WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Stop and Watch Chapter 5 if You Haven’t Already

In Chapter 4 we watch Nina & Amanda’s marriage ending in divorce. Chapter 5 is all about life post-divorce. We see Amanda living with Jack and Carrie grow into a child. Carrie is living in Henford-on-Bagley with Nina, since Nina became the custodial parent of Carrie after the divorce. We watch as Nina tries to get on without Amanda in her life.

This episode also showcases both Nina & Amanda as parents and the challenges they face. Co-parenting is tough, and they try to make it work so that Carrie can grow up happy.

When Nina discovers that Jack and Amanda move in together (at her old house) it incenses her and causes her to do something “destructive” by woohooing with a random person at a Christmas party. She later regrets her decision and feels like a fool. But this new normal is crushing to Nina. She’s not sure if she can ever fall in love again or if she’ll be in love with Amanda forever – even though she doesn’t trust her any longer.

After three months of dating, Jack proposes to Amanda. Amanda says yes but has second thoughts about the engagement. Was it too soon?

Jack and Carrie do not get along at all. Carrie hates Jack, and it’s obvious. Although Carrie doesn’t understand why her parents broke up, she knows in some way that Jack was to blame. Because of that, she can’t stand being around him. Amanda notices this, and it makes her second guess being involved with Jack.

Shortly after Amanda and Jack are engaged, Amanda’s brother-in-law Jonah is killed in a fatal accident at work. Amanda’s sister is now a widow, as well as a single mother. Amanda does her best to help her sister, but it causes her to ask Jack to delay their wedding. Jack is not happy about it but understands. Amanda devotes nearly all of her free time to spending time with Jayda.

Jonah’s death was never supposed to happen. In game, Jonah died of hysteria. I tried to bring him back with the Death Flower but due to a glitch, Grim wouldn’t accept it, and Jonah’s urn disappeared completely!

When I restarted the game, Jonah’s urn was in the family inventory but that’s when I got an idea. Because Jonah was in the military, he could have died at work trying to save others. Certainly, it would fit in with his personality. Jonah was a character who had the good trait, the brave trait and the loyal trait. It fit him perfectly. So, I wrote his death as such. Also, I wanted to see Jayda grow through the grief process as a widow and single mother. With the new Growing Together EP and dynamics, it was interesting to see these events play out, and I did make sure to caption it and shoot images to use for later.

I also wrote it as a tribute to military spouses, as well as spouses of first responders who put their lives on the line every day. Every day these people put their lives on the line for the common good, and sometimes they don’t come home to their families. I was hoping that making Jayda a military widow, and now struggling as a single mother, would be a tribute to those who lose their loved ones due in the line of duty, especially military widows.

If you want to see me elaborate more on Jayda’s story. Let me know. I’ll be happy to do so.

While Carrie is visiting Amanda one weekend, the child tells her that Jack cursed at her. Amanda is incensed and fights with Jack demanding that he can’t do this any longer. While they argue, Amanda sees the vicious side of Jack. After Jack goes to the gym the next morning, Amanda has a heart-to-heart with Carrie about what Jack said to her. When she learns of it, she knows the truth – he did say those horrible things, and she can’t marry a sadist who likes hurting her daughter.

Again, I wrote this to the millions of children who have suffered hurt and pain at the hands of a bad stepparent. While I used emotional/verbal abuse for Carrie. Abuse is still abuse. Physical or not. Words can harm worse sometimes. So, to those who have suffered in silence, this is an acknowledgement to you.

After Nina picks up Carrie to take her home, Amanda waits for Jack. Then it’s, “Hit the road, Jack.” Literally. Amanda breaks off the engagement and Jack leaves immediately saying, “Good-bye, Amanda” as he goes out the door.

Fun fact, I did look into licensing the song “Hit the Road, Jack” by Ray Charles but due to the time needed to put out the episode I decided against it. Maybe later on the channel if we ever do a Nina & Amanda marathon, I may reconsider it.

When Jack leaves, Amanda breathes a sigh of relief that it’s over, and that’s when Nina calls her, screaming at her for what Jack said to Carrie. Obviously, Carrie filled her in on the news. Amanda lets her know that’s it’s over. Nina is glad to hear the news. The call ends cordially. After Amanda hangs up, she takes a nap on the couch blurting out, “I hate this place!“

So, the only question left is, what comes next?

In Chapter 6, which is my favorite part of this story, things take a turn. There’s a lot of humor and levity in this one, which is one of the reasons why I like it so much.

Chapter 6 does focus mostly on Amanda but it’s a major turning point in her life.

Keep your eyes peeled!