Shady

She glanced at him. “I thought you were going to the village?”

“Good.” He nodded, then sighed. “Alright… I guess it’s time to grab the girls, then?”

(Yep!) “…that’s still sad,” Talia said with a sympathetic frown. “I hope some day you’re able to go. If you want.”

“Suit yourself,” she said tersely, then turned back in the direction of Tove’s cottage and started walking again.

“I appreciate that.” He wasn’t sure he did, at this point. But. Well. He had to trust his gut. It’d gotten him this far. He was quiet for a moment ...

Talia gasped. “That’s so sad! The beach is so nice!” Ky nodded in agreement as they both put their fingers down. Rifkin didn’t.

“…oh.” Rifkin glanced back at the girls. There was an awkward silence, none of them coming up with anything to say next.

(Haha I half expected him to gasp and drag them all outside immediately for a snowball fight haha) “…does that mean I win?” Rifkin asked after a moment.

“She’s not stupid,” Zander agreed with a nod and a sigh. “And we’ve got to remember she spent years with Aleth. She’ll see through bullshit in an instant… especially if ...

Ki’nuu shook her head with a sigh. “Then I’m not going to take you.”

“Uhhh… I don’t know. Mr. Rifkin?” Ky said. He blinked. “Oh…uh… never have I ever… played in the snow?” Neither of the girls put their fingers down.

“I do as well,” Talia said gently, nodding. “For both of your sakes.”

“Then what did you have in mind?”

(I just read through that scene for a refresher and whew boy was it a mess lol) Zander grimaced. “I… think that may have unintended consequences. She’s never met them ...

“ My conscience?” Ki’nuu scoffed. “Or, revolutionary thought, you could just behave for five minutes and leave your daughter in peace.”