Trent had known by the slick, reflective cobblestone walkway and the gray sky that hung heavily overheard that it might rain during his evening walk. Feeling the first telltale drops cool his shoulders and dampen his hair, he hoisted up his umbrella.

He smiled in amusement as Mineral Town's two youngest residents, little May and Stu, ran screaming delightedly into the Church of the Harvest Goddess for shelter. The church's kindly-looking priest chortled, holding the door open for them, and caught sight of the doctor rounding the bend of the pathway just past the churchyard.

"Hello there!" the priest called out. "You're welcome to shelter with us until the shower passes!"

Trent hesitated. The clinic and his warm, dry study were mere seconds away, a door down from the church. Warm, dry, quiet. And empty. He had seen several patients today and spent the rest of the day updating files, reading Dr. Hardy's notes on Lillia and Jeff, and attempting to hang chokeweed to dry. A predictable quiet evening alone in his study awaited, as Elli had gone home to tend to her grandmother and little brother, Stu – one of the wild blurs who had just disappeared into the church. Maybe he would journal a little or play some violin.

Or he could step outside his comfort zone a little.

"Thank you, I will," he called back, stepping into the churchyard. The priest's eyes rounded into small crescent moons of joy as his pleasant smile forced his sizeable cheeks upward. The priest closed the door behind the doctor, who was taken aback by the warm brightness within.

Screeching and giggling, May and Stu were chasing each other around rows of the sparsely populated pews, which were divided into two sides by a rich red and gold carpet. At the far end of the room stood a carven pulpit, which dazzled with the colour and light of the breathtaking ceiling-high stained-glass window behind it.

A young man with unruly brunet hair pulled into a low pony slumped in a pew at the front of the church. He didn't look up when Trent came in. Across the aisle, on the right side of the church, sat a blonde woman with a long ponytail. She leaned forward, her head bowed in prayer and her hands clasping each other intently. Claire.

"My name is Carter. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," the priest said. The men shook hands. "I will certainly be making my way to the clinic very soon for a checkup."

"Good to meet you. I'm Trent, and I hope to see you there soon. I believe there are several people I have yet to meet, either at the clinic or otherwise."

"Well, the Church of the Harvest Goddess is a wonderful place to start." Carter beamed broadly. "I am proud to say we remain a staple of the community. There's not a face I don't see at least once a week. I am glad to count you among our numbers."

Trent shuffled uncomfortably. He wasn't sure how much he expected to find himself in the church. While he had grown up in a small village with its own worship pond and was unsurprised to find a similar faith in Mineral Town, its hold on him had loosened significantly over time. He had seen many other faiths, all as valid as the next, and had come to believe that faith was most importantly a community builder. He didn't ascribe to any faith himself, but he appreciated the work it did for a community. Maybe for that reason alone, he should involve himself more in the Church.

"Have you met our current patrons?" Carter continued beatifically, gesturing at the pews. May and Stu went screaming past them, and the priest shook his head with a fond smile. "I am afraid you have not caught us at our, erm, most contemplative this evening."

Trent grinned after them. "Places for worship should also be places for fun, wouldn't you say?"

Carter turned to the doctor with an even broader smile than before. "Quite so!" he agreed emphatically.

Trent was looking back over the pews. "I haven't met the gentleman sitting at the front. But I am familiar with Mrs. Kelley."

Perhaps overhearing her name, Claire's hands broke apart and her head turned to look his way. "Good evening, Doctor!" she called warmly, waving. "Seeking refuge from the rain?"

"Good evening, Mrs. Kelley," he called back. "Yes, it's a good evening to be indoors." He felt almost guilty for raising his voice in the hallowed space, but the echoing of another of May's shrieks off the austere walls soothed his worry.

Smiling, Claire stood and made her way over to where Trent stood with Carter. "I hope Mineral Town has been treating you well in your first few weeks," she said.

The doctor suppressed a wry smile. He could tell she yearned to get the small talk over with so she could ask if he had seen her daughter lately. He would put her out of her misery. "We are settling in well, thank you. I think it's safe to say that Ella is as well. Elli and I saw her last week, and she has rebuilt the barn on the property and purchased a cow."

"Her first cow!" Claire breathed excitedly. "That's wonderful news. Err—but she had to rebuild the barn? Is the property in very bad shape?"

Trent paused. "It needs work," he allowed, then quickly added, "but she's up for the challenge."

"I've no doubt about that," Claire beamed, meeting his eyes. "It makes me happy to hear that other people believe in her, too."

