Writing Evil Twin Betsy's diary

Jayamos

Jayamos

Farmer
15 Spring Y6
It's rainy, so it's a relief to go to the desert festival. Seb puts in an appearance first and reports that hanging out under palm trees is not his thing. He says he's still getting used to being a father—me, too, Seb, so much—but he's happy to stay home, so I'm free to go as much as I want.
And I do want. I have a great time. There's so much to do there. I lose money on Shoebiscuit, but they're pretty adorable hopping doggedly around the racecourse. I can't resist Emily's booth, even though her sense of my aura is not my sense of my aura. Mayoral suspenders? I like the hat, though... and she does give me some ideas about the next election. I take so long going around all the booths that I don't have time to take Marlon up on his challenge.

16 Spring
There was this tremendous whoosh and crash last night and before I head back to the desert I discover the pigs and cows wandering around an enormous meteorite in the meadow. So there was a meteorite headed my way. I hope this is the only meteorite involved, or if being a parent is like having a meteorite crash into my life, may it be as easy to deal with as this one.
Today I save some time to try Marlon's challenge at the desert festival. But there are so many purple slimes I think about Marlon's other goals and spend my time fighting monsters instead of heading down... which gets me into big trouble after I don't eat when I should and get attacked by serpents.
"Getting off to a quick start, I see," Harvey says drily when I come back around.
"uurrrgggg..." I say. "Um, maybe I was premature."
"How are your cows producing? You shouldn't breast feed for at least 24 hours after a serpent attack. Or slimes, for that matter. The antidote works, or you wouldn't be here, but it takes your system a little while to clear that stuff out."
But there's milk in the fridge and Seb happily discovers a knack for bottle feeding.* I'll have to ask Robin if she can put together a rocking chair. There doesn't seem to be one in the catalogue.

17 Spring
I get home late from the desert festival and Seb says sleepily, "You're wearing your mining gear again?"
"Yeah, Marlon had an offer I couldn't refuse," I say, climbing out of it.
I am not nearly as banged up this time. Shoebiscuit won. Emily's outfit actually looks good on me this time. And Seb not only doesn't give me a hard time, he pulls me close and says, "I'm glad you're home safe." So, a nice day.

18 Spring
Seb's been awfully preoccupied by how Herc smells in the mornings. Finally I say, "I don't think a bath is the issue."
"Fine, but I've been changing him a lot while you've been festivating, and honestly I wish you'd do more of it."
"Why didn't you just say so? I can take mornings and bedtimes and nights." So that's what we do, plus I'm on call on Fridays at the least.

19 Spring
Seb was willing to be home for a while in late afternoon, oysters have been attained, and now there is a happy—and apparently lustful—raccoon. I wish him luck. On the way I run into Penny bringing Jas home, and tell her we might have George to contend with. "Really?" Penny says. "I don't think he likes me very much. Plus I am really not expert in teaching dyslexics."
"Maybe they could go into Zuzu City?"
"I wonder if there's a remote option...I'll look into it," she says.
With Herc in the house I'm on baby duty while Seb's at the saloon this evening. I'll have saloon night on Saturdays so the Three Musketeers can have their pool night, which is better in a way, because I'd rather buy Harvey a coffee than Pierre a beer. But I miss walking home with Seb.

20 Spring
Shane gets a birthday... pizza. And his face lights up just like old times. He's in a good mood tonight and we get to talking about chickens and the next thing you know, he says, "And you've got a chicken coop, right? All different colors? With a couple of my blue chickens?" I immediately feel on shaky ground, but Marnie could have told him what kinds of chickens I have. So I say yes, and he says, "And I feel like one of them is called Forgetmenot," and I feel stabbed in the heart, because I doubt Marnie told him that.
"Um, yeah," I manage.
He looks me in the eye—and he is stone cold sober as far as I can tell—and says, "So how do I know that? And... I feel like I was taking care of them. Like I was living there. Like we were married."
I sigh. I could just lie, but I'm a terrible liar. Better to just have it out, and if he hates me forever, he hates me forever.
I am an occasional hedger, however. "Um, we were. But you kind of... forgot."
"Forgot," he says, and his face twists up. "I mean, I knew I've been hard on my liver, but did the alcohol really do that to my brain?"
"No!" I say. I can't have him thinking he's got some kind of dementia. "Um, there's this way I could make you forget. And we were worried! Lots of us! We didn't want you all depressed! So... I thought you'd be happier just not... remembering. Knowing. Being all upset."
"Well, I'm upset now," he says, staring into Gus's finest homebrewed ginger ale. "I don't know how I feel. So... you loved me? And I loved you?"
"We did. And honestly..." even if he hates me forever, I want to let him know this, "I will never stop caring about you. It's just, I think I work better as your friend rather than your wife."
"My friend?" he says. "It's a weird friendship where you know a bunch of things I don't know about myself. I... I really like you, at least I did like you, I've had fun hanging out with you, but I can't take this in."
"Okay," I say, because that's really all I can say, and I go home the long way so I can get my head on right before I get back home. If Seb is upset about me helping Alex and family, he's really not going to do well with me being heartbroken again over Shane.

