With the Stars and Us - Chapter Six

As quickly as it arrived, summer soon left the island. The once warm air cooled to an almost nippy breeze that seeped into your skin and stained it bright pink. That distinct scent that the air had in autumn cut through the smell of the ocean, something that Mary was surprised to experience. A shiver ran through her body as she struggled to one-handed button up the top buttons on her new jacket; a pale, almost white, blue cardigan that somewhat resembled the lab coat Jin wore with it’s lapels and shoulders. The two of them had a laugh the day before when she walked into the clinic.

She really wasn’t trying to match. When she had seen the coat in the tailor’s shop, it was something she hadn’t worn before. The shape and cut of it felt like something that’d be right at home in her closet. The color though? Mary wore a lot of darker shades with lighter pastels being more of an accent. She wasn’t sure what drew her towards it. It really was simple. Simple but well-made.

Before she could ask if they had the same coat but in a different color, Luna convinced her to go for it. A new season meant new looks! Sometimes something as simple as changing your hairstyle or buying a new outfit, especially if it was outside of your usual aesthetic, could change your whole outlook.

Or something like that. Mary wasn’t sure if she believed in it but the idea of it did sound interesting.

“Oooh, actually… I think I saw something that Candace made that would look so cute on you. Hold on! Don’t leave yet!” Luna called out before bolting to the back of the store. She wasn’t gone for too long but the librarian did consider asking Shelly for a differently colored cardigan. The short girl returned with a teal knee-length dress and matching shirt. It had an academic feel to it with it’s sailor collar and tight cuffs on the loose sleeves. White, teal and warm yellows on the trim and buttons made up the outfit. “I think it’d suit you so well! See the pleats on this part of the skirt? It’s such a pretty accent, I’m so glad that I convinced Candace to add it! The colors are flattering as well.”

“It… it really is lovely,” Mary murmured as the pads of her fingers traced along the off-white stripes on the collar. “...I don’t know if I have an occasion to wear it that often though.”

“Oh please, we don’t need to have a special occasion to wear something pretty! Give it a try. If you don’t like it, then you can just bring it back! I’ll help you style your hair too if you ever do find a special occasion for it.”

Eventually, Mary was worn down to buy both the dress–with matching shoes–and the coat. She hadn’t been hustled like that since Karen needed to pay off her tab at the Inn! Still, she didn’t regret it. She wasn’t sure when she’d wear the dress yet… but hopefully, it’d be sooner than later.

Mary rushed into the clinic with a heavy shiver and nearly dropped the box she held. Oh, she should have worn tights or one of her longer dresses to protect her legs. “Hello, Irene–oh,” she said to no one. The waiting area was empty with no one at the desk. An unusual sight. The sounds of muttering from the examination room still managed to travel to her ears though. Hesitantly, she made her way further inside.

“Really, Jin… When was the last time you slept?” Irene asked with her arms crossed.

“Last night,” he replied. Mary couldn’t see his expression as he was hunched over the desk, a hand holding his head up as the other hand scribbled down notes.

“For how long?”

“...Four hours. It’s fine, Popo. I’ve worked on less.”

Irene huffed. “If you seriously believe that that’s supposed to comfort anyone, then I think you should go home. We can close the clinic for the day. If there’s any emergencies, we can always open up again.”

“No, I can’t do that. Not so soon anyway. I closed the clinic last Thursday for personal business.”

Another sigh escaped the elderly woman as she shuffled towards him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and leant in to give him a half hug. Or Mary thought. It was hard to tell from this angle. “Jin… How would you feel if it was someone else saying and doing these things?”

Jin stayed silent.

“Will you promise to take things easier once Perry arrives? Don’t dump everything onto him, obviously but consider leaning on him. You can lean on me as well.”

“...I suppose, in his case. But, I don’t feel right asking more of… Anyway,” he said as he straightened himself out. Mary swore she could hear his vertebrae popping themselves back into place as he stretched. “You don’t need to worry. I’ll be fine for today.”

