~ Volume II ~ Chapter 14 ~ Episode 8 ~

After finishing dessert at Chez Llama, Jade catches the waitresses attention. “Excuse me. Can you please tell me where the ladies room is please?” she asks.

“Certainly. It’s at the top of the staircase, can’t miss it.” the waitress replies.

Jade excuses herself from the table asking Talia if she needs to use the restroom too. “No. I’m okay.” Talia tells her.

“I think I’ll come.” Sage says getting up from her seat. Jade and Sage gossip and giggle as they make their way through the restaurant and up the staircase. “What’d you think of the food?” Sage asks as she presses the lever on the toilet to flush.

“It was alright. Not my favorite place to eat in town.” Jade turns on the water faucet and begins washing her hands.

Sage stands silently watching as her sister rinses the soap bubbles from her fingertips. “Jade, can I asks you a question?” she says. “Ya know how I told you about Charlee’s biological father?”

“Yeah.” Jade replies becoming anxious.

“Well, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s gonna take Charlee from us. But Jayla thinks that maybe since he hasn’t had her thus far, he might just sign over his rights. What do you think Jade? What’s your opinion on the situation?” Sage asks her sister.

“Oh gosh Sage. I don’t know.” Jade answers biting her knuckle feeling extremely uncomfortable.

“I know you don’t know for sure, but I’m just trying to prepare myself here. Just in case, ya know?” Sage tells Jade.

“Can we not talk about this right now?” Jade replies, beads of sweat forming on her brow. She begins fanning herself with her hand.

“Jade, what is wrong with you?” Sage asks. “You’re getting all weirded out on me here.”

“It’s just that, um….”

“I don’t even know how to say this.” Jade continues, her knowledge of the truth eating away at her.

“Say what?” Sage questions.

Not wanting to lie or keep this secret any longer, Jade spills the beans. “I already knew about Charlee’s biological father before you even told me.” she begins.

“What? But how?” Sage questions. “I don’t understand. Who would have told you something so private about Charlee?”

“A local investigation agency.” Jade replies, wondering if she made a poor choice in saying something.

“A local investigation agency? What would an investigation agency want with Charlee?”

“Wesley contacted them to locate his child.” Jade pauses. “Sage, Charlee is Wesley’s daughter.”

Sage stands quiet for a moment trying to process the information.

“You’ve got to be kidding me right?” Sage replies, her heart beginning to pound. “How is it that Wesley is Charlee’s father? That makes absolutely no sense!”

“Wesley and Charlee’s mother Charleen dated for quite some time.” Jade tells Sage. “They broke up before Charleen knew she was pregnant with Charlee.”

“F*#K!” Sage shouts angrily.

Emotions begin to run high. “And you never thought to tell me?” Sage says holding back tears of hurt. “Jade, how could you?”

“Sage, we didn’t know how! We just found out about this ourselves!” Jade pleads for Sage not to be angry with her. “Please, just listen!”

“I can’t believe you would keep this kind of thing from your own sister! We don’t keep secrets Jade!”  Sage shouts angrily. “Or at least I didn’t think we did. Don’t talk to me ever again!”

Sage storms out of the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. “Sage, please wait!” Jade sobs.

Sage enters the dining area scowling. Jayla immediately senses something is wrong. “Sage hunny, is everything okay?” she asks.

Wesley instantly knows that Jade has disclosed the truth about him fathering Charlee. “Oh boy!” he says. “Sage, let’s talk.”

“We’re leaving!” Sage hollers. She tosses her portion of the bill on the table. “Jayla, let’s go. Me, you and Charlee are outta here!”

***

Sage quickly stops back at Jade and Wesley’s house to pick up Michiko from the sitter and to grab their belongings. “Where are we going?” Charlee asks from the backseat of the car.

“We’re spending the night in a motel. You couldn’t pay me to stay at THAT house! I’m never going back there again!” Sage stammers. A short time later, Sage and Jayla arrive at a small motel just outside of town. “Let’s try this one. They must have vacant rooms.”

