“Do you think I can start helping in the garden now?” Mason asked, moving his gaze from his fishing line to his brother.
“Didn’t know you were interested in the garden,” Ryker replied with a raised eyebrow.
“Well…” Mason said thoughtfully, “Now that Matthew is married I don’t think he’ll come over as much. He’ll be more busy… and dad hasn’t been able to help all year… Aria hasn’t had any time to go fishing with us, she’s been working so hard.”
Ryker smiled at him, then returned his focus to their bobbers on the pond. Cinnamon Crest Falls cascaded into the water nearby, but the water was otherwise still. The autumn morning air was crisp and mostly quiet, with only the sounds of the waterfall and some early morning birdsong to be heard.
“The birds will migrate soon,” Ryker said softly. “But I can tell you a bit about the different plants before this season is done, if you want... Usually we start helping after we turn 13.”
“I’m 12, not a baby,” his not-that-much-younger brother scoffed.
“Are too,” he teased. But before Mason could protest, he added, “Just kidding. But you’ll be 13 in the spring. It’s not that long to wait — not much to do in the winter, anyway.”
Mason sighed.
“Don’t worry so much,” Ryker told him. “Your clumsy butt will be tripping on weeds in no time.”
“Hey!” Mason laughed and moved close enough to give his brother a playful shove. “Jerk… You’re a clumsy butt!”
Ryker raised an eyebrow again. “Me?”
“YEAH!” Mason exclaimed a bit too loudly. “You liked that photo lady at the wedding and you didn’t get her phone number or anything,” he matter-of-factly explained.
“Did not.”
“Did too! I mean — you didn’t —” Mason took a frustrated breath before clarifying, “You did like her and you did not get her number.”
Ryker shook his head, his messy hair swaying all around and into his eyes. As aloof as he wanted to appear, he also wanted to see his fishing line... He awkwardly swung his head again to get his hair out of his eyes.
Mason huffed. “You did too like her,” he muttered.
-----
Chase Harley came over to the house often, and Aria enjoyed spending time with him. But it bothered her that she didn’t have more clarity over what either of them wanted their relationship to be. She tried to talk with him about her feelings and confusion a few times, but she always stopped shy of the conversation getting difficult or confrontational. She missed when their relationship felt simple and easy.
“You okay?” Chase asked.
“Hm?” Aria had been lost in thought.
“Are we okay?” Chase rephrased. “The closer the house has come to being ready, the more reserved you’ve been with me,” he added softly.
All of Aria’s mixed feelings swelled in her chest. She almost spoke but the words wouldn’t come out right away; her mind couldn’t agree on what they should be.
“Sorry,” he apologized. They sat in silence for a moment before he continued, “I’m just worried. It feels like you’ve changed your mind about moving in and I don’t know if it’s normal nerves, or if it’s about not wanting to leave your family, or if I’ve done something wrong, or if you think I’ve changed since I started training ....”
“You haven’t done anything wrong and I don’t think you’ve changed,” Aria replied.
After another pause, Chase felt compelled to speak, if only to try to ease the tension suddenly in the air. “That’s good, then… I’ve already been spending nights at the house, finishing touches will be done soon so you can sort of move in whenever you’d like, I guess…”
Aria looked him in the eye and smiled weakly. “I’m not sure I’ll be ready to move in with you, Chase,” she began quietly. “Of course I’m worried about my parents and how they’ll manage when I move out… but that’s not the main reason I’m hesitant to move in together.
“Actually, maybe it’s that so little has changed between us that’s been bothering me…” she admitted. “I don’t know how to answer if ‘we’ are okay, because I don’t really know what we are… or what I want us to be.”
“I— uh,” Chase exhaled.
“Please don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean,” Aria winced. “It’s taken me more than 2 years to admit out loud.”
“You haven’t really admitted anything, though,” Chase’s tone was soft but his frustration was clear. “How am I supposed to know what you mean by, ‘you don’t know what you want us to be’?”
Aria swallowed and tried to navigate through all the thoughts and feelings she had tangled up. “I… Chase, I don’t want to mess anything up between us. You’re my best friend. I don’t want to lose that.” She took a moment to breathe.