Trent smiled back, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. If he had ever had any doubts about Ella's ability to rise to the challenge before her, they would have been distant memories by the end of their last conversation. He found himself replaying it in his head when the clinic grew still and quiet in the evening, after the patients were all gone and Elli went home. The doctor considered himself an adequate conversationalist; he was usually able to keep up with friendly small talk, and he was pretty proficient at reading body language. But it was rare for conversation to click into place the way it had with Ella and to veer below surface-level dialogue about the weather or local happenings or health. That was the other thing – of course he was always interested in discussing healthy lifestyles and helping people realize the best versions of themselves, as that was the ultimate goal of medicine. But he was a person who worked as a doctor, not just a doctor who wore a lab coat during the day and powered down overnight, only to come alive again the next morning to admit patients. It seemed that sometimes people forgot that.

Elli understood this feeling, too; she was happy to have been able to move her grandmother and little brother to town with them, but as the team had moved from town to town during their training, she had tolerated many well-meaning advances from men who were not sure how else to talk to her but to ask for medicinal recommendations.

As the week had passed, Trent had found himself thinking of things he wanted to ask or mention to Ella, such as the patterns he had noticed across several small towns he had placements in and if she had noticed any of the same similarities between Mineral Town and Forget-Me-Not Valley, or what it was about farming in particular that so intrigued her. Was it the closeness to the earth, or the honest labour in the fresh brisk air, or the satisfaction of seeing your work manifest into little green sprouts across your field? He wondered if her reasons were the same as her mother's, or if she kept a journal or liked to take walks in the rain.

"I've no doubt in Ella's capability," Carter was saying proudly. "I suppose the good doctor here would understand the challenges she faces in a new locale better than any of us. Other than Cliff over there, that is." He nodded toward the young man in the front pew. "You're certainly welcome to come by the church any time. If you're interested in learning more about the area, I also have a modest collection of works on the town's history and geography."

"I may take you up on that. I would be very interested to learn more about the town," Trent said earnestly. Carter's calm, scholarly pleasantness was soothing and inviting, and the doctor always appreciated someone who was generous with their books. "Well, I think I ought to introduce myself to your other patron, and then I'll be on my way."

Cliff still sat hunched in the pew. As Trent approached, he saw that the man's elbows rested on his knees and his hands dangled listlessly between his legs. He appeared to be staring intently at the floor. Trent felt oddly like he was intruding on his sacred inner meditations, but he felt it would be more unprofessional to turn and leave the church without attempting to make the acquaintance of a townsperson.

The doctor cleared his throat quietly. "Good evening," he ventured. "I'm sorry to interrupt you."

Cliff started and sat up quickly, his eyes wide. "Oh–hello."

"I just wanted to introduce myself," Trent said, keeping his voice low and non-confrontational. "I'm Trent, the new town doctor. Pleased to meet you."

"Cliff," the man murmured in reply, extending a hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm, uh, staying at the Inn."

"Well, feel free to come see us any time. Have a good night, now."

"You too." Cliff's eyes were already turned toward the floor.

The rain had cleared up again by the time Trent exited the church, and the evening sky had darkened. His interaction with Cliff made him think, not for the first time, about the intersection between physical and mental health. He couldn't know what had brought Cliff to Mineral Town or why he stewed in his thoughts, but if he could, he would prescribe him a day's dose of sunshine, some bright fruits and vegetables, and some light exercise for a start. He wasn't naïve enough to believe that diet and exercise alone could cure a melancholy of the heart, but his experiences strongly suggested that they would at least help. Ironically, we are least inclined to break away from our comforts to try something new when we are in a state of melancholy.

He wondered what Ella would have to say about that.

˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•٠·˙

It was a bright Friday at noon, and two girls – one with shoulder-length blonde hair, another with a long red braid – slipped into the Inn kitchen, giggling together.

"My! If it isn't Miss Ann, my greatest competition!" Ruby said kindly, smiling at them. "What an honour to have you in my kitchen."

"Well, if it isn't our longtime rival!" Ann shot back lightheartedly. "All these years Dad and I have faced off against you in cooking festivals, and I never tasted your food until today! That is, if you'll serve me," she finished teasingly.

"I suppose, seeing as you're Ella's friend." Ruby winked. "Now then, what can I get for you girls this morning?"

