At the forge (OTA)

[knife_fighter]

Joslire, though born and bred on a desert planet, had to admit that the cooler weather made working at the forge easier. He no longer had to get up in the dark of the morning to get some hours in before the heat became unbearable. Some mornings he could even stay and have breakfast with Laila before Robert took her and Hannah to the day care center

Comments

[prophetepiphany]

Laila being in daycare during the day also means that Laura can steal away from the bakery and have a moment with her husband without a three year old interrupting.

Going to the forge, she sees him outside and gives him a small smile. She's always loved the smoky smell of him during and after work, and she kisses him softly once she's close enough. She holds up a paper bag after.

"I thought it might be time for a small break," Laura offers.

[knife_fighter]

He smiles warmly down at her.

"Your timing, my Laura, is impeccable, as always." He takes the cloth on the work counter and uses it to brush off the bench so that she can sit. He sits beside her.

"How does your day go?"

[prophetepiphany]

She hands him a sandwich out of the bag. "Quickly, as a matter of fact. When it gets dark earlier, I always feel like I don't have as much time in the day. But I feel like I'm working longer because sunrise is longer off from four in the morning than usual."

[knife_fighter]

"So it is. It seems like a very long day in the Winter, when you've worked three hours before the sun rises, and you've barely gotten home when the sun starts to set." He takes the sandwich with a nod of thanks, and rubs her back with the other.

"I'm glad that Peeta is there to help."

[prophetepiphany]

Laura leans into his touch, sighing contently.

"He's a very big help. But with Jacob gone now, I'll need to hire someone else to work on the weekend mornings. And Leoben...I feel like I should be giving him more time off to be with Kyla."

[knife_fighter]

Joslire chuckles.

"Has he asked for it? Perhaps Kyla may not like him always underfoot."

[prophetepiphany]

"No, not yet. Just thinking ahead," she says with a small smile. "And I want him to know that he can, and not think that I'm short. I think I should go ahead and send a message to the village. Especially with holidays coming up. It's only going to get busier between now and Christmas."

[knife_fighter]

Joslire agreed with a nod.

"It will be easier finding workers now, and giving them a chance to learn the business before the rush sets in." He grinned.

"That season seems to come up more and more quickly every year. Probably a sign of advancing age, which, considering the alternative, is a good thing." They'd both experienced the alternative.

"I wonder when Laila will release what it means and start listing her demands?"

[prophetepiphany]

Laura laughs. "I think that if we're lucky, we have another year. The child's starting to make memories, so we're probably out of luck by her birthday next year."

[knife_fighter]

"Have the children started talking about Halloween yet? Robert assures me that he'll only put up autumn leaf and harvest decorations, and even then he'll hold off on the pumpkins until the last minute."

[prophetepiphany]

"I've had some requests for Halloween cupcakes and cookies already," she nods.

"The kids I've heard talking are wondering what will happen this year."

[knife_fighter]

Joslire took a breath.

"Perhaps the village will be bored with Halloween happenings?" They could hope.

"What do you think Laila will want to be this year?" He had fond memories of Abby Cadabby, but she'd outgrown that.

[prophetepiphany]

Laura hopes - she's not looking forward to another overly-eventful Halloween.

"Hmmm. She's enamored with so much, it's hard to say. That's the interesting part about her growing up. What she likes changes almost every day when she wakes up."

[knife_fighter]

"She's exposed to more now, for good and ill. Part of me wants to keep her sheltered forever."

[prophetepiphany]

"I know," Laura says with a soft sigh. "And this is the last year she's truly just ours. Next year starts pre-school."

And true, she's been going to daycare, but school is different, at least to Laura.

[knife_fighter]

He looked over at her.

"Have you thought any more about going back into teaching?"