The morning soon came to noon, and with the heat only going up, Wyatt knew he couldn't let his old pal out in the sun for much longer. For a man who was nearing 60, he looked great for his age. However, looks can only go so far. With him getting older, so did his health, and what once didn't bother him when he was younger, now could easily make him fall to his knees. Wyatt approached his father, who walked out of the shed with a watering can. "You think it's enough for today? The sun is strong now.".
Their workday was more or less consistent with every previous workday. They checked the crops and watered those that needed water. Ensuring no pests were munching on any of their growing vegetables. They checked on their livestock—not that they had much. Made sure they had food and water, especially water during this rough heat. They also made sure the young were fed, and while Wyatt was busy feeding them, Frederick took care of his shed, ensuring everything was where it was supposed to be.
"We've done most of the work..." his father remarked. "There are still a few things I'd like to get done, though.".
"We can take a break now," Wyatt began. "And then come back later, when the temperatures and the sun have gone down.".
Frederick's eyes remained on his son for a moment more, as if he were considering his words, calculating in his head how it would all come about, and then trying to see if he could find an alternative solution. In the end, considering the windless, warm, humid air, he knew his son was right—as was the trend in recent times. Such made him smile merely.
"You know, I've found you to be right a lot recently... Up until a little bit ago, it used to be the other way around.".
Wyatt laughed at his father's words. "I'm rarely right. I've just gained experience.".
Frederick nodded his head, another smile growing on his lips as he patted his son on his shoulder. "You've grown into a great man, Wyatt. I'm proud of you... Let's go now.".
The two men walked back to their silver wagon, awaiting them where it was parked. The two men, before sitting down, opened the door to let the heated interior cool down, at least a bit, before they embarked on their journey back.
Trying to power up the car, it let out a hiccup before it gently shook to life. Revving the engine a few times to warm up the old machine, they were on their way back home soon after.
"We'll have to find a good substitution for this car," Wyatt remarked, halfway through their journey, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
"But this car still goes so well, does it not?".
"It does, but there are a lot of things this car can't do..." Wyatt started, letting through a sigh from the heat inside. "Like right now, I would love to turn on the AC... It's not all that healthy, especially for you, to sit in heat like this.". He stopped himself, looking out at the road, turning a bend. "For now, we'd manage. But in a few weeks, when the temperatures are 40 and over, we'd suffocate in this car.".
Frederick pursed his lips, looking at the cabin of his car. "I know what you're telling me, son. And, again, I must say, you've got a point... However... I can't just let this car go 'like that', you know?... This was my uncle's wedding gift when your mother and I got married.".
"We don't have to throw away the car, dad. We can park it somewhere by the side of the house. But what I'm saying is that I would like for us to invest in a better car for work like this, you know?" Wyatt tried to reason with his father. They've talked about such a topic in the past; however, each conversation came to an end with Frederick saying 'As long as it's rolling, it's good enough to drive still'. Wyatt spoke up again, "You know money is not an issue with me, dad. I've been saving up some money for this exact reason.".
His father glanced over at him, letting through a quiet sigh. "Money is not an issue, I know that. I could buy a new car all by myself... But there's just so many memories linked with this beast...". But even with him saying so, no matter how much he wanted to fight the feeling back within himself, Frederick knew that they were due for an upgrade. They both knew it didn't have to be anything expensive or a top brand. There was no need for that. Just as long as it could do all they needed it to do, they'd be happy with it. "I'll think about it," Frederick added a moment later.
Surprise washed over Wyatt. This was the first time he wasn't being dismissive about the aged car; he furthermore wanted to make the point that they didn't have to throw the car away if he didn't want to. "Like I said, dad, we could park it off the side of our house. But, this car is slowly becoming unusable in the summer.".
They reached the turning to their house not too long after, with Wyatt indicating to turn left. He drove into the large yard, stopping to reverse before the steps that led to the front door of the home. Close to them, both Wyatt and Frederick saw the familiar car of Maria and Jacob.
They had guests.
Parking into the usual space in the shade, cast by the tall, broad tree, he pulled up the handbrake before turning the car off.
With them both stepping out of the car, Wyatt pulled out his phone to check the time and was instantly greeted with a picture of him and Victoria, his girlfriend, as his background. It was a candid photo of them dancing, him in a suit and sunglasses, and her in a beautiful, red dress from a wedding they attended last year. He smiled at the photo before looking at the time near the top of the screen. 13:07.
