#bergen_county

Tove's voice can be heard downstairs, singing a homey sort of tune.

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Jaymes works hard at the store, his social skills not always good at 'selling things' but if someone needs something, he can tell them if they have it.

On one shelf, a small rocking horse chimera goes back and forth and taunts him, in a little boy's voice 'There must be more money.There must be more money. There must be more money.'

My wife makes plenty he thinks defiantly, even though it stings to rely on her so deeply at times. He knows Olgar would inform him he was letting the 'Patriarchy' push that insecurity on him. And he knows he overstates 'plenty' is a relative term. If they had house payments, they'd be crushed. Still, Christmas is right here.

'There must be more money' it rocks back and forth again

"Wish I'd never read that stupid story," He mutters to himself

but then the minor nervousa would just take another form he supposed.

He works harder, but there's only so much one can do in a store like this when it seems everything has been done. He's not improving the place, he's babysitting it.

rock forward 'There must be more money' Rock back

A large chunk is guilt. He should tell his wife. His daughter. But what, ruin their Yule? No. It.. it can wait. This is his burden to bear.

'There must be..'

A blue fist comes down smashing the tiny nervousa.

It will return, but for today at least he will have peace.

The bell rings. Customers come in. He puts on a smile.

(End scene)

At the Barn, Dagmar roots in the back of her closet.

She finds things pretty well organized. Tove may have helped. Sigh.

Oh, she better not have touched.... there's a shoebox, crammed full of stacks of bills....

She did not touch that.

But she organized some of the clothes by spectrum color. Pregnancy is warping that woman's brain. It's ROYGBIV In here

Dag retrieves the box. A little head-shake at the clothing.

The box seems untouched, as together as it was before. Inside she can hear the paper rustle.

She sits on the bed and takes off the lid.

She must have a few hundred dollar bills in in here.. lots of twenties mostly, but fives and tens. All in all over a thousand dollars

WHere is the.. oh there it is, the envelope with the other thousands in hundreds

She counts it. Twice. Frowning. It's still more money than she's ever seen in her life, altogether.

This was hers. Security. Just in case.

A parachute for when her fairy castle crumbled

And yet...

And yet.

Tove calls up, "Honey, your father's on his way home"

"THANKS!" A shout back.

She frowns at the box.

"Dinner soon too, of course" Sometimes dinner is late when Tove knows Jaymes will be. Snow and Dagmar share fruit

"COMING."

She shoves the box under the bed (near a crumpled magazine) and checks her hoodie in the mirror.

She tromps downstairs.

And down she goes... Tove smiles. She noticed the hoodie, "Do I need to turn the heat up?"

"Nah, it's okay."

"What's for dinner? Can I help?"

"Well, the main course is lasagna and that's almost done, but if you want I'm finishing up the tiramisu. I wanted to give it a try. It's an Italian dessert made by layering espresso-soaked ladyfingers with sweetened moscarpone cheese and chocolate shavings. Sound good?"

"Ooo. Fancy."

"I hope so, can't do it as well as the Lucia's parents, but they did share a recipe so.." A smile "It might be good for us. Maybe we'll go extra on the chocolate shavings. I won't tell if you don't"

"Our secret."

"I was thinking, when snow starts, I bet I could shovel driveways."

"Well, you girls already do some of that, though Miss McGillicudy is never grateful. I'd rather you focus on your studies myself. Is there something you're trying to save up for for Yule?"

"I'm making most of them..."

"Well, then it's very good you're such a hard worker, but you should have time for friends and study and, well, the lodge has grown to depend on you. My girl is the best with horses around." Proud as she works the dessert

"At least Stormwake and Star seem to think so. "