The Life and Times of Sandi French- Part 6: Life in Barnacle Bay, the baby, and the evil, sneaky step-brother.

 Sandi and Bernie were enjoying their life as a couple and getting familiar with Barnacle Bay after Bernie took a job with the police department there.

They slowly started making friends. Bernie even managed to get his co-workers to stop hating him. Lewis-Charlie Darwin and Sandi became fast friends and enjoyed playing ping pong and other games together.

Lewis-Charlie figured that since they were friends, the Butlers wouldn't mind him rooting around in their dumpster. What a weirdo!

The question of starting a family came up, and Sandi told Bernie that she really dislikes children and didn't think she wanted to have any.

Bernie understood her position and decided to not push the matter as he was rather ambivalent about kids. Then one day he came home from work, and Sandi called him upstairs. "I finally got this room decorated!" she exclaimed.

"But . . . I thought you said you didn't want children! I thought you wanted to turn this into your science lab."

"I didn't think I wanted kids, but we took some risks woohooing, and I've found out I'm pregnant! I really think I can make this work. Maybe it's fate stepping in and giving me something I didn't know I wanted!"

"Well, I'm thrilled, especially if you are happy about it too!"

Soon Sandi was on the phone to her mother and Fiona, telling them the news.

Then she and Bernie went to the movies to celebrate.

 Sandi enjoyed her remaining days before the baby's arrival, knowing the baby would require a lot of care and so she needed to enjoy her freedom while she could.

Time passed and soon the baby's birth was upon them. They were in the middle of playing a game of chess when Sandi's water broke. "Bernie! It's time; this isn't just gas this time!"

"This baby's coming tonight!"

"What do I do!? What do I do!? I'm not ready for this! We haven't even had dinner yet!" Bernie exclaimed.

"Never mind. I'll just take my bike, and you can come to the hospital after you've eaten. No point in having two cranky babies in the same room!"

Sandi set off for the hospital while Bernie gobbled down his mac and cheese. He arrived at the hospital with minutes to spare. They had a baby boy and named him Austin. Austin is excitable and loves the cold.

Bernie was a proud papa. However reality started setting in for Sandi. "I'm going to have to take a hiatus from work until Austin is old enough to stay home alone! What was I thinking?" she wondered.

"Maybe having a baby wasn't such a great idea!"

To add insult to injury, the day came when Sandi started noticing wrinkles! 

She tried every mirror in the house repeatedly, hopping what she was seeing was just a trick of the light. "I'm not a young girl anymore, and what do I have to show for it? My career's on hold; my house isn't fully remodeled; Bernie is off at work all the time, and I'm stuck here changing diapers. My life sucks!"

She struggled with her mid-life crisis. She had fleeting desires to move to a new house, get a new job, even divorce Bernie! (I let her keep the wish to flirt with someone else, but that's as far as I let it go.)

Meanwhile, Bernie's job was going great, though he needs some practice being more observant.

"Hi, I'm a police officer. What do you do for a living?"

Despite his lack of observation skills and the fact that he keeps hiding his book he's supposed to read to get a promotion, he finally did get one, and announced his promotion to Sandi, warning her that his job might get a little more hazardous.

They called a sitter and went out on the town to celebrate.

Sandi was truly proud of his achievement. They went out to dinner, then to the Little Roses Lounge for some karaoke.

The mixologist wouldn't man her station and instead stood around and watched the piano player,

. . . so Bernie and Sandi went to the other bar in town to get some drinks. 

While they were out, Bernie ran into the governor. Bernie was giddy with excitement and asked him for his autograph.

Bernie couldn't help but talk politics with him, . . . 

but the governor soon got fed up and told Bernie in no uncertain terms that there was no more money left in the budget to fund Bernie's law enforcement ideas. 

Time to get back to the wife for one more slow dance before heading home.

Once Austin aged up to a toddler, Sandi started taking Austin with her to the Institute of Innovation, where she worked on her science skills, so she didn't fall too far behind. (I've never explored the science machine too deeply to see what all it can do, so now's my chance.) 

She had several failed experiments, but gradually gained in skill and had fewer of them. 

Both Sandi and Bernie take good care of Austin, but they only do what is necessary. Neither of them have shown any desire to teach him the skills he needs as a toddler. I did make Sandi sit down and read with him for a little while before he aged up.

The sad news came that Sandi's mother Molly had passed away. Sandi felt the obligation to take in her teenage brother Thor, since he had no where else to go. Thor arrived while both Sandi and Bernie were  at work, found his room, moved in his cannabis plant, and changed the lock on his bedroom door so only he could open it. Due to Barnacle Bay's rough and rowdy perspective on personal choices, having cannabis for personal use isn't exactly illegal, but citizens still have to be legal adults. Thor didn't want any push-back from his straight-laced sister and her cop husband. He figured what they don't know won't hurt them. 

Thor arrived just in time for Austin's and Bernie's birthday.

Bernie doesn't seem to be a victim of the mid-life crisis like Sandi is. I tried to fulfill Sandi's wish to flirt with someone else by letting her go on a date with a random stranger. First she tested his reflexes,

Then they had a drink and flirted. 

However, this didn't make her wish go away. I think the game is glitched. Further evidence that the game is glitched is that Hector here, waltzed into the Butler's house and repossessed their rocking chair, a cheap bedside lamp, and a roll of toilet paper! 

I specifically remember sending Bernie to pay the bills the day before, and there were no outstanding bills showing when I clicked on the mailbox. This town is definitely corrupt! Bernie thinks it's better to just pretend he doesn't see him. 

One more sign that the game is glitched is that Thor invited his imaginary friend Lucky to visit. 

I got the notice that he would be arriving at 9am the next day. When 9am rolled around, I got a message that Lucky was unable to make it, and to try later. However, Lucky was standing on the porch as a young adult. (He should be the same age and have the same birthday as Thor.) I added Lucky to the family, but couldn't get him to do anything but stand on the porch. This might be Thor's birthday. When he arrived, he was a teen two days away from adulthood. I'll need to figure out a fix for this. 

Meanwhile, Thor is making himself at home, and terrorizing his little nephew. 

Watch your back, Austin!

Thor is also trying to get Sandi to release his inheritance that was placed in a trust with her as the guardian. The money was intended for his education, but he doesn't seem to care about such things. 

Speaking of school, now that Austin is old enough, Sandi wants to enroll him in boarding school. 

I don't normally send kids to boarding school, but since Sandi dislikes children, and this game is primarily focusing on her life, it seems to make sense. She hasn't specified which school she wants to send him to, so I'll need a few days to observe him and see what school would make the best sense.