Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Restoring Faith	By : Lady_Kae Category: +G through L > Harvest Moon Views: 2537 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters used from the game Harvest Moon: ToT. All characters ,game related material, and lyrics, save for original content is property of their respective owners and no money is being made from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
A/N: Dear sweet love of dhov...I've fallen behind on writing, and I totally blame my husband. He got me Stardew Valley and I think I spent nearly three days straight on the game before encountering a freaking glitch that made me start the game over again. Needless to say, I got pissed off and that sparked my muse, go figure. I hope you all enjoy the newest chapter! Please be sure to let me know what you all think where it be a comment or critque!
~Kae

Chapter 6: Moving Forward
Restoring Faith
A Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility Fanfiction

Kohri led the way into her home with Gill not too far behind her. He had been silent, though not sullen, since they had left the porch area in Brownie Ranch. No, his silence had been more contemplative that silent. She could only begin to imagine what about. She pulled her fishing rod out from the storage closet in the hallway and Kohri cast a glance over to Gill. “ Did you want to come along?” she asked him.
Gill smiled as he stepped back outside. “ I was already intending that when you mentioned dinner.” he replied with a small chortle, revealing that he too had brought a fishing pole. “ Any recommendations for a good spot?”
Kohri nodded as she joined him outside and she gave his wrist a gentle tug so that he would follow. “ There’s this wonderful spot near the archway leading to Mt. Gelato. C’mon!”
The spot Kohri led him to was fairly isolated and it was peacefully quiet. Gill nodded in approval and the two quickly cast their lines out into the open ocean. He sighed, but it was one of release, for he no longer felt a burden on his chest or shoulders.
“ I had this spot in mind because Luke or Owen haven’t found me over here yet. I guess they’re too impatient to check every fishing spot.” Kohri said with a smirk, though it disappeared as she looked out over the sea. “ So what was this tale you had to tell me?”
Gill sighed as he gave his reel a few clicks inward, and he settled his elbows on his knees. “ I was engaged to be married five years ago to a wonderful young woman by the name of Angela Rosarian…” he began. Slowly, Gill began talking about her in earnest, not at all feeling any pressure to do so.
Kohri smiled as Gill opened up about his lost love, and she kept silent for a time. She couldn’t help but admire the figure he cut in the outfit he had donned today. Gill was dressed in a pair of khaki slacks with a white button up shirt, and his normal everyday shoes. A belt cinched teasingly at his waist, reminding Kohri of the beautifully sculpted torso and abdomen hidden beneath it. The shirt itself was long sleeved, but Gill had thought ahead and had rolled the sleeves up to just over his elbow, again concealing the lithe tone he had to the muscles there. Gone was his tie and sweater, and the top three buttons were undone from the collar. Kohri had to give Angie credit, she definitely had sterling taste in men. She pulled her line back in, only to get a good cast out and she quietly cheered herself for such an awesome throw. “ What happened?” she asked, keeping it open ended on purpose. She didn’t want to come right out and ask him how she died, but the way she had inquired gave him a choice to not answer if he so chose. He had opened up quite a bit about her as it was.
“ We fought about something stupid...I wanted to invite her parents in from the mainland for the wedding, and she staunchly refused. I should have respected her wishes...I didn’t know it at the time, but they had disowned her and wanted nothing to do with her. That same night, a hellish storm broke out, an unexpected typhoon came out of nowhere...Cain begged Angie for her help in corralling the cattle as they had panicked and were on the verge of stampeding…It took Cain, Hannah, Renee, Kathy, and Angie to do it, but they got all of them into the barn.” Gill recast quietly and he shook his head in regret. “ Angie and Kathy were on their way back home when they found Craig, Ruth and Anissa looking desperately for Taylor. Kathy and Angie went back to Brownie Ranch while the rest of us searched the rest of the island for him. They found him on the stairwell that led to the northern beach, clinging to one of the posts for dear life so that he wouldn’t get knocked down as he tried to make it back up. Angie was the lighter of the two, and the stairwell was already threatening to cave because of the storm. She told Kathy she’d get Taylor, as Kathy had hurt her leg when a steer had rammed into Taloolah while they were herding the cattle back to the barn. They were almost to the top when lightning struck. Angie did the only thing she knew she could and she tossed Taylor up to Kathy just as the wood beneath her gave way. She plummeted over three hundred feet into the roaring waters below. We found her a day later…To this day, both Kathy and Taylor blame themselves for what happened.” Gill reeled in his line again and he recast to a different spot with a melancholy grin on his face. “ Angie died a hero, and I can ask for no better reason than that.”
