“Dad,” Lily Ann began, a furrow in her pretty brow. Hugh cast her a quick glance and continued slapping his sandwich together. He had just gotten home from practice with the team and he was tired but mostly hungry. Lily Ann seemed pretty uncomfortable, which always gave him the edge in dealing with her. “I,” she began again, pacing the small kitchen floor. “I decided I should tell you something. I’m not sure exactly how to go about it so,” she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, “I’ll just tell you flat out. Dad, I’m pregnant. Oh, and I’m keeping the baby.”
Hugh just nodded as he munched on the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That was so her style, telling him what she was going to do. She rarely asked, but then again he passed it off to her take charge personality. She was his daughter, after all, he could hardly fault her for being assertive.
“All right,” he said, and with one arm, drew her into him for a hug. “Have you told Vincent?” He knew what was going on upstairs between Lily Ann and Vincent the night her mother and uncle left. A terrible night, Hugh wasn’t going to rob his daughter of any form of consolation. In a single action, her mother and her uncle – the uncle who had shared a life with them – had decimated her home life. Lily Ann had issues with Hans up front. No doubt in her own mind having unprotected sex with its unintended consequences was her way of getting even with Hans.
Hugh was tempted to teach her a lesson by throwing her out, but quickly realized that would do neither of them any good. The place was already too empty without Khalil around. Besides, a baby would only extend Hugh’s legacy. “Well, you might want to rearrange Willie’s old room to make a nursery,” Hugh said, as he walked into the small den. Picking up the video goggles, he was soon lost in an action world, just what he needed to decompress after a long, tiring day.
Seven months later, Lily Ann presented him with a beautiful granddaughter. “Her name is Hannah,” Lily Ann announced when Hugh and Rose got their first glimpse of the tiny baby girl. “I thought, since Aunt Hannah got lost out there somewhere I’d honor her in a way. Isn’t she just beautiful?”
“Yes, yes she is,” cooed Grandpa Hugh. Grandpa … Hugh shuddered just a little at how old that made him sound. Still, he couldn’t be more proud. And he was gratified to see how Lily Ann took her motherly responsibilities to heart. Still so young herself, fresh out of high school and busy trying to build a career in politics, she made sure she called a sitter whenever she stepped out to raise campaign funds or she simply took Hannah with her. Never did she assume Auntie Rose or Grandpa would automatically babysit for her. No, Lily Ann was quite independent – and that was a good thing. He knew she was going to be okay.
Sadly, Vincent never came to the hospital to see his little girl. Hugh was convinced he was the child’s father. Nor, did the shiftless young man deem it necessary to visit the house. As far as anyone was concerned, Vincent Yates appeared to be out of the picture. Pity, that. Hannah was a lovely child. Time raced on and little Hannah grew steadily to a plump, healthy one year old. They threw a big party for her on the back lawn. Soon after she was attempting to walk. She was also quite gullible. Grandpa had no trouble taking candy away from this baby. But then again, who gives a baby candy? Of course, he snatched it away!
Lily Ann was doing well gathering funds. Hugh allowed her to throw a campaign fund raiser right here at the house. Many of Hugh’s friends and associates attended, and to their credit, were quite generous. Hugh was glad to help. After all, he and Lily Ann were often of the same mind. In many ways she was like him, tenacious, overbearing. They got along best when they put their heads together masterminding a plan for Sunset Valley, should Lily Ann fulfill her destiny. Already she was a Councilwoman and Hugh was certain great things were in her future.
Sweet Rose, on the other hand, spent her time with her head in other Sims’ trash cans, hoping to dig up a juicy bit of gossip she could use in an article for some rag magazine.
Hugh also refused to slow down. Ignoring the warning signs of his advanced age, he constantly pushed himself, just as he always had.
“Dad,” Rose came into the weight room where Hugh was busy pressing weights. “Dad, don’t you have practice today?”
“Yeah, at three o’clock, same as usual,” he huffed. He stopped momentarily to rub the soreness from a muscle and then quickly picked up the pace again. The weights seemed unusually heavy today. Hugh could feel the sweat bead up, which was also odd. He’d trained his whole life and could put himself through such paces without even breaking a sweat.
“That’s my point,” Rose continued, a hand on her hip. She was big-boned, like their mother. “I don’t think you should be pushing so hard today. Save it for your days off.”
“Okay,” Hugh sat up, “trade places with me, then. You could use a workout. Stay fit.”
Rose sighed loudly, “I have an article to finish writing.”
“Come on, it’ll be good for you.” Hugh gestured toward the machine. Grabbing up the nearby towel, he dried his face and gave his favorite daughter a stern ‘I won’t take no for an answer’ look.
“I don’t have time, I’ve got a deadline. You know what those are, Dad, right? No article, no pay …” she chortled as she stalked out of the room. She was sitting at the desk in the front bay window busy pounding at the laptop keys when Hugh left for practice, an hour or so later.
“Be back before nine –” he said, closing the door behind him.
The press had showed up at practice today, always seeking a story. Coach was interested in giving the reporters from the science publication a good specimen of athletic prowess. Hugh was quick to volunteer. After all, he was quite in demand, having just given a powerful seminar at the hospital. He got up, flexed his substantial muscles (for a man of his many years) and proceeded to push hard through a hearty workout. Everyone was impressed. Again, somebody had to stop him. When Hugh got into the zone, he got into the zone! “Hey, hey, take it easy on my star player!” Coach said, intervening. He gave Hugh a curious look. Hugh was sweating like a pig. A twinge went down his left arm.
Hugh smiled and brushed it off. Later on, down in the locker room, Hugh found himself horribly out of breath. By the time he got home the twinge in his arm grew worse, accompanied by chest pains. He stepped into the foyer. Lily Ann was just coming downstairs. “Hi, Dad,” she chortled. “Dad? Dad! Rose call 9-1-1!”
Hugh collapsed, grasping his chest. Helpless on the hardwood floor, somewhere beyond him he could hear both of his daughters panic. Lily Ann was holding him and sobbing over his chest. A noise coming from the den caught his ear. A dark, robe-clad figure holding a formidable sickle approached even as the strains of a siren met his ears. The ambulance was too late. With a wave of the Grim Reapers arm, Hugh was gone …
GalacticGal