Chapter Text
The thrum of cicadas felt oppressive in the air as the sun broke through the tree branches weighing down Andi's t-shirt clad shoulders. Perhaps it was residual stress from living in the city. The constant hustle and bustle from cars flying past, the perpetual sound of the trains rattling along their tracks each added further anxiety in the pit of Andi's stomach. Taking a deep breathe Andi squaring her shoulders and muttering to herself, "Things are different here."
Her feet carried her towards the overgrown path to what used to be her grandfather's cabin. Grandpa wasn't in any condition to care for the property anymore, especially with Grandma getting worse from what their letters said. When they wrote to Andi they mentioned the farm going to waste whilst they were on the mainland in a Retirement Village, and asked if she would take over the farm. Andi's parents were going to take care of them, her sister wasn't in a position to be taking care of the farm not with her family growing as it was, but Andi needed an escape.
"Andi, you slow poke get your butt over here!" Solara's voice broke through the thoughts bogging her down. Andi began jogging over but her sudden movement startled a bug from a nearby tree flying right in front of her face. This caused a startled yelp to escape her while her arms flailed slightly, whacking the rhino beetle out of the air with her arm before scurrying off, more startled than she was.
The laughter that peeled through the air at Andi's reaction left her feeling red in the face. "There, there dear Andi. I won't let the beetle hurt you. I can't believe you lost all your resistance to bugs!"
Andi rubbed the back of her neck forcing a laugh, "I wouldn't say I lost all resistance, I just wasn't prepared this time. Living in the city I was focusing on other concerns, not whether or not a beetle was going to make an attempt on my life."
Solara simply nodding along before clapping her hands together, "Riiiight, well the yard isn't going to clean itself. Let's get started!"
The two of them moved about the yard picking up the sticks and stones eventually cutting down the sapling that began growing in front of the cabin. Grandpa and Grandma had worked so hard to ensure that they had a roof over their head that they were thankful for the space they did have. Andi remembered climbing up into the loft of the cabin because that's where her dad used to sleep when he was a kid. Though she now had doubts about the structural integrity of the loft after seeing the little trees and vines growing from the roof.
"How did things get this bad? The last time I was here everything was fine but that was ten years ago, I saw them last about five years ago but they never mentioned having issues with their cabin." Andi's brow furrowed in distress as they entered the living space of the cabin.
"I know, I offered helping them and so did Graminova when he got back a few years ago. But they told us that it was fine, they hadn't been living in the cabin the past few years," Solara empathized. "Said something about 'building something with your own hands' and that 'she may need a back up plan'. At the time I didn't know who they were talking about back then but now that you're here, I guess that solves the mystery."
Andi pinched the bridge of her nose, "Well I'm glad I got here before I arranged for my things to be stored for the first month before they deliver it. It gives me time to get everything in order for the main living space. I'm sure some of the cabin will need to be rebuilt."
"Well lets get what we can done today before we head for lunch! Oh and remind me to introduce you to Alex on our way, she can help out with any major repairs!" Solara was already on her next tangent as she cleaned away the cobwebs that had gathered.
Andi meanwhile climbed the ladder, that Solara supplied, to see the actual damage to the loft and saw it did in fact have little trees that sprouted there. Their roots hadn't made it far yet but still made her cringe at the damage it had to be doing. The saplings and ivy she removed with Solara's help and placed a tarp to minimize further water from getting in.
That was as far as they got before Solara forced them to break for lunch after they washed up with the water pump. Introducing Andi to Alex, a new and much appreciated resident of the island while on their way to Aureleaf Kitchen. As well as starting with Zerine to be Andi's first mentor. It was crucial for Andi to learn the basics especially if she wanted to make the cabin livable in the next month.
By the time the two made it to Aureleaf and there was a familiar face speaking with the chef. In his arms he held a basket of fresh produce ready to be handed off to the man in the chef jacket. Though honestly the two looked like they could be brothers with both of them having their white hair. She knew the boy she grew up with had no siblings.
"GRAAAMINOOVA! Guess who's back!!! Oh, sorry Aurelius let me introduce you as well." Solara bee lined straight to Graminova and only seemed to realize he was speaking to someone after she had started. Andi followed after her like the Island hadn't been her own stomping ground when they were children. When both men turned to look her, both relatively unfazed by Solara's antics.
"This is Andi, she used to live on the Island with Graminova and I. She just moved back from the Mainland because her grandparents moved to the mainland and couldn't take care of the old farm anymore. Andi you already know Graminova, but this here is the esteemed chef of the restaurant, Aurelius."
"A pleasure to meet you. I've heard a few people mention you, mostly Delphin and Solara."
