Chapter Nine

The next day, I contently watered my garden. I felt absolutely beaming as more and more green began to break through the dirt. I was already envisioning a wicker basket full of prized produce. I could practically pin myself with a blue ribbon. Once the twisty vines of the tomatoes got a bit longer, I'd start to wind them around the trellis I had stuck into the ground that morning. There really was a sense of order coming onto the farm now. Everything had a home. There were neat stacks of sticks. Debris, garbage, and dead weeds whisked off to the trash. My field was practically cleared save the back quarter. There was some tall grass growing, but I left it, in dreams of getting myself a chicken soon. I had ordered some wood and nails from Gotz and they were delivered right outside my coop before I even woke up that morning. It felt like everything was falling into place and, finally, after three weeks, I felt proud to call this piece of property mine. Me, a growing, bonafide farmer. Who would have thought? I felt my self-esteem rising with each leaf of my garden and my misery melting away with each mix of fertilizer I put together. The possibilities were suddenly becoming endless to me of how I could transform it all. Of course, getting a bathroom and kitchen were still a top priority, though.

A low whistle caught my attention and I looked over my shoulder to see Kai. He was standing near my shipping bin, hands on his hips, as he looked across the farm. He was wearing a blue t-shirt with a chest pocket and black cargo shorts that afternoon. Naturally, still rocking the flip flops. He sported a hat for a restaurant I had never heard of. Kai's eyebrows were arched as he took it all in. He smiled when we made eye contact and he came towards me while I wound my hose up and turned the squeaky knob to cut the water.

"You're really getting this place under wraps! I am impressed," Kai turned to look at the garden again. "I already know what dishes will be our signatures once you can start producing on a bigger scale."

I grinned as I came to stand beside him. "Well, it's going to be awhile, I'm afraid. I gotta make money first."

"Can't stop me from dreaming!" Kai laughed, tilting his head back. "Here's a little preview: caprese salad with fresh, local tomatoes, hunking slabs of mozzarella, and my own home blend of balsamic vinegar."

I paused for a moment, crossing my arms over my chest. "Okay, maybe you can have a tomato when they're ripe."

He clapped his hands together. "Need help with anything else?"

"Nope, I'm all done," I told him. "I just need to change real quick and we can get on the way." I was shrugging out of my flannel overshirt as I began towards the house, already thinking about the ice cube I was going to rub all over my face. I paused just short of my door when I realized Kai was following me. It seemed innocent enough but I found my heart rate accelerating. "Oh, this is just a studio house. You're gonna have to wait outside, I'm sorry."

"Oh, yeah, no problem," Kai nodded without missing a beat. He dug his hands into his pockets and paced a few steps away. "I'll just be over here."

When I stepped into my cool room, I tossed my shirt across the bed and shook my arms out. There was no reason to think that deep into it, I told myself, as I pulled a fresh black t-shirt and jean shorts out. How could he have known? Kai had never been inside of my house. I couldn't help but admit that Ann's words were still ringing in my ears. Or maybe I just wasn't used to friendship beyond what I knew with Gray? I splashed my face with refreshing cool water and started brushing my hair out. Ann had seemed so uppity on the whole thing with a reaction that didn't feel like a first for her. Kai had been a comforting presence for me as I settled into Mineral Town, though, and it seemed like he really did want the best for me. His help in being the bridge for Gray and I only further confirmed he cared in a way that didn't seem bad, like how Ann might have seen it. I didn't want to fester on it too long. Kai was my friend and I wanted to enjoy time with him. There was nothing beyond that.

I reemerged into the warm summer day to see Kai inspecting the wood that Gotz had delivered. He was eying the chicken coop tentatively, tilting his head back and forth. When he saw me, his face lit up in his characteristic way. "Ready?"

"Yeah, unless you want to patch my coop up for me," I said.

"Mm, probably better you do it for when Rick, the Chicken Protective Services, comes," he laughed and then gestured for me to follow him.

We stepped onto the hot red brick path of Mineral Town. We passed the forge where I'm sure we both silently thought of Gray, slaving away in the heat to become the best blacksmith he could. Rick's farm was abundant with noise as chickens clucked and cooed. We passed Harris the postal man as he went on his way to deliver all the mail. Barley's farm was alive with the energy of cows, goats, sheeps, and horses. His granddaughter, May, was busy running a fine tooth comb through the sheeps wool. We took a sharp right and found ourselves beneath a canopy of leaves. The path was a bit windy, but we walked smoothly together. I took the time to inspect the forest. It was dense and cool, lovely and bright. I could hear the bubbling of a nearby creek. I'm sure the children of Mineral Town loved coming out here to play between the bushes and climb all the tree branches.

"So, what's there to do in Forget-Me-Not Valley?" I asked, glancing to Kai.

