#bergen_county

"Adam..." Kerri says evenly, "I am glad you are helping your sister...but you are not her parents. Brenda...she is a childling. Tell me...when is the last time you read a bedtime story to her?"

"Why I... " A pause, and her brows knit "oh my. It..has been aw hile. I just lost track"

"You lost track. Doing what?"

"She didn't -ask- for a story......." muttered with concern.

"I'm sure she didn't, Adam," Kerri reassures him.

"Maybe I should get Kyle. I tend to let him answer things now," She says "it's just..easier. He's got so much potential you know?"

"Brenda, wait..." she reaches to touch the satyr's arm. "Don't get him yet."

"As you command, my Hearth" That ..wasn't sarcasm

A momentary tension in response to that, then she continues, "Listen, I know this is difficult, and it would be easier for somebody else to manage it, but...your daughter needs you, the way you've been there for her up until now."

"Do you remember why you stopped reading to her, or why you started leaving her food for her to handle herself?"

"Well, I see, I guess... I mean, I still love her," the way she says 'still' .. "but some things seemed silly and I guess i had some revaluation. I don't.. let's see, Adam had gotten in trouble. That was upsetting. Then I woke from a nap and...it really wasn't that big a deal. Though Kyle's right, Adam really didn't realize how to work the angles to make it work for him better."

Adam manages, only barely, to restrain an eye roll.

"Work the..." She frowns. "You say...you woke up from a nap. I know it must have been days ago, but...did you dream anything during that nap?"

"More like.. just thoughts, like how silly honor is... and how passions are so much more important than duty..." She says

Kerri takes a moment...perhaps to keep from losing her temper. "And...you have no passion for caring for your son and daughter?"

Adam fidgets again. ".... take care of myself......" mumbled.

She shoots Adam an apologetic look before turning to watch Brenda again.

"Fine, then, Adam. But Brenda, you have no passion in your heart about caring for Lily? Your little girl?"

"Of course I do, I hadn't realized she was upset," Oh she looks offended a bit "I'm still her mother, Kerri."

"And why do you think you hadn't realized it?"

"I'm not sure, Kyle had some great ideas... there was this client who'd checked me out... when I mentioned it to him, we realized me doing yoga in view of the video conference would get hte old perv vulnerable to a sales pitch. Kyle got an extension and more funding both. So clever mm?" Her eyes sparkle with worship "There's nothing like finding a smart powerful person and assiting him, don't you think?"

Adam shifts in his seat.

"Oh, I've got something better than that. I like being a smart, powerful person, myself." Kerri gives a thin, brief-lived smile. "So...to pull this scam at Kyle's directive...you've been neglecting your daughter."

"Hey, Mrs. Davidson....." reproachful.

An eyebrow at Adam. "I appreciate filial loyalty, Adam, but your mother has forgotten that she, too, is a smart, powerful person...and your sister is hurting for it."

That gets the satyress hackles up, "Thank you for your opinion, Hearth. I'll correct the problem"

"Yes? How?"

"That will be for Kyle to think on and me to advise, thank you, Hearth"

a note of unseelieire at thsi

"I think Lily rather liked it better when you thought for yourself, Brenda."

Adam frowns.

"And that's enough, thank you, Kerri," Kyle says from a door, "Thank you for bringing t his to our attention."

"You have a good evening, and send our regards to the Chieftain" Kyle says