#rivervale_lodge

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Between Sally Mae, and Brogan, the Hearth has plenty of help, but Tove still makes an excuse to come over and assist/talk

Kerri is very satisfied with the loaves she has set out on the table. "They may not be competition quality, but they are exactly right for home. Here, try this, Tove. Is your stomach better settled?" She offers the bread knife, and then slides a pot of honeycomb over as well.

"Yes, it really is odd though, it kicks in mid day. yes, I realize now father got that wrong but..." A blush "still, around lunch every day? Ugh. Bread is okay though." She samples some, "Or in your case very okay. mmm"

Kerri grins. "Try it with a dab of that honey. Honey is a miracle in its own right."

"You've confirmed it, then? How are Jaymes and Dagmar reacting?"

"Oh, that's.. one of the reasons I came here" she confesses as she dabs a bit of honey as suggested, "Though I was going to lead up with what I overheard about the Siv and Jonas show. "

"Oh, dear. Well, we can certainly chat about that first, if you prefer. Plenty of material there," Kerri says wryly as she takes her own nibble of bread and honey.

"I'm terrible I know, but now that I'm 'an old married lady' as far as the other wilders are concerned, I feel like they owe me a good soap opera," And she relates the conversation she overheard near her house.

A conspiratorial grin at the soap opera comment, and then Kerri listens. She's a good audience, encouraging and reacting in proper measure. "...She actually said that? The between-the-thighs bit? The girl likes to shock, but sometimes I think she goes a bit too far for her audience."

"I think she isn't aware that a lot of women don';t have troll strength and weapons," A shake of her head "Not that all men are animals, but you know what I mean. "

"And yes, she actually said it." Amused, "I sometimes wonder if perhaps the Chieftain asked the Dreaming for a daughter that didn't have her hangups, and it overcorrected."

"Hm. I've got to figure it's all the time on the ship and among sailors, because otherwise I really don't know where Siv gets her sass from. Either way...it looks like we're gearing up for a romance between those two. I wonder if it will go better than her last?"

"I don't know, Bancroft was very special to her... and yet she's not treating Jonas like Rebound guy..." Amusement "Not sure what to make of jonas. He's a damn hard worker, duty focused, even needful, but he does come off as ... oh what's the word?"

"A bit pretentious?"

"Whether he intends it or not." She nods "Bancroft was stoic, reserved; Jonas I think is trying to prove something under that veneer. Yet she fusses about him.. .and he keeps coming back."

"can one develop romantic feelings of shared calling each other out over their bull?"

Kerri's eyes twinkle. "Well...that's sort of how Olgar and I started out, honestly."

"Huh, really? " Intrigued, "Well, you two do have that part down to an art. Jaymes isn't one for bull.. he does close up like an oyster at times. And I feel like I need a crowbar and a jackhammer... but he's usually self aware. " A cough "Getting to the Jaymes and Dagmar reactions you asked about? Let's talk about Jaymes first. He's.. thrilled, but tenser than he lets on. The money part worries him. "

"Of course it does. The good news is that you've got an entire county's worth of fae who have generated a fair number of hand-me-down baby clothes and supplies, so there's that much less you'll have to buy. You also have access to healers, so...well, it's quite possible you might avoid hospital costs entirely, if you wish."

"You've midwifed?" Cautiously

"Not personally, no. I know the process in theory. But I know that Anne Marie has connections, because of course she does."

"Honestly, she's a little like an action movie hero but clueless about it. I'm getting her something nice for Yule."

"She's a key support of this barony, and I think we're only beginning to really recognize it. In some ways, she's as much the Hearth as I am."

"Do not sell yourself short. Anne Marie isn't the source of advice and wisdom you are. Like now..." A nod "I will ask her for a midwife she can suggest. On Thyle that was pretty much the way it happened anyway. I have to be sure she's a good one though, only the best for Jaymes' son" Wryly

"You've scryed the baby's gender?" Kerri sounds mildly surprised.

"No," Tove says "I think we may have found the exception to that 'Jaymes doesn't usually bull' thing I was saying. " She shakes her head and explains "He has 'decided'..." (air quotes) "That the baby is a boy. And with his mind made up, insists on refering to him as a he"

"Oooohhhhh, boyyyy...." Kerri smirks and shakes her head. "Well, I'll set Olgar on him, take him out drinking, set him straight on that."

"I think he's doing it just to raz me and maybe give Dagmar to roll her eyes about. In truth, I wouldn't mind a son." She admits "And I DO have a daughter. " A frown, "It's actually Dagmar I worry about. I... don't know what I did wrong."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, you heard the song? I chose her... and that's true. WHen I saw her and Jaymes.. I wanted to be part of that family."

"The song..." Kerri shakes her head in wonder. "That's so good, Tove. I think there were very few dry eyes by the end of it."

"Thank you, but when I told Dagmar how she was going to be a big sister... she.. went quiet. Oh... everything was 'okay' and 'fine' and.." She explains that night "Seemed okay right?"

"And then...it wasn't okay, right?"

"She isn't tending the horses, or at least she didn't the next day."

"And she didn't tell anyone she was going to the movies with Symon until it was underway"

"And.. I think she's gone unseelie" She adds on

Tove says "What did I do wrong?"

Kerri sighs and rests a hand on one of Tove's. "I don't think you could really avoid this. It's inevitable. She's spent most of her life being unwanted. You remember her talking about how you all weren't a 'real' family until the oath and the mortal paperwork? I think she sees the new baby as a challenge to her validity as your child."

"Also...'tis the season, unseelie-wise."

"I actually WANT to oath to Dagmar too, but I'm not sure how'd she take it now." A frown "I should have asked months ago . I'm such a fool I... honestly, if I knew it would scare her so I... I should have known . sometimes I wonder, maybe an abortion... I know I'd love the baby once I have him.. or her... but I love dagmar NOW..and I...I didn't mean to ruin her life."

Kerri blinks...then asks, "Have you told Dagmar this?"

"Which part? I tell her I love her.. thank god for that Boon. I think she has to believe me there."

And Tove knocks on wood

"Tell her that you want to oath to her, and that you wanted to before you knew about the baby. Yes, the boon is one of the gifts that will really help you here. I can't count the number of times I've had to convince Sylvi that I really meant something...though honestly, she's less skeptical now then she was just before her togail."

"You think she... " A bite "Wow, my first thought was if she said no, it would really hurt. But I am the mom here aren't I? If she hurts my feelings I'm just gonna have to be the grown up and suck it up?"

"Fraid so. And...well...give her an out, for now. If she's unseelie, she may be reluctant to oath right now. Make the offer, and make sure she knows it's still good for when she's ready."

"Thanks. I will" A nod, and she calms. "Thanks, Kerri."

"My pleasure. And Tove...I believe you mean it when you say you'd consider an abortion to keep the family that you have together. I understand. But...I don't think that would do it. Not at this point. And even if she's scared, I don't think that's the way to reassure her. If anything...that might drive a wedge between her and you, not to mention her and Jaymes. I'm not trying to say you don't have the right to do it if you truly think you need to; I just don't think it would have the best outcome in this case." Kerri keeps a careful balance in her tone.

"It might lead to later resentment, "A frown "I suppose."