Chapter 2: November Rain
Stay away. That's what she was trying to say, and that's exactly what I did; I stayed as far away from Ann as possible. As for Cliff, well he was hard to ignore. We hadn't spoken since that day but I always ended up where ever he was. At the church, at festivals, and on the odd occasion I would walk by the Inn and see him outside.
Spring and summer had gone by so fast and fall was starting up. Cliff and I had spoken a few times in those past few weeks but never anything important. Until one early fall day he so happened to pass by my house.
*Flashback*
Today was a chilly fall day and my crops weren't having much luck. After a long fight with a stubborn weed I looked up to see Cliff passing by my farm, bags in hand.
"Cliff, what are you doing?" I called out.
He quickly sprinted over to me.
"I'm leaving town, I came to say goodbye" he replied.
"What! But why?" I yelled.
He looked down and I saw what looked like overwhelming sadness and self-pity in his eyes.
"My money has run out and I don't have a job so I need to leave" he answered sadly.
"But where will you go?" I questioned.
"I… I don't know…" he chocked out.
By now I could tell he was crying and I knew I had to do something.
"You could work here; I have been in need of help" I said cheerfully
Cliff looked up and his eyes contorted from tears of sadness to happiness.
"Really Claire, are you sure you want me to help, I mean I don't know much about farming" he asked.
"Of course, and don't worry about that I'll teach you so now you can stay in Mineral Town. I said.
"Well then I better go tell Doug that I'll be staying" he smiled.
"Okay well now it's settled, you'll work here every day until 6:00 and then you're free" I noted.
Suddenly he reached forward and pulled me into a hug.
"Thank you so much Claire, I don't what I'd do without you" he whispered.
By now I was blushing furiously and all I could do was stay there in his arms.
"Thank you Cliff neither would I" I whispered back.
And we stayed like that for a little while longer.