Hello there! If you've stumbled in here, I'm happy you're giving my fan fiction a try. :D I really haven't wrote a story in such a long time. I noticed that there isn't much Rick lovin' going around here, and he's definitely my favorite character in MFOMT. What can I say, I love nerds. Though this is a MFOMT fic, quite a few characters from A New Beginning will make cameos.
This story is mainly for my own personal satisfaction, and hopefully you the reader enjoy it as well. Reviews of all types are highly welcomed. I love hearing other writer's input. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon or any of its characters. Rafael Braxton (Rafi) is my own OC though.
"Engaged?!" Anna gasped.
"Well of course, Duke and I were just thrilled, just absolutely thrilled! We've always thought of Cliff like the son we've never had, so when he told us the news you can just imagine how happy we were for him. And that Ann is such a doll, you know she always has been! They'll be perfect together." Manna cried with delight.
"Have they set a date for the wedding?" Sasha inquired before Manna could run off on a tangent.
"Well, they figured it would be best to wait until Winter. The fifteenth is looking like the winner, although they KNOW I'd prefer for them to wait until next Spring. What with the hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Years? It's absurd, just absurd. Goddess knows Duke and I will be quite busy this year…" Manna sighed.
"Oh, but Cliff will appreciate every minute of your dedication Manna. This is just absolutely wonderful! Two weddings in one year…" Anna clasped her hands in delight.
"Speaking of which, do you know WHEN the lovebirds are supposed to return from their honeymoon? I heard they were vacationing in the Sunshine Islands. Wonderful from what I hear, barely ever a cloudy day! Duke sells some of our wine to a merchant out there, I believe his name is Chen? Anyways, this Chen sends us a Christmas Card every year with pictures of the island, you wouldn't believe the scenery! Like something from a movie. We've always discussed vacationing there, Duke and I, but we're just always so busy, you girls know how it is." Manna chattered.
"Karen had talked to Claire before she and Jack left for the islands. She said they're planning on returning the day before the horse races." Sasha responded, leaning back into the bench the women sat at. "Has anyone heard the plans the two have for the farm though?" She was of course referring to Olive Farm, the large plot of land on the outskirts of Mineral Town. Jack had owned the farm for three years now, and had met Claire when he hired her as helping hand.
"Well…Mary told me she had talked to Claire a week before the wedding, and they have their plans pretty much firmed up. She didn't want me to share though. She said Claire wanted to keep it "confidential" in case their plans didn't go through." Anna bit her lip, as if releasing it would unlock the juicy secret she held.
"Oh, well COME now, Anna, you can't just tease us like that! You MUST tell us now! I'm sure Claire wouldn't mind. Mineral Town has become her home and we've become her family! We have the same right to know as Mary does." Manna argued, shaking her finger as if disappointed in Anna for not sharing earlier.
"Well…" Anna sighed, "I'm sure there's no harm in telling since it will all be unfolding next week. I just didn't want to break your hearts."
"How so?" Sasha inquired, leaning in to ensure she heard the gossip Anna was about to share.
"Well, Mary said that if all went according to plan, Jack and Claire will be selling Olive Farm and moving back to Forget-Me-Not Valley." Anna's eyes looked as if they were watering up. " She mentioned something about them wanting to start a new life as a married couple."
"Well….that…is….just…outrageous!" Manna cried out as if a crowd were watching her performance. "I mean, after all we've done for those two? They would just up and ABANDON Mineral Town as if we were just some old tissue they could throw away! It's absurd, absolutely absurd!" She choked a bit, holding back tears. Though her words seemed cruel, it was obvious she was stung by the loss of the two residents.
"Don't say that Manna. You know as well as I do that those two love this town. I'm sure they're just longing to start a new chapter in their lives. And who knows? Maybe they'll move back." Sasha pulled out a handkerchief for Manna to dab her eyes with and pat her on the back.
"Oh, well I suppose. " Manna sniffled, graciously accepting the handkerchief. "But who will run the farm now that those two are gone? It was so nice, being able to buy fresh produce whenever we wanted instead of waiting for shipments. You know, I don't think I ever really trusted the milk Jeff received from Forget-Me-Not. Always something fishy about the taste…"
"Don't worry Manna, that's the exciting news. Mary told me that Claire has a cousin who lives in Echo Village, and is planning on purchasing Olive Farm! And word is, she's an excellent horse-racer! She's participated in numerous derbies and has won multiple titles." The excitement on Anna's face was obvious. "And apparently she's an excellent farmer as well. She owned a small plot of land in Echo Village and really helped revitalize that town. Imagine what she can do for Mineral Town!"
"Well…I suppose if we can't have Claire her cousin is second best choice." Manna had stopped her sniffling and was eating up Anna's words with eagerness. "What's her name?"
"Oh, you'll recognize it immediately. She was the winner of last year's fall horse races in Mineral Town! Remember that vicious little blonde that took the lead at the last minute and came out on top?"
"You don't mean…" Sasha began.
"Yes, Rafael Braxton is Claire's cousin!" Anna exclaimed in delight.
"Why, she's practically FAMOUS!" Manna seemed instantly over Claire's departure at the mention of Rafael's name. "Can you imagine? A famous person in Mineral Town? Well I'd never…"
"Oh, I just hope we can make her feel at home. I'm sure Mineral Town will be quite a change of pace from Echo Village," Anna commented. "They're still fairly up and coming. Barely have enough residents to even call it a village."
"Does she have any family she'll be bringing with her? I was so hoping that Claire and Anne might get pregnant at the same time. Stu and May are getting so old so fast, and it'd be nice to have more children in town." Manna lamented.
"Not that I know of," Anna pondered. "But maybe she'll start one here!"
"But with who?" Manna wondered aloud. "If Rafael is around the same age as Claire, which she most certainly looks if I do recall, there are hardly any single bachelors left here!" Manna's words had truth to them. The past three years had been quite eventful for the young residents of Mineral Town. "With Cliff engaged, that only leaves Rick left as an eligible bachelor! And didn't you always say you thought he and Karen would end up together?"
"Well…we can't be certain now can we?" Sasha sighed, looking irritated at the thought of her daughter. "Karen keeps telling me the two are just friends. And that she has bigger plans than sticking around here. Her drinking just keeps getting worse though…" Anna and Manna only nodded. They knew that Karen's "problem" was something better left behind closed doors.
The large clock in the plaza where the women sat suddenly burst with life. It chimed one, two, three, four times. "Four o'clock already?" Sasha quickly changed the subject. "Well ladies I best get going. You know how Jeff is If there's not a hot meal waiting for him after a long day's work." She rolled her eyes, knowing fully that it was she and not Jeff who wore the pants in their relationship.
"Same time tomorrow girls? I just have to show you some of the wedding dress designs Ann has been showing me! Absolutely gorgeous, some of these dresses. But just so pricy!" Manna giggled.
"It would be an odd day if we didn't meet!" Anna laughed as the three lazily left their bench to return to their families.