Chapter Text
You would think in a small town like Pelican town, where everyone knows everyone, things like struggling with dragging a crate full with new supplies to the store from the bus stop would be an easier task since a fellow neighbor would immediately come to aid you as soon as they see you in distress, but Caroline had no such luck.
Pierre told her it would be just “one box” which was not a lie but it was clearly a stretch of the truth since it’s so heavy she could barely push it from where the delivery person left it. What’s inside it? No clue, but it feels so heavy that it would not be a surprised if the contents of it is just bricks or rocks…. or maybe both.
“ugh, I should’ve offered him a payment for him to take it to the store but noooo” Caroline reprimanded herself “I just needed to trust Pierre and his ambiguous favors”
Normally this would be a task assign to her husband but he came down with a little fever for staying up so late in the winter nights doing inventory (which is something she warned him about) so she was the only option left to receive the new stock. The only good thing about this situation was that thanks the unwanted exercise the cold from the snow around was not a problem to worried about for this situation, although her legs and arms were getting tired and her back will surely hurt by dinner time, exhaustion was taking control of her mind and the temptation of just letting the box out there and going back home is growing stronger. But she made a promised to her husband to take care of this one task so he can “rest” inside the heated store.
“There’s no way I can do this by myself but I have no other choice”
She put all of her strength and concentration in pushing the crate that the sound from footstep did not reach her ears neither notice the presence behind her till the medium-size box suddenly disappeared in front of her and hear someone say:
“Looks like you need some help don’t you?” with a tone of cheerfulness that can only come from one person in this whole valley, someone Caroline can recognize anywhere and brings a smile to her face faster than any freshly made cup of tea can.
“Farmer!” she says with relief of not pushing the concrete-like weight anymore “you came just in time!”
“I have been known for that around here” she left a little laugh out “What are you doing out here anyway? Is pushing things around the town part of the weekly exercise routine now?”
“Very funny” the tea lover says with sarcasm “Pierre is sick today and I offer to take this home so he wouldn’t expose himself to the cold more than he already had”
“That is so sweet of you”
“I’m his wife, it’s just what I have to do you know?”
“Still, back in the city I heard so many stories of partners not being attentive enough, you would think this are bare minimum things but a lot of people can’t even do that you know? And that’s not even the worst part! One day at the office this coworker-” As much as Caroline enjoys the young woman’s stories she couldn’t help but to notice some things that were undiscovered by her in this past years of knowing her.
First, when the farmer moved here two years ago, she barely talked to the townsfolk if it wasn’t for the sporadic meetings when someone posted a request in the bulletin board but now she have built not only a great house for herself but also strong friendships with everyone here and if you told her all that time ago that this person would grow up to be one of the dearest friends to Caroline? She would not believe you and yet here they are, chatting away like is not one of the coldest days so far while holding that damn crate.
Which takes her to her second point.
She remembers how her friend used to look like when she first moved, back then no one thought this city girl could be strong enough to keep a farm going but now? Now she’s holding that box like it’s full of feathers.
Caroline’s eyes began to analyze the woman in front of her—though “checking out” might be a more accurate term— and immediately reach the conclusion that the farm work has done changes in her body, the flannel shirt only accentuates the muscles in her arms but it does not stop at just that. Navigating up with her gaze she notices how the farmer’s eyes hold a warmth that makes her feel secure, calm, at home and makes all the bad mood from before melts away like the snowflakes reaching the ground around them.
“Looks at those eyes” comes into her mind, her heart fluttering a bit “that color is so hypnotic and beautiful, she certainly has always been pretty but was she always this…. gorgeous? And she is so strong now! I bet she could carry me like I weight nothing…now hold on, what am I-” Before she can even finish the train wreck of thoughts in her mind the same person invading her mind intercepted.
“Anyway! Leaving that story behind” great, she heard absolutely nothing “Do you want me to carry this for you? It sure seemed like you were struggling”
The older woman just stares at her for a few second before her brain can actually react to being talk to “Hmm? OH! Ye-yeah! I would really appreciate it, but what about your chores?”
“Chores? It’s winter Caroline! I already fed and pet my animals so my days are pretty much spend fishing but helping a friend in need is more important than some extra coins!”
“Wish Pierre would think like that” she thought to herself “You’re too kind” her once cheerful smile went down as the bitter statement appear in her head
“I’m your neighbor, is just what I have to do” the little joke by replicating her own words help to lift her mood a little bit, it something that the farmer does often.
And with that they started walking to the store with only the farmer talking about something going on with her animals but it all fall into deaf ears since the older woman is stuck in her own though once again trying to understand where the idea of the farmer suddenly becoming attractive even came from.
