AN: WTAF Cam?!


After leaving Mikhail's room, I went to my farm and tended to my fields, finding some small solace in the physical exertion. Afterwards, I returned to the town hall and completed the paperwork for our separation, taking two sets of copies—one for my records and one to deliver to Cam. Then I stopped by Dr. Ayame's clinic and explained to her that after the morning's fiasco, I was planning to divorce Cam, and that I'd picked her to meet our counseling requirement. She was shocked and distressed, though she also sympathized as she'd witnessed his reaction to what should have been wonderful news. She gave me a list of available times for counseling sessions, and I told her I'd find out what times worked for Cam and let her know.

I rode back to Bluebell, stopping to belatedly tend to my livestock before heading into town. I felt apprehensive at seeing Cam after they way he'd blown up at me that morning, but it had to be done. I walked up the stairs to the plaza, seeing that his flower stall was still open, despite all that had happened that day. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the counter. He looked up as I approached, scowling and turning away when he saw me approaching. I felt my stomach knot up, but I steeled myself for the upcoming interview.

Stepping in front of him at the counter, I looked at him and cleared my throat to get his attention. Without a word, I held out the paperwork showing that we were now legally, if temporarily, separated. He took them and glanced at them, then at me, then back at the papers, his scowl deepening as he read them over. Throwing the stack of papers down and crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at me. "So. That's it, then, is it? Going back to Mikhail, I suppose?"

Even though I'd been half expecting a reaction like that, it still felt as though he'd just punched me in the stomach, and I gasped a little in shock. "I can't go back to where I've never been," I said, sharply, lifting my chin and holding my head high. "Besides, since it seems pretty clear to me that you don't want me or our child, what possible difference could it make to you where I go or what I do?"

He just stared at me for a moment, then he turned his back to me. "None at all," he said flatly.

"Then here's a list of times that Dr. Ayame can meet with us to satisfy the requirements for divorce. When can you come?"

"What requirements?" he asked, turning back to look at the paper I held out to him.

"Ina says that the requirements for divorce in either of the two towns is to first complete a trial separation of at least two weeks, then complete a minimum of four one-hour counseling sessions with either Ina, Rutger, or Dr. Ayame. It doesn't matter which, but they all need to be with the same counselor. And finally, we both have to complete and sign the paperwork to have our marriage dissolved. Then you'll be rid of me."

A strange light came in his eyes as he stared at the paper in his hand. "Counseling sessions, huh?" He dropped the paper on top of the pile of other papers and turned away. "I'm too busy to think about it right now. I'll let you know."

I sighed—it seemed he wasn't going to make this easy, though I didn't understand why. I turned to leave, then turned back again. "By the way, are you coming to get your things tonight, or shall I see to it?"

He shrugged, saying only, "Whatever, I don't care. Do what you want—that's what you'll end up doing anyway, isn't it?"

I flushed with anger, then turned on my heel and stormed off without another word. I returned to my farm and gathered up all his things, dumping it all into my cart. Then I tossed Cowboy's tack on top of the pile, harnessed Nubium to the cart, and grabbed Cowboy by his halter. I walked the horses and cart back into town, threw the contents of the cart onto the ground in front of Cam's stall as he watched, turning purple with silent rage. Without a word, I led the horses to Grady's, where I left Cowboy in Georgia's care, explaining to the distressed young woman that she'd need to make boarding arrangements with Cam for the future. Then I returned to the farm and unhooked the cart, parking it next to the house as usual. I tended to my mare, then returned to Konohana, where I sought out Mikhail.

He was practicing his violin when I knocked on his door, and when he saw me standing there, he let me in and set it aside, gesturing me to have a seat. "I'd offer you a drink, as you look as though you need one, but under the circumstances…."

I shook my head. "No, thanks anyway. I'd better not. I just… want some company. I feel very alone right now. I… I don't want our friends to feel like they have to take sides, so I haven't told anyone so far other than you and Ina, and mentioning to Georgia that she'd need to arrange for boarding Cam's horse with him now. A-am I bothering you? I didn't mean to interrupt your practicing."

"No, it's fine. Did you file the paperwork and talk to Cam?"