He wanted to see her, but Victoria told him that she would be busy all week. Research for her final project had her working around the clock, and even with him telling her to try and take it easy when she can, she knew she'd easily cave into the pressure.
Following his father into the house, they both took their shoes off before walking into the living room, where the chatter came from. Annalise was sitting at the table with Maria, in the dining room, which was shared with the living room, all the while, Jacob was with Owen, on the sofa, talking and watching the television.
"Ahh, here they are," Annalise said with a smile on her lips. "It's like they knew we were talking about them.".
"All good, I hope," Frederick joked before greeting Maria and then Jacob, giving him a brotherly hug.
"When can I ever talk badly about you, Frederick?" Maria replied. "And before I forget to tell you, Jacob and I brought you something. We managed to gather enough strawberries and cherries to make you some goods.".
Frederick pursed his lips, his face saying the 'you really shouldn't have' expression, his words giving a similar message. "And why did you have to break your back to make this?... You really, really shouldn't have, and we know it's a small thing, but you really shouldn't have.".
Maria merely shook her head at Frederick, "And what about when you bring goods to us? We can't come empty-handed!". There, she turned her attention to Wyatt.
"My god," Maria started, greeting the young man. "Each time I see you, you change for the better!... Although that stubble doesn't look too good on you," she winked at him, showing Wyatt she was only joking with him.
"Victoria says she likes it, so I am afraid there's nothing I can do about it," he replied, laughing when he saw Maria raise her hands in surrender.
"If she said so, then I'm afraid I'd have to step back and let the woman have her word.".
"How was work out on the field, dear? Would you like some coffee?" Annalise asked next.
"Work was good, got most, if not all, the stuff done that we said we'd do. Dad said he wants to go back out to the field a bit later. And for the coffee... You know what, brew me a cup of coffee, if you can. I'll go and freshen up.".
His mother nodded his head. "Nice of him to finally have the cop on to go out to the field later on, when the sun has gone down, as opposed to trying and getting everything done in one go...". As if she heard back her words, she stopped, looking back at her son, a mere smirk on her lips. "But I also wouldn't be surprised if it was you who told him to go back later.".
"I won't confirm, nor deny that," Wyatt replied, chuckling at his mother's reaction.
Putting a pot of water to heat on the hob, Annalise returned to Maria, who was typing away on her phone. Sending Annalise's return, she put her phone away, glancing back at Frederick. "Did you tell Frederick anything about the job yet?".
"I wanted to keep it a surprise... I'll tell him tonight.".
Maria nodded her head. In that, she reached into her purse and pulled out a box of cigarettes before lighting one afire. Pulling in a drag, she blew the smoke out to the side.
"How's Jacob doing since that fall?" Annalise asked next. Jacob had an accident a few months back, during winter, when the temperature plummeted well into the negatives. Jacob slipped on the ice and injured his back when he fell. The doctor said a fall like that, at a man his age, could have led to fatal consequences; he was lucky he didn't break anything.
"He's better, much better. He's flying around the place," Maria responded. "I try to tell him not to force himself too much, like the way he used to, but sometimes I feel like I am talking to a brick wall... Hell, I feel like a brick wall might have a higher chance of listening to me than he ever will.".
Annalise nodded her head, agreeing with Maria. "My Frederick is the exact same... He can be so stubborn, especially when it comes to going out into the field. I tell him to stop, to wait until it gets a bit cooler, but nothing. He rarely ever listens to me. They're no longer the boys they used to be.".
"Oh! While on boys," Maria began. "You remember my sister, Andrea?".
"Of course I do! Is she coming over??".
Maria shook her head with a mere frown stretched across her lips. "Sadly, no. Not this year... However, her son—my nephew, Damian, he'll be coming soon enough, in two weeks.".
"Damian..." Annalise spoke, memories from so long ago coming back to her. "I remember when he and Wyatt ran around the fountain in the town centre. They left Orovac when he was quite young, tho, didn't they?".
"They did. They were first in Douleur, then went to Iarterre, and now, they're finally back in Veursau. Daryll's job took them all over the place.".
"Daryll... My god, I haven't heard of him in ages.". Annalise stopped for a moment. "And I remember Daina and Daniella, he couldn't stop talking about them when they were born. Damian too... My god, it feels like it was yesterday when I last saw them.".