"Yeah, a pleasure to me you. That happens when you grow up thick as thieves on the island with three other kids the same age as you," Andi was playful as she said it, before she turned to Graminova, "though Graminova, I can't believe you never mentioned me, I'm hurt. Here I thought I was your fifth favorite person on the island."
"Why fifth?" Aurelius asked incredulously his head cocking slightly.
"Hmmm, well I can't beat out Graminova's parents, plus Delphin and Solara were always better at talking to people than I was. Plus with me being gone so long, I'd be lucky if I was still on his list at all," the sudden concern in her voice as Andi quickly looked at Graminova with a panicked look in her eyes as the realization hit her.
"I don't even know what you're talking about, I never had a list of favorite people, and I have-." The last part of his protest was cut off as he realized what he was saying than the rest and the back of his neck flushed red.
Solara seemed to take pity on him but it did not prevent the glimmer in her eyes and interjected with, "I am beat! Aurelius do mind if we ordered a meal for the three of us? I'm going to abscond with Graminova so he and Andi can catch up."
"Go ahead, it would be nice to get feed back from someone new." Aurelius handed them the menus and brought them to sit at the bar.
While they ate Solara mentioned that Graminova was now one of the mentors for the one of the professions they were implementing on the island. Andi quickly asked what she'd need to do, saying, "Picking up new skills are always worthwhile," and she asked Graminova what all she would need to do. If she could start growing her own produce it would help save on costs especially with the renovations she's needing to complete.
After that they spent lunch catching up and Andi learned that Graminova only returned a year ago himself.
"Last I heard Nova was that you were off to get your doctorate, how did that go?" Andi felt the bubbles of anxiousness starting to rise. She really hoped that Graminova was able accomplish his goals.
"I did, it went well." He didn't really elaborate but it was enough to ease the building anxiety.
"He's down playing it. Mama Matilda told me all about how he graduated as Valedictorian of his class while he worked part time to ease the financial burden on them." Solara didn't let Graminova be modest.
"It's not that important, I came back here because the island has a lot of potential and just needs to cultivated for the best results. " Graminova huffed in annoyance he didn't like talking about himself.
Solara had a shit eating grin plastered across her face as she revealed even more insights she had gleaned, "I was also told by her that Graminova turned down an abroad program because it would delay his ability to come back to the island."
Desperate to get the heat off of himself Graminova looked Andi in the eyes and asked, "What brought you back to the island Andi? You got into your dream job, right?"
Taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation, Andi stalled, "Oh, well, I got to work with Lancing Editing for a few years. I got to work with some great authors but when my grandparents reached out earlier this year, I- took some personal leave while I get the house repaired. I'll be seeing about working remotely for a time, once everything is settled."
Andi didn't like lying to them but she wasn't ready for the others to know. She didn't want to be looked at differently. She just wanted to feel normalcy again.
Graminova seemed to stiffen slightly, and before even Solara could say anything, asked, "Are you planning on selling the house once its repaired?"
"I- I don't know yet, and if I do it wouldn't be anytime soon. I have a lot of things I need to think over and I figured no better place to do that than the island." Andi's hands were clasped in front of her on the table and her thumb was rubbing against the other in a nervous way.
Solara this time dropped her teasing and placed a hand over Andi's, "Hey, we got you and you aren't alone."
Graminova was quiet but he did nod in agreement at what Solara said but sensing Andi's unease she shifted the topic, "You know who's also back Delphin! Who would have guessed that all of us would be back on the island at the same time! He's been prepping for the grand opening of the Aquarium his family's been working on for the past two decades so he couldn't come help out today."
Solara paused for a brief moment before she gasped! "Once both of you finish your respective projects, the four of us should go out for drinks to celebrate!! We haven't done that since we came of age!"
"Did a bar open on the island since I've been gone?" Andi was incredulous her mouth dropping open.
"Well, there's the bar on the beach, then here where you can get some drinks and the General Store you can get beers. Though perhaps we could convince Graminova to donate to our cause and break out one of his bottles of wine he's working on aging." Solara egged on Graminova again.
"No, those bottles aren't ready yet they maybe had a year to ferment and they should really have at least five." Graminova was resistant and held out at first.
"Don't be stingy, plus it would be for science to see how the bottle is aging. Plus aren't you glad Andi's back, don't you want to celebrate that?" Solara continued to wheedle Graminova.
"Well, Graminova, doesn't need to right? If there's a bar on the beach then he doesn't need to break-" Andi tried interjecting but before she could finish Graminova came back.
"Its fine, one bottle of wine, to taste so I can see how it is coming along and to celebrate but no more than that." It was a valiant attempt to refuse Solara, but Solara had dirt on everyone on the island things you would rather others not know, but never anything malicious.