*On Planet Earth, cow milk is not the best thing for human babies. But we are in Stardew Valley, where it's fine.
 
Jayamos

Jayamos

Farmer
24 Spring Y6
Seb does not want to go to the Flower Dance. He mentions hating the jumpsuit, and I say, "But you look hot in it! But I can live without seeing you in it."
"You look hot in your overalls, you farmer, you," he says.
So we stay home and have a leisurely morning. Then I go up to the mines for fiber and slimes. Yesterday he wanted to be out and about, and I was a little irked, because I wanted to try out my fancy new dwarf statue powers, but I didn't say anything because he deserves some time after staying home during practically the entire Desert Festival.
On the way I pick up enough leeks for Evelyn's happiness, but I can't give them to her because... festival. So I'll do it tomorrow.
When I get home, I check on the heavy furnaces I crafted yesterday, and they are AWESOME. I look at the stacks of ore I haven't managed to smelt and I think, with two slime hutches and all these furnaces and plenty of crystallaria, how much mining do I really need to do? We could be making still more money really easily.
But I still have to be able to get in and out of the slime hutches without endangering myself.

25 Spring Y5
I drop off the leeks and Evelyn tells me her gift wrap plan. She's willing to wait till Saturday once I explain the baby situation. Which is good, because I don't want to ask Seb to change his plans because of the Mullner family.

26 Spring Y6
Hercules is standing up! "How's my big strong boy?" I say, and start wondering how soon I could start showing him how to use a dagger. First he has to be big enough not to fall on it. I pick him up and swing him around and up and down and he really is a bundle of joy.

27 Spring Y6
George was initially suspicious, but he perked up quite a bit once he saw the first leek. I took the opportunity to tell him and Evelyn that yes, the foundation is happy to sponsor both George and Alex, but will take a little time to find a tutor who is experienced with multiple generations. Which is... the truth, slightly massaged.
Then I go blow up the quarry, finally. It's not quite as fun alone. It doesn't yield nearly as well as a good Skull Cavern Run, but it's another thing that has me thinking that maybe I could be more of a home body and not live quite so strenuously. But I like imagining all three of us, Seb and Herc and me, enjoying the bangs and the flying rock chips and picking up treasures from the ground. OK, I guess I shouldn't be in a hurry to expose my newly upright son to flying rock chips. And I should get myself ear plugs.
I do a quick in and out at the bar to give Emily an emerald and exchange a hug. I give Shane his space—he just glances up and then quickly down at what I hope is artisanal ginger ale.
When I get home Seb says, "Ah, the sexy smell of cordite... and patchouli? What's up with that?"
I explain about the emerald and he relaxes. Whew. But when he asks about my day I find myself editing. No Mullners. No dyslexia saga. No Shane. I just tell him about how I might not need to do as much mining once I hit my slime quota, and he is appreciative and has ideas, and pretty soon we're talking up a storm about possible plans, like the ideal ratio of furnaces to crystallaria. So I guess it's all OK.
 
Jayamos

Jayamos

Farmer
3 Summer Y6
I finally have a rain suit. So the last rain of spring was more comfortable, as I got grass starter down where I'd accidentally scythed it up. Seb says I look like a proper fisherman. I also got a couple of mannequins so I can get dressed quickly on rainy or mine days.
Today was a mine day, and I am a little better protected in breastplate and hard hat. I got the Slime Charmer ring, so there's no excuse for getting the slime hutches ready to go. I can't believe I've had a Crabshell ring coming all this time too. And the best mask ever for Spirits Eve... now I need a shirt to go with it.
I spent some time looking over Gil's inventory for an appropriate dagger for a small child. Writing this down I really wonder if I should be allowed to be a parent. The elf blade is awfully tempting. Do I have one already? I'll have to check my spare weaponry chest.

4 Summer Y6
Fussing with slime hutch, fussing with slime hutch. Trying to get the right combo of slime colors for both hutches. Rainbow slimes, that's what I want. Aeryn sent me a note saying she has the full complement of basic colors, so maybe I'll just throw money at the problem again.
I'm also feeling domestic now that I'm home more. It weirdly agrees with me. I'm seeing all kinds of things I want to shift.
Besides rethinking the crystallarium setup, I want to get a proper flower area in, with bee house area, where the Junimos won't get at the flowers and I won't accidentally pick them, with bonus honey. I think I can do it on the west side of greenhouse. And I don't like that our one staircase is so far from the bedroom. Time for another room above the bedroom, and a conversation with Seb about whether to convert it into a nursery or use it for our bedroom.