She couldn’t look at him as she continued, “But maybe I want us to be more than friends? Sometimes I think how I feel about you must be some of the deepest love in the world.” She resisted the tears trying to drown out her confession. “But I’m happy with how things are, as well… I don’t need to be your girlfriend or kiss or sleep together or get married or whatever. I’m fine with just being your best friend and loving you as a friend.”
“Aria…” Chase sighed.
“No, really,” she said breathily, the tears beginning. “I really am okay with it. I just… I just don’t think I can move in together while I’m still wondering if ice skating 2 years ago was a date or not,” she weakly laughed. “I can’t be wondering all day, everyday, living in the same house… if you feel just as confused.”
He gently wiped a tear from her cheek. “Aria, I’ve been in love with you for probably 10 years,” he looked away after saying it, sheepishly adding, “Damn, that sounded dumb.”
Chase looked back into Aria’s eyes. “I’ve wanted to tell you so many times, wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend, wanted to be everything to you the same way you are for me,” he smiled. “But I didn’t want to mess things up. And I didn’t want you to feel pressured into dating just to preserve a relationship with me; I didn’t want you to worry about how I’d react if you said no. I wanted you to have more space to figure out what you wanted. Maybe you’d even want to move to the city to take some fancy job as a pianist or something, I don’t know,” he waved a hand through the air as though gesturing at the possibilities.
“My path has always been sort of set for me,” Chase continued. “And I know even though your parents don’t pressure you to stay, you feel a level of responsibility here. I didn’t want you to feel even more stuck in Appaloosa Plains; maybe as a roommate instead of a girlfriend you’d have a bit more space from your family and feel more comfortable moving farther away, I don’t know… but I didn’t want to be selfish and keep you here all for myself unless that’s what you wanted, too.”
Aria smiled awkwardly through her tears, trying to catch her breath. “Can I kiss you?” she finally laughed.
Chase raised his hands to her cheeks and kissed her softly, first on the lips, then on the forehead. He wiped more of her tears.
“Can you finally be my girlfriend?” he asked softly.
She smiled and nodded as she moved in for a more passionate kiss.
“I think they’re kissing in there!!” Mason exclaimed to Ryker, knee deep in the snow trying to move the base of the snowman the brothers were building.
“About time,” Ryker scoffed, not looking up.
Mason moved a bit closer to get a better view. “...Gross,” he muttered.
“You don’t have to watch,” Ryker laughed. “C’mon, help me finish this snowsim.”
-----
Mason turned 13 that season, which of course meant the family hosted a party for him! Finally, Bridget could celebrate the youngest of her five children reaching their teenage years. She was relieved that both she and Altman were alive and well to witness it.
After everyone finished their cake, the boys went inside Aria hung back to help her mom clean up.
“Mom?” she began.
“Yes dear?”
“With Emery and Matthew gone… are you sure you and dad are going to be okay if I move out?”
“Aria,” Bridget smiled gently. “You don’t need to worry about your father and I. We’ll be just fine. Ryker and Mason are capable young men, and if we do need any other help, Emery is down the road, or we can call you and Matthew.”
Aria didn’t look convinced. “Is this why you’ve been avoiding moving in with Chase?” Bridget asked.
Aria shook her head ‘no.’
“Is everything okay with you and Chase? Was he actually busy tonight, or did you just want some space?” her mother prodded.
Aria couldn’t help but smile widely thinking about him. “No, he really was busy tonight. Things are actually really good between us… Maybe the best they’ve ever been.”
“Your father still makes me smile like that,” Bridget smiled warmly at her youngest daughter. “I’m happy for you, honey… and I don’t want you to put your life on hold because you’re worried about us.”
“I know,” Aria nodded, but her smile faded. “I told Chase we should date for a year and then I’ll move in with him.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Bridget said. “Mason can start helping in the garden now, so he’ll have plenty of time to learn from us until you move.”
Aria nodded again. “I know the garden is going to be fine with or without me,” she admitted, “But I’m worried about dad…”
“Why don’t you go fishing together in the morning?” Bridget suggested. “Just you and dad.”
