It's Anniversary time for Grapefruit Sky. We were each assigned a character for our OCs to interact with, and I got George. Hope you all enjoy.
Summary: Lily and George didn't exactly have the smoothest start
Lily had taken to checking the bulletin board in front of Pierre’s, most afternoons she hadn’t been reduced to a mound atop her couch from working the farm. She was still dipping more into her savings than the profits off her grandfather's farm, so if she could do the odd job to offset what was hopefully only a temporary money sink, she knew it was what she should do. Fishing requests weren’t her favorite. It made for a good excuse to enjoy the scenery, but Lily wasn’t and would never be the best angler around. But, there were more annoying fish than carp and if it was for Evelyn. Spending time up the mountain lake wasn’t the worst way to waste the afternoon. Plus, if she was lucky, maybe she’d wrangle herself a consolation prize even if the fish weren’t interested in her.
By late afternoon, Lily was pleased as punch with herself. Not only had she gotten the carp for the request, but enough for her own dinner tonight, and the promise of a little treat later tonight too. Just as she was about to knock on the painted, green door of her most recent request giver, she was startled by a voice crying out suddenly.
“Whatever you're selling, we ain’t buying.” it ordered in a gruff, croak. Finding an elderly gentleman was wheeling himself over, Lily stepped aside to make room for him without thinking of the direction. Nearly knocking the planter down where it hung, she hit her head against the clay pot after ducking down just half a second too slowly and swallowed down any expletives with a squeak.
“I’m no-, well, no. I suppose I am selling, but it was a request on the board. Didn’t realize the town gets so many door to door salesmen. Farm must be too far outta the way for them.” Lily explained, rubbing the spot on her head absently and trying to joke. Lifting the fish Lily had managed to save from falling into the dirt earlier, she mustered a smile more amused than it was, towards the gentleman while trying to prove the validity of her first statement.
“Oh, you’re Esaiah’s lot.”
”Easaih was my grandfather if that’s what you mean. I moved in recently and I’m hoping to fix the place up.” she confirmed, extending a hand out to him. “I’m Miss Field’s by the way.” she added, keeping a passive smile on her lips.
“Hmmph... It's irritating to have to meet all these new people, huh?”
Lily remained quiet, keeping her hand extended. The small tilt of her head was the only acknowledgement she'd heard his question while maintaining a well-practiced, professional smile on her lips.
“Name's George, by the way. Now buzz off... Hmmph” he added, reaching for the front door knob. Thankfully Lily didn’t have to worry about how she was going to hold her position in the their stalemate, when the front door open up. Evelyn stood in the doorway, curious about the commotion happening outside, first spotting her husband before her.
Lily quickly turned her attention to the woman. The smile easier now that it was directed to the woman she'd been seeking out anyway
“Sorry, for the commotion Miss Evelyn-”
“Missus.” George corrected “Hmph, I’m sure Evi’s already told ya’ to call her Granny anyways” it seemed every other sentence began or ended with a humph with him.
”Oh, Lily, it’s a pleasure to see you pop by. You must has seen my note in Pierre’s!” she noted, spotting the catch in her hand.
"Yup, about as fresh as you can get them." Lily promised as she beamed happily at Evelyn's warm welcome. Her footing feeling firm again, she replied to one George's earlier statements. "And if I call her Granny, does that mean I should call you Gramps?” Lilith prodded, remaining as placid and light as ever while George grumbled and made his way inside. Clearly the title didn't come as a set.
“Now don’t you mind George, he’s just cranky the Doctor told him he needed to cut back on the red meat. I'm sure he was hoping to scare you away so I couldn't try out Jodi's Carp Surprise recipe."
”What does he know anyways. Does he expect me to eat bean steaks now?
”Oh, hush. Dr. Harvey only suggested that tofu has an alternative, but he also said fish and seafood were good options.”
”Now, come in. I just need to get my purse and I'll start dinner right after." Evelyn seemed to direct the last part of her statement to George. A subtle martial threat that he wouldn't be getting his way that soothed any of ruffled feathers on Lily's part. "And feel free to call me whatever you're comfortable with dear."
“Then how about Auntie Evelyn?”
"Oh my, I don’t think I’ve been called auntie since my nieces were little." Eveyln giggled, seemingly pleased at the compromise. Lily thought it suited the sweet, elderly lady perfectly and she was happy Evelyn has accepted it.
Surprisingly when she left to get the payment for Lily's services, the air between George and Lily didn't seem as tense or hostile.
“So, you’re names Lily, huh? Don’t suppose that’s short for Lilith?”
Lily's composure broke for a moment as she tried not to gawked in surprise. No one had ever guessed her name correctly, always assuming it was the more common Lillian or even assuming there was no longer version to her name. Still, she was quick to regain control before answering. “Actually, yes. It is. How did you know Lily was short for Lilith?”
”You got your Gran’s eyes and nose. Guessed you were given her name, just missing the haughty princess look to go with it." Again, Lily was taken aback by George's words. Having her grandmother's eyes was something she'd been told was true since she was little, but never once had he ever heard the term haughty been used to describe her. Lily truly was named after a mythical woman, just not the one everyone imagined.
"You knew both my grandparents?" She cautiously questioned.
"Heh, Evi and I have been in Pelican Town our whole lives. Town's too small not to have met 'em once our twice."
Lilith stood there, taking in the information and strangely accepted it all to be truer than not.
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
An oddly fitting line, it seemed to perfectly describe Pelican Town’s longest standing couple. It was hard not to instantly love Evelyn. Every interaction with her came with offers of a warm drink, a freshly baked treat, and comfortable, idle chatter. Yes, Evelyn was certainly the sugar, which made George the medicine, but Lilith found she didn't always have to struggle to swallow it down.
Evelyn reminisced. Told wishful stories of old friends and fond memories of times gone by. It was sweet and went well with time spent at her little kitchen with mugs of tea or coffees and her latest baking creation. George told less stories at first, but he allowed her to sit nearby while his novellas played and when he did tell them, there was a snideness and a frankness that spoke to its validity. George told stories of unpaid poker debts Lewis still owed to her grandpa. Spoke of him as a fool falling for the friend's daughter of a mine owner. The miracle of a proud beauty succumbing to something he never understood. Sweeter stories Lily had been told in her youth filling the gaps of his more cynical tales. She even noticed his stories were often softer, or it's harshness directed towards villains in stories including Auntie Evi. And sometimes, after a while, some of those stories were even sincere and cherished.
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