Chapter Forty-Eight

It was a crisp spring morning. There was dew on the bright green glass blades. Mineral Town was alive with color once more. The birds were chirping. The temperature was bearable. I was wearing a black velvet dress with a grey cardigan. Beside me, Kai was also dressed in black. He was clad in a button up tucked into black slacks with a satin black tie that gleamed in the dewey morning light.

"... we remember her for her smile. Her peaceful and graceful life," Pastor Carter was saying, standing before the congregation of Mineral Town, "Lillia was someone who left a mark on each of us and will continue to touch us, even in her death."

In the row before me in the small cemetery sat Popuri, Rick, Karen, and Rod. Each were stiff in their black attire. Popuri occasionally dabbed her eyes. I could see the fleshy scar in her eyebrow gleaming on her pale skin in the sunlight. A constant reminder of her frustrations the winter before. Kai also had a matching scar just coming out beneath his hairline. Something they would share for the rest of their lives.

"And so now we bury Lillia with hearts bursting full of pride, honor, and regret. We bury her to rest peacefully in the arms of the goddesses that inhabit Goddess Isles. We bury her, but lest we not forget her nuturing soul. She will rest her eternally, a reminder of the good she brought Mineral Town. The children she raised to be contributing characters to this world. We are less joyful without her, but are rich in the memories she allowed us to make with her," Carter said as Duke and Doug slowly pulled the robes to lower her mahogony casket into the hole that Rick and Rod had spent the afternoon before digging themselves, "May God rest her soul."

...

After the funeral, everyone gathered at the Inn for cookies, brownies, tea, and juice. The funeral attendee's scattered to various tables, speaking quietly amongst themselves with their refreshments. There seemed to be no color in the bar as everyone dawned black clothing.

Kai and I were seated with Cliff, Ann, Popuri, Karen, and Rick. Karen was leaned back in her chair, her hand resting against the smallest swell in her belly. Karen was about four months pregnant. They were expecting a child come the end of summer. They were hopeful maybe Lillia would have held out long enough to meet her grandchild, but unfortunately, she only made it half-way through spring. It is disputed whether the medicine prolonged her life or not, because she did not seem to make any improvements.

Popuri sipped her lemonade calmly. Her pink hair had been thoroughly brushed and slicked, fit compactely against her head. It was an odd sight to see. She had been quiet all day, which was to be expected. Popuri, we hoped, was feeling more in control. She had recently began picking up making the orders for the farm and taking care of the animals while Rick spent time tending to Karen, who had been suffering nausea and vertigo during the early stages of her pregnancy.

Rod helped, occasionally, but Popuri found herself training her father on how to do the tasks he had taught Rick and herself only a decade before. He had been plagued with many illnesses on his trip as well, so he was easily winded and tired. Popuri had the farm on her shoulders. But Rick had reported she handled it gracefully, quietly. He hadn't heard a complaint or huff of frustration. She seemed at ease waking at dawn to tend the fields and spending afternoons filling out paperwork. If anything, she seemed rejuvenated to have an operational part of the family business. If only, I wished, it had happened earlier for the sake of Popuri's sanity.

"It was a beautiful service," Ann finally said after the silence had gone on long enough. She immediately stuffed a macademia nut cookie in her mouth.

"Thank you. It really was," Popuri nodded, "I think it captured her essence well."

"I just... can't believe the day actually came," Rick said. Karen pressed a consoling hand to his arm, "I thought she'd keep holding on for one more day... forever. Sounds stupid when I say it aloud."

"That's not true," I shook my head, "You had hope. We all did."

"She's at peace now," Karen reminded him, "We know she's not suffering now."

Popuri broke a brownie in half and took a small bite. She let out a small sigh as she did so and glanced towards the men's table where her father was sitting with a cup of tea, "I'm glad Dad was here," She looked back towards her brother. Rick spotted his father as well and his eyes lingered for a moment before returning to Popuri.

"I don't want to talk about Dad," He said.

Karen let out a sigh and drank some fruit punch, shaking her head, "You live with him, Rick."

"Yeah, and he should pay rent," Rick replied nastily, "He can't even it call his house."

"You can't just treat him like a tenant," Popuri chastised, "He's trying, Rick. Give him credit."

"Let me come to it on my own terms," Rick told them, "I want actions."

...

Kai and I returned home to our fully expanded house. I was still reeling that I could call it a house. Just months before it had been shack. I couldn't believe for one whole year, I had lived in that piece of crap that Gotz thought was acceptable. He had done beautiful work on expanding our house, however, so I couldn't be mad at him.

I let out a huff and sat at the breakfast bar, leaning against it with my head cradled in my hand. Kai rounded the bar, "Hello, ma'dam, welcome to Kai's Kitchen. Can I start the fine lady off with a drink?"

I laughed now as he grabbed us beers and brought them back to the bar, "You never go out of hospitality-mode, do you?" I asked with a playfully raised eyebrow.

"For some odd reason, I always gotta be standing on the other side of the bar," Kai shrugged as he chugged some of his beer, "It's just in my blood to do. Just like you and spreadsheets."

"Oh, please. Hey, would an administrative assistant do this? Pour us some shots!"

"Shots! Now you're talkin'. It's the perfect weather for day-drinking!" He looked under the bar, "Vodka, tequila? Or maybe whiskey-"

"Vodka, for sure," I said, poking my head over to see what he was doing.

"Vodka for the fine lady it is," He replied, holding the bottle up to me.

