The day before the party, the Epstein house was silent. Laurel’s agenda for the day was to make and distribute the garlic wreaths to her family and club friends. She had taken care of all the party arrangements so her schedule was clear. Never had she been more grateful to have a butler. The house was immaculately clean as if six people and a butler didn’t live there.
Laurel quickly assembled the six wreaths following what she’d learned from the ancient vampire tome. Even though she couldn’t be sure everyone was home, she set out anyway to deliver the wreaths. She took little Emilie with her to enjoy her last full day of being a toddler.
The first stop was Carmen’s house. Laurel knocked on the door while Emilie became fascinated by the birdhouse in Carmen’s yard.
Carmen was off from work that day, but perhaps she had another meeting with a gallery or museum. Laurel hoped she wasn’t off somewhere with Hugo. She hung the wreath by the front door and texted Carmen to let her know.
Next stop was into the city to the Ralstons. Laurel knocked on the door.
It was unlocked and Gavin’s grandfather Cristian called for them to let themselves in.
Emilie, being Emilie, walked right up to Cristian and started talking. Laurel hurried over to catch up to her toddler who had a bad habit of insisting at the top of her lungs that people play with her.
“Hi! I’m Emilie! Where’s Mista Gavin?”
Expecting to hear a grown-up voice, and surprised by what he heard instead, Cristian finally looked up from the computer.
“Well hello there, Emilie. I’m Cristian Ralston. Gavin is at work right now. Maybe I can help you?”
“Your name is long! I can’t say that. Mommy, what’s his name?”
“Oh goodness,” said Laurel, “I’m sorry Cristian, my youngest child has no filter. Emilie, his name is Chris-tee-anne Rowls-ton. Can you say that?”
Emilie just stared at her mom.
“Okay, just call him Mr. R.”
“Mr. R! Mr. R.! Mr. R!”
“That works for me,” said Cristian with a laugh.
“Me too,” said Emilie.
“Now that that’s settled,” said Laurel, “We came to drop off a garlic wreath for your family. It is supposed to hang right be the front door. It should ward off most vampires, making them so uncomfortable they immediately want to leave the premises.”
“Sounds good,” said Cristian. “Emilie will this keep my family safe?”
“Garlic is good, but mommy won’t let me have it for breakfast!”
“I’ll take that as a yes. You can hang it by the door. I’ll let Gavin know you two stopped by. It was lovely to meet you Miss Emilie.”
Laurel picked up Emilie before she could derail the day any further. She hung the wreath, said goodbye, then headed out to their next destination.
Next stop was Quincy and Daniella’s temporary home. As soon as Emilie saw Quincy she demanded a hug and to know where Dani was.
Quincy explained Daniella was inside taking care of their triplets. Once Laurel knew Emilie was in good hands, she instructed her to stay outside with her brother, then Laurel headed into the house to meet her first grandchildren.
Laurel was very disappointed in this house. She felt like Daniella was using the fact that they were moving soon as an excuse to do nothing with the home.
Laurel: Even when we were poor and living in an apartment in Bridgeport, our place looked more cozy and warm than this.
Laurel made her way into the room where the triplets bassinets were. She greeted them each one by one, cuddling them and enjoying that new baby smell.
After getting a nose, arm, and heart full of baby, Laurel headed outside to hang the wreath.
She came back in and immediately commented on the sparseness of the home. Daniella tried to explain that it’s hard to nest when you’re carrying triplets and you know you’re moving into a new home shortly anyway.
Laurel asked for Quincy’s input on the matter, thinking he would side with her. He grew up in homes that were always so inviting and filled with love (aka decor).
Quincy surprised Laurel when he sided with Daniella. He noted that she hadn’t taken anytime off from work while she was pregnant, plus the new home was going to be decorated, so he didn’t see the big deal. He complimented Daniella on doing the hard work of growing three babies at once and reaffirmed his intention to be a big help with her since raising triplets was going to be an all-hands-on-deck situation.
Laurel said she understood there were all types of house, just like there were all types of families, including ones that had babies before marriage. She told them she’d see them at the birthday party and went outside to collect Emilie who was probably talking off the ear of some stranger.
The next stop was to the Holloway home. She went in and saw Luca playing chess.
“I had no idea you played chess,” said Laurel.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” said Luca. “In a different life, I would’ve been happy to show you a lot more than you currently get a chance to see.”
Laurel sat at the table and laughed, “oh you’re funny. Well, I’ll be sure to let my husband know you like chess. Maybe the two of you can play sometime.”
“That’s me, a real comedian,” said Luca. “I assume you’re here with my garlic wreath?”
Laurel told him he was right. She stayed and chatted for a bit, then headed out to find Emilie and hang the wreath outside the home. The Holloways never got visitors, but better safe than sorry.
Next house was the Blanks, but no one was home. Laurel was hoping she’d get the chance to check on Bo, so she was a bit disappointed. She hung the wreath and sent a text.
Laurel finally arrived back home and hung the wreath outside her own door. She smiled at it, feeling truly safe in her home for the first time in a long time.
