Casual Conversations

Posted on Fri Feb 20th, 2026 @ 12:02pm by Survivor Kimberley Hathaway & Survivor René Rouen & Council Member Vienna Quinn & Survivor Edward Harrison Jr & Survivor Kelly Cardona & Council Member Henri Rouen

1,113 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Winter's hope
Location: Homestead
Timeline: October 2nd 2010, mid morning

Kimberley had a tray of coffee cups and she placed it on a picnic table near the barn. "Coffee is on!" she called out.

Edward gambled over and picked up one of the steaming mugs. "Thank you, Kimberly," his deep voice rumbled gently in the cold air as he spoke.

"you are welcome" Kimberley said as a breeze rustled the trees.

Hearing the call for coffee Vienna made her way across picking one up. “Thank you” she smiled warmly. “How about you Kelly? Fancy one?”

Kelly offered a nod as she walked over joining the others. “I don’t mind if I do.”

"How's everyone feeling today?" Edward asked as he lowered over everyone. He gave each of them a warm grin.

“All good here” Vienna smiled.

“Same here” Kelly nodded in agreement offering Edward a warm smile.

Above them the weather vane that sat atop the barn creaked in the gentle breeze, and animals made sounds. For a while at least they could pretend there was peace in the world.

Kimberley stood sipping her own cup and let her gaze wander. She knew peace was a lie and this was just the calm before any storm. Steven's Point was being secured and soon enough those men who had taken the Blaine's would come back.

As they enjoyed their coffees, Edward suddenly spoke up. "I know this may sound like a dumb question...but...I guess the holidays we all used to celebrate are now...no more?"

Kimberley looked over at him. "Not in the same way, I am thinking. IF we make it to November, I will speak with Serena about a dinner to give thanks."

Henri poured himself a cup of coffee and looked towards the barn. "Birthdays too. René turned eighteen yesterday. He told me not to say anything to anyone." He took a sip from his mug. "He misses his parents and didn't feel right about doing anything to mark the day without them."

Kimberley nodded "Fully understandable."

Edward nodded slowly. "I guess, for a while to come, we just focus on surviving another day. Just like our ancestors used to do, back in the dark ages."

Vienna was surprised hearing that René had let his birthday go by so quietly. She understood it, but he hadn’t even opted to spend it with her. “René didn’t even tell me…”

Kimberley looked at Vienna. "I would say he was trying to keep things as they are as he knows it is hard for us to celebrate such things at this time."

“I know” Vienna nodded. “But that’s all the more reason to celebrate, we’re survivors and that should be special.”

Edward thought about it and nodded in agreement. "That does make sense. We need to recognize every milestone. Who knows if it'll be our last?"

Kimberley nodded slowly. "I will look into things in the kitchen, maybe we can do a quiet celebration at dinner."

Henri turned to Vienna. "His isn't the only birthday we need to celebrate. I believe you turn eighteen in two days." He glanced at the others. "What if we organised a birthday party for both of them?" He glanced back at Vienna. "If you don't mind sharing your birthday celebration with René?"

Vienna smiled at Henri. “Not at all, I’d like that very much!”

Edward grinned happily at this. "Happy soon-to-be-birthday, Vienna!" He paused a beat, then said, "While I don't have anything to give either of you right now, I'll make something for you instead." He thought about it for few beats, then asked, "What kind of weapon would you like?"

“Weapon…” Vienna paused. “I’m used to using my bow, but maybe an upgrade would be an idea?”

Edward nodded happily, the big man excited to help. "I'll see what I can come up with!" He then hurried back to his makeshift garage and got to work.

Kimberley smiled as she gathered up the discarded mugs. "I will go check things out in the kitchen"

Henri smiled at the group gathered. "Merci. Perhaps we keep it as a surprise for René. Though we may have to keep him distracted that day. Any idea how?"

“I can keep him distracted” Vienna smiled. “I’m his girlfriend after all. I’ll suggest a picnic in the grounds or something.”

Kimberley nodded and headed for the kitchen with the tray. She paused. "There are berry bushes near the south fence. Maybe you could pick them?"

René came strolling up a few minutes later. He had just completed a walk of the homestead perimeter. He nodded at his grandfather with a smile. "Bonjour grandpere." His smile grew noticeably as he turned to Vienna. "Bonjour Vienna."

“Bonjour René” Vienna smiled warmly at him. “Would you like to accompany me for a picnic? The others were just saying that I could take the time to enjoy some time with you. I’ll catch up on chores later.”

René's smile faltered for a moment. "I would love nothing more, but...I am a the wood chopping group this morning." An idea popped into his head. "Ah, how about we go on the picnic day after tomorrow? I'll prepare everything."

Vienna nodded. “If you have to go chopping wood, then that’s okay” she offered a warm smile. “It’ll give me something to look forward to.”

René cupped Vienna's chin gently and lightly brushed a thumb along her cheek. "I always look forward to spending time with you ma belle (my beautiful)."

Vienna smiled warmly. “As I do with you my love.”

René smiled before bringing his hand back to his side. "I have to go now, but I will see you after lunch." He kisses Vienna's cheek and turned to give a nod to the others and head off to the work detail.

Henri watched as René walked off. He turned to Vienna. "You really do love him." It wasn't a question.

Vienna nodded. “With all my heart. We’ve all lost so much, I want to hold on to what I have left. René is everything to me, I’d be lost without him.”

Henri seemed to study Vienna's expression for a moment before glancing at René's distant form gathering with the others. He turned back to Vienna and nodded. "Thank you for telling me this." He glanced at his watch. "If you will excuse me. I'm already running late for a planning session for a green house construction." He took a sip of coffee before taking his leave.

Vienna nodded and watched Henri go, it seemed she’d put his mind at rest about how she felt towards René.


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