I sighed. "Yes… and it looks like he's not going to make this easy for me, either. When I tried to get him to tell me when he could meet for counseling, he brushed it off and said he'd let me know. And he had this look in his eyes… I just know he's going to be difficult. I don't understand it. After all the things he said, there's no way he could still want to be married to me, so why doesn't he just let me go? Why would he want to make it difficult if he doesn't even care about me anymore?"

"Did he actually say he doesn't care for you anymore? That he wants you out of his life?" he asked leaning back with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Well… no, not exactly. But I still think it was pretty damn clear from the stuff he said. You just don't say things like that to someone you love and care about. And even if he hasn't said it in so many words, he also hasn't denied it when I've said as much."

"Men… some men, that is, can be very possessive about the women in their lives. He could be furious with you, even hate you, but still prefer to keep his hold on you than let you go to another man. It's… well, I suppose a sort of territorial behavior, probably with a large dash of pride mixed in." He hesitated, looking like he was thinking hard about something. A few minutes later, he said, hesitantly, "If he should prove obstinate… well, I suppose you should know you have other options open to you."

"What do you mean?" I asked him, curiously.

"I mean… the requirements for divorce in these two towns are a trifle… unusual. If you were to go to another town in the area—nearly any large town or city—the requirements would be simpler. You'd only need to be resident in the district for some minimum period of time before filing for divorce—if there are no children. So you'd have to do it before your child is born, or else everything becomes far more complicated."

"What about Port Crescent? Do you know what the requirements there are? Beth would probably let me stay with her, if it came to that."

He smiled slightly and shook his head. "Sorry, but I'm not particularly well-versed in divorce law. I only know that much from various discussions I've overheard or participated in from time to time."

I sighed. "Well, hopefully it won't come to that, anyway. I can't believe what a change there was in him this morning. He was so… different. Not at all the Cam I knew and loved. I don't know where that Cam has gone to… or perhaps he only ever existed in my mind, and deep down, he's always been like this. I just don't know what to think anymore."

He came over and sat next to me, putting his arm around me. He seemed less awkward than he had earlier, which I found comforting. It was good to know that whatever happened, I had at least one friend. I leaned against his shoulder and sighed, thinking over all that had happened for the hundredth time that day. He sat quietly stroking my hair, and when I looked up at him, he appeared to be lost in thought. I watched him for a few minutes, then I nestled up to him a little.

"Hey, Mikhail?"

"Hmm?" he said with a slight start, coming out of his reverie.

"I guess I should have married you, huh?"

He stiffened, his hand motionless against my shoulder. "I… I'm not quite sure how to respond to that, Alice. Obviously I would feel so. But you didn't, and you had your reasons for choosing as you did. What's done is done."

I reached up and caressed his cheek, feeling a sudden wave of regret and longing wash over me. I did have my reasons, and they had made sense at the time, but now….

I pulled him down to me to kiss him, but he pushed me gently away and shook his head. "No, Alice. Don't. Even if you've filed for separation from your husband, it's all too soon—too fresh. You're vulnerable, whether you realize it or not, and I won't take advantage of you now any more than I would before."

"Then when…." I started, but I wasn't sure how to ask what I wanted to know.

He sighed and looked down at me. "Give it some time. Imagine if in a few days you both calm down and decide to reconcile. If during that time you'd been with me—think of how he'd feel when he learned of it, of the guilt you'd feel. I don't want to be your guilty secret, Alice—now or ever. So let's just wait and see how things go between you and Cam first."

I nodded, then rose. "Then I suppose I'd better get out of your hair and let you get back to practicing." I hesitated for a minute, then said, "I… I wondered if you'd care to come for dinner tomorrow? And maybe we could practice together? If you aren't too busy, that is."

He stood and smiled down at me. "That would be nice. I have to say I've missed our duets." Then he gave me a little kiss on the top of my head before closing the door behind me.

The next several days were very difficult. Cam seemed bent on making my life as miserable as possible. He steadfastly refused to commit to counseling sessions, always making excuses or saying he was too busy to think about it. When he learned that Mikhail had been coming to spend the evenings with me fairly regularly, he used that as an excuse, saying that he'd planned to stop by to discuss times for counseling sessions that night, but he hadn't wanted to interrupt my date. On his days off, he'd hound me from a distance as I foraged on the mountain trails. His continual presence in the distance was at first just an annoyance, but soon I began to feel harassed. It was a relief when Saturday came and he returned to work.

