2x03 Darby

 

That's dedication right there. Getting her cardio in despite the snow.

Darby: "Now to unwind with some knitting."

I swear Darby is secretly an old lady.

Eww! Look away! Look away!

Thankfully Mum and Dad moved on to more "family friendly" activities soon after.

Looks like knitting did the trick.

Darby: "Shoo fox! Leave that rabbit alone!"

Dad finally got me a telescope. The winter sky is so beautiful at night!

April: "Wooow...a shooting star!"

April: "Erin, I'm trying to sleep! Can you please keep it down?"

Erin: "I'm practicing for a test! Leave me alone!!"

April: "Okay, okay. Sorry."

Darby: "Breathe in....and out."

I guess Erin's test didn't go well...

Shannon: "Inner peace..."

There is nothing better than yoga in the cold.

Hugh: "Now what does this do?"

Walter has been spending a lot of time at our house since Winterfest. Mum makes me hang out with them so they keep things "clean".

But I'm not a monster. Surely a kiss here and there is okay?

Erin's birthday came soon enough. Maybe now I'll be freed from my babysitting duties.

Jealous!

A few days later...

Darby: "Hiya, sis! Just to let you know, I got traded to the Brindleton Bay Lobster."

April: "Wow! So you're moving out? When?"

Darby: "Tonight."

April: "Goodbye. Love you."

Darby: "....Love you."

And just like that, Darby was gone.

2x02 Winterfest

 

What is it about holidays that make mums go insane? Mum has been in a cleaning frenzy all day.

Darby spent the morning as she normally does- working out.

Smiling while doing homework? Erin must be excited for Winterfest.

I finally managed to drag Erin out of the house for some fresh air. And by "fresh air" I mean pelting her with snowballs.

Erin: "Ha! Missed me!"

   As the battle raged, I realized we had an audience. Walter Bell. The smelly and weird son of the Creature Keeper Michael Bell. What was he doing here?

Well, that answers that.

April: "So, you are two are an item now?"

Erin and Walter: "Yes."

Walter: "Erin invited me to the party, if that's okay."

April: "It's not a party exactly, we're just celebrating Winterfest as a family."

After a shower and putting on my Sunday best, it was time to decorate the tree.

Shannon: "Are you having a good Winterfest dear?"

Walter: "Never better."

Mum and Dad insisted on cooking dinner alone. Even old folks need their alone time.

Erin: "This smells heavenly!"

Shannon: "Thank you, dear. I tweaked the recipe for the honey glaze."

Walter: "This is the best thing I've ever put in my mouth!"

Presents time!

April: "What could this be?"

It was a lovely painting Mum found at the local market. Apparently it depicts a place called Chestnut Ridge. I doubt I'll ever get to see it, but maybe my descendants will someday.

Even Oliver came back for the festivities.

Happy Winterfest to you all!

2x01 April Showers

 

Um...hi there. My name's April and this is my story. April McIntyre, that is.

About me...

Well, I love animals. A lot. This me and our llama Gibson. Isn't he a cutie?

Yeah, there isn't whole lot more to say. I wake up, go to school, come back home and due chores til bed. My life's pretty boring.

Here I am with my sister Erin. She's the nicer of my two sisters.

To the right is my other sister, Darby. She's never liked me all that much. I don't know why.

One day Mum and Dad called us into the family room. 

Darby: "What do you think this is about, Erin?"

Erin: "I think Dad has chosen the heir."

Hugh: "You're quite right. It is time to announce who will inherit the Homestead."

*dramatic pause*

Hugh: "April. You will inherit the farm."

Before I could react, Darby stood up with an irritated sigh.

Darby: "Typical."

And she stormed out.

April: "Darby wait!"

Darby: "What?"

April: "Darby, look I'm sorry. If you really want the farm, we can talk to Dad together."

Darby: "It's not that."

Darby: "It's just...Dad always favored you."

April: "Darby..."

Darby: "It's true! But I know that wasn't your fault. I'm sorry for being so mean to you as a kid. I know this won't undo any I've done..."

I pulled her into a hug.

April: "It's okay. Apology accepted."

Darby and I will never be close- we're too different- but at least we can start over.

Later that day...

Hugh: "Hi, sweetheart." 

April: "Hi Dad."

Hugh: "So are you okay...?"

April: "Never better. Darby and I had a talk. We buried the hatchet for good this time."

Hugh: "Oh I'm so glad!"

Hugh: "Come 'ere." 

Erin: "Congratulations Sis!"

April: "Thank you, Erin."

Erin: "So I know you're heir now and all, but could I maybe stay here until I'm ready to move out?"

April: "I would never kick you out. This is your home for as long as you want to stay."

Nothing is better than a wholesome family dinner. Especially when you got to cook it yourself.

Happy birthday Darby!

Darby is a young adult, and I've just started adolescence. Why did Dad have to name me as heir so soon?