"Well," he rubbed his hands excitedly together, as if we had an entire itinerary to check off. "First, we've gotta have a meal at the inn. It's owned by this incredible couple named Tim and Ruby. If you think I'm well traveled, they're ten times more cultured than I am. Their food is to die for. Plus, pineapple shaved ice, an absolute speciality." He smiled at me and his excitement was contagious. "The Blue Bar is also a big hit. They make the best and most interesting cocktails in the entire Goddess Isles. The beaches there have sand even whiter than ours and the ocean waves are crystal clear. If we're lucky, Patrick and Casey might be testing some fireworks, too."

"Sounds like you know everyone there."

"Before I discovered Mineral Town, I would work for Ruby and Tim in their restaurant," Kai explained, adjusting his cap on his head. "It gave me time to mingle with the locals before Tim pointed me this direction for the Snack Shack."

"Well, I can't wait to see it," I grinned at him. Surprisingly, he flung his arm around my shoulder and drew me in near, making my face grow hot.

"I'm the best tour guide," Kai assured me, giving me a squeeze before releasing me. "I'm just so excited to tell Tim I finally figured out his secret ingredient for his soy sauce. I always thought it was all in how much honey he added. Nope, he uses beef broth, too. I finally cracked the code."

"Oh, boy, is this a revenge visit?" I asked as my heart rate came down.

"It's redemption," Kai shot back, still with his never ending grin and exuding confidence.

The walk became much more steep as we carried on. I wasn't expecting my calves to be begging for mercy. I didn't think I was that out of shape. But still, I kept with Kai's pace, who climbed with ease. As we came to the crest of the hill, I stopped abruptly, looking over the wide and vast valley in front of me. Immediately, my eyes went to the collection of cabins, greenhouse tents, and large fields of vibrant summer produce. A crystal clear river snaked by just near it. All of the buildings were modest with their own eclectic flair, nestled between vibrant trees and green grass. I was amazed I had never heard of this place before. It seemed so quaint and homely.

"I know the first thing we should do," Kai told me and I cocked my head towards him. "Dip our feet in the amazing spring water, come on."

Down the hill we went. The air was fresh and I soaked it all in as I followed him to a little bridge just past the garden farm. The water was high and close to the bridge as we sank down and took our shoes off. The coolness was a relief and I laughed when the current tickled a bit. Straight down the creek was the mouth to the ocean and we had a wonderful view of the horizon nestled with pine and honeysuckle trees. I let out a sigh of relief, as if I had hit the jackpot and all my dreams had fabricated. When I glanced at Kai, I noticed his demeanor had let up a bit and he was staring out into the distance.

"This is nice," I said, gently touching his arm. "It's not giving you cold feet on your soy sauce revenge, is it?"

He smiled, lowering his eyes to look at my hand on him. "Nah, of course not. Just getting here reminded me of all the times Gray and I used to come. Back when he would play hooky." Kai sighed and looked at me now. His lips were still curled in a comforting way, but I could tell his face was full of reminiscing. "He could be here with us right now, all of us having fun, but…" He turned his face back to the horizon. "Every year I come back, Claire, he's more and more focused on work. He's less inclined to do things like this."

"Well…" I gently moved my feet through the cool water. I set my hands back on the warm bridge. "Every year you come back, he's gotten better and taken on more responsibility."

Kai bobbed his head slowly. "You're right. We've been friends for so long, though, I'm worried we're going to lose what we had. Every time I came to Mineral Town, I was so excited to see Gray. He got me, Claire. We understood each other on a level I never expected in a little place like this. He was like the brother I never had. Now his grandfather is turning him into some bureaucratic worker and he barely has time for himself. Even when we're in our room, he's sketching up blueprints or reading his books. And now I find out about his whole reason for even being here and he never once came close to bringing it up with me."

"You have to understand," I sat forward again, feeling the weight of the past glance over me. "It was traumatic. I could see why he never talked about it."

"I want to understand," Kai's dark eyes fell on me now. "Please, Claire."

I met his gaze and stared intently at him. I could see how badly he wanted to know. But there was something tugging inside of me, perhaps the same force that compelled Gray to remain silent, too. It was well intentioned, I knew that. But still, I didn't feel any words rushing to my mouth. I thought maybe I'd want to talk about it, but something continued to hold me back. My lips parted ever so slightly before I sighed and looked at the cool water rushing past us.

"I want to tell you," I finally said. "But maybe right here, right now, isn't the best place."

"You're right," Kai replied, his eyes drifting behind me. "We've got company." He was quick to hop to his feet, beads of water running off his ankles. Immediately, a smile fabricated on his face as if he hadn't just been worried a moment ago. A man with jet black hair, wavy and combed back, was approaching us. He had vibrant blue eyes and a strong jawline. "Marlin, my man, good to see you!" They firmly met in a strong handshake.

"Just like the heat, I knew you'd be rollin' in soon," Marlin replied. I came to my feet now, too, shaking the water off before exchanging a shake with Marlin, as well. "And you brought a friend, huh?"

"Oh, yeah, this is Claire," he gestured at me with a big grin. "She bought the farm in Mineral Town."

"No kidding?" Marlin arched his bold brows. "That's a good chunk of land. Though, I prefer the farm just across the way there. More trees, more shade. But you've got some fertile ground up there. I used to help old Derrick sow it in his later years."