Kohri kept silent for a few minutes. What could you say to something like that?! Gill had found and lost the woman he had wanted to spend his life with.
Who knows how many will be added in the long run. I do know that mine won’t be on there any time soon...
Those words haunted her and made her heart hurt for him. Silently, Kohri leaned her head against his shoulder, desperately thinking of some way to show both sympathy and support. “ I know this seems cliche, but I’m sorry you lost her. She sounds like she was a wonderful person.” she whispered.
Gill’s arm came to rest over her shoulder as he gave Kohri a quick, thankful squeeze. “ She was, in a simple and endearing way. I appreciate the sentiment. Owen may be the only other person besides us that knows Angie and I fought just before she died, but you’re the only one I’ve confided in what that fight was about.”
Kohri nodded with a wry grin. “ You know I won’t go blabbing about it Gill. You did the same for me after all. Besides, I cherish you too much as a friend to even risk your friendship like that.” she told him.
Gill wasn’t sure how he felt about the way she had worded that. He was only a friend to her, and nothing more? He wasn’t sure why he felt such a sharp pang of disappointment at that, but he pushed it to the side.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Kohri’s rod suddenly lurched forward and she screamed in surprise though she caught it before it went skidding into water. She tugged back as hard as she could, though Gill could see the obvious strain it put on her. Gill launched up to his feet, his pole forgotten, and he got behind Kohri with his hands over hers on the pole. “ Reel in and pull back on the count of three!” he ordered, his gaze narrowed at the challenge.
“ Got it!” Kohri replied as she moved back a few steps with him.
“ One! Two! Three!” Gill called out, and he helped Kohri pull the fishing rod back as she reeled it in as fast as she could. “ Okay, ease up! Slowly reel it a little, try not to give it any slack...On the count of three again…”
Kohri growled as she hauled the pole up and her muscles burned in protest at how fast she was spinning the reel. A flash of deep blue caught her watchful gaze and she smiled broadly. “ Oh we’re in for good eats tonight!” she crowed happily. “ That’s a tuna!”
Gill swore a little under his breath at the amount of fight the fish was putting up. “ Grilled tuna steaks?” he grunted.
“ With rosemary and sage potatoes and some broccoli?”
Gill made a face. “ Any other vegetable but broccoli...I can’t stand it.” he admitted in a groan as they tried hauling the tuna closer to them.
“ OKAY! Spinach it is!” Kohri replied, though it turned into a hair raising yell as both of them leaned back. The tuna leapt from the water and Kohri and Gill gave the pole one final heavy tug, crashing down to the sand in the exertion.
Gill panted a little as he looked down at Kohri and without warning he busted out into a full on belly laugh. “ You have a bad habit of falling on me.” he guffawed, easing Kohri back up into a sitting position.
Kohri gave Gill a cheeky grin in turn. “ Quit making it easy to do so.” she retorted. She stood on shaky legs after a moment and Kohri walked over to where they had landed their tuna. A low whistle escaped her lips as she got a better gander and Kohri smiled broadly. “ Gill, it’s a yellowfin! Not only are we eating good tonight, but we’re gonna have a lot left over!”
Gill felt an odd sensation flow over him the more Kohri kept referring to them both when speaking of the tuna. They were going to have a lot left over? Why acknowledge him as if he would be a surefire fixture at her home? Sure, Gill had helped her catch it after all, but…
I love you, Gill…
That dream from last night chose the most inopportune moment to plague Gill and he willed himself to calm his suddenly racing heart. There was no use in dwelling on that dream after all. He doubted it would ever happen. “ I’ll be more than happy to take some of that home once we get it broken down.” he replied with a grin.
“ Do you think Toby, Pascal, and Ozzy would enjoy some of this?” Kohri was already searching for a large sturdy branch to string the tuna up on and she crowed when she found one.
Gill pulled away enough of the line and he carefully cut it and then another piece, all the while giving Kohri a look that spoke volumes. It was a slight smirk, but Kohri barked out a laugh at the silent question.
“ You’re right, you’re right…” she admitted as she helped to secure the line against the branch. “ Let’s get this back to my place. I’m looking forward to cooking this baby up!”

Owen and Luke were waiting at Kohri’s front door when the two came up the incline and Luke smiled broadly at their catch. He whistled low and he looked at Gill with a proud gleam in his eyes. Maybe the deputy mayor was made of sterner stuff than he had thought. “ Hot damn, Gill! I was sure Toby was the only one on the island who could land a fish that big!” he crowed out.
