Ultimate Decades Challenge - Day 32 - Year 1307 - Updated Nov. 17

Thomas was up early to tend his garden. He wanted to get done with his chores quickly so that he could get to town and perhaps see Kimberly there again… It was raining on and off, but Thomas didn’t mind. He really liked gardening and he whistled while he worked.

Caitlin came out and touched his shoulder gently. “Let me finish up here. Your father is going to town soon, you can go with him.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course!”
https://i.ibb.co/VJthjpS/10-18-23-7-55-05-PM.png

Thomas had some breakfast while he waited for his father to be ready. Caitlin finished the gardening and came inside. She noticed Thomas admiring the tapestry again.

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” she whispered, coming to stand beside him. It was his mother that had taught him to love art.

“Yes. Where did you get it?”

“A noble in town was just going to throw it away! All it needed was some cleaning. Anyway, I saved it.”
https://i.ibb.co/87KmBRN/10-18-23-7-57-50-PM.png

Thomas smiled. That was just like her.

“Speaking of town,” she added, “do you think you could get some flowers for the kitchen?”
https://i.ibb.co/y6QZrHz/10-18-23-7-59-16-PM.png

“Flowers?”

“Yes, some daisies. You know, your father would bring me daisies all the time when he was courting me. It was very sweet…”

“Alright, mother. I will try to find some for you.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In town Edward attended to some business while Thomas did some fishing. He wanted to catch some more fish to sell so that he’d have enough money for daisies. His mother had given him an idea.

He sold his fish and then made his way to Agatha’s gardening stall. He purchased two daisies. One for his mother, and one for Kimberly if he met her in town again. He hoped that he would.
https://i.ibb.co/ZJCN6fc/10-18-23-8-07-44-PM.png

He lingered in town longer than he needed to, hoping to see her. Some townsfolk were eating some food together and invited Thomas to have some. He hungrily accepted.
https://i.ibb.co/NjvzPh7/10-18-23-8-10-09-PM.png

He didn't see Kimberly, but he did see her father, Benjamin. As a blacksmith, he often had business in town. Thomas asked if Kimberly was with him today, but she wasn't; she was at home.
https://i.ibb.co/PrKXQ5j/10-18-23-8-13-35-PM.png

“Sir, there’s something I’d like to give her…”

“Come by the park in the Bramblewood later, Thomas, we’ll be there.”
https://i.ibb.co/Ms4yRLs/10-18-23-8-13-59-PM.png

“Thank you, sir!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

At home, Caitlin showed Thomas how to make homemade butter with the milk he had bought. Then he remembered the flowers.
https://i.ibb.co/nkKP2GW/10-18-23-8-52-07-PM.png

“Here, mother.”
https://i.ibb.co/n1r0DbL/10-18-23-8-54-30-PM.png

“Oh, Thomas, it’s beautiful! Thank you.”

“Do you think we could visit the Bramblewood later? The blacksmith in town, Benjamin Nettle, he said he’d be there…” he looked sheepishly up at his mother and continued, “with his daughter, Kimberly. I’d like to give her one of those daisies…”
https://i.ibb.co/KV0DCtW/10-18-23-8-56-40-PM.png

“What a lovely idea!” Caitlin was grinning from ear to ear.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They arrived at the park and Benjamin was there with his daughter like he had promised. The adults sat and talked, giving Thomas some opportunity to talk to Kimberly privately.
https://i.ibb.co/qWScGST/10-18-23-9-01-50-PM.png

He gave her the daisy and she smiled, pressing it to her nose. “It’s lovely.”
https://i.ibb.co/jRzFj9Q/10-18-23-9-02-41-PM.png

And she gave him a rose in return! Thomas was surprised! Had she planned this?
https://i.ibb.co/b7hVN6Q/10-18-23-9-03-06-PM.png

They sat down at one of the tables and talked about art.
https://i.ibb.co/0n01jGw/10-18-23-9-04-49-PM.png

Their parents seemed quite distracted and so Thomas whispered, “There’s a place nearby I’d like to show you.”
https://i.ibb.co/rm34hKF/10-18-23-9-06-17-PM.png

The two of them snuck away to some stone ruins.