5 Summer Y6
Based on the package that came in the mail today, I guess Shane and I have a truce. I'm so happy that I tell Seb, "Hey, we got a pizza from Shane! Want to share it?"
"Why is he sending us pizza?" Seb asks. "It looks like one of those crappy Joja Mart ones, why are you so thrilled about it?"
How much should I tell him? I hate keeping secrets, so... "I, mmm, used a way to alter his memory after we divorced, so he wouldn't be so upset... Lewis suggested it! Because no one in the village wants him more depressed. But lately his memories have been coming back."
"Oh, so he wants you back? Is he trying to steal you from me? That's low, even from an alcoholic."
"I don't... think so? He's not getting me back anyway, once was enough. You are way lower stress." Well, you are when you aren't getting upset about my exes. But I don't say that.
"Okay," Seb says. "Not planning to eat his pizza, though." He still has that brooding Heathcliff look. It's not as fun when he's brooding about me.
"Fine," I say, and jam it in the back of the fridge.

6 Summer Y6
Speaking of inappropriate gifts, Pam sees fit to send a beer. I take it up to Seb, who's tending to his motorcycle. "Wanna beer? From Pam? "
"Perish the thought. Every New Year's I think, this time beer will be fine! I can drink it like all my friends and loved ones! And then I get a massive hangover. From one beer. And it takes all year to get my hopes up again." he says, muffled by the tailpipes.
Another item for the back of the fridge, or maybe I'll just sell it. "I'm heading up to Robin's to talk about adding on that extra room I mentioned, do you want me to say anything to her?"
"Nah," he says, sliding out from under the bike. "Well, you can say her son's happy on the farm."
"Will do with pleasure," I say, and kiss him goodbye, avoiding the oil patch on his cheek.
I get the renovation taken care of, look for grapes to make raisins for the Junimos, and head down to the pub, where I do the usual: beer for everyone except Harvey, Pam, and... Shane.
"Will you accept a pizza of contrition?" I ask. "And thanks for the one you sent."
The beginnings of a smile creep over his face. "Trading pizzas with you, sure," he says. "Want a slice?"
"Yeah, I'm always hungry," I say. "So... are we good?"
He chews for a while, then says, "Yeah... I still don't remember why we broke up, and I don't want you to tell me. Maybe I can guess, but I'm not going to worry about it. I do remember coming in here and suddenly feeling like beer might not be my friend as much as I thought. So maybe I owe you."
He takes another bite. "And I thought about what you said about being friends and not spouses... it kind of makes me happy. It's not like I have that many friends. And if we divorced but you still want to be my friend, then there must be something real between us. Even if it might be more distant than I felt like I wanted. But a friendship is a lot less pressure on me."
He takes another bite of pizza. "I think Gus outdid himself tonight." He savors the pizza for a while and says, "Yeah, being friends feels comfortable, and I can use that. No drama, something I can count on."
"Yeah. That's what I want with you... It does feel comfy," I say.
It's a real relief, in fact. It's like what I have with Leah, except instead of love and art, Shane and I talk about chickens, and a little about Jas who liked the cake I gave her for her birthday, which makes Shane light up, which reminds me of the things I like about him.
So after all the difficulties we can really be friends. And I can see that lasting, with all his ups and downs.
I go home aglow. "You look happy," Seb says as I climb into bed. "Nice chat with Leah?"
"Yes," I say. I'm not lying, she gave me moral support about the Pizza of Contrition, but I'm not going to discuss the ins and outs of the evening with Seb. "So, what do you want to do with our new upstairs room?"
 
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Cuddlebug

Cuddlebug

Farmer
Jayamos said:
Thanks! It’s a busy time of year for me, getting my own garden in, plus work travel. Plus, as I’m drafting the next few entries, writing ETB as a mother is a bit of a challenge…but fun. Hope to post sooner next time!
Click to expand...
This I can imagine... So take your time and don't feel pressured to anything. 😇
 
Jayamos

Jayamos

Farmer
10 Summer Y6
Two days of domesticity have the new bedroom functional—I mean, there's a bed there. It's nice being next to Herc's room. The former aquarium/sitting room is now the ready room, for clothes, TV, and the mining chest, and the former bedroom is slowly evolving into the aquarium/sitting/catalog/sewing room.
And I've got beehouses by the greenhouse and some poppies planted, but this would work better if I moved the greenhouse, which means digging up some starfruit or waiting for fall. Tea saplings are by the sheds where the bee houses were, which makes things more symmetrical.
Today I went to bomb the quarry and give Maru a nice strawberry. Not a great haul at the quarry, and I forgot to check for a mining blessing. All this renovation has me really disoriented.
But I also went by to see Penny. "I talked to a couple of people in Zuzu City," she says. "One of them wanted George and Alex to come in every week, but the other recommended bringing them both in for testing and then a counseling session. But she's fine to work with them on-line, and she says there's a certificate program I could go through as well. If we all want to learn together, she could coach us. But..." she takes a deep breath, "we'd need a computer for them and one for me, plus there's her fees, plus the certificate fees..."
"Would you want a certificate?" I ask.
"Well, but then George and Alex would both have to be okay with it, and I don't know who else I'd use it for..."
"Okay, but is this something you want to learn?" I ask again. "Because I think the foundation I've been talking to has a fund for helping teachers with expenses."
"Well, yes," she says. "English was my favorite subject, and I loved teaching Jas and Vince how to read."
"Okay, then, I'll talk to the foundation."
"Even if they do help, I don't see how I could scrape up the money for anything they don't cover," she says.
"I'll talk to them," I tell her. I'm remembering what Haley did, back when we were married, and there's no reason I couldn't do something similar. I get the contact information for the more helpful specialist, and plan out a talk with Gunther and maybe Lewis.

