#bergen_county

She smiles at Raindrop that flitters about

"SOmebody thinks she's getting a sugarcube."

A blush "I have to confess I may have spoiled her. Jaymes says she's going to get fat. I tell him the only thing getting fat around here is me"

A sidelong look. "Like, when do you get really big?"

"Oh, it's showing already but depends on what you mean by REALLY... " a sigh and touch of her midsection, "end of the second trimester is 6 months from then on, it's ballooh girl until by the last month and a half I have to watch out for harpoons"

"Well, nobody gonna be messing with you."

She gets dishes to set the table.

"Oh because I'm gonna sit on them if they don't?" A joke "or because you'll look after me?" gentler and a smile

A grunt at the latter. Agreement?

"Sweet of you." the smells of cheese and chocolate fill the air.

And then, the door opens.

She can tell by the foot falls it's her dad. They seem a bit more leaden than usual, but it's him

"Hey Dad." A look over. She tries to sound cheerful, but there's a note of worry.

"hey" He nods. He's tired. Drained , not of glamour but energy of will.

"...How was work?"

"Long" he answers

"Well, there's lasagna."

"They sure do have you working a lot of hours lately, " Tove says "I would think with the holidays they'd have folks wanting a part time job so you could get help"

"Mmmph" (Lasagna is good)

Then he looks to see his wife, "It's okay. I've got it. "

"And fancy dessert." She sets down his plate.

"tiramisu" Tove says, then she looks at Jaymes, "Is everything okay? you seem a bit stressed"

"Everything's great" he says (Lie)

Jaw-twitch.

"Well, now that you're here it is. Our daughter helped with the dessert , and even wants to get some snow shoveling done this holiday time off. "

Jaymes raises a brow and a look at Dagmar (Why?)

Tove however isn't done, "I think she has her father's work ethic," A kiss for her on the forehead, and one for him on the lips. "I think she ought to have fun instead but her get em attitude makes me proud"

"Well, I had a good group of summer customers..."

"mm" (and?)

"So, like, maybe I can save up money for a car?"

"Or... or emergencies?"

"mmm smart to save up ahead" he admits "But you're only young once. Trust me. Working for a living will come soon enough."

A concerned look at her. He wants her to have fun, to be a teenager.

'Ain't afraid of work."

"I know" A bit of pride in him for her there.

"Yeah. I can pull my weight."

"Your mother and I are the.. we're supposed to be the providers" he says "You more than pull your weight at the lodge."

Tove raises a brow at something. The word 'supposed'

She frowns.

"Well, she does do that," Tove says, "But ...Dagmar, would you want to start a bank account maybe? Get a little interest on your car savings?"

"Maybe..."

Jaymes frowns for a moment

but then he grunts and eats.

Tove says "Well, your dad and I will take about it." She says

"....there's adoption assistance. Sometimes. For kids from foster care. It's not as much as what foster care pays."

"Why would we need that?" Tove says "We're doing fine"

Jaymes looks away for a second, ONLY a split second, but it's enough for Tove to notice.

"Jaymes, Dagmar? What's going on?"

She chews on her thumb.

Jaymes looks at his daughter "It's not a car your'e trying to get money for is it?"