Hey cuzzins! Here's another chapter for ya.
*Mya- I miss Sally Ann and Hasil too! Maybe I can do something about that soon. (wink-wink nudge-nudge)
*Guest-You made me laugh for real. I am team #trevelle 1000%, so keep reading!
Once again, you guys are the best-est! Enjoy, review and ged ged yah! See you real soon!
Chapter 35
Brielle's Home
Day 75 - 8:55am
Pulling up to her shed, Brielle abandoned her ATV and marched straight to the woodpile. Snatching off her coat and spiking it to the ground, she slammed a medium-sized log down and split it with one swing. The jolt of connecting with the frozen wood bounced back through her shoulders, absorbing painfully into her joints. Slamming down the next one with gritted teeth and the next, she continued to take out her anger there. It's not fair! It's not fair! The frustration and hurt coursing through her wasn't diminishing as it usually did so she kept going, ignoring the discomfort of her sweat turning icy from the cold air and the ache in her side from the aggressive swings.
Brielle didn't hear Miss Jayne's truck pull up or her calling her name from the porch. She stood watching Brielle for a while, noting when she began to slow down before crossing the yard. Brielle missed the last piece altogether, cursing under her breath. Fatigue was kicking in and her chest was burning from sucking down the frosted air.
"Brielle!"
Startled, Brielle climbed back out of her own head and focused on the woman in front of her.
"Miss Jayne?" No sooner did she say it, than she burst into tears. Miss Jayne wrapped her arms around her goddaughter, blinking away her own rising up for her confused heart.
"Oh, sweetheart. It's alright," she whispered, stroking her back.
"I…he-," she stammered through her tears, clutching the older woman like a life raft.
"Shhhh, I already knew, baby. I could see it all over you."
"I'm so stupid!"
"Loving somebody isn't stupid, Brie. Let's go inside and get you warm, okay?" Picking up her coat from the ground, she shook it out and took Brielle's arm, abandoning the fresh-cut wood that lay scattered all around.
In the house, Miss Jayne poured from the kettle, letting the tea bags seep to a dark orange color before removing them and placing the mugs on a tray. The sweet potato muffins with a buttery, cinnamon crumb top that she had brought over were the perfect treat for coming in from the cold. Brielle blew her nose noisily and smiled watery-eyed at her godmother before glancing at the clock.
"Wait. You didn't open today?"
"I'm letting Carrie Ann open some days. I've been giving her more responsibilities lately."
"You don't have to stay. I'm fine I swear. I just got…weird for a second."
Miss Jayne placed the tray on the coffee table before addressing her. "I knew I needed to be here, so here is where I am."
Brielle's smile was weak but genuine, "You sound like momma."
"Well, she's right here, too."
Instantly, Brielle's eyes filled up with tears again. Miss Jayne sat down next to her, taking the box of tissues from her lap. "And she thinks we're all done with this. Come on now…breathe and blow. Breathe and blow."
Brielle laughed while wiping her eyes, "Now you really sound like her."
Miss Jayne's eyes twinkled, "Proud to…Lynette is a gold standard partner in crime."
Brielle chuckled between nose blows and slumped back into the couch, "Maybe we could make her pork chops today? I think I've got everything for them. If not, we can hit the store."
"There's my girl! I'd love that. But not yet - let me warm our breakfast back up and we can chat about earlier." Standing, she placed their mugs back onto the tray and started toward the kitchen.
Brielle wrinkled her nose, adjusting her position on the couch. "Do we have to?"
Turning back to face her, Miss Jayne studied her face, looking for signs that she was holding something back about Trevor's visit. Tempering her curiosity, she smiled warmly at her goddaughter. "No. No, we don't, baby. But I'll be here all the same."
Brielle looked up at the woman who had known to come to her side without her ever saying a word. Her mind hopped through memories of all the support and love that Miss Jayne had poured into her life. She smiled to fight the waterworks that stirred up. "Thanks." How could I survive one day on this planet without you?
"I'm not going anywhere, darling."
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Trevor's Home
Day 75 - 5:04pm
When Trevor reached his shack after the perilous climb on the snowy mountain terrain, he was more than
ready to bundle up under as many pelts as he had to catch up on some much needed sleep. However, waiting for him inside was Big Foster and Phil'up.
Big Foster's voice immediately filled the room, "Well, there's our prodigal son!"
Phil'up smiled wide at his cousin's startled face, "Thought we was gonna have ta start lookin' fer ya."
Trevor snorted, halfway grateful for their presence because it meant that they had already lit his old, lopsided stove and the one-room dwelling was considerably warmer than outside. "No need fer tha', boys."
Big Foster eyeballed him, wasting no time, "Yer Bren'in wants ta see ya."
