1.17 Cramped

The journey on the ferry was long, even longer with a toddler. Sage is just grateful that Moonlight Falls has a reversed season order than Riverview, meaning she can leave most of her coats and gloves at home. Her legs are covered in goosebumps at the slightest breeze, unused to being uncovered outside. 

Already Sage feels a pit of dread in her stomach. Being on the edge of her parents' property- if you could even call it a property- brings back so many memories. The long, unbearable years of school and boredom. The mentally exhausting hours upon hours of mind numbing part time work to scrounge the money for her instruments, only to sell them off to afford the move to Riverview. 

Being home is not so sweet, after all. 

As she expected, her mother is gardening. Sage shakes her head at the rusty gate; how many times did she tell her mother to replace the damn thing? One day it was going to fall off of its hinges and leave the garden unguarded from the hungry wild deer. 

Naomi begins to sniffle and cry. It's too hot here! She's sweaty and sticky and she doesn't like it. 

"Good evening, mother." 

Her mother's attention remains fixed on her apple tree, not making any indication she heard her daughter's greeting. 

It's only when Naomi begins to shriek that Sage's mother turns her head. 

"Oh! Here so soon! Oh dear the house is still in such a state..." 

Sage grits her teeth, "Just show us in. Naomi's not comfortable out here." 

"Funny, she never complained before... must be all that time away from home, not used to Moonlight Falls' climate..." 

"I'm talking about Naomi, my daughter, mother! It's not that hard to tell the difference!" Sage snaps. But her mother's already at the front door, muttering to herself about what to do with the harvest later. 

Barely here for ten minutes and she's already ignoring me. Great. Sage rubs a hand over her face. 

This is going to be a long trip. 

She eyes the living room critically. Just as cramped as she remembers. 

At least all the soil is actually in her planters instead of all over the floor, she thinks sarcastically to herself. The house is certainly cleaner than she remembers, not that it counts for much. 

And in the already tiny kitchen Sage finds that her mother manage to slot a high chair in. Well, that's already more thoughtful than her mother had been her whole childhood. 

Sage plops Naomi into the chair. Her daughter reaches her arms out, trying to hold on to her mother. 

"No, Naomi. It's dinner time now." 

Sage opens the fridge and crinkles her nose at its bare contents. 

"Mother, what do I keep telling you about putting the harvest away properly? Where's all the vegetables and fruits you harvested today?" 

Her mother's only answer is to hum quietly in the living room as she haphazardly "tidies up". 

Sage finds the lettuce and apples in a bag under the sink. Thankfully she thought ahead and brought her own baby food, which is exactly what she gives Naomi. 

After she puts away the fruits and vegetables she sets to making dinner. The familiar routine of rinsing, chopping, and mixing brings back memories of high school. 

At least all that late night cooking paid off; Sage knows her way around even the most cramped of kitchens. 

And it got her used to eating alone. 

Well, this time around, she's not completely by herself... 

At least Naomi's having fun, Sage silently remarks. 

Right after she's washed her plate and cutlery and picked up Naomi, Sage's mother breezes into the kitchen. 

"Oh, didn't see you there, Sagey," her mother apologizes when colliding with her daughter. 

"I really don't see how you couldn't," Sage grumbles. 

"Hm?" Sage's mother turns to her, eyes wide and questioning. 

"...nothing, mother. Dinner's in the fridge. I'll just be putting Naomi to bed, then." 

"Ah, yes! The crib's in your old room. Willow was very insistent about that..." 

Sage smiles slightly at the mention of her other "cousin". "How is Willow doing?" 

Her mother taps her chin thoughtfully, "She travels a lot with the....what was their name? That vampire family that owns the wagon? She's already left for work again..." 

"Mother, do you mean the Van Goulds?" Sage can't hide her disdain; never mind the fact that they own half of the town's properties and her mother has no excuse to forget them, but Willow is working for that tactless, sleazy old man? "I thought Willow hated Ayden Van Gould!" 

Her mother shrugs as she retrieves some salad from the fridge, "People change, Sagey." 

"Don't call me that," Sage bristles, "It's juvenile, mother." 

Her mother absently nods before rummaging in the drawer for a clean fork. 

Sage glances at the crib in front of her; the faded colours of the bedding within makes her think this could be the crib she herself occupied at Naomi's age. 

"Mama no go," Naomi mewls unhappily. 

"Time for bed, Naomi," Sage says gruffly. 

She stands by the crib until her daughter falls asleep, looking at her childhood bedroom. The wallpaper is still the same, the carpet is still hard and thin, and the window flimsy and drafty. 

Amazing how everything is just as she remembered it. The thought makes her shudder. 

She goes to the living room, waiting for her mother. 

"A sleeping bag?" Sage inquires. 

"Ah, yes, I sleep in here sometimes. You know how it is, staying up late to make elixirs..." 

"Mother," Sage gasps harshly, "You can't seriously mean you sleep on the floor at your age?" 

"It's good for my back," she replies defensively. 

"Come now Sagey-," 

"-don't call me Sagey."

"I like sleeping in here sometimes. Really makes me feel like a little kid at a slumber party again! Now get on to bed, darling." 

"Is there really only one bed?" 

Her mother nods, "Since there's no one else here but me, Sage." 

"...Go to bed, mother. I'll sleep in here." 

"Are you sure? I know how fussy you are about the ground and dirt and such..." 

"I'll be fine. I'm an adult now, mother." 

"As you keep reminding me, Sagey. Oh, you were always so mature!" she pats Sage's cheek affectionately, "Sweet dreams, dear." 

"...good night, mother." 

Once she's sure her mother is fast asleep, Sage takes a shower and changes into her pjs. Then she settles into the thin sleeping bag, wincing at the uneven corners of the floor that press into her back. 

This feels like home, alright.