“Surely it’s normal to think your friends are eye catching but where did that last part came from? She’s just been really helpful since I know her so nothing she’s doing right now is out of character from her yet somehow it feels different, why?”
While reflecting in this “out of nowhere” feelings she couldn’t help but to start remembering all the moments she has shared with the farmer so far.
It all started back when the farmer brought fresh harvest crops to her house as a present to formally introduce herself, a girl who clearly comes from the city judging by the nice clothes cover in mud leaving in evidence she was not ready for the work a farm requires but willing to do everything for this new life style. They saw each other in the middle of the town once before and that was it. But watching the new addition to the town with such a proud smile in her face for the very first produce of her efforts, it touched Caroline’s heart to see the girl gifting her very first parsnips instead of selling them or maybe it was how much she radiated like the sun with that grin that made the older woman felt a touch of youth energy, either way that interaction made her see her neighbor in a different light and began to look forward to develop a friendship of sorts.
Then Caroline invited her to the sunroom where they drank tea together, it was her way to help her new friend to relax, you would have had to be blind to not notice how hard she worked in the farm (not that she ever stopped) and having a safe place to just take a minute and calm down from all the responsibilities would surely come in handy for the young woman. They chatted for a while and Caroline listened as the farmer share her worries such as not being good enough or not being up to all the labor that required taking care of the place her grandpa left upon his death or even worse, not being able to reach the standard the “old man” have set for his grandchild. They also shared hopes and dreams, visions for the future and goals that seem so close yet so far. Seeing this vulnerable side gave her another vision of this woman in front of her, sure, Caroline had other friends such as Jodi ─ and they share each other’s worries as well ─ but this felt different, it could be because it felt so personal and intimate as the farmer expressed that this is “something I’ve been keeping to myself”, even if by that time her presence was very welcome by all and had a handful of friendships with the people closer to her own age. It just felt “right” as she said to share these feelings to Caroline. By that time Pierre was already obsessed with his personal quest to compete with JojaMart that having heartfelt conversations such as this was pretty rare. That day quickly became a favorite of hers and remember it every so often when she felt alone. Although with the farmer that feeling became as weird as the talks with her husband that didn’t involve stocks or his rivalry.
“Caroline?”
“Uh? Oh! Sorry!” warmth quickly crawl to her cheeks at being caught reminiscing those important moments “thank you for helping this old woman out” she chuckles at her own little joke.
“Don’t say that! You’re just as young as your soul” even if she knows the farmer is trying to give her a compliment the mix feelings she’s been getting the last minutes forced her to avoid accept it.
“Then I might be ancient to your eyes!”
“Hey now” suddenly the lighthearted tone turned into a serious one “I’ve known you for 2 years now” the farmer stepped closer to the co-owner of the shop “if anyone fits the description of a free spirit in this place, it would be you, don’t ever doubt how radiant you are.”
Thump-thump, Thump-thump
Just like that, her heart started to beat like crazy, like it hadn’t done in years, something she believed only the man she is married to could do. Her face started to flush rapidly; she’s certain because she can feel how the warm temperature settles in her cheeks. No sounds neither words can come out of her mouth as if they’re jam in the back of her throat ─maybe there was none to be found from the beginning─ all thanks to those eyes that are looking straight into hers, making her feel like she’s the most special person in this very moment.
“Oh Yoba, has she always talk like that or is it just for me? I don’t know what to say! What do I say?”
“Oh honey! I was started to wonder where you were” Caroline can’t determine whether she is thankful that Pierre saved her from this situation they suddenly got in or to be annoyed for the same reason- Her husband acknowledge the farmer quickly “Ah! I see you got some back up! Do you mind in setting the products too?”
Well now she knows what to say “Pierre! don’t abuse her kindness like that!” if something really got her mad was how he never seemed to care or even notice when he’s taking advantage “don’t listen to him dear you help me enough as it is”
“It’s okay Caroline, I don’t mind, that way I get to spend more time with you!”
“Excellent!” the store owner concludes the conversation for the three of them “now get that box in here, it’s freezing outside!” to make his statement more obvious he hugs himself while shivering.
The three of them walk into the store where the heat of the AC welcome them in with a warm embrace and yet Caroline did not feel a difference at all in her temperature, her face still heated and thoughts going wild by the minute every time her glance goes to the farmer.
“Get it together me!”
Trying to ignore the chaos in her head she walks to her husband and stand by his side while he tried to open the crate like he has done a thousand times before with the crowbar.