“Okay…”
“His health really isn’t too bad for his age, you know, he’s doing just fine,” Bridget tried to reassure her. “Spend what time you can with him, it might make you feel better.”
-----
Altman made extra effort to spend time with each of his children that year. He couldn’t do any gardening anymore, but he could still go fishing. The backyard pond felt like the best investment he’d ever made, perfect for some casual angling with his teenagers. He especially liked that Mason had kept up his interest in chess. They played regularly and often discussed the game when they weren’t playing. This was part of what Altman loved about raising his children, watching them grow and fostering the new interests they developed along the way.
Mason also started going to Cinnamon Crest Falls on his own sometimes. Being 13, he didn’t want to wake up early to go before helping in the garden, so he usually went in the evening. He and Ryker had become more interested in fitness lately, and Mason enjoyed jogging to and from the Falls for some light cardio.
Late one summer afternoon, Mason was fishing at the Falls when he heard someone walking over. He turned to see a teenage girl a bit older than him, with short brown hair. She was wearing a cute oversized shirt with a cheery yellow and blue pattern, jean shorts, and black high heels.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey,” Mason replied.
“Uh, do you know if the light is good here when the sun starts setting?” she asked with a crinkled nose, her face reflecting the awkwardness she felt about asking.
Mason looked at her again and noticed her beautiful gray eyes. He hadn’t seen anyone with gray eyes before and wondered if they were actually a pale blue or green, but he didn’t want to move closer to find out.
“Well, you can’t see the sunset from here,” he told her. “But the waterfall always looks pretty nice. The lighting changes pretty quickly. Are you a photographer or something?”
The girl blushed. “It’s just a hobby.”
“Nice,” Mason said. “I, uh, fish… as a hobby.”
She giggled. “I see that.”
“I’m Mason.”
“Alani.”
“Nice to meet you, Alani.”
“You too,” she smiled. “Do you mind if I set up a tripod over there? Set up my shot?”
“It’s not my pond,” he smiled back. “And don’t worry, I’ve got to leave for dinner soon. I won’t be in your photos.”
“That’s too bad,” she blushed.
Mason felt his face warm up, he realized he must be blushing back. ‘Is she really flirting with me?!’ he wondered.
Alani walked back to her car, got her camera gear, and walked back to the pond’s edge. “So, you live nearby?” she asked as she approached him.
“Yeah.”
“It’s my first time here.”
“You live in Bridgeport?”
“Mhm,” Alani answered, placing her camera bag down so she could open her tripod. “But my parents just bought my sisters and I this car, so I’ve been trying to find new places to take photos.”
“That’s pretty cool,” Mason replied. “Think you’ll come back to Appaloosa Plains?”
“I might,” she smirked. “Why? Want to be my model or something?”
Mason laughed. “You think I’m hot or something?”
Alani blushed again. Mason noticed she had a beautiful smile.
“Can I give you my number?” Mason asked before he realized what he was saying. He tried not to panic and keep sounding confident and relaxed as he added, “So you can text me if you’re back in town.”
He watched her for a response, even though a fish was tugging on his line. Alani nodded, still smiling. ‘That’s good, right?’ Mason thought, still a bit stunned that he was even talking to this girl, never mind offering her his number. The fish tugged harder on his line and Mason nearly lost his footing. ‘Oh, Maker, please don’t embarrass yourself by falling into this pond right now!’ Mason urged himself.
Alani giggled at his stumble, but offered Mason her phone with the ‘Add new contact’ screen open.
-----
The following spring came quickly. Aria could hardly believe it was already time for her to move in with Chase. Over the winter he had adopted and started training a stray dog that had been hanging around, who he named Rusty. Sometimes he’d bring Rusty over to the Tevellyns’ house. The family was a bit hesitant at first, being rather unfamiliar with pets, but soon enough they all loved Rusty’s visits.
“Chase?” Aria said smiling, one Saturday morning.
“Yes, love?” he turned to her.
“You know it’s finally spring,” she said.
“Yes?” he smiled back at her.
“And when we talked about waiting a year to move in together, it was the spring…”
“Last spring,” Chase agreed, moving closer.
