#bergen_county

Jaymes nods and grunts ("I can understand why that would make you nervous")

Tove snorts at both, and goes off to make some calls

Five minutes later...

Dagmar gets Texts!

MAY TXT: Sam! I hear that there's Friends Have hearts too Valentine Day stay over at your place today?

Dag smiles at her phone.

And confirms!

Jaymes peeks over , okay so he's not the PERFECT dad and still needs training. Brows shoot up ("Wow, your mom is quick")

Grunt. ("I know, right?")

MAY TXT: I know you might be watching CJ, if you are I can help. We can watch stupid movies and chill! V day alone SUCKS!

BLOOP... LUPE TXT: Valentine's Day sucks! I'm IN! Let me know if I need to bring anything

TXT: IDK, only if you want pop other than Dr. Pepper

LUPE TXT: I'll bring some options so we don't deplete your supply! SO kickinng your ass at video games

May TXT: Miss you guys SO much

Tove peeks out the kitchen door. Oh her mom looks smug

TXT: You THINK you'll win, muahaha

TXT: Victory will be mine!

TXT: Long as we have fun!

It's easy to guess which text is from who given hwo well she knows them

Tove says "Dagmar?"

"Yeah?"

"Sure you don't want me to drop CJ over at a Babysitter for the night? I have a few options."

"Nah, we got him." A beat. "Thank you."

"You're welcome" She says "Your friends can come over anytime, but your dad and I will be leaving tonight at...." A surprised look. She honestly doesn't know, and looks at Jaymes "When do I need to be ready?"

"Three" He tells her

"That early? JAYMES!" She fusses "I have to get dressed I don' know where we're going, what we'll be doing, and it's going to be starting at THREE ? "

Oh how she fusses

and Jaymes left side of his lip twitches in what would, for any other man, be a shit eating grin

A snerk.

Jaymes considers then says "Casual Pretty Warm?"

Tove looks at him like he'd just asked for a Laser of Emmiting pure Anti matter.. ie, that's now how Lasers WORK! She huffs. . and then looks to Dagmar "We'll be leaving around 2:30 so you girls will have CJ AND the House to yourselves for awhile this afternoon and night. They can sleep over if it's okay with their folks"

She texts the updates out. "Tove, just wear your blue coat with the hat Anne Marie made."

"I can't just wear a .." She fusses as her words are lost somewhere in closet space

Jaymes grunts ("I think your mom looks pretty no matter what she wears.") a pause ("Okay, maybe not the Romper. Looks like an adult onesie")

"Mmmm..." ("Don't tell her that last..")

A nod of agreement

Texts fly excitedly at the updates

They will show up near 2

Dagmar scrambles to prepare! Kerri and Tove (and trollish nature) mean being a good host. Extra cushions and blankets, CJ's playpen, bowls of snacks... (a hurried check that all the laundry is in the hamper!)

Jaymes.. plays with CJ taking him out (Bundled) into the snow. Is he insane?

(No he's not. he's trying to tire the kid out some for the girls)

Dagmar thinks she's got things set up to teen standards

And then, with Jaymes finally getting dressed inside. The doorbell rings

Twobit barks her head off. Browndog wags NEW FRIENDS?

Not even being poisoned can turn Brown Dog off people

"COMING"

Dag thunders down to let in her friends!

The two came together, and while both carry sodas and snacks, they also have a stuffed animal pegasus with a big heart

"Happy Valentine's Day" they say

"Guys...." Sam blushes. "I didn't get anything. I.." PINK.