Chapter 14

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Leaves in shades of vermillion and auburn fall around a young couple on Mother's Hill.

Standing close together, she listens intently as he mumbles on with his head lowered in slight embarrassment whilst pulling out a light, blue object from his pocket. She squeals in surprise and delight and he lifts his head hopefully. She nods and he breaks into a wide uncontrollable grin, sweeping her into a tight embrace as the sun sets behind them...

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‘Jessicaaaaa!! Open up!!’ The sun had barely peeped over the horizon when Jessica was rudely awakened by a persistent hammering on the door.

‘Who are you and what do you want?’ Jessica mumbled groggily as she pushed an excited Benny away and opened the door.

On the porch stood Popuri.

‘Guess what!! Guess what?!’ Popuri bore more than a slight semblance to a hyperactive bunny.

‘Poppy…it’s not even six. What are you doing here?’ asked Jessica as she slouched against the door frame with her eyes closed.

‘Rick…Rick!!’

‘Is not here.’

‘Is getting married!!’ Popuri burst out.

‘What?’ Jessica was instantly awake. ‘When? Where? How come? To whom?’

Popuri was practically dancing with excitement. ‘He woke me and mom up this morning to tell us. There’s gonna be a wedding! Yippee!!’

‘Who is he marrying?!’

‘Who else, silly! Karen, of course. He proposed yesterday and. She. Said. Yes!!’

‘Oh my goddess… I can’t believe this. Aren’t both of them…my age?’ The news still hadn’t quite sunk in yet.

‘So? Mom got married when she was nineteen. Compared to her then, we are all old spinsters.’

‘Bachelorettes, my dear Poppy.' corrected Jessica. She scrutinised Popuri. 'You know, you seem awfully happy that Rick is getting married. To Karen, I mean.’ Jessica had always thought that Popuri, like her, didn’t get along with Karen.

Popuri’s face clouded over for an instant before she brightened up again. ‘Oh well, Rick did accept Kai in the end. So I’ll accept Karen too, to be fair. And besides,’ she added, with a sudden, un-popuri-ish insight, ‘I can’t imagine Rick with anyone else, can you?’

Jessica thought for a moment. ‘No.’ she said finally. ‘I can’t.’ I can only see Rick being bossed about by Karen. ‘So. When’s the wedding?’

‘It’s going to be next year in Spring. Karen insisted on a romantic winter wedding, but Rick said that he always ended up catching colds in winter and it will be very unromantic to have the bridegroom sniffling as the bride walked down the aisle. Also, it would be very cold and they’ll have to wear huge winter coats over their wedding clothes and Karen would look fat in their wedding photos because of it and-…’

‘Rick said fat?! To Karen?!’ asked Jessica disbelievingly.

‘Yep.’ replied Popuri matter of factly. ‘How else do you think Rick managed to convince her to have the wedding in spring?’

‘Oh wow…’ Jessica laughed. Maybe Rick can handle Karen better than I thought.

--

The news of the impending matrimony between Rick and Karen spread like wildfire. Manna reported that Sasha had boasted during one of the Rose Square meetings that Karen was getting a wedding gown of the latest fashion from a huge city which was a gazillion miles away from Mineral Town. The dress would be made completely of white silk and sequins made of real flowers.

‘If that’s the case,’ Jessica remarked, ‘The dress will be out of season by the time spring comes, wrong flowers and all. And the real flowers will be dead by then.’

‘Jessica.’ rebuked Manna. ‘Anyone who hears that would think you were jealous of Karen marrying Rick.’ She leant closer and whispered inquisitively. ‘Are you? You know you can tell Manna anything.’

‘No. I’m not.’ replied Jessica quickly. The last thing she needed was for the whole town to think that she was conniving to kill Karen over Rick in a jealous rage.

Elli giggled. ‘Manna, Karen told me that the dress was going to be made of pale yellow silk. And the dress is being made in the city next to Flowerbud Valley.’

