Gen 4 Ch 6

The pouring rain matched Rose Beryl's mood as they slowly drove from the airport past the old yellow brick buildings out to the little campsite in Champs Les Sims.

As soon as they stopped, she jumped from the car and ran splashing through the puddles to Esmerelda's little red wagon.
Esmeralda was inside, weak but still hanging in there. Rose tried to convince her to visit the hospital, to no avail.
"No, deary. It's my time. I've seen it in the cards. Don't worry about me. You'll do fine without me, I've seen it. I only want one thing before I go. I must see your daughter. No, not the older one, the little one. Stephan's child. Promise me you'll bring her to see me.
"Oh, and one more thing before you go. Don't worry about Crystal. I see danger ahead, but I see her overcoming whatever stands in her way."

"Now go, take care of your family. I need my rest. I'm not going anywhere quite yet, deary."
Rose tried to be brave as she made her farewell, but once outside, she was hit with a wall of sadness. Esmerelda was right, Rose had sensed it as well. The old gypsy would not be making the trek to Moonlight Falls with them at the end of summer.

Rose, Stephan and the girls moved into an old cottage near the river. It was small, but completely adequate for their short stay. Once settled in, Rose insisted they make the first move, and meet with Pascal. She was nervous, but it was better than waiting for him to find her.

Pascal had moved into his parents old house. Rose rang the bell and waited what seemed an interminable amount of time.
"I don't thing anyone is home. Maybe we should leave."
Just as they turned to leave, the the door cracked open.

Much to their surprise, a young teenage boy greeted them.
"My father's been expecting you. This way please."
The boy turned abruptly an stalked back into the house. Rose and Stephan followed cautiously behind.

"Ah, it's you. I've been expecting you ever since that rag tag bunch of gypsies rolled into town."
Rose nodded, glancing down at the little girl standing near Pascal.
"You've already met my son. This is my daughter Marie."
Rose smiled at the girl, but she only stared at Rose with wide eyes for a second. Then at a frown and gesture from Pascal, she quickly moved her eyes to her feet. At another gesture from her father, she turned and tip toed away, eyes still on her feet.

"You've remarried then?" Rose thought that question was safe enough to ask.
"Heh. You thought I'd just lie there and wallow in self pity after my wife abandoned me and deprived me of my only daughter?"
Rose stared at his face without saying a word. She couldn't take her eyes off his left eye. It was fluttering strangely as he spoke - as if he had developed some sort of tick since she had seen him last.

"I..I see. Where is she? Your wife that is."
"Hmm.. yes. Where is she. Tragic, really." wink wink wink "A horrific kitchen fire, you know. It happened so quickly. A real shame."
Rose watched in fascination as his eye winked faster and faster as he spoke. A sudden flash of insight hit her like a ton of bricks. The fire was his doing, she was sure of it. And no one knew. Everyone felt sorry for him for his great loss.
"Anyway, I would like to see my daughter after all these years. Can you bring her over later today,or tomorrow?"

There was no way Rose was bringing Crystal over to Pascal's house after that creepy conversation. She also couldn't prove anything, though, so she agreed to a public meeting at the nectary, with Stephan keeping a close eye on the whole proceeding.

Pascal could be charming when he wanted to be, as Rose was well aware from her youth, and he immediately set about to win over Crystal.
"I would love for you and I to have dinner together. Would you be my guest tonight? I've heard so much about your lovely voice, I'd love to hear you sing. What do you say?"

But Rose had warned Crystal of her concerns, and she resisted his charms like a pro.
"No thank you, Pascal. If you like, we can all have dinner at the cafe in town. But I won't go anywhere without my parents."
Pascal's eyes narrowed at that, and the furious winking took over his face.
"I'll be in touch, Rose, Crystal. I wouldn't get too comfortable here if I were you."

They didn't see Pascal again after that day, for which Rose was very grateful. Diamond soon grew into a beautiful teen...

...and as Esmeralda had requested, Rose brought her to visit. Esmerelda confirmed what Rose has already sensed, that Diamond had indeed inherited her gift. And so Rose began to teach her daughter the beginnings of her craft, just as Esmerelda had taught her so many years ago.

Crystal wasn't so sure about Diamond's gift. It seemed to her that her sister was not so much 'communing with spirits' as she was talking to the clean laundry. But then she didn't have the gift, so how much did she know?

One sad day, as the summer days grew shorter and cooler, it was Esmerelda's time. Even though they all knew it was coming, it was still hard to say goodbye. They buried her under the trees in a corner of the little cemetery in Champ Les Sims.

As the daylight faded, and the rest of the troupe started back to the camp, who should show up at the graveyard but Rose's creepy ex-husband, still winking away like crazy, and this time with a camera in hand.

"What do you think you're doing, Pascal? This is a private gathering. You aren't welcome here."
Rose was miffed enough at the intrusion to give Pascal a piece of her mind.
"Public property, little Rosie. Look it up. I have every right to be here. Now if you don't mind, I'm a little busy here."

"Hhmm.. let's give him something to take pictures of, if that's what he's looking for."

The next day was their last day in Champs Les Sims. Rose threw a party in the center of town to celebrate Esmerelda's long full life, and also, to celebrate Crystal's birthday.

Rose was so proud of her eldest daughter. Maybe she hadn't been able to graduate from high school due to their sudden trip to Champs Les Sims, but her musical talent was undeniable. She would be a welcome addition to the Fall Festival Show as the troupe moved on to Moonlight Falls.

Little Marie even showed up to the party and joined in the hot dog eating contest. Rose was relieved to see that Pascal wasn't with her. But when she went over to say hello, Rose saw a sudden flash of fear cross Marie's face, before she took off running down the street toward home.
 Rose wished she could do something for the poor little tyke; it certainly couldn't be easy growing up with a father like Pascal. But the law was on his side, and the next morning they would be heading on down the road.

Crystal interupted her reverie, looking both excited and apprehensive.
"Mom. I just got off the phone with the Lucky Simoleon Casino in Lucky Palms. They are offering me a job! They want me to sing at the Casino a few nights a week! Oh Mom! It's what I've always dreamed of!
"The only thing is.. They want me to start right away. I can't go to Moonlight Falls with you. They are sending me plane tickets to leave from here, tomorrow afternoon!"
And so the party turned into a going away party for Crystal as well. Even though Rose would miss Crystal dearly, she was happy that her daughter was going to be doing what she loved.
Even so, even so often throughout the evening, that twinge of danger would return. Rose shook it off. Crystal was an adult now, and they would all be well away from Pascal by the next evening.

They took one last photo of the four of them as the evening drew to a close. It would be the last time they would all be together for a long time.