wedding cake had been delicious and I wanted to test some of the other goodies they offered.   I decided to throw my thought out anyway.

“How about the—” I started.

“Deliciously Indulgent Bakery,” we said at the same time.

We laughed and I told her I had been worried.

“Honestly, I feel much, much better now.  Maybe it was a fluke?  I might have had too much champagne.”

I do remember she had a few glasses.  She usually didn't drink, so maybe it'd been too much.  I decided that it made logical sense and let it go for the moment.

We strapped ourselves into my little car and traveled in town.  The sun shone brightly in the beautiful Roaring Heights sky as my beautiful new bride and I strolled up to the bakery.  My taste buds salivated at the thought of the desserts inside, waiting to be sampled.  The day couldn't get much better.

The bakery's popularity had been growing for a few months now.  So, when we arrived right after lunch, I was surprised to find it empty. 

However, once we ordered our food, the placed started filling up.  We quickly grabbed our plates and found seats.

"Ok," I said as I rubbed my hands together, "we bought a few different things.  On my plate, I have a piece of banana cream pie, blueberry cobbler, and a cinnamon roll.  What do you have?" As I spoke, drool started to form at the corner of my mouth.

"London, you'd think we struck gold.  You are far too excited about this," she laughed, but moved her plate closer to me.

"I can't help it.  If these are half as good as that wedding cake, then I did strike gold."  I announced that her plate contained a piece of strawberry-rhubarb pie, cherry cobbler, and a few different types of cookies.  I ate half of my plate and handed it to Es.  She surprisingly had already eaten half of hers as well.  So, we switched.

As we ate, people came by and congratulated us.  We thanked everyone, but my focus remained on my plate.  They were all more incredible than I originally anticipated. 

The place went beyond my wildest dreams.  I needed to meet the owner.  As I asked to speak to him or her, the counter person pointed at someone coming our way. Who happened to appear, but none other than Romeo Montague!  Shocked couldn't even begin to describe the looks on our face.  Why hadn't he ever said anything!

“Cat got your tongue, old chap?” he said with deep laugh.

It took me a few minutes to recover.  Finally, I picked up my jaw from the floor and shook his hand.

“So, you have come to tell me how terrible my food is?” he said with a raised eyebrow.

“Um….” I cleared my throat nervously.  “I came to say, uh, how impressed I am with your, um, your bakery." I took a deep breath and continued, "It has the most delicious selection of desserts.  Well, at least the ones I tried."  I felt my eyes grow big and I quickly croaked, "But I'm sure they are all awesome."  I felt like an idiot, but couldn't seem to stop the escapade. "You definitely have extreme talent and if you ever need a partner, I would be glad to invest in your business.”  I blew out my breath.  The floor needed to open up and swallow me.  What an idiot!

But Romeo just stared back in shock. I really must have made a fool of myself.  Es gently put her arm through mine.  We looked at each other and relief spread through me.  Why was I nervous with her by my side?  And anyway, besides Es, Romeo was my best friend.  The desserts had messed up my brain, I guess.  

Romeo asked us to follow him, which took us through part of the kitchen and then down an elegant gold pinstriped hallway. At the end, we stood before a set of tall mahogany doors.  He opened one door and held out his arm, inviting us in.  We walked in to a modern office with elegant touches. It fit Romeo well.

Romeo waved us to take a seat and he sat down in his office chair. "Are you serious about a partnership?" he asked with raised eybrows.

We nodded without even looking at each other. After our taste testing, we discussed the idea at length. Honestly, we never thought it would happen.  And how we missed the news that Romeo and Katarina owned the place puzzled us.  

"Well, we are doing far better than we expected in our first quarter.  If it was anyone else, I might politely decline. However, it's you.  Would you agree to be a silent partner with a side of food testing?"

My eyes widened considerably.  "Food testing?  What would that entail?"  I pictured myself at a table eating unknown things and then spitting it out.  Ew.

He revealed the secrets of the test kitchen, and it sounded intriguingly yummy.  Then, he explained some details about the business and told us some stats including number of employees, the last monthly totals and a few other minor numbers.

He looked at us and said in a sincere voice, “Honestly, if you would like to invest, I would not stop you.  I would welcome you, my friends.  If you still agree, we can get our lawyers to draw up the paperwork.  It shouldn't be too complicated,” he said with a big grin on his face.

