9 Summer, Year 3

Maru's birthday

I'm still staying away from the village. I've done my tilling and planting, did a round of all the islands like I do at the start of every season, because fences break down, debris moves in and so do weeds… I've learned I quite enjoy the work, now that I've done it often enough to have become good at it. I even found a few wild edibles on the edge of the forest this morning. I figure I might as well leave them to propagate themselves.

I think about Harvey and my little stunt at the saloon a lot, but it's better to wait and let everyone else figure things out for themselves right now – I don't want to be hovering around Harvey all the time, either. I can provide some food for thought, but I can't force him to make the decision I want him to make. In the meantime, I also have some things to think about. What I said in the saloon about leaving the village if I find I have no future here kind of popped into my head out of nowhere at the time, but there is something to it. Now that I've gotten so close to finding love even out here where I didn't expect it, I can't shake the thought that I don't want to stay alone. It also helps that – and I have never really thought about myself like this before, but after Harvey's comments, I can't really ignore it anymore – I have actually managed to become attractive.

Now that I've done it once, I'm not actually worried about moving to another place and starting from scratch anymore. This is the first time in my life that I'm able to think about my life in this way, but the truth is I am free. I've seen with my own eyes that I am capable of a lot of things I never thought I'd do, and that I can learn what I don't know. I wouldn't say the world is at my feet, but I'm not afraid of doing this all over from zero. Right now, at this moment, Harvey is really the only thing that I truly want to stay for.

In the end I decide to cheat a little. The tenth is Maru's birthday, but that's a Wednesday, when she's generally not in the clinic. She does work there Tuesdays though. So on Tuesday I walk into the clinic with a special treat.

"Hi, Maru. Happy birthday. I know it's really tomorrow, but I have a birth coming up and I wouldn't want to be late. Young calves need a lot of checking every day to make sure they're alright. Also I had a bunch of rhubarb that's going to go bad soon, so..."

I lift the lid off the round cake carrier I snooped off my mother on my last visit to show her a fresh rhubarb pie I baked last night. I did two, just to be sure one would be perfect, because I'm having a bit of trouble preventing baked goods from being burned on top.

Maru kind of looked suspicious when I came in, but as soon as she hears the word 'rhubarb', she's all ears. When she sees the gift, she lights up.

"You actually baked an honest-to-Yoba rhubarb pie just for me?"

"Well, I kept one for myself too, but I waited this long for you. And as I brought it to you here, your family never needs to find out and you can eat it all yourself if you like." I wink. She laughs. She wouldn't do that and she knows that I know it.

"You're sure you wouldn't like me to offer Harvey a slice?" She lifts an eyebrow.

I try not to show that I'm kind of taken aback at this and shrug disinterestedly.

"It's your pie. Give it to whomever you like."

"I sure will."

The door behind her opens and out comes Harvey, focused on her.

"Did you call..."

He looks around to see what might have caused her to call in the first place and spots me.

"Evan. Good morning."

"Hi. Don't worry, I'm not hurt or anything. It's just a slightly early birthday gift." I indicate the cake carrier.

"Oh. Of course." Harvey's face doesn't really change. There's no real recognizable expression on there except maybe for 'guarded'.

"Well, I have lots of work to do. I'll see you around. Maru, have a great birthday tomorrow." I start walking out.

"You're not coming to my party then?"

I turn around. I actually would hate to miss Maru's party, but that calf wasn't just some excuse I made up.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware I was invited. I would love to, but calves tend to pick the least useful time to be born... If the birth happens before the party I might. At what time is it?"

"Eight, but you can come later if you like. Just... well, not after midnight."

"I'll do my very best. I'll see you when I can."

"Good luck with the calf."

"Thanks. Bye now."