Holli nodded. “They are. She makes the best oatcakes I’ve eaten here.”
“So, let’s talk potatoes…”
Holli grinned. “Harvest was just in. It’s September, and the leaves will start turning soon. At least they tell me they will. It’s my first year here too, remember.”
“Can we eat baked potatoes for lunch?” Alyssa asked. “And how do you think Kendrick would feel about my baked potatosoup.” Alyssa had cooked a good deal more than either of her roommates, and she was excited to start experimenting with the foods that were available.
Holli stood. “I’ll let Cook know you want baked potatoes.”
“You have a cook named Cook?”
Holli giggled. “Wouldn’t that be funny? But no, when she started cooking here when Heather first arrived, everyone quit calling her by her name, and started calling her Cook. She responds to it, and it’s not hard to remember.”
“But doesn’t it dehumanize her?”
Holli tilted her head to one side to think about the question. “I don’t think so. It’s how she introduced herself to me.”
“Okay. If she doesn’t mind, then who am I to throw a fit over it?”
“I’ll be right back. Going to tell her baked potatoes. This clan has now had potatoes for three generations. We don’t trade or share them though, so history shouldn’t change. Even Clan Campbell doesn’t get a share of potatoes.” With that, Holli disappeared behind a door.
When she came back, she had a huge grin on her face. “Cook said she’d anticipated me, and they’re already baking.” Holli led the way into the parlor, plopping down on a wooden bench that seemed to double as a sofa. “I’ve been craving potatoes with little Herbert here, so she’s kind of figured out I need them daily.”
“Herbert? Tell me you are not going to name that poor baby Herbert.”
“Probably not. But it’s fun to call him that. I think we’re probably going to settle on Finn, but don’t tell Bryson I told you. He’s convinced that if people know the baby’s name before he’s born, it’s bad luck.”
“That’s odd,” Alyssa said. “I’ve never heard that.”
“Yeah, I thought it was weird too. Heather tried to convince all her sons that it wouldn’t happen that way, but apparently, no one believed her.” Holli shrugged. “The clan influence is much too strong when it comes to superstition.”
“I get that. It’s their culture. Of course, their culture is also sort of modern American?” Alyssa shook her head. “Every time I try to figure out this time travel stuff, my head starts to hurt.”
Holli shrugged. “I’ve quit trying. Being pregnant is good for me.”
“How far along are you?”
“Within the first few days of being here,” Holli responded. “It’s nice having a healer for a grandfather who can just tell you when your child is due.”
“Does he deliver the babies too?”
“Well, yeah! Who else is qualified?”
Alyssa frowned. “Is there no midwife?”
“Not one who can do what Gavin can. Seriously, the man is a walking miracle.” Holli shrugged. “I wouldn’t take a midwife with their archaic childbirth methods if my life depended on it. Nope. Gavin is my man.”
“I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable with a man delivering my baby.” Alyssa realized that she could also be pregnant, but she didn’t think it would happen as quickly for her as it had for Holli. She wasn’t the one who was destined to have seven babies, after all.
“I’m sure someone else could catch the baby and be the one all up in your girly bits if it was that important to you. But you’d still want Gavin there. If anything went wrong with either you or the baby, he could heal you fast.”
“How does the healing work?” Alyssa asked.
“I asked the same thing when I got here,” Holli said. “He takes a bit of the pain onto himself, and it leaves your body. Heis sick for just a moment as his body heals itself from the wound. Pretty cool, huh?”
“I sure think so!” Alyssa said. “Maybe I will have him there when I have babies. If I have babies. What if I can’t?”
“Then Gavin will heal you so you can. He’s good at what he does.”
“What is the clan going to do when he passes away?” Alyssa thought they may be relying too heavily on an old man.
“I guess we’ll learn to go to normal healers then. But it won’t be easy!”
