"I've done a lot of guardianships with ophaned wizard kids, and I have an adopted teenage daughter. So I do know some of what you mean," Khaat said, pouring Susan a mug of tea and handing it to her. "The tea is on the house." It interested her that Susan's daughter had had some accidental baby magic. "Abbey has had some random magic stuff too. Brian and I think she's an animagus. But we know its too soon to be entirely sure." Susan wanted a word. Khaat had no problem with that. She was used to people wanting to talk to her. It wasn't unusual. "Let's go to my office," Khaat motioned to her. She led her back through the dining room, to the kitchen and off to the left to her very simply furnished restaurant office that was near the back door of the bistro. The only ones in the kitchen were her chef Lizzie and the soux chef. Both of which Khaat trusted with her very life. And both of which were far too busy to pay any attention to what Khaat was doing anyway. "Come in and make yourself at home," Khaat said. "Have a seat if you like."
The room had a very utilitarian desk and office chair, a contemporary leather loveseat, and two leather sidechairs, along with a file cabinet, and a bookshefl with restaurant supply catalogs shelved on it. The walls were just a simple white color, and the only decorations were the necessary restaurant licensures--and the pictures. A large but tastefully grouped collection of photos graced the largest wall. The photos were of the people she held dear. Her beloved uncle. Her parents. A copy of her wedding picture not even quite a year ago to Brian--her second marriage. Her first marriage had been disasterous, and her husband had left her the night she'd given birth to their daughter Abbey. He had decided he just couldn't do commitment after all. Maturity had not been his 'thing.'
Brian, on the other hand, was her best friend from childhood. He had come, as a healer, to assist with the Abbey's birth, which had been so complicated, it had nearly killed Khaat. And Brian had stood strong with her ever since. He had taken on the job of being her chief bodyguard when her life had been threatened. They had agreed they would never fall in love. They had agreed it would be just platonic. And somewhere, a year ago, that had all gone to hell. They were tail over teakettle in love. And her parents had been delighted to see the two childhood friends finally give in and marry and then have triplets almost immediately--an unplanned triple blessing.
There were pictures of all her children. Every child she was the guardian of. She loved them as dearly as if she had given birth to them. There were about eight of those. Some were grown with children of their own, and she displayed photos of them and their families proudly. Her 17 year old daughter, Miseria. Miseria's two year old daughter, Dakota. Khaat's firstborn, Abbey. And Khaat's one year old triplets, Robert, Michael, and Brian.
She sat down in the desk chair and faced the grouping of the other chairs. "So--how can I help you?"
ooc: sorry. i had a wonderful post and somehow i accidently deleted it before it saved it to the board. Phooey.