Forever Yours

Chapter Two

Southwestern Michigan was a huge change from New York City. Mt. Olympia was a small town that sat beside Lake Michigan, its gentle waves lapping at the shore. Trees lined the streets that consisted of a general store, a grocery store, one burger joint, and three gas stations. If you wanted to do anything fun, you'd have to go to the next town over, Kilma. Makaria liked it. It was a huge difference from living in the big city, something she didn't know she needed until then. People tended to keep to themselves, minding their own business; however at one hint of gossip, and rumors flew like wildfire.

Rumors flew about why Penelope had returned after eighteen years of no contact, from running away from home because of the girl who went everywhere with her to an abusive husband that was looking for her. However, her parents were quick to put them to rest.

Upon meeting them, Makaria understood why her mother had never spoken about them. Zack Astrapi was a man in his early seventies, white hair and beard with wrinkles surrounding his grey eyes, the same grey eyes Penelope had. He liked to laugh, always telling some kind of joke whether it be appropriate or inappropriate to the situation. Carefree and likable, Zack was nice. Makaria enjoyed spending time with him.

However there were a few things wrong with him, some that caught her attention the second day they were there. He was, for lack of a better word, a philanderer. A pretty woman walks by and he'd be on her like white on rice. Makaria was too scared to ask if he's ever cheated on her grandmother; not of the answer, but of the number. He also liked storms. Liked liked storms, to the point that it seemed like a obsessive compulsion with him. He'd wake up, check the weather channel, eat breakfast, check the weather channel, get dressed, check the weather channel, etc. He always said a storm could just pop up and appear at any time. "Need to be prepared, just in case," he'd say. Makaria just nodded her head, too afraid to ask any questions. Their small red farm house was decked out with lightning rods, windchimes, and other items you'd use to keep track of the weather.

Dema Prasinos (Penelope's parents weren't married, but lived with each other for over 50 years) was a woman on a mission and pity the person who got in her way. Her dark brown hair had silver streaking through it and was always up in a messy knot atop of her head, light emerald eyes shining back at you from under dark bangs. She smiled often, but could be overbearing most days. Dema didn't seem to mind all of Zack's flirting or his strange obsession with the weather. She has her mind on other things, green things to be exact. The one thing positive Makaria could say about her grandmother was that she could garden. Nothing ever died in her presence, her green thumb seemingly having magical powers to bring plants back to life. In the months that they lived there, she would watch as customers brought in their dead plants only to watch as Dema would bring them back to their previous vibrant green leafy selves. They just seemed to thrive under her care. She'd spend all day, if she could, out in her garden; planting seeds, watering what was growing, weeding and harvesting what needed to be picked. Even in the winter, its where you'd find her. "Nothing dies," she'd say, her hands wrist deep in soil. "It just sleeps." Trees and wide open fields were pretty much the landscape in any direction, wheat and corn fields as far as the eye could see. Penelope's parents lived on a farm just outside of town, wheat fields surrounding their small house. They owned the only general store in town, The Lightning Garden; named after her father's hobby of tracking lighting and her mother's love of all things green.

Watching as the car pulled up their long driveway, they rushed out to greet them, overexcited at finally being able to see Penelope and Makaria. Especially Makaria. Penelope just smiled and hugged them, while Makaria gathered their stuff together. She didn't know what to say to the strangers in front of her, and they were strangers. Penelope, on the other hand, couldn't answer their questions fast enough.