“...Alright, I can’t convince you to close for today, but how about resting upstairs? There’s plenty of beds. Or you could sleep in my room if that’d make you more comfortable. I can handle the few patients that may come in. Most come in asking for medicine or for sprains anyway. ”

“Really, Popo… I think you should be the one resting.” A light chuckle escaped him as she huffed at him. “I can manage working the desk while you take the day off. Like you said, most days are slow and–”

“Oh, don’t give me that! I’m not the one about to collapse any second. Please take a nap and don’t just drink tea or coffee or Stay Awake.”

It was Jin’s turn to sigh. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“...Mary is coming by today.”

“I’m sure she’d understand if you needed the day off–”

Finally, Mary stepped into the room. “Yes, Jin, please just take the day off. We can always reschedule–”

The doctor spun on his chair to face her. The motion was so sudden that his ponytail swung into his face as his glasses threatened to slip down his face entirely. His wide eyes met her own. He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it. A sigh escaped him before he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I… I can’t inconvenience you like this. You’ve come all this way–”

“It takes me just as long, if not longer, to walk from my house to work every other day. I’ve taken longer walks for our project too! I’ve been living on Waffle Island for almost an entire season and I… I have no intention of leaving any time soon. There is no deadline, Jin. I don’t want you to get sick–”

His hands, shaky from either caffeine withdrawal or simply drinking too much of it already, flung up in front of his chest. “Mary. I appreciate you and my grandmother’s concern for my health. I’m fine. I insist. If it’ll make you feel better, we can put off our session for today and I can… work on easier if tedious tasks. If there’s no emergencies, of course.”

Irene groaned and turned to leave. “I give up. I’ll be at the counter when you inevitably collapse from exhaustion. I will not be sparing you the lecture when you wake up.”

Mary bit her lip and placed the box onto the desk next to him. “Excuse me, Jin…” She murmured before following the older woman close behind. “Irene, if… Would it bother you if I stayed with him? A-as in… We finish our work on the book as quickly as possible for today. W-we’ll just be organizing notes and, ah, planning on where to get samples. I’ll also help him with the… er…” She rolled a few words around in her mind. Tedium? Chores? Excuses to procrastinate on rest? “...Tasks. The tasks he had planned.”

Irene pursed her lips. “...I’d really rather him not work at all…”

“I know… M-me too, in all honesty… His. His dedication is admirable. I don’t think the doctor in my hometown was this much of a workaholic and he was married to his work…” A soft smile swept across her face. She wondered if Elli was frustrated by such a thing or if it drew her towards him. Did she miss Doctor Trent?

Mary glanced behind her and listened for the doctor. The sounds of his pen against the paper or shuffling his notes managed to cut through the hum of the fluorescent lights. She took a deep breath before she started to whisper. “When I… see how hard Jin works, I don’t know whether to be inspired or try to pull him away. He scolds me, and the others from what I’ve heard, about the importance of pacing yourself and rest. It’s a little frustrating. But… It’s not like we can force him.”

“Short of knocking him out,” Irene muttered. Mary’s jaw dropped only for her to chuckle. “Of course, I wouldn’t seriously consider doing such a thing to my grandson.”

She nodded, relieved.

“That man wants me to retire. When you’re not here, he and Anissa do tend to coddle me due to my age.” A sigh escaped her. “I can understand why. It doesn’t mean I have to like it, however. Still, I don’t know how he expects me to retire when he’s… If he’s working to his breaking point every day like this… who will take care of him if I’m not here?”

Mary could do little but nod in understanding. She didn’t know Jin as long as his grandmother did for obvious reasons but… She didn’t want him to wind up sick or worse. She shook the thought from her head. Jin didn’t seem like the type to push himself that hard. The doctor could be a hypocrite but he wasn’t an idiot or that neglectful of his own health. Right?

“...But,” Irene began. “I trust you, Mary. You and Anissa. The both of you have good heads on your shoulders and know him well to know his limits. You both could stand to take better care of yourselves, of course. She was just in here the other day after collapsing–she was alright. Don’t worry. Alright, don’t let him work too hard for too long.”

Puffing out her chest slightly, Mary gave her another nod. “I-I promise. I, ah, I’m like a machine when it comes to paperwork and such. We won’t be here for long… I’m sure I can convince him to take a break once in a while too… I-if needed, I’ll drag him upstairs into one of the beds.”

