1.8- The Finale

It was nearing my birthday and I was enjoying watching my teenager Indigo blossom into a lovely young woman. She was proving every day that she could handle her own life.

 I thought back over my life in Lunar Lakes. I had come here with one goal, to grow the roots that started one of the strongest families this isolated planet had seen. And while it hadn't turned out the way I had intended in the beginning, I wouldn't change it for the world.

Indi was at work on my birthday. I hadn't wanted a fuss, so it was better that I was home alone.

 

 

I had only vague memories of my mother at this point, but I imagined I looked a lot like her.

Despite my advanced years now, I continued to be active and run my household like I always had.

My garden took precedence still and I was able to start making plans for when Indi took over the family when it was her birthday in a few days time.

I talked with Indi the day of her birthday about what it would mean for her to be my heir. I apoligised that it was all on her, I had no other children or family around to help her. But she was strong, like me, and I knew she'd do me proud.

It was a quite celebration for Indi's birthday. But that was the way it had always been for our tiny family. I know that even though it's the end of my time as matriach of the family, Indi will continue to take the family to new heights. And I will help her in anyway I can will I'm still here....



Ivy Dare

Founder



 

1.7- One Found, One Lost

The years had been kind to me. I had come here to Lunar Lakes as a young adult, barely out of high school. And now I had a nice little prosperous garden, I had a nice comfortable home and I had a beautiful teenage daughter.

Indigo had settled in to her high school a few months ago. She was quite popular and she was always on the phone after school.

Every now and then she'd have a friend over. But more and more frequently this boy Tyler was coming around. I didn't mind seeing Indi with Tyler, he seemed like a nice young boy.

After a few weeks, Indi and Tyler got together. I was kind of proud of my little girl. I'd never had a high school sweetheart, and I was so happy for her and Tyler.

But as much time that Indi spent with her friends or her boyfriend, she always made time for her mum. And for that I was glad.

I made sure I taught her how to cook, and clean and fix minor things around the house. That way when she took over as heir she'd have all the housekeeping skills I had to learn in those first few lonely months.

Indi and I were close and I was thankful every day that I had her.

It had been over 15 years since I'd last seen Jarret, Indi's father, but when I heard about his passing away it still broke my heart. I knew he was elderly now, I knew that day would come eventually when he died, and even though I was no longer in love with him, I was surprised by how upset I was by his death.

I decided not to mention it to Indi just yet. It was her school formal, and after all, she'd never met the man and never expressed any inclination that she actually wanted to either. So I let my daughter get ready for her school dance in peace.

Tyler picked her up in a limo and the young couple jetted off to their dance.

I took the opportunity that night to head to the town's cemetary. I thought it would only be right for me to pay respect to the man that gave me the most important thing in my life. I would put aside my opinion of the man for one night, and mourn for him.

That night I let go of all those tears I had held on to for the past 15 or so years. I forgave him for being married and not telling me, I forgave him for not fighting to keep me, I forgave him for not ever calling or checking in on me in those long months and years after I left. And I forgave myself for holding on to all that anger for so long. I felt a bit hollow as I headed home, but refreshed and ready for the next stage in my life.

Meanwhile Indi had an amazing night with Tyler. That night, we sat up talking about the dance and about my trip to the cemetary.

I think Indi wasn't too bothered by her father's death, as she kindly told me, he wasn't her father, just a man from my past.

Time heals all wounds and soon I put Jarret's death behind me and carried on with life. I took to walking around the town during the day while Indi was a at school. I loved finding random things in the sand around the town.

Between the gems and metals I was finding around town and my garden produce, I was earning enough money to keep the bills paid and food on the table.

I had found an old gem cutter one day in the local store and I used it to cut some of the gems I found around town.

Indi's skills around the house were improving. She was a hard-working girl and she made me proud every day.

One day she came home saying she'd managed to get an afternoon job at the cemetary. I was a little concerned about her spending time in a dark crypt after school, but she was set on earning some money, so I let her carry on as she wanted.

Indi worked so hard. She came home from school, worked on her homework for an hour or two then headed off to work and didn't get home until nearly midnight. I just hoped she wasn't going to work herself into the ground.

