The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her.

[janeveniver]

Friday afternoon, June 18th
Day 383
The General Store

I have seen Dorian three times since Sunday and Jamie not once. This has been very pleasant. The yellow dress is still hidden in my closet, but every time I go to see him, Dorian contrives to spirit away part of what I’m wearing. It is a very peculiar talent, but since he is sufficiently

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[glass_beddau]

Glance up as the door opens, and--really, I ought have an afternoon so pleasant as he's been having lately, though don't think there's a single one alone I could draw it from, and with all that it's still not been enough to keep him from groaning over it all. Though it's pleasant to have him bring food rather'n trying to cook in my home.

Any case, swallow back a smile from the edges of my mouth. "Afternoon, Jane," I say mild. "How've you been?" Half after asking after Jamie Kincaid, and catch myself; keep forgetting she's not wed to him, or wasn't, or however you speak of such things. Jenna was groaning over him being taken up for a bloody week afore the wedding, I recall that. Sticks in the mind more'n nothing happening.

[janeveniver]

Oh, it is Glass. "Hello!" Suddenly there are a great number of things I'd like to talk to her about. First things first, though. "Oh, busy. Market tomorrow, you know. Shall I save a pie for you?"

I move over to look at the staples, wondering if I could color some sugar. That would look very nice. Perhaps with beet juice? "Could I have a quarter-pound of salt, please? And some coarse sugar? And-and could I talk to you?" About babies and herbs and Doctor Constantine and pies and the very maddening and perfectly lovely man who runs the shop down the way. Oh dear.

"About, er, something else," I add rather lamely, because Glass is the sort to point out that I'm already talking to her.

[glass_beddau]

"Oh, busy. Market tomorrow, you know. Shall I save a pie for you?"

Well, slipping to the end of the month, but suppose I could manage it... "If you've rhubarb tomorrow, I'd come by for one," I say. "You taken the matter of moving t'town further?" Turn to matter of measuring out sugar and salt.

"And-and could I talk to you?" she adds, and not particular used t'hearing her swallow her words. After saying that she is speaking t'me, and then she adds "About, er, something else," and I catch myself.

"Surely," I say, setting down the sugar and crossing my arms on the counter. Who died? springs to mind, but she's looking a touch cheerful for that. Suppose Jamie may've objected to her and Dorian and she may've caught his oddity that way, but I'd've guessed Jamie more for going with bees than irons--

--no, dammit, she didn't wed him. Right. "Woolgathering, pardon," I say, shaking my head. "What's the matter to speak on?"

[janeveniver]

Hmm, I do have some rhubarb. It'd be worth baking up if I knew it'd sell. "Strawberry rhubarb," I offer. With pink sugar on top, I think. "And as for moving, yes. I'm only home to sleep these days." Which suits me wonderfully well. "It's just the money."

She looks me over when I ask to talk. There is no one very near us, since I suppose most of the town are waiting to do their shopping tomorrow at market. No, she's not woolgathering, she thinking about me. "Babies," I start, and then then everything comes tumbling out at once. "Having them and nothaving them and-and you know Dorian very well, don't you?"

[glass_beddau]

"If he hasn't been avoiding me on purpose, then it's very strange not to have seen him in all this time," and that is rather the right of it, particular given Market. Murmur agreement and leave it at that, and then Jane takes back t'the other matter at hand.

"I'd like to keep...seeing Dorian. Would you mind?"

Blink a moment and couldn't say why she's asking me, though if she doesn't know how Dorian's like to carry on, could see her worrying over how I might take it. Don't think any of the others have particular bothered, but--

Mind, if Jane doesn't know how Dorian's like t'carry on, may be something else needs addressing, and not only for him saying she'd been talking of love.

"You've taken yourself out to see him-- three times in six days, now? No, four." Which for someone travelling to and from town every day, and keeping a job besides... well, sure it was a pleasure each time, but still that's enough of a draw on the hours in her day that I doubt she just now caught how much attention she's paying him. "And I've been no

[janeveniver]

Glass blinks at me when I ask about Dorian. And then--oh, he has told her quite a lot about what we've been doing, probably while he was giving her pie. I shall have a word with him, oh yes.

"Because it's been so nice seeing him," I answer quite honestly. "I suppose I should have asked him about whatever is between you two before now, but I thought it'd be easier to get a straight answer out of you. Dorian likes to tease."

[glass_beddau]

"Because it's been so nice seeing him," and hell yes, he does have that effect. "I suppose I should have asked him about whatever is between you two before now, but I thought it'd be easier to get a straight answer out of you. Dorian likes to tease," and never mind that I don't think we've touched on whatever there is tween him'n me, smile a touch at that last.

"True enough," I say. "But mean, why're you asking me at all? Most don't, and you've set your mind t'him. I told you I didn't like it, what'd you do?" And I am curious, now. Was upset that one time he went off to Miao's, and then there was Hallowmas, but that aside I can't think there's much and guess I'm settled well enough with who he chooses t'be seen in public with, but... matter of minding never comes up, really.

[janeveniver]

She's smiling a little now, but she seems confused. "I'm asking because you're my friend, Glass." Not close, maybe, but I do like her. Things can't be terribly easy for her right now, with her husband estranged during her own pregnancy.

"I can un-set my mind, I think." My heart's quite far gone, though. "Or we could talk about it, the three of us, to try and work something out." Dorian might object, but perhaps the two of us together could convince him to have a conversation.