Merry Christmas (a day or so late)!

I have been trying to get this little gift out to you for a little better than a week now!

Between preparing for my family Christmas and hitting so many roadblocks with the pool glitch (nearly lost Mike one time) I was lost in a losing battle.  So I made a few story changes and here I am with “plan B” and your belated gift!

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Mama stayed true to her word, the next morning she arrived to get Rose and take her to introduce her to the Shaman.

After an exchange of friendly introductions, Mama said, “Now don’t you worry any.  He is going to fix things right up with some good healthy tea.”

Rose apologized for her impromptu visit and thanked him for taking the time to see them.

Shaman laughed, “OH my dear, think nothing at all of it!  This is how things work with island time.”

Rose gave a puzzled look?

Shaman tipped his head back in laughter, “You do not know about island time yet?  Well, you will learn soon enough.

Here in the islands, we take a much more carefree approach to time than most of the world.

You might say we relax and take the time to smell the plumeria.”

Rose smiled and nodded but it was apparent she was still a bit confused.

Finally, Mama was ready to get down to business, “Lets quit all this chit-chat and go get on that restorative.  There will be plenty of time for yakking later.”

Then she pointed him towards the garden,  ” You go on and gather what you need for your remedy and I will give Rose the grand tour.”

Mama is clearly a woman of action who gets what she wants because the Shaman immediately shuffled off to his garden beds and began studiously collecting various herbs and flowers.

While Shaman gathered his ingredients, Mama took Rose on a tour of the darling little house and gardens.

Soon they were seated at the Shaman’s table on his cozy little hut.

While they waited, Mama filled Rose in on all the island happenings.

Shaman chopped, mashed and ground herbs, blooms and berries.

He mixed and measured the ingredients .. adding a pinch of this and shake of that until, with a deep breath and a nod of satisfaction, he appeared to be finished.

A wonderful bouquet filled the air as the concoction brewed.

To say that Rose was not at all skeptical would be a falsehood.

She was having serious second thoughts.

What was she thinking?

She was preparing to drink a strange brew from a strange man in a strange house in a strange place?

Whether they sensed her trepidation or not, Mama and the Shaman both pour themselves a cup of the tea and came in to sit with Rose.

“It is a very healthy tea,” Mama explained, “good for what ails ya.”

Rose closed her eyes as the delightful aroma met her nose.

It was calming and comforting.

OH come on Rose, what is the harm in this, she thought to herself?

These two lovely people just wanted to help.

I really was not going to work or anything … but then again … what if ???

The Shaman waited anxiously for her to try his wonderful tea.

He smiled, “It will do you, good dearie.”

The warm honey-berry flavored tea seemed to wash a warm glow deep inside her.

She had never tasted anything quite so wonderful as the Shaman’s tea.

AND if she was not mistaken she did feel better.

A lot better!

Mama and Rose kept the Shaman in good company for the rest of the afternoon.

Mama prepared a loved meal for all of them.

It was her way of saying thank you to Shaman who did not get many homecooked meals that he did not have to prepare.

They all ate Mam’s delicious meal with GUSTO!

To the Shaman’s glee, Rose drank a lot more of the tea.

At dusk both ladies trotted home, happily chatting as they went.

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Mike had missed his love all day.

Fishing was fun BUT NOT as much fun as kissing.

“Maybe it is time to test that tea?”

Well now ……

Rose was more than a little stunned.

How could this be?

Was it truly the tea that helped?

Mike and she had been married for a while now and she had been seriously entertaining thought that perhaps they could not have a child.

She needed to go share the news right away.

Mike, who was never at a loss for words, appeared dumbfounded at the news.

Rose was afraid he would faint.

“A nooboo,” he whispered hoarsely, “Are you certain?”

“A nooboo!  OUR NOOBOO!”

Mike was now shouting and laughing.

“Oh, he will be the most wonderful baby ever!”

“Or she,” Rose admonished with a smile.

“Yes,” he corrected. “OR SHE!”

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The next morning they made a visit to Mama.

She was not surprised in the least.

“I am so happy for you two, my dear.  Every child is a blessing.   And you will soon come to realize you have a great ohana (family) her on the island to help you.  You will meet them all very soon.”

