She set her utensils down and pulled the stew off direct heat so it wouldn't burn when she went to answer the door. Moments later, the door opened and Karen looked on with surprise at the visitor. "Why hello there," she said cheerfully. She wore a white blouse and a long, black skirt, an apron tied round her waist. Her long hair had escaped it's braid and was tumbling down her back. She had flour on her freckled nose.

The blonde then stepped back to admit the pair into the cottage, which was bright and airy with a coat of fresh white paint. She had her quilts and afghans strewn over settee and chair alike, splashes of color from the fabric popping throughout the ground floor.

The scent of the stew would waft tantelizingly through the air, one might detect a bit of thyme and rosemary in the bouquet. "Please, come in," she said. "I was just cooking dinner. Ye're welcome to a bowl, there's plenty there." In truth, she welcomed the company. She smiled at Heidi and moved to where the babies were, taking one out of the bassinet and then the other to place them on a blanket on the floor, both on their bellies. Niamh looked up at the little girl and blew some spit bubbles at her.

Karen regarded Lorn with a smile after that and said, "What brings ye in today?"