1.6- Growing Years

Life was going along smoothly. Against the odds I had raised a lovely young girl, all alone. But I felt like I had a weight sitting on my shoulders. It would only be a matter of time before Indi asked me who her father was, and I still had no answer ready.

While Indi was at school I tended to my garden. It was my sanctuary. When I had been heartbroken after Indi's father and I split this place had helped me. Now I used my time in the garden to contemplate how to tell my daughter my biggest mistake.

I wondered what Indi thought about her missing father. Obviously she had to have known that she had a father once, but as the days went past I kept expecting to hear that question from her. And it never came.

Eventually I came to the conclusion that when my daughter asked me, I'd tell her the truth. That I had fallen in love, I had been betrayed and I out of that mistake I had been given the greatest gift.

Once I had my answer ready, I decided not to wait for Indi to ask. So over dinner one night I began to tell her the story. But before I had even properly begun Indi stopped me, smiled that sweet smile and told me it didn't matter what had happened before, it was in the past, we should move forward.

I was so proud of my baby. It was her birthday about a week later and I made sure I cooked her cake ready. We spoke no more on the matter of her father.

I was a little sad that for my girl's birthday I was the only one present.

She was a beautiful young woman.

I did eventually tell Indi about her father. Quickly before she could stop me, I told her that her father was the well-known business mogul Jarrett Sanchez, and after I found out he was married I left him. After that night, we spoke no more on the matter.

I never did find out what Indi thought of my revelation; life has a way of healing old wounds and moving on.

As the weeks flew by Indi settled in to the local high school. She was quite popular, and she was always on that phone.

I loved my daughter, and don't get me wrong we got along great, but that damn phone was being glued to her ear more and more.

1.5- Time Flies

My little baby girl Indigo was growing up so fast. She loved every minute of the day and I loved watching her grow.

We still loved taking walks around the town and now that Indi was starting to talk I would tell her all about the town and how I came to be in this town.

Indi loved to hear stories and I would read her every night. I would tell her stories of her family back in Twinbrook, and stories from here in Lunar Lakes. But the story I never told her was that of her father. I was glad she was too young to ask about him.

Time really does fly and soon it was Indigo's birthday. This time I wasn't going to skip out on the celebration.

My little Indi looked just like I did when I was her age. I was kind of thankful that she didn't take after her father.

I'd been having a good few months of harvesting my garden so I'd been able to spring for an addition to the house.

Indi finally had a room of her own.

Indi picked out the loft bed, and loved it.

My garden was producing some pretty good fruits and vegies, but I still needed money and the bills were creeping up. So I took some of my fresh produce and transformed it into other things. Sometimes I was unlucky and wound up with a toadstool or something, but I was getting better and better at conjuring up gemstones and metals.

Indi started school that fall. She was a quiet girl, like I was, and I hoped she'd fit in.

Indi wasn't really worried about starting school, she was just excited to meet all her classmates.

It was a little weird when Indi went off to school, it was the first time in years that I was alone in the house.

 I made sure I stayed busy during the day. Either in my garden, or out at the town. Now that I didn't have Indi with me my old insecurities returned and I got a little worried about seeing her father Jarrett out in the town.

I was so proud of Indi, she loved school and always made sure she finished her homework.

We were really close, Indi and I.

On the weekends I made sure she took a break from her homework, and we went out in the town.

I loved showing Indi around the town, one of our favourite places to go was down to the old crater. I loved visiting the beach there when I was pregnant and now Indi and I loved spending our weekends there.

Indi was such a happy young girl. Watching her play around in the water made me so proud. But I was a little worried, she'd never asked me about her father and I knew it was only a matter of time. What was I going to tell her?

I decided I wasn't going to wait for Indi to ask me. But when we were swimming out in that great big old crater and I looked at her smiling, innocent face, and I just couldn't bring up the subject of the biggest mistake of my life.

Over the next few weeks I thought more about how to tell Indi about her father. But I just kept thinking that if I told Indi that I had had an affair with a married man she'd hate me.