Chapter 3: Time

The next day as I was doing my farm work I couldn't help but think about what Denny had said the night previous. I was still traumatized by what had been said and very conflicted on what I wanted to do. On the one hand I wanted to run, run away as far as I could to a place that I would never be found, I could start up a new life pretend this never happen and live by myself forever, it would probably be better that way anyway. I was fit enough to be able to survive alone and knew enough about what not to eat and what to eat when foraging

However that did mean I would have to leave everyone.. and my nice little house, oh and my animals what would become of them? Denny wouldn't be able to look after them and I couldn't just let Mirabelle or Julia take care of them.. I was left with no choice. A thought crossed my mind but I shoved it back, no I couldn't do that! A divorcee and I'm not even 30!

I sighed and continued with my farm work, I needed to see Julia.

An hour or so later I left my farm and went to the west town to go and see Julia, I walked into the shop and saw Vaughn hanging in the corner of the room "Hey Vaughn, do you know where Julia is? I need to speak with her" I said, approaching him. He looked up from the floor, violet eyes meeting mine and raised one silver eyebrow.

"Yeah, she's in the back" He replied.

I nodded "Thanks, I'll see you later" I said as I went towards the door at the back of the room, he nodded and gave me a small smile. I smiled to myself thinking of his, it made me happy to think that I could actually get him to do that! Only a couple of seasons ago he would have just grunted and pointed a finger to the door, I laughed at that thought.

I knocked on Julias' door, opened it slightly and peaked in, Julia was just sitting on her bed reading so I opened it fully and walked through. "Hey Julia" I said cheerily. She looked up from her magazine and smiled, she put it down on the little table beside her and sat up fully.

"Hey Chelsea, you alright?"

I nodded "Yeah, just thought I'd come and see you" I said casually, plopping myself down on the end of her bed, I looked around her room, it wasn't very big but she had painted the walls cream to try and make it look bigger, she had her double bed coming from the right wall with a bed-side table to the left of that beside the window. On the left wall was a vanity that held makeup, magazines and stationery and to the left of that, beside the door, her wardrobe, that looked like it was about to burst open at any moment.

Julia smiled "It has been awhile since we have done anything like this, hehe. I do miss before you were married and didn't have such a successful farm".

I stuck my tongue out at her, "you'll know what it's like when you get married" I replied.

"Hey!" Julia exclaimed suddenly "Why don't we have a sleepover tonight? Like me, you, Nat and Lanna?" She beamed at me as she said this, a massive grin on her face. I rolled my eyes, she was still a child at heart and that's why I loved her so.

"Julia you do realise we're like in our late twenties right?" I raised my eyebrow at her but this time she rolled her eyes at me, as if to say I was being ridiculous.

"Yeah of course I do! But why should that stop us? It's been ages~ since we have and I miss you guys so much now, come on, please? For me?" I sighed but agreed. She squealed in delight, "OK well I'll tell my mam and go set up and get stuff from Chens' shop, you go tell the girls".

I stood up from her bed and stuck both my thumbs up at her, telling her I'd be back as soon as possible to help her out. I walked out of the shop with a spring in my step, forgetting completely what I had originally came to say to Julia and was actually excited to see Natalie and Lanna. I went quickly next door to Taros to seek out Natalie there.

I knocked twice and walked straight in to find Elliot and Natalie standing in the middle of the room mid-way through an argument. "-how many times I have to tell you to be more careful!" Natalie shouted at her older brother, her face bright pink and cheeks puffed out.

Elliot stood taking all the hits off Natalie in an awkward stance, his hands behind his back and eyes to the floor, it looked as if he was about to cry but he was surely used to Natalie by now. "I-I said I was s-sorry Natalie!" He said timidly, he looked over at his mother for help but she only stood there, frowning.

"Yeah! Bu-" Natalie started, but she was cut off by her mother.

