8.39 Changing of the Guard

The weekend finally arrived, and Owen gathered his siblings and Roland to make an announcement.

“So…guys, I know this is really sudden, but things have happened so quickly, and…well…I bought a house a few days ago. I’m leaving this afternoon.”

“You’re what,” Brady asked. “How can you leave? You’re the heir!”

“Yeah, I don’t know much about all the rules, but even I know that doesn’t sound right,” Roland said.

“Well, Brady, that’s the thing. You’re going to be the heir now.”

“What? How can that be? You can’t really just give away your heirship, can he,” he asked Alayna.

“Technically, no. But, he’s disqualified himself by moving out and by not getting married,” Alayna said.

“You’re not getting married? Ever,” Roland asked.

“I don’t have the time to fall in love. I just want to be with my kids while I can.”

“Hold on a minute,” Brady interjected. “What about Ryan? He’s next in line. How does that make me the heir?”

“You’re right,” Alayna replied. “Ryan is the next heir. He and his sons will always be the rightful heirs. But if they never move into the house, then…well, think of it like your gym membership. The patrons can sign up to be a member and carry a membership card. Although they technically are members, if they never go to the gym to get their membership card activated, then they’ll never be a true member and won’t be able to reap the benefits. Does that make sense?”

“So…as long as Ryan and his descendants don’t live here, Julian and his family will be heirs?”

“Pretty much.”

“What if, generations down the line, Ryan’s family wants to take their rightful place?”

“That would be unfortunate for your family, but they would be well within their rights to do so.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it, though,” Owen said. “I’ve taken the flowers and the 300k I made. Ryan and his future families will be set up quite nicely. They shouldn’t even need to consider moving here with the wealth they’ll have. The house is pretty nice too.”

“Isn’t this kind of…manipulative,” Brady worried.

“Don’t think of it that way,” Owen said. “Think of it as making sure that we all get a happy ending.”

“Well, if Alayna is cool with it, then I suppose I am too. You’re gonna have to teach me all this family stuff now!”

“Like I said, you guys, I really hate to spring all of this on you so quickly, but I have to go now. My children are waiting for me, and I don’t want them to have to be with those plumnuggets for longer than they need to!”

They all stood up and hugged.

“You’re going to be a far better heir than I would be. Make us proud, bro!”

“I’ll do my best!”

“Oh, Owen. I’m so glad to see you happy!”

“I’m glad to be happy!”

“We have to commemorate this day! Let’s take a picture.”

They all said their goodbyes and got their final hugs, and then he was gone.

Viviana hadn’t come out of the bedroom yet, so Brady went to check on her. She was getting up just as he entered the room.

“Good afternoon, my angel.”

“Ha! I guess it is a bit late, huh?”

“Just a tad. You doing all right?”

“Delivering a baby is a lot of hard work, but I’m good now.”

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you!”

“It’s ok. There wasn’t anything you could have done anyway.”

“I know, but…still! I’m gonna be there next time!”

“Ok. If you want.”

“I want.”

“Hey,” he shouted as he remembered his news. “Guess what! We are now the new stewards of the estate!”

“Yeah? How’s that?”

“Owen bought a house to live with his children. Apparently you’re disqualified if you move out, so that makes me next in line to be the heir…kinda. I’ll get Alayna to explain it to you.”

“Wow! Ummm…I don’t know whether I should be excited or terrified.”

“For real. Well…at least we’ll have plenty of money and bedrooms for all of our kids!”

“That is something to celebrate!”

Owen, Ryan, and Kiara now live in a beautiful 3 BD/3 BA house in Oasis Springs right next door to Marli.

The next day, Alayna was at their new house getting things ready while Roland packed, and the boys were off at friends’ homes. After Viviana put Julian down for his afternoon nap, she went into the kitchen to make juice for her and Brady. They stood in the living room and enjoyed the almost empty feel of the house as they sipped on their juices.

“Isn’t this amazing? I still can’t believe this is my house now,” Brady exclaimed.

“I must admit…the thought of having our own house is quite attractive!”

“But not nearly as attractive as you,” he said alluringly.

“Sugar bear! You silver-tongued plumhead,” she teased.

Brady stepped closer to her, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and gazed deeply into her eyes like he was looking directly into her soul.

“You are so incredibly beautiful, my angel. There is not another Sim like you.”

Viviana was a sucker for his fine words and was always like clay in his hands in moments like these. Most of the time, he made her so speechless, she almost never returned the compliments. He didn’t mind though. He loved lauding his wife and mother of his child. She made him feel extraordinary, and in return he made her feel like the most favored Sim in the world–especially when she was wrapped in his arms with his lips on hers.

“Let’s have another baby,” he said.

“So soon?”

“Why not?”

“Ok.”