At the end of a long but successful day, all Laurel wanted to do was take a hot bath. She wasn’t sure she was ready, but tomorrow was coming whether she was ready or not.
To Be Continued
Dreams & Drama Neighborhood Rotation 
Emilie is so cute and friendly with everyone! I loved this chapter, and how Laurel was trying to assist and protect her family and friends… however, that jab at Dani. Just, no girl. Stop.
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We should all sign a petition to tell Laurel to keep her mouth shut when it comes to her son’s future wife. What do you think?
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Omg Emilie is a little scene stealer! I couldn’t stop smiling st her cute little face haha
I loved seeing Laurel go around to all the houses in this one! Though I wish she’d cut her son and (hopefully) future daughter in law a little more slack haha. It’s really interesting to see the bit of disdain there (just like Daniella’s disdain toward Liz fascinates me too!)
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You’re so right that Laurel’s disdain for Daniella cones from a similar place as Daniella’s disdain for Liz. I wonder how they’d feel if they knew they had that in common… Stay tuned for that one of these days 😉
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Emilie is still adorable! I hope she continues being this way when she gorw’s up..And, Laurel, leave the kids be! It’s their life now, girl! Itw as interresting to see the diference between Carmem ad Bo, when saying thanks.
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I hope Laurel listens to you, and does a better job of letting her grown up kids be grown ups.
Let’s all cross our fingers that Emilie stays adorable, and maybe it’ll happen!
Yes, hehe, even via text, Bo is still painfully formal in his speech.
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Laurel is mothering everyone! I was liking her a little, but since she ragged on Daniella, it kinda irritated me. She just had triplets! And throwing in another dig about not being married. ButbEmilie stole the show. So cute.
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Lol, Laurel can’t keep her fans because she’s always misbehaving.
I think I’ve decided she’s worried about Quincy repeating her mistakes. But also, she’s still in her feelings because she felt blindsided by Daniella suddenly being important in her life. Quincy is looking at his mom like, that was years ago, get over it.
Also, Daniella and Quincy aren’t quite repeating her mistakes, they’re making their own unique, slightly similar ones, haha.
Yes, I’m glad Laurel took Emilie with her to deliver the wreaths, she was fun to watch at each house.
We’ll see in Chapter 63 I think of Laurel trying to check in with Robyn so she doesn’t get a repeat of Quincy. Hard to stay well-informed on all your children’s activities when you’re constantly out of the house with a million other things to do, right?
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Heh, she always has to get in that judgmental jab with those kids lol.
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You mean Laurel? She has specific ideas of how things should go, and when that’s not what happens, well… she can be a bit vocal about it, haha.
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Oh I know lol.
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And now that I think about it, it’s actually pretty messed up for her to be that way, haha. She put restrictions on herself to try and be this really perfect housewife at first, and when her real life didn’t match up to her ideal, she gave herself such a long leash to figure it out. But she can’t seem to do that for other people.
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Well, also, isn’t she accusing them of something she did too? I mean, I’m totally down for trying to teach your kids not to repeat the past, but this is not the way lol.
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You’re so right. Kurt and Laurel started dating in high school just like Quincy and Daniella did. Only they got pregnant while they were still in high school, whereas at least Quincy and Daniella waited until after graduation, so she’s really on her high horse here.
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I think about this every time she parades on said horse lol.
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Not sure why, but it has been in my head that Luca’s wife is secretly a vampire. I am sure Daniella would love it if the wreath kept her away from Luca. Lol
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Lol, that’s such an interesting idea. What vampire-y things have you noticed about her?
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The main time you see her outside is in the evenings or night. Rarely see her out during the day. And she seems to have cast some type of spell over Luca to get him to fall for her so damn fast.
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Lol, ah, I see what you mean now.
And I’m really chuckling because of you saying she’s cast a spell on Luca, hehe. What? You don’t believe their love is genuine? Just wait until Round 9 starts, they’re the first household up. 😈
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I honestly think Luca married her so he wouldn’t be alone when Daniella moved out. Someone would have to do the cooking and cleaning because Luca sure wouldn’t do it.
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🤔🤔🤔
I’ll say this, the cooking and cleaning were definitely a motivation for him to have someone move in with him quickly. He was very used to being taken care of by Daniella.
I really love your view of him, so cynical, so… enjoyable to read. 😁
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Emily is so friendly! I hope she gets outgoing when she grows up !
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Emilie is a Clingy Toddler, but she never exhibited the trait except when she got sad every time Kurt left to go to work. Communication was the first skill she maxed, and every time anyone visited the Epstein house, she was outside by the mailbox waiting to greet them.
I’ve already rolled the rest of her traits, and unfortunately outgoing isn’t one of them. The traits she does end up with add up to her continuing to make it her business to meet all the people around her. I think I’ll have fun with showing those traits as she grows up.
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I bet that she will display closet outgoing! 🙂
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I hope you’re right! As she grows older, I would love to see how the other Sims react to her just walking up and starting these extensive conversations out of nowhere.
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