"Natalie, will you please stop shouting?" She said in a stern voice, Natalie turned to her mother and folded her arms cross her chest. Felicia was about to say something else but she noticed me standing by the doorway and smiled "Oh! Hello Chelsea!" Natalie and Elliot spun around to look at me, blushes creeping up on both of their faces.

"Hi Felicia, I just wanted to speak with Natalie, hey Elliot" I added, not wanting to leave him out. Elliot awkwardly waved and then made his way into his room, upstairs. Felicia continued with whatever she was doing in the kitchen and Natalie walked over to me.

"What's up?" She said, now completely calm.

"Julia wants a sleepover at hers tonight and wants you to come along." I told her. We both looked at each other, knowing what each other was thinking, smirks on both of our faces. "I know it's short notice and everything but we thought you'd be up for it since we haven't really seen each other in awhile." I explained.

Natalie nodded and agreed, telling me she'd have to cancel with Pierre but would be there for 7, I said goodbye and went off to the east town to find Lanna. She wasn't home so I decided to check the beach, where I assumed she might be with Denny and sure enough, when I got there, they were both sitting on the dock, fishing.

I strolled over to the dock and climbed the two steps but didn't go much further, Denny looked over his shoulder and smiled when he saw me "Hey hun! Have you come to see me?" He asked but I shook my head.

"No sorry Denny, I've come for Lanna, Julia wants to have a sleepover tonight and I've been told to recruit the troops." I joked, Denny grinned and Lanna laughed a little, saying she would come down as soon as she was finished and had had a quick wash. I said that I would see them both later and gave Denny a quick kiss on the cheek.

It wasn't even 3 by the time I had told both Natalie and Lanna and I wasn't really willing to go back to Mirabelles as I would get dragged into helping out, even though I had said I would. So instead I went to a walk through the forest and by the Goddess pond.

I sat on a log by the pond and played with the bark, daydreaming and enjoying the quiet, I couldn't remember the last time I had been down here but perhaps it was with Vaughn? We did always seem to go somewhere, though it did always seem to be in the meadow or down by the beach so maybe not.

I looked around, the church was tucked away under huge oak trees in the far right corner of the clearing. The church was cute, white walls and a blue roof with a little turret on the top where the bell hung, it was a shame no one really came here, except for weddings.

My mind flashed back to my own wedding with Denny, it was one of the happiest days of my life. It was a big event, flowers and decorations were hung throughout the island, thanks to Julia, and after the whole island had been invited to the beach for a party. I smiled to myself, thinking of Denny in his suit, he had looked so handsome that I remembered blushing the whole way down the isle...

I shook my head and came back out of my thoughts, but that was a couple of years ago now.. I sighed, how had it come to this? How had I got myself to be like this? Why was it that so early on in our marriage we had already fought more times than I could count on both hands. Why did I not want children? Was it me? Was it Denny? I chewed my lip nervously, what if it was Denny?

Then what?

I looked down at my feet and saw a small pink cat flower in bloom next to my right foot, I plucked it from the ground, about to pick the petals off when I stopped. I was by the spring. I could speak to the Harvest Goddess maybe she would have some answers, maybe this was normal? Maybe it was just me being so scared of having to accept I was actually settled down and married.

I gazed at the pink flower and brushed the stalk and petals with my fingertips and stood up, walking over to the pond. I dropped the flower into the pond and waited. Suddenly and burst of green sparkles flashed before my eyes and within seconds the Harvest Goddess appeared. "Hello~! Thank you very much for your offering! I like this you know~" She sang.

"Hello Harvest Goddess" I replied. "I'm glad you liked it, is it alright if I speak to you for a moment?" I asked. The Harvest Goddess cocked her head to the side as if confused but she then nodded understandingly.

"Is this about Denny?" She asked, her voice gentle and sincere but there was knowing behind it and.. disappointment? I couldn't exactly tell. "Dear, all you need to do is go with your heart, you'll find the answers there."

