Riverblossom Hills: Wan/Shikibu (R1)
Patricia Wan and Cleo Shikibu have been best friends for a long time. When Catherine - Cleo's aunt - lost her husband, she decided to let Cleo have her old house, and moved in with her own best friend, Betty Goldstein. Cleo asked Patricia to come with her to Riverblossom Hills, and so, here they are.
Just after redecorating their new house, they discovered that the roof and entire top floor were infested with fungi! Or... I decided that it was too much space for them. Either or.
So here's their NEW new house.
Cleo is a moderately famous singer and guitarist, and is making pretty good money. Although she enjoys music, it's not necessarily something she wants to keep doing her whole life. Her true passion is money, wherever they might come from. Right now, she's just taking one day at a time and enjoying life.
Enjoying life involves lots of parties - both she and Patricia love throwing them.
Cleo has been taking an interest in their neighbour, farmer Leod McGreggor.
Patricia knows that it's nothing serious, though. She cannot imagine Cleo being a farmer's wife. Besides, Cleo has also been keeping an eye on widower Andrew Martin for a while, waiting for the right moment... You have to be a little subtle around a guy who lost his wife not all that long ago.
Patricia, against her own better judgement, is already commited. Gabe O'Mackey charmed his way into her heart shortly after she and Cleo moved into town.
Unfortunately, now when the initial infatuation has died down a bit, Patricia is beginning to realize that she finds Gabe to be a little... boring. All he seems to talk about is his students, and of course, his insufferable daughter. Patricia has tried, she really has, but Jules just refuses to give her a chance.
Honestly, Patricia wouldn't have minded getting to know Leod a little better too, if she was free to do so. And she and Cleo are certainly not alone...
But Cleo is still a step ahead of her competition. Patricia finds it a little strange that Cleo is involved with the same man as her aunt, casual as it might be. Sometimes, she wonders a little bit about Andrew Martin too... Living with those two old women. Is it all really completely platonic?
Patricia works as a fact checker for the local newspaper. She's highly critical of her own writing, and always reads her own articles when the newspaper is delivered at their door in the mornings.
She's also working on her own book, her very first one. It's a rather cheesy romance novel, but Patricia considers it practice more than anything. She dreams of being a famous author someday.
Cleo works late nights, and when she has the evening off, there's usually a party at their house... But during the day, things tend to be calm in the Wan/Shikibu home.
Patricia and Cleo often watch movies together, or they try to - usually they get distracted by conversation. The two of them share pretty much everything, including Patricia's doubts about Gabe.
And then one day, somewhat hesitantly, Patricia tells Cleo that Gabe has asked her to marry him - and she said yes.
Cleo, always a very honest person, doesn't immediately congratulate her. "Pat, are you sure that's a good idea?" she asks.
No, Patricia is not sure. But Gabe is such a sweet and loving guy... She should be happy! And he's been hurt so badly before. Patricia can't bear the thought of breaking his heart once again.
It's not like she doesn't love him. She just needs to find that spark again. And she thinks she knows just the thing...
So while Cleo practises her guitar...
... Patricia goes searching for the spark.
The sun sets, and Patricia and Gabe are still in the bedroom. Cleo leaves for work.
Eventually, the pair come out to have some late and simple dinner.
Patricia is trying hard to hide her disappointment. It wasn't quite what she was expecting - and I don't mean the mac'n cheese.
Gabe doesn't seem to notice. He seems perfectly content, in fact, and is talking about wedding plans. Patricia smiles and nods the best she can.
"Hey, why aren't you wearing your ring?" Gabe asks all of a sudden. Patricia's heart skips a beat.
"I-I forgot," she says, and it's at least a little true. She didn't want to put it on the morning, and forgot to do so before Gabe came over. "I'm just not used to wearing a ring yet, so I forgot after I had my shower."
Cleo was right - Patricia's made a mistake... But where does she go from here?