Green Valley

Prologue

"I c-can't do it. I love you so much, you know. My little- Summer. Summer Pate-"

"Mollie? Let's GO! We don't have time for last-minute naming!"

"Coming! Mr. Gregg, please be careful with her!" 

"Hurry it up, would you?!"

"Coming!"

"Mollie, are you sure you want to do this?"

"I have to,"

"Do you know how much danger you are putting her under?"

"I know, Mr. Gregg. I just hope she gets there safely. And from there, I hope she grows up to be strong, beautiful, compassionate, and talented. I hope she is always kind and forgiving. I hope she finds good people to take her. I hope she has a good life,"

"Well, you know what they say about hope, Mollie. Breeds internal misery,"

"Oh, will you stop it! I will move past this! Your job isn't to poke around my life, making it miserable, is it, sir? Just take her safely! And I will forget about it, believe it or not,""

"Will, you? Mollie, I knew a girl just like you. She was very vulnerable and was easily hurt by big events. I know that you won't be moving on from this decision in the next couple decades,"

"Oh, for the Lord's sake, Mr. Gregg. Stop it! Or I'll leave this train right this instant with her! Let's talk about something else. What will be the name that goes down in the records?"

"What did you name her prior to getting on the train?"

"Summer,"

"Then her name would be Summer Yates in the records,"

"No! She can't have my last name!" 

"And why is that, Mollie?"

"Because I don't want her ever finding me,"

"Sorry? Mollie, I thought this was temporary! You'd send her off for maybe 20 years, then visit her!"

"Didn't you hear what I said before? I don't want her ever finding me!"

"So what should her name be, if it ain't Summer Yates?"

"I don't know,"

"Mollie! We don't have all year for this! The train just stopped at her destination! Are you even ready to let go of her?"

"Yes! Take her! I don't ever want her to see me again! Take her someplace safe and make sure they are good people! I love you, Summer!"

~🥀~

"Winston! Come down, dear! The baby is here!"

"Good God! Virginia, how excited I am!"

"Good evening, sir. I am Mr. Anthony Gregg. This is the baby girl you two decided to foster. Her first name is Summer. She doesn't have a last name,"

"Well, Virginia and I will just call her.. Summ! Sum! Dim Sum!"

"Oh, Winston, what a good one!"

"Sir! That is extremely rude!"

"My apologies, Mr. Grey,"

"Gregg,"

"Oh, sorry. Mr. Gregg,"

".................."

"Uh- Well you might as well get going, Mr. Gregg!"

"Right. Here. Be careful, she's still very new to this world. She's very fragile,"