“Good evening folks. How can I help you?” Kurt Jansen the motel manager asks from behind the desk.

“We need a room for the night please.” Sage tells him.

“Just the three of you?” he asks.

“Well us three and the baby.” Sage tells him gesturing to Michiko.

Kurt runs his fingers quickly over the keyboard as he looks over the computer screen. “Looks like you’re in luck. I have a room with two double beds available.”

“We’ll take it!” Sage says.

“Do we hafta stay here?” Charlee asks. “Why can’t we go back to Auntie Jade and Uncle Wes’?”

“It’s adult stuff Charlee.” Jayla responds calmly, still unsure of what has happened. “Mom said we’re staying here tonight, we’re staying here tonight.”

“But she said she’s never going back there again!” Charlee replies angrily. “So that’s it? I never get to see Talia or Auntie Jade or Uncle Wes again?”

“Charlee enough. Please!” Sage orders.

“Your room key ma’am.” Kurt says handing Sage the key to their motel room. “You’ll be staying in room one. It’s the first room on the right.”

“Thank you.” Sage replies heading straight for their room. “Room one. This is it.” she says locating the room.

Sage slips the key in the keyhole. Jiggling the key a few times, the door swings open. “Well this isn’t too bad.” she says as they enter.

“There’s two big beds.” Charlee says.

“Yup, you get an entire big bed to yourself tonight.” Jayla smiles.

“Look! There’s a talking llama toy!” Charlee enthuses. “Can I play with it?” she asks.

“I don’t see why not.” Jayla responds. “Somebody probably left it here by accident.” Jayla gets Michiko settled into her bassinet. The baby falls fast asleep rather quickly. “How about a little television before bed?” she says to Charlee.

“Yeah!” Charlee cheers excitedly. With the llama toy in hand, Charlee climbs onto the bed. “Yay! Lost Dog’s Journey Home is on!” Her eyes become glued to the television screen.

After a while, Charlee begins to get sleepy. “Why don’t you get your jammies on and hop into bed. It’s getting late.” Sage tells her. Charlee does as told and is asleep shortly after her head hits the pillow.

“Care to tell me what tonight was all about?” Jayla asks, having been patiently waiting for Charlee to be asleep before asking. “What the heck happened at Chez Llama?”

“Oh my Sims Jay.” Sage holds her head.

“I never once thought Jade would ever keep something from me. Turns out I was wrong.” she continues.

“Why? What?” Jayla asks. Sage turns and looks Jayla straight in the eye. “Sage, you’re scaring me.”

Sage swallows hard. “Charlee’s mystery father……is Wesley Simeon.”

Jayla’s mouth gapes open.

“What? But that doesn’t make any sense.” Jayla says trying to make some sense of it.

“Wesley and Charleen were lovers Jay!” Sage explains. “They conceived Charlee and Wesley never knew. Charles Pruitt never told a single soul that Charlee wasn’t his.”

“This is crazy.” Jayla replies. “Wesley? For real?”

“He’s gonna want her. You watch. And because he’s her biological father and never gave up his rights he’s gonna get her. Just wait, you’ll see.” Jayla stares at Sage blankly. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Sage asks.

“Sage, she’s his child.” Jayla replies. “If you found out you had a child, wouldn’t you want them? Wouldn’t you want your child to know you?”

“Seriously? You’re taking their side?”

“Sage, I’m not taking sides. I’m thinking about Charlee here.”

“I’m going to bed. Goodnight Jayla.” Sage says as she changes into her pajamas. “I’m done talking about this.” Without uttering another word, Sage climbs into bed pulling the covers over her head.

Jayla uses the bathroom and changes her clothes. She climbs into bed next to Sage. “Sage, please talk to me.” she pleads. But Sage doesn’t answer. With that, Jayla rolls over and clicks off the motel room light. -Click-