Finding Femininity

"Forget it. That's an easy fix. And I'm sure Kate or Robert will get to it in a few moments. I'm sorry that it didn't work out for you with that guy. Some guys are just gits, that's all. Is there something of some deep sentimental value that you want to get from there? If there isn't, then don't worry about it. One thing I have learned is that Khaat and Brian are exceptionally generous. You know you can stay here again. If they offered it to you once, they would offer it to you again if they were here. Your room is still available. You can just use it again. I'm sure you can borrow some things from Khaat's closet. I'll get you a few changes of clothes, but you might have to resize them a bit.

"When Khaat and Brian get back, you can talk to one of them then. They left me in charge while they're gone, so as far as i'm concerned, if you want to stay, you certainly can.

"I"m no expert on how to get past that sort of pain, but what works for me is getting busy doing something. You do what you like, but I sure as hell would have to do something. I'd have to work. "

Cassidy stopped and turned to listen to him " not theres nothing like that " she said quietly then heard him say shecould have her old room again and nodded " thanks angus " she said " I guess i just choose the wrong men to be with ,i'll clean up then help " she said heading up to the room sitting down on the bed she felt her self shake slightly inward as well as ut wardly " pull your self together cassidy, you..you can get over him " she said to herself as she ehaded for the shower.

Once refeshed she ehaded for Khaat and Brians room opening the closet door she found apair of tan slacks and a light chiffon top resiing them she felt more like her self she used soem makup and made ehr self look like her self and headed down " ok what do you need me to do , right now I'd rather be doing something than sitting around doing nothing"

"Good choice," Angus said. "Cassidy, so you're up to date, Khaat and Brian went to stay in muggle London for a couple days so that they can deal with Burke's latest attack on her. She's trying to not let it get to her, but the fact is that until she and Brian deal with it together, she's not going to be able to move forward. So, thats where they are. Robert's a bit bent out of shape with Kate that she has not told him where Khaat is, but Kate is an amazing woman. She has no intention of telling Robert anything at this point. Personally, I think its pretty funny.

"So, in the meantime, we're taking care of the girls. That's our top priority. And I know you're good with them. I could really use your help there. And I have a really great dinner planned. I'll need the table set. I have a recipe laying on the counter for an orangeaide. Its like lemonade, only made from freshly squeezed orange juice. You feel like tackling the pitcher of orangeade and setting the table? I have a cake in the oven, and the frosting is already made, but when the cake cools, we'll have to ice it and make it presentable.

"And we'll hae to get dinner ready for the girls. They won't eat anything that I fixed for dinner except maybe the rice and the cake. Got any suggestions there?"

Cassidy picked up the card and read on it how to make orange aid as he spoke more she continued to make it feeling her hands shake a little. She paused and they stopped she was not going to let her nerves get the better of her . quikly she finished the juice " what about some of the gravy mix it with the rice and put some fresh carrots on the side ?" she sujested " that way they get the flavor but none of the bones " she moved to set the table she placed down each plate and knife and fork ignoring hos she shook she was becoming frustrated with it and so placed all of the plates down gripping the back of one of the chairs she closed her eyes but all she saw was him standing leering at ehr and calling her ugly and cheap.

"Yeah," Angus said, "That will work. The white wine that I braised the tenderloin in will cook out. It'll be fine. I don't think I want them growing up getting used to having a wine glaze on their foods from birth on up, but once in a great while will probably be alright. And besides, I didn't use that much. There arent' any bones in the tenderloin, so that's not a worry, but I doubt they're up to chewing meat yet unless they're very tiny bites."

He glanced over at her and saw her pause. It seemed everyoen these days had some sort of emotional pain to deal with. And she had said she wanted to work rather than to concentrate on whatever it was that had happened between her and her mystery man. And since there was no imminent danger, he thought perhaps it was better if he let her work it out, unless she wasn't capable of working. He had seen some of the organization's people let their personal lives affect their work, and what they all had to learn eventually was to separate it. He said nothing. It wasn't that he wasn't unsympathetic. But she hadn't said much, and it was rude to pry. Besides, sometimes staying busy was better.

Cassidy clantched her fist and felt her shaking stop for now picking the plates up she continued with setting the table " yeah the alcahol will evaporate leaving only flavor behind , not sure about teh meat though are thay too young for it ?" she asked glancing at him as she placed down wine glasses on the table for the adults . Moving to the oven she lifted out the cake and turned it onto the cooling wire to cool . Taking a bowl she tok the icing suger and a little water slowly mixed them till they were a thick paste and left it for a moment while she watched Angus.

" he was an Auror, the guy, Clayton stevens " she said softly as she sighed " I thought he cared about me gues i was wrong, i feel like he used me and when he didn't get what he wanted was going to throw me out " she turned her back and lent against the counter her arms folded acros her chest she could feel her self shake again but from the anger she felt inside for being so gullable as to alow herself to fall for such jerk.

"Sounds like he was just a prat," Angus said. "Forget him. You're home now. Get him off your mind. Sometimes people are very good at performing. And it sounds like that was just what he was doing. Performing. Nothing more. Wasnt' your fault. It was his. If he is in the business of using people, he won't last long as an auror. Not under Robert, anyway. Robert will chew him up and spit him out if he doesn't make the grade.

"I think the girls will do alright with the meat. They're eating finger foods now. I think if we cut the meat in tiny enough pieces they'll do fine. Besides, the pork will be so tender, it will just fall apart on its own. I think they'll do fine with it."

cassidy listened to him talk and couldn't help but chuckle as he called him a prat and how Robert would chew him up and spit him out " do you think he'd make him into a bug ?" she asked turning back to the cake and feeling it was cool she began icing it . She looked at Angus and smiled " thanks " she said feeling some what better for having laughed " guess laugher is the bes medicine after all " she said and chuckled again thinking of clay as a yellow bug in a jar on Roberts shelf . " thats good, they'll enjoy the meal too " she said finishing the cake. Stepping babck she looked at it " do you think its ok?" she asked

"The bug spell? That's not a hard spell. Robert just likes it. And he's particularly good at it. Its just an Entomorphis spell. Here. Add this." He opened the cabinet and handed her a white chocolate bar. "Shave some of this over the top for a garnish. It will dress it up a little. We don't want to change the color. We want to leave it white on white. But if you use this tool...." He opened the drawer and handed her a different kitchen tool. "You can get long graceful threadlike curls with this. Just use a long, slow, steady pull with it. Like this. Start at the end of the chocolate bar and pull the tool back towards you in one smooth motion." He demonstrated. It made long beautiful and delicate threads of white chocolate. "See? And when you put them on the cake, it makes it look like you were a genius somehow. You're welcome to use the whole bar if you like."

Cassidy listened as he talked " Ent..Entomorphis spell?" she said not realy hearing of that paticulaer spell " its not one i have heard of " she said as she watched him with teh chocolate and the tool that loked like a pototoe peeler , she chuckled seeing delecate curls fall to the cake " wow looks nice already" she took the tool and practiced over a peice of kitchen towl then satified she ahd the tecnique down she did it over the cake soon she was satified it looked good and placed the chocolate back in its wrapper and the tool in the sink , she saw choloat on her finger and smiled as she snuck a lick " mumm nice chocolate where did you get it ?" she asked licking the rest off her finger.