Trevor's pause was hardly noticeable. With a long exhale, he faced them, putting his coat back on, "Alrigh'."
Foster rose to place a big hand on his shoulder, "Yesterday ya was wit' us trackin' down a wounded doe down by Shine lake. Ya left early this morn' an' ya got back jus' now. Got it."
Trevor's eyes narrowed, confused. His cousin's gaze held steady, asking again, "Ya got it?"
Trevor realized that neither cousin had asked him where he had been. Wariness dissolved into amazement, unable to find words to thank him for this gesture, he nodded his head slowly. He couldn't believe that Big Foster had already set a cover for him in motion. It wasn't going to keep him out of trouble entirely but it would definitely diminish whatever punishment he had coming. Leaving the way he did was reckless - not to mention directly disrespectful to his Bren'in, who had been so pleased with him as of late. He stood a little straighter on his walk to her cabin, ready to face her anger. When they entered the main yard, only a few around questioned what was going on among themselves. Barnabis caught his eye and nodded once. Trevor nodded back, grateful that he had either kept his promise or helped cover for him. Regardless, his heart beat faster knowing that his closest cousins were banding together, showing their love for him with this united effort. And possibly their acceptance of his feelings toward Brielle? He could only hope.
He breathed deeply before Annaliese announced his arrival to his leader. Big Foster and Phil'up sat on the railing outside, willing to wait for it to be done. The disappointed look from Lady Ray created a knot in his stomach. She was their Queen and he was lying directly to her face for the first time since he was a boy. She was no fool and did not ask him where he had been. Trevor had been called to only two days in the box. The low number clearly a product of favoritism he didn't deserve. He bowed with his three fingers pressed to his lips a few times under her hard stare before she called out for Big Foster to put him in chains.
.
.
Trevor lay on his side in the box, shivering. The pelt inside wasn't long enough to cover both his feet and his shoulders at the same time, unless he balled up tight. This was the place for punishment once the snow covered the ground. It was intentionally built short enough by length and height so that most men couldn't fully stand up or lie down fully stretched out. Only during the portion of the day when the sun shined the brightest, was there any light or heat that could sneak in-between the uneven boards to cast away the dark and warm it.
It was the cold that punished its occupants first, then hunger and thirst. But the true pain was felt in not being able to stretch their limbs properly, the intermittent muscle cramps, the deep ache that began in their back. As time passed, the ache expanded to include the hips, knees and neck, all the while pins and needles in their extremities from improper circulation never quite went away, no matter how often they switched positions. Needless to say, those who earned entry, cursed whatever antics got them there and came out with their misbehaving heart cured - grateful for warmth, space and freedom.
For hours during his suffering, he pressed Brielle's key into his palm. It gave him comfort and helped him focus his mind to fight off the natural panic of being in the cold. He let his mind replay their time together, it had been their longest stretch yet and he left wanting even more. He conjured up images of her, and rubbed his thumb and fingers together until they were warm again, wishing he could feel the weight of her draping hair between them. He closed his eyes to be able to hear her bubbling laugh over the wind whipping around his temporary confinement. He wished for Jojo at his frozen feet and Brix at his side with Trapper laying across his stomach.
His cousins came to check on him as much as they could get away with, sometimes staying to talk with him for a while. Big Foster managed to sneak him a bit of bread and let him drink out of his own cup from mealtime. It was during one of those times that the older man asked him if it was worth it. In the dark Trevor smiled, the chapped skin on his lips resisting the stretch, "Yea'."
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Brielle's Home
Day 90 - 8:30am
When Miss Jayne arrived that Saturday morning, she expected to have a lovely pre-Christmas breakfast with her favorite goddaughter, instead she was sitting down at the kitchen table with two white, plastic sticks with dark blue tips. The tiny screen on one read PREGNANT. The other's window had a plus sign.
Miss Jayne opened her mouth several times before anything came out, "My God! Brie?"
Brielle waved her hand dismissively at the little bearers of shocking news. "I've taken four tests," she sighed. "But I already knew. I just…I woke up the other day and I knew."
Miss Jayne was biting the inside of her cheek, her dimple dipping in repeatedly, "I thought you said you used protection."
"Not the first time." And not every time after that either.
"I think I'm going to need coffee for this." Miss Jayne got up, went through the cabinets and started the coffee maker without another word. After a few minutes, she placed a cup of tea in front of Brielle and went back to preparing the mug of mind-clearing caffeine that she needed to move forward. Not until after she sat sipping with her eyes closed, clutching her mug in both hands, did she speak again.
She looked Brielle over with deeply worried eyes, "Sweetheart," she questioned. "How do you feel?"
