The calm before the storm
It was a hot summer in 1913.The grass was dry, with lack of rain. Everywhere it looked a bit crumpled.
Except for her children. They were growing quite well, thank the Goddess. Vanessa was fifteen and she looked like a young lady already. Virgil was fourteen years old, but he had also grown a lot in the past year. He was the man of the house now, and great support for Verity.
The younger children, albeit growing well, which was a blessing for their mother, were acting up and rebelling frequently not only against Virgil, but also against Verity herself.
Mr. Munch Sr., who was still alive and was still an advisor to Verity, had suggested she sent them to that recently created organization, the Boy Scouts. Perhaps having positive male role models from the guides there would benefit the children, and the family.
Verity asked Virgil to investigate about that organization in the village, and his news were good. She considered the option very seriously and decided it could do no harm. Both boys became scouts and they loved it.
Also, Valerie announced that she was with child!
As soon as she realized what was happening she traveled home to her mother.
Apart form sharing the news, she and Lucas had been talking about the world events and her husband was worried. He thought that war would extend to their country and he did not feel his family were safe in San Myshuno. Besides, if there was a war, his duty was to enroll, and he did not want to leave Valerie and their child alone in the city. His father was too old to be able to care for the young family and his brothers were not concerned with his affairs.
Valerie was coming to ask her mother if they could stay at the farm until the baby was born, at least.
Verity welcomed her daughter and son in law with open arms.
The village had been receiving many and varied new visitors during that summer. Some stayed and wanted to make new roots in the beautiful farming region. Others were just passing, hoping to get by until something better came up.
Neighbors all around started taking lodgers for short stays. It was a good solution for the lack of resources for everyone.
One of such lodgers was a certain Mr. Malcolm Becker. He was staying at the Beech Hollow Farm, with the Rices, a family that Verity had known since she arrived in the island as a bride.
The Rices were good, honest, and trusting people; they introduced Vanessa to Mr. Becker when the girl went over to their farm to trade eggs for cow milk, as they had been doing for years.
Mr. Becker had been a gentleman and offered to carry the milk jug back to Rowanwood Farm.
He introduced himself to Verity and soon, without anyone really knowing how, he was a regular visitor to their home.
From the start, Vanessa was flattered. Mr. Becker, no, Malcolm. He had asked her to call him by his birth name. It made her feel so grown up. He treated her like a woman, not a little girl. Malcolm was good at reading poetry. Father's old books came to life when he read from them.
She loved the attention, and hated it when Mother insisted that they could not go wandering around the property without one of the boys with them, at all times.
Virgil in particular was so rude to Mr., err..., Malcolm. As soon as Virgil heard that Malcolm was visiting, he stopped doing his chores and joined them. He never let his eyes off Malcolm, it was so annoying to Vanessa.
Verity was grateful that Virgil shared her concerns about Mr. Becker. She could not put it in words, but something about the man irked her.
Her eldest boy was truly not a boy any longer, and it was uncanny that even with Verity's hair color, he resembled his late Father so much.
Verity thought it was important to have The Talk with Vanessa. Contrary to how things went with Valerie, Vanessa was curious, and asked uncomfortable questions. Her mother tried to respond to those as best she could.
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The hot summer gave way to a dry fall, for which, Virgil was grateful. Harvesting went easier when it was not constantly raining on your head.
No sooner the last of the harvest was in, when Valerie had her baby. It was a boy that they named Anguy Munch.
The young parents were very happy. They had married long time before, but they had not been blessed with family yet. Anguy was a much anticipated and wanted baby. Lucas quickly sent a telegram to his father to let him know of the happy event.
Happiness was marred by uncertainty. By the time the first snow started falling, the news of the war were not favorable. Lucas Munch knew that he would have to enlist, so it was a bitter relief to know that he had finally had a son.
Verity had a different fear. None of her boys were old enough to enlist without her consent, but she knew that Virgil would feel it his duty to go.
She could lose more of her family again.
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