11 Summer Y6
Seb was really sweet at the Luau. And the Governor was the happiest I've seen him. Abby thinks Pierre wants to be mayor, which is plausible. I'm not thrilled with either mayoral candidate, and I think again of whether I'd want to run for election.

12 Summer Y6
Herc is crawling! When I get up he's in the kitchen with Seb.
"Did you get him out?" I ask Seb. "Or did he get himself out, perish the thought?"
"I thought you let him out and then came back to bed! And I was trying to figure out why you would do that." I can see he's upset. We both look at Herc, who evidently climbed out of the crib and made it all the way down the stairs by himself.
"Herc, you are just a chip off the old block," I say, and pick him up. "We could call him Chip. Have I ever told you any of my family stories about my parents suddenly noticing I was missing and after a frantic search discovering toddler me in some life-threatening situation?"
"Not helping!" Seb says.
"Well, I survived every one of them. Let's hope you're as durable, Chip," I say, and he burbles at me.
Life will never be the same. Can he get down to the casks? Probably. Can he pull one down on himself? I don't think so. Can he get back up the stairs? I don't know. What if he hauls on an aquarium stand? What was I thinking, having a baby?
Seb wants to take off, I need to get the loadout done, we agree that he'll watch Chip/Herc while I'll tend to business as fast as possible and then Seb can do as he wants. It was an easy discussion, and he was sweet again today, explaining why he hasn't been smoking lately.
We have a baby monitor in the bedroom but apparently we need several to cover the whole house. I get online and shop for some, but once Seb's gone I turn to the real work of the day.
I look into computers. There really ought to be one in the library too, for community use, if Gunther will agree. Then I call the reading specialist to get her take on the situation and hash out money. Then I call my bank to set up a separate account for the reading foundation and have them send some checks. I'll just have to hope that none of the recipients associates my scrawled signature with my name.
Finally, I call Clint to see if he can make a house call to help me bolt the aquariums to the floor. He can, and he can also set up some frames for the casks so they only move if I want them to. He's delighted, since I've singlehandedly tripled his income for the month.

13 Summer Y6
Alex's birthday. Before I talk to him and his grandparents, I have discussions with Penny and Gunther. Turns out the Better Reading Foundation also has money to upgrade rural libraries, who knew? And provide a stipend to teachers that not only covers a reading specialist certification, but an increased salary. A very increased salary, given how much Penny's eyes bug out when she sees the check. I have a moment of guilt over how small a percentage of my weekly income is a big deal for her. "But what if George and Alex don't want to work with me?" she asks.
"All you have to do is complete the course," I tell her. "You'll still be a better teacher, that's the point."
It turns out that George and Alex need to be convinced that Penny wants to work with them. Once I let George mutter a bit, it is not hard to get them to do a good deed for the young teacher by being her guinea pig as she tries to increase her skills. I explain that the foundation will require a small copay to cover materials and the coach and make a mental note to bring them the odd diamond on occasion. That just happens to be hanging around. Because, in fact, I have plenty of diamonds churning out in the crystallarium shed. Iridium bars from the heavy smelters, not that people necessarily want a chunk of heavy metal in their house. Come to think of it, I could be handing out diamonds instead of beer at the saloon... OK, that would be weird.
So I just buy everyone the usual, which has the pleasant side effect of increasing Gus's income and getting some actual nutrients into Pam. And I have conversations with Shane and Leah about what they might do if they had a little extra money coming in, not saying I'll supply it, just wondering.
Shane dreams of a rainbow of chickens. Leah immediately wants to know if I'm planning to pull a Kel on her and I cue up the loudest possible tune on the jukebox, then very quietly explain in the corner about the Better Reading Foundation and that I'm wondering if a Rural Development Foundation might be a good idea.
The conversations run pretty long and it's so late when I get home that Seb is just as solidly asleep as Herc.

