Rain

Khaat recognized the sounds of apparating, and saw her mother walking towards the table. "You're just in time for dinner," Khaat said.

"No thank you, dear," Kate said. "I ordered take out from Sparks while I was working in the shop. We got that new shipment of evening cloaks, Jess. I think I have the place cleaned and everything is inventoried and pressed and hung. Oh, and I ordered some fresh plants and hung mirrors and artwork and lightened the place up with a fresh coat of paint. It hasn't been painted in decades. I thought it should look a bit more contemporary and inviting. I'm hoping you like it. Did I interrupt something?"

"No," Michael said, "I'm just planning on beating your daughter at chess this evening." Kate sighed.

"The last time you two played it took you 7 months, and as I recall, you lost," Kate said.

"Ah, but I won the two games before that," Michael said.

"And lost the two before that," Kate added. "You two are evenly matched. Let's tell it like it is. After all, her father did teach her to play. Are we betting?"

"Certainly!"

"Then I'll bet an entire Sparks chocolate orange cheesecake on Khaat," Kate said. "If she loses, you buy the cheesecake."

"Buy it? Hell! I'll make it myself!" he snorted.

Jess looked at Kate as she aperated and walked over " sounds great did you use the paintings from the art gallery might give is twice the clyantel for madam malkins and help sell the paintings too " she said and smiled looking back at Jack " see I told you Khaat was better at chess " she said and chukled as jack pulled his tounge at her and chuckled at them both.

Steven shook his jhead and staiod out of it he was quietly contemplating how to rid jaylyn of her colic and how to keep it away so she dosn't get it again. He staired into his mug and moved the spoon around in cercials.

"I did," Kate said. "I think it looks good. I changed those old light fixtures we don't' like out for the stained glass ones I made that you liked. The ones with the flowers and the dragonflies. I think you'll like it. And I did give the place a thorough cleaning. It was filthy dirty. It hadn't been cleaned in ages." She looked at Steven. "If you need a potion for colic just ask for it, Steven, instead of getting moody over it. Its easily remedied. Wizards don't have to tough it out unless they want to. Robert has a very good potion for it. Your thoughts are exceedingly loud."

She didn't wait for a reply from him and decided to leave that between him and Robert. Instead she went into the kitchen and helped herself to a hot mug of tea. She came back in and took a sip. "I can't believe its still storning. Isn't that 4 days of solid storms?" She kissed Khaat on the cheek. "How are you, Dear?"

"FIne," she told her mother. "But I broke my wand."

"I will replace it for you," Brian said. "Wands are very replaceable. You, however, are not."

Jess nodded " those lights were so old , and good those light fittings should brighten the place up, but we should do something with the dressing rooms too, maybe new lightling and doors istead of thoes old red velvet curtains " she said thinking more on the shop and how it could look once done up.

Steven Looked up at Kate " ow am I sorry " he said and chuckled " I get so into my thoughts , Im not moody Kate " he said and smiled as she ehaded for the kitchen " Robert do you think you could let me have some of that potion for jaylyn, please would give dalilah a brake " he asked hoping he would and could help him.

Kate laughed, "It seems I was reading your mind. I took care of that too. I put in some lovely oak doors with opaque stained glass panels in each door. Each door has a different garden scene built into the stained glass. I think you'll like it. I made the dressing rooms bigger, with better mirrors with stained glass frames, and I put comfortable changing benches in the dressing rooms, shelves, and some brass clothing hooks that look like graceful swans necks or flowers. I think you'll like those too. Oh, I replaced the flooring with an illusion of a garden--grass and flowers and a cobblestone path. And I created the illusion of the sounds of a babbling brook. I put some upholstered garden benches and gave the whole place the illusion of looking bigger than it really is. And I added a tailoring room with a settee, a round table, a couple of pretty chairs, and a place for customers and their guests to have tea while they're being fitted. There is a sewing room for our seamstress, and an employees lounge next to our office thats done in the same garden illusion that the rest of the store is. And, yes, there is a corner in our office and in the lounge both for children to play."

"Kate, I can't wait to see it," Robert smiled. "It sounds like you worked all day."

"I'm not done yet. I plan on putting some windowboxes out front that are loaded with blooming flowers."

"Well, when will you give me the grand tour?" he asked.

"Not until I"m done. That goes for you too, Jack. Jess and I aren't showing anyone until we're ready for business. We're entitled to doing a big splashy reveal."

"Then you'll both do it first class."

"Angus, do you have that menu I asked for?" Kate asked.

"Sure do," Angus smiled.

"Jess," Kate said, "I asked Angus to fix us some petit fours, some teacakes, truffles and elegant little pastries--you know, the high tea kind. And two different blends of tea and a couple of cold beverages, all served in the new dishes I made for the shop--teacups, teamugs, teapots, plates, saucers, serving pieces, the whole thing."

"She's been tied up in that studio of hers at the farm nonstop since you asked her about buying the shop, Jess," Robert said. "I literally havent' seen her."

"You do know how to cook. You can fend for yourself," Kate said to him.