"Don't tell me that farm is still for sale," Kai put his hands on his hips and turned to look at it. It was obscured behind a line of thick oak trees that towered high and were bushy with foliage. I could see a brick barn with a bright green roof, along with a log cabin set just off the entrance.

"Nah, you won't believe it, Takakura enlisted Brady's grandson to take it over," Marlin said, crossing his arms over his chest. I knelt down to pull my sandals back on. "The boy's name is Jack. Moved all the way from The City for this. He's done a fine job, though. Asked a lot of questions in the beginning, but I think he's learned the ropes."

"Jack, huh?" Kai wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Sounds like you've got competition or you guys could get friendly."

"Don't let Celia hear you," Marlin almost rolled his eyes at this. "She's absolutely dazzled by him. I think she believes he's worldly or something since he came from across the channel. She talks about him at dinner practically every night and she spends a lot of time walking by."

"Well, then, Jack is no match for Claire and I's farm to table restaurant idea!" Kai looped his arms around my shoulders and smashed me against him. "His produce will never compete."

"Ambitious as ever," Marlin smirked. He then turned his eyes on me. "Careful with this one. He's spontaneous and always has a wild streak for ideas."

"So I'm learning," I smiled politely as Kai released me.

"Well, how long are you in the valley today?" Marlin asked, adjusting the rolled cuffs of his white button up. "Maybe we could grab a beer at the Blue Bar and catch up like old times."

"That sounds like a good time," Kai nodded and then glanced to me. "I was just taking Claire to the Inn to have lunch. We could meet up afterwards. How does that sound?"

"You did advertise they have fun cocktails," I replied.

"Out of this world," Marlin assured me. "Alright, I just have a few more errands to run and I'll meet you there, say, four o'clock?"

"See you then!" Kai seemed so excited. He grabbed my hand in the next beat, making my heart throb in my chest. He towed me after him as he led me away. The Inn was just beyond the entrance to the farm. A homely two story structure with an exterior of bamboo and intricately carved symbols in a language I didn't recognize. A balcony wrapped around the top and in the side yard, there were various lawn decorations of frogs painted vibrant colors and old clay ovens that were cracked with ivy wrapping around them. Kai released my hand and cleared his throat. "The food you're about to have is going to change you, Claire. Are you prepared for that?"

"Aw, are you saying I have to walk here for lunch from now on?"

Kai's smile went goofy and crooked and he let out a short laugh. "Okay, it won't change you that much."

When he opened the door, we were greeted by a spacious foyer with a dark chestnut front desk and pine boards running the floors. The walls sported pictures from all over the world. Fresh bamboo and ivy grew in the light of window sills. A set of stairs was situated in the corner beside a door covered with a crimson curtain. The room was already fragrant with spices and smelled faintly of mint. Kai approached the front desk and gave a curt tap to the shiny bell. After a moment, a man emerged from the side curtain. He had dark, spiky hair that poked out from beneath an orange little hat. A wispy mustache was above his lips. The second his eyes laid on Kai, he threw his hands up.

"And the world traveler returns!" He bellowed, coming forward and enveloping Kai in a great big bear hug. "Ruby and I were just talking about you and now here you are!" He gave his orange vest a tug while Kai recovered his breath before patting him on the arm.

"Tim, you know I'd never skip out on visiting," Kai told him. "This is Claire, the new farmer in Mineral Town. I talked Ruby's food up to her so you guys better have a good damn lunch today."

Tim shook my hand with great vigor. "Are you kidding me? Every day is a five star meal with Ruby! Come on, come on, she's in the kitchen. She's going to be thrilled to see you."

We were whisked through the crimson curtain to a long kitchen. Professional stoves and several bamboo steamers were set against the wall. In the center was a large table, cluttered with spices, seasonings, and dressings. The cabinets sported fancy china that I assumed was just for decorations. The big windows made the room bright and airy. Busy working away was a very short woman with dark black hair that skimmed just above her shoulders. She was dressed in a traditional kimono of burnt oranges and beautiful streaks of reds and yellows. She was testing a stew when she looked over her shoulder. Immediately, her brown eyes lit up and she tossed the spoon beside the pot. She embraced Kai maternally, running her hand along the nape of his neck.

"Oh, Kai, how we have missed you!" She cooed, rocking him back and forth in her arms. "Rock will be very pleased to hear of your arrival."

"Yeah?" Kai tilted the bill of his cap up. "What's that bum up to nowadays?"

The parents laughed at his teasing. That's when she noticed me, however, and she smiled so wide, bringing her hands up excitedly. "You bring a girl? A girlfriend?"

"No, no, Ruby," Kai laughed, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "This is my friend, Claire. She owns the farm in Mineral Town."

Ruby approached me and took my hands into hers. "Welcome to Forget-Me-Not Valley, my sweet. It's a slice of heaven down here."

Tim was busy looking up and down the burners at the array of foods that Ruby had in pots and pans. He placed his hands on hips and turned to his wife. "Kai told Claire about your food. He says he wants a damn good lunch."

