This starts the final part of two stories: ‘The Hunter Twins – Travelling’ and ‘Tender Loving Care’. I really hope you enjoy it.

A very big ‘thank you’ to all the artists for the creations I have been using during these stories. Thanks to all of you who didn’t only read my stories but commented them as well. Though I always thank you personally, I want to transmit my gratitude here as well. ~ Margo

*****

It was just another day in Sunset Valley. The busses were taking children to school; people were on their way to work.

As Ilona Hemmingway lived in a Spanish style-house with a courtyard, every day the chirping of the birds woke her up very early. She was already tired before having done anything but she was already used to that. Every morning was the same. She quickly woke the boys up and, while they were dressing for school, she prepared breakfast. Kissed the boys good-bye, looked at her watch; she still had some time before the triplets would wake up.

So she went to gather the clothes that the boys had dispersed in their bedroom and she started the washing machine. She did a bit of tidying, only for the first sight; the assistant would do that later more thoroughly.
She tried not to make any noise because during the night her husband had gone to hospital due to an emergency and now he was still sleeping.

Some miles from there, Val and Jane Hunter were going inside the Town Hall. They had been travelling from the old Simworld to find their biologic mother. The few informations they had was her name: Ilona Picaso and that she had immigrated to New Simland about 20 years ago. Oh yes, they had a picture of a painting that, most probably represented Ilona as a teenager but that would be of no use at the Town Hall.
The clerk couldn’t find anybody with that name and he said that Sunset Valley is not the only place in New Simland. When he saw the disappointed look on the young people’s faces, he said: “Well, I don’t want to give you false hope but I could have a look how many ‘Ilonas’ are living here” and he started working with the computer.

After a while he said: “There are not many Ilonas here; only three. Two of them were born here and the third one came here quite a long time ago and… yes…; here name was Picaso but she married here with Chester Hemmingway!”The clerk was pleased with himself and confirmed: “You are looking for Mrs Ilona Hemmingway; I can even give you her address” and writing it on a paper he handed it over to them and wished them good-luck.
Jane and Val were very grateful and looked at each other. Hopefully they could find their mother today. They took a taxi and told the driver to take them to Rainbowstreet.

Jeremy Captain was thinking what would happen if Jane and Val couldn’t find their mother. He hadn’t had the patience to wait on the ship and had walked downtown until he found the public pool.

There he was sunbathing and had a swim while trying to bring a bit of order in his mind. Wasn’t she too young for him?

Ilona was aware that there were three old newspapers and picked them up to recycle them. Going outside, there were some young people talking in front of her house. She greeted with a nod of her head. While she was throwing the newspapers away, she thought: “Do I know these people? They look slightly familiar.”

When going back inside, she looked again at them from the corner of her eye and decided “No, I’ve never seen them before.” Then she hurried inside because she heard one of the babies crying.

Jane and Val were standing in front of the indicated house and they saw how a woman came out and, all of a sudden, Jane felt insecure. Val asked her why she didn’t say anything to her but Jane just said: “I don’t know how to begin.” After a while she took a deep breath and they rang the door bell.

A man came out. Jane and Val presented themselves as recently arrived and told him that they wanted to buy a house in the same street.

Mr. Hemmingway was a nice man but he excused himself very soon and said: “Sorry, I have to go to work; one moment please” and then he called out loud “Ilona! Please come down a moment. There are new neighbours to be, who have come to introduce themselves! Honey…, I can’t wait any longer, I have to go!” and he ran outside to go to work.

Then Ilona came into the hall. She greeted them politely and Jane told her that they arrived yesterday and they had made the journey by boat. “Oh, I surely would love to travel by ship” said Ilona and when she saw the unhappy look on Val’s face, she understood that he wasn’t fond of travelling. They made a little joke about that.

As they didn’t want to push things, Jane said good-bye but invited Ilona to come to the ship if she wanted to. “Well yes, I would like very much to visit a ship” and she promised to visit them tomorrow afternoon.
Then Val and Jane went to the Post Office asking for an international phonebook. The young girl who attended them asked for the name and Val prompted ‘Daisy’. The girl looked at him and said ‘Daisy’ and what more?” Val got all nervous because he didn’t know her family name. “Jane, do you remember her name?” Jane said: “No, she told me once when we first met but I really don’t remember.”
The girl looked at them with a dark look on her face.  “Then I’m afraid I can’t help you. Now, if you want to excuse me; I’ve got important things to do! Next please!”

The look on Val’s face was so heart touching that Jane tried to comfort him. They continued their stroll along the streets of Sunset Valley until they reached the little Bistro. “Let’s order something to eat.”
Nice place, nice music… but Val’s humour was below zero. While waiting for the food, Jane said: “Hey, I’ve got the telephone number of the Train office where we bought the tickets!” Very soon she dialled the number and asked for Daisy who was in charge of their Simexpress. As an answer they said: “You are so right… se was in charge but she’s not anymore. She has been fired!”
Jane: “Could you give me her phone number?”“No, I can’t help you with that. Good-bye.” *click*

“I’m so sorry Val.”
“Forget it sis, it’s not your fault.”

They ate in silence until Val asked Jane, why she hadn’t told Ilona the truth. Jane answered: “We’ve had such a long time to prepare ourselves for this and now I feel unprepared. Perhaps I will be able to talk with her tomorrow when she visits us. Now, let’s go to the ship. Jeremy told us that we could sleep there until we would have something of our own.”

Jeremy was pleased to see Jane back and she told him that she had invited Ilona on board next day. He said that there was no problem at all.

Ilona told her husband about the invitation to visit a ship and he said: “Oh fine! You love ships. So go ahead. I will have the afternoon off from work so you don’t have to worry about the girls. They kissed good night and went to sleep.

Jane had prepared everything for Ilona to come and she was sitting on the deck with Val and Jeremy. It was getting late and Jane got nervous thinking that Ilona perhaps wouldn’t show up. But then she saw that from the hillside, somebody was jogging to the ships’ direction. She stood up and went to welcome Ilona.

She brought her to the deck where they started to chat about anything but the important point. Jane was clearly nervous and Val said: ‘Jane…. tell her’.

To be continued….