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“I wonder if Maru could use some sunscreen on her shoulders?”
That was the tipping point.
Where it became something beyond a ‘Maru and Harvey work together’ or a ‘wow, Harvey is really in tune with Maru’s interests’ or even a ‘oh cute, they’re hanging out after a long day at the hospital’ into something more. And maybe the farmer was getting a little too involved in the villagers’ personal lives for someone who rocked up just over a year ago. But hey, they were all far too aware of their dead-grandpa legacy. So it was time to be a little devious.
They scurried off a little bit away, over to where Penny and Sam were looking over at the rock pools. “Hey, you two!”
Penny smiled. “Hello! Have you put anything in the pot?”
“I sure did. Listen, I have something super important I have to ask you two.”
Sam turned around to face the farmer, hands in his pockets. “Ok? What is it?”
“Do you think Harvey has a thing for Maru?”
Both Penny and Sam furrowed their eyebrows. Sam tried to inconspicuously lean a little around to get a better view of them, only to nearly tip over and fall onto Penny, who quickly caught and righted him. Her eyes darted between the farmer and Harvey. “I actually don’t know. He can be quite… protective though. What gave you that impression?”
The farmer shrugged, shoving their hands into their dungaree pockets. “He said something about putting sunscreen on Maru’s shoulders, but didn’t mention anyone else. Which, you know… he’s a doctor, I thought he would be worried about everyone.”
Sam nodded. “I’ve always thought there was, like, something going on. I don’t think they’ll ever act on it, but… I don’t know. They would be cute.”
Penny frowned. “I don’t think so. At least, I don’t think Maru sees him like that. She has never really spoken about who she’s interested in. And it might be strange, you know? They are a boss and employee.”
“We’re getting off-track here.”
A loud laugh came from Lewis’s direction, no doubt hamming up his already boisterous personality to charm the pants off the governor. Or his own pants if the farmer had anything to say about it. They turned back to Sam and Penny. “The point is this: Harvey may or may not have a crush on Maru. And I don’t know what you guys have been doing before I turned up, but that is news. Gossip, even. One may say chatter.”
Sam’s eyeroll could kill a man. “And?”
“And I want your help verifying it. Sam, you’re around town a lot. Do you reckon you could pick up some bar chatter?”
Sam laughed. “You want me to hang out in a bar with some friends to hear if Harvey wants to date Maru? Yeah, I can spend a few pool games doing that.”
“Perfect. And Penny, you’re friends with Maru. Can you try and figure out a vibe from her?”
Penny raised an eyebrow and looked over at Maru. “Sure. But nothing… invasive. I know I’m her friend, but I won’t be interrogating her!”
“Rest assured, Miss Penny, there will be no interrogating. Only good, honest investigation!”
Harvey smiled from his position by the table, rifling around in a drawer. “Not that I object to regular check-ups from a medical standpoint, but was there anything that prompted this one?”
The farmer shifted around on the table. “I had a bit of a tumble yesterday. Nothing big, just tripped a little while getting off the horse, so my side’s a bit sore. Nothing major.”
Harvey frowned, pulling out a blood pressure reader, a stethoscope, and a small flashlight. “Falls can be dangerous, especially if there were animals involved. And horses, no matter how gentle, are still big creatures. I’ll check all your vitals before looking at your side, alright?”
Everything was quiet as Harvey stuck a lollipop stick into the farmer’s mouth, checking their throat before jotting something down. Now they were free to talk, the farmer leaned forward on their elbows. “You know, Harvey—”
“Careful with your side!”
In a split second, Harvey was behind them, righting their back into a comfortable and yet still clinical posture. “Moving the muscles too quickly could cause them to spasm. Do stay comfortable just while I’m writing things down, I appreciate it may take a minute!”
“Oh—of course.”
With far better posture, the farmer tried again. “You know, I didn’t see Maru at the desk today. I figured she would be there. You know. Since you’ve got an appointment.”