‘Really.’ Manna frowned. ‘I must have misheard Sasha. But I swear I heard her say…’ She mumbled to herself as she left the clinic, where she had dropped in on her way home from the Rose Square.

Jessica looked at Elli. ‘I hope they realize that the wedding is next year, not next week.’

Elli laughed. ‘They are just caught up with all the excitement. It’s good that they are starting the wedding preparations so early though, there are tons of things to prepare. The catering, the church reception, the gifts, the marital room, th-‘

‘I thought you would be the first of all of us to get married! You seem the most…marriageable.’interrupted Jessica, a tad aggrievedly.

‘Ah, well.’ Elli shrugged. ‘Tell that to him. Ask him why he’s not proposing.’ She jerked her thumb towards the consultation area where her boyfriend undoubtedly had his head buried in thick medical books.

‘Okay.’ Jessica hopped off the sofa and laughed impishly. ‘I’ll ask him.’

‘No…!! Jess!! Don’t you dare!’ Elli shook her head frantically as Jessica stuck out her tongue and pushed aside the drapes to the consultation area.

‘Hey, Tim! How’s work?’ asked Jessica casually.

The doctor looked up and smiled. 'Jessica! What good timing! I've got something good for you to try!'

'Er...really… Um...what is it?'

'I knew you'd be interested! I just knew it! Wait right here. I'll go get it.' Tim ran out to the receptionist's desk, where Elli stood in astonishment for a moment before she held out the medicine hesitantly.

'This one energizes and heals you just like the other one you had before. However, it's twice as effective! Go ahead, Jessica. Try it now!'

Jessica stared at the evil looking fluid dubiously. The previous medicine Tim had given her when she had first came to town had a taste that she preferred never to experience again. And the gleam in Tim's eyes...

'By the way, it has an indescribable flavor just like the other one too. I believe you of all people will appreciate this tonic.'

'Right...' Jessica nodded her head slowly.

'Thank you!' Tim broke out into a hugely cheerful grin. 'Now, don't hesitate! Go ahead and drink it!'

Well, here goes nothing. Jessica took a deep breath and downed the concoction in one gulp.

'So? What do you think...?' Tim asked eagerly.

Jessica opened her mouth to reply, but was suddenly overwhelmed by darkness.

'Jessica! Talk to me! Elli! Come over here!'

'Right away!' Elli's worried voice was the last thing Jessica heard hazily before passing out.

When she regained consciousness, Jessica found herself slumped on one of the clinic's beds with Tim and Elli standing over her.

'I'm so sorry about what happened...' Tim was contrite. 'It was...completely unexpected... It was too strong for you...I was fine when I had it... My apologies. I shouldn't have pushed you.'

Jessica wanted to set his mind at rest by lying that she had taken the medicine willingly, but her throat still felt scratchy, so she simply smiled.

'Do you feel better now?' asked Tim as he fidgeted anxiously in front of her.

At Jessica's nod, Elli smiled. 'I'm glad you're okay.' Turning to Tim, Elli put on her i'm-angry-at-you-stuart-little-brother face. 'Doctor, don't make her try your new medicine any more.'

'You're right. I'm really sorry.' Tim gave Elli a sheepish, placating smile and turned to Jessica, whose face had the beginnings of a bemused smile. 'Jessica, I'm truly sorry. I won't ask you to do it again. Now, rest here for awhile.'

'I think Jeff is coming over soon. Doctor, you had better go get ready.' said Elli.

'Right...look after Jessica, won't you?' Tim drew the curtains and went back to his desk.

Elli looked at Jessica. 'Are you really really okay?' She bent closer. 'It tasted simply awful, right?'

'Why me...?' croaked Jessica miserably, before a wave of nausea overcame her and she dashed off to the toilet just in time.

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Haha...was that Jessica's retribution for scaring Elli? Just in case it wasn't obvious, Jessica had no intention of asking Tim about proposing to Elli.

I'm finally back after my very very long hiatus, and hopefully, the next few chapters will be out on a much more regular basis. And, you will make me happy by dropping a review. thankyou:)