#scarsdale

Miriam seems to stall out, disconnect.

"Miriam?"

She stares at the curtains.

Cool fingers collect the woman's hands. "Miriam, please.. it's Zara, please?"

.... As their hands connect, Miriam drops the coffee cup, nervelessly.

Zara winces at the sound, but doesn't let go.

"Loves.... a d.... like a daughter?"

She shakes her head slowly.

"It's okay... it's okay, you're safe here. It's okay."

"It... I can't.... how...."

She reaches out and touches that little dress sown into the curtain.

"You know it's been a long time. They told you, remember?"

Slowly Miriam turns her eyes to Zara, focusing on her. "Zara.... do I.... do I have... had... a daughter?" Disbelievingly.

She bites hard on her lower lip, eyes welling.

Miriam grabs the girl by both shoulders. "-Zara??-"

"I'm s-s-sorry..."

"Don't be sorry!" Miriam shakes her. "Tell me!"

She hiccups, officially leaking. She's not a pretty cryer - cheeks blotchy, nose red. Not much of a looker in general, with her dark brown curls and broad forehead. Aside from casual ethnicity, she doesn't much resemble anyone, except...

"God Damnit Zara!!!" Her temper flares, then the tears register and she throttles back, swallowing it (whatever it was). "Sorry. Listen, don't cry. I got... I thought... just for a moment, you know? It felt.... but....." She lets go of the other girl.

She starts to reach back when Miriam pulls away, then shrinks inwards and hides her face with her hands as she tries to force the tears back into quiescence.

"Oh... oh shit. Shit, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Zara...." Miriam puts her arms around Zara. "... Temper got the better of me, I didn't... you've been ok, and I go and.... Yeah, I'm a screw up. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. My fault." Muffled.

"Shhh... " Back pats and swaying. "S'ok." The sound of a key in scratching fast in the lock.

A soft hiccup, calming - but still too overwrought to hear the betraying scrape.

"Oy vey." The solid THUMP of a tool bag hitting the shag-carpeted floor. "Oy vey, what happened??" Male, rough, and worried.

"Oh good, it's -you.-" With some heat. "Do I have a daughter??"

"WHAT?!?!" Hirim gasps.

Zara flinches and shrinks back, guilt welling like a spring.

"You heard me you old fart! Why are these curtains so damn important I can't sleep? Who the hell makes curtains out of baby clothes, that's just freakin' creepy! Where the hell is my -family-???"

Hirim looks absolutely blindsided, and stares wide-eyed at Zara.

She shakes her head, shoulders curled inwards, spindly arms wrapped around her torso. "I didn't tell. I promised."

Now -Miriam- looks at Zara with some sense of accusation!

Zara rather looks like she wishes she could be swallowed whole by the floor.

"Everyone." Hirim finds his voice. "Listen. We stay calm. We sort this out, nu?"

"You have to tell her. Please?"

Hirim gives her a "Shh!" look but Miriam matches it with a "HA!" voiced and expressed.

Apparently, it -was- possible for Zara to shrink further...

Miriam moves to stand between Hirim and Zara (and oh, the symbolism....) "Leave her alone and answer my freakin' questions." She demands.

Hirim sighs. "Ok. Come with me, I'll show you." He picks up his tool kit and limps for the door. "Zara, coming or going?"

A not-very certain noise, but she gets up to follow.

Hirim stops at the door and fusses at them both until they are dressed for the weather and someone's turned off the oven.

Sweater on, oven off, still blotchy but no longer crying.

Household cared for, he leads them to the VERY Upholstered car and after tucking everyone in and buckling up he putt-putts through Scarsdale to a park outside the city. A location very familiar to Zara, and not much to be seen for Miriam.

"Zara." Hirim mutters as they get out of the car. "Tell your Onkle we're coming."

Zara nods, tapping away another text - and then a whisper to her shoulder. The spider will likely beat the text.

He leads them to a small thicket of trees growing close together at the base and along the side of a moderately-sized hill, drops his bag, and rummages.

1122 has shot off like a tiny clockwork rocket, while Zara sticks close to Miriam.

Hirim stands up holding a small box while Miriam fidgets in the chill.

"Why are we out in a park? What's here to show me?"

Hirim sighs. "Here. Eat this."