Chapter 2- Problem #2
"It's nice to see you again, Sis!" Stu cried, clinging to Elli's arm. She laughed, looking down at her brother. He had grown much taller in the three years she had spent across the sea. He must have grown at least a foot, and his hair was unruly, as were his clothes.
Elli, who suddenly realized that everything would be different, was glad that some things hadn't changed. Glancing to Jay, she noticed that he knew the same thing. Would old friends still be welcoming?
"Hey, Stu." Jay gave the grinning boy a high-five.
"Do you want to head home so I can drop off my stuff?" Elli inquired, and Stu nodded.
"Sure, Elli." Leading the way, Stu marched them off the beach and into Rose Plaza. Checking her watch, Elli wondered if the gossiping wives still met at one o'clock.
They did, and Manna, squinting at the group, was the first to recognize Elli out of her classic powder blue dress and apron. "Elli?" She gasped, clapping her hand to her mouth.
"It can't be!" Mumbled Sasha breathlessly, staring blankly at her ex-neighbor.
"But it is!" Interjected Anna.
"Hello." Was Elli's lame reply.
"How have you been?" Sasha and Manna were as welcoming as always, but Anna remained silent, lips pursed.
"I've been fine." Elli lied.
"Why have you come back? Surely Doctor hasn't found you?" Manna questioned, and Elli nodded, sighing. Both Sasha and Manna exchanged horrified glances.
"You can't stay at Stu's house." Manna exclaimed. "He goes there often to check on her and update her medicine. You'll be found, hands down. Why don't you stay with me?"
"But if Duke drinks himself to hangover, and needs the Doctor's assistance, then what?" Sasha reminded her friend, who looked crestfallen. Anna didn't suggest that Elli house with her, even though the Doctor never came to her residence.
"But your husband has stomach aches every time it rains or snows." Manna protested.
"He goes to the Clinic." Sasha pointed out.
Jay stepped in. "Neither of us can accept any offers at the moment." The mayor, who had been on his way to the square on the sunny Sunday morning, saw the group, and immediately stopped them.
"Jay, Elli, welcome back!" Thomas announced brightly.
"Mayor!" Elli squeaked. She had forgotten he went to the square on Saturdays and Sundays.
"Jay," Thomas seemed unnaturally troubled, "Our town's economy has been dropping terribly, and I need to make an unavoidable offer." Jay frowned, knowing what was coming. He had left without telling the mayor he was abandoning the farm. "Will you consider taking back the farm?"
Manna and Sasha had instant opposition. "They're getting stalked by the insane Doctor, and you want them to stop and take over the farm?" Manna screeched, and Sasha nodded.
"Just listen. My son, Harris, has been becoming increasingly lazy, and I want to employ him as your bodyguard." Mayor Thomas continued, watching Jay and Elli's faces for acceptance.
"I don't believe I have a choice. I can't burden anyone with my family's presence, especially now." No one but Elli knew what he meant by that comment, "I'll take it, Sir." Thomas smiled, relieved.
"I'll send Harris as soon as I can. Here's the key to the door. Thank you, Jay; I'll never forget it was you who saved our village." Thomas scurried out of the square excitedly.
"Good luck, Jay." Sasha nodded, and Manna smiled.
"You did it once, you can do it again." She cheered.
Anna didn't comment. "Let's go, Jay." Elli complained, tugging on his sleeve. Jay nodded.
"I'll see you later." He turned to follow his wife down the lane. Naturally, the attracted stares from the few neighbors they passed, and some conversation that lead nowhere.
"Elli?" A stunned May had wondered as the trio passed by. She stared at Stu, and he nodded.
"My Sis is back!" May looked much older too, Elli noticed frowning. She was barely shorter than Stu now, but three years ago she had been taller. Instead of the red dress, she wore overalls and a green plaid shirt. She wore a wide brimmed hat, and held a hoe in her hands. She must be planning to take over Yodel Ranch when Barley retires. Stu and May had been five when Elli and Jay fled, and they must be eight or nine now.
"What do you plan on doing if the Doctor returns?" May asked maturely, frowning. Instead of acting like an eight-year-old, Elli thought she acted much older.
"I hope it doesn't come to that." Elli replied quietly. But May was right. Simply going on Aura's word, they had returned to Mineral Town without a plan if the Doctor came back.
How did they even know that Aura was even on their side? But, Aura had been a family friend since the day they met, in Fall, the day after Elli and Jay had moved there. What was the chance that she would suddenly betray them? Elli almost laughed.
A shocked Rick had stopped them for a moment. "I thought you guys were never coming back." He yelped, staring at them blankly, almost knocking his goggles askew.
"Well, here we are." Jay mumbled.
"We're neighbors again." Elli admitted. "We're back for good. I'm sick of running away." Rick smiled.
"It's nice to have y'all back." After bidding Rick goodbye, the trio entered the farm property. To Elli, it looked as terrible as it did before Jay had miraculously come. The field was overgrown with weeds, tree stumps, and boulders. The chicken coop had vines crawling up the side of the once beautiful exterior.
"It may look bad, but we can make the most of it. I won't be alone this time." Jay stated, patting Elli's shoulder.
"No, you won't." Elli agreed. "You'll have me, and in a few years, our child too." She patted her stomach.
"It'll all work out in the end." Jay promised.
"As doubtful as that sounds, I believe you."