"But I don't know what my heart wants!" I said panicked, I didn't need quotes, I needed answers!

The Harvest Goddess sighed "You will Chelsea, you will. Just give yourself some time." Then she was gone, in a puff of green smoke. I slumped down by the pond, careful not to touch the water again, and put my head in my hands.

But I don't have any time.


When I finally made my way to Julias' it was getting dark and approaching seven, I didn't knock but just walked straight through the door to the animal shop to find it completely transformed. There were snacks all up on the counter and the stools had been replaced by a large green sofa with a TV placed infront of it. The carpet had been moved so it was between both the sofa and TV and had layed out a couple of sleeping bags on it.

To be honest we probably would have been able to squeeze into Julias' bed, it was large enough. However, with us up all night talking and giggling I assumed Mirabelle had suggested for us to sleep out here. I could smell cooking coming from the kitchen so I put my rucksack down next to the sofa and followed the scent.

Mirabelle and Julia were both in the kitchen, sitting at the table waiting, I assumed, for whatever was in the oven to cook. They both turned to look at me when I reached the doorway of the kitchen and said hello.

I sat down in a chair at the table with them "It smells really good in here, what are you cooking?" I asked.

"Pizza" Julia chirped happily. I smiled, perfect sleepover food!

Mirabelle said that she had some work to do and asked me if I would keep check on the pizzas as she didn't trust Julia to be alone with them. She told me they should only be another twenty minutes or so and left. Julia pouted and told me that she was perfectly capable of keeping an eye on pizzas but I only laughed and kept my opinion to myself.

Julia and I chatted for a couple of minutes before Lanna showed up with a large bag of sweets. Julia got out a large bowl and poured them all out into it and placed the bowl in the main part of the shop. Lanna sat down next to me and started giggling on about something Denny had said to her. I laughed along but felt a pang go through my stomach. Before I had much of a chance to figure out what it was Julia had returned chatting to Lanna about something else. I ignored what I had felt and joined in the conversation. We took the pizzas out after another fifteen minutes and after that Natalie finally arrived, just in time to eat.

"Great!" Natalie exclaimed as she walked through the door. "I'm starving!" When we all sat down at the table she explained to us that she had been late because of being kept up by her grandfather and then after at Pierres. "He just wouldn't stop going on about how it was 'our' night! Like give me a break? It's not like we're married!" She huffed and sat back in her chair.

"Awrh~" Julia and Lanna sang in unison.

"That's so cute though!" Julia sang.

"It's only because he loves you" Lanna chimed in.

Natalie rolled her eyes "Yeah right!" She folded her arms "He never talks about anything else but his stupid cooking! There's no conversation it's just all, oooh Natalie taste this! Natalie do you think I should add some more spice to this?" She shook her head.

Lanna looked a bit awkward but Julia put a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay Nat, I'm sure he has feelings for you, he'll just have a different way of showing them" She tried to comfort Natalie as best as she could but she didn't seem to take it very well and said that she just wanted to leave it and see.

"So how are you and Elliot?" Lanna asked, not changing the topic but changing the attention from Natalie to Julia. I grimaced at Lannas question a bit, maybe it would have been better to change the topic completely, it was clear Natalie was upset about her and Pierre. But again, I just kept my opinion to myself.

"Fine!" Julia replied "We went on a date the other night, it was really sweet" She said in a dreamy voice, smiling to herself.

I didn't expect it but it seemed to lift Natalies' mood, she raised an eyebrow playfully and smirked "Yeah... you were out late on Saturday night, Elliot didn't creep in until after we were all in bed. You weren't doing anything with my brother I hope?"

Julia blushed "No... we just went.. uh, to the beach. Y'know having a walk and stuff..?" She trailed off looking really embarrassed, her face bright red.

"Okay Jules, whatever you say" Lanna laughed.

"S-so, Chelsea! What's things like with you and Denny at the minute? Are you both doing alright?" Julia asked me, eagerly taking the attention away from her and Elliot. But I shrugged saying there was nothing to tell. "Oh come on! There must be something!"