Harvey chuckled ruefully, checking a small chart on his desk before sliding around on a chair. “She normally is. Although you popping in was a surprise, so I didn’t think to call her in today. She could do with a break!”
Drat, just polite! This was only proving that Harvey was a good man and a good boss, not either irrevocably in love with Maru or a life-long bachelor! “Shame, I like Maru. She’s a really good friend.”
“She is! And a very good nurse.”
Even worse. This was going nowhere. The farmer shivered as Harvey pressed the cold stethoscope to their chest, listening a few times before writing something down. “Your heartrate is a little high, you know. Has there been some stress in your life?”
Damnit, he was onto them. “Ah, just the pain in my side. And farming life, you know! Never really stops.”
“Mmm.” Harvey wrote down a little more, surely a lie to go into their permanent medical file. Maybe lying to Harvey’s face in a medical examination was a bad idea. “Still, remember to take breaks. There are other people in town if you need help with anything, so never feel pressured to ask.”
“Will do.”
A few more tests passed, each attempt at question his potential mega-huge crush on Maru swiftly averted.
“I heard Maru likes the sky.”
“As do I! I enjoy model airplanes.”
“I remember one of the first times I talk to Maru she dropped some vials. Do you remember that too?”
“I do! Accidents happen.”
“I was going to go out to the saloon this evening. Would you like to come? And also Maru?”
“I will not – I have my off-days already scheduled. But Maru is with Penny today, so say hello to both of them for me!”
And finally, Harvey faced the farmer. “Alright, let’s look at your side—”
“Oh, there’s no need for that doc—”
“You are in a hospital. I would argue this is one of the few places you would go to for this.”
Begrudgingly, the farmer lifted their shirt to reveal a red patch close to their ribs. Harvey frowned in empathy, leaning forward and gently touching the surface of their skin with a washed hand. “That looks nasty. You said this happened yesterday?”
“Yep. But honestly Harvey, it feels fine now, so we can just call the check-up here—”
Harvey stares at his hand as it comes away dusted in red. Rubbing the red powder between his fingers, he looks at the contours of the farmers ribs before taking a tissue and swiping it across the surface. “I… cannot tell what this is from a glance. Potentially some kind of rash, induced by an allergy to… the ground?”
The farmer pulled their shirt back down, hopping off the table. “Must be. Well, I will take it easy. See you around doc!”
They ran out the door.
Harvey stared at the red tissue and the red on his fingers, cautiously raising it to his nose.
“Is this… chilli powder?”
Sam walked out of the games room in the Stardrop Saloon, disappointed at yet another loss to Sebastian at pool. Although the guy was freakishly good at it, even to a sad degree. Did the guy do anything other than nerd out and play pool?
And why was Sam so mad about it?
He reached the bar, smiling at Gus. “Hey, can I get three orange fizzes?”
“Sure thing. Who is paying this week?”
Sam grumbled. “I am.”
Gus smiled, quickly fixing up the bottles of fizzy orange juices and setting them onto a tray for Sam to carry. Just as he worked his fingers underneath the tray to pick up the (surprisingly stick-free) bar, he caught sight of a certain town doctor walking in.
“Evening, Gus! A glass of wine, please.”
Gus saluted Harvey, quickly fixing up a glass. Sam watched the interaction before turning to Gus. “You know, I can take it to him if you want. I know you and Em are both busy back here.”
Despite the pause and the raised eyebrow, Gus passed the wine glass to Sam. “Sure. In return, you come here afterwards and tell me what you’re scheming.”
“What? I’m not scheming.”
“Uh huh. And I’m sure your father who is sat over in the corner wouldn’t mind me informing him?”
Sam groaned. “Afterwards.”
His role as the town gossip confirmed once more, Gus returned to his position by his glass.
Sam walked over to Harvey, placing the glass in front of him. Harvey smiled and welcomed both the alcohol and the company. “I didn’t realise you now worked here, Sam.”
“I don’t. Not yet anyway, although mum is always bugging me to get another job.”
Harvey smiled in sympathy, cheersing Sam anyway. “Well. Thank you for the wine! Anything I can help you with?”
