1.25 – A reunion

Chapter tune: Led Zeppelin – All my love

The task of finding Rose’s dad and getting him the hell out of that hospital had begun. They waited until nighttime in order to run into as few people as possible.

Jared had insisted that if he was going to run around the building, he should lose the gown and wear some PJ’s instead.

“By pajamas, you meant your underwear plus an open robe?” Rose asked him with a smirk.

“Well baby, I couldn’t stand wearing that dress anymore and that’s the only thing Xander brought me. At least it covers my injuries and whatever else needs to be covered” Jared smirked back.

While passing by a very quiet corridor, they spotted the nurse coming out of a room. She immediately saw them.

“What are you doing here? Oh, it’s you again. This section is for personel only. I’d suggest you leave.”

Jared was ready to (verbally) attack, but he was surprised when Rose talked instead.

“Oh we will go… as soon as you tell us where my father is. See, we know everything.”

The nurse shrugged dismissively, although a minor twitch in her eye revealed that she didn’t expect a statement like that.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“We’re here for Philip Lafontaine. Where is he?”

“There’s nobody here by that name” the nurse replied, but it was apparent that she was starting to get more and more uncomfortable.

“Look lady, we don’t have all night” Jared angrily said “You either tell us where he is or we’ll go get him ourselves”

“Go and I’ll call security” the nurse threatened.

“What is going on here?” a female voice was heard. It was Margaret’s.

“You tell us” Jared growled “your friend here said we weren’t supposed to go inside that room because we’re not part of the staff. So what’s your excuse?”

“I’m a big benefactor to this hospital, so you understand I can get into whatever room I want” Margaret said “I don’t see why that’s any of your business”

“You fucking hateful bitch” Jared started losing control “you’re hiding Rose’s father from her, led him to believe she’s been dead all these years and have somehow managed to lock him up in this goddamned place! But it’s over. Open this door or I will do it myself. And I can promise you that you won’t like it!”

“These are all lies” Margaret replied “one more step and I’ll call security. No, I’ll call the police!” She was trying hard to contain herself, but it was clear she was seriously upset.

“Ooh, I wouldn’t do that if I were ya!” suddenly miss Riddle’s voice was heard from the hallway “What these kids are saying is true and I can prove it. I got the records and everythin’!”

“Anna Liza” Margaret said sarcastically “Always a pleasure.”

“Ain’t ya precious? Well, can’t say the same thing myself” miss Riddle replied. She then turned to Rose “What ya said about your mama and dad before got me thinkin’. I was in the journalism field myself so I did a little bit o’ diggin’. Havin’ ya mama’s surname was convenient, since ya were put into that orphanage while the whole town thought ya were dead. Miss Hunter” she turned to the nurse “could fill ya in on the details, she was workin’ there the whole time and she did all the paperwork.”

So that’s where I know her from, Rose pondered.

Miss Riddle continued “Your dad was fine all this time, well apart from his, what do ya call it, breakdown back in the day. The doctors were fixin’ to release him, but our darling miss Hunter, bless her heart, switched his files with another patient. I have proof for everythin’ ”

“You’re bluffing” Margaret muttered.

“Oooh, do I? Would ya like to try me? Cause I’d really love it if ya did” miss Riddle snarkily replied.

Margaret didn’t know what to say. She felt that every bit of lie she was slowly building and nourishing all these years was falling apart.

She finally exploded. “Do you have any idea what it was like to have your own sibling betray you? He betrayed his whole family for that girl, but mostly me! I was forced to marry an older man but my dear brother…god forbid! Our parents were certain he’d come to his senses all by himself! When the accident happened it was our chance to get rid of the pleb that was crawling its way to our family – that meant the offspring too! And now you” she looked at Rose “you arrived in our town, and my brother tells me he saw a woman looking just like that…that piece of garbage walking around? I couldn’t risk having everything exposed, not now that the elections for mayor are so close!”

