The pages of the calendar continued to turn. It seemed like no time at all before the seasons changed again, Riv delighted for summer. The little boy was all too thrilled to have his window open and let in the fresh air again now that the weather was nice and warm.

Even through now he still remained with us in my big bed with Daniel and I. I guess he was happy for the company given how fleeting the other residents seemed to be. Even then he didn't seem terribly interested in the pure children, whether due to their own lack of interest or something else. He did, however, seem more open to approach than he had been a long time ago. I wonder if Tobias and Zuri helped alleviate some of that lingering anxiety.

Honestly, the other residents were usually so fleeting I could hardly keep up with them. I felt a little bad for it, for not really getting to know them too well as people, but the staff seemed so...dare I say obsessively involved in their care that my feelings stopped there. They were at least well cared for under my roof, and that's what mattered most. Riv still kept me company in the lobby, surely to the dismay of wandering staff, as Daniel and I prepared and helped him with his assignments. Though it was summer we still tried to encourage a couple sheets per week to keep on top of his academics. Fortunately some of the resident children were kind enough to let me see some of their own schoolwork from the system in town so I could check to see how well-in-line our homemade work was serving him. So far, so good.

He seemed quite interested in his art, so I'd put in some extra time here and there to save enough for some heavy paper and watercolor paints if I could on top of the usual expenses. I have to it that the constant up-and-down of my wage was a little frustrating, but it was something I was willing to go through to keep us fed and cared for. At the very least I hadn't a need to worry about the pure children as their expenses were covered in full. Any relief is still a relief, and with the turn of seasons I had a bit more in my pocket from the extra daylight and warmth.

As time went on, though, I couldn't help but pick up on some odd gazes and whispers from the staff, even more than usual. For the longest time I couldn't tell what for, but they seemed most prominent from the staff stationed upstairs. They'd never cared for the three of us, but it really did seem like this resentment was only growing stronger. I couldn't really say why as nothing, at least as far as I could see, seemed to have changed aside from my father's tresing. At least Heather was still kind enough to approach us, provided those other staff were looking away or not present at the time. With a little time and encouragement she'd come around quite a bit and even Riv had taken some liking to her. She did look quite similar to the one volunteer who brought him here so maybe that resemblance helped ease his nerves.

I tried what I could to pay it little mind. If they didn't like me, they could man up and tell me so. Until then I would carry on as I have been.

Morissey himself didn't seem terribly bothered by much in particular and was still just as awkward and hesitant around Riv as he'd always been. He was a strange man and I had a hard time reading him, but as long as he kept his thoughts about my child to himself I had little issue working with him. Maybe he would come around.

Over some more recent mornings and evenings, though, those gossips and whispers seemed louder than before. They were undoubtedly about the three of us, but one evening, instead of handwaving the matter I slowed my steps to get a better ear. I found myself creeping down the west wing to follow some voices coming from the far staff room.

"...sleeping with another man," I picked up from one.

"Is he even a man">Discord server