“Sun”-day has arrived, and I wake up anticipating my meetup with Marvel later today. My cheeks hurt from smiling about it. After getting dressed, I head outside to check on Finesse when my phone suddenly rings. I check it, happy to see my old friend Desi on the caller ID. I answer immediately.
Tambara: *on the phone* Desi! What’s up! Long time no see. I was just thinking about inviting you to the ranch.
Desiree: *on the phone* Hey, girl! No need, I’m in Chestnut Ridge visiting my cousins, and I wanted to stop by and see your ranch first.
Tambara: You’re here in town?
Desiree: Yup. I can pull up in a bit.
We end the call, and before I can even finish patting down Finesse’s coat, she’s already here, looking as beautiful as ever and definitely no longer a teen in high school. We hug.
Tambara: Desi! It’s so good to see you.
Desiree: It’s good to see you too.
She takes a step back.
Desiree: Okay, so… guess what? I’m married now!
We both squeal at her news.
When the excitement of Desi’s news begins to fade, the shock starts to set in. While she takes a moment to get a good look at Finesse, I use the time to process. Married? But she’s younger than me. First Kisha, and now Desi. Am I the only one in my friend group behind on everything?
Desiree: Your horse is beautiful.
Tambara: Thank you!
But I’m not thinking about Finesse right now.
Tambara: So when did this marriage happen? And why wasn’t I invited to the wedding?
I’m a little hurt. I don’t even know who she married.
Desiree: There was no wedding. Josh and I eloped.
Tambara: Wait, you mean Josh Allen, the one you went to the prom with?
They make a cute couple, but I didn’t know it was that serious.
Desiree: Yes, my Josh.
I want to hear everything, but first Desi insists that I show her around the ranch.
As we leave Finesse’s paddock, I manage to fit in a few more questions.
Tambara: Were your parents there when you eloped?
Desiree: No. I told them the next morning.
Tambara: Oh my Watcher! What did your dad say to that?
Daddy would have been ready to go to war.
Desiree: He was so mad that I thought his head would explode. Josh was there when I told him. I think that helped him keep his cool a little.
Tambara: I’m surprised Josh is still alive.
Desi chuckles.
Desiree: I guess I am too.
I take her to the barn but avoid mentioning Juanita living in the loft. I also take her down to the nectar cellar and give her a tour of the house. She’s just as awed as I thought she’d be. We eventually decide to settle into the rocking chairs on the front porch.
Although it’s a holiday and she’s supposed to be taking the day off, I see Juanita in the garden digging around in the dirt. Desi spots her too.
Desiree: Who’s that?
Tambara: That’s Juanita. She’s my ranch hand. I told her she has the day off, but I don’t think she can function if she’s not working.
Desi watches Juanita for a while before she walks over to the empty rocking chair.
Desi flops back into the chair and turns to me.
Desiree: So, what about you? Are you seeing anyone?
Tambara: Well, there’s this guy I’m supposed to be meeting up with later today, but we really just met.
Desiree: Oh okay. Do you like him?
Tambara: I don’t know. I enjoy being around him, but at the same time he infuriates me.
Desiree: Oh. How so?
Tambara: We hung out yesterday at this dessert spot he invited me to. But I can’t even tell if he likes me like that or not. But he invited me to this outdoor cinema thing for tonight, which sounds like a date, right?
Desiree: Did you ask him?
Tambara: And embarrass myself if he says it isn’t?
Desi nods, understanding, and pulls out her phone.
Desiree: What’s his Social Bunny? I want to see what he looks like.
I tell her, and Desi finds him immediately.
Desiree: Oh, he’s cute. I love his eyes! Is Marvel his real name?
Tambara: Yep.
Desiree: That makes him even more interesting.
Desi scrolls through his feed for a while before putting her phone away.
Desiree: It doesn’t look like he has a girlfriend. You know what you need to do, right?
Tambara: No.
Desiree: When you meet with him tonight, you need to look so good that he’ll be sure to make the next meetup 100% clear.
Tambara: I don’t know if he’d even notice what I’m wearing.
Desiree: We’ll make sure he notices.
She might be right. I get up to head inside and search my closet.
Desiree: I’ll be inside to help you pick something. But is it cool if I check out the greenhouse first?
Tambara: Of course.
It’s the only part of the ranch that I forgot to show her. She gets up while I go inside to raid my closet.
Juanita is in the greenhouse pulling weeds and watering plants, but she’s still hyper aware of Tami and her friend sitting on the porch. She moved from the garden to the greenhouse to hide, but her plan fails when Miss Tami’s equally beautiful friend opens the door and steps inside.
Desiree: Oh hi! I’m Tami’s friend, Desi.
Juanita rubs her dirty hands on her jeans, feeling self-conscious about her appearance.
Juanita:*shyly* I’m Juanita.
Desi looks around the greenhouse with the bluest eyes Juanita has ever seen.
Desiree: This is amazing. Are these apple trees?
Juanita: Yeah. We also have strawberries, parsley, and carrots.
Desiree: You’ve done a good job with all of this. I love it in here.
Juanita: I do too.
Desiree: Don’t let me stop you. I’ll just sit and take it in for a minute.
Juanita wordlessly walks to the opposite end of the greenhouse to check for weeds in the strawberries. She can only pretend to keep doing that for so long before moving over to the apple trees to do the same.
Desiree: Tami said that the two of you are producing apple and strawberry nectar.
Juanita perks up at Desi’s interested tone.
Juanita: Yeah, we’ll expand the offering once we master the basic fruits. Have you ever heard of potato nectar?
Desi wrinkles her nose.
Desiree: No. That sounds like it would taste awful.
Juanita: You’d be surprised. It’s very drinkable and is a popular variety around here.
Desiree: Really? Maybe I’ll give it a try one day.
Juanita: You should try ours first!
Desi finds me in my closet trying on a few options when she returns from the greenhouse. She shakes her head vigorously at the first dress, but her eyes shine bright at the second option.
Desiree: That’s it right there!
Tambara: You really think so?
Desiree: Yeah. It’s flirty, but in a subtle way. And there’s no way he won’t notice it.
Tambara: This is the one then.
Now that the outfit is picked out, I have a surprise for Desi. I pull out a bottle of nectar.
Tambara: We have to toast your marriage.
I pour two glasses and hand her one.
Desiree: Is this from your cellar?
Tambara: No. This is from the store — no feet involved.
Desiree: What?
Tambara: Nevermind.
I hold up my glass.
Tambara: Here’s to a happy, long-lasting marriage and plenty of woohoo.
Desi grins shyly and chuckles to herself.
Desiree: I’ll toast to that.
We sit down on the ottoman in my closet.
Tambara: So what’s it like being able to woohoo whenever you want to?
Desiree: We’ve only done it once. We still live with my parents. But we’ll be moving into our own place soon.
Tambara: I still can’t believe you’re married.
Desiree: Sometimes I can’t either. Every once in a while I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s real.
Desi and I chat there in my closet, like teens sneaking their first drink, until our glasses are empty. Then she announces that she’d better head out to see her cousins’ new ranch.
Tambara: Don’t be a stranger. We need to hang out a lot more.
Desiree: I agree! Good luck on your “not a date this time,” but next time it sure as hell will be.
I chuckle and then frown a little at Desi’s empty ring finger.
Tambara: Thank you. Tell Josh that I expect to see a big rock on your finger next time I see you or I’m going to be a problem.
Desi laughs before turning to leave.
Note: Thanks to Jess of Stories By Jes2g for trusting me with adding her character, Desiree, to my story as a regular/frequent character
(Generation 5 Chapter Summaries)
