Lakshmi and Maximus have a son, Liam.
As soon as he's old enough, his devoted parents begin teaching him to walk and talk.
They read to him and give him only educational toys to play with, hoping to give him every advantage in life.
Just a few days before Liam's next birthday, Lakshmi discovers she's pregnant again. Maximus hopes for a girl this time.
Though she's on maternity leave, Lakshmi visits the salon to share some gossip with her friend Narcissa, who is dressed in an uncharacteristically frumpy fashion, very similar to Lakshmi's own maternity wear. "Our kids can be best friends," Narcissa quips, making it clear that she, too, is pregnant. Lakshmi didn't know her best friend was even seeing anyone, and tries to think of a tactful way to ask who the father is.
"Promise you won't tell anyone," Narcissa demands, not waiting for Lakshmi to ask, "It's Thornton Wolff."
"The Thornton Wolff?" Lakshmi gasps, as though there was another one. "But he's..."
"Married, yes," Narcissa replies with a sigh. "You know how it is with him and Morgana, one day hot, the next day cold. On one of those cold days he got kind of hot with me."
"Will he leave her?" Lakshmi asks.
Narcissa shakes her head. "She's pregnant too. Poor Thornton, he hates kids."
Lakshmi rolls her eyes, not feeling any pity for Thornton Wolff, but she promises her friend not to reveal her secret.
Liam has a birthday, and is now a child. The house has just two bedrooms, so Maximus and Lakshmi put Liam's new bed in the nursery with the crib they're keeping ready for the baby on the way. "Am I going to have to share my room with the new baby?" Liam asks, already anticipating conflict. Smart boy.
The next child is a girl, just as Maximus hoped. They name her Rukmini. Liam hates sharing his room with his noisy, smelly little sister. There's room in the attic to add another room and a much needed second bathroom, there just isn't the money to do it, so Liam will have to share for awhile.
Lakshmi gets a commission from the Doo Peas Corporation for ten of her paintings. Painting is more of a hobby for her than a profession, but she does have many examples of her work on her own walls, and is more than happy to sell a few if there are buyers. When Thornton Wolff hands her the check for ten grand, there is something in his eyes that says 'hush money' and Lakshmi feels dirty taking it. She wonders if he's paid off Narcissa like this too, if he plans on supporting his child. Lakshmi would like to throw the check back in his face, but they really need the money to add a room for Liam, and it's not like Thornton Wolff is actually buying her silence, which she's already promised to Narcissa.
(Challenge notes: Liam as a toddler succeeded in reading all nine toddler books and reaching level three on peg box and xylophone, and he was potty trained and taught to walk and talk. So the Perfect Children requirement, Phase One is complete. He's started working on the blocks table and toy oven. The Runs in the Family trait is Vegetarian, and Liam was given that trait on age up to child.
My roll for Generation 2 is Single Parent, 3 children, career in Law Enforcement, Spy track. Generation goal will be Expansionist and the Misc Fun will be Hands off. Note that the coming addition I'm planning to make a bedroom for Liam in the attic will not be counting toward Expansionist, that won't happen until the heir becomes a young adult and makes an expansion on the house. The heir will likely be Rukmini.)
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