I looked at Es and she nodded vigorously.  I stood up and held out my hand, “you have yourself a deal.”  He also stood up, but walked around the desk.  As he shook my hand and patted me on the back, Esmeralda stood up.  Romeo went up to her as well and hugged her.  Who knew the day would create such an exciting adventure.

After our business had finished, we walked out to the customer area.  The rush had ended and Romeo gathered the staff.  The partnership Romeo kept quiet, but he told them we would be helping out in the Test Kitchen.  Once we met everyone, more customers strolled in and business picked up.  We left with a smile on our face.

We talked in the car about the exciting news.  Esmeralda seemed more excited than me.  She also said she needed a snack again when we got home.  I couldn't believe was hungry again. She had just eaten.  I said nothing.   

Once home, Es barely acknowledged me as her stomach guided her to the refrigerator.  I quickly kissed her and headed to my office.  I had another idea pinging around my brain and wanted to get it down.

I had just sat down and started typing when I heard a thump.  Honestly, I'm surprised I even heard it, but I had left the door open accidentally.  "Es?"

"Es?  Are you okay?"  I nervously got up and jogged to the kitchen.

Esmeralda lay on the floor, collapsed. 

I almost panicked, but quickly got it together.  Her chest rose and fell.  Good, she was breathing! Whew! I lifted her into my arms and walked down to the hospital.  It didn't seem far and putting her in the car would've been a hassle.

By the time I got to the hospital, though, my arms were weakening.  I almost wished I had put her in the car.  She may not have been heavy, but the walk took longer than I'd originally thought.

As I walked up the stairs, Es woke up.  A nurse wheeled a chair over to me.  I thanked her and gently put Es into it. 

"London, where are we?"

"In the hospital.  You fainted at home.  So, I brought you here."

She went wide-eyed for a moment.  I took her hand and said everything would be fine.  We sat at one of the desks and the nurse handed us a pile of forms.  Thankful she'd woken up, we started filling out the paperwork. 

A nurse sat down at the computer and entered all the information when we'd finished.  She also asked us a few more questions as she entered the information.  Es answered the best she could.  She still seemed a little out of it.  

I told the nurse we were just married the day before.  Even Esmeralda's name hadn't been changed to Ramsey yet.  If necessary, I could pull out the copy of the marriage certificate in my wallet.  The nurse, Poppy according to her name tag, didn't bat an eye as she continued stabbing at the keyboard.

Finally assigned to a room, Es answered more questions, including repeats.  After multiple tests were done, they allowed her to rest.  She fell asleep quickly.  I spent that time postponing our honeymoon and then calling her parent's, Scot and Sophie.  They stated they'd be there as soon as they could. 

I decided against calling Mom and Dad just yet.  They had taken a trip themselves to France.  Mom had been there a few times for work, but Dad had never been.  I didn't want to interrupt their fun.

As I sat there, waiting for results, I thought about everything.  We had barely begun our marriage and the alien came, then this happened.  What more could happen?  Maybe I shouldn't ask that question.

I had told the nurses that she had been sick that morning.  They had said she could be dehydrated or something.  I wasn't sure about that.  She'd only been sick once.  Then, she drank water at the bakery.

Es only slept for a short time and awakened when her parent's arrived.  I kept catching them grinning at us. I glanced at Es and she just shrugged.  Neither one of us understood.   

Finally, a few hours later, a doctor knocked on the door and walked in.  Scot and Sophie excused themselves and said they would wait out in the lobby.  I appreciated their respect. They knew we would tell them as soon as we knew more..

Dr. Smith introduced herself and walked to the side of the bed.  I grabbed Esmeralda's hand.  Nervously, we waited for the results.

“Esmeralda, we did numerous tests and as far as we can see, you are a very healthy young woman.”

“You mean you found nothing wrong?  Not even the flu?” She held her hand to her stomach.  "That doesn't make any sense."

“It does, but you'll need to prepare yourself.” Her glance skimmed over both of us. She seemed serious for a moment, but then she grinned.  “Congratulations!  In nine months, you'll have a new bundle of joy!”

Flabbergasted.  No, maybe dazed.  Yeah, that's the word.  That's how I felt.  Probably Es, too.  I think my heart even skipped a beat.  Even the doctor gawked at us, probably wondering what our problem was. I glanced at Es.  I saw many different emotions flickering across her face.  I'm sure my face mirrored hers. 

