The Patch up (Harvey X Reader)

Spring Chill

     The chill from the early spring air swirls around me, lifting small bumps upon my skin. The sun barely on the rise, a soft glow forming on the horizon. I look at the bus stop ahead of me, not much to carry along with me, some clothes and the remainder of my bank account i had emptied before my journey. Ready to move on from the sorrows of the dead end corporate ladder. The empty feeling it left in my chest almost leaving it numbing into my brain as well. The bleak cubicles, unhappy coworkers, and stench of despair  filling my mind. Feeling bad to those who have no choice. 

   A few months ago, my grandfather had passed leaving me the family farm to me, my mother now too in her own world to consider doing it herself. I remember being there when i was younger, spending my summers with my grandfather picking berries from bushes and visiting the beach to look for shells and swim at the shore. A small smile lifts upon the corner of my mouth before quickly dropping again. The guilt washes over me, for not visiting in the recent years. My teen years a blur to me now, unsure on why i never returned, i had always planned on it but life got in the way a bit. Especially When my parents found themselves divorced late into my teens. 

   I wonder what has changed from my foggy memory, not that i remember much. The taste of fresh berries and the laughs of my grandmother still forever ingrained in my soul, the smile on my grandfathers face watching my grandmother  wade in the beach water with me, another one. I wonder if that is something that only comes once in a century. True genuine love. My eyes beginning to tear at the thought and the pain returning from my parents own faults. More guilt sitting on my shoulder knowing my grandfather spent his last years alone after she passed the ache he must have felt inside him till the day he finally joined her again.

   A voice cutting through my thoughts like a sharp knife tearing through fabric . "you waiting for the valley bus?"  a man besides me speaks up. He isn't too tall maybe an inch taller than me, unsure if that has to do with his age or just plain old genetics. His grey hair beginning to shine in the dim orange lit sky.  His shirt green with suspenders slung over his shoulders and his face fitted with an equally greying moustache.

   "Yes, Bus shouldn't be too far now" I send a smile his way, placing my hands into my sweatshirts pocket, my eyes now fitted on the road in front of us. My backpack shifting on my shoulder as i do.

   "Oh, perfect" he says "Is this your first visiting?" He questions, balancing his weight on one foot, and switching to the other. 

   "No actually, many times when i was younger. I haven't been since i was around 12 though, I'm taking a huge chance moving there " I say probably making a fool of myself by offering up too much information to this man i just met. I've always been bad at that. Too anxious to watch my mouth before blurting it out in a untimely manner.

   "No way! you must be the new farmer?" He excitedly asks "Are you moving into your grandfathers old farm?" 

   "Yeah actually" i rub the back of my neck sheepishly looking at the ground, weeds growing through the cracks of the sidewalk below my feet. " its all so new to me"

   He gives me a grin extends his hand towards mine. "well very nice to meet you, we actually spoke over the phone earlier this week. My names Lewis, the mayor of the valley. I actually forgot you were coming today. Great luck of you to find yourself here at the same time to me" He says almost a little too confidently. He gives me a wide grin, hand still extended. waiting for me to shake it.

   I mentally kick myself, Feeling a bit dumb for not being able to recognize his voice from our earlier phone call, i shake the hand before me. " Very nice to meet you Lewis, I'm excited to return." More happy memories pop in my head before a question forms "Did you know my grandfather well?"

   "of course i did, i know everyone in the valley its kind of hard not to with how small it is. I may not have been the mayor when you were younger but i do remember a vibrancy brought to the valley when your grandfather would string you along on his chores" He smiles at the memory, before turning to see the bus approaching in the distance, the huff of the engine growing louder as we watch it up the road.

   The bus now stopped in front of us, the squeaky door folding  to allow us on, the hum of the idle almost vibrating my skull as a step on the staircase. Lewis had held his arm out as a invitation to me to board first. I let my feet guide to me to a seat in the front of the bus. The seat too cold to my liking, Lewis takes a seat, not directly next to me but not too far either. A bubble rises in my throat when i think about my grandfather.

   I turn to Lewis and before thinking question him "was he taken care of towards the end? Did he have people around him?" The anxiety probably showing itself on my face.

   He turns to me and sends me a soft smile before speaking "yes, he was. I myself and a few other you will meet later were always there for him. Our resident doctor always checking on him and making sure he was comfortable. You do not have to worry about that miss. we all take care of each other."

  I sigh with a sense of relief, the guilt still not eased completely  though. "Thank Yoba, and thank you for being there when i wasn't" I breathe a Shakey response out, playing with the sleeves of my sweater and biting my lip nervously. 

  Lewis just smiles at me and looks out the window at the growing wildflowers on the side of the road while the bus makes it journey. I look a the passing colors while daydreaming about the valley, anxious and unsure of myself. what will my life become here? Not to mention the fact i have little knowledge on what to do with a farm. I mean the most obvious response is duh.... to farm. I had only helped my grandfather when i was young, never actually did any of it on my own. I'm not sure he would've even trusted me with his harvests and I'm not sure why he did now. 

  "We will be home in about 3 hours, its a long ride, but so worth it. The valley is a special place take a lot of pride in. Everyone has been so excited to meet you miss. Being a small town like i said... it's almost what anyone can talk about" He lets out a small airy laugh at the last part. I can see the expression on his face is sincere. 

  I nod at him not knowing what to say with the anxiety washing over me i return my gaze to the passing trees and mountains.