The Salk Island West Legacy Gen. 2, Ch. 1

Generation 2 Chapter 1 Lars, Penny and the others soon found a routine to their days. There was good fishing to be had by the old, falling-down mill, and every day at least one of them was there – and quite often most of them! Penny was the best gardener among them, though she was planning to train Janet up as soon as she needed the help, and under her care the garden was coming on nicely. Between them all, they cleared the site – and built a small toilet hut as soon as possible! This had once been a decent-sized house from the look of it, and the foundations were still there, which would make building for themselves easier. While all this activity was going on over there, back at The Hut, life was proceeding at a quieter pace. Petranella had grown up, and inherited some rather faded clothes from her older sisters. But even with Lars’ stores, they needed to make things last as long as possible, so Petranella had to make do with what there was. She felt a bit lonely sometimes – the family seemed much smaller now. Bothe Perdita and Thorold had definitely moved into being adults too. And Nell was aware that she was getting older – there were definite grey streaks appearing in her hair. Perdita was more and more in love with Thorold – and he with her! Whenever she got the chance, she would ask Nell what marriage was like, how did you and Jon manage to have such a happy one, will I be able to do it as well as you did? Jon’s grey hairs weren’t quite so obvious, but they were there. The hard life that he and Nell had led since coming to the island had taken its toll on them both. As he hugged Petranella, he reflected ruefully that he probably wouldn’t have as much time with his youngest daughter as he would have liked. But then, they might have all been drowned in that storm, and then he wouldn’t have had her at all – so he was going to make the most of his now. Thorold had his own ideas about making the most of his now! One sunny morning, when no-one else was around at that moment, he knelt at Perdita’s feet, and asked her to marry him. Perdita had no hesitation at all in accepting! As they sat by the fire that night, everyone was fizzing with happiness.
“We need to celebrate this properly,” Nell said. “This is really important. We need to make a proper occasion of it. Wedding clothes and everything – we’ll raid Lars’ stores, and get sewing, you and I. We’re going to make this a whole island event!” Another family was sitting round a fire, talking and thinking about Perdita and Thorold’s news. Penny’s feelings were mixed. On the one hand, of course she was pleased for her sister. But she and Perdita had always been so close. Now Perdita was going somewhere she couldn’t follow her – heading for experiences she would never share. Lars’ feelings were mixed too – he was so happy for Thorold, but he did so wish Ingrid could have been here to share their joy.
He could tell that Penny wasn’t as happy as she might be, either – one of the advantages of age was, after all, experience! After the meal, and as the younger ones were heading for bed, Lars spoke to Penny. “It’s hard for you, isn’t it? I know you’re pleased for her, and that you don’t grudge Perdita her joy – but it’s still not easy. Let’s go for a walk – then we can talk without waking the children” They walked to the empty house on the headland, where Penny and Perdita had been when the storm was brewing. The sky was thick with stars, and Penny felt oddly comforted by their sheer number and brilliance.
“Don’t let this drive a wedge between you. I know it isn’t easy, seeing another’s joy, when you know it won’t be yours – I’ve found it hard seeing Jon and Nell together sometimes – but don’t let it spoil things. I know it’s not easy, but I do think you’re loving enough to do it.” Penny was so grateful – here was someone she could talk to! She spilled out all her confusion and resentment, and worries, and Lars listened patiently. And by the end of the telling, she felt so much better.
“Thank you Lars – I didn’t feel like there was anyone I could talk to! Nell and Jon would have just worried, and it would have spoilt things for them – thank you for listening!” They walked back together to the tents, and Penny felt that now she was ready to enjoy helping with all the preparations for the wedding. “This is my wedding day!” Perdita could hardly believe it. Something that she had thought would never – could never – happen had arrived. She and Nell and Penny had raided Lars’ stores, and spent many happy hours sitting together sewing. She was so grateful for Penny’s support and help – and had told her so, in a rather tearful conversation one day.
“I feel guilty, because you’re not having this,” Perdita had said, sniffing somewhat. “We’ve always done everything together, and now we’re not.”
“I know what you mean. But it’s okay, Perdita, truly. You are and always will be my sister.” Jon and Lars had built an arch for them to stand under, and Nell had planted flowers round it, and woven flowers through it.
“And I am a ship’s captain,” Lars had said. “And as such, I am allowed to conduct weddings!”
The whole family had new clothes, in the traditional colours – gold and yellows for the bride and groom to signify the sun shining on them all the days of their marriage, and blues and golds and yellows for the guests; the blue for the blessing of heaven on their marriage.
“And after the wedding, we’ll store these carefully, for the next wedding,” Nell said, but only to herself. “I wish I had some lavender though, to keep them smelling nice.” Nell had been right – this was worth celebrating properly. They had got so far, survived so much – this wedding was a triumph in its own right! Thorold and Perdita were married as the sun set – wedding or no wedding, there had still been a lot of work to do that day. Their whole family was around them – some of them were crying openly! All of them were happy, and moved, in equal measure. It was a few weeks later, and Nell, Jon, Thorold, Perdita and Petranella were all sitting round the fire, eating.
“Nell and I have been thinking,” Jon said. “And we’ve discussed this with Lars too, and he agrees, as your ship is no more.”
Thorold and Perdita looked up from their food.
“We all think that you two should inherit The Hut. And the gardens, and everything. This place is well-established now.” “Us?” Thorold was amazed. “Yes. While we’re still strong enough to help you, we can expand the gardens, get a bit more building done. You’re bound to have a family – and I know Nell’s also made maternity clothes already! It’s hard getting established while you’re trying to bring up young children as well – we know, we’ve done it! – so this will make things easier for you.”
“But what about the others? Is this fair?”
“By the time Joshua is old enough to marry – he’s only just entering adolescence at the moment – Lars and the others will be well set up where they are. They’re doing nicely already.” “What about me?” Petranella piped up. “Where do I go?”
“You can live here for ever, if you want. You can go and live with Penny, Janet and the others for ever if you want. You can spend part of your time there, and part of your time here. We’re still all a family, you know – we’re just not all in one place any more.”
“Oh. That’s all right then. Just so I know.” Petranella did decide to go and live with Penny, Janet and the others for a while though. She was beginning to feel lonely with no other young ones around. And Brigit was great fun to play with – and despite there always being work that needed doing, they seemed to find time to play. Everything’s changing, she thought. But I think I do like change. It’s exciting. Everything was changing in more ways than one. Perdita took Thorold down to the cove to tell him some very exciting news. This was where his life had so nearly ended – she thought it was a good place to tell him that a new life was beginning.