We just stared at each other for a moment.  Then, she grinned, from ear to ear.  I did too.  I couldn't help it, she made me do things like that.  I mean, we did want kids.  It happened to be a little faster than we had anticipated, but it would be ok, right?

“I suppose you weren't expecting that answer, huh?"  The doctor skimmed the chart in her hands as she continued, "I am slightly concerned with Esmeralda’s results.  So I’d like her to stay on a light bed rest for a week.  This would include the couch as well.  Just take it easy, no lifting, nothing strenuous.  It is a little unusual, I know.  There isn't anything wrong per se.  It's just a precaution.  And, I want you to start prenatals right away."

"Oh, the ultrasound came back and the baby is doing very well. That's excellent news!  Now, the nurse will come back with all the written instructions and the prescription for the prenatals."

“But, Dr. Smith," Es interrupted, "we were supposed to leave for our honeymoon tomorrow morning.  Could we just postpone it for a few days, maybe?” Es asked looking a little disappointed.

“Well, maybe, but I honestly would hold off for at least the week.  Once you are cleared, then you can move forward with your plans.  I know it's hard to hear, but it is for the safety of you and your child.” I held her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.  It was only a week.  

We thanked the doctor and she left.  After the nurse came in to give us our information and dismissal paperwork, I pushed Es to the lobby where Scot and Sophie joined us. The hospital insisted they push Es to the car at the curb, so I asked her parent's to meet us at our house where we'd explain everything. 

At home, we told Scot and Sophie the news.  I'm not sure how older people suspect these things, but they both high-fived and said, “We knew it!” 

They left shortly after that offering any help if needed.  I called Mom and Dad too.  I told them the news over the phone. I had to hold the phone away as they screamed. I think they were excited.  They offered to leave early to help, but I told them to please stay.  Es and the baby were well and we could handle it. Then, in a week, we'd be on our way to our honeymoon destination.  

Esmeralda headed for bed after we hung up.  She hadn't gotten much sleep at the hospital.  "Nothing's better than your bed at home," she said with a tired smile.  

After she went upstairs, I sat on the couch and mulled over everything that had happened.  This whole thing had completely blindsided me.  Yes, I accepted it, of course.  I had no choice. 

I was being selfish and I knew it.  I had hoped to get to know Es in many ways long before a baby entered our minds.  That one night!  Our blissful newlywed life changed because of it.  And we couldn't get it back. 

As I continued to stew, I played with my wedding ring.  It was our fault.  We had to own it.  Make the best of it.  It would be a challenge.  We worked well together in challenges, I thought slowly.  I'd rather be in this with her than anyone else.  And, we had nine months to get used to it...the idea of a baby.  We could do this. Yes!  We could!

I felt a little better after my pep talk.  Es needed me more than ever right now. I knew she needed reassurance that I was indeed accepting of this.  She knew me well and I could not fool her.  I needed to get my brain wrapped around it, and fast.  Nine months, nine months, nine months. My brain kept repeating that.  Nine months was a long time.

The best way for me to help work my way through stress?  Write my novel.  It always inspired me.  So, I went to my office to work.  I texted Es, but I must have pondered longer than I thought.  Shortly after I sent my text, she sent me one assuring me she was feeling better and had found a book to read.

After just twenty-four hours, Esmeralda became restless.  I knew that it'd be tough, so I bought her a guitar.  I thought it would be something that she could learn to play while she relaxed.  Her delight in it, made me happy.  Soon, I heard music - er, well, notes - drifting from the instrument.  I went back to work on my story.  Thankfully, I usually shut my door, so it didn't make her suspicious.

After a few hours, I noticed silence.  I wasn't sure how long it had been that way, so I nervously got up to check on her.  She sat on the couch with her foot under her leg.  Her slouched shoulders indicated her sadness. I sat down beside her and held her hand.

“Honey, I am so sorry that I ruined our honeymoon and messed up our schedule. I'm sure I'll be cleared in six days and then we can go,” as she said it, though, she had some doubt on her face.

“Es, honey, your health along with the baby’s is far more important than a trip.  Or even our schedule.  We'll go when you're cleared, no matter when it is.  We could even wait until after the baby comes.  I do not want you to be miserable on such an important trip," I pointedly looked at her.  She blushed, but smiled.  "We could also just spend a few nights somewhere.  Then, go on a second honeymoon after a few years.  It would not take long for me to search out some bed and breakfast places.”

