Exton

Alise cuddles Tara who was upset at her great grandmamans going back to Paris. “You will see her again ma petite, dry your eyes, she promised to visit again in the fall..”

Tara sniffled but when Star handed Mera to her maman she was smiling again, fascinated with the water baby that was just a bit older than her sister Gracie.

Star is sitting close to Erik, silent and watching everything that goes on around her. Erik tries to engage her in conversation but she seems a bit withdrawn or preoccupied. Not that she ever talks a lot when there was a crowd of people even if she knew them all.

As Star pushes her plate away, Guunnar frowns and pushes it back. “Why arent you eating? Picking ist not eating..”

Star sighs, Guunnar was always trying to get her to eat more than she wanted. She picks up a strawberry, nibbles at it then puts it back on the plate.

Guunnar had heaped his plate full for the third time. While that was not unusual for the big man, tonight the sight of meat combined with the smell of the sauces was making Stars stomach roll. Guunnar and Erik exchange glances as Stars face goes white and she swallows hard. As she watches Guunnar eat her skin takes on a distinct greenish tinge and even her eyes start to turn a yellowish green that Erik has never seen before.

Reaching for the asparagus with one hand Guunnar grabs Stars plate with the other. He scoops up some asparagus, avoiding the sauce and puts it on Stars plate. “Eat. You need to eat and dis ist goot for you.”

He pushes the plate across the table to Star.

Star barely looks at the plate and pushes it back to Guunnar.

In a matter of seconds the plate is in front of Star again and Guunnar says “Eat!”

Star firmly pushes it back with a louder “No!”

With a heavy sigh Guunnar pushes the plate yet again, “Madel, you must eat...”

As Star pushes it back she says in a raised voice, “I said I didnt want it!”

All conversation ceases at the table. No one has ever seen Star so much as cross with anyone, let alone having heard the raised voice. Guunnars eyes had gone wide at her snapping at him.

Star went completely still for a few seconds and then tears welled in her eyes as they turned a soft gray. “Ohh..Guunnar...I am ss...so.....ss..sorry. I dd..didnt mean...I...excuse me...” and she stood and ran to the bathroom.

She went right past Raina and Nick who had just arrived at the tavern and were in the process of greeting everyone. Raina watches Star race by then her gaze turns to her brother.

“Whats wrong with Star? What did you say to her?”

“I didnt say anything, I swear...” Erik and Guunnar exchange a glance across the table.

Raina notices the glance and is instantly angry. Cuffing her brother upside the head she says, “Bullshit. I saw that look between you two. What the hell is going on?”

Alise slowly stands, handing off children to Stoney. “I will go check on her..”

Rowan, who had been watching from her end of the table, stands and in a firm voice that none will argue with says, “Alise, sit. I will go check on her. Raina, please dont kill your brother at the table, take him outside and beat on him if you need to.”