Exton

Keon and I are kicked back in the kitchen with a glass of something apiece, talking about the new addition - no, I mean the new room. Given the new addition - if Guunnar is right - maybe we should be building on two new rooms.

"It's your call, Erik. It's something you'll have to do sooner or later, even if Guunnar is wrong. It makes sense to me to minimize the stress on Star and Mera by just doing it once."

"Yeah." I think of the noise and the upheaval and I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea to move Star and Mera back to the Tavern, at least temporarily.

"Hang on a sec. If we're going to do this, maybe we should get Star and Mera out of here until we're done." I smile. "Mera will go where Star goes, of course… I just have to convince Star." I stand. "Come on. Let's give it a try…."

We walk out to the garden where Star is doing something mysterious with plants. Mera watches quietly from a pallet, but gurgles happily when she sees Keon.

Star looks up. "Look at Mera… so happy to see her da." Then she smiles and - as always - surprises me. "I won't move out of the cabin. I know the noise won't be good for Mera. Maybe we can stay with Alise and Stoney during the day - Mera can have time with Tara and Tomas and Gracie - and we can come back home at night, after the work is done, to sleep. Will that satisfy everyone?"

I look at Keon slack-jawed and say, "I think we've been outmaneuvered."

Star smiles wistfully. "I lived here an awfully long time… be careful of the gardens, please; I don't want to lose any of the trees and plants."

"We'll be careful, princess." I offer her my hand. "Keon, if you'll take Mera… I think she could use some daddy time, and we'll show the princess what we have in mind."