Chapter 55: Changes Ahead
As hard as he tries, Link cannot come up with another idea to afford the vet clinic than asking his parents. He hates the idea, but in the end, there is no realistic way for him and his sister to earn enough money fast enough. At the clinic, Miles has started to talk about what he and Lilly will do with all that extra time, and showing Link more about what goes on behind the scenes. Book keeping, medical contacts, purchases... all important to keep the clinic running, but also all things that take away time from the patients. Days become longer, time spent with Anne shorter, but if he can find the money to take over the business it will be worth while.That's a major if.
But as summer approaches, so does his sister's birthday. The party is, as usual, held in the garden, where Christmas and Jamie has bought in some new furniture, bursting with color and much more comfortable than the old chairs. Those they offer instead to Link and Harmony, who is happy to accept more furniture for their own garden.
The pool area is decorated with balloons, and Christmas has been by the grill all morning cooking some of Amity's favourites. Amity herself cannot wait to be a teenager!
Link invited Anne to go with him to the party.
Meet the teenage Amity, outgoing (since before) and squeamish.
Once the party is over, Link sits down with his parents and talk over the business proposal he's gotten.
"Do you think you can handle a whole business?" his mom asks him. "It's a lot of paperwork."
"I know, but Mr Ritter has been teaching me, and there is plenty of help to be had."
"If you are sure that's what you want to do, then of course we'll help with the finances."
"Just as a loan! I'll pay you back."
Christmas knows better than to tell her son that he won't have to, but she knows she won't ask for the money back either.
When they return home from San Sequoia, Daisy has news. She's been promoted to Latte Artist at her work, which would mean more money home each month, but she's also been offered a job as assistant dishwasher at a local restaurant. It's a hard call. The restaurant is a clear step down form her current position, but it's better hours and more importantly more hours a week.
"I don't want to work as a dishwasher, not even that, an assistant dishwasher, but I hate the early mornings and there is no way up from here at work. I'll be stuck at 5-7 am forever and at the restaurant at least there is a chance that I'd get something better further on."
"You don't need me telling you what to do," Link says. "You've already made up your mind."
"Well, yeah I suppose. But I'll be making even less - at least at first."
"Less but more hours might still mean more. And even if it isn't, we'll get by."
"Yeah but you'll need to invest in the business, you won't be able to bring home money the way you do with a salary."
"So Harmony will have to make the money for a while, and maybe you can bring home some left overs from the restaurant for dinner? We'll live."
Luckily for them, Harmony comes home with a promotion of her own. With children's books she's found a nice she enjoys, where she can combine artistic expression and writing. The publisher can't help but to notice that her books are gaining in popularity.
She uses the bonus to turn the smallest bedroom into an office for her. She's been given a new more powerful computer by her office, and managed to save one of their used arm chairs that was going to be sorted out. It's not perfect, but much better than sitting in her brother's bedroom to write, and the view from the window is nice.
The house keeps all three of them busy, with things breaking down and needing fixing, but in general they're still happy with it. It's comfortable and warm and the closeness to the beach is nice even if the water is too dangerous to swim in. With Link spending so much time at the clinic, most of the repairs and cleaning is done by the girls. Neither of them mind the work.
As spring turn into summer, there is a wedding invitation in the mail. Auntie Alice is finally marrying. The wedding is held in the same location as Jamie and Christmas', not that Link or Harmony would remember that as neither one of them were born at the time.
Alice looks so happy as she walks down the isle and take her vows. She has waited a long time for this day, as love did not come as easily for her as it did for her brother.
After the ceremony there is an assortment of food and then it's time to cut the cake.
By the time Link and Harmony return home, they're exhausted. Harmony settle down with a book in her new office.
While Link heads over to Anne's place.
As the night is warm, the two spend most of it on the little bench outside at her porch, talking, but mostly snuggling. It's the best way Link knows not to keep nagging her to get more food bowls for her pets. It does pain him a bit to see her live and let live policy around her animals, where dog walks are replaced with letting into the garden and two food bowls are shared between four animals of various sizes. It's not that she doesn't love her pets, he knows she loves all four of them, but she could mind them better.
