"Are you happy with Daric?"
Cherish nearly choked on her pancakes.
"You've changed since you met him. I can see some of the joy I used to see in your father when you come home from a date."
All Cherish could do was stare at her GG. Over the last 2 months Wind had become more and more distant and distracted and Cherish didn't think it was because of Fatima. She'd started reading the newspaper the second the paper boy brought it to the door where as before it usually got recycled without even being opened. She'd cut back on her hours with clients and was on the phone more. She had also stopped discouraging her from being with Daric.
"Well....yeah. He makes me happy. We have a lot in common and I-"
"You realize he's mortal right? That he doesn't have much time left? I worry for you."
Again, she was speechless. She knew Daric was old and for a human that meant death was coming closer and closer. But she had never really though about that. She saw the young man in his heart when she looked at him. He may be old on the outside but he was youthful and lively inside.
"You've lost so many people." Wind continued. "I know we're no longer in Hidden Springs, but what about an arraignment with a fairy man? You could be together for centuries. Have lots of children...."
She trailed off, eyes out of focus. What was going on with her?
"I love Daric, GG. I know he won't live long like we do, but that's not going to stop us from being together. I want to enjoy every second I can with him. Human medicine has come a long way. He could have many years still. Besides, do we even know any other fairies?"
"Hmmm? Oh. I don't know. Maybe. If they're lucky."
GG was not making any sense. Cherish sat there staring at her until she suddenly drifted aimlessly from the room.
She grabbed her phone and texted Fatima. Her bFF had just finished her exams and was waiting on grades. After that it was off to some exciting place to start her 15 minutes of fame. Cherish wasn't expecting a response, at least not any time soon. The popular were always hard to get a hold of and slow to get back to you.
Cherish spent her morning working her plants as usual and contemplated Wind's odd behavior. Her comments hadn't made any sense and pointing out Daric's age, what was the point of that? Was it one last attempt at breaking them up? Cherish was aware of her reality. She had been to too many funerals to NOT be aware of such things. She had spent the majority of her life trying to avoid any kind of heart ache. It's a very lonely way to live for sure. But then Daric came and it didn't matter. Even if he was dead by the end of the week it was all worth it.
She stood with pruning shears in one hand staring off into the distance just as Wind had done earlier.
Her phone vibrated, shocking her back into the here and now.
"Daric! I was just thinking about you!"
"Good things I hope! I'm calling to see if you want to get together tonight instead of tomorrow? I was just given 2 free tickets to the ren fair at the Duke's!"
After making plans to meet there, Cherished finished her gardening and went upstairs to clean up for her date.
As always, they embraced as soon as they met up. They walked hand in hand through the fair. Watching archery demonstrations and dropping money into the violinist's case. It was a perfect late spring evening and as the crickets began to sing Daric pulled her over to a quite corner and looked deep into her eyes.
"I want to talk to you about my house."
All the warmth she felt inside faded. He wants to talk real estate now? Did he decide he didn't want to sell anymore? Did he decide to sell her his house finally? Did that mean he was moving away? Was he about to break up with her?? She felt a bubble of panic begin to rise. Daric was oblivious the the sudden fluctuation in Cherish's emotions. He brushed a stray hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.
"Instead of selling you my house, I'd like to share it with you."
It seemed to Cherish that his words no longer made sense. Share the house? How to you share a house? Was he going to sell half of it to her? They'd take turns harvesting potatoes? What was....
"You want me to move in with you??!"
Cherish grabbed him and kissed him hard in her excitement. She had been thinking along similar lines just earlier that day.
"I take that as a yes?" Daric said a little breathlessly when she released him.
"I can move in tonight!"
Oh gosh! Wind is still preoccupied. And mentioning an arrangement with a fairy?? Oh, something is definitely up!
ReplyDeleteAwww, so things are moving along nicely with Daric. :) It's great that she's found love and is happy. I worry for her because of the heartache when he does go. It's good to cherish every moment you can because you never know when the end will come. Hoping they have some great quality time together.
