Chapter 4.4 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 4.6

Generation Four: Orange

Appearance: Orange hair, Island clothing style
Traits: Foodie, Good, Active
Aspiration: Friend of the World
Occupation: Lifeguard
House Goal: 40,000 worth

A Question & A Windfall

The next morning dawned beautifully, and work went smoothly. I was back at home before you knew it, and decided to do some more painting in the hopes of getting something really good to sell so I could get the house closer to done. Sleeping next to the grey hulk of the first floor was starting to feel very silly.

Greta woke up, and looked at the grey mess of a house, and rolled her eyes. She, also, couldn’t wait to get this built. Not that sleeping in the ocean wasn’t a wonderful novelty… but sometimes, she just wanted a space that would be just ours. We chatted for a while about it, and I showed her the plans for the rest of the house, and she heartily approved. Then, she offered to help out with the painting. Apparently she was quite a painter, and had the skills to paint some more things to sell.

Initially, I balked. I wanted to do this myself. But Greta pointed out that two of us working on it would get it done much faster… and I finally had to agree. She smiled back, and wandered off to get some breakfast now that the food stand was open.

Meanwhile, back at home, a strange man had walked up to the front of our “house” and was looking around with a bemused look on his face. I put down my paints and headed over to say hello, wondering what he wanted. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him around town before.

“Hello! Charlie Naiades, right?” he began, and I smiled, and warily agreed that it was my name. “I’m the new owner of the Sand Simoleon restaurant. You know, the one right over there?”

I laughed, and replied, “Of course I know about Sand Simoleon. It’s the only restaurant we have in Sulani. How can I help you?”

“Well, Sand Simoleon has been the same for generations. Literally. I bought it, thinking it could definitely use a facelift. But after all the inspectors crawled all over the place, I’m honestly thinking of bulldozing the whole thing and building a new, bigger, building in it’s place. However, I wanted to make sure that was okay with you. I mean, you are the one who has the most vested interest in the town … ” he trailed off, looking unsure.

“Oh! What a lovely idea! Will it just be a restaurant?” I asked, curiously.

“Well, I thought if we made a bigger building, we could have an upstairs bar, and perhaps a wedding venue with a reception area, too? … ” he looked at me with more uncertainty, and I rushed to reassure him.

“Oh, that would be wonderful!!” I gushed, and looked pointedly at my new wife. “I’m already married, but perhaps we could do a ceremony at Sand Simoleon once it’s finished. We never did invite our families and do the formal thing. Plus, you have such a lovely spot there, it would be nice to have more than just a restaurant, you know?”

Beaming, the man agreed, and then dropped the bombshell. “I also wanted to offer you a small share in the restaurant. Not much, just 10%, but … ” he glanced at the grey monstrosity behind me. “It looks like you might be able to use the income. And – you’re a Naiades. Your family is so important to the town, I just think your family should have a share in the restaurant. Something you can pass down to your kids, you know?”

I stood there for a long moment, stunned and speechless. “You don’t have to do that… really, you don’t. I pointed to Greta, who was working on a painting on the pier near our ‘house’. Both of us are painters, and can make the rest of the money we need for the house ourselves.”

The man smiled, and pulled an envelope out of his pocket, handing it to me. “The paperwork is already done. The 10% share in the restaurant is yours. As a thank you from me to your family for doing so much for this town.”

Flabbergasted, I accepted the envelope, and tried to compose myself. “Thank you. I appreciate this. Really. But I’m supposed to make all my money myself, I think.”

He smiled, and replied, “Then put it in a savings account. You never know when you might need extra cash available!” He started to walk away, then seemed to remember something, and turned back briefly, saying, “Oh, and when you and your lovely wife want to do your formal wedding, I will make space in the schedule for you, and, as a shareholder, your wedding will be on the house.” And with that, a smile, and a jaunty wave, he turned and walked along the beach back towards his … our? restaurant.

I stood there for a long moment, bemused. What was I supposed to do with a share in a restaurant? Shrugging, finally, I stowed the important documents in a safe place with the rest of my luggage, and went over to talk to Greta.

After explaining what the strange man had wanted, I mentioned, hesitantly, that we had a free formal wedding available to us once the restaurant was complete.

“Oh! That would be so much fun!” Greta explained, painting the last strokes of her current painting, and stowing her paints and brushes away. “Shall we go get some lunch?”

I smiled, and agreed, and we talked companionably as we walked over to the food booth. We both ordered some lunch, and immediately set to eating the fishy fare with gusto. As we ate, the sun started setting, and the food booth vendor started cleaning up for the night.

Unbeknownst to me, back at home, my mother had stopped by for a visit. We were far enough down the beach that I didn’t see her.. and she didn’t see me. After dinner, Greta headed for one easel, and I turned to head for another.

Kali looked around, astounded at the progress her eldest had already made on a home. Then, she sighed, waved to the woman who was painting on the pier, and headed back to the boat that had brought her here. Maybe next time, she could see her daughter. She missed her so much. The house seemed empty without Charlie, especially now that their elderly dog had passed away. Sadly, Kali climbed aboard and had the driver take her home.

Greta glanced over at the stylish woman who had waved to her, wondering who it was absently, then went back to some serious painting. There was money to be earned, and a house to have finished. The woman who had waved was quickly forgotten.

Chapter 4.4 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 4.6