Did this man ever switch off? Sam slapped a smile back on like the loveable rogue he was. “Sure! I was just wondering if you knew where Maru was? Seb said she hasn’t gotten home yet.”
Immediately, Harvey’s eyebrows furrowed into a worried grimace. “No… no, I’m afraid I wouldn’t know. She wasn’t scheduled to work with me today, I’m afraid. Is it serious? Do you think we need to send a call out?”
“No, no. I’m sure she’s just nerding out about the stars somewhere—”
“But it is getting late, Sam.” Harvey glanced outside the window, assessing the shadows already settling over Pelican Town. “Not that I think anyone in this town would act untoward, but anyone outside in this light level is bound to be unsettled. I certainly know I would.”
Sam sighed. “Maru’s pretty savvy. Anyway, I’m sure she’s already at her home. Probably just slipped in through the back door while Seb was leaving.”
Somehow, this vague dismissal was not enough to soothe Harvey’s anxiety. “But then why would he be asking after her? Does he need her for something? I can call Robin if needed – I have everyone’s landlines on speed dial.”
“Why—surely that should be the other way around? Given you’re the doctor?”
“You never know when someone may need help. And no matter how savvy she is, she has only gotten into one physical fight before – and that was in college. I don’t want her getting hurt here.”
Well, it was certainly information. Even if it was questionable why Harvey knew that, of all people. Sam patted Harvey’s shoulder. “All good, man. Thanks for the help anyway. I’ll, uh… call you when we find her.”
Yikes. Even if it was not a crush, the man clearly enjoyed worrying over her, to an almost adorable degree. Well, the adorable threshold just passed into borderline hysteria. Sam walked away back to the bar, where Gus was watching with raised eyebrows. “Right. Explain why Harvey looks like he is about to pass out?”
Great.
Penny was supposed to be tutoring. Penny was meant to be enjoying the sunshine and the grass and the simple joys of a routine class. Penny was meant to be in a nice museum with a nice book and two lovely children to teach flora and fauna and spelling and arithmetic. All the wonderful things people need to know to function in this society.
Instead, she was here in her mother’s eighties workout gear as she had none of her own, staring at Maru on the other side of the step box in Caroline’s living room.
The farmer had signed Penny and Maru up, intentionally not including themselves because, uh, well you see, they were busy with what—oh yes, farming stuff that Tuesday. So here Penny and Maru were, working up a sweat with the other Pelican Town ladies while Jas and Vincent were busy learning how to feed cows on the farm. An absolute insult, given how much Penny had denied being a part in these shenanigans.
Although her core strength had been fading.
Maru grinned breathlessly, her hair tied back into a half-pony and held in place by her mother’s borrowed sweatbands. “This was such a great idea! I’ve been meaning to get into a workout routine, thanks Penny!”
“Yeah… no worries…”
This was not fair. Maru was a scientist and a trainee nurse. It would have been bad if she were not at least slightly fitter than everyone else. Her arms were toned and given how often she ran around, Penny knew she had good stamina. And with all the scientific writing and drawing, she probably had pretty strong hands too.
Penny was a local schoolteacher whose most rigorous exercise came from walking the children back home.
Caroline stood among the crowd, working up and down on her step box with easy proficiency. “Work it ladies! Get your heart pumping!”
Penny huffed her way through the moves, desperate to not be outdone. Or at the very least, left behind.
At that moment, Harvey walked in, his green coat snuggly over the top of his white polo shirt, baggy joggers and matching white and blue sweat cuffs. He set his belongings by the door, ready to take off at a moment’s notice, before greeting Caroline. However, he stopped short at the sight of Penny and Maru. “Oh! Hello, you two! Apologies, I… had not realised.”
Maru laughed easily. “Relax, Harv! Looks like we’re both skipping work today, so neither of us can be mad at the other. Right?”
Harvey laughed in return, almost shyly taking off his coat. “I… agree. Don’t worry, I won’t mention this on your employee report. Which is honestly unnecessary at this point, given that your mother is right there.”