14 Summer Y6
In the evening Seb asks how things were at the saloon last night, and I consider not telling him about the day's work, but he's been so sweet lately, and it's been such a strain hiding things that I'm excited about, that it all just kind of dumps out while Herc crawls around our ankles.
"What?!" he says. "I thought you were running around town to benefit our family, not give handouts to grouches and narcissists. And do-gooders."
"One of each," I say, "and Alex isn't a narcissist."
"Sure, like the new back room in the saloon isn't so he can get a big screen to watch gridball on."
"Oh, for Yoba's sake," I say. "Let's not argue about Alex."
"Like you didn't bring him up. But you're always gone, and I'm the one running after Herc to make sure he's not falling down the stairs."
"Baby gate?" I say.
"Sure, throwing money at the problem."
This stings. "I'm trying to make things easier for both of us!"
"The point is, you're the mom and I'm doing 70% of the childcare."
"And I'm the breadwinner, you want me to be doing both?"
"Said every sexist father ever," he says.
"Okay, let's talk childcare responsibilities. If we get that sorted, was that the point, or are you just jealous?" He's silent at that one. "This isn't good, Seb."
"I just think we have a new family and you should be putting your energy into it, not concerned about whether Alex can read or Shane still likes you, or whatever it is you're worrying about with Shane."
"And I think I should be able to be part of a community, and giving to it, and having friends, without my husband giving me grief. It's not like I give you a hard time about hanging out with Abigail."
"Which is my one night out a week," he says. "While you're wandering around doing who knows what all the other days."
I feel like there's something going on under this conversation that I can't get at. "Okay! Let's work out some kind of agreement tomorrow. We're both tired and grouchy and I don't see myself making decisions until I get some sleep."
"Fine," he says, and I get Herc to bed as I should, and then get myself to bed. Seb's in bed with his back turned, and I don't think he's asleep. The fact is, I'm supposed to be getting Herc to bed at a decent hour, and I'm not always in the house in time for it. So I really can't blame him for being angry about the chores. I do need to shape up.
But I'm angry at him for not supporting me in having—finally—some kind of real social, community life, so I don't apologize, and I face my side of the bed, and we eventually fall asleep with our backs turned against each other.
 
Jayamos

Jayamos

Farmer
15 Summer Y6
I'm trying to be domestic. Why does moving chests take as much time as a decent Skull Cavern Run?
Seb and I have our usual coffee in the morning, but things are frosty. Finally I say, "So, when you say I should be putting my energy into our family, what exactly does that look like?"
Seb broods for a while. I'm liking his brooding face less and less. "Like you being in the house enough for me to actually get some work done. It was working when he was in the crib, but now I constantly have to keep an eye on him... and I am putting him to bed nearly every night even though you said you'd do it."
"Okay, so... mornings you're on, afternoons I'm on? Or we take different days? And I'm sorry, up until recently Herc's been sacking out on his own, but you're right, I need to do what I said I'd do."
"I feel like I need my Fridays," Seb says.
"Like last Friday? I take care of the wine, you can take off?"
"Um, not my favorite, but I guess, yeah."
"And we are getting new baby monitors any minute. So maybe you can take off earlier."
We work around to Fridays for him, Saturdays for me—and he'll take care of Herc that night—and I can run errands Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sundays are up in the air, but one day at a time...
"What about people's birthdays?" I ask.
"What do you mean?" he says.
"What if I want to get them something and it's not Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday?"
"Is it really that much of a problem if they get it on a different day? And why are you worrying about people's birthdays?"
"Because friends think about each other's birthdays!" I say. I manage not to say, "or is that something you don't do?" But it's on the tip of my tongue, and I'm remembering how he skipped right over the Feast of the Winter Star.
"I don't get it," he says, and he genuinely looks bewildered. "You have us. Why do you need anyone else?"
"For the same reason you need to go on the saloon on Friday nights."
"But I've known Sam and Abi since we were practically babies," he says. "There isn't anyone here you're that close to."
"So maybe I need to try harder to get closer," I say. "Look, I think we're just different. You're close to just a couple of people, and I like being around lots of people. And without the people here, I never could have built this farm. We never could have had this life."
"Okay," he says, but I can tell he still doesn't get it.
I dutifully put Herc in his crib in the evening and try to quietly get stuff transferred from chest to chest in the next room, but he keeps climbing out. It's nice he wants to be around his mom, but next time I'm on the computer I'm ordering Go the @#$! to Sleep, because I sure am feeling it. Finally he's just so exhausted he conks out, thank Yoba.

16 Summer Y6
This morning Herc very much wants to go outside and I very much want him to stay inside. After a protracted discussion, not very articulate but extremely loud on Herc's part, Seb steps in, saying "For Yoba's sake, get out quick so I can get him to quiet down. At least I wasn't expecting to get anything done today."
"Thanks, Sebby," I say, and want to give him a kiss, but there's a very unquiet baby in the way and I figure the best thing I can do is get out the door with the baby and I each on the correct side of it.
I can't say I blame Herc. Being outside is the best thing ever. Could we give him an outdoor playpen or something? I remember my parents saying how relieved they were when they got the fence around the back yard. And how happy they were that the latch was going to be too high for me to reach for several years.
The other accomplishment of the day was sauntering around the slime hutch with the Slime Charmer Ring on, completely unaffected. It's still impossible to repair the now deteriorated fencing. I guess slime rusts out the bars pretty quick. The slimes are now like a big slobbery shimmery pack of dogs, following my every move and getting underfoot. Kind of like Herc, in a way, but gooier. Gooey-er? It's a big pack, too. They're not reproducing any more because there were a ton of green and blue slimes glommed up against the gate until I came in.
Oh, and the third accomplishment was getting Herc to stay in his crib at a reasonable hour.