Then the midwife in Mama kicked in, “Tell me how you are feeling.”

Rose related the “events” from her terrible morning in the bushes.

“I was wretchedly sick,” she sadly concluded.

“I have just the thing to help.  Mama has got this in all hand.  Don’t worry little mama you will be fine. We are going to have a happy healthy baby here!”

Little mama, Mike thought as he overheard the conversation.

Panic was setting in again, that makes me daddy.

The dread was making him light-headed.

He has fought great and terrible foes before but a nooboo … this struck fear in him like he had never known before.

Later that afternoon Mike got Mama aside and expressed his fears.

He was uncertain he would know how to be a good father.

He was afraid.

“Mike, you will have your island ohana all around to help you but in the end, your love for your child will help you know what is best for them.  You can trust that when the times comes your father’s heart will lead you to react correctly.”

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“Rose?”

Mike startled Rose White out of deep thought.

“What are you doing out here?

Is something wrong kuʻu nani (my beauty)?”

Rose White continued to gaze out over the sea, as though she were searching for something.

Mike waited patiently and quietly for her to speak.

Finally, Rose replied dolefully, “OH Mike, I miss mom and dad.

I wish they were here to meet our nooboo when it comes.

And where are my sisters?

Why can’t they share in my joy?”

Mike, nodding his agreement, sighed, “I know maikaʻi ka Rose!  I miss them too!”

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Mama had petitioned the island elders for help.

She was adamant that Mike and Rose be given a safe place to raise their nooboo.

The small island with its primitive conditions was not going to do!

Mama won out and the elders brought Rose and Mike to live under their watchful care.

They provided a lovely home inland on the big island.

It was rustic for sure, but Rose had quickly made it home!

Mike agreed he would fish the nearby inlet, to help provide food for island ohana.  As other island men do.

He would still spend off time collecting the gems need to pay tribute to Dagon but he was dedicated to doing his part to help the ohana.

Rose was considering purchasing a table at the local market and selling trinkets and pretty baubles they have collected while searching for the gems.

It would not only provide a small income for them but she would get to meet other island residents.

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The day for the baby to be born came only 2 short weeks after Mike and Rose had moved into the house on the main island.

Mike was in such a state when the pains started.

Anxiety seemed to be pursuing him as he ran to get Mama.

Mama came running behind and determined that indeed Rose was in labor.

She was here to help Rose have the baby but she wondered if she might have to sedate Mike first.

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Welcome, little princess Haukea ❤

“She is named after my mother,” Rose explained to Mama.

Tears fell as Rose cuddled her nooboo, taking in her sweet scent and kissing her soft baldy bean.

“I wish she was here to see her.”

“Ok little mama, it is time for you to go rest.  Daddy can come in and care for little ke aliʻi wahine Houkea (princess Snow White) for a little while.

I will be here to keep an eye on all of you!”

Mama gave Rose a peck of endearment on her cheek, “you did great, dear Rose!  Your mama would be proud!”

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It sure seems like his father’s heart is telling him the right thing!

(LOL you all did not think I would leave you hanging again?  Did you?)

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In this story series:

<previous: An Era of Charming Tales: The Island #2 / Next: An Era of Charming Tales: The Island #4 >

Table of contents:  An Era of Charming Tales: (current) Table of Contents

 

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Many thanks to the creators featured in this blog!

New this time:

AND if you are interested in the Shaman .. he is my handsome fella ❤

TY Simoniona for the lost Island (it will continue to be a feature) and Ascanius Always for dear Mike (you are a grandpa now)

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A huge TY to all the wonderful simmers who contributed FAB sims for my casting call.

I will add them in a little at a time (along with some wonderful builds I have found in the gallery).

I am building the lost world of Gerbit Archipelago.

These families and builds will weave in and out of my story.

Today’s adds are:

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New readers:

If you want a fast track to the past here are a couple of reads that will help you connect the dots without having to go back and read the whole thing 🙂

The State of the Blog Address or “Where Do We Go From Here”

An Era of Charming Tales: Special Feature (Lemme es’plain .. UH NO! Too much! Lemme sum up!)