Penny would have paid notice, although honestly, she was struggling enough just to stay in her body. Her legs were feeling weaker while they were ironically getting stronger, her lungs developing a nice, hopefully healthy burn. This would be good in the long run, and she was certain that Vincent and Jas would not mind a calmer session tomorrow. Maybe even another day off school.
Harvey joined them on a nearby step-box, his moustache already growing limp with sweat. Bless him, he was quite a scrawny man. Perhaps the coat was used to hide it, although he was pushing through the exercise like a man on a mission.
“Oh, Maru—do take it easy. I don’t want you to overwork yourself.”
Okay, Penny did notice that.
Maru laughed, getting back on the box once again and matching Caroline’s instructions with ease. “I’ll be fine! A little exercise never hurt anyone.”
There was another period of silence. Well, relative silence. The huffing and wheezing coming from any direction in the room certainly made the place noisy. And the upbeat exercise mix was hiding most of the grunting. But the conversation lulled, and Penny could get back to what was really important – internally remarking about how unfit she was and that maybe she should do something like this every day, even though it would drain her spirit.
“I think your step-box is wobbly, Maru.”
At Harvey’s remark, Penny glanced down – it was indeed. One of the legs was a good half a centimetre shorter than the other. Maru checked it and groaned. “Ugh, that’s why I feel so off-kilter. I was getting right in my stride too.”
With eager ease, Penny said ‘screw the investigation’ and kicked her own step-box over. “Take mine. I’m done with it anyway.”
Harvey blinked. “Really?”
Maru peered at Penny’s face. Although she really was tilting her head quite a lot. Was all that spinning necessary? “Are you feeling alright, Penny?”
“Quite fine. Might sit down for a spell.”
When she did faint, it was fortunately straight into Maru. And then Harvey when he picked her up to deliver her straight into the hospital where he and Maru were supposed to have been working that day. Maybe they could bond over it. Mission accomplished?
The farmer groaned over their pint. “This is terrible! None of the information points to anything.”
Sam sighed. “I don’t know. He seemed pretty worried for her when I spoke with him.”
“He was also worried over me when I fainted into his arms.” Penny wrinkled her nose. “Maru is not special in that regard.”
The clatter of the Stardrop was not too loud, although it was on one of the quieter nights. Penny, ideally, would have been in bed half an hour ago with a book and a cosy blanket. Sam was certain he was going to get a talking to when he got home for one reason or another that he could not recall right now. And the farmer was just happy to be away from fences.
Fiddling with the handle of their mug, the farmer sighed deeply. “Okay. Let’s look at the facts. Harvey didn’t suggest putting suncream on anyone else’s shoulders.”
Sam wrinkled his nose. “Counterpoint – no one else in town has their shoulders uncovered.”
“Yeah, but he also got really worried over Maru when Sam asked.”
Penny shrugged. “It was dark out. I would have been worried for Vincent or Jas if someone asked.”
Sam snorted. “Yeah, but they’re literal children. Maru has been to college.”
The farmer sighed. “And what about the aerobics session? Or at least, what happened from it.”
“Yes, thank you.” Penny sniffed. “He did seem quite worried about Maru. In terms of making sure she was exercising properly. And then of me when I collapsed. Bless him, he is a sweet man.”
“This is all useless!” The farmer frowned, chugging the remainder of their drink. “‘Sweet’ does not confirm possible gossip. Harvey is sweet to everyone!”
“Wait.”
Sam put a hand on the table, a universal signal to be quiet. He pointed over to a nearby table, where Harvey was… massaging Shane?
“How does that feel?”
“Pretty good doc. Although if you go any harder, I think you’re gonna lose your hand in my shoulder.”
The farmer’s mouth dropped open. They slowly slunk from their seat, moving to sit up at the bar, closer to where the two were talking. Shane sighed lowly, turning back to face Harvey. “So, what do you think?”
Harvey hummed in thought, pushing against Shane’s hoodie until he winced. “Chances are, it is just a pulled muscle. Have you been doing any extra physical activity?”