Ruby smiled as she brushed past him, giving a simple flip to the low mein noodles in a cast iron skillet. "Well, then, Tim, sit them down. I shall prepare the lunch."

We were seated at the table right in the center of the kitchen. With ease, Ruby went up and down the line, paying special attention to everything she had cooking. Tim placed bright red linen napkins beside us, as well as silverware and chopsticks. He then left the room. Kai turned his hat backwards as he leaned forward on his elbows, watching as Ruby worked. The room smelled so good with all the arrays of sauces and seasonings. And Kai seemed to be in absolute chef heaven as he watched Ruby work her magic. It seemed she was easily doing the load of an entire line of chefs as she placed a steaming tray of bao buns in front of us, followed by veggie fried rice glistening with corn and edamame. Tofu stir fry was served, along with hand rolled pork egg rolls and a side of low mein. She wiped her hands on her rag as she watched us take in everything served to us.

"Well?" Ruby asked as she hung the rag over the oven handle. "Does everything look alright?"

Kai was already using his chopsticks to deftly wind some low mein up, which he quickly shoved into his mouth. He smiled as he chewed. "Knocked it out of the park, as usual, Ruby."

Her maternal smile returned as she smoothed her kimono out and came around the table. "I'll leave you two to eat. If you need me, I'll be at the front desk." She then paused and leaned forward, giving Kai's cheek a squeeze. "I'll be back in half an hour to make you pineapple ice."

After she left, I reached for the egg roll that was calling my name. It was so fresh and warm, unlike anything I'd ever had in The City despite all the eateries I had been to. I was already pulling the bowl of fried rice towards me when I realized Kai's eyes were on me, soft and gentle, with his never waning smile.

"Good?" Kai asked, arching a bold brow.

"So good," I replied with my mouth full, spooning rice onto my plate. "I might have to start coming here instead." I reached for the tray of bao buns, claiming one for myself. I bit into it and paused. "What is this?"

Kai reached for one himself, tearing it in half. "Classic bean paste. Ruby's signature."

"It's delicious," I shook my head, taking another bite out of it. "Pass that low mein over here."

"You're acting like I never feed you," Kai laughed, placing the bowl between us. He used his chopsticks to eat directly out of it, while I claimed a portion with a fork onto my plate.

"You'd think I ate well in The City," I said, pointing my fork at him before I dove into my noodles. "But the best I've ever eaten is right here on this little island. I mean, this is amazing! I can actually taste the love." I shoveled the food into my mouth and was met by the extravagance of soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onions fused together in a beautiful medley.

"Yeah, Ruby deserves a Michelin star," Kai replied from behind his bao bun. He smiled as he ate it. "I aspire to be like her in the kitchen. Always cool, collected, and knows exactly what she's doing."

"You do exquisite work in the kitchen, too," I said, looking up from my plate. I paused, shoving my rice around with my fork. "I love the passion. I guess I'm somewhat envious because I've always wanted to be passionate about something, too."

Kai lowered his glass of water. "Well, you have the farm now."

"I think that's starting to stick," I bobbed my head, eating some rice. I swiveled to him on my stool. "I want it to work so much. Failure is not an option."

"You're not going to fail," Kai shook his head, setting his glass down. "You don't give yourself enough credit, Claire. You're doing great."

"Yeah…" I nodded, winding some more low mein up on my fork. I decided to eat directly from the bowl between us. Kai was looking at me, though, with eyes that seemed to be searching. After I had slurped some noodles in my mouth, I sat up, my eyebrows arched. "What?"

Kai broke an egg roll in half, his eyes scrutinizing every detail and fleck of ingredients inside of it. He then looked at me as he dipped it in sauce and ate some of it. He seemed to be taking his time. Meanwhile, I squeezed the life out of my fork, waiting for him to say something. His demeanor was so carefree with his baggy t-shirt and backwards hat. But something on his face was more telling.

"Clouds, Claire," he said, shaking his head again. "Clouds."

"I don't follow."

He set his chopsticks down and pressed his hands against his knees, leaning in towards me. "When I was traveling, I heard this folklore once about a never ending distant storm. It followed a person, place to place. No matter what they did, they always saw these storm clouds on the horizon. It made them doubt themselves because they thought the storm was so great, it'd wash away everything they accomplished. And that's what I'm seeing with you right now. There's always this crazy storm brewing behind you and you don't deserve that. You should be able to look over your shoulder and see clear skies, Claire. I mean it. You're worth it."

Lamely, I pushed some more rice around my plate. Was he right? Of course. But did I want to say it out loud? Absolutely not. The farm was my saving grace, I recognized that. The storm clouds he spoke of, though, weren't that easy to dissipate. They didn't just follow me. They defined me. They were a culmination of my mother's angered outbursts and my father's exasperated sighs. They were the sounds of engine failure, screams, and plummets. I blinked rapidly and looked to him.

"I know you're right, Kai."