Her eyes lit up at that idea.  “Oh, that would be perfect!  I want to explore France with you, but I feel a little overwhelmed by it,” as she finished her sentence, I interrupted.  “Hey, how did you know where I was taking you?”

“Easy, I mentioned it once a long time ago when we first started dating.  I said it was a dream of mine to go to France one day.  I knew you would think back to that and take me,” she smiled slyly as she spoke.

She continued with enthusiasm, “So, I want something that would still be relaxing and enjoyable.  I want to relish our time together, but for the place not to be too far away.  I think you might want to check out a place called Sunlit Tides.  I’ve heard some excellent things and it's just up the coast.”  I nodded and said I'd look into it.

Time went by quickly as we made our plans.  I found a few nice houses we could rent.  After speaking to all the different owners, there was one that stood out.  The beauty and charm of the place caught my eye plus the owner listed a host of amenities that the other places didn't have.  We provided our own food.  I booked it immediately.  

Esmeralda did feel better after a few days.  The vitamins must have helped more than I thought they would.  Unfortunately, the morning sickness didn't escape her.  By mid-mornings it usually disappeared.  She worked on buying guitar lesson books, baby books and finding a part-time job that intrigued her. The laptop always seemed to be in front of her.   

Beyond getting ready for the trip, I spent as much time in my office as I could.  Es started planning the baby's room.  She couldn't do much to the room, but she did a lot of searching for ideas online. Honestly, I didn't care what she did to the room.  I was just happy that she was enjoying life again.  I needed to remember she liked having things to do.

Finally the day of the results arrived.  We were both optimistic as we waited.  Thankfully, it was good news and she was cleared.  However, doubt crept into my mind.

Was she really healthy enough to go?  Should she stay home and rest?  What if she collapsed again?  Or what if something worse happened?  I didn’t want to be responsible for losing the baby.  I'm not sure either of us could handle it.

The most dreaded question, which I hadn't even thought of until that moment:  would my DNA affect the baby?  No way was I going to mention that question to Es.  Maybe I could talk to the scientists or ask the alien quietly, when Es away.  The only thought that eased my mind for the moment: the doctor hadn't said anything about it.

For now, I needed to push the doubt away.  Surely Es would say something if she didn't feel well plus the doctor had cleared her to go.  Ugh, this baby was already making us second guess everything.  

I peeked at my bride the next morning as we prepared to leave.  Her cheeks glowed with a rosy color and she had a bright smile on her face.  Yeah, she was ok, but I'd watch her like a hawk.

I loaded our bags in my trusty car and we climbed in.  The vehicle started perfectly.  My mechanic in town really knew how to make this baby purr.

On our way out of town, Esmeralda started asking about baby names and which ones I liked.  She had a whole list in her lap.  Boy, I was in for a long drive.

We arrived right before dinner.  The house sat against an island paradise back drop.  We knew it would be beautiful, but we never guessed it would be this spectacular.  We got out of the car and pulled the bags from the trunk.

Once we were inside the house, I put the bags down.  I pulled Es close to me and kissed her forehead.  “We’re finally here, sweetheart,” I whispered as I hugged her close.  She wrapped her arms around me and sighed contentedly.  

“Let’s explore!” she exclaimed as she grabbed my hand. We began our own tour of the house.

We found a hot tub in the back, but unfortunately, it was against doctor's orders. The view from the deck in the back brought the sounds of the ocean.  It waved to us with its white foam caps and the breeze brought us the salty smell.  It was perfect!  I wrapped my arms around Es as she stood in front of me, watching the ocean.  She leaned back and I could feel her relax. I knew this was the exact place we needed to be.   

Later that night, as I brushed my teeth, an idea came to mind.  I quickly finished and went to find Es.  However, she'd already curled under the covers and had fallen asleep.  I'm glad she was getting the rest she needed.

The next morning, we agreed to walk to the local diner for breakfast.  The greasy food tasted amazing.  Those little places make the best food!  Of course, we could not eat like that all the time or we’d die of a heart attack by age 40.

We walked along the beach and hunted for seashells after we ate.  We had a blast comparing shells and even found a message in a bottle.  It said, “You will find what you seek.”  We laughed so hard!  I guess it meant the bottle?   We didn’t know, but the thought amused us nonetheless.