“Uh… Joja did have me stacking the backrooms on Tuesday.”
“That will be it.” Harvey moved his hands away, an all too familiar frown on his face. “Try not to lift too many heavy things and take a warm bath when you get home. If you need, I can write up a note to show Morris?”
Shane waved him off. “Not necessary. But thanks for the advice.”
The farmer rushed back to their table. “He is sweet! He is a sweet man who will do medical check-ups in the local pub!”
Penny sighed. “Well, we knew that.”
“No, but he was massaging him! In the middle of public! As if Shane would let anyone do that.”
Sam shrugged. “Yeah, but… it is Harvey. But also, he knew a weird amount about Maru, you know? Like, I didn’t even know she once got into a fight at Zuzu City, and she’s my best friend’s younger sister!”
“I knew that.”
Sam whipped his head over to Penny. “What? When did she tell you?”
“We’re best friends. It had to have come up at some point. Some girl in college was making fun of STEM students and it got violent.”
“I’m sorry, STEM students get violent?”
The farmer waved a hand. “We’re getting off topic here. The point is, Maru is Penny’s best friend. So why would she also tell Harvey that? He’s only her boss.”
Penny shrugged. “True… but this is a small town. I was surprised she hadn’t told more people. She sounds very cool, the way she tells it.”
Once again, Sam all but slammed his hand down on the table. “Shush! Look!”
He pointed back over at Harvey, who was now by the table with Willy. All three stayed quiet, leaning in a little closer to listen in.
“Well Willy, I’m afraid I don’t know what to tell you. The wrist support I ordered was meant to be here today. No, it is very good for repetitive strain injuries, but what would be better is taking a break from fishing. I know, I don’t want you to do that either. I’ve been reading as many books as I can on muscle injuries and those are the options.”
The farmer leaned into the table. “‘As many books as I can.’ Harvey’s only hobby may be worrying.”
Penny frowned. “That’s not very nice.”
“It’s accurate!”
And then Harvey was moving over to Marnie, a wan smile on his face. “Hello! Yes, has Jas been any more comfortable? The cream for her eczema has been working? Oh, wonderful! I’ll order some more into the clinic in case another flare up occurs.”
Penny gasped. “How did I not know about that? I’m her teacher! I see her three times a week!”
Everywhere Harvey walked inside the Stardrop, he was asking specific questions and answering specific questions. His knowledge was unending, his concern boundless. If it were not so mesmerising, it would have been concerning. This man had not had a drink since he stepped inside, checking in on every citizen’s specific potential health crisis before stopping to take a breath.
The farmer groaned. “He’s the perfect man! How are we supposed to tell if he’s in love with one specific person?”
With all the patience her job demanded of her, Penny smiled with tight lips and tight posture. “Maybe we shouldn’t? This does feel like a breach of privacy. Or, at the very least, decency.”
Sam shrugged. “Look, we’ve asked around. We’ve done our research. Either they’re meant to be or they’re just friends.”
“Ugh, I wish they would just say!”
“Say what?”
Harvey was right behind them.
The farmer spun around in their chair to face Harvey. “Harvey! I—”
Unfortunately, they spun around a little too quickly and twisted off the chair, crashing onto the wooden floor. “Ow…!”
Immediately, Harvey was on the floor with them. “Okay, stay with me. Can you hear my voice?”
“Harvey, I fell off a chair. I’m not dying.”
He smiled. “I know that. But you did just hit your head on the barstool, so I’m afraid I am going to have to take you back to the clinic and check for a concussion.”
“This is so embarrassing…”
Sam grinned. “Yeah, it is.”
Penny swatted him, admittedly much more concerned than Sam was, although there was a faint smile hiding on her face.
All four stoof in the clinic, the farmer watching Harvey’s flashlight with bleary eyes. “I’m fine, it just… hurts a bit. Which is nothing. I work on a farm!”
“Mmm. But this wasn’t caused by chilli peppers. I watched you fall out of a reasonably high chair onto a hard surface.”
