Chapter 4.7 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 4.9

Generation Four: Orange

Appearance: Orange hair, Island clothing style
Traits: Foodie, Good, Active
Aspiration: Friend of the World
Occupation: Lifeguard
House Goal: 40,000 worth

A Place for Winterfest

It only took a couple of days, and our new house.. actually looked like a house. ...At least on the outside. And Julius had really outdone himself. It was easily the prettiest home in Sulani. Maybe I would start a new tradition of our family actually using an architect to design their home, instead of just placing boxes as they had enough money and hoping the house would look okay.

As I mentioned, however, the inside was still very much drywall and the lovely hardwood we had picked out for the flooring. The first thing either of us did in our new house - was use an actual bathroom. I made sure we had at least one working full bathroom in the house at the beginning - but more were definitely planned.

My other priority had, obviously, been the kitchen. Both Greta and I were tired of wasting our money on the food stall down the beach, although they would probably dearly miss our business. There was clearly more work to be done in the kitchen, but the basics were there. Personally, I was more excited about the kitchen than the bathroom... but I knew Greta had missed the niceties of a civilized bathroom the most. With the outlay of funds for the house, the money left over for furnishings was preciously low, but we had managed to get the necessary things to allow us to stay in our new home.

A dining table had been out of our price range, but a few bar stools at the counter - that we managed... and our very first lunch in the house was a lovely BLT with crispy bacon, fresh crunchy lettuce, and a ripe tomato from the local farmer's market. By the end of our late lunch, Greta admitted that the kitchen, indeed, had been better than the bathroom.

As the end of the meal approached, my nerves really started getting to me. The other purchase we had made on the furniture front had been a bed for our master bedroom... and since we'd never really had our wedding night, I was, understandably (I think) -- very nervous. Greta and I got ready for bed, and then just sat there for an hour, talking and flirting. By the time the moment came, I was ready for it... and I was immensely grateful to Greta for giving me the time to let my nerves settle.

By the next morning, the bloom and blush of our first house had given way, and I really really felt the loss of Magnus. Losing a friend so young really made me think - hard - about the realities of the legacy I was a part of. I knew I was going to need to figure out how to tell Mom the truth. ... Soon. Dejected and feeling very alone, I found my clothes near the bed, and went to look for Greta, who had already vacated the bed earlier.

With surprise, I walked out to find her decorating a tree while a painting crew was working furiously on the walls of our home. I had completely forgotten it was Winterfest. I stood there for a long moment, just gawking at her, before she noticed that I had woken up, and motioned me over.

"Love, I know you miss home. I am too. But I thought it was important to start our own traditions... so I painted most the night after you fell asleep in order to afford some decorations and this lovely tree."

I could hear the exhaustion in her voice, and I thought about admonishing her for spending all night on such a lovely surprise, but thought better of it, and just gathered her in my arms. "I wish I could express how glad I am to have found you, Greta. I ... I don't know where I would be without you."

"Charlie!" she scolded, "You are stronger than you think. You would be JUST FINE without me... but I am sure you are only better since you have me."

I leaned back a moment, looking at her face, and we both broke into laughter. "Oh, okay, Ms. Superstar... I know, you make everyone around you better!"

Greta giggled, and we both turned back to the tree. There were decorations to finish, and the official tree lighting to do. It wasn't until later, after Father Winter arrived - that I noticed the tree was not the only thing she had saved for last night. We now had a dining room!!

Greta and I both talked a gift out of him, and he congratulated us on our new home... before poofing away via the mailbox - since we didn't have a fireplace.

After he left, I made us our first Grand Meal in our new house, and giggled as I served it. We had a bathroom, a kitchen.. a bed, a tree, a dining room... and my wife had, for some reason, decided the next purchase HAD to be a lovely bowl of island fruit for a centerpiece.

After we ate, Greta took my hand and dragged me away from cleaning up the table and the dinner dishes... and pointed under the tree.

"Wait, WHAT?" I squealed, "How did you.. When did you..? .. Where are all these gifts from??"

Greta grinned, and picked out one for me to open. "I know you miss your family, so I wanted to make sure you had a good Winterfest with just me. Oh, and there are a couple boxes that were left on the porch last night. I think your family may have snuck over in the middle of the night and left them."

"Hold that thought." I replied, pushing the gift back at her, and ran for the bedroom. Pulling the single gift I had managed to get for her out from under the bed, I raced back to give it to her. "I have to say, it's not very extravagant... but I did get you something."

"You did?" She replied, surprised, and clearly taken aback.

She opened it to find a whole collection of flower seeds and starters.

I then pointed to the front porch. "I also got you some of those new-fangled Vertical Planters for our front porch."

Agape, Greta ran outside, and I heard the squeal of joy. In fact, people at the restaurant probably heard it. She ran back in and hugged me.... and the night very much had to adjourn to the bedroom for a while. The rest of the presents could wait.

By the next evening, the planters were full, and Greta was taking selfies with her plants. I figured the present had been a success... and turned back to my painting. Luckily I could now paint at home, instead of trekking to the local easels on the piers. I couldn't wait, however, to be done with the marathon painting, and able to relax knowing that I had paid all my debts off.

Granted, it was going to take a while... but I would get there. That, I promise.

However, first, I felt I needed to address the fact that my Mother still didn't know I was married.. and to whom. It had finally occurred to me who I could ask for advice about it. And it wasn't the dolphins. Not that they hadn't been helpful, but sometimes.. you need the human.. er.. mermaid.. perspective. And -- since the restaurant was right there, I had the perfect place to meet her for a chat on a neutral ground. I had called her earlier, and I was to meet her for dinner tomorrow. It took ages to fall asleep, with worries dancing around my head, and my lovely wife snoring peacefully beside me. Tomorrow might be one of the biggest days of my entire life.

Chapter 4.7 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 4.9