We walked by a local spa along our venture.  It didn't seem busy, so we stopped in.  What is a relaxing trip without a massage?  The doc said Esmeralda could get one, but cautioned us to tell the staff that she was pregnant.  We didn’t understand why, but when we told the staff, they knew immediately what it meant.  They mentioned too many toxins and what-not getting into the blood stream.

I was concerned, but they waved it off.  “We have a special pregnancy massage that we do, which is less than the hour recommended."

It seemed good to me and Es agreed.  

After our amazing massages, we left and went to the park.  Along the way, we bought food at a local grocery store and made a picnic lunch.  We found a spot near a creek and spread out the blanket we'd bought.  Everything always tastes better outside for some reason.

Finally, we arrived back at the house in time for a nap.  Not sure when the last time that occurred, but I woke up rejuvenated.  I'd have to remember that.

Es lay beside me sleeping peacefully.  I carefully got out of the bed and made my way downstairs.  Grabbing my laptop, I sat on the couch to check my emails.  Most knew I was on vacation, but sometimes the publishing companies and my agent didn't care. This time they had sent easy questions and I was able to finish quickly.

Dinner time drew near, so with the extra time, I decided to go to the grocery store again.  It was just around the block.  I left Es a quick note and made my way down the road.

While I was gone, Es woke up and panicked.  She couldn't find me in the house and I'd forgotten my cell phone.  I found out later she'd knocked the note on the floor when she'd flipped back the covers.  Once she found the note, she calmed down.

I felt terrible when I found out, though.  I should have waited or at least brought my cell phone.  Es continued reassuring me, but I vowed to be more careful in the future.

Our evening continued with a delicious dinner. Unfortunately, the baby didn't agree and poor Esmeralda got sick shortly afterwards. I held her hair back as she vomited in the toilet. My poor Es.

She crawled into bed shortly after that, so I went back downstairs to work on my book. Unfortunately, I couldn’t concentrate.  The events of the day crowded my thoughts, leaving me exhausted. After staring at the screen for an hour, I put everything away and carefully climbed in next to Es.

The next morning, she still wasn't feeling well, so we lounged on the couch.  We laughed at our "vacation" so far.  I told Es my feelings on having a baby.  How I hated myself, but I knew I could work through it.  She surprisingly didn't get upset.  She said she struggled with the same thoughts, but she loved kids and looked forward to having a little one.   

We eventually made our way to the deck where the salty ocean air seemed to revive Esmeralda.  She suggested we find some fishing equipment and try our hand at catching some fish for lunch. We found some poles and a tackle box in the garage and strolled down to our own private beach. 

Honestly, I hadn't been fishing in awhile.  Probably the reason I got the hook stuck in my shorts.  Es almost doubled over in laughter.  She had to help me, but couldn't resist snapping a photo first.  Finally, our lines were in the water.

Within half an hour, we'd caught a few fish.  I turned the grill on once we arrived back on the deck.  Then, I scaled and grilled the fish while Es whipped up a salad.  Fresh fish is definitely the way to go.     

While Es voiced her tiredness and left for the bedroom, I tried once again to write, and this time I sat out on the deck.  My brain finally relaxed and the fog cleared, thanks to the ocean sounds around me.  I finished quite a chunk of writing that afternoon. I was mighty proud!

As the sun started to set in all its glory, I knew I'd never forget this place. Especially on those days when frustration reared its ugly head.  Perhaps when I got home, I might find a special place along the beach nearby.

Later, Es woke up hungry, enough to eat a bear, she said.  She suggested we go to a restaurant she'd heard some of the locals talking about.  A romantic place.  Since she seemed more herself, I agreed.  So, we got dressed up and drove to the other side of the island.  

Instantly, we understood the popularity. There were candle-like lights everywhere, even outside.  I'm not sure how they kept them lit during storms.  Maybe they were fake candles.  Either way, Paradise Island oozed romance before you even walked in the building.  Well, at least that's what Es said.

Inside, the same candle-like lights dimly lit the place.  Each table sat secluded from the others to give the customers more privacy.  Unfortunately, the wait was an hour and a half!

The hostess asked how many, but I didn't answer right away.  I wasn't sure I wanted to wait that long.  My stomach growled in protest when Es said, "Two, please." 

“Name?”

"Ramsey”

"First name?"

"London," Es answered.

The hostess said, “Wait.  THE London Ramsey?”

“Um, I only know one, so I guess," I answered looking amused.

“Please wait right here.”

