#scarsdale

The housefire at the end of the street was tragic. This sort of thing just doesn't happen in Scarsdale. Murder by arson? It's a sick world. No one really LIKED the Lovingers mind you. Their dog kept leaving gifts on other people's yards, they only showed up to Temple on the big days but acted Pious... you know the sort, but out of a family of 6 ,for only one to survive? Horrible

And so young, too young, poor girl has no one

***************

They arrive in the backyard "Sorry, love. I didn't know if their wards would bump me. Your uncles SAY It shouldn't bounce me to Jersey, but sometimes I think they leave it up out of a humor"

"Oh, fie."

She stalks towards the house - kitchen door, of course. Front door isn't for family.

And he follows her, ducking under a tree limb

The house seems to be busy, she can hear noise of ..things being moved. Is from her room? She can't be sure from here.

She can also smell the remnant of ash and smoke as the wind shifts. The fire is out, the stench lingers

"..so she's very upset..." Hannah's voice can be heard.

A grunt mmm , Aaron!

Zara slips inside... unseen.

Earl hangs bacck a bit so not to throw off her stealth game.

"...so she's here to make sure no one touches her things. I thought she was over that," Hannah says worriedly "Maybe this birthday is more important to her than I thought?"

FLip paper, and a soft nod. Yes it could be so

"but we can't spurn a girl who has been through what Tzipora has"

Aaron shakes his head. Certainly not.

And Zara goes up to her room.

her room, thankfully, is pristine! Because, well, no one has had a chance to defile it yet!

With a huff, she starts to retrieve her most important secrets - locked away in hidden spots, under floorboard and inside the box springs and a hollow spot in the closet and....

And ... she hears "Zara? " Mama comes up "Did you slip in? "

"I am taking my things."

"oh zara," her mother puts a hand on her "Please don't be angry. You know your papa and I would never want to hurt you "

"I know." Shoving things into a bag.

Her mother sighs "Have we hurt you?"

"You're going to put her in here. I don't want you going through my things. I don't want a stranger in my things."

"We might yet put her in the sewing room and move some sewing room stuff in here " She reminds, "We had not decided"

"You told me to be sure to make haste in securing my things. I am."

"I told you that if were so worried then ... oh Zara, why are you so upset about this? You have a very giving heart. You're barely here, I didn't think you'd mind so"

"But this is my room. This is home."

"Oh and it always will be" Her mother engulfs her in a hug "Always forever and ever. Is this... did you think we were kicking you out?"

"If I don't have a room, then I'd be a guest."

"Oh" realization hits her eyes "I see. I ..don't know if I agree with that, but I see." She strokes her daughter's hair gently, like when she was a childling

"Shhhush, we can clear out the sewing room, and your Uncles will just have to let me put some of my old things in their storage while the girl is here if that's required."

"But Zara, you know that it's not the room in our house that makes a home, it's the room for you in our hearts, and we will never run out of that"

"I'm just..." She closes her eyes, allowing her mother to comfort her. "I'm not ready to leave yet."

"You're growing up so fast some times I forget" A gentle hug "I should have realized. Sometimes I do envy boggans.. no, that's no excuse. I'm your mama, I should have realized"

"You leave everything here and we'll lock the door. I'll put the sewing room set up for our guest"

"If... if it's going to be long term, maybe my stuff could go in the sewing room."

"well, she's not coming here tonight.. so how about you and Earl have a meal and we talk about it? I have some of your favorite dishes nicely soured"

Sniff. "Okay."

Another tight mother squeeze

Then "I'll go prepare dinner"

And just like that, she seems to have SHOVED earl up stairs to check on Zara while she readies dinner and no doubt explains to Aaron how important Zara's old room is to their daughter

Earl peeks in "Everything.. well, not okay, but better?" He asks "I talked to Aaron a bit. Your dad nodded a lot at my points. I don't know how much he was listening"

"Papa always listens."

"Mm might be why he seems to be so hard to rattle. " A nod "He's a good man, and your mom a good woman... though the way she shoved me up here I think she expects me to kiss you and make everything better until her meal can seal the deal" He takes her hand then kisses her gently, and says "is it working? Or is it all on her meal now ?" his eyes show concern and gentle humor

"It might be working."

Another kiss, then he says "I'm sorry that they missed a step on this. When I left the farm I ...well, you know, I wanted to go. It was like a prison to me for a bit, which wasn't fair to it. It took me awhile to love it again and even then...your arms are all I need for a home. But you always loved this place, will always. I know it. I think THEY Know it, just now they're realizing the details. but..when I left the farm, I got to pick who got my old place. If they'd jsut handed it over I might have been angry and I didn't have the attachment you do."

Sniff. Nod.