He sat back, his hands fiddling with the ends of his chopsticks. He was about to reply when Ruby came through the crimson curtain, a big smile on her face. Kai grinned over his shoulder as she passed by, making her way to the next curtain into what appeared to be a storage room.

"I just want to have a good time with you, Claire," his voice was low and husky. "No storm clouds. It's just us this afternoon, alright?"

I smiled at him now as I wound more noodles around my chopsticks. "Yeah. That sounds nice."

After we met up with Marlin at the Blue Bar, the evening just blurred together. What started with heavily mixed cocktails blended into slush lemonade and vibrant gradients of liquor called "Ocean Glass" turned quickly into rounds of shots, bellowing in laughter at the bar with the sweet Muffy and reserved Griffin. The fireworks twins were there, showing off they made it another day with all ten fingers. The bar was rowdy with a good time and to everyone's delight, Griffin busted out his acoustic guitar, and soon we were all a very unharmonized chorus singing old folk songs I had long forgotten. I drank and let myself go. Kai spun me around the bar as Griffin strummed out note after note. People clapped and cheered and clinked their glasses together in merriment. We lost track of all time. I threw my head back, laughing, as Kai brought me in close for a dance. We dodged between the small tables in a somewhat failing Irish jig. Kai tried to tap his feet around, but we only got tangled up together. Patrick showed off a sloppy moon walk dance he claimed he had perfected. His twin could only shake his head from behind his drink while he watched his brother's attempt. Marlin smirked and shook his head, showing us he could play spoon music that had us all mesmerized as he played alongside Griffin.

Soon enough, we were spilling out into the warm summer night. Kai grabbed me by my hands and we spun in a circle. I laughed and staggered over the uneven cobblestone before pacing a few steps and taking a deep breath. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had so much fun. I was buzzing with energy, excitement, and was riding the wave of my drunkenness. Marlin lit a cigarette and raked his dark hair from his face before he tilted his head back. Slowly, he exhaled a plume of smoke.

"Well, would you look at that," he said, placing the cigarette between his lips again. "It's a harvest moon." We all took a moment of pause to look at the sky. It was littered in bright stars that glittered and sparkled. And right smack in the middle was a full moon, tinged red, and glowing magnificently. "They say that's good luck for the growing season."

"Oh, good," I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "My field needs it."

"My restaurant needs it," Kai chimed in, his eyes glued to the sky. "Man, would you look at that, though. I've never seen a sky as beautiful as the one I see here."

"Welp, I'm gonna turn in," Marlin said, stopping his cigarette out. He then glanced to his watch. "It's after one, way past my bedtime. You two alright to get home?"

"Yeah, we're good," Kai nodded. "G'night, Marlin."

"Good seeing you," he gave us a wave before he stepped out of the lemony light of the bar, disappearing into the night. I watched his figure bob away, crossing through a few other pools of light from the meager light poles lining the path. I began to step forward as well when Kai reached for my arm.

"Come on, let's go to the beach," Kai said, nodding his head in that direction. Distantly, when I focused, I could hear the nearby waves crashing in. "It's a beautiful night! Don't tell me you're too tired."

"No, let's go," I smiled, still chasing the high of my fun. "The moon is so wonderful, I just want to stare at it!"

Down the incline we want, stumbling a bit. Kai windmilled his arms to avoid falling into a bush. We snickered the whole way and when our feet met the sand, I tore my sandals off and tossed them aside. Together, we plopped down side by side. I wrapped my arms around my knees and I gazed forward keenly at the sky. You couldn't see stars like this in The City and practically everyone ignored the moon. I couldn't remember the last time I had given it a second thought. But it was sailing in front of me in all its glory and I swore I'd never forget about it ever again.

Kai's almond skin was glowing beneath the milky moonlight as he twirled a shell between his fingers. He held it up to inspect the ridges. Kai then reared his arm back and tossed it, listening to satisfying plunk into the rolling waves. He turned his hat backwards again and stretched his legs through the sand.

"Today was amazing," he sighed contently. "You were amazing."

"Thank you for bringing me here," I pressed my hand against my cheek and grinned at him. "I had the greatest time."

"Yeah, you really let go," Kai seemed very pleased by this. "That's what I like to see." He paused for a moment, looking out towards the ocean. "Reminds me of when Gray and I would come here looking for some fun."

I also watched the waves washing in for a moment, my fingers fidgeting together. The foamed edges of the ocean came just short of us, receding back just as fast. The noise of the water was filling my ears and I closed my eyes, running my tongue slowly across my lips.

"It will be ten years in September."

Kai furrowed his brow, looking to the side of my face. "What?"

My eyelashes fluttered as I looked back towards the moon. "On September 14th… it will be ten years since Gray's parents died."

"Claire…" the way his husky voice said my name made my heart pound. He reached for me. "You don't have to tell me."

My hand came down in the cool sand as I looked to him. "No, this is important, Kai." My eyes darted between his. "These are part of my clouds."

Gently, he moved some hair from the frame of my face. "Then tell me about this crazy storm."

