After his meditation class, the sims at the Spa gushed about how effective Deng's relaxation methods were.
Meanwhile, Jinjing took on a major project. Emily had little direction for the construction of her house, other than that it cater to her family's needs. As a result, 15 Summer Hill Court was dull but the Smiths had saved a large amount of money and Jinjing decided to renovate. What better way was there to demonstrate his home design skills than through his own house?
Barely anything remained untouched and Jinjing became so involved in the overhaul that he forgot to even consult with any of the Smiths about his changes to their family home. Gabby ended up arguing with him about how his project had gone ahead, with his ambition disregarding the family's opinions on any work.
No one else had any complaints though and Cade invited Abbey's family around, and Deng invited Baby, to show off the changes. While Gabby didn't go out of her way to chat with her visiting sisters, she did prepare a meal of hot dogs for everyone. She also started potty training Marci, not neglecting her daughter.
Her favourite! Dabney knew she'd enjoy her hot dog and rubbed her hands together in anticipation. After the meal, she headed to the library to continue work on "Backing Up Your Brother".
Deng looked after the garden and finally managed to catch some fish at Summer Hill Springs. EverFresh Delights Supermarket also contacted him during the day. They wanted to sell local grown plums, starting with the evaluation of samples from various growers, and they asked Deng to bring in a small quantity of his own produce.
The City Council was hosting another Grill-A-Thon in the park and, wanting the chance to get to know his potential clients better, Jinjing headed there to participate.
Cade ended up staying at home, where he witnessed Bobby's death. At least Abbey's boyfriend passed surrounded by family but the look Lawanda gave Gabby made it clear Bobby's daughter thought little of her aunt cackling away at her father's demise. Cade was obviously upset but Baby was ready to cheer him up, as much as was possible.
Dabney was promoted to Star News Anchor, without peer she was in charge. The night's top stories would be delivered through her pearly whites and the town would swoon at her every word. While she couldn't contain her excitement, with her lifetime wish fulfilled, her thoughts turned to retirement.
As normal, she collected the family's earnings from the book store and theatre, this time with something in mind for spending the money on. She then headed to the Steen household and chatted with Shaunna.
Jinjing's morning was quite a contrast to his afternoon. Gabby decided to get unchanged in front of him when he went to the bathroom to wash the dishes from breakfast. He was in the room first but she slapped him for intruding. However, after designing a teenage bedroom, a bathroom and a painting studio, and despite most of his reviews being "okay", Jinjing was conferred the new title of Placement Planner by the town council. He was also informed that they had an Architectural Designer's honour trophy for him to pick up.
Cade's fourth official date with Anna went great, she agreed to marry him!
Meanwhile, Gabby invited Ti-Ning to visit. After catching up with him she headed to the gym, as her treadmill was now in storage. She hadn't realised how much time she was spending at home. When she started a fight with Cade in the morning it was as if she could read his thoughts that she needed to get out of the house because she had been going stir crazy.
Deng took care of the garden and taught Marci how to walk. It was hard work for the toddler and she slept soundly in her crib afterwards.
The following morning, Marci wasn't feeling very helpful; pushing her breakfast bowl onto the floor, and her mother wasn't setting a good example, slapping Dabney and then starting a fight with her.
Deng looked after the garden and headed to Crystal Springs, "Art" had nothing that could compete with fishing, and Dabney returned to the Steen household, to hang out on her day off, and escape her twin sister.
Gabby invited Ti-Ning to visit again and, with Deng out, looked after Marci and continued to potty train her.
Jinjing completed another teenage bedroom renovation. From the home owner's comments it seemed more like they wanted an extra bed for free than to actually redecorate. He was still paid for his work but it meant that he had no time to complete any other projects for the day. He did, however, start quizzing Rosalie Kendall on how girly she was, for her own bedroom redesign.
Cade stayed at home again, cleaning, and chatting with Abbey when she came to visit. In the evening he relaxed in the hot tub.
Dabney took her first ride into work as a Star News Anchor; the car that pulled up outside the house to take her to the business offices was rather fancy.
While at work, she was trying to finish a piece for her evening slot but was struggling to get the momentum she needed. Procrastinating by going to get a glass of water, she accidentally tripped on the courier, landed in his mail cart and flew down the corridor in a very ridiculous manner. She eventually crashed into an assistant, landing in a comical pile of the day's correspondence. The event amused everyone, who were happy to see that, despite being a Star News Anchor, Dabney was a sim just like the rest of them.
The bump to her head finally jolted an idea there for her article but unfortunately flattery was still getting her nowhere, it was another positive piece she prepared, this time based on Conor Steen, which had no one other than her subject feeling warm and fuzzy.
Deng invited Tad to visit and chatted with him when he arrived. After spending some time with his guest he looked after the apple tree, it was the last plant surviving that Baby had sown the seed for, and then headed to Pinochle Pond, where singing to the fishes landed him a record sized Black Goldfish.
Deng wasn't the only one feeling musical; Jinjing couldn't help but sing in the bath that morning. He went on to redecorate Rosalie's room, but he knew what Toby's assessment of it was before the elder had finished speaking. Jinjing just couldn't seem to get the knack of producing work worth a great review and his thoughts strayed to playing with his sister instead of being out working. He trudged on to start some work on Abbey's house but decided to call it a day before he turned in the renovation.