“C’mon…you dang…wood…jerk!” with every pause a huff of air leaves his mouth, struggling with the piece of metal and unable to open the box, every attempt leaves him in evidence on how complicated this is for him.
“Here Pierre, let me help” of course her favorite neighbor and current mental tormentor would take the reins of it “you must be exhausted due to that fever, just go rest old man” Pierre laughs at her joke and with crowbar in hand, sleeves rolled up exhibiting the muscles that Caroline only notices exist today, she opens the box like it was made out of thing paper.
“oh wow, all that labor she does is really paying off-STOP!” she says to herself but is unable to stop ogling the woman in front of her.
“We’ll take care of restocking the shelfs while you go and lay down, right?” being exposed yet again she just nodded, there was no way she could answer anyway. Luckily that was enough to convinced his stubborn husband to finally go back to bed.
Being left alone they went into right into action each taking items off the container and stoking them away, for a moment all seems to go back to normal in their dynamic. Of course the farmer needed a lot guidance on how to realize this tasks since she doesn’t exactly work in the store.
“I know I am here quite often but I just never payed actual attention in how Pierre keep this place” she snorts “lately I just come here to spend time with you, you know?”
Caroline lets out her own soft laugh at her friend’s statement, not without a softer blush that can be blame to the hot temperature in the room “Still, I could give you the credit about the seeds order but the floor and paper wall? You’re the only one who buys this stuff, surely you would remember something like that?”
“Nah, I rather use my brain to remember the important stuff” she answers and points to her head to emphasize her point.
“Important stuff? Like what?”
“You know…like whether I pet all my animals? Or when to harvest my crops”
“Uhu, what else?” now this is how things are between them, small banter between them just to get the other to smile and keeping each other company, this is just how they are together “what happen earlier was just the winter cold messing with my brain”
“What else? Ummm, like my friends birthdays? Or the celebrations we have here…oh! That Wednesday the store is close” now that makes the woman laugh with her whole heart, it is truly a challenge for the farmer to remember that one detail about this establishment even after all this time living here ─ the amount of times she was caught outside the place on the middle of the week was embarrassingly high ─ “Also the times we share in the sunroom, those were really important for me” that’s cute Caroline thinks “along with your favorite things of course”
“Well you are just that kind of person”
“What you mean by that?”
“It just means that I know you’re the type to remember details about your friends to make them feel special”
“I guess that’s true to some extent but..”
“But?”
“Is just that I might remember stuff about my friends, like general details about them, Alex is into sport, Sam loves music and things along those lines but you’re the only person that I truly make an effort to never forget things about” the farmer stops her actions to make eye contact with Caroline and she can’t help but to feel just how she did at the bus station, lost in that gentle gaze, her heart beating like crazy with an undeniable amount of red in her cheeks that makes her look like a ruby “you’re just that special to me”
And then everything freezes like they’re in a movie, everything around them doesn’t matter anymore neither do the task, all of this is weird for her, somehow this exact moment is making her feel like she’s 20 for being caught off guard with the lovely word, for not being able to mutter a word, and they’re just two young love birds afraid of confess…but confess what?
“Why is this happening now? Why is she making me feel like this? What is this? What exactly are you doing to me right now!? And she’s not even being aware of it! ...right?”
For a change, it’s the farmer’s turn to blush ─slightly─ repeating in her own mind what she said, even though is the truth, she has no clue why she expressed it like that.
“Sorry” she mutters grabbing the last item off the box quickly in an attempt to erased the embarrassing moment “and there! We’re done”
Caroline should say something, anything! But she can’t, too stuck in trying to understand her own mind. Sadly, her silence was taken as a bad sign.
“Sooo…I should go!” still no reaction from the other woman which in her eyes just means it’s time to go “See you around, Caroline” she says once she reaches the door and then exits the store.
The farmer once outside was reminded by the weather that is still winter and the cold air was hitting her face with unrelenting, raising her scarf up she makes her way to her home fast.
“Where did all that came from?” she repeats in her heard with urgency, her heartbeat slightly agitated, but there’s no answer to be found “is not like I don’t appreciate her and she is special to me but why did I said it like that?”
She’s about to reach the trail that leads to her house, a path the she knows too well by this point, before she can keep scolding herself a pair of hands grabs her arm making her stop abruptly in her steps. She first looks at the hands and recognizes immediately that green nail polish ─a gift from her─ then goes up to the “mysterious” person’s face. A flush and out of breath Caroline enters her vision and now she’s the one without words.
Caroline breaths in, then out, trying to calm her nerves and without intention screams her words instead of speaking them.
“WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DINNER!?”