HJR + GHI

A "Westfall" Snippet by Jill D'Entremont

Despite changing clothes and drying her hair, Gemini found it hard to focus on work once she returned to the shop. The doors were open and in and business continued as usual, but she still found herself looping brown strands of hair around her finger as her mind wandered on everything beside the broken wooden plow in front of her.

Hudson had been working in the corner near the old sheet of metal from her escape pod, and he stepped back for a moment with a pointed tool still in his hand. "Say, what's your full name?"

"Gemini Inova," she leaned on the plow, only to stagger back when it began to lean along with her.

He glanced up, smiling to himself. "Gosh, that's even prettier."

She smirked at him, eyeing him as he hunched over the metal.

"Do you have middle names on Aravast?" He continued.

She glanced at him curiously, trying to look around his broad shoulders to see what he was doing. "We do," she answered after a moment. "They're considered 'blessing names'."

He looked over his shoulder. "Oh?"

"I'm guessing that's now how yours are?"

"I don't think; what do you mean?"

She crossed her arms at her chest. "Naming is a pretty big deal in Aravast; both parents choose a first name, and, of course, the surname is the family name. But just after a baby is born, the father assembles close family and friends to announce the baby's blessing name. He either honors a family member or friend by using their name, or he provides a name with a special meaning to bless the baby with."

Hudson was wide-eyed as she spoke. "Wow; so what's yours?"

"Hope," she turned back to him.

He grinned in recognition.

"I know; it's pretty ironic considering I lacked it for so long," she muttered in sarcasm.

"Nah," he turned back to the metal. "It's pretty." His arm moved, still blocked by the rest of his figure. "Gemini Hope Inova," he repeated to himself.

"What are you doing?" She finally gave in to curiosity.

"Nothin'."

"Uh-huh," she raised an eyebrow when he remained unmoved. A coy grin tugged at her lips and she returned her hands to the handles of the wooden plow. Grunting louder than usual, she attempted to flip the implement over by herself. Sure enough, Hudson immediately popped up to help her. Once it was settled, she darted over to the metal before he could stop her.

Over the spray-painted letters designating it as ORBIT property, the scuffed metal now bore additional letters scratched onto its surface--tucked within a lop-sided heart.

HJR + GHI

She broke into a toothy grin. "Did I ever mention how cute you were?"

"Maybe once or twice," his voice replied.

She shook her head, still smiling at the metal. "Why write it on this?"

Hudson shuffled closer to her. "'Cause that's what brought you here."

She turned to look at him as he rested his thumbs in his pockets.

"Plus, it shows that somethin' that starts off real bad can still turn into somethin' real good."

Her smile pouted, and she could do nothing more than to catch him in an embrace.

He gratefully accepted her into his arms, kissing the top of her head as she settled at his side. 

Her eyes returned to the metal. "What's the 'J' stand for?"

"James," a gruff voice replied.

The two glanced behind to find Timothy in the doorway.

"I got dinner just about ready," he said, leaning on his cane.

Hudson turned around completely in distress. "Paw, you're supposed to be takin' it easy!"

"Nobody said I couldn't cook!" He complained. "Besides, if I can't work in my own shop, least I can do is cook for ones who can." He turned to Gemini with a softer tone. "That includes you."

"Thanks, Mr. Rowlett," she smiled.

He waved her off as he turned back to the house. "Tim is fine. Now come on."

The couple stood in shop in silence as the older man hobbled out of sight. The door to the house next door opened and closed moments later.

"Gosh, he really does like you," Hudson's lips drew to a smirk.

Her expression had shifted similarly. "I like him too," she giggled, "Hudson James," she concluded.

He laughed as they started out of the shop. "Say, when you were little on Aravast, when your parents were upset at you, did they use both names like that?"

She grimaced in confusion. "What?"

"If I heard Paw yellin' 'Hudson James'... I knew I was in for it."

"No; I can't say we did that." She grinned as they parted to slide each of the barn doors closed. "But I'll keep that in mind." She flashed him a smirk as they met in the middle.

His grin turned sly as he cocked his head. "Maybe I shouldn't've told you that."

"Would you two quit sparkin' and come eat??" Timothy yelled out the window.

Hudson breathed out his nose with his lips squished tight while Gemini broke into an bemused laugh. She reached up on her toes to kiss his cheek, and only then did the man's expression break enough for him to take her hand and lead her inside.

- - -

Happy Valentine's Day!