It was Saturday evening and Gray was feeling rather blue. He sat at the desk in his room, staring blankly at his algebra homework. Usually his father was happy to help, however, both his parents were preoccupied with packing. They were traveling out of state to a convention that would boost his father's career. Mr. Williams' job called for long travel a few times a year, though it wasn't often that Mrs. Williams joined him. However, this time, Mr. Williams was being awarded a Lifetime Achievement award in the realm of law and, as she claimed at breakfast, she wouldn't miss it for the world. Gray sighed and shut his notebook. The only problem was that they hadn't also bought him a ticket to join in on the celebration. Despite pleading all week to be included, his parents had remained firm in their decision.

"Oh, sweetheart, it's just a bunch of stuffy men in suits, you'd be so bored," Mrs. Williams said as she took the dishes from dinner to the sink. "You'd have much more fun here. Pam is coming to stay with you. You love her!"

"Sorry, buddy," Mr. Williams said, finishing an email on his phone. He then lowered it and looked intently at Gray. "You can't miss so much school so early in the school year. Trust me, we're doing you a favor."

Gray turned away from his desk feeling absolutely jaded. Just beyond his window, some of the neighborhood kids were gathering up in the street to coordinate a game of skate hockey. The young boy wasn't interested, however, as he still thought of things to say to his parents to make them cave and buy him a last minute ticket. As an only child, Gray was greatly bonded with his parents. They were his caretakers and his best playmates. Being away from them made him feel lonely, even with having Pam, his lifelong nanny, and Grandma Williams around. Nothing was the same when his parents weren't there. Outside, the kids dissipated from the streets as a sleek black car pulled up along the curb of Gray's house. No one got out. Instead, it honked twice curtly.

Just a beat later, there was a knock at his door which opened just after. Standing in the doorway was Pam. Her brown hair was braided and set on her shoulders. She was smiling sweetly, aware of Gray's discontent. "Baby, let's go see your parents off."

Gray turned from the window, peeling his eyes away from the dark ride that had arrived to whisk them away. "Please tell me there's a surprise down there waiting for me."

"Let's go, they need to get on to their flight," Pam raised an arm and Gray followed the gesture. She gave his shoulder a squeeze as they went down the hallway to the curved set of stairs set into the wall. Down below in the foyer, Mrs. Williams was checking her face and making smudges along the line of her lipstick. She then snapped it shut and tucked it into her leather clutch. Mr. Williams was in front of a mirror, straightening his tie. When they both heard the steps on the stairs, they turned to watch their son descend. It was obvious Gray was still upset as he came down and swung his arms lamely at his side. His parents were dressed to the hilt, crisp, in dark attire. Mrs. Williams' red hair was curled, partly swept up in a diamond butterfly clip.

"So, I'm really not going?" Gray looked to his parents with his big orb of blue eyes nestled beneath curly red locks. "Mom, you said this was such a big deal for Dad. Why can't I come?"

Mrs. Williams cast a glance at her husband and then knelt down, pressing her hands against Gray's shoulders. "I know you're proud of your father and want to show your support, Gray, but, sweetheart, we can't take you everywhere. We'll fill you in about everything when we get back. You won't miss a beat, I promise."

"It seems all flashy and fun, but it's not, buddy," Mr. Williams shook his head as he brushed his gelled hair back from his face in the mirror. "I still have work to do while I'm there. The award won't be anywhere the size of your football trophy, anyway."

Gray pursed his lips. "But you'll be gone the whole week?"

"We have the earliest flight booked home as possible," Mrs. Williams said, maternally adjusting his shirt and smoothing his hair across his forehead. "It will go by in a flash, sweetheart."

"You can't come back earlier?"

"Sorry, buddy," Mr. Williams turned from the mirror now, looking at his son. "I have panels all week."

"What will you do, Mom?" Gray looked to her now with his biggest pouty eyes.

Mrs. Williams paused, casting a glance over her shoulder. Her eyelashes fluttered, her make-up sparkling in the evening light pouring through the wall length windows. "I have my own businesses to attend to, Gray. It's better this way, I promise. We can't take you out of school for this. You'd miss the football drafts and you're just getting settled into the new year."

"I can keep up with my work, I promise," Gray told them.

"You can call me anytime you want," Mrs. Williams squeezed his shoulders tightly. She smiled with her ruby red lips. "Even if you want a bedtime story, I'll read one to you, baby."

As Gray stared at his mother, he hated the idea of being infantilized, but also longed for hearing her voice despite the fact she hadn't even left yet. He had been teased for being a 'momma's boy' in the locker at gym, but it glanced right off him. His parents were his best friends. As he looked at her dolled up face, it only made him want to throw a tantrum not fit for his age. He saw this award as defining for his father and he'd be damned to sit it out, though he was powerless to change any of it. Gray had been to countless banquets, balls, and benefits for his father's career. He saw this as no different. In fact, it seemed exhilarating to get on a plane and go somewhere new. But the way his mother's blue eyes fell across him, gentle, but also demanding. Gray played with the bracelet on her wrist before coyly looking at her.