Gill’s brow arched curiously at the assumption and he shook his head with a small chuckle. “ Kohri was the one who made the catch.” he countered mirthfully as Owen opened the door for them.
“ Hey now! Don’t discount the role you played in this Gill. I may have hooked it, but it was your instructions and help that aided me in landing this beast.” Kohri added as she looked over her shoulder sternly. “ Seeing as how you two are here, why don’t you guys join us for supper?”
Both Owen and Luke went stock still at the invitation. Neither man wanted to be on the sidelines of witnessing another debate between the two.
Gill chuckled richly as he helped Kohri settle the massive tuna onto the counter. “ I think we scarred them after our last debate Kohri.” he quipped mirthfully as he reached into a drawer to grab the descaler. His brow furrowed after a moment at realizing just how familiar he was with Kohri’s kitchen to know where everything was.
Had Gill honestly spent that much time over here?
“ Dude...I do not need to go to bed tonight with my head spinnin’ from an overload of information that I can’t use!” Luke whined, his tone apprehensive as he looked between the two academics in the room.
Owen chortled. “ If I can be honest, you’re absolutely right Gill. You two are scary to watch when you debate, especially because neither of you back down.” Owen added, his tone sheepish and he rubbed the back of his neck to try to abate how awkward he felt from the admission.
Gill and Kohri both laughed loudly and Gill set to scaling the fish while Kohri prepped the sides. “ I think both of us can agree to not debating if you stay. To make it easier, why don’t you tell Kohri about the prank war you and Angie got into, Owen?” he inquired, his tone mellow and sure.
Both Owen and Luke looked at the other man in disbelief. Gill had mentioned Angie outright? Not only that, he wanted to talk about her? Who was the young man before them as opposed to the heartbroken one they had known for the last five years?
“ Are you sure?” Owen asked tentatively, his coal gaze a bit nervous.
Gill smiled as he looked over to him and he rinsed the scaler in the sink before continuing his task. “ Absolutely. That was the funniest thing to happen here in recent memory…” he began, shooting a covert sly grin over to Kohri as she sighed in relief. It had been obvious she was certain Gill was going to dredge up yesterday’s events. Well, who was Gill to disappoint? “...Up until yesterday that is.”
All three men busted out laughing at that, and the tension that had started building in the room was obliterated because of it. It was hard to be nervous about one thing with a mood like this one. One thing was definitely for certain however...
Kohri was never going to live that down.
Luke and Owen wound up joining the two for supper, though it was an easy answer for Luke once he found out Kohri was sauteing spinach to go along with the tuna that was being served. Laughter was a constant as Luke and Gill regaled Kohri with tales from the two of them growing up together on the island and Owen did tell her of the epic pranks he and Angie had pulled on one another for the better part of a year.
Kohri’s chair teetered precariously as she held her aching sides. She had been laughing so much and so hard tonight that she was practically drunk on the mirth. “ She put squid ink in your shampoo?! And you didn’t…” she gasped between guffaws. Her chair nearly went backwards again and Gill righted it before she toppled over.
Gill was laughing as well. To his credit, he had tried to stay out of the pranks that Owen and Angie had done, but incidentally, he took partial credit for that one. He was the one who had helped Angie come up with the plan for that brilliant prank. He noted once more that he didn’t feel the biting guilt that he used to at the thought of her, at least tonight that was. This felt good, freeing really, to talk about how wonderful and lively Angie had been before her untimely death. It was cathartic in a way, especially because Luke and Owen had been friends of hers as well.
Now that I think on it, this is the first time in years since anyone on the island, including father, has openly spoken about her around me... Gill realized. He couldn’t blame anyone for not wanting to mention her when he had been in earshot. They hadn’t wanted to hurt him after all.
Still, this felt good. They were honoring her memory in a way that she would have definitely approved of. Hopefully, everyone would start talking about her again even if Gill found himself nearby. It didn’t feel right that they had all neglected her memory the way that they had, Gill himself included.
It was time to start living by Angie’s example to live like every moment would be the last.

Luke was in a bit of a stupor as he and Owen began making their way back over to the mining district after parting ways with Gill just outside of Kohri’s home. His golden brown eyes were soft in remembrance but his mouth was caught in a disbelieving grin. “ I can’t believe he actually talked about her...After all this time.” he whispered.
Owen shook his head a little and he came to a pause near Ben’s tree. “ I think Kohri has a lot to do with that. She’s been going through the grieving process too. Maybe Gill was in need of someone feeling that same sense of loss.” he offered up.
