#bergen_county

PIper presses video call to her moms, and only then does she wonder if she should do this? Sylvi seemed SO sure

Viola's face appears on the screen, way too close "Hello? IS this working?"

Just what you want, an upshot of mom's nostril

"Mama Vi, it's me - you.. you gotta hold it further away, I can't see you..." Stifling a giggle.

"Damn this thing" she steps back and calls out" Vera, it's our daughter. We're Face timing"

"We get to SEE her?" From the other room "Be right there"

Soon, Vera is there, waving from too FAR back

"How's everything in Sunny Cali? I see you back there, Momma Vee!" Piper finds herself cheered up already.

Vee goes "Awww. We're fine. Hot as heck around here but fine. How are things up in Snow Country?"

VIola nods "We're doing all right. We went orange picking of all things, last weekend. Why we paid for that I do not know"

Vera says "We did it for the fun. And the lady giving the tour was cute"

"She was that" VIola admits

"There's no snow now, OBVIOUSLY." Rolling her eyes. "Even if Jonas is tall enough that I check his heads for glacier build up now and then..."

A few chuckles there "Hope those two are all right?"

"Yes, things still going well?"

"Very well...." She takes a few minutes to chat about Goldfinch, about Jonas, and Siv's new job, and the latest project she's been working on...

"Speaking of my two loves, Siv's been busy, lately, though. Father's day stuff. You know her dad was Mountain, here? That's kinda like, head honcho magic man and guidance counselor for a troll hold."

"Sounds important" "What's that pull down, after taxes?" "Stop that"

"Helifino, ma." A laugh, which fades, as she puts on a more serious face. "I actually wanted to call to ask you about something. I hope it's not too much to bring up over the phone."

"We always make time for you, Pip Pip"

A groan. "I'm being serious, maaaaaahm. I'm twenty-ONE now. Can you believe it? Least ways, as far as mortal time runs. That's too old to be called Pip Pip."

"Well, we know you like it better than Bangs" "That's true, Dear"

WINCE

"But... ahem. Speaking of age, I mean, I'm not a kid any more. I'm an adult now, you know? and... ma, momma. I wanted to ask you... that is..." She hems around the question.

They looks curious, tilting their heads

"I wanted to ask you about my dad." She says, in a quick rush before she loses the nerve.

"Oh" Vera says "my" Viola says "Goodness" they say together

Piper gazes into the phone and their faces, nervous.

"Well uhm.. you're adopted" Vera says //"Which we thought you knew" Viola adds "But.. we can tell you, the papers they gave us were vague" //"Which is on whoever put you up for adoption, not you." /'We knew you were perfect" /"Fell in love right away"

They whisper a bit to each other while their daughter sorts this out

"Yes, I know all that..." She can't help but smile as they compliment her. "But... before that?"

"Do you know anything? A name, a... a kith? Was he even one of us? Do you know... you know... why? It's just, well. Father's day?"

"It's got me wondering. You never left me hanging or lacking for anything, this isn't about either of you.. you know I love you both, right? To the moon and back?"

"Oh we love you too, honey" Vera puts her hands over her heart. Viola nods and they look unsure what to say

"Well... " Vera says "You have pooka blood according to an omen..."

"POOKA blood? Are you sure that doesn't mean, like, in a stain on my carpet?"

"Mickey Boyd" Viola says "Your biological father's name is Mickey Boyd. He's a mocking bird pooka. Lovely mimic"

Vera looks at Viola at that, but Viola says "She wanted to know, Vera. "

"That was a joke, haha." She trails off, realizing... she got an answer. "Mickey... Boyd." She says it to herself, tasting the way the words feel in her mouth.

"Yes, I guess she did" Vera finds herself nodding

"A songbird... maybe I -was- destined for Goldfinch." Her eyes are misty now, and she beams at the phone screen.

"Well, mind you, a mockingbird will copy an alarm clock" Viola says

Vera ahems then nudges Viola "But you? You definitely got the voice baby And never forget your moms are your biggest fans"

"You don't know how much this means to me."

She's trying to hold in the water works.

"Oh, now honey if he acts like he doesn't know you... it's been years. So don't let that hurt" Viola says

Vera nods "Also.. pooka. They don't talk straight"

"Oh, don't I know it. Do you know.. where does he live? Or where can I find him? That is..." Sudden uncertainty. "Maybe he wouldn't want to be found. Well, I can find out ABOUT him, at least, maybe?"

"Well, um we don't ..." Vera starts to say

"Rowan Oak area was his home when he was younger but he may have moved" Viola says

"YES.. I think it's safe to say he's probably moved on" Vera adds Oh we are gonna TALK, Viola