"You'll answer every time?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, sweetheart," Mrs. Williams leaned in, pressing kisses along his cheeks and a big smack on his forehead. She brought him in for a tight embrace. "It's just as hard for us to be away from you. We'll be back before you know it." Mrs. Williams gave him a squeeze.

Mr. Williams knelt down now, giving Gray a playful punch to the shoulder. "When I come back, I should be looking at the new quarterback for the Bulls!"

Gray smiled crookedly. "Hopefully Claire gets center."

"Have her over tomorrow," Mrs. Williams said, wrapping her arms around her only child. "Go for a swim, but do not forget the sunblock."

Gray's grin was growing weak at this point and he only bobbed his head. "We won't forget."

"That's my boy," Mr. Williams pulled Gray in for a deep embrace, rubbing his hand along his back. "I promise, buddy, we'll be back before you know it."

The curt two honks rang out again and Gray's parents straightened up, reaching for their luggage. Gray was right on their heels as they began for the front door. "Pam, I got all the groceries for the week," Mrs. Williams said, adjusting her hair clip as they rolled their suitcases behind them. "If Claire wants to come over, use my car to pick her up."

"Oh, and my mom should be here in the morning," Mr. Williams said over his shoulder. "She can help with homework, but could you make sure Gray has a snack before he starts?"

"She can take her time," Pam's hands came around Gray's shoulders, preventing him from tailing his parents. "Gray and I will be just fine. I know he's a sucker for caramel popcorn!"

"Be good for Pam," Mrs. Williams' eyes darted across Gray as she made sure she had everything. "And mind Grandma Williams."

Pam's hands felt heavy on Gray's shoulders as he watched his parents open the front door. "I love you!" He blurted out.

"And we love you," Mrs. Williams said from the doorway, the orange sunset streaming over her shoulders. "More than you could ever know, sweetheart."

The door shut right after that, encasing the open foyer in silence. Gray wrangled from Pam's touch, however, and went out onto the veranda, watching as Mr. Williams set their luggage in the trunk. As his mother got into the car, she blew him kisses. Once the door shut, however, he could not see them through the dark tint of the windows. The car pulled away from the curb and Gray watched until it turned out of sight. He then sunk down on the steps, watching the neighborhood kids play street hockey. He felt so low. As an only child, it was hard to imagine his parents had a life outside of him. It made Gray feel crummy, as if he didn't matter at all. He wanted to share in the celebrations despite his age. He wanted to be a part of it. Pam watched him through the windows for a bit, sulking on the stairs, unbelieving his parents had gone on without him, before she went to the kitchen to make something in hopes of raising his spirits. After half an hour, Gray was still perched on those steps, as if he were believing they would come back for him or a second surprise car would pull up. The front door of the historic home the Williams' owned creaked open and Pam emerged.

"Baby, I made some fresh chips and queso. Maybe you want to play something on the Gamecube?" She folded her hands in front of her. Pam had been a nanny for many families, but she was the fondest of the Williams. Susi and George Williams treated her like family and Pam absolutely adored Gray. It broke her heart to see him so deflated and dejected with his parent's departure. "Come inside, baby, there's no use in sitting there so glum."

Slowly, Gray came to his feet, his arms swinging at his side, as he came towards Pam. "I just didn't think they'd actually leave me."

Pam wrapped her arms around his shoulders, directing him into the house. "Sometimes, baby, there are things parents must do on their own. Go on up stairs, get comfy. I'll bring you your snack."

By midnight, Gray was tired. His slippers padded against the stairs as he yawned widely, heading towards the kitchen for a glass of water. From an archway, he saw the blue glaze of the TV flashing and casting long shadows along the wall. As he filled his glass, he could hear faint voices from a news report. Gray yawned again, tugging at his shirt as he came around the corner to bid Pam good night. She was also growing tired, but trying to stay alert until Gray was snugly tucked in. The news was rambling about a litter of kittens miraculously saved from a gutter. Gray glanced at the TV as he came into the room, where Pam perked up.

"Goodnight," Gray told her before yawning widely again. "Sorry I stayed up so late."

"No need to apologize, baby," Pam swung her legs off the couch and straightened her shoulders. "I hope you had a good evening."

"Yeah," Gray still felt the lingering dejection as he looked at the shifting ice cubes in his glass. "Thank you for dinner."

"It was my pleasure," Pam smiled widely as she stood now, tightening the sash on her robe. "Ever since you were a little baby, you loved carrots and broccoli. I knew exactly what to do." She began to search through the throw pillows of the couch to find the remote when a bright red flash came across the TV and, slowly, her and Gray turned to watch. The news anchor pressed a finger towards his ear before he cleared his throat and looked towards the camera.

"Breaking news, flight 1909 from The City has reportedly crashed just one hour into the flight in the Mountains of Genervis. The company is on the scene investigating what caused this catastrophic event. We have the overhead view of it now."

The next scene brought a devastating fire into view, debris scattered everywhere. Immediately, Gray went cold. He dropped his cup of water, which shattered across the floor. He was shaking as he slowly wandered towards the screen, his eyes following the line of fire ignited by the fuel.