Luke shrugged softly. “ I don’t think I’ve seen him that happy, and I mean genuinely happy, since before he proposed to Angela…” he murmured thoughtfully. His brow rose as a curious grin split his face. “ You don’t think…”
Owen laughed a little. “ Even if Gill were to show interest in her, Kohri wants nothing to do with romance right now. She told me so herself, so trying to play Cupid won’t work Luke. I won’t lie though, I’ve had that same suspicion for the last couple weeks myself. Given how smart both of them are? They could probably just spend the rest of their days debating if given a chance.” the russet haired man replied, his voice chock full of amusement. “ I tried to prod it a little in Kohri’s early days here and she shut me down in an instant. She’s scared to get too close to anyone, especially after what she told us about.” Owen’s brow furrowed as he thought of what Kohri had told them that night. She had nearly been raped and her parents murdered before her eyes. It hurt his heart to know that his friend had been through something that traumatic. It cut him deep if Owen were honest with himself. He could still vividly recall seeing latent fear in her eyes when Kohri had told them of how Wren had destroyed her life.
Now she was rebuilding, and the foundations that she had laid strong. Kohri Phelps was not a woman prone to complacency. It would take time, but she would rise above everything that had happened to her. Not only that, she had a new family who would be there to support her every step of the way.

Hamilton looked up from his book as his son walked through the front door. “ Another debate tonight Gill?” he chortled mirthfully.
Gill shook his head a little as he took a seat opposite from his father. “ Actually, Kohri and I scattered some of her parents ashes, along with some of mother’s and Angie’s on the wind today. Afterwards, we had dinner with Owen and Luke.” Gill replied as he clasped his hands between his knees with his elbows resting against his thighs.
Hamilton closed his book and he set it on the coffee table. “ If I didn’t know any better, Gill, I’d swear that you’ve grown rather fond of Kohri since her arrival.” Hamilton prodded slyly.
Gill smiled a little at that thought. “ She’s become a very dear friend over the last few months, father. She’s been helping me release my own grief despite the fact that she’s coping with her parents sudden deaths as well. I don’t think I could have ever done it without her to be honest.” he responded softly. Gill got to his feet, stretching his arms above his head a little with a small grunt. What he needed was a long, hot bath and his bed. As much as he had tried to push past it, Gill was sore as hell from helping Kohri wrangle in that monster tuna earlier. “ I’m going upstairs father. If I don’t see you before you retire, goodnight.”
“ Good night Gill. I’ll see you in the morning.” the mayor replied in a slightly sing song voice. Hamilton picked up his book once more, silently elated with what his son had just told him. Hopefully there could be a chance for lightning to strike twice for his son.

Kohri sighed heavily as she lay in bed that night. It was only nine in the evening, but she felt positively drained from the day. The worst was the ache in her chest, right above her heart. She curled up tightly against the mattress as hot tears stung her eyes. He’s already found and lost the love of his life...Just for that alone I don’t stand a chance. Not that it matters anyways...Kohri thought despondently, all the while choking down sobs. She didn’t want to let them out at all. “ I don’t want that anyways…” she whimpered, giving that lie a voice as if hearing it would make it any more believable. Her eyes were clenched shut in an effort to stem her tears but they persisted stubbornly, wetting both her cheeks and the pillow. “ I don’t want anything to do with love!” Kohri wailed, though the image of Gill when he had nearly kissed her swam through her mind’s eye once more. His eyes had been closed, his lips barely parted. Gill had not only looked at utter ease right then, but handsome beyond belief. The fact that Kohri herself had been a partial cause to reducing that brilliant mind to the state he had been in that night was not only empowering, but exceedingly flattering…
No! Kohri couldn’t keep on that train of thought! It would lead to nothing but further heartache than what she was feeling now. Kohri gnashed her teeth slightly as she tried to expel the burgeoning, maudlin rapport. “ Love is what got my parents killed for fucks sake!”
With those words, she broke down. Just as Gill had been feeling guilty about the fight he and Angela had gotten into since her death, Kohri felt guilty that her parents had died to save her.If they hadn’t loved her so much, they would still be here, at least that was what Kohri honestly felt.
Worst yet, that was the hardest pill for her to swallow.

The sound of a quill scratching against parchment was the only sound in the room. Unbeknownst to Kohri, she wasn’t the only one having conflicted feelings. Gill was writing furiously, as he was writing as much of the dream that he could recall from last night down to be able to reflect on later. His brow seemed to be stuck in a permanent furrow as he read everything over repeatedly. Gill wasn’t one prone to erotic vagary like that, but what bothered him the most was that it was centered solely on Kohri.
