#baronyofthesilverwolf

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Christmas has been lovely for so many people, but perhaps, none so much as Rochallor - or Joe, as it were.

Right now, he is having breakfast! Out at a diner, which is always a treat... with Dolph, and with Ms. Amy!

Menus are set before all of them, and Joe was offered a placemat with crayons, and a kids menu.

Joe takes the crayon box, pulls out one, smells it like a fine havana cigar "A good year. This will do"

Ms. Amy muffles a giggle at that. "You know, you act much older than your age, Joe. Has anyone ever told you that? It's quite charming."

She looks over the menu, fretting a bit. "Pops, did you have to pick a diner? I feel like I've already put on 15 pounds this week. I won't be able to fit into any of my suits when I return to the office."

At the mention of the office, the boy's face falls a bit

Dolph clears his throat a bit. "You're on vacation, it's okay to treat yourself. Try the peppermint pancakes."

She considers this, then, seeing Joe looking a little down, asks, "Did you want to split something? Maybe I can eat just ONE pancake." Failing to see eggwhite omelettes and green tea on the menu.

The boy smiles "Sharing is caring, I'll protect you from the pancakes" a somber nod

"Aren't you excited about going back to school after new years?" She tries to engage Joe after they put in the order - having settled for a cup of lipton's tea.'

"School can be fun, but I don' have a fridge to put my things onn so I have to throw them in the trash"

"A fridge?" She looks a bit baffled. "To put your things on?" It takes her a moment, and then she reaches out to tousle Joe's hair. "You know, I have a fridge at my condo in the city. I don't cook - but if you wanted to send me some of your work, I'd be happy to put it up."

Dolph sips his coffee. "I know for a fact I taught you how to cook, Amy,."

"I know, Pops - but most nights I work late, or have business lunches. I just don't have the time."

"You would?" A nod "You could move your fridge here!" A revelation, "then I could SEE it on your fridge!"

A chuckle from Amy. "What would I do here? I don't think my office is ready to open a branch in Carthage."

"Well, why not?" Dolph says, as the waitress refills his coffee with a smile. "You worked remotely all last year, can't you keep up the same thing?"

She looks a bit startled. "I guess I could, but I live in New York City. What is there for me out here? Horses and snow angels, that's fine for Christmas, but year round, I'm just a career woman in the big city.

The door chime tinkles as someone else comes in - a familiar broad-shouldered hunk who the waitress sighs over. "Just stopping in for coffee... hey there, Joe!" Nick waves. "Ms. Amy, sir." Nodding to the others.

"Tex! " The boy grins "Amy was just asking about you"

She DID ask what was out here for her. There she goes

Amy doesn't seem to realize that her cheeks have gone as pink as a schoolgirl's.

"I'm sure that Tex - that is, Mr. Fraser, has important business of his own." She demures.

"He wants our coffee" the boy says, "We should give him ours" And he pulls out a chair for Nick

Nick steps over, taking off his cap. “I was actually just stopping in for a cruller. We’ve got to load up the rest of the unsold trees for delivery over to the paper mill.”

“Please, join us. Amy was just talking about… what was it, horses and snow angels?” Dolph encourages, and Nick glances at his watch.

“I suppose I can join you for a cup of coffee.” Nick smiles, taking the chair Joe offered.

Joe grins

Amy smiles, “so what do you do in the off-season?”

Nick hems a bit before answering. “To be honest, normally whatever work comes my way.”

Amy plays with the spoon in her teacup. “Have you thought about finishing your degree? Really focusing on forestry, and not just playing lumberjack a few months of the year?”

Dolph sits back at that, “there’s no shame in an honest days work, Amy.” Softly chiding, “but also none in seeking new opportunities.”

"I bet you could find things for Nick to do arounnd here, Amy" Joe says, hopeful. Maybe this miracle could last?

“Who, me? I mean, if he wanted to come to NYC I might be able to get him in on the ground floor, gofer, maybe mail room? Work up to paralegal in a few years… but no, Nick, you’d hate it. The big city has its charms, but the work is… long hours, soul crushing, paper-pushing trapped inside a skyscraper, and if you're lucky you might pass a tree in Central Park on the cab ride home…” Amy says.

Nick listens to this, and then asks softly, “so why do it? Why go back?”

Amy blinks, and has no answer.

Roch takes her hand and looks up with big eyes and for a moment, is indeed a little boy "you'e getting CRUSHED?" Alarm

“Not literally, I just mean, well, when you work at a corporation, you have to keep up, and being a woman in the business world means that I have to put in 150% just to keep pace with the big boys.“

“Then stop playing by their rules!” Nick suggests. “You said you're closer to being made partner? Why not branch out into your own firm?”

"The big boys sound like jerky poophead capitalists" Humph

then a look "or dirty sexist commies"

he squirms. His mouth is doing it again. Trying to be funny