“I know we’ve already moved most of my things—”
“And you’ve already stayed over a few times,” Chase added, moving his hands to Aria’s waist.
Aria blushed. “Yeah so maybe it’s not as, like, major—”
“Are you trying to tell me you finally want to officially move in?” he asked, kissing her lightly.
She nodded and he kissed her again.
“Is that okay?” she giggled.
“Is that okay?!” Chase laughed and put his arms around her, but Aria flinched a little. “Did you think I was going to tickle you?”
Aria giggled again. “Don’t tickle me!”
“I won’t,” Chase reassured her. “But I’ll scoop you!”
Chase leaned over to move one of his arms behind Aria’s knees and he picked her up. She shrieked with laughter and put her arms around his shoulders.
“I love you,” Chase said softly.
Aria snuggled her face next to his and whispered, “I love you, too.”
-----
“Chase and Aria’s house is super nice,” Mason commented over breakfast the next morning.
“We should go visit them today,” Bridget said, looking at Altman. “I feel bad we weren’t able to help her move in.”
Ryker raised an eyebrow. “Did you help Emery and Matthew move?”
“Well,” Bridget shrugged. “Your father helped get their houses designed and built.”
“Not really the same thing,” Ryker noted. His mother gave him a look, and he silently agreed to drop it. “Guess I should start thinking about my house, though.”
“You’re moving out?!” Mason asked.
“Don’t panic,” Ryker shoved his brother playfully. “Not for a few years.”
“We can start looking at lots for you,” Altman smiled at Ryker, then turned to Bridget to add, “and I’d love to go see Aria’s place with you tomorrow.”
Mason took another bite of his pancakes, but since no one else said anything, he decided to prod his brother a bit more. “So you’re ready to move out but not to text that girl from Matt’s wedding?”
Ryker shoved him in response. “I said years before I move out, shut up.”
“It’s gonna be YEARS before you text that girl,” Mason retorted.
“Mason,” Bridget sighed.
“What? It’s literally been almost 2 years and I think he’s only messaged her like one time,” Mason rolled his eyes.
“Ah, Dorothy’s friend? The wedding photographer?” Altman smiled, finally understanding who they were discussing.
“Her name is Sage,” Ryker said flatly. “She’s like Matt’s age, she’s not gonna be interested in some 18-year-old… You want to tell them about your photographer, now?”
Bridget and Altman gave Mason confused looks.
Mason rolled his eyes. “Okay, fine, I met a girl at the Falls.”
“That’s lovely, son,” Altman smiled. “When? What’s the young lady’s name?”
“Alani,” Mason’s tone was a bit more sheepish. “We met back in the summer, actually. She hasn’t been back to Appaloosa Plains since then but we’ve talked a few times.”
“I haven’t heard you talking on the phone,” Altman replied.
“Messaging, dad,” Mason explained. “Like, texting and on the computer.”
Altman sighed and left the table.
“I know you’re not a child anymore, Mason,” Bridget said calmly. “And I don’t expect you to be a technophobe like your father. But try to be careful with who you talk to online, okay?”
“I know, mom,” Mason groaned. “I met her in person, first, though… she was at the Falls to take photos.”
“Was she by herself? How old is this girl?” Bridget asked.
“I don’t know, like 17 I think,” Mason said. “We aren’t, like, dating or anything, we just chat sometimes, okay? It’s not a big deal. It’s just nice to have a friend who isn’t part of this family,” he added with a huff.
“I know, hon,” Bridget sighed. “I’ll talk to your father, I’m sure he’s not upset with you. It’s just his issue with technology…”
Mason finished his last few mouthfuls of pancakes in silence.
“You want to check on the crops with me and then workout later?” Ryker asked after a moment.
“Sure,” Mason agreed.
“I can get the dishes,” Bridget told them. “Go on.”
Ryker led his brother out the sliding door to the garden.
“Altman,” Bridget called out. “They’re outside… Could you come talk to me for a moment?”
Altman moved slowly these days, but dutifully arrived in the dining area before Bridget could finish gathering the plates. She walked over to him and he reached out his hands to take hers.