...

We worked through the bottle rather fast. We were so drunk, we had resorted to laying on the couch, cackling up like teenagers over the dumbest things. We looked upwards to the spinning ceiling, our heads occasionally knocking together.

"So, whaddya think 'ill happen with Rick and Popuri...?" Kai asked sloppily.

"You know... I have no clue," I shook my head, knitting my eyebrows together, "Either they'll... relearn how to live together again or... Forensic Files will be interviewing us about some murder."

Kai cracked up at the answer, "I think for the mos' part... the bad stuff is over. They don't have much more to conquer."

"I'm hopin' my second year in Mineral Town will be much less eventful," I said.

"We could only hope... Last year was something else," Kai shook his head, "Can you believe we survived?"

"At the beginning of las' year... I lived in The City and worked a dead end job. Beginning of this year, I got a new house, a boyfriend, and land. Sometimes I think about that and I'm just like... holy shit," I shook my head, my thoughts so discombobulated and unorganized.

"That's what happens when you bet on yourself, baby," Kai replied, "I bet on myself and sunk all my money on a boat. And look what it did. Led me to you!"

"Is Zack ever gonna be done fixing it?" I glanced over at him.

"We finally got it to stop leakin'," Kai grinned cheekfully, "Now I think it's all just cosmetic."

"We still gotta go on our tour of the Goddess Isles," I nudged him.

"Oh! That reminds me," Kai turned to me, "I got a magazine about cool tours to do around them in the mail. I put them in the second drawer of my nightstand. Go get it!"

"Why do I have to move?" I asked, laughing all the while.

"You're on the outside. I'll break you if I try to climb over this drunk," Kai laid back down, sticking his tongue out at me. I stumbled to my feet, hitting my shin against the coffee table. Kai laughed at me as I rubbed it sorely and staggered in the general direction of our bedroom. I flicked the lamp on that sat on Kai's side of the bed.

"First drawer?" I asked, already pulling it open.

"No! No! Not that one! Second one!" I heard Kai leaping to his feet as I pulled the drawer all the way open. His reaction had seemed a bit extreme as I glanced over the contents and began to slide the drawer shut. Kai had staggered into the room now, nearly breathless. I paused and stopped the drawer for a moment, staring intently at something I had missed first glance.

"Is that...?" I looked over my shoulder at him. His cheeks now grew rosy, "That's really your hiding spot?" I asked, trying to contain my god awful drunken laughter.

Kai rubbed his neck sheepishly, "I was hoping it would have stayed hidden until your birthday. Now the surprise is ruined. Might as well do it now," Kai brushed past me and grabbed the content. He then dragged me outside to the bright sunlight, which took us a moment to get accustomed to in our drunk stupors. Kai looked over our blooming garden and onwards to the chickens, sheep, and cows we now had. He had a proud look on his face that filled me with pride myself.

Kai cleared his throat and dropped to his knee, "Claire Hanes... will you marry me?" He opened the box to reveal a silver ring that had a wavy pattern. A top sat a small but beautiful diamond. The design itself was so beautiful. I inhaled sharply upon seeing the beautiful thing. My eyes drifted to the soft satin that lined the box to see GRAY WILLIAMS' HAMMER AND CO printed into it.

"Kai, of course I will," I said, extending my hand to allow him to slide it on. We exchanged a deep kiss and embraced each other, looking out over our farm. I looked to my ring and smiled. Given to me by the love of my life, made by the one of most important people in my life.

I really was a lucky girl. And we had our entire futures ahead ourselves, whether we stayed on the farm or not. If Kai suddenly had the itch to travel again, I probably wouldn't be so hesitant to follow him. The comfort I found in Kai was all I needed and all that I had longed before. He felt like home, which is what I had always dreamed of. Unbelievably, my dreams had manifested into the plump tomatoes and golden corn lined in my fields. They had manifested into my genuine friendships made on this island. They had manifested themselves inside Kai.

I had taken a bet on myself. I had set out with a mission. And finally, for once in my life, I felt satisfied... fulfilled. My aspirations were realized. In the beginning, it had all been for Gray... or so I thought. This had really been for myself. I needed that desperate change. I had run away into the sunset, expecting nothing and discovering everything. People I can count on. People I can trust. A mutual respect, a true bond. A world I had thought to have been confining had been redefined as an oyster full of pearls.

The day The City had disappeared from sight, I was sure I had made an awful mistake. But actually, I made an amazing move. It had all paid off. I tilted my head upwards to the sun and let the sun soak into my face. I looked over my farm once more. It was something to be proud of. No longer an eyesore, it was easy to see Mineral Town's economy would benefit from us greatly. The work was honest and fulfilling. I've woken up every morning ready for the day.

I was a different Claire. A better Claire. No longer just a plain-jane, a social outcast, a pity party. I was confident now. My new life expierences had carved out something more inside of me. Something I had not known was there. My internal strength was much greater than ever before. I was resilient at last, thick skin to replace the paper there before.

The future was mine to take. And with Kai by my side, I couldn't expect it to go any better.

The End

A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who stuck through with this to the end with me. Every review has been taken to heart and I will carry it forward with me as I continue to write both original and fanficition works. This story turned into so much more than what was originally planned. I had so many ideas I ended up scrapping. I've left it open ended for a continuation at some other interesting time interval, but I'm undecided on whether I'll write one. Thanks again for all the reads (even if you don't review) I appreciate you taking the time actually see the words I have written.