Pleasantview, Season 3 - Lothario
Don hadn’t been around so much lately. Cassie tried her best to be understanding. She knew residencies were tough, and stressful, but trying to raise the twins on her own was hard. She was getting little lonely, too! She was so happy to see Don when he’d get home, but he’d immediately collapse on the bed and doze off, often before she’d even had the chance to say hi.
Bernado and Cassimiro weren’t too fussed about their Daddy’s absence, though. They were close with both parents, yes, but when the parents were busy they weren’t missed. The twins’ closest friends were each other, and they were very capable of entertaining themselves.
The couple weren’t completely lacking a connection, of course. On the rare nights Don had off, they were closer than ever.
It was the twins’ birthday and, as usual, Don was at work. Cassie did her best to deal with it, but this particular incident cut sharply. It was their transition to childhood, and he was missing it!
Cassandra didn’t know what had come over her. She was just so… so lonely, and Darren was always there for her, even when Don wasn’t.
There was more to it than that, though. She loved Darren. It wasn’t the same as her love for Don, but the love was there. For the first time in her life, Cassandra sympathized with the dilemma of the romance sim.
She knew she needed to talk to Don.
“Okay, the kids are asleep, what did you want to talk about?”
“I don’t know how to put this so I’m just going to come out and say it. I slept with Darren.”
“You what????”
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! God, I’m such a hypocrite. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you but I understand if you want to just go ahead and get a divorce and-”
“Cassie. Cassie. Slow down. This is bad but it’s not unforgivable, okay? You forgave me for Nina and Kaylynn.”
“Yeah but-”
“Look, if you want I can forget all about it and we’ll never speak of it again. I had an affair, you had an affair, and we’ll call it even. But maybe you want to think about changing the terms of the relationship?”
“I don’t know…”
“Hey, I’m just putting it on the table. You were the one pushing for monogamy, right? And since the wedding I’ve stuck to it, because you said it was what you wanted, and I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. But it’s not in my nature, the monogamy thing. And maybe it’s not in yours either, but you’re only realizing it now?”
“I’m not sure, Don. Can we bench this discussion for now and take a few days to think about it?”
“You’re not mad, then.”
“Mad, no. Jealous? Yeah. I’m trying not to be a hypocritical oaf about this, though.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too, Cassie.”
Here’s the boys all grown up and ready for their first day of school, by the way! That’s Cassimiro on the left and Bernardo on the right.
They still love that play table! I really love these boys.
“Hey, is anyone eating that? Can I have it? I could eat two bowls!”
“Don? Wake up.”
“Mrrrrrrgh.”
“It’s Winter’s Day. We need to get the house ready for the kids’ friends.”
“…later.”
Cassandra rolled her eyes, but didn’t move. He’d earned a couple of extra hours in bed. Besides, he was so warm…
It was the twins’ first Winter’s Day, and first snowfall! They were loving it.
“Grandma! Want to help me build this snowman??”
“Sure thing, hon. But heavens, ‘grandma’ makes me sound so old.”
“How about… um… Nanna Bella? Or Nanna Bells!”
“Very nice! I like that much better.”
Bernardo is much more outgoing than his brother, and takes time to chat to whoever’s passing by.
“Mom told me, if we behave, a fat man in a red suit will come at night and leave us presents.”
“Wow! Do you think we’ll get to see him?”
“We’ll be asleep, won’t we?”
“Not me!”
The twins’ friends come over! That’s Tommy Ottomas and Tessa Ramirez. They’re more Bernardo’s friends than Cassimiro’s; his brother is pretty shy and doesn’t make friends as easily.
Santa comes earlier than expected, much to the kids’ joy.
Well, okay!
And, that’s it for the Lotharios! I found them quite boring to play last time but they’re getting more interesting now that the twins are older. They live on the same road as the other Goths so Alexander, Mortimer and Bella are constantly wandering by and popping in, which is nice.
I’ve never really played Don/Cassandra as a long-term couple before and originally planned for Don to have an affair and Cassie divorce him (and maybe get together with Mary-Sue?) but Cassie’s own affair threw me for a loop, haha. I’m definitely starting to ship them a lot, in part thanks to @holleyberry and @mikosimz‘s stories.