Not his Angie…
The quill began scratching again as he detailed how he had felt during the time when they had been scattering the ashes, and then when he had finally told Kohri about Angie. Gill paused as he thought a little and he began penning his thoughts rapidly, expounding on how light his chest was for the first time in years now that he had opened up about the woman he had loved and lost. Kohri had been a very much needed friend and confidant who has slowly been bringing my dull, bland existence back into the light. And I’ll be forever in her debt once I take the first steps in the light, hopefully with her beside me as she has been every step of the way…
Reading that over, Gill froze in his seat. Where had such a lovesick notion come from?! Gill didn’t want to risk his heart like that again. He wasn’t sure he could handle that level of devastation and live. Besides, Kohri had told him that it was strictly platonic between them and Gill took Kohri for her word on that. He penned that down and Gill sighed heavily, though it turned into a long yawn that made his eyes droop in exhaustion.
Thank the goddess tomorrow was Sunday.
Gill closed his diary and he crossed over to his bed. Kohri’s visage, alight with joy and mirth from earlier tonight, came to the forefront of his thoughts. A small smile worked at the corners of his mouth as his eyes closed tiredly and Gill sighed heavily as he slipped off to the land of Nod with the island’s new rancher seated at the forefront of his thoughts.

Kohri looked around desperately, though she quickly realized where she was again. She was back on the dream plain where that woman kept appearing to her. Sure enough, the fair creature appeared before her once more.
“ Please! Help me! Find the sprites!” came the woman’s voice for the first time ever since she had started appearing in Kohri’s dreams months ago.
“ How? Where are they?” Kohri replied quickly, running towards the woman as if it would allow her to hear her better. She was already fading away, much faster than the other times. Was she in danger wherever she was?
The woman’s mouth moved quickly, but no sound followed and her head hung with tears as she faded from Kohri’s sight. Kohri skidded to a stop as the woman faded fully and she clenched her fist tightly. No one deserved that level of loneliness or despair. It didn’t matter to Kohri what means it would take to free that poor creature, but those days were numbered.
Kohri was going to make sure of it.

Spring faded into summer, and as Gill had predicted, Kohri had been asked to help Craig supply the produce that the Ocean Festival was going to require. Every afternoon however, Kohri seemed to be a constant fix in the library when Gill was working.It puzzled him beyond all belief, as Kohri had a rather sizable book collection of her own. What would she need to find that she didn’t have in her little library? Kohri seemed to brush him off as well when it came to offering to help her, though Gill just let it roll. It could have easily been something for school and she didn’t want to detract him from his work.
Well, if anything, Gill was sure that she’d come to him for help later if she truly needed it.

Kohri took in a deep breath as she sat seaside with Owen and Luke. She was taking a much needed mental day to herself, though not through any choice of her own. Her two friends had seen how thin Kohri was wearing herself lately and the two had told her that in no uncertain terms was she to pick up a book or any of her farming tools today.
“ You’re taking a day off Kohri, and that’s that. Luke and I will take care of your plants and you, missy, are going up to the hot springs for a nice long soak. I’m hiding all your tools for that matter, even your fishing rod, because you need a personal day with nothing to stress you out. Spend it sleeping for all I care.” Owen had decreed earlier that morning.
As much as she had disagreed with that declaration, Kohri was thankful to both men for forcing her to take the day off. She hadn’t realized how stressed she had been until she took her dip in the hot springs near the Caramel River and then had slept like a rock for an additional five hours on top of the seven that she had gotten the night before. To top the night off, Luke and Owen had treated her to dinner and a few drinks at the inn and now they were just enjoying each other’s company seaside.
At least until Kohri was ready to walk home at least.
“ Kohri, I know you’re runnin’ that ranch by yourself, but you still need to time for downtime. There’s more to life than always working.” Luke told her softly. He was scared she would wind up like Gill. Luke couldn’t remember the last time the deputy mayor had taken a vacation in all honesty.
“ I know guys. I’m sorry if I worried you. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and I’m kinda stuck on something too. Worse yet, I don’t have anything in my personal library about it, hence why I’ve been spending so much time at the Town Hall lately.” she replied as she looked up at the stars. It was such a beautiful night, she contemplated with a soft sigh...