Kimberly looked around, “What is this place?”
https://i.ibb.co/sF8nS7y/10-18-23-9-08-06-PM.png

“I’m not sure. Perhaps an old village, but…” he looked around until he found the stump of the tree he was looking for. “Here. I heard a rumor that if you sing to the birds here, they may give you a gift in return.”
https://i.ibb.co/8BsPsxp/10-18-23-9-09-37-PM.png

“Oh, they are so cute!” she exclaimed. “What kind of music do you think they like?”
https://i.ibb.co/mzsFSGf/10-18-23-9-10-24-PM.png

"What would a bird like?” Thomas wondered. "A soft melody, perhaps."

“Maybe, a love song?” Kimberly asked.

Kimberly began to sing, quietly and softly at first, and then passionately.
https://i.ibb.co/DYT78dp/10-18-23-9-11-34-PM.png
https://i.ibb.co/Lk950M7/10-18-23-9-11-35-PM.png

Thomas could tell she loved to sing. And her voice was beautiful. The birds seemed to think so too, because they gave her a gift.
https://i.ibb.co/KqgSS0L/10-18-23-9-12-22-PM.png

It started raining again and the two of them played in the rain.
https://i.ibb.co/vC9KbkP/10-18-23-9-13-00-PM.png

They got carried away talking and flirting, and Kimberly even blew Thomas a kiss. He felt himself growing very smitten by her.
https://i.ibb.co/T4MPsTK/10-18-23-9-13-39-PM.png
https://i.ibb.co/k04gtyK/10-18-23-9-14-23-PM.png

He took her hands in his. “Kimberly…I’d like to meet you here again sometime, if you’d like.”
https://i.ibb.co/D7HwxWF/10-18-23-9-15-45-PM.png

“Yes, I’d like that very much.”

“You’re voice is beautiful.”

“Thank you, Thomas.” And she gave him an embrace.
https://i.ibb.co/Lkyqdyg/10-18-23-9-16-17-PM.png

Thomas felt his heart racing. He thought suddenly of their parents, back at the park.

“We should probably get back before they notice we’re gone," he said reluctantly.
https://i.ibb.co/6XFc5dQ/10-18-23-9-16-58-PM.png

Thankfully, if they noticed anything, they didn’t let on.
https://i.ibb.co/9cP2yQX/10-18-23-9-16-28-PM.png

They spent the rest of the evening playing games and talking. Thomas couldn’t wait to see Kimberly again.
https://i.ibb.co/LvhkDVf/10-18-23-9-22-09-PM.png

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Elizabeth had been feeling sad all day. John noticed and went to her.

"My dear, whatever is the matter? You have been down all day. It pains me to see you thus."
https://i.ibb.co/8s47X2P/10-18-23-9-28-25-PM.png

"Oh, John. I'm afraid I'm just feeling a little bit jealous of my sister, Anna. You see...I haven't been able to think of a name for the cow."

He looked confused. "The cow?"

"Yes, and when I was thinking of names, I could only think of what I would want to name our child if we had one."

"Ah, I see," he whispered. "My dear, we will have a child soon, don't fret."
https://i.ibb.co/BfL2hvD/10-18-23-9-28-35-PM.png

"And as for the cow," he added, "why not call her Belle? A beautiful name for a beautiful cow! However no beauty can outshine your beauty, my dear."
https://i.ibb.co/6JxbCWZ/10-18-23-9-30-16-PM.png

"I'm glad I am more beautiful than our cow," she laughed.
https://i.ibb.co/SR5Tzny/10-18-23-9-28-49-PM.png

"You are more beautiful than all the flowers in all the fields."
https://i.ibb.co/26BfRxC/10-18-23-9-29-40-PM.png