Yes, they are such a cute couple. I had been worried Cherish would never find someone! They deserve all they time they can get to be together.
DeleteWind has a lot on her mind but is still trying to watch out for her girls.
For a minute Wind had me confused with the talk of an arrangement for Cherish to meet a fairy and I still think that is mostly because she doesn't want to see Cherish have to deal with another death. With a fairy she would have many years of happiness, but with Daric she would face another devastating loss. Wind must really be worried for her to talk arranged marriage because she has never agreed with that in the past.
ReplyDeleteDaric inviting Cherish to move in also has me worried for another reason. I'm wondering if the end is near and he wants her to inherit the house. As long as they enjoy the time together and Cherish has her eyes opened to the inevitable she should go for it.
Exactly! She's not trying to re institute old traditions but after all the visits from Death they have had, Marrying someone close to your own life expectancy would be appealing to Wind.
DeleteCherish and Daric are smitten with each other and it is well passed time she should hve moved out from under Wind's long shadow, I love Wind, but cherish needs her own life.
wow!!! Moving in with Daric that's a huge step, but she's so excited. How sweet. I liked her view on him, he may be an elder, but to her he was young at heart and that's all she saw. Glad Wind finally expressed her concerns even if she is distracted.
ReplyDeleteCherish lives in her own world and I feel she still missed the point Wind was trying to make. Cherish has lost a lot and that has effected her and who she's turned out to be. Wind doesn't want to see her go through any more loss. The fact she brought up a fairy arrangement was a shocker though! Wind hated those politics in Hidden Springs so something must really be up for he to bring that fact in.
There's still that warning or message Cherish got a few chapters back. So much going on, can't wait to see how it all comes together.
Wind is finally coming around to accepting the girls' choices thankfully. And it's good for Cherish to move in with Daric. She needs her own life and Wind is going to be very busy with other things soon enough.
DeleteCherish still has a lot of naivety about her but deserves her happiness with Daric, even if it is short lived. Wind sees how Cherish is because of all her past losses and wants her to have years and years with someone. Not just a short blip on the time line of things. But the heart wants what it wants
Wind sure does have a lot on her mind :/ It can't be easy to try and do what's best for everyone when you've had the experiences they've had! And it sure seems to be gnawing away at her :/
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy for Cherish, though!! Also a little worried. Wind is right, of course, Daric won't be around much longer. Cherish things she's come to terms with it already and can accept it but I honestly don't know. I think it'll hit her harder than she's aware of :/
(blogger derped, so sorry for the double comment!)
Yes. It's a lot easier for Wind to see the larger picture. But cherish is in love and that tends to skew a persons perceptions.
DeleteThey are very happy and hopefully he's not so old that it will be super short lived! I am hoping they will have enough time together that she'll be able to find peace when he does go. But we'll have to see what SP has planned >_<
WOW! Cherish! Hold the horses! I'm sure it's a move to continue the story as Daric doesn't have the most time left but it sure seems sudden none the less! "They'd take turns harvesting potatoes? " had me laughing.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the super late reply. I guess I missed a bunch of messages.
DeleteHaha, Yeah, her excitement got the best of her. She is SO naive but so ready to grow and become more than she is.
(and Yes, I need to make use of Daric before it's too late!)
Aw, that's so cute. I wonder what's up with Wind and I can't wait to see Fatima's challenge.
ReplyDeleteThey are sweet together aren't they?
DeleteWind is very stressed out and given her past, she just does not want to deal with more problems!
Aw, that's so cute. I wonder what's up with Wind and I can't wait to see Fatima's challenge.
ReplyDeleteI think also that there is for sure something going on... weird the way Wind is acting.
ReplyDeleteWow it's took a long time for Daric to decide what the do with the house, but at least it's a good decision. I think they have all what takes to live happily for the years he still has.
Oh yes, trouble is brewing.
DeleteDaric is so in love with her and has all the patience in the world to go at her, inexperienced pace. Plus that house is just perfect for her!
(honestly the only reason I have waited so long to move her out was because I am afraid of what SP is going to do to Wind!)