#rivervale_lodge

Olgar looks around "We get the lodge back. It's a late summer miracle"

"A SUMMER MIRACLE! That means popsicles, right?" A puppy-eared head pops out of a nearby shrubbery.

Kerri grins fondly at Connor. "I think a popsicle might be in order a bit later, but you do have lessons today, don't you?"

Olgar chuckles "Spoke too soon both of us"

"I can sit, AND speak. I'm not so good at playing dead, though, but I can be REAL quiet."

"OH! A SQUIRREL!"

Olgar looks at the boy "Well, maybe..." then he watches as the boy gets excited

A crash and clatter and he is off! "ROO ROOOOOOO!"

Olgar grunts, then looks to Kerri, "you see what we're missing with only one kid?"

Kerri gives him a look. "You have only one kid. I have Sylvi and half the Lodge. That includes you sometimes." She pokes him in the chest.

"Hey," he says "Not my fault none of them are leaning Rover. I tried to take them for long lessons to give you space." He puts arms around her waist, "Guess you're just TOO good at what you do to drive them off."

A suspicious look. "I know that's a compliment, but it came out sort of like serves-you-right."

"Did it? Huh" Mischievous grin on her husband's blighted mug "You know it is, honey. The easier you make your job look, the bigger the job gets. It's why I always try to stagger in here once a month wounded."

"Hm. Very strategic of you, but I'd be happy if you took a month or two off from that particular pattern." She gives him a light kiss. "Please?"

A softening face, "yeah, well, I have been a bit of a heather balm hog I suppose. " He strokes her face, "Okay. You know, between Gerd, Brogan and Sally Mae, you've got fair help these days and NOTHING to prove to nobody. It's okay if you take it easy too"

That earns him a smile. "Why, thank you. Not sure when you got to make those decisions, but I'll take it." She turns her head to kiss his palm. "And...there'll be more than enough for both of us to do, soon, I think."

"Not making, just suggesting and maybe giving a firm opinion. I'm full of those" The kiss on the palm though "Right now I'm wondering if you're making a suggestion while most of the young ones are out of the lodge. Are you, Mrs. Davidson? Because I've noticed a lot of YOUR suggestions are good ones" His eyes drift towards the bedroom

"Mmm." An amused murmur, but then a sigh. "No. You know Connor's likely to come knocking at the door at just the worst moment. But...consider it a promissory note for later." She gives him a wink.

"I will. " He says and returns the kiss to palm gesture to her, then parts "Definitely something to look forward to. Love you, babe."

"Love you, hon. Go, do your thing." She smiles and steps away, heading back to Hearth tasks.

And he goes on the patrols. Grabbing a spear that has the words 'here dragon dragon' etched in the wood of the shaft.

(end scene)

About ten minutes later, Tove strides towards the sparing area next to the lodge, and grabs a weighted staff.

She has dressed to something more practical for bloodletting.

She knows the feel of a staff, it's weight, it's heft.

And she whirls it about her head building speed

Kerri's demesne, the kitchen, is optimally situated to overlook the sparring ring...and she's more than a bit surprised by what she sees.

"RAH!" she yells in a roar that some might dismiss as cute, were it not for the dummy nearly losing it's head.

She is no storm, she will never be the best warrior, but with a staff she is at her best, and at her best, she can do her worst.

Kerri blinks...and she prepares a pitcher of lightly-lemoned water. After Tove works for a bit, she brings the pitcher and two glasses outside.

She doesn't interrupt...just stands quietly and waits.

If the dummy were a person, it would have had it's adam's apple crushed more than once.

Rapid shots to where leg joints would be too.

The young woman/older wilder wears herself down to a frazzle until she's exhausted

Then breathing heavily, she turns to see Kerri and gasps then blushes "I'm so sorry, Hearth I..." A cough "I needed to blow off some steam."

Kerri softly nods, pours a glass of lemon water, and brings it to Tove. "Drink."

Tove doesn't argue, rather she takes a rather large gulp or two then, "Thank you"

She nods. "What happened?" Quiet concern.

"I don't know exactly... Dagmar was so happy this morning. She had put on that make up like Sylvi taught her.. she seemed to really enjoy it. Then I got this text telling me to bring new clothes now.. and... it was for may, but Dagmar was closed up like a fan.... a very angry fan. Apparently some boy asked who she was dressing up for...the idiot... and Sam heard it as... 'who do you hope fucks you'. And I tried to help but she won't let me..she won't talk to me..."

"Oh...oh, Tove. I'm sorry." Kerri rests a hand on Tove's shoulder.

"I ..we were doing so well... and then I forget what she's been through... and I try to fix it and I'm not sure I'm a very good mother some days" Tove admits "I Know, I'm young for a teenage daughter. I get that, but I thought she trusted me now and ... it's not about me , I know, it's about her, but hwo CAN I help her if she won't talk to me at all? If she thinks I'm just another enemy?"

A sigh. "I know. It's awful. It's the worst, the absolute worst part of being a mother. And I hate to tell you this, but...this isn't the last time it's going to happen. When she tries new things, she's likely to backslide in some things that were going well. It's part of the process, agonizingly."

"Then how do you know if you're even making a difference?" Tove says

The younger mother looks like she might cry- if she could afford to, she can't so instead she sucks it up, but she wants to know.

Kerri offers a sympathetic grin. "I'm mostly just faking it and hoping for the best." And she does offer to give Tove a hug and a shoulder for a brief cry.

Tove actually laughs as well as cries a bit, "Well, you had me utterly fooled. I admit it. I Know, I Should have gone to Jaymes with this but he's at work. ..and .. I don't know.. I don't want to go sobbing to him to tell him to hold me because I'm helpless. Oh god anything but that, not because I don't love him, I do, but I've been helpless and... no not again"

"No, I get that. And sometimes you just need to talk to another mom. So if I come to you looking for a shoulder....?"

"It's available, of course" She says "Mind you, I might wear absorbent shoulder pads as I suspect you've got a lot stored up with so many coming to you"

A sigh, and she goes to get herself a glass of that lemon water. "Well, you may yet find out someday. With any luck, though, your daughter will be in a somewhat better mood by the end of the day."

"Who knows? She's...not mercurial by nature She can hold onto a good bad mood TIGHT" A sigh "I don't care if she is adopted she gets THAT from Jaymes"