If Gill had been there with her, they would have already been talking about the constellations or where certain planets were, all the while with both of them seated as close as possible so that they could point something out. Kohri was fairly sure that she could see Mars from where she was seated without the need for a telescope and she rubbed the chill out of her arms. Hell, if Gill were here with her, Kohri wouldn’t be as cold as she was. His proximity alone would have abolished any chill she felt.
Kohri was thankful it was dark as she blushed intensely, all the while sitting upright. She hadn’t had that much to drink! Only two of Hayden’s strawberry cocktails and even then she knew she was mostly sober! Damn it, was she honestly and truly that stuck on Gill, pining for his company the way she was right now? Kohri covered her eyes as she fell back against the sand.
Fuck…

The Ocean Festival came quickly enough and Kohri smiled as she hauled a cart full of corn up the the stall Pascal was running. “ Here’s the last load from my farm, Cap.” Kohri had been growing ears of corn nonstop for the last seven weeks and it looked as if it had finally paid off.
Pascal gave Kohri a small grin. “ Much obliged, Ms. Phelps. Craig should be by soon as well. I think he had four carts to bring, considering the amount of tourists we’ve had in the last few years for this festival.”
Kohri nodded and she began stepping quickly for the Maple Lake District. “ I’ll go see what I can do to help him then. Let me know if you need anything when I get back, okay?”
Pascal waved her off and he smiled when Kohri disappeared from sight. Ever since that young woman’s arrival back in March, things had taken a sudden, but brighter turn for the island. Commerce had all but doubled thanks to her crop, and not one of the festivals had fallen behind on anything. In fact, thanks to Kohri’s help, Gill had been able to keep everything under budget and was able to extend the fireworks show tonight because of it.
In fact, thinking of the deputy mayor…It was a case of summoned by the very thought it seemed.
“ Good morning, Gill.” Pascal said with a small, polite bow.
“ Good morning, Captain. Is everything well this morning?” Gill inquired.
“ Kohri has already delivered all the corn she grew, along with the other vegetables that you requested, and she just left to go help Craig deliver his as well.” the seafarer replied with a small smile. “ I think this is a record in recent years with how well the festivals have been going.” Pascal lit his grill to get the coals warm and he wiped the sweat from his brow after a moment.
Gill smiled as well, though he could already see where this conversation was going. “ She’s been a godsend, as Ruth put it back in May. It’s as if she’s picking up the slack where we need it the most.” he replied. “ First the Flower Festival goes off without a hitch. Then, with barely a week before the Animal Festival, Kohri offers to run the booth Phoebe normally would before she left for school? Now a surplus of our best selling wares for the Ocean Festival? I’m afraid our luck is going to run out if the trend keeps going like this.”
Pascal laughed outright. “ That girl is a lucky charm indeed, Gill. She’s going to make some man a very lucky husband in the future, I promise you that. Women like her are hard to come by nowadays.” the captain decreed sagely as he began soaking ears of corn in salt water before they were to go on the grill. He had a huge slab of butter on ice as well, courtesy of Hannah’s cows. It was perfectly silky and sweet, and the butter would pair marvelously with the corn. Their tourists were in for one hell of a treat today!
Gill chortled. “ I can agree to that.” he said softly. “ I’ll be by to let you know when it’ll be time to set up the display. Let me know if you need anything, alright Pascal?”
Pascal’s brow rose a little as he watched Gill’s retreating back. “ Those two...Like peas in a pod and blind as bats, I swear…” he chuckled as he resumed his work.

The festival was a wonderful affair once Kohri was able to stop working. She placed third in the fishing contest behind Toby and Ozzy. What surprised her the most was that she had only been one fish ahead of Renee, or they would have tied for third together. Craig had hosted a stone skipping game, and Kohri had the grace to admit that not only did Owen and Luke hand her her ass in that one, but Gill as well.
Now, sitting by herself on the beach, Kohri waited for the fireworks display. Even living in the city, she had heard quite a bit of talk about this particular festival. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought that she would ever be a part of it.
“ Do you mind if I join you?” came a soft voice from behind her.
Kohri turned slightly and she smiled demurely when she saw who it was. “ Be my guest. I’m surprised you’re not overseeing the rest of the festivities however.”
Gill chuckled as he sat beside her and he looked up as the first streak of light illuminated the night sky before exploding into an awe inspiring sunburst. “ This is the one point of the day where I get to see the fruits of my labor over the day.”
Kohri smirked wryly as she nudged his shoulder. “ What, that earlier game doesn’t count? You kicked my ass and you know it.”
