It was late Sunday evening, but I couldn't wait to get our latest harvest consigned.
After all, this one contained the coveted red berry beans.
And the clerk actually raved when he saw them.
Clerk: "Oh my, customers will be happy to see these Mrs. Swanson! And such quality! I hope you're ready for some serious money for this crop!"
I told him I was more than ready with five children to feed, clothe, and care for.
And with an old farmhouse that needed some serious renovations, so we could really use some extra funds.
I toyed with the idea of stopping by the grocery store for a lottery ticket, but I figured it was pointless.
Jerad didn't exactly tell me not to buy anymore, but I know he doesn't consider them part of our frugal budget.
Besides he said it was all just the luck of the draw and I'm not very lucky.
So I just headed home for my bed and some sleep.
I'd told Jerad about the fairy and the mysterious sparkles I'd seen, but he was pretty skeptical.
He'd decided to check on the kids before joining me in bed and he saw some from Carter's bedroom window.
Fairies and sparkles in the garden is one thing, but no father is going to tolerate them near his children!
So Jerad, though he's quite the coward and afraid of the dark, went outside to investigate.
As he approached the golden winged fairy he could see she held a wand in her hand.
She was standing pretty motionless so he figured he was safe enough.
But what he hadn't realize was that she was holding herself steady to cast a spell.
When Jerad stood in front of her to confront her, she let lose with it!
And he lit up with all the colors of the rainbow just flying off of him in every direction!
But when the rainbow lights were gone, instead of feeling singed or frozen, Jerad only felt a tingle.
And then the fairy smiled and said, "Jerad Swanson this is your lucky day! I've blessed you with the luck of the Irish. Use your luck wisely and you just may find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!"
Jerad was all set to dismiss her, but he still felt that tingle, and a sudden thought popped into his head.
*What would Brooke do if she was feeling lucky!?!*
And even though he knew it was probably ridiculous, he went and did it anyway!
Monday morning brings us back to our regular school day routine.
But this morning it's Rayne making pancakes.
And with all five of our children at school, Jerad and I tend the garden.
Planting, watering, weeding, and even harvesting as our plants are all thriving after the rain and now the heat of the summer sun.
Then I help Autumn with homework while Carter reads a book on cooking.
He's decided his sisters aren't the only ones that can help with meals.
But then I realize Rayne didn't come home from school and I ask Carter if he knows where she is.
Carter's caught up in his cookbook, but he mumbles that she stayed to chat with some of her friends.
I don't say anything but I'm worried about what friends!
Rayne on the other hand, is not in the least worried, and is happily planning on spending time with Dominic Westmoreland.
Until she sees someone new.
He tells her his name is Johnny Rhoen and she says, "Hi Johnny, I'm Rayne. Rayne Swanson."
And it's love at first sight for both of them!
Johnny glances at Dominic as he's walking away and asks her if he's her boyfriend.
Rayne shakes her head no, not taking her eyes off him!
He asks her if she's new at school and she tells him it's her first day of high school.
But that she has an older sister, Summer, who has red hair, and is graduating soon.
And an older brother, Carter, that has dark hair, who's been in high school for awhile.
Then Johnny laughs and says, "Oh, I bet you have a younger sister too, one that has red hair!"
Rayne laughs and tells him she actually has two younger sisters with red hair that have just started school recently.
In fact, it was her youngest sister Winter's first day of school ever!
Johnny says, "First days can be tough."
Rayne smiles and says, "Not if you meet the right people."
Their eyes meet again and Rayne takes a bold step.
She asks him his sign.
When he tells her he's a Gemini, she gets even bolder and asks him if he's single!
He tells her he is and says it's getting late and he's getting hungry.
Rayne smiles and asks if he'd like to join her for dinner at the bistro.
When he says 'that's the best idea I've heard all day', her smile gets even bigger.
Then they grab a taxi for the short ride over.
It's at this point that Rayne remembers to call us and tell us where she is!
I explain that tonight's Summer's Drama Recital and we're just walking into the school, so we must have just missed her.
We're not happy that she's missing her sister's big night, but since she's already at the bistro, we tell her she should go ahead and have dinner.
Then before we can enter the school, I get a message from the consignment store, we just sold $7000 simoleans worth of produce, plus the city honored us for reaching level 7 in gardening with another $1500 each!
I do the dance of joy as I realize we've just made $10,000 in one day, more than doubling our family funds!
Then the town clock strikes 7 pm and suddenly our bank account gets hit with another deposit!
$100,000 this time!!!
All I can do is scream, "The fairy's magic! It must have been a spell on the garden!"