I frowned "Well I guess there is something..." I trailed off. All three girls leaned in, listening carefully to what I had to say. I sighed "Denny wants to have children" I said.

All of their eyes widened, Julia then squealed but Natalie and Lanna continued to look surprised "Thats fantastic!" Julia burst out. I smiled at her as if grateful for her support but in reality I didn't feel it. I didn't feel grateful, I felt alone and secluded by her comment, of course she didn't mean to make me feel like that but I couldn't help it, that wasn't the response I wanted, but what response did I want, if not that?

"So when are you planning to start trying?" Natalie asked.

I bit my lip "To tell you the truth... I don't know if I'm ready to have children." I said honestly, Julia looked shocked this time, however Lanna and Natalie again shared the same expression, unsurprised.

Natalie shrugged "You may not feel that way now but you will. You are married after all, you've got a long time yet."

Lanna nodded "Yeah you've got ages! But I think Denny's just keen to start a family" She laughed.

I twisted my mouth to the side and scrunched up my nose "Yeah but I think he's expecting us to start like soon... like too soon" I complained to the girls, trying to express my feelings about it without having to say how I truly felt.

Julia shook her head "It's never too early, silly!"

"The earlier the better!" Lanna chimed in.

I paused and twiddled my hair in between my fingers, "Yeah bu-." Though as I was just about to complain some more Vaughn walked into the kitchen, looking a little awkward. I wondered if he had heard any of what we had said. He quickly went into the fridge and grabbed out the bottle of milk and a glass from the cupboard.

"So are we ready to watch films now?" Julia said, breaking the silence. The three of us nodded and followed her into the main shop area. I was glad that Vaughn had walked in when he had as it had stopped the conversation but I was a little frustrated that none of them seemed to get what I was saying.

For the rest of the evening we watched a series of films and caught up on what we had been up to, thankfully, love lives didn't come up again. I wasn't sure what time it was when we finally drifted off to sleep but it was late, possibly in the early hours of the morning.

However, due to habit, I still woke up at 6AM. I was going to go back to sleep but I thought I better get up and start my work. First, though, I thought I might as well have some tea or coffee, Julia wouldn't mind too much and I really needed it. I stood up and walked over to the kitchen, I could hear the kettle already boiling and I figured it must be Vaughn up early ready for his boat this morning.

Sure enough as I entered the kitchen I saw Vaughn standing at the counter with a mug beside the kettle. "Mornin'" I said as I entered the kitchen, Vaughn jumped slightly and looked towards me, tipping his hat. "You mind if I have one too?" I asked, going to the mugs in the cupboard. Vaughn shook his head.

I poured a teaspoon full of instant coffee into my mag, a spoon of sugar and a little drop of milk. Once the kettle had boiled Vaughn poured the water into both of our mugs and we both went to sit at the table. We sat in silence at first but then Vaughn spoke up. "I overheard what you were talking about last night.." he said quietly.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"About you and Denny..." He trailed off awkwardly, I figured he was regretting bringing this up. I nodded for him to go on, he took a deep breath "I just don't think you should feel like that" He admitted.

I pulled my eyebrows together, "Like what?"

"Like.. you.. well I don't know! Like you have to!" He said angrily.

I raised my eyebrows "he is my husband y'know Vaughn..." I trailed off quietly.

"Yeah I know that!" He spat. "All I'm saying is he shouldn't be forcing that on you! But if you're just going to give in like you did to Julia last night and not say what you feel then so be it! Do what you want" He downed his coffee and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I flinched at the bang but continued to look at my mug sadly.

I frowned to myself... Vaughn was right, I needed to tell Denny how I truly felt but I was running out of time.


Thanks for reading!

I feel like this was a bit boring, tbh I think the start of this has been really slow so sorry if you also feel like that but things should be spicing up next chapter;)!