“ Luke and Owen kicked both our asses. I placed fifth, remember?” Gill chuckled, though it turned into a full laugh as Kohri scowled. She had placed dead last in the competition after all. “ That was actually my lunch break, though I didn’t really eat much of anything.”
Kohri scowled though she reached beside her. “ Take what you want and I’ll finish the rest. It’s a crab bake Ozzy set up on the grill when Pascal left to go set up the fireworks. You get on my case all the time about not eating...Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.” Kohri grumbled.
“ You skip meals on purpose, especially with all the time you’ve been holed up in the library lately. I had too much going on to even think of eating earlier...Thank you though. Ozzy’s crab bakes are amazing. What’s in this one?”
" Scallops, shrimp, crab, mussels, oysters, and I want to say mine’s got a lobster tail in it.” Kohri said. “ You can take half the crab, the mussels and the oysters, just don’t touch the scallops. I love scallops.” Her gaze rose back up as the fireworks began going off in earnest and she smiled sadly as Gill ate what she had offered. She wondered if that woman could see them wherever she was trapped. They were spectacular to watch. “ I’ve got my reasons for being up there as much as I have lately. I’m looking for a specific book, and I’m not having any luck.” She shivered as she sucked in a gasp between clenched teeth. She hadn’t expected to feel the kind of chill she was experiencing tonight.
Gill’s brow furrowed as he set the corningware down and he scooted a little closer over to Kohri. “ Why didn’t you bring a blanket to be on the safe side?” he asked her as he wrapped an arm around her to help her warm up.
Kohri blushed brilliantly at Gill’s actions, though she smiled after a few moments as his warmth seemed to spread over to her. “ I was too excited I guess. Not only that, I wasn’t expecting it as it’s summer time. It never gets chilly like this in the city at night.” Kohri replied as she leaned against him in an effort to get comfortable.
Gill set the dish between them so that they could both eat before the food went cold. “ You’re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.” he teased goodnaturedly. “ You should eat too, Kohri. This was supposed to be your supper after all.” he added, carefully prodding that she needed to tend to herself better.
Kohri giggled a little as she grabbed a piece of shrimp and she looked back up into the night sky. “ It’s beautiful to watch. You did a great job bringing it together, Gill.”
Gill smiled as his arm stayed over her shoulders. He could clearly feel the gooseflesh on her arm, indicating that she still hadn’t warmed back up. “ The show has become famous over the last few years and has drawn in a lot of tourists as a result. It’s good, sure, but the cost of putting on the show gives me a headache.” Gill looked down at Kohri’s face, though her gaze was unwavering concentrated on the colorful explosions in the sky. She was smiling as she chewed her food, her eyes full of childlike wonder and awe that Gill found himself wondering if this was the same woman he had found a verbal sparring partner in. The unrestrained joyful smile on her face was worth that headache a thousand times over. “ Well, whatever…” he murmured at first. “ Admittedly it’s nice to be able to spend time like this together.”
Kohri nodded as she leaned in a little closer and she felt Gill’s cheek come to rest on top of her head. “ I agree...Luke’s too hyperactive to stay quiet, and Owen’s helping Ramsey light them off. I’m glad you joined me Gill...Maybe we can meet up for next year’s festival too?” Kohri offered. She smirked however as she looked back up. “ You’re bringing your own supper though.”
Gill laughed richly at the gentle jibe and he nodded. “ Maybe we could have a small picnic to ourselves. I know the best spot to watch the fireworks from too.” he added.
Kohri got to her feet after a few moments, sighing heavily all the while. She was honestly up past her bedtime and she needed to be up at four to start tending to her crops. Sure, the town had paid her handsomely for what she had supplied to the festival, but she had a lot to do before the end of the season. “ I should probably get home…” she murmured under her breath.
Gill followed suit and he smiled as he offered his arm to her. “ I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer to walk you home, Kohri. Besides, we haven’t been able to get together to debate lately with as busy as you have been.”
Kohri grinned from ear to ear as she looped her arm with his. “ A slow leisurely pace it is. Not only that, I get to show off just how well my tomato plant has been doing. I guarantee it’s doing better than your hydroponically grown one!” Kohri exclaimed proudly. She laughed as Gill scowled at the thought that her traditionally grown plant was doing better than his, but things were not set in stone yet.
She could be bluffing after all.
They debated in slightly hushed tones as they walked through town, though Kohri was certain that Yolanda was laughing at them as they passed by the inn. She had caught them red handed in the middle of a debate on Kohri's first day on Waffle Island. No, Gill and Kohri didn’t get lively in their verbal sparring until well after they had passed the three way fork in the road where they knew no one would be nearby. Gill was still trying to prove that hydroponics was a sure fire way of enriching crops, but Kohri was staunchly against that line of thinking.