“I didn’t tell him to stop talking to her,” Altman smiled.
“I know, dear,” Bridget said softly. “And we both know they’re growing up — fast. And that they need to. We won’t be here forever.”
“That’s why we need to make the most of whatever time we have left,” Altman said softly.
Bridget nodded. “I think it’ll mean a lot to Ryker if you help him find a property of his own, even if he won’t be moving for a few years, it would be good to start now.”
“I know,” Altman agreed. “The builds always take a bit longer than planned… his almost definitely will.”
Bridget gave him a questioning look.
Altman smiled in response and explained, “He’ll need a backyard pond like ours, assuming he doesn’t want to be on our street to be close to the Falls, like Emery. The builders probably won’t like it… and it’ll take us a bit longer to layout the property, yada yada…”
“So he’ll definitely need your help,” Bridget smirked.
“He’s smart, he’ll be okay,” Altman said. He gently moved his hand up her arm and caressed her face. “You’re just as beautiful as the day I met you, you know,” he told her.
“Is this what you really meant by ‘make the most of our time’?” Bridget smiled coyly as she moved closer to her husband.
“Maybe,” Altman replied playfully. He put his hands on her waist. “Is there an activity you have in mind?”
“Nothing we should be doing in the kitchen while the kids are home,” she flirted.
With her arms around his waist, Altman cradled Bridget’s face. He let his thumbs caress her cheeks, and his fingers touch the hair behind her ears.
“I’ve always been a sucker for those green eyes and that smile of yours,” Altman beamed. “I can’t believe I got to spend so much of my life loving you.”
“... Altman,” Bridget breathed, not wanting her eyes to water. “It was always the warmth in your eyes and smile that got me,” she smiled. “And I’m amazed you kept your promise.”
“What promise is that?” he asked softly.
“When we were getting married, you said you’d love me more and more. And I knew you believed that,” she explained. “But I thought at some point you’d get tired of living out here, or realize I wasn’t the impressive, confident person you saw me as.”
“You’ve always been that person,” Altman reassured her. “I know you thought you’d see Appaloosa Plains develop a bit more in your lifetime, but for me, this family we’ve built… it’s more than enough.”
She hugged him tightly. He was always so good with words — must be from all the reading he did, Bridget thought. She felt so lucky to still be so in love with him after a lifetime together.
“So, do you think the dishes can wait?” Bridget asked cheekily. “I still have some activities in mind.”
“I’m sure you do,” Altman chuckled. “One more hug before we head to the bedroom?”
He embraced her. His shoulders ached and his legs were already getting tired from standing, but he smiled over her shoulder as he held her as close as he could.
----- ----- -----
Author’s Notes:
In my original challenge gameplay, Chase Harley joined the Tevellyn Household the day after he & Aria aged up into Young Adults, and that’s when they began dating. (The photos of Chase in the blue hoodie and Aria in the red overshirt jumping into his arms are from then!) He lived with her family for 3 days or so while I saved up Simoleons for their house near the military base (1 job was unlocked at 3 Households, when Emery moved out). Chase didn’t begin working at the military base until they moved into their new home, but for story purposes I’ve said he’s already in the training program because that makes more sense for his character than helping around the Tevellyn house and getting some basic skills.
Chase also met and befriended Rusty the stray dog while he was living with the Tevellyns.
The screenshot of Alani Shepherd walking up towards Mason at Cinnamon Crest Falls is somehow the only photo I have of them meeting. I believe she first appeared in my gameplay as a paparazzi. She is a Young Adult townie, so I’m just pretending she was a Teen for story purposes to reduce age gap ick (this way, Mason is 13 and Alani is 16 when they meet, instead of Alani being 19+), and to make the progression of her relationship with Mason more reasonable. In typical Sims game fashion, their relationship escalated really quickly once Mason aged up into a Young Adult during my playthrough.
I apologize for the inconsistency in publishing, but am very grateful people are still finding and reading this story. Every now and then I get a lovely comment on one of the platforms where I’ve shared it, and it makes me want to keep writing. Thank you to everyone who has read my silly little Sims story! :)
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