How much time had passed since Will’s last saw his father? Years. Ages. He couldn’t even remember it. He just avoided that house where everything seemed to be stuck to his childhood, bringing back memories he didn’t want to remember. His mother had died when he was eleven: after that, neither him or Dana had anything similar to parental love and the big, luxury house had turned into a cold, strict place. So, he just stood there on the front porch for a while, probably waiting for a miracle, a reason for him not to get in. But he know it was useless, and eventually he would have to step in and see Eric.
“Dad?”, Will turned around to see Henry staring at him.
“Uh, hi, I was just… you know, actually... how are you anyway?” “I’m fine, dad, but you do look funny. Not funny amusing, funny weird.” “Well, here’s the family secret disclosed to you. I
am ‘funny weird’, every Donovan has a little quirk. You have it too, it will show up when you get older, trust me.” Henry smiled, his father had the peculiar ability to joke about everything every time, even if he was visibly shaken. “Coffee?” “I could murder one.”
“You’re not so thrilled about having to see him, are you?”, said Henry passing his father a cup of coffee and sitting next to him holding his own. “Is it so clear?” “Yeah. And I do understand you, definitely, but still, you have to see him. Considering the state he’s in, it might be your last meeting. Who knows, maybe he’s saving for you one of these moving father-to-son speeches.” “Ha. Sure. No, really, Henry, things aren’t so easy. I don’t think people change so drastically just because they’re old and ill and about to die, not in real life, at least. Eric would be Eric. I bet it’s about the company, like signing something so that I completely own it and he doesn’t have anything to do with it anymore. Not that it would change much, I mean, I’ve been managing it on my own these… what, ten, twelve years? It’ll be just a formal thing, trust me. The sign-here-and-goodbye kind of thing.” “Just give it a try, ok? You’re better than him. Be nice and polite and, please, no sarcasm. Just think about it: if you were about to die, you’d want me to be at your deathbed.” “Sure I would. But that’s because I love you, even though you’re an annoying, patronizing little brat. Eric and I don’t have the same relation you have with your old man.” Will got up, ruffled his son’s hair and started going upstairs. Henry stared at him for a while, a worried look on his face.
“William!” It was Emma calling him. She was wearing a fancy dress and was ready to hit one of those charity parties she’d been going to ever since she married Eric. The role of the rich man’s wife definitely suited her. “What’s up with you calling me with my full name? It’s Will, you know it.” “Whatever. Are you going to see him?” “Yes. Are you going to get drunk at a party and sleep with some stranger while your husband’s in bed and can’t move on his own legs anymore?” “It’s none of your business. He’s been taken care of, anyway, I can’t be here all the time.” “It would be nice if you’d be here at least
some time, you know.” “And what are your sources? I haven’t seen you around here much these years.” It was Henry who told him, of course. “Secret sources. Now, we’d better be both going to our destinations, shouldn’t we?” He walked past her and reached his father’s bedroom. After the longest ten seconds in the world he slowly opened the door and got in. Eric was there, lying in his bed, his wheelchair next to him. ‘He’s sleeping,’ thought Will, ‘maybe I can go straight away. It’s not like I can wake him up.’
As he was leaving the bedroom a voice came from behind him “William.” ‘Crap,’ he thought. “Eric. I thought you were sleeping.” “With my glasses on? Come and help me on my chair.”
Eric Donovan was 86, but looked like he was a million years old. His illness had devastated him, but still he looked as tough and stern as ever. Before Will could come and help him he had already climbed on his wheelchair and was heading towards his study. Will followed him without saying a world.
“Sit there,” Eric ordered, and Will sat, while his father stopped himself at the desk. He then took out some papers from a file, traced some crosses on them and handed them over to Will.
“It’s about time you take full control of the company. I’m old and soon enough I’ll be gone. You’ve been doing a good job since now, I trust I’m giving my creatures in worthy hands.” “So this is why you wanted to see me?” “Yes, what else?” “Yeah, what else? Nothing.” “Do not use your sarcasm on me, William.” “What’s up with everybody calling me William? God, I hate it. Anyway, I’m not doing any sarcasm right now. I knew for a fact this was the reason why you wanted to see me.” “Then why did you ask?”
“Don’t know. It was Henry who gave me a strange idea.” “Henry’s a good boy. How’s little Charlie?” “As healthy and beautiful as ever.” “I’m glad. So what did Henry expect?” “Oh, just a crazy idea, really. He said you might want to have a father-to-son speech to me, but I’m glad you didn’t. It wouldn’t have made sense, would it?” “No, it wouldn’t.” Will quickly signed the papers and got up. “I should really be going. My girls are waiting for me.” He walked towards the door, a freedom sense growing step by step.
“William.” He turned around ‘Here we go again. God, will it ever end?’ he thought “Yes, Eric?” “Will you come visit me again?” Will couldn’t believe his ears. Did his father just ask him to visit him again? That wasn’t possible. Then he looked at him and for a moment, just a moment, he saw him without the mask of strength he was wearing all the time: he was a little, weak, ill old man, who genuinely wanted to see his son again. ‘If he asks me to call him dad now I don’t know if I’m gonna cry, laugh or run away screaming’. “Why, yes, maybe. I could come next. I’ll bring the girls along.” “Yes, do bring them. Thank you for your visit.” ‘What is that, a parallel reality sort of thing?’ “You’re welcome. Really. Bye Eric.” And he went out, half walking and half running. This was too surreal for him.
“Dad, did I tell you about that cute guy at school?” said Charlie, sitting close to Will on the couch. “I think so, yeah. So what?” “Well, you know, he’s asked me out! Me! Would you believe it?” “Why not? You’re the most beautiful girl ever, so I think it’s natural he’s got a liking on you.” “So I can go out with him?” “Oh no, never said this. Did I, Chels? ” “Indeed you didn’t, honey.” “Great. Now go upstairs, your mum and I need some privacy,” said Will, putting an arm around his wife’s shoulders. Charlie got up and smiled at him. “Fine. We’ll talk about it later.” “I don’t think so, sweetheart.” “I do.” The 14-year-old girl gave her parents a smile and walked upstairs.
“I don’t get it, why isn’t she mad at me?” said Will when she was gone. “Oh, she was so worried about you, and she absolutely adores you, so she can’t be angry at you right now. But give her time and you’ll see her teenage rebellion will come back.” “I hope so. She’s fun.” “Yeah. How are you feeling, pretty boy?” “Ok, I guess. It’s just… my father’s been weird. First he was all business and serious stuff, then he was like, ‘Oh, come back, bring the girls.’ Weird. It almost made me feel bad for being so cold to him.” “Don’t feel bad, really, don’t. When are we going to visit him?” “I was thinking maybe Sunday, how does it sound?” “Nice. Sunday will do. Now, I was thinking about having a bath. Want to join me?”
They didn’t go visit Eric that Sunday. They all went to his funeral instead. He had passed away the following day.
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As I'm sure you've understood, this is set some 15 years after the 18th chapter. Yes, they do look still the same age, but you know, 40 is the new 30, liftings, life's getting longer... this to say, I don't have the hearth to make my sims look old, I love them too much :P