#rivervale_lodge

"Well...she certainly would if you did it without coordinating with her, first."

"Yeah yeah.. and Mom might have a thing to say about it too. " Siv says "I feel like so much has changed in the months I was gone. Gerd is suddenly taking up Hearth stuff more often and is being courted? Connor is a squire. Those Apartments are like a second hold without the fire? Lut is hooking up with Ms. Storm to the point they're living together? Jack Flap is a green thumb. Torin and Myrttle Anne are a sweet couple, no wait, they're broken up... so much"

"Wait, they...they WHAT?"

"I'm trying to figure out to fix it, and i only heard it second hand, but apparently Myrrtle Anne was feeling terrible her gossip had caused a stir in the farm? blaming herself. And..well, Torin was trying to be nice, but he used the word 'silly' more than once to ah ddescribe her feelings on the matter" Siv winces "Why do men do that? I mean, if he had said 'you're wrong' she might have been ready to fuss, but 'silly' is.. ack. when a man his age doesn't know better,it makes you wonder whos supposed to be training men?"

"Oh, he didn't," she says with frustration. "You said you've been trying to fix it? What have you tried so far?"

"Actually, I'm still in the early stages. I mentioned to Myrtle Anne he looked miserable. See I figure it might make her feel a bit better that he is miserable, but at the same time she might want to go to him. I told him that Silly was a bad idea and why.. he said Sylvi said the same. I hinted that maybe a song dedicated to her that was basically one big apology might do it..but I hinted to soft. he muttered something about he his reason for singing was gone. "

"Oh, that man. Well...I'll want to check on her first, then him. I wonder if I can get her to come to the Lodge to chat."

"Probably, she grows Herbs here ... and while not the cook you are, and she admits it, she's happy to talk shop bout herbs in cooking" a pause "won't shush about it in fact"

"True. Well...with any luck at all, she'll be at her garden plot right now. Hmmm...I'm almost tempted to have you go get Torin, but I should probably hear more on her side before trying to get them to crash into each other again."

"I yield to the master" Siv says "But as a Fiona I feel I must try so please, let me know how to help . I can't do nothing. Love is at stake here"

Kerri looks very pleased at that. "Do you think you might be able to visit him and...oh, at least keep him from getting too far depressed. Maybe make him feel that hope is there that she might come back if he tries to listen?"

"Sure...mm I'm not his level of singing nor Tove's but maybe I should sing something sad but hopeful and see if he joins in?"

"Good. Then invite him to sing and be an audience."

"I will" She nods "I'll put him on my personal patrol path"

"Excellent. I'm going to check for Myrtle Ann now. Excuse me." She puts the stacks of mail in the various places where they'll be found by the proper people, gathers up her own, and heads to the kitchen.

Siv nods And heads off to 'patrol'

Kerri finds... Jack Flap looking miserable. And staring at the herb garden

"Jack?" She comes over to the boy.

"What's the matter?"

Though she's pretty sure she can guess.

"Myrtle Anne told me she and Torin were.. having troubles. I am never ever getting a mom and dad" the boy says sad "And I feel like ...a jerk butt for saying that?"

"Oh, sweetheart." Kerri takes a moment to settle cross-legged near the garden plot. She sighs. "You know...I don't know many relationships where people haven't had troubles at one point or another."

"I know, but they were so happy, and now she's all sad. And he's all grumpy... or he's all sad and sh'es grumpy and they were.. I don't understand." No he doesn't know, not quite. "Is this my fault? I know I push too hard. I did it with He Chief and Shacklebrekker. Drove em off from being my folks. Did I do it again?" Sullen

"Jack, I can tell you that the Chieftain and the Mountain were not likely to adopt another child, even if he'd been seventeen times as good as you already are. That's not your fault. And I'm quite certain this isn't your fault, either. Sometimes these things need to happen for people to really understand each other. If a couple is always happy and agreeing, I sometimes find myself wondering if one of them is hiding his or her own voice just to keep the other happy. This is actually a good thing, I think, as long as it doesn't go on too long. It hurts, but be patient."

"Patience... I can do that except it takes too long" A sigh

A grin, and she ruffles his hair. "Rover Olgar and I have been through times like this, too. We've made each other mad, and we've been sulky at each other...and eventually we figured out how to get through it. Now, not every couple figures it out, so you've got to hope with all your good hopes that it'll work for them."

"Well..I will even.. even if I don't get to be their kid I want them happy" A firm nod "Cuz.. well, there's not enough happy in the world so if I can't have some, maybe they can. No reason for us all to be miserable. Some are gonna make it" A jaw set that might look like an attempt to duplicate's Frankls look of determination "how can I help?"

"That right there is a good start. Now...any idea where Myrtle Ann is right now?"

"Yup Sighing under the purple tree"

In a world of trolls, it is easy to forget that trees can totally block OUT the view of a smaller kith

"Oh, of course. All right...Jack, she's shown you how to care for her garden, right? It's not suffering from neglect?" She takes a look at the garden plot.

"I won't let it fade" he says "And Sylvi has helped me learn spring magics. I watch her ..when she's not kissing Colton"

"You're learning just from watching her?" Kerri sounds impressed. "Let's talk more about that, Jack. The magic, not the kissing....and you shouldn't be snooping on them." A gentle chiding. "Now, I'm going to talk to Myrtle Ann." She gets herself up off the ground (...Oof...) and gives him a wink. "Keep hoping."

"Well, I had a knack and.." He smiles "I will..keep hoping"

And she finds Myrtle Anne sighing

"Myrtle Anne..." she calls from several paces away, giving her time to dry her eyes if she needs to. "Jack told me you were over here. May I join you?"

"I'm not very good company, but if you like"

"Thank you. I think I've got an idea of what happened, but...well, you were there. Could you tell me?"

"Oh I'm so furious I can barely" A sigh "it was my fault, Kerri . I went right over to the farm and let slip about Sally Mae and Carowyn. And that old woman had a damh heart attack"

"Oh, honestly, Myrtle Anne. I think there's a great deal of coincidence involved in that timing. Yes, that might have been a final shock that pushed her over the edge, but if it hadn't been you it would have been something else. But here's the thing...it looks like that shock did the lot of them some good."

"Maybe..." A frown "So you're saying I'm 'silly' too?"

"I wouldn't recommend heart attacks as a standard tool for reform, but...." Then a blink at her question. "Oh, good heavens, NO!" She sounds sincere, not annoyed. "I think you're rightfully concerned."

"What exactly did Torin say you were silly about?"

"That I thought It was my fault, that I had given a heart atack. I was .. I don't know, maybe I WAS overwrought, but to have him treat it like it was nothing was... damn it. I am not some flake"

Kerri sighs. "I don't think he thinks you're a flake. I think he chose his words poorly, but...well...I think he's definitely regretting them now, from what I hear."

"Good.." A wince "And bad. I feel ... like such a petulant child. "A frown "You think I should give him a chance to.. I don't know, talk again?"

"You're not petulant. He used a dismissive word, and you took it to heart. He's had a chance to rethink it, and you've had a chance to rethink your pain. I think, yes, it might be time for you two to talk again, if you can bring yourself to do it. Make sure you get an apology from him, though, or at least an agreement to consider his words more carefully. The man really should know better."

"He's a skald. words are butter to the musical bread I .. ooo" She isghs then she sighs "I want to give him a talking to, but it's mostly just to be close to him again. YEs I .. I guess "

And slowly, Myrttle Anne comes around fully. And has a good talk with Kerri on HOW to settle things so she can have her Torin back

(End Scene)