The two shared a small laugh at that.

Jin stepped into the waiting room. He tilted his head to the side. “What’s so amusing?”

“Never you mind that, Jin,” Irene said as she got behind the counter. “I thought you had important work that you couldn’t miss?”

He rolled his eyes and turned towards Mary. “So, will we be rescheduling?”

The woman shook her head. “Mmmn, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to work… for a little while, anyway.”

He smiled. “Good… I-I may have gotten ahead of myself and set up your typewriter already.”

Yawns continued to roll out of Jin’s mouth as they worked. The two of them had gone through the autumnal crops that were grown on both Souffle Farm and Angela’s and were working through the wild herbs and flowers.

“Now… unless we… got hybrids of these herbs, this section shouldn’t take too long. It’s just red and purple,” he muttered as he rubbed his eyes. “I’m sure it’s the same back in Mineral Town?”

“Mmhm. Though black and white grass can grow any time of year in the mines, if I recall correctly…”

“Black and wh…” He stopped to look at her with bleary eyes. “Right, you mentioned that there were… all sorts of colors with different effects and uses. Part of me is glad that Waffle Island is relatively simple… though, I’d love to see how well Doctor… Trent?”

Mary nodded.

“Doctor Trent’s medicine performs. It’d be fascinating to compare research and potentially ship our good—I suppose it’s possible now with the boats coming in regularly, isn’t it?”

“I’m sure he’d be open to the idea. I remember Elli and…” A jolt ran through her stomach at the memory of the nurse and Claire giggling over drinks with her one evening. “Claire being asked to test his newest concoctions. He’s pretty friendly.”

He nodded before grabbing a small memo pad from a stuffed drawer and scribbling something into it. “I’ll look into it. Now, do you mind getting on your typewriter again? I don’t expect these next bits to be too different once we recollect samples so… I’ll start dictating my old notes.”

The woman rolled her neck in all directions before stretching out her shoulders and arms. Storm-colored eyes fell upon the clock that hung above the entryway. Ugh, they were doing this for too long! Irene was no doubt annoyed with her by now! “Sure, but do you mind if I put another pot of tea on?”

She didn’t wait for a response before getting up from her seat. She dug through the box which was now set against the wall near the curtain that protected the patient’s privacy. Her mother had sent a care package that morning. Or rather, she got it this morning. Inside was another letter that updated Mary about what was going on around town in more depth than their phone calls with a few recipe cards. She was happy to be caught up with things. Certain things still… stung to read about, but she managed. Though, Mary paid little to any of that. Something inside that care package had caught her eye and attention since the second she opened that tiny box. It was a tiny pouch.

Tea leaves.

Mary wasn’t sure where they came from. They’d just show up suddenly during the New Year celebrations sometimes or Claire would give them to her once in a while. She had no idea why Claire would give up such an amazing tea blend. Perhaps she made the blend on her own and had too much to steep? She didn’t know but Mary was thankful for it. The blonde must have given her mother some.

She really needed to thank her. Sooner than later.

The sound of Jin’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “I don’t mind at all. I’d love to have another cup actually.”

“I’ll be right back then,” she replied once she grabbed the pouches and a jar of purple honey. One was the batch she got from her mother-slash-Claire and the other was a homemade blend she was experimenting with. She placed them onto the small tray with their cups and left the room. Her eyes met Irene’s. Nervously, she looked away as she set the tray on the counter. “S-sorry for how long we wound up taking…”

“It’s alright.”

“I think we’ll be finishing up soon. Has anyone stopped by?”

“No and admittedly, I doubt that anyone will. I might turn in early and read in my room.”

“That sounds like a good idea. If we’re still working and someone needs you, we’ll come get you.”

Irene nodded and smiled. “Well, I leave my grandson in your hands, Mary.”

A blush crept up her neck and to her cheeks as the old woman began to head upstairs. That couldn’t have meant anything. Why was she even embarrassed? She slipped behind the counter and started up the kettle. Her mind wandered as she waited for the water to heat up. She had been in town for nearly three seasons and accomplished so much. What would autumn hold for her? Or winter for that matter?