As the girls placed their orders, Ella scooted her chair closer to her longtime best friend and rested her chin on Ann's shoulder. She found she couldn't stop staring at her, trying to memorize every freckle on her face and every mischievous gleam of her blue eyes. She had been overcome with astonishment and glee when the redhead had appeared on her doorstep that morning and demanded that Ella explain the contents of the letter she had sent her.

Ann was unlike Ella's other friends from Mineral Town. They were as close as sisters, having grown up together, and had found themselves in the unique situation of practically becoming sisters when their parents began a relationship. Ann was no-nonsense – and no-judgment. She had long understood that there was "something funky", as she put it, going on between Ella, her mother, and the Harvest Goddess. She had been a little more understanding of Ella's sudden move to the Valley and accepted its urgency slightly more readily; she just chafed at learning the news through a letter and not having yet received an invitation to visit Ella's farm.

After the girls had finished their crying and hugging, Ella had given Ann the grand tour, complete with a finale involving Faye leaving a steaming pie on the barn floor directly in front of the innkeeper's daughter. Such is the reality of the farm tour.

"But why did you just pick up and leave out of nowhere?" Ann had demanded. "Why couldn't you even stop by to say goodbye?"

"I was called," Ella had said, simply and apologetically. Ann had looked at her, hard, and sighed, gruffly accepting that there wasn't going to be a better explanation.

But Ann wasn't one to hold a grudge, at least not for long. Happily reunited and awaiting brunch, the girls' talk quickly turned to the goings-on of their respective towns. Ella was eager to hear news of her hometown while Ann was curious about the Valley and all the peculiar personalities within it.

"Well, Dad practically lives at your place now that you're gone," Ann was saying. She slurped on her milkshake. "I've had a ton more responsibility at the restaurant now. It's been great, though. Do you swear he didn't bribe you to leave so he could move in?"

"Yeah, right," Ella laughed. "More likely he's been waiting for you to get married before moving out officially."

"Pffft," Ann scoffed, but her cheeks warmed slightly. Ella raised her eyebrows and took a bite of toast.

"Mmmm?" the farmer prompted.

Ann shook her head helplessly. "Well..."

Ella swallowed. "Well?" she repeated meaningfully, resting her chin on her friend's shoulder to she could stare up obnoxiously into her face. Ann laughed and blushed hotter.

"Well," she began in a low voice, "there's a new guy living at the Inn."

"Mmmmmm?"

"Get your face outta my face!" Ann rolled her shoulder playfully to unseat Ella's chin. "We've kinda been talking...you know...he's sweet."

"Tell me mooooore," Ella whispered. "Describe. Name. Explain. Tell."

"Uhhh...rugged. Um, Cliff. Uhhhh...the other two are a bit more complicated, I guess?" Ann took a heartening slurp of milkshake. Ella's eggs and toast lay forgotten on her plate. "Well, he's a traveler, and he doesn't say much, but it's because he's shy, you know? He lives off the land."

"You mean, when he's not living at the Inn?"

"Well, yes," Ann said, elbowing her friend. "I mean, he can get out there and hunt and fend for himself, but I like when he stays at the Inn for dinner because then I can cook for him."

"How is he sweet?" Ella asked. "Have you been on dates? Give me specific examples of his aforementioned sweetness."

"Well, no," Ann said, her colour rising again. "I haven't – we haven't – I think we're both just waiting for the right time."

"There's nothing to wait for! Get out there and get your boy," Ella commanded.

"Pfffffffftttt," Ann spluttered, more exaggerated than before. "That's rich, coming from you! As if you would take your own advice."

"Sure I would!" Ella scoffed. "That's what we do. We seize the day. But enough sidetracking. Examples! How has he been sweet? I need the details."

Ann squirmed, but she was clearly enjoying the topic. "After I showed him around town, he brought me a flower he found on the mountain. He was so embarrassed when he gave it to me, and I was so surprised that I didn't even say thank you. Well, I said it later, obviously. And then he was so embarrassed again that he went red as a tomato!"

Ella's eyes were as big as saucers. "He brought you a flower? Awwww!"

Ann nodded and cut into her sausage. "He used to hide in his room and I would bring him dinner, but now he ventures down into the dining room to sit at the bar, and we talk. A little. I mean, he doesn't always have much to say. But he's a great listener. When he does say something, it's always so nice, like how much he likes being in Mineral Town and how great Dad is. He's also buddies with Carter, so I think he's fitting in well. Oh – you know who else is buddies with Carter? Our new doctor!" Ann had looked forward to filling Ella in on the details of the town's youthful new medical team, but Ella was nodding knowingly.