Jerad hides a smile and tells me we need to get inside or we're going to be late.
I wonder how he can be so calm.
I'm so excited I'm trembling and realize that with both those deposits Jerad and I have completed our Lifetime Wishes!
But I can't disappoint Summer so I try to calm myself down and hurry inside.
When Rayne and Johnny are through with dinner, they head outside.
Rayne is surprised to meet her grandparents as they're heading in for dinner.
I think what shocks her the most is her grandmother's outfit.
Rayne *commiserating* "Oh, Mimi, did dad make you shop at the thrift store too?!"
Her grandmother laughs and shakes her head 'no', and says, "I've been volunteering at the elementary school. With no committees to be part of here in town yet, I had to do something with my free time." *shooting her husband a look* "And I knew I should have changed for dinner!"
Howard *smiling* "Murielle you look fine. It's just such a different look for you that Rayne was just taken by surprise. Isn't that right Rayne?"
Rayne sees the twinkle in her granddad's eyes and smiles and says, "Absolutely Mimi! In fact, you look like you've lived here in Aggie's Corner forever. They don't dress real fancy here."
This gives her grandmother just the opening she needs as she says, "Speaking of fancy dresses, yours looks very nice. Makes you look very grown up!"
Johnny, who hasn't taken his eyes off of Rayne, can't resist adding, "Beautiful. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen!"
Rayne blushes just a bit being in the presence of her grandparents, but can't help turning to him.
Johnny closes the gap and pulls her into his arms.
Grandparents forgotten, Rayne returns his hug, totally overwhelmed by the feelings she's experiencing
for the first time.
Her grandfather has been engaged in conversation by another restaurant patron, but her grandmother tilts her head and gives the teen couple a knowing smile as she fondly recalls her own first stirrings of love.
After Summer's Recital, we get home and Jerad and I start chatting about our riches.
Well, I'm chatting excitedly, going on and on about the fairy and her magic spell on our garden.
Then I realize Jerad hasn't said a word and has a rather sheepish expression on his face.
Then he tells me that the fairy did not put a magic spell on our garden, but one did put a magic spell on him!
A spell that made him lucky for 24 hours.
And he confesses that he did something he knew I would do if I was feeling lucky.
He bought a lottery ticket! And it was worth $100, 000!
I find myself stabbing a finger at him in disbelief, saying, "You bought a ticket!?! After telling me it was a waste of money!?!"
I know he's ready to be on the receiving end of my wrath.
But I totally surprise him by laughing with glee and flinging my arms around him, exclaiming, "You wonderful, wonderful man! We can fix the roof, and have money for Summer's expansions for the house and the farm! If we budget it carefully, maybe expansions for a few generations."
Jerad grabs my hand and whispers, "Maybe that honeymoon we never got to take? Somewhere warm and romantic?"
I giggle, actually giggle, and say, "Now that's a great idea. One I know definitely comes from my hopeless romantic teddy bear, and not his frugal, stick-to-our-budget practical side!"
Jerad laughs seductively in my ear, and says, "It's easy to think of romance with such a beautiful wife. I might even be persuaded to add to our family!"
I pull back at that suggestion and say, "No, you were right about Winter making our family complete. Now that she's in school and Summer graduates soon, we need to focus on our garden. Increasing both the quantity and quality of our crops in preparation for Summer's expansions."
Jerad smiles and says, "Who's being practical now? Looks like some of my frugal trait is wearing off on you my sweet!"
I smile and say, " Yours and daddy's! I get budgeting advice from both of you so it's no wonder I'm picking up a little!"
But both of us are still overwhelmed by our good fortune with the influx of so much cash.
$10,000 from our produce sale and bonuses and $100,000 from our lottery winnings!
We now have $118,000 in our bank account.
I know I would have considered that peanuts not long ago, but with our big family and the farm to take care of, it's a heaven sent miracle!
And all still due to fairy magic in my mind. That fairy put a spell on Jerad after all, so on the garden or on him, either way, magic!
We know the bulk of the money needs to go into expansions on the house and farm, and maybe purchasing small homes for the other children.
But for now, Jerad and I just smile at each other, hold hands, and just revel in our good fortune.
Well, a surprising turn of events for the Swanson's!
They now have a substantial amount of money to their name.
Money that Brooke is trying to be practical about, using it for Summer's expansions to the house and farm.
But Jerad and Howard, along with Brina, have a surprise for Brooke.
One that involves the Dean's architect, MrsFlynn!
Let's see what they're plotting in Chapter 22: Meeting MrsFlynn
Coming soon.
