Dinner: Interrupted

"A hand would be great," Marcus said. "I'm expecting trouble. It was a two page order. I hope she's braced Brian for the stiletto invasion. I'm not telling him.


"I have figured out how to make space, though, and she hasn't caught onto me. I simply filch out a few pairs that she hasn't worn in forever and get rid of them a few pair at a time.  I was hoping to replace them with sneakers. Apparently not, though.


"I've also been messing with her just because I can. She's gotten a couple of pair since Christmas. And when I put them on the shelf in her closet, I put out a pair of crutches beside them. I've done it twice now, and I've learned she can roll her eyes at me and scowl like her father."

Steven nodded then laughed " ow sneaky, but if it works go with it." he said and smiled at the thought " can I borrow that idea for Cassidy, she's almost the same way." He said as he moved to glance in the closet " wow almost as big as Cassidys" he said and chuckled again.

" so how we doing this?" he asked " stealth or divershion?" he asked smirking as he tried to sound serious about the switching and adding of shoes to the closet. " Im sure Brian already knows , what husband dosn't know what their wifes doing." he said then noticed the time " Okay guess we should go, now is better than later" he said and chuckled.

"I cleaned out a few yesterday," Marcus said.  "I might be able to get a couple more, though. Maybe.  But, we'd better get the new shoes first. She knows the new ones are coming today. Let's get those and then see what we can do from there. Ready?"


When they ported into Diagon Alley, he saw that it was crowded with students and families starting to shop for school supplies, along with the regular crowd.  


"Hm," he said. "This isn't going to be easy. I think if you take one page of shoes and I take the other page and we shrink them a bit, we might be able to get them through the crowd."


He was starting through the crowd and heard someone calling his name. He turned to see Lizzie there. 


"You two," she said. "You're just the ones I wanted to see. Got an owl from Fortescue's. The ice cream Angus ordered is in.  Its too large for Sparks' walk in with the restaurant's food supplies too. He ordered an assortment of flavors in 20 five gallon tubs.  Fortescue is pretty anxious to get them out of the back of the ice cream shop so he has room for his summer flavors. Be good lads and pick it up, would you?"


"20 five gallon tubs," Marcus repeated, wondering how he was going to simply pick up almost two dozen commercial sized containers of ice cream and get them home without melting.

Steven listened and nodded " good idea" he folowed Marcus in his port and stood loking at the crowd when he heard the voice he quickly drew his wand but hearing her voice relaxed only a little. " do you know about this and her?" He asked Marcus wondering if he did.

"He hasn't mentioned it to me or I missed it?" he added "What with Blood attacking i don't trust anyone just yet" He told him still holding his wand in his hand though down at his thigh. He looked back at the crowd and frowned " should get those shoes first I think then deal with the ice cream the same way, would mean we would have to get back quick so it wouldn't defrost in the bag."

"I know Lizzie very well," Marcus smiled, reassuring Steven.  "Lizzie's been the chef at Sparks since its beginning.  And, no, I didn't know about this order, but if I'm out, its not unusual. Although, the last order wasn't 20 tubs of ice cream. It was more like 2 pounds of green onions. Not near the grunt work."


"You're a good boy," the short woman reached up and patted Marcus's cheek in a mothering sort of way.  She went around them and went past.  


"I take it you've never eaten at Sparks," Marcus said to Steven, continuing to walk towards the shoe store. "I don't usually get to eat there, but I end up there with Khaat when she goes to check on the business and sign checks and that sort of thing."

Steven put his wand away and shook his head " not in years but if she eats there must be good." He told him then sighed " its gonna be a lot to carry. " He said and stepped to one side as the woman walked past he could not help but smirk a little at how she patted Marcus. " Happy to let that one go" he added sliding his wand back in its holder.

"Okay let start, and you do this a lot huh?" He said shaking his head as he started to walk to the end of the alley to wait for Marcus " so whats the name of the shoe store these shoes are at?"He asked

"I don't really do this a lot, but I do try to get her to combine trips.  The shoes actually come from Italy. They're designed and made in Italy and sent to her by Tobias.  This shop is actually just a tobacco shop operated by a shirt tail relative of Tobias's. Tobias buys tobacco, apparently, and then sends things here when they're bigger orders, too big to just send a typical owl," Marcus said. "And besides, I don't give her the freedom of browsing in a shop anymore. Not in England anyway. Not with James running about.


"You should try Sparks again," he said. "Lizzie apparently started out as sort of a short order cook, but she liked working at Sparks and the freedom that she had, or that's what she told me once. So, she broadened her skills and has become quite the chef. Has become very skilled in organic and seasonal local ingredients. The last time James attacked Khaat at Sparks, he had no hesitation in trying to take Lizzie out just because she was in the same room. Lizzie is as loyal to the Lupins as the rest of us. She's a good person.

Steven listened and nodded. "Good idea Marcus" he siad to the not letting Khaat go in shops anymore. He chuckled as Marcus spoke of Sparks and of the chef there Lizzie.

"sounds like my kinda place" he said at the mention of the type of food he grinned " ow definatly my kinda place, I'll mantion to Cassidy and see about arranging a day off so we can try it out, I'll say hi to Lizzy for ya" he said and chuckled. Looking out he saw the shop and nodded.

"Makes sense to ship to a local shop." he shoved his hands deep in his pockets and took a step towards it . " so how will he know we're from Khaat , you met this guy before?" He asked as they slowly reatche the door.

Marcus merely laughed. "You did look at that big walk in closet, didn't you? Yeah, he knows me."  He went in the shop.  The owner greeted him warmly.  

"You're right on time," the owner said. "There are 52 pairs there." He pointed to stacks of shoes on the floor behind the counter. "Looks like they're all there.  Why are there two different sizes this time?"


"Two? Are you sure?" Marcus asked.


"Yeah. They were in her handwriting on the original order." He showed Marcus the parchment.  


"No clue," Marcus said, "But we'll take them." He looked at Steven. "Can you manage 26 and I'll get the other 26?"

Steven chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck " yeah I did " he said as they entered the shop he looked at the stacks and whistled at the amount. When Marcus spoke he nodded.

"Sure" He said and took out a bag, moving to them he started shrinking them down so he could fit several in one bag, he managed 13 in each bag and stood watching as Marcus worked. He thought it odd that she would order two diferent sizes but he could never understand women any way so just shrugged at that thought.

"Who knows what goes threw womens minds" he said softly " okay, now just the ice cream for Angus" he said picking up the two bags. " Im intrested ins seeing this Sparks you've been talking about." he added and smiled " might get something to take home, do they do take out?" he asked