17 Summer Y6
So Sam's birthday present is going to have to wait. And, honestly, I could have forgotten it anyway. I've never been good at remembering people's birthdays and the gifts are often belated, so they clearly doesn't mean as much to them. But today I'm really noticing.
At least the baby monitors came! Seb still isn't getting anything done, and neither am I, because we spend the whole day figuring out where to put them for maximum effect and minimum blind/deaf spots. Herc is fascinated and wants to play with them almost as much as he wants to put them in his mouth.
We decide we need to order more. And, since we can afford top-of-the-line baby monitoring, by the time we're done Herc will be under nearly military-grade surveillance.
The trick with getting Herc to sleep is to wait until he's clearly pretty tired, then do something really boring like reading, or even hide while he's preoccupied with a toy, and then when he's actually asleep whisk him into the crib.

18 Summer Y6
Green rain! I make good use of my free day, by which I mean I wander all over the place and say hi to people and discuss the weather, which is way more entertaining than it usually is. The freedom does feel really good. Maybe with all the baby monitors in place we could relax a little and Seb can skip out earlier on Fridays. He's in bed by the time I get home, although he seems awfully restless. I hope he's not having another attack of insomnia.

19 Summer Y6
Those extra baby monitors better show up quick, because Seb and Fridays isn't going to be an issue any more.
He wasn't insomniac. He was furious. Our morning coffee starts with him hissing, "You left me all day with Herc! You didn't even come home in the evening! You know how much I enjoy being out in this stuff! You didn't even consider negotiating with me before you skipped out!"
"You didn't ask!"
"You didn't give me time!"
"I thought... you said you'd take Herc on Saturdays, I thought you meant Tuesdays and Thursdays too!"
"So you get three days to gallivant around and suck up to all your exes and I get one measly half day!"
"I was hoping once we got the baby monitors up you could have more free time!"
"Not the point!" he yelled, so loud that Herc, who'd been totally absorbed in his toys, startles and starts crying.
I grab Herc and glare at Seb.
"Oh, so now this is my fault," Seb says. Much, much more quietly, but his tone is unmistakably angry.
"I misunderstood," I said, also quietly. "We're adjusting. I'm sorry." I'm having a hard time sounding sorry. If it weren't for the "your exes" line I might be honestly contrite.
"You take me for granted," he says in a deadly whisper. "You're more concerned about getting birthday gifts out on time than you are about being fair to me. I thought about this all night. You're going to give me a divorce and pay for it. I'm going out now and I'll come back later to get my stuff packed. You want this baby looked after, you do it."
"How am I supposed to get to Lewis to file the divorce papers?" I say in a poisonous murmur.
"You're so smart, you figure it out." And as he heads out the door he says, "And don't you think for one second you're going to wipe my memory. It's mine. Every minute of it. Bitter, sweet, hell, heaven, all of it. You don't get any say over the contents of my mind. I want to remember all of it. And I don't ever want to be friends with someone who treated me like an afterthought."
The door makes the quietest of clicks. The motorcycle roars the loudest I've ever heard it. Herc looks at me and starts bawling as if to outshout it.
I pace around the house like a demon with him in my arms, but I'm not calming either of us down. Finally my brain engages and I carry him out of the house. As soon as he sees the sky he stops, astonished.
If I lost Seb, I got my son seeing the sky for the first time. It's the definition of awe. Then he looks terrified, and like he's about to cry again. "It's so big," I say lightly. "Look what you get to see, look at your life." He reaches out his arms and flails upward like he wants to touch it, or put in his mouth.
"Yeah, it's a lot to chew on, Chip," I say. "Let's get started."
 
Cuddlebug

Cuddlebug

Farmer
Oh my, these two sweeties... 😔 Seems not fair after all, he was asking for a kid, should have known at all how it is with a baby around, he has a younger sister. And what about him saying to take the baby with him in a sling when strolling around? And maybe it wasn't some of betsys greatest ideas to talk about wiping out someones memories... But they're not the first and probably won't be the last couple splitting off after a baby is born... kinda sad anyway.
But, nevertheless, thanks for going on with this story 🥰
 
Jayamos

Jayamos

Farmer
Cuddlebug said:
Oh my, these two sweeties... 😔 Seems not fair after all, he was asking for a kid, should have known at all how it is with a baby around, he has a younger sister. And what about him saying to take the baby with him in a sling when strolling around? And maybe it wasn't some of betsys greatest ideas to talk about wiping out someones memories... But they're not the first and probably won't be the last couple splitting off after a baby is born... kinda sad anyway.
But, nevertheless, thanks for going on with this story 🥰
Click to expand...
This was the hardest post to write by far. I feel like both Seb and ET Betsy could have done better by each other. The saga does continue, though!
 