"They used to be wild," she tells him. "They're used to minding themselves, they don't really need me, they just choose to be here and who am I to control them? They're free to come and go as they please. I don't believe in restricting living beings."
It's a discussion they've had several times before, and Link has learnt that it's much more productive to just make out instead, and then give the animals some extra attention in the morning before heading home. He can't deny that they're healthy animals, and Anne is quick to come in if one of them is feeling the slightest bit off, they're just more tense than they, according to Link, could be. Not to mention untrained.
So comes the day when the clinic is actually his! Link stand around the empty halls and looks around. He probably should just keep it going as is, but customers has been complaining about the surroundings for as long as he worked here, so he takes the opportunity to freshen things up a bit.
Harmony and Daisy are more than willing to help out with the work, even if it is on a holiday.
And when they're all done, the place has soft calming green walls in the waiting area, and a warm light brown for many of the other rooms. Each wall color has been chosen for it's calming influence, and furniture has been updated to match. Hopefully this will make the customers happier.
When they're done Link shows Daisy how to craft soothing serum.
"It's not that different from cooking or mixology," she notes, happy to help with something other than taking out the trash and painting walls. It's nice working together.
To reward themselves they all go to the park after, to celebrate some of the summer solstice. Daisy grills up some food for all of them which they eat together.
"So who's up for a swim?" Link asks after dinner. It turns out only he and Daisy are up for it, so they head into the water. Link love being in the water at night, and he's happy Daisy is there, though he had hoped for some romantic kissing in the water. Daisy knows how to cheer him up, however, and soon they are both laughing so hard it hurts.
In the meantime, Harmony and Anne spend some time getting to know some of the strays of the area.
"Oh she's met a skunk. Maybe I should take her home to give her a bath," Anne says as they see the poor dirty animal.
"A cat? I doubt she'd enjoy a bath," Harmony points out. "And you have four animals already, and Diamond perhaps in the future?" Ok, so yes, she's fishing to see how serious this is. But she's a sister, it's her prerogative.
"Perhaps you're right," Anne says, though she looks longingly after the cat when she leaves. "But wait, what?" she then asks. "Has he said anything? Is he planning anything? Has he gotten a ring?"
But as summer approaches, so does his sister's birthday. The party is, as usual, held in the garden, where Christmas and Jamie has bought in some new furniture, bursting with color and much more comfortable than the old chairs. Those they offer instead to Link and Harmony, who is happy to accept more furniture for their own garden.
The pool area is decorated with balloons, and Christmas has been by the grill all morning cooking some of Amity's favourites. Amity herself cannot wait to be a teenager!
Link invited Anne to go with him to the party.
Meet the teenage Amity, outgoing (since before) and squeamish.
Once the party is over, Link sits down with his parents and talk over the business proposal he's gotten.
"Do you think you can handle a whole business?" his mom asks him. "It's a lot of paperwork."
"I know, but Mr Ritter has been teaching me, and there is plenty of help to be had."
"If you are sure that's what you want to do, then of course we'll help with the finances."
"Just as a loan! I'll pay you back."
Christmas knows better than to tell her son that he won't have to, but she knows she won't ask for the money back either.
When they return home from San Sequoia, Daisy has news. She's been promoted to Latte Artist at her work, which would mean more money home each month, but she's also been offered a job as assistant dishwasher at a local restaurant. It's a hard call. The restaurant is a clear step down form her current position, but it's better hours and more importantly more hours a week.
"I don't want to work as a dishwasher, not even that, an assistant dishwasher, but I hate the early mornings and there is no way up from here at work. I'll be stuck at 5-7 am forever and at the restaurant at least there is a chance that I'd get something better further on."
"You don't need me telling you what to do," Link says. "You've already made up your mind."
"Well, yeah I suppose. But I'll be making even less - at least at first."
"Less but more hours might still mean more. And even if it isn't, we'll get by."
"Yeah but you'll need to invest in the business, you won't be able to bring home money the way you do with a salary."
"So Harmony will have to make the money for a while, and maybe you can bring home some left overs from the restaurant for dinner? We'll live."
Luckily for them, Harmony comes home with a promotion of her own. With children's books she's found a nice she enjoys, where she can combine artistic expression and writing. The publisher can't help but to notice that her books are gaining in popularity.