“ I swear, when we get to my house I’m going to find the book I’ve been referencing and I’m going to hit you upside the head with it in the hope that you’ll absorb some of that information!” Kohri snarled as she stalked up the path a little ways.
Gill laughed as he jogged to catch up and he caught Kohri by the hand in an effort to get her to slow down again. His fingers laced with hers after a moment, though neither of them realized what they had just done. “ You know, speaking of books...What’s the one you’re having trouble finding at the library? I know all the genres and pretty much every location of the books up there.” he told her placatingly.
Kohri shook her head with a smile as her pace lessened to match his. “ Don’t worry about it Gill. This is something I need to do on my own.” In all honesty, Kohri didn’t want to admit that she had been having these crazy ass dreams in the fear that she was, in fact, only just dreaming instead of being sent on an adventurous quest. Her cheek dimpled slightly with a smirk and Kohri chuckled. She had just thought of the perfect thing to shake him from what was really bothering her. “ For all you know, it’s linked to our bet and my research for it.” she purred, her gaze narrowed, but appearing nothing short of sultry in the moonlight. There, that should throw him off of trying to help her find information on whoever these sprites were.
Gill opened his mouth to retort, but he was silenced by the vision glowing in the moon's ethereal light. Her sable colored locks had a silver tinge that gave her an otherworldly look, and her ocean blue orbs were like miniature galaxies as they reflected the heavens above them. Sweet goddess, she was beautiful, and she didn't even realize it. As distracted as he was by her, Gill honestly wasn’t sure how to respond to that, though it killed him a little inside to admit that her logic was fool proof. There was something about her tone before she had delivered the entirety of her rebuttal that caught him off guard, he noted as he started regaining his senses. Was she hiding something? It was too hard to tell with her, as Kohri had grown much too damn good at concealing her emotions when she felt the time called for it. “ You had better find it soon before I start asking questions again.” he finalized with a stern gaze that told Kohri this was far from over.
“ Fine, but don’t distract yourself from your work on my account on the same note.” Kohri added, making Gill groan at the concession she was trying to force from him. If she could get him back on the debating defensive, then she was in the clear and she knew it. Thankfully, they were right by her farm and Kohri smirked as she looked over to her nearly six foot tall tomato plant. It even towered over her corn stalks. “ Has your tomato plant gotten height like this?”
Gill’s eyes were wide in wonder as he looked at Kohri’s crop. “ Have you been using Anissa’s fertilizer for this?! If so, I’m definitely picking up a few bags for my own crops at home.” He gently ran a few fingers over the broad leaves and Gill’s brow rose high in both shock and delight. Such a smooth, velvety feel! How did the product taste?
“ I’ll admit that I’ve taken the liberty of tweaking Anissa’s recipe a smidge. I’ll be formulating my own once Pascal can get the boat running back to the mainland. I’m going to be setting up a lab once I’m able to and in the winter time I’ll be testing all different types of soil samples from all over the island so that in the spring all of us can utilize personalized fertilizers to maximize the nutritional quality and quantity of our crops.” Kohri beamed proudly as she rubbed the stalk gently. The soil was only one part of the reason why the plant had grown so well. The other part was just how hands on and how much tlc Kohri gave all of her crops. “ That’s was my main area of study when I was going to school back in the city and at least here I’m only few semesters away from my degree. I can do without the graduation ceremony, and all the pompous grandstanding that goes with things like that. I get to do what I love here, Gill...And I have someone here that understands that to boot, that I can share in my passion and knowledge with. As far as I’m concerned, I’m in my own little slice of heaven.”
Gill smiled tenderly at the soft spoken adulation Kohri was giving him. “ There’s more than just me here on the island…” he countered.
“ But none that speak our particular brand of geek.” she replied with a laugh. “ I need to get to bed however. How about you come over on Fridays? This way I have to take time off once a week and both of get the mental stimulation we both need.”
Gill nodded. “ I was about to say it doesn’t always need to be over here, but then I remembered that you have a mini library in your living room. More than likely we’ll be referencing every book there. Oh, speaking of...Would I be able to borrow ‘The Edible History of Humanity’ for a few days? I would like to reference it for one of my reports if possible.”
“ Do honestly believe I would tell you no? C’mon, let’s go grab it, but then I seriously need sleep.” Kohri replied with a tired smile.
- 5
- 6
- 7
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Restoring Faith