After Hyacinth's sneaking around last weekend, I decided to follow her and her beau when they slunk out of the house early in the morning on Love Day. Call me a meddling old woman. Rather than try to paraphrase, I'll just let their own words stand as is.
“It's beautiful, Hyacinth, but what are we doing out here so early? There's practically still frost on the ground!”
“You know what day it is, don't you Ari?” Hyacinth sidles closer to Ariel, drawing a small object from her jacket pocket.
“Sunday?” Ari snickers as Hyacinth whacks him on the shoulder. He turns around with a tiny smirk pulling up the corner of his mouth. “Love Day? I'll admit, I'd hoped our celebrations would take place somewhere indoors... preferably with a bed.”
Hyacinth drops to one knee. “How's this, instead? Marry me.”
“I... you mean it? Really?”
“Of course, I mean it, Ari. Right here, right now! I even brought along my dress for the occasion.” She nods to a bag she'd surreptitiously stowed in the back seat of his dear Sloppy Jalopy.
“Well, alright then! Let's do this!”
“Hyacinth Medley, I thought I knew what love was before I met you. The day you applied for that job at the hospital, I learned that what I had was a tepid friendship held in stasis for the benefit of my daughter. I'd do anything for you. Give up the long life granted to the fae, leave my home, and yes, marry you. May our eventual child be as beautiful as you are.”
“Ariel Hudson, you may not know this, but there was a time when I was younger that I was convinced I'd never love a man the way I loved my high school sweetheart. I railed and ranted at Mom, and I moaned that life is so unfair. Why should I be forced into this situation when everyone around me gets to have a normal life? But then, I grew up, and I met you. As long as you live, you'll be the only one for me, and long after you've moved on, you'll live on in my heart and the heart of the child we'll have together.”
It is my great pleasure to present Mr. and Mrs. Medley. You may kiss the bride. As if they needed my permission.
Everything was in a holding pattern most of the rest of the week. We were all just waiting for the next visit from the reaper to make space in the house for another nooboo. Meanwhile, little Scarlet had her birthday on Friday.
She's... well, she's a bit of a slob now, and her eccentric style is kind of cute, really.
That afternoon saw the visit we were all expectantly dreading. My first friend in this desert town, Piper Sparks Diwan, had her appointment with the grim reaper on her ninety-first day.
She looked almost peaceful as old man death came for her, though she wasn't too proud to beg for a few more days. I spared her the indignity of capturing that moment on film.
Hyacinth heard the news as she left work for the day, which tempered her joy at finally becoming a world-renowned surgeon.
Despite our grieving household, we all agreed it would be best to continue with the plans for Hyacinth's adult birthday party. Hyacinth invited many of the old family friends around, including Scarlet's paternal grandfather, Jaycen Hendrix, standing next to Ariel.
After the cake was eaten and many of the guests were on their way out, Hyacinth pulled Ariel aside for a more private celebration of her birthday and promotion.
The stereotypical nausea shot (which I'm sure she'd be livid if she knew I'd taken it).
And, looks like our third generation is, in fact, on the way!