Would she find love?

She frowned.

Probably not. Everyone seemed to be neatly paired off, at least in her head. The thought did bother her. It wasn’t as despair inducing as just a few weeks ago, at least.

‘Try not to worry about it,’ she thought to herself. There were more important things to worry about… like the project. It was incredible how fast they were moving along! Granted, Jin had already done so much of the work years ago. Mary was nothing more than a glorified assistant. ‘Though… most assistants don’t get their name listed first in books.’

Mary giggled at the thought. She was sure that Jin was just joking when he said this the other day. She had done a lot but was it really enough to warrant such an honor? She’d be happy just to be included at all. Her father’s books didn’t list her despite all the assistance and busywork she did for him. Not that she minded… but it was nice to be thought about.

What were they going to do once the project was over? Would they keep it just to the few copies for the island and his office? Or would he be interested in getting it professionally published? She was sure she could use her ties with publishing and her father to get that arranged. Would they collaborate again on other projects or would this be their first and last?

Her heart panged.

The kettle whistled. Mary shook her head and went to prepare the cups. A spoonful of purple honey, allegedly it came from one of Angela’s lavender plants instead of the hyacinths, went into her cup. She placed a bag of her homemade blend–dried lavender buds, chamomile, lemon peels and blue herbs–into the same cup as the honey and poured the hot water inside. It was probably going to make her sleepy but she didn’t mind. She was trying to get her sleeping schedule in order at Jin’s suggestion.

The scent of lavender wafted in the air and settled her nerves. She hoped it tasted as good as it smelled. The last time she experimented with the lavender, the tea just tasted like soap.

Her eyes drifted towards the other pouch. A part of her wanted to keep it for herself. It was a rare gift. But another part of her wanted to share it with Jin. The tea had to be magical or something. He’d probably appreciate the instantaneous rejuvenation. It wasn’t a jittery, nervous sort of energy boost either. It was like a well-needed rest. A good night’s sleep after relaxing in the springs for a few hours.

It also tasted delightful. Floral, fruity, sweet but still natural.

He would probably want to keep working once she was gone…

Mary bit her lip. She promised Irene she wouldn’t let him work for too long…

But…The thought of him lighting up and possibly babbling about how good he felt and thanking her for showing him such an amazing drink…

She prepared the tea. It was a small, tiny pouch that was just enough for one cup. You never needed more than one cup anyway. If she wanted more, she could ask Claire or her mother for some. It’d be fine.

Both teas steeped for five-ish minutes before Mary brought the tray back into the examination room. “Sorry for the wait.”

“It’s alright, thank you.”

Gently, the tray was placed on a clean part of the desk. Without realizing, Jin reached for the cup furthest from him. Mary’s cup.

“Oh, Jin–”

His lips met the rim of the cup. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks as the possibility that he was drinking from where her lips were hit her at once.

An indirect kiss.

Her heart throbbed as blood rushed to her face and buzzed in her ears. Steam practically blew out of her ears as her eyes fell upon the elegant movement of his throat as he swallowed. She watched as he blinked. He pulled the cup away from his mouth and stared at it for a moment. Then went back in for another sip.

“This isn’t my normal tea,” he murmured.

“O-oh, no, it’s, um, a blend I made.”

“It’s… it’s nice.”

“Is it? It’s alright if you don’t like it–”

“No, I do.” He took another sip. “It’s just not something I normally drink… I definitely wouldn’t mind if you brought it again. I tend to prefer more herbal stuff like this, I think. It’s… been a while since I’ve gotten anything for the taste or scent though.”

“I think I’ve noticed, yes. It… Your regular blend took some getting used to. It was pretty strong and caffeinated…” She tucked a hair behind her ear then reached for what was supposed to be his cup. “I’ll… bring my blend again next time. I should have more for tonight though, if you’d like.”

“I’d appreciate some more, yes.”

Mary grinned as she took a sip of the tea.

The strong taste of wild berries and almost minty leaves hit her tongue. For the second time that night, her eyes shot wide open and her pupils shrunk.