"You should see them all now. Daina and Daniella are grown women now. And Damian, if you remembered him when he was younger, you wouldn't be able to recognise him now," Maria spoke up, grabbing her phone once more as she looked through her gallery to see if she could find a photo of her nieces and nephews. She managed to find a photograph of both Daina and Daniella, dressed up for a party in Arittoria.
"Oh my god!... Look at them, beautiful women, all grown up just like you said... Daina looks a lot like Andrea, tho. She has her soft eyes and brows," Annalise said. There, she excused herself to tend to the boiling water and brew Wyatt a coffee. It gave Maria some time to find a photo of Damian, dressed up in a nice suit, for his high school graduation. He shared most of his features with his sisters. Dark eyes and dark hair.
When Annalise came back and sat down next to Maria, she showed her Damian. "Oh wow... My god, look at him too. All grown up... He looks a lot like Daryll.". Turning around, she called out for her husband. "Frederick, come here! You gotta see this.".
"Ahh, these are Daryll's girls, aren't they?" he said when he looked at the picture. "They are very beautiful, both look like Andrea". And then when he was shown Damian, he squinted his eyes, looking at the picture. "My god... is this Damian?".
Annalise nodded her head.
"I remember when he was a baby and now look at him, all grown up. He looks a lot like Daryll.".
"That's what Annalise said too," Maria spoke up, putting her phone away when they were done looking at the photos.
"Damian will be coming to Orovac in... two weeks, is it?" Annalise looked at Maria for confirmation.
"Yeah, he'll be over at mine and Jacob's place for a few weeks.".
"Ah, that's very nice. What about Andrea and Jacob, will they be coming over too?".
"Not this year, but they did say they'd like to come back to Orovac for a visit soon enough," Maria responded.
"Ahh, they won't make it to Igor's son's wedding," Frederick commented.
"Oh my... The wedding totally left my mind. How far's the wedding again?" Annalise inquired.
"I think it's next month," Maria spoke up.
"Ah, perfect for when Damian comes around, so!".
In that, the door of the hallway opened, where Wyatt emerged back into the living room, a towel around his neck, with his hair wet and a few wet patches on his light blue shirt. "Who's coming?".
"Ah, Wyatt! You'll never guess who's coming to Orovac soon," his mother said.
Wyatt merely crossed his brows at Annalise, trying to think who'd be coming to their small town. "Who's coming?... Do I know whoever it is??".
"You mightn't remember him," Maria began. "But my nephew is coming. Damian.".
Wyatt furrowed his brows once more, trying to think back if the name rang a bell. He felt like it sounded familiar; however, it was as if he were seeing the memory through a dense layer of fog. "He used to live here, didn't he?".
"Yeah, they all used to live here. The Kovacs," Frederick spoke up next. "Then, I remember, back when we all used to hang about, Daryll Kovac, Damian's father, had to leave for Douleur. He brought the rest of his family with him a few months later.".
"You used to play with him when you two were younger," Annalise said a few seconds later. "You mightn't remember as it was so long ago.".
Wyatt merely shook his head; a part of him wished he'd remembered, while the other part of him lacked the care to reminisce on such. "When is he meant to come?".
"In about 2 weeks," Maria said.
"And I also heard something about a wedding, is this Theo's wedding you're all on about?" Wyatt asked next.
Maria clicked her fingers. "That's his name! Theodore!".
"Whose name?" Annalise started. "Igor's son?".
"Yeah," Wyatt affirmed.
"Yeah, we were talking about Theo's wedding," his father spoke up. "Would be nice for Damian to come along too, since he'll be here for it.".
"But he doesn't know Theodore, nor his fiancée," Wyatt replied.
"So what?" Annalise retorted. "Doesn't mean he has to stay at home and bore himself in front of the television.".
"Sorry, that wasn't what I meant... What I wanted to say is that, since he might not know anyone there, he might feel bored at the wedding after-party.".
Maria let through a mere giggle. "My Damian will never feel bored. Actually, I can bet you he'll make a few friends by the end of the night.".
Looking at her son, Annalise said next, "And besides, you'll meet him by then. You can make him some company on the night too.".
Wyatt nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, of course. That goes without saying.".
For the silence that followed, Wyatt dwelled more on who this 'Damian' was, and if what was just said managed to clear up his clouded thoughts.
Annalise looked at everyone around her, with the silence that spread between them all, she cleared her throat, uttering, "Anyone for more coffee?".