Sam snorted. “Chilli peppers?”
Harvey nodded thoughtfully, jotting something down in his medical journal. “I have been meaning to ask you about that. Not that I doubt the quality of your peppers as dye or numbing cream, but it is unorthodox. Why did you come into my practice like that?”
The farmer sighed. “Okay, Harvey… you caught us.”
“What?”
Penny frowned. “To be perfectly clear, there is not an ‘us’ in this context. The peppers, whatever that could possibly mean, was just them.”
Dismissing the notion of being in this scheme alone, the farmer continued. “We, as an entire team, have been interrogating you and Maru this past week to try and find out if you and Maru were interested in each other. I faked a bruise by rubbing peppers on my ribs—”
Sam snorted. “Completely unnecessary.”
“—and instead of getting an answer, all we found out is that you are a really good person and Maru is incredibly fit for someone who sits and stares at the sky most of the time. So can you just tell us?”
“You want me to tell you if I am dating my only employee?”
There was a pause. “Yeah. That’s what I asked.”
“No!”
A collective sigh. Penny nodded. “I told you! And it was not our business in the first place.”
“I was under the impression that Penny and Maru were dating.”
Penny’s face flushed a bright red, darker than her hair. “What? I—no, we’re not—don’t be—I’m not dating anyone. I’m single. Always have been.”
Harvey frowned. “She always talks about you at work. In a, dare I say, overtly positive way.”
“We enjoy spending time together! Friends do that!”
“But when Sam said he hadn’t seen Maru that night – I had assumed she was with you, and you two always sit outside the saloon. What about then?”
“It was cold! And she… wanted to collect a sample from the trailer for her dad.”
“What about the aerobics class?”
The farmer raised their hand. “Actually, that was my fault. I signed them both up for it.”
Penny pointed. “There! And you were being so overprotective over Maru in that class! Why?”
“She tripped on a stair last Thursday on her way out of the clinic and knocked her knee. As her doctor, I didn’t want her overdoing it.”
Sam hummed, brow creased in thought. “And she didn’t tell Penny about her injury because she wanted to do the aerobics class with you.” He clicked his fingers. “I hate to inform you Penny, but you and Maru are dating.”
Penny spluttered again. “We are not! We have not gone on one date yet.”
Everyone paused. The farmer grinned. “Yet?”
The colour drained from Penny’s face. “Oh… oh. I see now.” She inhaled. “Well… I have a lot of feelings I need to process. Does anyone have any tips?”
Harvey scratched his neck. “How do you teach Vincent and Jas to do it?”
“Well, it’s different for everyone. Some people like to draw, some people like to write, some people like to talk it out with other people.” She exhaled slowly, nodding with glazed eyes. “I think I’m going ask Gunther for queer literature until it sinks in.”
The farmer nodded in approval. “Sounds healthy. See you tomorrow, Penny.”
“Goodnight, everyone.”
Penny silently left the clinic. Sam let out a long whistle, then mimed the explosion left by the imaginary bomb that created the aforementioned whistle. “That’s a pretty heavy thing to realise tonight. Wow. Penny and Maru.”
“I saw it coming.”
Harvey frowned. “You… very much didn’t. You wiped your own peppers on your ribs to trick me into revealing a non-existent crush on Maru. My employee and friend.”
“To-may-to, to-mah-to.”
The eternal doctor sighed, waving Sam away. “I’m going to check to make sure their concussion isn’t too serious. I would advise you get home before nightfall, Sam. Say hello to your family for me.”
“Will do, doc.” Sam turned to leave, pausing at the door. “And, uh… sorry?”
“Accepted.”
Sam left rather quickly, leaving the farmer to stare into Harvey’s flashlight. As Harvey bustled around the farmer for the second time in a few days, a strange little smile appeared on their lips. Sighing over his journal, Harvey decided to bite the bullet. “What is happening now?”
“I’m going to get Maru and Penny to go on a date.”
“Not with a concussion, you’re not.”