#bergen_county

"I admit, " Brenda says "Never in my life have I been more tempted to get into a fist fight with someone so much taller than me" A breath and a look to Kyle

Kerri gives a wry grin. "You might have won."

Kyle says " I think " thoughtfully "You would have riled us less if there less truth to your accusations. " He's taking a drink already "I'm.. a creep Unseelie"

Brenda smiles at the comment by Kerri despite herself "i wouldn't have put money on it" then she turns to her husband "I think you're neglecting the artful wiles I did to encourage that."

Brenda thinks on it 'Maybe less artful and more trashy at times. And I certainly have at least one suffragette ancestor rolling in her grave"

Kerri watches Kyle, but nods to Brenda. "I can't say I really enjoyed seeing either of you that way." A pause. "If I'd been unseelie...I might have stomped on you a lot harder than I did, if I thought you were trying to game some advantage or something. Brenda...please drink. And I'll have some, too, if you'll pass me a glass?"

"Surely" She prepares a glass for her hand hands it "The apology pie isnt ready, and maybe I should call it a gratitude pie, because mostly what its for is gratitude. I didn't care for your means but... we're grateful you DO care about our daughter and looking out for our children"

"Very" Kyle admits, "I was very cynical then that.. and yes, I did try to garner an advantage, partly to counter the advantage that the lodge seems to be putting over us .."

"Thank you." She takes the glass and toasts them before drinking just a sip. They need it more.

They do drink and their meins brighten. Then the satyr almost spits it out. NOT What she was expecting

She sighs after Kyle speaks. "The Lodge really does try to serve everybody equally."

If a satyr almost spits up your booze, well what does that say?

A blink at Brenda. "You okay? I told you there was glamour...."

"No no..it's.. it's Lily" She says alarmed

Realization spreads on Kyle's face "Oh I almost forgot we did that"

Kerri blinks. "Did what?"

"We were furious at you, and scared" Brenda says "So I ... "

Kerri puts down her glass. "What did you do, Brenda."

"WE.." Kyle corrects

"Fine. Both of you. What did you do?"

"We " she says "Told Lily to spy on the lodge, learn things."

Kerri looks like she might be about to rush back to the Lodge.

A blink.

And she relaxes a bit. "I see."

Brenda quaffing down her drink

"It's not good. I Just used my daughter to get dirt on you so if you folks tried to take her away we'd have leverage"

A sigh. "Okay. Okay...thank you for telling me. I know that you wouldn't do that now, but in that state it might have made sense to you."

She's frowning, thinking.

"It did, " Kyle says "And one of us needs to talk to her about it"

"Yes, please. I mean, it's going to be in her nature to collect secrets, anyway, but if that's the reason you gave her...I don't know how safe she feels right now.'

Brenda says "Oh I hate to ruin her Easter"

A slight grin. "I think if she gets a chance to sit with you and hear a story, even a little one, it will go a long way to making things right. That's one of the things she said she was missing most. Oh...how's Adam? He seemed kind of...unhinged."

"My son is not unhinged" Brenda says then sighs "But he is.. he's taken some lumps."

"To the heart" Kyle adds "Nabuni kind of gave him the 'don't say you love me' speech"

Kerri winces. "Ouch. Oka,y, that makes more sense, now. He's home?"

"Yes, I'll ask you not to mention we told you that" Kyle says "A young man's pride is a prickly thing"

"No, I won't, I promise. Okay...I'm going to get back to the Lodge. I hope one or more of you will come over when you're ready. Lily will want to show you the other eggs she made, I think."

"We'll both be there" Brenda says "I'll bring the pie and talk to Lily. Thank you for not ..delaying this apology . "

"And please take ours in turn, even if the pie hasn't arrived yet" Kyle says

"Accepted, absolutely," she nods. "Finish the mimosa as you like. I'll see you a bit later." A grin and a nod. "I'll see myself out." And she heads for the door.

They nod and talk "Okay, Pie, Lily.. someone needs to check on Adam"

"I'll do it" Kyle says and heads upstairs while Brenda tends to the pie and Kerri heads out

And she heads back to the Lodge, not quite urgently, but...not quite not, either.

Kyle knocks on his son's door

"Mmmph."

"Son, I'm coming in" he says "Unless you ask me not to"

No response.

"Okay" And in he goes

The lump on the bed is probably Adam.

Hard to tell, covered in bed clothes and all..... but very likely.