Jayamos

Jayamos

Farmer
20 Summer Y6
Nothing much to report today, except that my bank statement shows I now have over 9 million, which would be great news on another day.
Herc and I managed, yesterday. I carted him over to the greenhouse and briefly lost him a couple of times among the ancient fruit—that was after he nearly squirmed out of my arms on the path between the crops and the cliff. "I thought serpents were terrifying, Chip, but you've got them beat," I said breathlessly once I was sure I had a good hold on him.
Then I had a choice of going through the pastures to get to the wine shed or maneuvering the cliff path again, until it dawned on me that I could take the long way around behind the Junimo huts. There was a minor commotion at each hut as the Junimos popped out to see us. I don't provoke a reaction if they're inside, but I guess they can tell he's here. There was a lot of chirping and gesturing when they saw him. I'm not sure whether that's adorable or creepy.
Then there was maneuvering the stairs and the gate and keeping a hold on Herc while (a) not letting the pigs out and (b) staying between him and said pigs and (c) not dropping all the ancient fruit to get trampled. Note to self: at first opportunity, move the tea hedge so we have an approximately child-safe way to the wine shed and workshop. How that opportunity is supposed to happen while I'm taking care of Herc, I don't know. Meanwhile, no child was crushed by animals, and I got the wine decanted. There isn't much that can hurt him in the winery, as long as I keep him away from the bottles and jelly jars.
I was really slow given all the managing/finding of Herc, etc., but that got done and by then my head was cleared enough that I thought to call Leah. It took her a while to pick up, and I was worried that she was down at the beach and there was no way I could get out to Lewis's. Then I thought, who cares? Seb will get his divorce, and if I can't do it on his timeline, not my problem. But she did pick up.
After I finished explaining, there was a stunned pause, and then she said, "Wow. Okay. So, what do you need?"
"I was remembering that babysitting offer"—wow, it felt weird asking for help—and I wonder if I can take you up on it for a few hours so I can file divorce papers."
"Now?"
"...Yes? Um, there's a bottle of wine in it for you."
"The good stuff?"
"It's all good stuff! Honestly, I don't remember what I've got in the personal stash, but you get the best I have."
"It's a deal!"
"After you babysit."
"What kind of monster do you think I am? I'm sure it'll be fun, stone cold sober. Look, how are you doing? Do you want me to hang out after?"
I felt such a wave of relief that the "Yes" comes out before I knew it.
It wasn't fun. Herc has never put up much fuss, but he clearly knew something was up. I practically had to pry him off me, and if I could have figured out a way to take him into town without Tiny Houdini ending up in the Mullners' rose bushes or sprawled on the pavement of the town square, I would have. Still, Misty and I sprinted over and took care of everything as speedily as possible, and by the time I got back Herc was thoughtfully chewing on his favorite toothing ring.
"Whew!" Leah said. "I don't envy you."
"One day at a time, is what I'm thinking. I know I'm going to need help, I know it can't just be you, but I'll figure it out bit by bit."
I was worried about what would happen when Seb came back. It wasn't going to be something I could sleep through. But Leah said she'd stay as long as I needed, and we had dinner together, and went slow on the wine. Seb got in late, and drunk, which I've never seen, even at New Years'. I got the sense he wanted to start something, but he didn't want to do it in front of Leah, who tactfully suggested she help him pack, and tactfully suggested he come up and say good night to Herc, while I rummaged around dolefully in the ready room as far away from Seb's room as possible. I need to emulate Alex and actually take up reading, the evenings are going to be long.

22 Summer
Puttering, puttering, puttering. There's a heart-stopping moment this morning when I don't immediately see Herc, but he's made it all the way into the aquarium room by the time I'm dressed and looking for him. Then he starts crawling around and I think what a cute baby he is.
I check the greenhouse, baby monitor in hand, and then go back to check on him. Visit the chickens, check on him. Unload the crystallaria, check on him. And so it goes. By the end of the day I'm exhausted. Seb is right, I was taking him for granted.
I get enough done and the evening receipt assures me we will never need to worry about money. But I don't like leaving him alone by himself so much. He doesn't seem to mind, happily absorbed in his blocks, but it doesn't feel right. And one thing I know, I will go absolutely crazy if I don't get off this farm in the near future.

23 Summer
Just before I went to bed last night I got on line, went back and forth between the groovy hammock-on-the-hip baby sling and the carrier on your chest or back that trusses him right up. I like the simplicity of the sling, but would Chip-off-the-old-block wriggle right out of it? Probably. Getting him strapped in may make him fuss but will probably settle my mind. I finally remembered I could throw money at this problem and got both. Express mail.
Hooray for the return scepter that saves me slogging back to the house. Boo for playing hide and seek every time I'm in the house with him. He's never where I think he'll be. Thank goodness he conks out at 6, like clockwork these days, and I can carry him up to his crib and know where he'll be till morning.

24 Summer
The baby carriers arrived. Sure enough, as soon as ol' Chip was in the hammock thing, he nearly spilled out of it. And yes, the actually secure carrier is a hassle to get him into, and at first he went from fussy to wailing. Once he's in, it's not so bad, and once we're outside he's more than content to look around. Now I can cart him around from building to building without so much worry, and set him down inside to get things done—everywhere but with the cows and the dinos. By day's end he figured out that good things happen in the carrier, and I figured out how to strap him in with maximal efficiency. I'm still worn out by 10.
There wasn't anything for the Junimos to harvest, but they came out anyway as we walked by, bouncing around to see who this little creature is. They look very happy to see him. And he is fascinated by them. I'd really like to be able to put him down in the field, but it's so close to the cliff edge, and even though I can outrun his crawl, it gives me major jitters to imagine him even getting close to it.

