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Shael chuckled softly. "Yes, that sounds like our Rhea. Well then off you go and get some dry and warm clothes on, and I'll have your tea for you when you get back. Off you go now," she shooed Cindy towards the stairs, where Adonai had already disappeared. "I won't have you catching cold while I'm taking care of you."

Just then Rhea sprang from the bottom step, her arms loaded with a new set of clothes.

"Bath time!" she giggled, taking off through the kitchen and heading towards the back room.

By the time Cindy returned downstairs, Adonai was already down there, dressed once again in fresh clothes and drinking from a steaming mug near the fireplace.

"Your tea is there," he smiled, nodding at a cup on the counter that also had steam coming out of it. From the cup the scent of peppermint wafted out, filling the room with the sweet aroma. "Shael's washing Rhea, but she should be back soon."

And from the next room back the sounds of splashing and giggling could be heard.

Adonai chuckled, warming his hands around his mug. "She loves baths," he smiled at Cindy. "She always has. I used to hate them ... but then, Mother always made us bathe outside, even in the winter. We spoil Rhea by letting her bathe indoors all year round."

There was another splash, and then a giggle and a laugh.

"And Shael, I think, has just as much fun as Rhea does when she bathes her," Adonai added with a grin.

"I can well imagine, with there being so many of you," Adonai agreed sympathetically. "But don't worry, we won't make you bathe outside here ... you get the privacy and comfort of the back room as well ... I'm sure we can get some fresh water warmed up for you once Rhea's finished, if you would like."

"Your poor mother," Adonai chuckled. "How long has Donovan been with your family, then? He and your mother were together the first time I met him ... well, not together as of that moment, but together as a couple."

Since of course it had been Cindy and Donovan that he had first met.

"Sounds like Mother and Ada," Adonai chuckled, sipping his ale. He leaned back in his chair and relaxed. "They grew up together, but Mother was injured and lost her memories, and Ada sort of ... tricked her into believing he had been courting her before that."

He chuckled again. "What I find interesting is how easily Mother went along with it, almost as if it had been true. I mean, even if you lost your memories, you would still feel something when you were with the person, you know what I mean? Even if you didn't understand it. But if it was all a lie, then ..."

He shrugged. He just found the whole thing amusing. After all, it wasn't every day that someone got the better of his mother.

Adonai looked thoughtful.

"I believe ... there was an argument about why he lied to her and told her the two of them had been dating even though they hadn't been," he murmured, "and then they sort of had one of those kiss-and-make-up moments ... and then Mother left for three years."

He shrugged. "Don't ask me to explain her reasoning. Personally, I'd have expected her to stay and marry him right away, but I guess something happened and she didn't."