She turned and walked to what I assumed was the kitchen area.  A few minutes later, the hostess hadn't returned and I began to get a little uncomfortable in this foreign place.   Others turned to stare and whisper.  I hated that.  I glanced at Es who shrugged.    

The hostess came out with a tall bald man with a suit and name tag.  It said, “Matt Spark, Manager”.

I began to worry we were in some kind of trouble.  Had another London Ramsey come and not paid their bill or something?

“London Ramsey!”

“Are we in some sort of trouble?”

“Oh, no, not at all.”  He held out his hand and I shook it a little hesitantly.  “My name is Matt Spark.  I’m the manager of Paradise Island.  I wanted to come personally meet you."  He kissed Esmeralda's hand and she blushed, of course.  "My staff has a list of my favorite celebrities.  So when one comes in the door, they know to immediately come find me.”

My eyes widened.  “I'm one of your favorites?  Wow!  I'm honored!”

"Natasha," he gestured to a woman with a serving tray, "please bring two menus to Table 55."  She nodded as he turned back to us. "Come this way."

He quickly whisked us to a table in the back.  Matt stated the specials and said our waitress would bring the menus shortly.  He asked if I would sign his book, which I did.  Then, he left us alone in the romantic ambience.

As Es looked into my eyes, I could almost feel the romance.  That is until she laughed and mimicked me.  “Are we in some sort of trouble?”

“Oh, stop!  You didn't know what was going on either,” I laughed but pulled my hand back.

“I know.  I couldn't stop myself, though.”  She grabbed my hand again and kissed it.  A tingle went down my spine, then my stomach growled again.

Once we had the menus, we looked them over and choked when we saw the prices. When our waiter came back, she asked if we were ready to order, quickly explaining that the meal was on the house. We were to order whatever we wanted.

I shook my head in disbelief.  In Roaring Heights, most people left us alone. Sometimes, the paparazzis would get annoying, but if we ignored them for awhile, they'd eventually leave.  We enjoyed the simple life, but for one night, we opted to enjoy the royalty treatment

We ordered what we desired, then sat back and took in the beauty of the place.  As we started talking about other topics, the food came.  Now, I've had some lobster in my lifetime, but Sunlit Tides' lobster easily rivaled and surpassed all of them.  Even to this day.

After thanking the manager again (and whispering to keep our presence under wraps), we strolled under the moonlight hand in hand.  The warm salty breeze ruffled Esmeralda's hair.  There wasn't much conversation as we slowly headed back to the house to finish the rest of our romantic evening together.

Our little vacation felt more like a honeymoon after that night. I knew once we got back, things would change again.  Shortly after our arrival, the alien meeting loomed.  I had so many questions and I hoped he'd have some answers. Time would tell, as it always does.


*lovesstorm's notes*

Well, I'm back.  Yay!  I've already written out the rest of London's life during November which was NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).  I know what I've written will not be the full story, as I still plan on playing the family in the game.  So, it'll be partly game play wishacy style and partly my story.  

I pushed to get this chapter out partially because I feel terrible for all my slowness and also because it was a gift to my secret person from the Sims 3 forums:  Alleenmens.  Merry Christmas, lady!The alien arrived during his wedding. I had no say in that matter.  The partial alien face was a game glitch.  And, yes, the game crashed shortly afterwards, which is why I only got like three pictures.  :D 

I made them try for a baby long before I wrote the story out.  Haha.  I decided they should have the baby as newlyweds.  Not sure why.  That's just how my mouse clicked and rolled.  

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.  The story I wrote for London and the aliens is so exciting for me.  I can't wait to share it with you.  Hopefully, you find it awesome, too. 

Poses
Office/Table conversations by Inna Lisa
Poses for Sofa by Inna Lisa
Romantic Dinner Poses by Zhippidy
Poses with a glass of by Inna Lisa
Requested Pose Pack by Forever Hailey
Sleeping Pose Pack by traelia
Masculinity Pose Pack by Cobalt Rose (Slices of My Soul)
Awards by Kiddo's Dreams
In the Hospital by Kiddo's Dreams
12 Poses at a Table by Delight 33
Just for Women by Neka Mew
Hi, My Friend by IMHO
Carry me by Eris Sims @ photosimthesis
Wheelchair Poses by spladoum
For Men by Ms Adrienne
Loretta Pose Pack by Skylar
Laptop Poses by spladoum
Couple Poses by Inna Lisa

2.5 - An Encounter of the Third Kind