Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon

Chapter 21: Coincidence?

Trent was on his way to the conference when he heard a distinct voice calling out to him

"Good Morning Trent."

Trent turned to regard his friend and another colleague as they joined up with Trent and he answered

"Morning."

"…M…Morning… You seem happy today."

His other colleague commented at the smile Trent had across his face, Trent instinctively covered his face and attempted a cough to hide his smile and stop the ends of his lips from curling when Carter placed an arm around his comrade and shook him a little as he chided the other colleague

"Now Rick, you probably didn't hear about it… while you were overseas doing research, our man here Trent got married yesterday. He probably enjoyed his first night with his new wife."

Trent went red in embarrassment having talked about his personal life, and Rick's eyes went bug eyed wide in shock. Carter merely chuckled as though it was the most normal thing that Trent had his first night with his wife, but Rick had been very surprised. Trent in turn warned Carter from doing that saying

"…*Cough* Carter, you need to stop bringing up very private matters."

Rick spoke up

"…That is quite …A…A gun…shot marriage. I even missed the wedding by a day… Wh…Who was it?"

"Hey guys! Why am I not surprised to see the three of you together?"

Rick turned to regard a very happy Elli and on her finger was an engagement ring but Rick was horribly mistaken by the ring as he turned to look at Trent then at Elli and he offered a hand

"Co…Congratulations… I didn't know… you two… g…got hitched…"

Carter almost slapped his hand onto his own face in the natural air-headedness of his friend Rick and both Trent and Elli went pink in shock as Elli explained with tinges of pink across her cheeks

"…You've mistaken. I just got engaged to my boyfriend remember Jack?"

Rick's own eyes widen in surprise, internally he felt thankful that was all he said. He'd hate to say that Trent had always been in love with her and that it was about time that the both of them considered one another as a potential and equal partner… It seems that Carter could tell what Rick was thinking and personally considered that it was truly a feat that Rick managed to keep that in before Elli and Trent jump into the conversation. Rick nodded and Elli continued

"Well… Trent was truly a shocker though… he met his wife through blind marriage and without warning married her in a span of 5 months… Can you believe it?"

Rick couldn't to be honest, because even when he was married, the way he looked at Elli was more than enough to know that Trent hadn't put his love for her behind him. That notion that he probably wanted to lock the door on his feelings will serve to hurt the girl further, Rick wondered if she knew of his feelings for Elli?

"Enough talk about that…"

"…I didn't know that you were here Trent."

The voice drew them to look at Jack who wrapped his arms around Elli who chuckled a little in joy to see the man she loved. Trent's eyes dimmed a little but Rick continued to watch the exchange

"…I was required for the conference."

Jack didn't think fate was that twisted, but it seems that Trent didn't either. Trent turned to look at Elli and asked

"I didn't know you were needed to be here."

Elli giggled and answered

"Head nurse… I also participated in some research when Jack and I were overseas in New Zealand."

"That sounds fascinating, what did you participate in?"

Rick completely diverted for a moment, only to have Jack intervened nicely

"Well it seems that you are all due for the conference. I will take my leave now… See you in a bit Elli."

Jack pecked her on the cheek affectionately as Elli smacked his shoulder and chided him as though he was naughty and said

"Not in public."

Jack chuckled and he waved before exiting the place and leaving them alone before he headed over to the hotel reception and asked

"Do you know which room is Trent Williams is booked in? Yeah I am a friend of his…"

Jack knew that if Trent was away, Claire probably would like a tour around his own hometown. Meanwhile Claire had spent an hour talking to her friends through breakfast squealing all the way when Karen broke through her thoughts and asked

"So what are you going to do here?"

"…Well, I thought I may as well look at what is good to see around the area."

"That's kind of cruel for Trent to simply leave you to your own on your honeymoon."

Complained Popuri and she couldn't help feeling that feeling too but she shook those thoughts away just as Ann put her two cents into the conversation

"You shouldn't say that Popuri, I am sure that he had his reasons…"

"…And Claire, You should know this is what you signed up for. Remember… I don't want to hear a single complaint."

Claire smiled at Karen's tough verdict and she could hear Ann and Popuri scolding Karen for being so harsh however Claire concluded

"Karen's right. I don't mind, we promised that we'd go to the beach if he could make it. I am happy enough."

"…Alright. Have fun okay? Popuri is going to hound after Kai… I have to go and tend to a few new customers for my Inn and Karen is off helping your brother Gray."

"…Don't forget to call your parents."

Claire nodded at them and she shut the phone, she called her family to let them know it was great. Her parents were pleased to hear from her, her brother grumbled over to her that he wished he had more control over the emotions coming through had Claire so embarrassed she wished she could die. It was like her brother had a full idea of how she felt and to be honest, these were the times when she wished they didn't have those connections between one another. Claire changed her outfit into something she had packed in hopes to look good all the time. She chose a sweet tank top and a pair of deep blue jeans, she didn't want skirts today in case she decided she wanted to get knee deep in dirt. She dried her hair and allowed her blond hair to fall down her shoulders and applied a little bit of make-up… water resistant as usual.

"All right… Time to go there and find out what I can do while Trent is out..."

Claire checked herself in the mirror one last time and headed out the room and bumping straight into the chest of a man who was standing there waiting it seems. Claire looked up to see nice brown eyes surveying her and his brown hair still messy but cute… that man gave her the shock of her life. She bit her lip almost drawing blood before exclaiming softly

"…J…Jack?"

Jack smiled mischievously and responded to her shock well, he had anticipated her to be surprised but this surprised was almost as though they were caught in bed or something of that nature.

"Morning sweet-pea."

To be continued...
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