She uses the bonus to turn the smallest bedroom into an office for her. She's been given a new more powerful computer by her office, and managed to save one of their used arm chairs that was going to be sorted out. It's not perfect, but much better than sitting in her brother's bedroom to write, and the view from the window is nice.
The house keeps all three of them busy, with things breaking down and needing fixing, but in general they're still happy with it. It's comfortable and warm and the closeness to the beach is nice even if the water is too dangerous to swim in. With Link spending so much time at the clinic, most of the repairs and cleaning is done by the girls. Neither of them mind the work.
As spring turn into summer, there is a wedding invitation in the mail. Auntie Alice is finally marrying. The wedding is held in the same location as Jamie and Christmas', not that Link or Harmony would remember that as neither one of them were born at the time.
Alice looks so happy as she walks down the isle and take her vows. She has waited a long time for this day, as love did not come as easily for her as it did for her brother.
After the ceremony there is an assortment of food and then it's time to cut the cake.
By the time Link and Harmony return home, they're exhausted. Harmony settle down with a book in her new office.
While Link heads over to Anne's place.
As the night is warm, the two spend most of it on the little bench outside at her porch, talking, but mostly snuggling. It's the best way Link knows not to keep nagging her to get more food bowls for her pets. It does pain him a bit to see her live and let live policy around her animals, where dog walks are replaced with letting into the garden and two food bowls are shared between four animals of various sizes. It's not that she doesn't love her pets, he knows she loves all four of them, but she could mind them better.
"They used to be wild," she tells him. "They're used to minding themselves, they don't really need me, they just choose to be here and who am I to control them? They're free to come and go as they please. I don't believe in restricting living beings."
It's a discussion they've had several times before, and Link has learnt that it's much more productive to just make out instead, and then give the animals some extra attention in the morning before heading home. He can't deny that they're healthy animals, and Anne is quick to come in if one of them is feeling the slightest bit off, they're just more tense than they, according to Link, could be. Not to mention untrained.
So comes the day when the clinic is actually his! Link stand around the empty halls and looks around. He probably should just keep it going as is, but customers has been complaining about the surroundings for as long as he worked here, so he takes the opportunity to freshen things up a bit.
Harmony and Daisy are more than willing to help out with the work, even if it is on a holiday.
And when they're all done, the place has soft calming green walls in the waiting area, and a warm light brown for many of the other rooms. Each wall color has been chosen for it's calming influence, and furniture has been updated to match. Hopefully this will make the customers happier.
When they're done Link shows Daisy how to craft soothing serum.
"It's not that different from cooking or mixology," she notes, happy to help with something other than taking out the trash and painting walls. It's nice working together.
To reward themselves they all go to the park after, to celebrate some of the summer solstice. Daisy grills up some food for all of them which they eat together.
"So who's up for a swim?" Link asks after dinner. It turns out only he and Daisy are up for it, so they head into the water. Link love being in the water at night, and he's happy Daisy is there, though he had hoped for some romantic kissing in the water. Daisy knows how to cheer him up, however, and soon they are both laughing so hard it hurts.
In the meantime, Harmony and Anne spend some time getting to know some of the strays of the area.
"Oh she's met a skunk. Maybe I should take her home to give her a bath," Anne says as they see the poor dirty animal.
"A cat? I doubt she'd enjoy a bath," Harmony points out. "And you have four animals already, and Diamond perhaps in the future?" Ok, so yes, she's fishing to see how serious this is. But she's a sister, it's her prerogative.
"Perhaps you're right," Anne says, though she looks longingly after the cat when she leaves. "But wait, what?" she then asks. "Has he said anything? Is he planning anything? Has he gotten a ring?"
"Erm..." This wasn't supposed to happen. "Not- I- He's been very busy with the clinic, I've barely spoken to him about anything else, I was just-"
"Checking what my answer will be so he dares to ask?"
"Well, not really-"
"Don't worry, I get it, I won't say a thing. It would be yes, if he asked, it would be yes." She bounds off down to the beach, probably following the cat, and leave Harmony with the feeling that maybe she shouldn't have brought things up.
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