#debukefarmhold

"Well, as half his kin are trolls or troll blooded you may want to make it a long matress" she says almost apologetically, "I remember when Earl outgrew his bed in his teen years, feeting shooting over the edge. We were ready for it, of course. Kept it in the basement even after for a bit"

"Oh, I fear the ceilings must needs be dreadfully high."

"Well, some parts do, some parts can be a bit tighter. Any children you have could take after either of you, and the smaller ones, slaugh kin or no, might appreciate havens from their big sibs." She suggests "Earl didn't have any siblings but I can tell you his cousins not being able to go EVERYWHERE He could gave him some peace now and then. "

"Trust me, he is plenty tall."

Eloise smiles "He'll always be my little boy I reckon. " A thought "Do you need ... no, too soon for that" She says to herself

Head-tilt?

Eyebrow lift?

"Well uhm, see, I have a lot of things in the basement here still, though you might call it a cellar. Earl's old crib and one of his first bed frames. I've even got a clock that I never did get to repairing, though I suppose in this day and age it just takes up space. Well, if you'd like to see I suppose I could open it up for y ou?"

She fusses with her braid.

"That's... well. That's not yet."

Yet.

"Smart girl. Don't you let these breed happy Iowans bully you" She smiles "Shameful how we pester somedays. I got NO end of hell for having just one son."

She says it with humor, but there's a grain of truth to it as well. It appears she was seen as doing the bare minimum with just one son, and, at the time, a son many dismissed as 'odd'

"We... do want children. We've discussed it."

"Good, you and he are the only ones need to be in those conversations, though I'll happily tilt an ear if you want an older woman's opinion. " She assures "Now, IF and When YOU two decide to have at, I fear I'll become quite the spoiling grandmother, but I am a non factor otherwise as it should be."

A soft chuff.

"You want some more tea?" A cup was, of course provided, and Eloise cared enough to learn some of Zara's preferences and memorize them, though she doesn't have the fancy stuff

Zara enjoys even plain old Lipton, in the correct company.

Oh it's a notch above that, but only a notch "In the here and now, is there anything you think the house will need? Earl mentioned quilts. I have a few."

"A quilt would be lovely. Photos, aye. We shall need furnishings and the like. It's honestly... quite a lot to consider."

"While there are funds to buy new, I know I prefer things with a bit of history. Things that hold sentiment."

"Hand-me-downs, that we can, at some date, pass on again."

Eloise smiles at that "I like history in things too."

"I'll get some quilts and let you look them over, pick one. I don't mean to bury you and if it seems like I'm unlaoding more than you want you let me know. " She rises then says "Zara?"

"Aye, ma'am?"

"I think you're a wonderful daughter, in law or no, and I'm glad you're in Earl's life..." a consideration "And grateful you're willing to let me in yours." She nods and heads to get those quilts

Softly. "Oh." It's a pleased sound, if a little surprised.

The quilts are brought up shortly... three of them, and Eloise says "let me know if one of them takes your fancy"

and ...

Zara examines the quilts, running her hands over the stitching, bringing the fabric close to smell them, to press the soft fabric against her cheek.

All have held remarkably well. None of them are younger than a decade and a half... indeed the last one, with the tulips, comes from the first half of the 20th century

"Now if none of those suit, don't you worry about my pride."

"I like the stars. But methinks Earl would best love the flowers."

"Take em both if you want" she says "You might have more than one room what needs them, or might change them out as suits"

Zara smiles!

Eloise smiles back

"Now, If only I could get rid of all those old Avon products.. what a mistake trying to sell for them was. "

"There, I cannot help you."

"Past bad choices are my own burden and that was one of them" She assures "Quilts and photos to copy though, at least there's progress. Wonder where Earl is? Hope someone isn't hitting him up for free artwork again now that he's famous. " A snort "A favor for family is okay in moderation, but after a bit it's not much better than 'for the exposure'"

"I fear he is soft-hearted."

"He's been known to let folks take advantage of that" She nods "Don't you let em"

There is a knock at the door and Earl says "mom? Can I come in?"

"Of course!" She says

"Mine Love!"

Earl enters into view, carrying a tattered straw hat that still has a bit of snow on it in his hands.

He smiles as he sees his mom and his trueheart "how are my two favorite ladies? "

"Tea and company. And baby pictures."