Surprises come in small packages

[onlytolerable]

Remember, Alexandrie Berthier used to say, you simply must make time for yourself. The fine spring day finds Sophie settled at a table overlooking the green taking her arrière-grand-mère's* advice to heart. She closes her eyes a moment and enjoys the sun warming her cheeks before pushing aside cup and teapot so she can admire her handiwork. That buttery yellow yarn she'd been saving knits rather nice, even if she does say so herself.

She picks up her needles and swiftly casts on stitches for the second tiny baby bootie, all the while humming a lullaby under her breath.


[*great grandmother]

Comments

[headfollowheart]

It wasn't unexpected to see Sophie knitting, really, Zoe thought as she strolled up to the table in a blue cotton sundress and wedge sandals. A little early, maybe, but it had been a long winter. A long year, honestly.

Her brows popped up, though, when she saw what Sophie was knitting.

"Sophie..." She began. "Er. Booties?"

Cadogan when he stops being a jerk. For now, this. o/

[heneiddio]

"Aye, but you'll do an old woman in, cariad, sittin' about with boots for the little'uns."

That, surely, is enough of an introduction before the old woman takes her own seat. There are far too many bags over her arms not to stop and have a sit, after all. Where better than across from a lovely young lady Roisin's got rather a soft spot for?

"And these are for, my clean and shining? Not keeping secrets from mam?"

[denythyfather]

It's just a little side-eye, Sophie. A small, not at all obvious side-eye. And then he clears his throat. "Um... Sophie? What are you... making?"

This is who I'm logged in with, so...

[fiddlerjohnny]

He's just passing by, hands in his pockets, not a care in the world.

But Sophie knitting booties is apparently enough to get him to pause and watch for a moment. "Isn't that kind of...old-fashioned?"

That was a nice way of putting it, anyway.

[sirforawhile]

He was coming over to say hi anyway, but the sight of the bootie will leave him standing in awkward silence for a moment or two until he finds his voice. "Okay, confess. Who's this meant for?"

He might mean to wear or he might mean to freak out. Whichever.

And the moop himself.

[diemwnt]

He's certain she's mentioned someone being pregnant, and he's certain it wasn't her.

A sister. Right? Maybe a cousin. Absolutely not a bastard Berthier-Fitzgerald. As much as he's certain she keeps from him--out of a misguided attempt to keep him from worrying, likely, although genuinely nothing will likely stop him worrying about his most important people--this wouldn't have been skipped over. And he absolutely wouldn't have forgotten it.

So. Hair-tug for his little sister. Explain why this is happening.