“I think I have an idea now what it’s like to be betrayed by your own sibling.” a man approached all of a sudden. It was Philip himself, although instead of the confused and lost expression he had the first time Rose met him, this time his eyes were spitting fire.

“Philip I… please, you know I was trying to protect you! That girl is just like her mother, she’s only after your money!”

“Not. Another. Word. I heard everything. I always knew you didn’t like me very much but I thought that at least, in a way, you loved me. We were family. You know it’s funny, if you’d told me the truth right at the moment my daughter arrived, I’d have forgiven you for everything”

“Philip…. please. I did all that for you, you needed to be free from them. Our parents too, we only wanted what was best for you…”

“You mean what was best for the image of our so-called family! Here’s what is going to happen” he continued “I can’t let those poor people of Twinbrook vote for you. Your career is over. The police as well as the press will be notified. Miss Riddle will make sure of that. But I’ll give you one day until it happens, so if I were you, I’d start packing. The same goes for you too” he turned to the nurse.

“Philip…”

“GO!” he yelled.

When Margaret and the nurse finally left, everyone else thanked miss Riddle. She was just happy to have an adventure – as she called it – in her age.

“Oooh well that was dandy!” she said “But I reckon it’s pretty late, so I wish y’all good luck!”

It wasn’t the easiest of reunions, but it was finally happening. Rose and her dad had found each other at last.

They arranged to go back to Sunset Valley together, as soon as both Philip and Jared were able to check out of that hospital.

–

In a couple of days, they had returned home. Rose continued her work at the bakery and spent most of her free time with her father, getting to know him. He was a very kind and quiet person who enjoyed reading and gardening with his daughter.

He also had a knack for nectar making, so he set up a basic nectary in the house’s basement.

Rose and Philip talked a lot about their past. He showed her a couple of the few photographs he’d kept, although he mentioned that he’d probably have to get rid of those with Margaret, and just keep the one he had with Rose’s mother, Lily.

“I always thought there would be time for more” he said. “Your mother was a hot-headed person, it’s true what my sister said, and her being rejected by my family only added fuel to that, but I really loved her. And we both loved you. This house was meant to be for you and I’m glad it was in your mother’s name, or else Margaret would have made sure you’d never stay here. Or maybe it was convenient for her that you were in Sunset Valley, who knows? You know, when I saw you in Twinbrook at first, I thought I was seeing visions of her again. I was so upset, that I crashed my car and that’s how I got into that hospital in the first place. The second time I saw you, I noticed that necklace you’re wearing and everything made sense. I’m sorry that we lost so much time…”

Rose came closer to him with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry too… but I’m much happier than sorry. I finally found you, you’re here! Everything feels like a dream! We’re together at last and I never want us to waste any more time apart!”

–

In the Frio household, things were pretty festive too. Jared was very happy to return home.

He thought that he should give Rose some time to adjust. Her life went through a tremendous change and he didn’t want to pressure her. A week later, he called her to meet up.

“Hey baby, it’s me. I missed you like crazy you know… Do you want to go together somewhere? I can pick you up after work”

“Ummm… I was thinking I’d stay with my dad after work, there’s a movie on the tv tonight we both want to watch…” something in her voice felt somewhat distant and cold.

“I can drop by your house too babe, I don’t mind. I’d love to chat with your dad a bit too”

“No, that’s not a good idea” Rose replied “I’ll call you another time, ok?”

What the hell… Jared thought. That wasn’t her usual self. And he was almost certain he hadn’t done anything wrong this time.

But he didn’t put much thought into it. She probably needed more time alone with her dad. Whatever it was, he was sure things would go back to normal in no time.

–

PS: I want to thank each and every one of the lovely, amazing simmers who took the time to reply to my previous post about legacy gameplay and storytelling techniques. I really appreciate every bit of advice and the thought everyone put into each comment. It shows what a wonderful community we have here 🙂 Thank you!! ❤