Marci enjoyed her breakfast mush and Mum finished training her on potty use. Gabby also invited Mercedes Herrmann to visit and even chatted briefly with Baby when she came to visit Cade, who himself spent the day at home, chatting with the visitors and bouncing on the trampoline, trying to jump high enough to see past the trees and to the old pier on the beach.
Gabby looked thoughtfully into her coffee that evening. She seemed to have found a bottomless cup and, worried that the glitch would disappear, she kept drinking from it until she realised too late that she had to go to the toilet.
During the day, she invited Dewy Bishop to visit and taught Marci how to talk. The toddler didn't take to it straight away, distracted by the broken dishwasher, but eventually she closed her eyes, thinking really hard on what the most important word to say would be and came out with "Toy".
Deng invited Baby to visit again, but when she couldn't make it he harvested the last apples from the tree and headed to the science lab to see what new fish he could catch. Today, his singing caught him a Vampire Fish.
Jinjing headed to Abbey and Lawanda's house. While he had been approached with the intention of redecorating the bedroom, he knew straight away that what the two girls really needed was their own rooms and, with the funds they made available to him, he had managed to produce two bedrooms he was proud of. He turned in his renovation and next headed to the Abrams household, nervously playing with his cuffs as Rhett assessed his work on their study. Last of all he headed to the Keaton household and by the end of the day he reckoned that his portfolio was 20% complete.
After chatting with Deng over breakfast about his pancake making skills, Dabney headed into work, for a day of sucking up to her boss. Afterwards, she headed to the library and brought history to life with the publication of her historical novel. She then managed to find a book in the library that she hadn't yet read, "Zombies? Zombies!" and settled down to read it in one of the red arm chairs.
Cade chatted with Dewy when he first arrived, but yet again spent the day at home, cleaning and relaxing in the hot tub, he had a big day planned for tomorrow.
Jinjing had to head to work, although he planned on catching up with Cade afterwards. He arrived at the Bragg household, but didn't settle straight into his project, instead he watched TV in the living room.
Everyone else headed to Old Pier Beach. Cade had thought of hosting the wedding party at the art museum, but with it being Marci's birthday too, he decided to choose a venue she might also enjoy.
When they arrived, Gabby headed to the bar and Cade greeted Anna. It wasn't long before the ceremony got under way and the couple exchanged rings. Marci wandered over to see what the adults were doing, Deng threw rice and Gabby even shed a tear.
Meanwhile, Jinjing was left standing outside at the Pendleton house. Everyone else stayed at the beach, enjoying the sunshine. Dabney read, Gabby played chess and Deng set down his laptop but the mood changed suddenly. Deng gasped and Cade clutched at his heart as Grim Reaper came to take Abbey away. Dabney was racked with sobs and even toddler Marci looked on the verge of tears. Would Lawanda manage life without her parents as Abbey, Baby, Cade, Dabney and Gabby had in their teenage years?
By the afternoon things had quietened down since the wedding, more to Marci's suiting. Despite the sombre mood everyone did their best to celebrate her growing into a child, she went cross-eyed as she spun around to show off.
Jinjing made it to the beach in time to get a slice of cake; he wondered what had Dabney focused on as he picked up his plate, thoughts of her eldest sister perhaps?
Anna headed home shortly after, the house had so many sinks, and with one of them already spurting water she just wanted to check that no others were about to start and flood the house.
Now in need of two more beds, the family took some of the items before Jinjing's renovation out of storage. Without an extra room, they did their best to make the garage as comfortable as possible for Anna and Cade. Gabby was jealous that her own room didn't have so few windows.
A wedding, a funeral and a birthday was all a bit much for Marci and she headed home herself, curling up in the quiet solitude of the garage intended for the newlywed couple.
It was said that everyone handled grief differently, unfortunately for Cade and Deng, this lead to their wives flirting with other men. Everyone else's reactions were more normal, even if Dabney was surprised by just how angry Lawanda was.
Deng did his best to cheer up Tad, who was grieving his own loss, Gabby shared with Stacy Dubose her thoughts on her own funeral, and Cade found himself crying on Regan's shoulder. Marci even tried to follow the adult's example by expressing her condolences to Jess Holcomb but quickly found out that the elder did not like children.
With seven people all living under the one roof, broken sinks, showers and dishwashers, and Gabby's argumentative nature Dabney had that decided it was time to get her own place. After the funeral, she arranged the purchase of 36 Sim Lane, with the family's earnings she had dutifully collected from the book store and theatre.
Cade started work on Jinjing's portrait, while Anna peered over the steering wheel to make it to the police station. She'd never started a career in the police force as she had wanted to, but prompted by the new house and her marriage to Cade, she decided that now was the time to change her job too.
Marci wanted to be as logical as Mum and so spied through the telescope, she had a giggle over a broken mirror she saw through someone's window, it was nice to know it wasn't only her house where things broke.
Deng headed to Recurve Strand, and chose the song he's sing for the fish, while Jinjing headed to City Hall. Apparently the council member he met with had heard about Jinjing's architectural design projects and even wanted his advice on the colour scheme for their office.
Gabby headed to the gym to pump some iron; the look on her face was surprisingly tranquil compared to those of the sims exerting themselves around her.
Dabney Smith
Lifetime wish: Star News Anchor (fulfilled).
Traits: Bookworm, brave, evil, family-orientated, genius.
Favourites: Classical, hot dogs, lime.
Portrait: Yes
Lifetime happiness: 146,850
Current score: 17
