Chapter Text
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Flora teased as Evie entered.
“I was gone only an hour, Flora,” she replied, glancing to the door. “And I have brought back a surprise.”
Before Flora could respond, the door opened and Barok was announced. Evie could not help but delight in the way Flora’s face lit up.
“Look what I found,” Evie said teasingly, giving a nod to Mr. Barnes as he closed the door behind them.
“You are a marvel,” Flora beamed, “but you shouldn’t be up and about so much.” she tutted at her. “Come sit.” She patted the seat beside her, before turning to Barok. “And you!” she exclaimed, “what must I do to get your attention these days? Do you not care to meet your niece?”
Barok looked properly admonished as he spoke at last, “Pray forgive my taking so long to visit.”
She only rolled her eyes at him. “You are forgiven, for you are here now! I shall fetch Iris.” Flora smiled as she stood, brushing off her skirt. “Make sure she stays put,” she added, pointing to Evie, before leaving the room.
Barok looked at Evie curiously. “Why must you stay?”
Evie scoffed. “Flora has become very overprotective,” she explained, a hand coming to rest on her belly. “it is sweet of her, truly, but I am not an invalid just yet.”
“Congratulations,” he replied politely, almost automatically.
“Thank you.”
The room fell silent for several minutes, until Flora’s voice came from the corridor. “Here she is!” Flora cooed, kissing the baby’s forehead. “Lady Iris,” she said in her mock fancy voice, “may I present to you Mr. van Zieks.”
A bit of the tension in his body relaxed at the use of his formal title and he played along, “Lovely to meet you, my lady.” He bowed in his seat dramatically, much like his elder brother used to, and Iris giggled and clapped her hands.
“Oh, how she loves to clap,” Flora sighed affectionately as she all but dropped into her seat, “it is truly her favorite thing these days.”
A moment passed, Barok simply observing the infant, before he said, “May I ask, why did you name her Iris?”
“That one’s easy,” Flora began, bouncing Iris in her arms, “Dr. Mikotoba’s wife was named Ayame, it means Iris. He was such a dear…” she paused then nearly whispered, “I might have died if it weren’t for him.”
Evie reached over, squeezing Flora’s arm comfortingly. “But you didn’t,” she soothed, “neither of you did.”
Time stretched in silence, seconds feeling like hours, before Barok spoke lowly, “I had no idea.”
“Perhaps you would, if only you had read her letters,” Evie replied sharply.
He began to apologize, but Flora cut him off. “He is here now, Evie. You mustn’t fret, it’s bad for the baby.”
Evie tutted. “I am perfectly fine, Flora. You need not fuss so.”
“I must indeed,” she insisted, “as you have done for me, so I shall do for you.” She smiled teasingly at her friend, before turning to Barok. “Now, would you like to hold her?” Flora lifted Iris up slightly, the baby cooing in response.
“I do not think so.”
“Why not?”
“I could hurt her,” he explained softly, “I would not do that to you.”
“You will not!” Flora scoffed. “I know you, I trust you will treat her with the utmost care.” She tilted her head, beckoning him over. “Come sit by me, I shall show you.”
He did so, hesitantly, as Evie watched with keen eyes.
“Would you hold her a moment, love?” Flora asked, transferring Iris into Evie’s arms.
“Thank you!” She smiled brightly, then turned back to Barok. “Now, hold your arms as I do.” She demonstrated the proper hold, adjusting his arms slightly before declaring, “Just like that, perfect!”
Evie moved to stand, but Flora tutted. “You sit! I will do it.” She gently took Iris from Evie’s arms, moving to hold the baby in front of Barok. “Move your left arm up a bit,” she said with a tilt of her head, “good! Now-” she slowly put Iris into his arms, lightly nudging to make sure the baby’s head was properly supported. “There we are!”
Barok looked at Iris in awe, she simply blinked at him with wide eyes. He looked to Flora, then Evie, cluelessly.
“You can rock her,” Flora said, smiling reassuringly, “or bounce her, she won’t break. She enjoys it.”
He looked at her warily, then back down at Iris. “Hello,” he whispered, giving one last look to Flora before starting to slowly rock the baby.
“There you go,” Flora cooed, “just like that.”
“She looks just like you,” he said after a moment.
“She does, doesn’t she?” Flora made an odd expression, almost scrunched, and Evie knew immediately what was bothering her.
“But she has the van Zieks nose, don’t you think?” Evie asked calmly, laying a hand on her friend’s arm as a comfort.
“Certainly,” Barok agreed readily, enough so that Evie was sure he noticed it too.
Flora looked at Evie with misty eyes, the very beginnings of a smile on her face. “You think so?”
“I would not say it if I did not.”
Flora did not respond and an awkward silence fell over the room.
To Evie’s great surprise, Barok spoke first. “Her ladyship seems to have fallen asleep,” he said, quietly but with a playfulness that eased the gloom which had fallen over them.
“It seems she has,” Flora agreed softly, “I should take her upstairs.” She gently took Iris from Barok’s arms, lifting the sleeping child to rest against her shoulder.
The remaining two watched as Flora left, neither speaking for several minutes after the door had closed.
“Thank you,” Evie said at last, “she needed this.”
“Do not thank me. I should have visited much sooner.”
Evie tilted her head, brows furrowing as she pressed her lips together. “Perhaps,” Evie said evenly, “but you know she will not begrudge you for it. If she does not, you can have no reason to.”
His reply was near instant. “You do.”
Evie inhaled sharply. “I do not.” She paused, looking around the room as she thought. “I was only upset.”
“I do not blame you. I was thoughtless.”
“We shall get nowhere like that.” Evie smiled sadly. “You were thoughtless but I was harsh. Let us both accept fault.”
“Very diplomatic.” Barok nodded once, decisively. “I agree.”
“I’m glad.” She stood, smoothing a few wrinkles in her skirts. She began to walk away, then turned back. “See that you do not do it again,” she added in a stern tone before disappearing behind the door.