Genesis at the moment could be found in her orchard, harvesting persimmons, apples, and grapes. She had already harvested the rest of her crops for the season except for eggplants, which she saved for last because of the Fall Crop Festival.
Genesis sighed in relief as she filled up another basket with Persimmons and loaded it onto her push cart. She then sighed again however when she saw that her harvest was nowhere near done, she had a large bumper crop of fall fruits this year.
"You need some help?" a voice asked.
Genesis turned around, only to see Vaughn standing a few feet away from her. She smiled at the cowboy and nodded.
"Thank you." Genesis said. "Can you help me harvest my apples and persimmons? The grapes are already done."
Vaughn nodded and got to work after Genesis showed him how to harvest the fruit.
"There, that's the last of it." Genesis said, wiping her brow. From her water canteen, she took a large drink. The canteen was charmed to keep whatever is inside, cold. "You want a drink Vaughn?"
Vaughn nodded and gratefully took the canteen. He too took a large drink of the cool water. It was only after he finished drinking that he realized that he just shared an indirect kiss with Genesis. He blushed at the revelation and silently handed Genesis back her water canteen.
Vaughn then helped Genesis push her cart to the shipping bin, where Elliot and Natalie were waiting.
"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said that you had a large bumper crop of fall fruits Gen." Natalie said.
Genesis smiled sheepishly, and together, they were able to ship away the fruits.
"Thanks you guys. I have something for you." Genesis said. She ran into her house for a moment before coming out with several small baskets. They each contained several apples, persimmons, and grape bunches. "Here Natalie, Elliot, you can share this with the rest of your family."
Genesis then handed Natalie one of the larger baskets. Natalie's eyes sparkled at the sight.
"Oh! Thank you Genesis! I LOVE fruits!" Natalie squealed before she left with Elliot.
Genesis then turned to Vaughn and smiled at him, making him blush slightly. "Want to come with me while I deliver this to everyone?"
Vaughn silently nodded, definitely willing to spend his free time with Genesis.
After handing out baskets of fruits to every resident on the island, Vaughn was invited to have dinner with Genesis, which he obviously agreed to.
Genesis had served curry that night along with raspberry wine.
"So Vaughn, how is work?" Genesis asked.
"Same as usual." Vaughn said between spoonfuls of rice and curry. "This is good."
Genesis smiled. "Thank you Vaughn." She then took a sip of her wine.
"Are you going to enter the Fall Crop contest?" Vaughn asked.
Genesis nodded. "That's why I haven't harvested my eggplants yet, I'm going to check which one is the best one so I can enter it."
Vaughn nodded. "Winter is a few days away, are you going to get more animals?"
Genesis nodded. "I've already gotten my coop and barn expanded, so I just need to buy the animals. Care to help?"
Vaughn nodded. "What do you need?"
"I'm going to get 2 more cows, 2 sheep, and 4 more chickens." Genesis said.
"You sure you're able to handle it?" Vaughn asked. Genesis nodded.
"Yes, I'm very used to my chores and I usually have them done by lunch. So a few extra cows, sheep, and chickens won't effect my schedule that much." She said.
The next morning, Genesis harvested her eggplants and saved the best one of the crop for the contest that was going to go on later that day.
After she was done harvesting, she immediately headed for the meadow where the contest was taking place.
When she arrived, she was warmly welcomed by Pierre, who ushered her to the contest table so they could get started.
Genesis was ecstatic when she won. Pierre then came up to her, eyeing her prize eggplant hungrily.
"Can I buy that Eggplant from you Genesis? I cannot let an Eggplant of that quality go to waste!" Pierre said before he started to ramble on about what dishes he could use eggplant in.
Genesis nodded somewhat nervously. "You can just take it Pierre."
Pierre's eyes lit up at that. "Thank you Genesis! Oh and by the way, the apples, persimmons, and grapes you gave me yesterday were delicious! I made the most delightful persimmon bread and today I'm going to make an apple pie!"
"I'm glad to hear it Pierre." Genesis smiled. "Have fun cooking."
"Oh I will!" Pierre said before he left with the eggplant in hand.
"What was that about?" Vaughn asked as he came up to Genesis after spending most of the festival leaning against a tree in the far corner of the island.
"Pierre was just thanking me for the fruit I gave him yesterday along with the prize eggplant I gave him." Genesis said. Vaughn frowned a bit.
"You should save some of your crops for yourself since winter is coming in a couple days. Profits are going to drop as well, I don't want you starving yourself." Vaughn said.
Genesis was touched by Vaughn's concern. "Thanks Vaughn, but I assure you, I'm not short of money at all. I have plenty saved up, I'll be fine this winter. I've also got lots of my harvested crops stored away."
Vaughn gave a relaxed expression of relief at hearing that.
"So you're leaving tonight?" Genesis asked.
"Yes, at 9pm." Vaughn said.
"I'll come and see you off then." Genesis said.
True to her word, Genesis did see Vaughn off before he took the boat to the mainland.
A few days had past since then and Genesis had gotten more livestock to fill up the barn along with plenty of fodder and feed.
"You're so lucky Genesis, you're already all set with Vaughn. Elliot still can't even take a hint." Julia whined.
"All set? What are you talking about?" Genesis asked.
The island girls except for Sabrina were having a girl's night. They were all currently sitting in Genesis' living room drinking hot chocolate.
"You mean you don't know? I thought it was obvious." Natalie said.
"I agree Genesis, you really don't know?" Lanna asked.
"Don't know what?" Genesis asked.
"Vaughn is like...totally in love with you Gen." Julia said.
Genesis furrowed her brows which made the other girls groan.
"Oh come on, you can't be that dense!" Natalie cried out. "I mean, you're the only he really talks to, you're the only he's actually nice to, and he visits you all the time when he's on the island!"
Genesis just blinked. "Are you sure?"
"YES!" The three girls cried together. Genesis recoiled a bit from the loud noise.
"But he's really shy and anti-social you know? So maybe he's having a hard time approaching you for a date or something." Julia said. "Or better yet, ask him out!"
"You want me to ask him out on a date? What if he says no?" Genesis asked.
"He won't say no, he's really into you." Natalie said. "I kinda feel sorry for Sabrina though, she's really into Vaughn, but he barely even knows that she exists."
"No, I don't think Sabrina has a chance with my cousin. No offence to Sabrina, but she's kinda spineless and looks like you could break her just by touching her." Julia said. "Besides, Sabrina only likes him for his looks, she doesn't know Vaughn like Genesis does."
Lanna agreed. "I agree. Genesis is much more suited for Vaughnie, if I wasn't aiming for Denny, I would have tried for him."
This got raised brows from the rest of the girls, which made Lanna huff. "What? Vaughnie is hot."
"Vaughnie?" Natalie asked with a raised brow. "If he hears you call him that we'll have to host a funeral."
Lanna puffed out her cheeks. "Fine, I'll call him Vaughn then."
"So anyways, just ask him out on a date otherwise he'll take forever." Julia said.
Genesis sighed and nodded. "Alright, I'll ask Vaughn out on a date. If he says no though, I'm going to kick all you're butts."
"Yeah yeah, go get that cowboy." Natalie said.
"Whatever Natalie, why don't you go get a certain chef who looks like he's still in his pre-teens?" Genesis asked slyly. Julia and Lanna giggled at Natalie's red face.
"Don't laugh Julia! After all, you're going after my nerd of a brother." Natalie retorted, which made Julia shut up while Lanna laughed harder.
"What are you laughing at? You're the one hooking up with a fisherman wearing purple." Julia snapped.
Lanna pouted at that.