‘Oh. This. This was supposed to be… Jin’s…’

Her eyes flickered to the reddish liquid and then to the man sitting semi-across from her. She swallowed. He took another long drink before placing the cup back onto the tray.

It looked like she’d be staying up longer after all.

The sun melted into the horizon and painted the wall across from the window a rich orange that seemed to glow. It was almost pretty. If it weren’t for the flickering lights above them, anyway.

Mary’s fingers were a blur across the keys. More often than not, she had to wait for Jin to finish reading a sentence before starting the next. Now that she had finished that cup of tea, she was ready to go. Guilt ate away at her insides though. It was meant for Jin, after all. It was an accident. A sort of happy one, since the man liked her blend, but still.

She watched as his eyelids grew heavier and heavier. He was already so tired before drinking her unintentional sleepytime blend. How could she get distracted by something as silly as an indirect kiss? Let alone one that might’ve not happened at all?!

Ugh, she hoped he didn’t think she did this on purpose. She should tell him.

“Jin?”

“Hm?” He turned towards her. His eyes were half-lidded and his breathing was slow but steady. It was almost cute. No, focus, Mary! “What’s wrong?”

“...I-I think… No, I, um, I gave you the wrong tea…”

A long and slow blink. “What was that? No, I said… I liked it, remember?”

“I-I know, but… My blend might have had too many calming ingredients. I had poured that cup for myself but you grabbed it by… accident…”

“Oh, that’s alright…” He yawned. “It’s, ah, it was my fault.”

“I’ll go grab you a cup of your regular tea, alright?”

“Sounds good.”

Mary scrambled to pick up their cups and tray before dashing to the kettle. As the water boiled once again, she ran up the stairs to rinse the cups in the sink and took care to wipe both rims. Now, they were both kiss free. She huffed. By the time she was back downstairs, the kettle whistled. She searched behind the counter for Jin’s regular blend and threw the leaves into the small pot she neglected to bring the first time. Then came the water and the steeping time.

With the porcelain clattering on the tray, she rushed into the examination room.

Only to find the doctor hunched over the desk.

_{art by shanoa aka saintblondie}

His lab coat was neatly folded across the back of his desk chair and his hair, normally neatly tied up and out of his face, hung over his shoulders and face.

She swallowed.

Was he asleep?

As quietly as she could manage, she placed the tray onto the examination bed and crept towards him. He didn’t sit up. He didn’t even look up. He stayed in place. She held her breath as she watched him. A long minute, possibly the longest she ever experienced, passed.

He breathed. A deep exhale and then a slow and deep inhale.

She let go of her own. He was just asleep.

Her eyes flickered to the window and watched as the sun seemed to settle deeper into the ocean’s horizon. She imagined the bright, almost neon, light causing the navy blue ocean to shimmer as if it were liquid diamonds. It was crazy how fast the day ended in the fall. She stretched once again before looking back at Jin.

Should she wake him up?

“Jin…” She whispered.

No reaction.

Mary bit her lip.

He needed the rest. Would he be more comfortable in one of the beds upstairs? She did tell Irene that she’d drag him up there if needed… But that was an awful long trip for someone who struggled to carry anything more than twenty pounds. She rested her hand on her chin as she scanned the room. As if the answers to her questions would lie within the posters emphasizing the importance of a healthy diet or not drinking while pregnant. She huffed.

Her eyes laid upon the bed where the neglected pot of tea sat.

That’d… be a good spot, wouldn’t it?

She could manage carrying him there, surely.

Energized, by the miracle tea and by the drive to help her friend, Mary went to move the tray elsewhere. On her way out, she gave the sleeping man another look. He was really out of it. Not so out of it to just faceplant on his notes, he did undo his hair and take off the labcoat. It must have been the… trancelike sort of tired. The kind where your body just goes into autopilot to make itself the most comfortable. The kind that leaves you utterly disoriented if woken up suddenly but completely refreshed, at least for a few more hours, if you woke up on your own.

She should leave him. At least for now.

On her way out, the lights flickered above them. Hm.