"Alright," MIchael rose, "You'll have to excuse me, but I have a chess board to conjure."

"Oh, MIchael," Brian said, "There is a wizard chess set in my office, in the bottom drawer of the file cabinet. Help yourself."

"I shall. And I intend to find your firewhiskey as well."

"In the wine cellar. Towards the back. You can't miss it."

"I'll go set us up, Khaat," Michael said, leaving to set up the game.

Jess smiled " sounds good kate guess all I'll have to do is balance the books " she said and smiled at Kate " did the invintory show up , they did say there might be a delay " she said and moved closer to Jack feeling his warmth against her as she had become cold in the stormy night air. She felt jack move and poke the fire back into life the heat making her smile and relax in the chair feeling things were starting to come together. Jack moved beside ehr again and she rested on his shoulder. She chuckled as Brian told Michael where to find the firewhiskey. Jess wished she could have a glass she needed something to warm her other than Jack.

Michael returned triumphant, with the wooden box with the wizard's chess board in it under one arm, and a large bottle of the best firewhiskey money could buy firmly gripped in his other hand. He sent the board over towards Khaat and headed for the kitchen for a couple of glasses On second thought, he knew how most everyone liked firewhiskey, so he summoned several "old fashioned" glasses to hold some rather healthy amounts of firewhiskey and a container of ice cubes for those who preferred ice. As an after thought, he summoned a large bottle of tonic water to follow him as well as a bottle of lemon-lime soda.

Brian in the meantime conjured a game table in front of Khaat and summoned the overstuffed leather chair Michael had been sitting in over to face Khaat at her place on the sofa beside Brian. Khaat opened the chessboard, and Brian flicked his wand at it. "Prepare yourselves for play!" he commanded the pieces. The pieces rose from the box and marched to the board with a snappy military precision and stood firmly in their places on the board.

"No," Kate said to Jess. "Robert came in and he had the books all balanced in a matter of a few minutes while I was unpacking all the shipments, pressing them, and hanging them. Everything we ordered is accounted for. Its all there. We're in fine shape. Robert and I wanted to give you a smooth, worry free, opening as our gift to you as your partners."

"Ah, good!" Michael smiled, "It looks like we could be comfortable here for quite awhile if we just had remembered our usual snack."

Khaat looked at Angus, "Angus, any chace you have some candy coated nuts? Or some peanut brittle?"

"No," Angus said, "but Jess and I could whip some up in a hurry if you like. It takes longer to cool than to mix it up. Jess? Ever made a candy coated nut mix or any peanut brittle?"

Jess smiled as Michael return with the firewhiskey in his hand along with the chess board she was intrested in it not being agood player even in school . " michael , is there anyway to have Firewhiskey with out the bitter taste ?" she asked " I like firewhiskey but its just that taste " she said and moved to look at him with the glasses and a bottle of lemon-lime soda. She watched it curiosely and gave a deep sigh. She looked at Kate and smiled " thank you kate , thank you both I didn't do well with the book store " she said softly but im determined this store will not go down" she said and smiled " so were nearly ready for the grand opening , I do hope its better , should be its a more well known shop and in a prodonanant position in the alley this time , she shope was tucked away" she lent back as Angus spoke " don't belive i have had that pleasure yet Angus, mind if i help ?" she asked amd moved off jacks knee and stood up to face him.

"If the firewhiskey was bitter," Michael said, "it was because it was cheap firewhiskey. The best firewhiskey is smooth, warm, rich, and silky. There isn't a bitter note to it. It is, though, like all whiskeys, an acquired taste. Try this." He poured a small shot of the firewhiskey in a glass for her, added a few ice cubes, and added in some of the soda. He summoned the honey from the kitchen and added just the slightest touch of honey to give it a comforting flavor. He motioned with his finger for the glass to magically stir itself. He sent the glass to Jess. "Try that. I think you'll like that better."

"You could have one of those, Khaat, as light as Michael is making them, if you sip at it," Robert told her.

"Would you, Michael?" Khaat's eyes lit up.

"Certainly," Michael said. He made a second drink for her, and at their requests, poured straight firewhiskey for Robert, Kate, Angus, and himself. "Jack? Steven? Either of you want something?"

"Come on, Jess," Angus said. "Let's make up the snacks in a hurry. We don't want to miss all the fun." He headed for the kitchen.

Jess watched Michael make her adrink taking it from where it floated she took a sip and smiled " yeah thats a whole lot better " she said and smiled " thanks " she placed it down on a small table and walked with Angus into the kitchen to see how these snacks were made.

Jack smiled at michael " sure on the rocks for me " he said and chuckled " it was a bottle that was given us by an old freind so was stored for a long time " he said and took his glass from michael and dral some " wow, thats good , when i get back that old bottles gone im buying this brand " he said and chuckled.

Steven smiled and shook his head " no thank you, not yet Im waiting for the storm to pass so I can check on the horses " then he thought more about it and chuckled " ok add some soda I'll have one with you , it'll fortify me against the cold later." he said and chuckled.