A Day For News (2)

Writers: Kaysea, Jane
Date Posted: 1st June 2007

Characters: Swift, Kateena
Description: Kateena and Swift exchange news and make some decisions about their future.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 4, day 2 of Turn 4

"Your granddaughter?" She hoped her face didn't mirror the shock she was
feeling. His family, she wasn't sure she was ready to meet them. Swift
was still feeling strange about the age difference so how would his
family feel. "When?"

"As soon as she can find passage down here. In a month or so, I
imagine. Yara. Her name's Yara. She's the one that writes to me the
most often."

"Oh. And she's a dolphineer?" She walked slowly at his side,
considering his words, "How old is she?" these inane questions filled
her head, but also tumbling thoughts about the reaction of his family to
her, and meeting one of his relatives for the first time. Her stomach
became a mass of flutterbies.

"Twenty-two. She's a journeywoman. No dolphin partner yet, but she's
hoping that might change down here." He smiled to himself. "I haven't
seen her for ... sixteen Turns? Something like that."

The fact she was some turns younger than Kateena assured her somewhat.
"You must be pleased she's coming down here. Is she an only child?"

"No, no. There's a whole fair of them. Race only has daughters, but he
has plenty."

"Plenty?" she turned her head and looked up at him, "Exactly how many
is, plenty?"

"Five? Yes, five. I have five granddaughters," the kitchen had said
with some pride.

"Five? How old?" he stomach felt queazy. Five women. FIVE of them! She
would have to meet them all, eventually. She hoped they were all
younger, it may make things easier. "And your son... you only have
one?" she really didn't know much about Swift, when she really thought
about it; but her attraction to him was undeniable.

"One son. Belevi got sick while she was carrying him and died a few
Turns later." It didn't hurt to talk about it after all this time but
being around Kateena often brought his life with Belevi to mind.
"Race's daughters are, oh, the eldest is nearly thirty. Yes. And the
youngest is twenty? No, nineteen. Yara's near the bottom of the heap."

"I'm sorry Swift, I didn't mean to bring up...I'm sorry." for a moment
the light died in her eyes. She hated to bring up the memories of his
wife and her passing.

"No, it's not awful. Kateena, it was sad but it was nearly fifty Turns
ago." He leaned in and kissed her temple. "Don't ever worry about
that. I'm comfortable talking about her."

"As long as you're sure." She gave a half smile, and her thoughts
returned to Swifts' granddaughter, "Yara will probably arrive while I am
away, then?"

"Oh. I suppose so," Swift agreed, disappointed that Kateena wouldn't be
with him to meet Yara. "Couldn't you just ... ask our Hallmaster to ask
your own? It's a long way to take a dolphin back if they're just going
to reassign you."

"I suppose I could do that, but I would still need to go back for the
rest of my things." the trip back was a great distance and if Civi
didn't have to go back for anything it seemed silly for them both to
make the trip. She could always prevail upon someone at the Weyr to
take her back to sort out her things and organise for them to be
transported. "Will you come with me, to speak to the Hallmaster?"

He was about to protest that the Hallmaster wouldn't listen to _him_
when he realised that he was needed; he was the reason Kateena wanted to
stay. At least, he hoped that was so. "Of course I will. Whenever he
can see us."

"Thank you." she leaned into him and kissed him softly on the cheek. "I
knew there was a reason I liked you. You're so amenable." she laughed
lightly.

"Mmm. Amenable? Is that a character trait that young women find
attractive these days?"

"Could be.." she smiled, "It doesn't hurt to be amenable to some things.
Besides, I don't want the Hallmaster thinking I am imagining things,
or making excuses to stay." she smiled but her eyes clouded a little,
"Your family, Swift - what will they say?"

"I don't know. Nothing unkind, I'm sure of that. Race is -" Swift
searched for the right words to describe the relationship between
himself and his only child, "- more friend than son. He was raised by
my parents. I think he'll be pleased. Perhaps surprised, but
pleasantly so, I'm sure."

"I hope so. But I'll be honest with you Swift, I know how this age
thing has worried you, and I fear your family may be more concerned than
even you have been."

"That's my judgement they'll question, though. They'll love _you_."

A smile crossed her face again, and a light flush crept up her throat
and across her face. "You sure know how to flatter a woman. I'm too old
to be acting like this, but you make me feel so .... special." her arm
tightened around his waist as they walked along, "I can't believe how
much my life has changed in the space of a month. It seems so much longer."

"The storm - you being injured." He shrugged. "Maybe it's because
we're old enough to know our own minds."

"Yes, this visit has been more than a little adventuresome." She nodded,
"But you're right, I think it is because we know what we want - at least
I do." She gave him a wide smile.

"And I do, too."

Last updated on the June 29th 2007

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A Day For News (2)