"The flight was en route to the neighboring city of The Woodlands, a two and a half hour flight. It's unclear what went wrong, but the scene is devastating."

"Pam-" Gray's voice was pinched, his eyes glued to the screen. "What flight were my parents on?"

The nanny was quick to spring across the room, reaching for the journal of notes Mrs. Williams dutifully left. Pam's breaths were shallow as she flipped through the pages to the current babysitting gig. After a moment, she pressed the journal against her chest and it felt as if all the air was taken out of her. The moment she turned towards Gray, he could see her spooked look.

"Flight 1909…" she whispered.

"As of this moment, there are no reports of survivors in the vicinity, but crews, alongside fire departments, are working quickly to find survivors."

"No…" Gray's voice was faint as he looked at the TV. "No! No!" His voice rose in the next beat and his hands curled into fists. He turned so fast, his slippers sent glass shards sliding across the living room floor. His legs were numb but he was still compelled across the room where he fumbled with the phone left on the table beside the couch. His breath was shallow and he drew a blank for just a moment before he began furiously dialing. As his shaky hands brought the phone to his ears. Gray couldn't drag his eyes away from the TV as the camera panned over the carnage and raging fire down below.

"Hi, you've reached the voicemail of Susi Williams. I'm not available right now but if you leave your name and number, I'll get back -"

Gray abruptly ended the call, hot tears fogging his eyes. "She said she'd always answer!" A panic was rising in him now as he looked across the room at the stunned nanny. Pam wasn't sure what to do. She was hugging herself, shivering beneath her robe, as she looked at the distressed little boy and the TV. Gray had to prove it all wrong. Maybe his parent's didn't get on that flight. Maybe they were delayed at the airport. Maybe they missed it from all the traffic. Gray immediately dialed into the phone again. His phone call went directly to his father's voicemail. "No!" Gray shouted, squeezing his eyes shut. "This is some sick joke. This isn't happening!" He reared his arm back to hurl the phone across the room when suddenly Pam embraced him, pulling her against him. Protectively, she wrapped her arms around him, her slender fingers pressed against his head, as she watched the shocking footage continue to unravel on the screen. He pressed his face against her robe, a choked sob rising up in his throat. "Pam, this isn't real!"

The nanny's face was drained of all color as the camera's zoomed in on burning pieces of airplane and scattered luggage torn to shreds. After a beat, she blinked rapidly, bringing herself back to the room. Immediately, she found the remote and turned the TV off. The room plummeted into darkness with only the neighboring kitchen light coming through the archways. Pam pulled Gray after her, where she sat on the couch. She brought him close, cradling him like she did when he was just a baby. Pam rocked back and forth, tenderly running her hands through Gray's red curls.

"We don't know anything, baby," she whispered, doing her damndest to keep her voice even. "All we can do is wait and pray…"

I opened my eyes abruptly, returning to the calming beach of Forget-Me-Not Valley. The harvest moon shone down brightly over us. Kai's gaze was intently on me, clinging to every word I spoke. I wrapped my arms around my knees and shook my head. "The call came to Grandma Williams just a little after four that morning. That Mr. and Mrs. Williams had indeed checked in for that flight and were confirmed passengers. Though… they hadn't found their bodies yet."

"Good gods…" Kai's voice was soft, almost carried away by the rolling waves.

"It was like losing my own parents," I said, slowly turning my head to look at him. "It changed my entire life. It changed me and Gray completely."

Kai tugged at his hat, shaking his head. "How could I never know?" He furrowed his brow and watched the rolling waves for a moment. He licked his lips, his eyes quickly meeting mine again. "You're brave, Claire."

"Not really," my fingers curled around my knees.

"And yet you're still standing," Kai replied. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to my sisters or my parents. It's a question I never want to answer…" He pulled his hand from the sand, his warm fingers tenderly touching my arm. "But you're still here, Claire. Everything is alright."

I looked at the way his fingers curled around me. The salty air rushed by, brushing my bangs crooked across my forehead. Our eyes met and we were only quiet, letting the past simply sink in between us. It was almost surreal to me. I'd never spoken the words out loud and in order. Maybe I had always been scared to, but there was something comforting and reassuring in Kai's presence.

In the next beat, he leaned forward, and, tenderly, his warm lips met mine. It caught me by surprise as his hand, gritty with sand, came to gently cup my cheek. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, but it didn't feel forced in the least. I simply allowed him to kiss me, my eyes sliding shut. I didn't have much experience kissing anyone. My first kiss had been at an eighth grade dance and braces had been involved, so it certainly wasn't a fond memory. But this kiss felt different. It felt promising, even.

Our lips finally parted and his dark eyes darted between mine. "I'm sorry," he whispered huskily. "It just felt right."

"It's fine," my voice was also quiet as I lowered my chin, my forehead bumping against his. "Thank you, Kai."

His hand reached into my hair, drawing it back from the side of my face. "I just want you to be happy…" He nudged gently against my forehead and, together, we basked beneath the light of the harvest moon.