Also within a few days, nearly everyone in both villages had learned of our fight and subsequent separation. And while I hadn't wanted our private spat to polarize the residents, I also hadn't been prepared for the nearly universal condemnation that was directed towards Cam. Even Howard and Laney took a very dim view of events—or whatever they'd heard of them, because I hadn't said a word to anyone outside of Mikhail and Ina, and I was pretty sure neither of them—nor Dr. Ayame and Hiro, who'd both been present—would have said anything. But it seemed that someone had, and that someone seemed inclined to paint Cam in an unfavorable light—so I was also sure it wasn't Cam spreading the talk around. Still, it was a small relief to just have people know and not have to go through the pain of reliving that morning for each and every person, though I really wished they wouldn't take sides in our spat.

I tried again on Sunday, one week after we learned I was pregnant, to get Cam to agree to even just one counseling session—or to agree to start going to sessions with a different counselor. Whatever it took to just get the ball rolling, so I could put all this behind me. As usual, he circumvented my attempts, this time changing the subject to ask how things were going with Mikhail. Again I brushed him off, pointing out yet again that my private life was no longer any of his business ever since he'd rejected me and our child. If he didn't want us in his life, I reminded him, it was none of his concern with whom I—and eventually our child—spent time with. That seemed to strike him a little differently than in the past for some reason, and his eyes narrowed as he replied, "Fine. Do what you want." He turned his back to me, and I knew that any further attempts to get him to schedule sessions would be a waste of time.

This time, though, I felt as though I'd taken all I could from him, so I grabbed his shoulder and turned him back towards me. "Listen to me. If you don't get your act together and start going to those counseling sessions with me very, very soon, I'm going to go elsewhere to file for divorce—somewhere that I don't need your consent. It's going to happen, one way or another. I don't get why you're being so difficult when you clearly despise me and want me out of your life. Just get it over with so we can both move on, already! I'll give you until Tuesday to agree to times, no later." Then I turned and stormed off angrily.

That evening, I told Mikhail about it, and said, "If he still refuses to agree to those counseling sessions by Tuesday, I'm going to ask my brother to come and take over my farms while I go stay in Port Crescent for however long is necessary to be able to file for divorce there. If Beth can't take me in, I'll stay in that guest house again, if Mrs. Cavell has a room available. Or I'll find another place. Whatever it takes. I can't stand this—the way he's acting—anymore."

He nodded his head and put his arm around my shoulders. "Yes, he's being rather childish and petty, I'm afraid. Still, he may come around at last when he sees you're determined."

"I hope so," I sighed, picking up my violin. Music had become my one release from the nearly intolerable strain that each day seemed to bring. We practiced together for a few hours before he left for his room in Konohana. This time, he gave me a kiss when he said good night. I looked surprised, and he smiled. "It looks like things aren't really improving between the two of you. So… I allowed myself a tiny, cautious glimmer of hope."

The next morning I strolled into town, feeling relaxed for once as it was Cam's day to visit his parents' graves—he'd be out of town until very late, so I didn't have to worry about running into him or being followed by him. As I stood perusing the message board, Laney came out of the café. Seeing me, she called out an enthusiastic greeting and hurried over.

"Hey, I just wanted to say how glad I am that you two have finally made up!"

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Although… I mean, well… not to put too fine a point on it, but maybe in the future you could go back to your farm instead? I mean, it is your home. And, well… you were rather loud last night," she said, blushing.

"What on earth are you talking about?" I finally managed to say.

"Oh, come on! Daddy and I could hear you two going at it well into the night. I had no idea Cam had so much… stamina! I was amazed he was able to get out of bed so early this morning!" she giggled.

I felt the blood drain from my face. "Laney… I was at home in my own bed all night last night, alone." We stared at each other in horror as the implications of our words dawned on us.


Disclaimer: Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns, and most locations and characters in this story belong to Natsume Inc. and MarvelousAQL Inc. The story's plot and some characters & locations are my own invention.