Practically Fate

Summary: Between HM 64 and the Mineral Town series, the only couple that remains the same is Cliff x Ann. Coincidence? I think not…

Chapter One

For as long as I can remember, it's always been me and my dad. Whether it was helping him make pancakes every Saturday morning, helping him run the Inn, or playing catch when I was younger, he was always there. Nobody else, just the two of us. And you know, I think I like it that way. I can't imagine trading the rest of the world for anything else. Sure, my dad would love it if I got married, settled down and had some kids. But that's just not the way I am. I need to be free with nothing to hold me down, keep me back. But don't think that means I can't handle guys. No, when it comes to rough housing and being tough, you know, showing 'em who's boss … I'm the queen.

I can hold my liquor just as well as any man (or Karen for that matter). I can out-argue anyone I come across. I can't recall losing an argument ever … except maybe to my dad, but that's only because he's the parent, and I usually let him win. Either that, or he pulls the old, "Because I said so!" Dang I hate that line. But you know, when it comes to being tough, I might be compared to nails. When it comes to being rough, I've got the guts. But when it comes to mushy stuff like love, well, that's just not me. And I don't think it ever will be me.

My dad's always trying to get a date for me, though. One time he set me up with Gray, Lord knows how he pulled that one off. First we had a "romantic" dinner at the Inn, then we watched the stars from the dock on the beach. It wouldn't have been so bad, but I think I scared Gray when I kind of pushed him into the ocean. It was just a playful shove, nothing too hard. Who knew a guy could be so fragile … or a girl so strong. He went home wet, cold, and frightened that night. Needless to say that was my first and only date with Gray. Ever since he's been avoiding me at all costs. Geez, you accidentally push a guy into a freezing cold ocean once and this is how you get treated for the rest of your life.

Man, you should have seen what my dad tried to pull off yesterday. I remember it like it was … never mind. But still, it was pretty far-fetched.

"Ann, honey, could you come here a second?"

"Hold on Dad, I need to finish wiping off this table."

Once the table wiping was done, I took my time getting over to where my father was waiting behind the register and threw the dirty rag on the counter.

"What's up?"

"I don't expect you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"Oh, Dad," I whined. "Who did you set me up with this time?"

"A nice young man named Kai."

"Kai? Dad, it's the middle of Spring. You know Kai only shows up during the Summer. And even when he is here, he's always hanging out with Popuri. They obviously have a thing for each other."

"Oh, come on, Ann. It wouldn't hurt just to go on a date with him once he shows up. I'm sure Popuri wouldn't mind."

"Have you seen the way she drools over him, dad?" I said. "Yeah sure, she 'wouldn't mind'. I expect they'd be married by now, if Rick wasn't such a –"

"Concerned young man for his sister's well being?"

"Well, I was going to say overprotective paranoid freak, but that works too."

"You see Ann," he sighed. "That is exactly the kind of attitude that … that…"

"That keeps me dateless?" I filled in the blank for him. He didn't answer. I knew I was right though. So, is that what he thought of me? That I was a girl who could beat 'em up just as good as any guy around but lacked the ability to get a date? And I thought fathers were usually proud of their tomboyish daughters. I guess my dad is the one exception for that rule.

"For your information Dad, I don't mind not having a guy. It suits me just fine. I don't need a guy to feel like I'm worth something. Besides, I like being here and running the Inn with you. If I were to start dating, it'd cut into my work time."

"You know I can handle this place on my own, Ann."

"That's what you think," I retorted. "But how often have you run this place by yourself?"

"Just because you've always been here to help, it doesn't mean I can't do it by myself. You've never given me a chance."

"Dad," I said, smiling. "I don't want to give you a chance. I like working here, I told you. Besides, I thought the only thing that mattered was making me happy." I put on those puppy dog eyes that worked every time.

"Yes, yes, I know that," he said, turning to toy with the register. "I just thought you'd be happier if you had a man in your life."

"I have a father," I said.

"That's not what I mean, you know that, Ann. I thought I'd be fine too on my own when I was your age. I was just as independent as you were. I thought I was happy. Then, well, when I met your mother, I realized I had never been as happy as I was with her."

"Dad please don't bring Mom up," I said, turning away.

"You look more like her everyday."

"Shut up!" I said, running away from him, up the stairs and into one of the spare rooms. I slammed the door behind me and sat on one of the beds with tears on the verge of spilling out of my eyes. I scowled though, daring them to spill down my cheeks, and they never fell. So typical of my dad, to bring up my mom and make me feel guilty. My mom loved children. I'm sure she would have had more if she hadn't died not long after I was born. And I only feel like I'm doing a huge sin when I realize that I'm probably never going to get married and give her grandchildren. I know she's dead, but still. It's like I'm letting her down or something. And letting my dad down, too. But in order to make other people happy, should I sacrifice all that makes me happy? I like my freedom. I like who I am. Why should I change?

I walked out of the spare room that night with a renewed confidence. If I didn't want to get married, then that was all I needed to know. As I sauntered down the stairs, I noticed that my dad didn't have his usual place behind the counter, even though there were plenty of customers sitting at tables. I decided to start waiting on them, not worrying about my dad.

I walked up to Karen and Rick. They were talking happily and laughing.

"Hey guys, what can I get you?"

"We'll just have some wine," Karen answered for the two of them.

"Okay," I said, walking briskly away to get their orders. When I walked back into the kitchen to get some clean glasses, I noticed my dad. He was talking to someone, but I couldn't see who… I hid behind a counter and started eavesdropping.

"Well you can stay here by all means. I can cut your rent down a little bit for the first few months, but after a while, you're going to need to pay it back. After all, I do need to make a living, and I have a daughter to think of."

Oh, so someone was going to rent one of the rooms upstairs? Interesting. The only boarder we really have is Gray and he's only there during the night because he works with his grandfather for the rest of the day. I wonder who this person was. I awaited eagerly for their answer.

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

Hm, not much of a talker, this one. It was obvious by his voice that he was a guy. Then it struck me. He was a guy. No doubt another guy that my dad would want to force me into dating. I shuddered and quickly grabbed some new glasses before running out of the kitchen.

I filled the glasses up with wine and handed them to Karen and Rick.

"What took you so long?" Karen teased.

I took her comment as serious. "Eavesdropping," I answered casually.

"Really?" Karen said, looking interested. "On who?"

"My dad and some guy."

"Some guy?" she raised her eyebrows. "Do tell."

"Not much to tell. He's just another boarder come to live in the spare room for however long."

"And that's all you got out of the conversation?"

"Hey I only listened for like two sentences," I said in my defense. I sighed, slightly changing the subject. "He's probably a guy that my dad will try to set me up with."

"No offense, Ann," Rick said the first couple words he had spoken to me that night. "But all the guys around here are, well, scared of you."

"Good," I said, trying to act like the comment hadn't affected me. "They should be. They have much reason to fear me."

Karen couldn't help but laugh. "Especially after what you did to poor Gray,"

"That," I said, pointing at her for effect. "was an accident, first of all. Second of all, this guy is new here. If he doesn't even know me, why should he be scared of me?"

"Looks like he already is," Karen sniggered. I turned around and saw him walk out of the room; spiky brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, big brown eyes that were first looking at me, then cast down toward the floor. He shuffled along with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders in a slump. Karen was right, he avoided me on his way over and out the door. I watched him go, internally sighing. And this was the guy that would be boarding here at the Inn? I wonder how long he'll last.