25 Summer
Stormy. I spend most of the day figuring out how to fence in the field. I mourn the bit of symmetry I had, and I can't finish the west end of the fence without hoeing up a couple of rows of starfruit. And deinstalling all the lightning rods at the cliff edge in the middle of a thunderstorm is stupidly risky even for me, but once the storm started moving away I could get it done. I did call Leah and tell her to come check on us if she didn't hear from me by 6. If I managed to orphan Herc I wanted someone to find out about it quickly.
Miso the cat doesn't quite know what to make of him, and keeps her distance. I guess it's a good thing that he's not going after her to try to pet her.
But I figure I can try putting Herc down in the field now. There were squash and peppers ready to harvest, but I let them stay because I think Herc would like seeing the Junimos harvest them. I don't think he can get them off the plants, but I'll happily let him try.

26 Summer
The load out, starfruit wine. I had been thinking of putting all the starfruit wine into casks, and it would certainly make the most sense from the money point of view, but I feel like having two full lines of wine, both starfruit and ancient fruit regular and special reserve, makes marketing easy. And it makes me happy, which is the point these days.
It takes a looonnnggg time. I've got to get Herc tiny raingear. I didn't want to take him out in this weather, so I'm back to zotzing to the house with the return scepter, making sure that the baby monitor isn't lying to me and he really is OK, and then zotzing out to the porch to save a step.

27 Summer
Sunny! And the starfruit was ripe too, so the Junimos were busy. Herc was entranced. He was so wiggly in the carrier, so obviously wanted to get down, that I finally let him go. I wasn't totally sure about the Junimos, who immediately clustered nearby, so I took a stance between him and the hut just in case there was a Herc-naping.
He just sat there watching them and putting dirt in his mouth. (Mom told me I used to do that and her doctor said it doesn't hurt as long as it's clean dirt, so...if he's happy, I'm happy.) And the Junimos would pick something, then come near him, and his eyes would get big, and then they'd back up a bit, but the next one would come a little closer, and after this went on a while they would get just a couple of feet away and bounce up and chirp and wave, and he got so giggly and started reaching out toward them.
I was having so much fun watching them that I forgot to worry. And then he reached out and swiped one, pretty hard, and it leaped back and squawked, and he started crying. The Junimos got very agitated, hopping up and down and squeaking, and I was afraid there'd be a Junimo mutiny and was all ready to snatch him out of harm's way, but then one of them, a blue one, said something to them and they settled a bit, still bobbing around, but the spokes-Junimo approached us slowly and chirped up at me.
"Uh... I don't speak Junimo?" I said.
More Junimo discussion, and a gray one came up next to the blue one, and the blue one demonstrated petting the gray one, looking at me like "get it now?"
So I first petted Herc's arm, and then got him to pet my arm, and then I reached out slowly to the blue Junimo and ran my hand over its... head, which feels like a sun-warmed peach, perfectly ripe, and guided Herc's hand over to it. "Gently, gently," I said, and he touched the blue Junimo, carefully this time... and it turns out that Junimos coo when they're content. All the rest of the Junimos burst out into chirpy Junimo cheers and crowded around to get their share.
So Herc now has a friend. A whole flock of friends, or whatever it is you call a bunch of Junimos.

28 Summer
A melancholy day for me, except that I got the field cleared and the fence all the way installed. So Herc had another bonding experience with the Junimos, which now let him chase them a little... toward their hut. Which still worries me a bit... I mean, where do they go in the hut? Isn't it a portal of some kind? But they never let him get very close to it. More important, they never let him go near the fence. He seems really happy with them and vice versa.
But it's moonlight jelly night, and I am unbelievably lonely. I've been so busy with Herc that the melancholy I get after each divorce hasn't had time to creep in. But tonight, with the farm squared away and at least some sense of how to be a single mom, I have been feeling all the feels, and I don't have the comfort of going down to the saloon or to the festival or even, really, just walking around town. The baby carrier works for short distances, but between the house and the greenhouse is about as far as ol' Chip can handle it before he goes beyond wiggly to fussy, and the next stop is wailing.
I did call Leah to ask if she could babysit while I buy seeds tomorrow. "Sure!" she said. "I'll do my shopping afterward. How are you doing?"
"Frazzled," I admitted. "Herc is as much a handful as I was. And Mom had Dad to help."
"Do you want some downtime? Maybe go to the festival? I could come over tonight. Seb's been raising a ruckus at the saloon, but most everyone misses you." That went straight to my heart. Maybe I made the right decision, reconciling with Shane, making things a bit better for George and Alex and Penny.
"No," I say. "It would be beyond weird with Sebastian, and you love seeing the Moonlight Jellies."
"Well, you do too, right? And you shouldn't let him scare you away."
"I'm just too new at this," I say. "Next year... I feel like next year will be easier."
"OK. But do you want me to come over and hang out for a bit first?" she asks.
"So much," I say. And she does. And we somehow only get through half a bottle of wine—the just decanted starfruit—and I send her off to the beach with the rest. She offers to stay, but it just feels right not to get in the way of her joy. Besides, I feel a little better, more like I can handle what's to come.
 
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