Slowly, Mary cleaned up the office. The tea tray was left on the counter for now but she tidied up the area. The papers and pamphlets were organized and any dishes, save for the cups and pot, were brought upstairs and placed in the sink. There, she scooped up one of the thin, decorative blankets that were folded at the edge of the beds, and brought it downstairs. Jin continued to sleep soundly.

The hum of the lights, the muffled waves and the cry of the gulls outside and his breathing were the only sounds. She wasn't even sure if she could hear Irene upstairs. Her steps were soft and light. Even with the thick and heavy soles of her loafers, she kept quiet. Her hands trembled as she unfolded the blanket. The woman swallowed once she was beside the sleeping man. Soft mumbles fell from his slightly gaping mouth. Spittle threatened to roll down the corner of his mouth and seep into the page on Morning Glories. Despite his cheek and left eye being squished against both the desk and the top of his right hand… He looked…

She didn’t know how to describe it.

It wasn’t a pretty sight in all honesty.

And yet… she wanted to treasure it.

Why?

With her heart still fluttering, Mary draped the blanket across his shoulders. Her fingers brushed against his slumped and surprisingly tense shoulders as she smoothed out the crochet blanket. He stirred. Once again, her breath held itself until he relaxed. Now the frames and arms of his glasses now dug into his face.

“You undid your hair… So, why didn’t you take these off, silly?” She whispered. Her hands drifted towards his face without her realizing. The tips of her fingers touched the ‘corners’ of those round frames.

She was touching his face.

Her hands dashed away from him, fast enough for there to be a faint breeze against his cheek, once she realized what she had done. She spun on her heel and faced away from him. What was she doing? How would she feel if he touched her like this–

A jolt ran through her chest as her stomach fluttered. The wings of thousands of butterflies danced and brushed against her heart and rib cage. That white hot sensation in her heart cooled to a pleasant warmth that pulsed through her veins and left her tingling. Her lips pressed into a hard line before wriggling into a shy, crinkled smile that she wouldn’t dream of showing anyone.

Well, he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t touch her face. Not without good reason… like his job. Besides, she was just trying to protect his glasses. It was fine, right? Yes, she was acting strange but… She was just looking out for her friend.

Mary tried to ignore the way her heart raced as she touched his glasses. Ever so slowly, she inched them upwards. She thought about taking them off completely then folding them properly but he started to stir. So, she settled for resting them on top of his forehead. The left arm of his glasses probably dug into his head and the back of his ear, but it was better than having them stab into his face.

In her experience anyway.

Satisfied, she pulled away and flipped the switch on a small lamp before turning off the fluorescent lights. The room was dark. The shadows cast from the various shelves, curtains and whatever else cast a dreamy and almost suffocating atmosphere in the orange-gray light that managed to bleed through the waiting room, window and the tiny lamp. The normally ever-so-present whirring wasn’t there anymore. Silence, save for Jin’s breathing and the building setting around them, filled the still air. Maybe she heard the creaking of Irene’s footsteps upstairs or her muffled coughing from her room but Mary wasn’t sure.

She stretched and then got back to her spot on the side of the desk. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the awkward lighting but soon, she was able to read Jin’s notes the best that she could. Then, she got back to work.

The tapping of her keys and the faint ‘dings’ of the typewriter hitting the end of the page lulled her into a mindless routine. Her eyes kept themselves on the notes as she typed them out. Her muscle memory kept her from needing to look at the page. The occasional yawn slipped from her but she kept going. The sunlight grew dimmer and dimmer. Soon, the room was bathed in a cool, almost grayish tone with the faintest orange from the candescent lightbulb that burned just a few feet away from her.

Eventually, Mary’s own eyelids grew heavy. Her head tilted forward as weight settled in her limbs. Her hips shifted in her chair before she leaned back and stretched herself out once again. Her bleary eyes drifted towards Jin, who had turned towards her in his slumber. Even in the low light of the room, she could make out the details of his face. The way the shadows draped over the sharp, elegant angles of his cheekbones and jawline and the slopes of his eyelids and lips were something to behold. Mary swallowed.

Now wasn’t the time for that…

She yawned and got back to work. Though, that didn’t last very long. Soon, she drifted off into her own sleep next to him.