"Oh, yes, Trent. I wanted to ask how he and Elli have been settling in—but not until we're done talking about your Cliff."

Ann was taken aback by. "Trent?" she repeated. "I only know him as Dr. Marshall. I haven't even been to see the man yet and you're on a first-name basis?"

"Oh – well – he and Elli have been here to the Valley a bunch," Ella said quickly. "We've met. A bunch."

Now Ann's eyebrows raised. "Mmmm, you've met 'a bunch', huh? Is he nice…a bunch? Handsome, a bunch?"

"No, no. Stop that right now. That's not what I mean." Ella took an aggressive bite of egg. "There's an herb on my farm that he needs for research, so he and Elli and Dr. Hardy – who retired here, by the way – come and collect some when they're here."

"How often are they here?"

"Umm... I think it's been every week since I moved here."

"And do you 'meet' every week?" the redhead asked slyly, nudging her friend. "Or should I say, do you meet a bunch?"

Ella rolled her eyes. "Oh, just book an appointment with him, you little twerp. I'm sure he will ask you to call him Trent the very first time you see him."

"So what's he like?"

Ella's initial impulse to tell Ann how great the new doctor and nurse were had completely dried up. "He's nice," she said airily. "And the nurse, Elli, is a total sweetheart."

Ann finished cleaning off her plate. "Whatever you say. I'll book an appointment. So, did you hear about Popuri and Kai? He's writing her letters now. Rick is losing his mind."

Ella hungrily slurped up the news from her hometown. As they left the Inn and thanked Ruby for the delicious meal, they bumped into Muffy and Lumina, who were out for a stroll.

Muffy hugged Ella warmly, as if she hadn't just seen her yesterday, and beamed as she and Lumina were introduced to Ann. "So you're her Mineral Town bestie! I'm her Forget-Me-Not Valley bestie," she declared proudly, without a hint of jealousy.

Ann seemed to struggle to take Muffy in. Ella grinned, watching her and remembering how she had felt blindsided by the other woman's glamour as well. "Is everyone here as fancy as you girls?" she asked.

Lumina giggled. "I like your overalls," she said.

The four girls whiled away the afternoon together, sitting on the bridge and letting their toes dangle into the water while Ella fished. Back at her cabin, they shared a simple early dinner of salted fish roasted over an open fire. As evening fell, Muffy left for work, Lumina went home, and Ann planted herself firmly on Ella's bed.

"I'm staying overnight," she declared.

"It's going to be boring," Ella warned. "I have a TV that gets 1 good station and no movies."

"Wow, love you too," Ann shot back, curling up in the blankets.

"Ughhh, I have to put up with you all night?" Ella crawled in beside her. "Scooch your butt."

"Your cabin is the worst. You don't even have chairs to sit in."

"I have a highly respectable floor cushion."

"Whoever lived in this place before clearly didn't spend much time here," the redhead remarked, looking around in disapproval.

"Well," Ella said, haltingly, "that would have been my dad, actually."

The news caught Ann off-guard. "What?" she breathed.

Slowly, Ella filled her oldest friend in on what she had learned about her new farm. Ann listened raptly, her eyes wide, and just had one question by the end.

"Did...he and your mom also feel 'called' to move to Mineral Town?" she asked quietly.

Ella bit her lip. "Yes."

"Are you dreaming about the Goddess again?"

Ella nodded. The two girls sat together in silence, and Ann gave Ella's hand a squeeze. "Are you going to be okay?"

Ella nodded again. "Oh, things are going great. I just – I can't contact Mom directly because that might be considered a distraction." She looked apologetically at her friend. "The same goes for you, too. I don't think we can have many sleepovers."

"Are you worried about your mom getting sick, too?"

Another nod.

"I will keep an eye on her," Ann promised determinedly. "Dad and I are going to take great care of her. But who is going to look after you?"

"I'm fine," Ella insisted. She thought briefly of mentioning Trent and Elli's special mission from her mom before deciding against it. "There are lots of people in the Valley who are curious about me and will be sure to check in on me."

"Nosy people," Ann interpreted. Ella smiled.

"You might say that. Kind, though. Very kind."

"So... how will you know if you're getting too distracted and... she's getting angry?"

"Oh, she'll let me know," Ella said tiredly.

Ann looked doubtfully at her friend, who suddenly seemed older and more fatigued than her years should allow. "You better write to me lots."

"Of course."

The two girls hugged tightly.