Surprisingly, Brielle's eyes were dry. "I'm too scared to let myself feel anything." She wrapped her arms around herself, looking more solemn than Miss Jayne had ever seen her. "I always thought that there was something wrong with me. I didn't really think I could -," Brielle fought the sob that rose up, literally shaking her head no to the emotional upheaval that tried to come. In control of herself again, she took a deep breath before the words she was almost too afraid to say out loud spilled out, scraping her throat raw on their way to her tongue. "If it happens again…I won't make it. I won't."
Miss Jayne rushed around the table to hug her, realizing the source of her fears. It broke her heart in two to remember her goddaughter's devastating first loss. "Now don't you worry about that, you hear me?"
Taking Brielle's face in her hands, she forced strength into her, "Listen to me. We will take care of you like you're carrying the sweet baby Jesus in there, alright? Lynette wanted a grandchild and here he is all gift wrapped with a little bow for Christmas! She's gonna be watching and guiding and protecting the same way she has all of this time!"
Brielle nodded along, her eyes locked on the ones that always held confidence in her successes, absorbing every word. Feeling the first grain of real calm start to nestle itself into her heart. "Yes, ma'am."
"That's right. This is going to be just fine. You'll see."
Brielle nodded again, holding fast to Miss Jayne's certainty. Clutching her with all her strength when she wrapped her arms around her again. "I promise you!" She whispered, "Baby, this is going to be beautiful."
They sat facing each other, the enormity of the news still rocking them both. Jojo entered the kitchen to check on his human, his nails clicking on the tile as he approached. Brielle smiled softly, running her hands over her stomach as he licked her fingers. He always knew when she needed him.
Her heart rate was slowing down to normal now. With everything on the table, she could move forward in her thought process. But the fear of losing this child was still present. Right there below the surface, cruelly not letting her enjoy the miracle of it all. Shaking her head against it, she wrapped her arms around her waist as if she could physically keep this piece of her and Trevor safely inside.
Quietly, Brielle murmured, "You said 'he'."
Miss Jayne's eyes twinkled, and her gaze flickered over her waistline, "Baby, we've got enough women running around here. I'm casting my vote for a boy."
The quiet surrounded them again before Brielle spoke. "Know what's funny?"
Miss Jayne looked at her, questioning.
"We basically used protection for nothing."
Miss Jayne smiled over her coffee cup and Brielle chuckled, followed by a deep shuddering sigh. The comedic respite did not quite cover the emotions she was holding at bay. Tearing up a little, she rubbed her eyes with the heels of both hands like a child. And spoke the words she didn't truly feel, more to encourage herself than anything, "It's going to be okay."
"It's going to be okay." Miss Jayne echoed.
.
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Trevor's Home
Day 96 - Second Meal
Trevor sat in front of the giant fireplace housed in the meeting hall with Lil Foster and G'winveer, Big Foster and Phil'up, Barnabis and Tice. The food he put in his mouth was tasteless. With a clump, he tossed his plate aside, frustrated. Lil Foster and G'Win shared a knowing look. Big Foster eyed his cousin and chuckled silently. This wasn't his first display of disgruntlement of the day and definitely wouldn't be his last. He reached over and patted his back roughly before swiping the remaining roll from his plate.
If it had been warmer weather he could have at least found work to do every day to take the edge off. The period of time when the snow came was a time of seriously decreased activity on the mountain. Trevor tried to quiet his brain with games of knife throwing and target practice with rocks. On calm days, when the air was still, he ice fished the lake below the still-flowing waterfall. None of it was a long enough distraction.
Mealtimes were too quiet now, the clan broke off into small groups to fit under the roofs with the strongest fires and stoves for warmth. Most families stayed indoors together, only allowing the children out during the brightest parts of the day for brief games and schooling on the different vegetables and herbs that flourished in the cold. There was the hauling of firewood to individuals who could not carry their own to be done and tending the fires in the stills and meeting hall that burned constantly. All of the men of the clan moved snow to keep the outbuildings from being covered, but again those chores weren't daily assignments. They didn't fill up enough of his time.
He missed her and he needed to see her. End of story. He was grouchy and snippy. His eyebrows were permanently drawn into a scowl. His every response was a growl or an annoyed stare. He was being insufferable and he knew it, but he couldn't help it. Trevor noticed that he had lost the scent of her home from most of his clothes. It was both a curse and a blessing that she didn't come to him in dreams as often now - he missed the clear picture of her face but not the throbbing ache he woke up with. This was misery on a scale he was unprepared for. It would be exceedingly irresponsible to try to go down but he let his mind daydream ways to make it happen again and again for fantasy's sake, as the wintry days crept by.