Dinner: Interrupted

"They do," Marcus said, picking up his half of the shoes shipment. "When Robert orders out for us, where do you think he gets it? Khaat owned it with Rob back in the day, and when Rob left, she signed over half ownership to Brian.  Well, I think its half. Somehow when Khaat's away, Robert has some ability to go in and handle business affairs there, but I'm not exactly sure how. I haven't exactly needed to know. 


"I do know Khaat's been very, very picky from the outset. Everything local and in season, nothing conjured, all fresh cooked. And they added gourmet coffees, teas and pastries. They sell Robert's tea blends there too. For Diagon Alley, its got a nice light bistro sort of a feel. I thought Jim used to do the manager's job, but...well, you know Jim. Sometimes we see him, sometimes we don't. I don't usually get to talk to him either.  


"You know half those shoes aren't going to fit her, so I don't know what we're doing with them, but I'm positive I'll find out. You ready for ice cream?" he asked. "Can we each carry ten five gallon tubs of ice cream with all these freaking shoes?"

Steven chuckled and nodded " ow nice to know I'll order some of his cynamon tea for around christmas " he said as they walked out the shop " yeah, who orders two sets of shoes in diferent sizes." he said an chuckled " um might need help with that, you know just how heavy they are?" He said " might need some help , not Jack he'd eat it all before it even got home, maybe Li, he could use an outing, might be good for him to see things away from the ratch." he sugested   but he knew he was right with Jack.

"yeah, not seen Jim in a while." he said just as some one tapped his shoulder making him jump a little. Turning he saw Jim stood behind him.

"Reason that is, is I am busy." He told him and smiled to Marcus. Motiong to the bag he spoke one word " Khaat?" He asked noting how they both had bags.

"Shoes," Marcus said. "Who else buys this many pairs of stilettos at one time? And, apparently, we've got a boatload of ice cream to take home.  Like 20 tubs is a piece of cake for two people. No sweat, right? I'm hoping, in all your busy schedule, you have a moment to lend a hand." He looked at Steven. "Shall we give him the shoes or do you think he's up to muscling ice cream tubs?"


Whatever they did, Marcus knew two things. First, they'd better not scuff up the shoes. Not at that price. And, second, they'd better not let all that ice cream melt. Either way would not be pretty when they got home.

Jim chuckled and nodded " yeah and hey Im strong than you think, pup" he said with a chuckle "ow I cangive you an hour or three and ice cream come on our Khaat will have our heads if it melts." he looked at the direction of Sparks and smiled. " Lizzie has out done hrself again, I hear shes made a new spring cheese cake." He said to Marcus as hey moved down the alley towards the cafe.

"so I take it there good?" Steven asked and Jim laughed out loud.

"she makes a cheesecake thatsmelt in the mouth and not too sweet ether, Khaat chose well when she took her on." Jim said smiling as they entered the shope " Hey Lizzie, you got that ice cream ready?" He softly called out

Marcus enjoyed teasing Jim once in awhile. He laughed when Jim said Khaat would be angry if the ice cream melted.

"My guess is that she'll be more irked if we scuff one of those shoes.  And little Miss Abbey will be more unhappy if we don't bring the ice cream," he said.  He went with them to Sparks, and wasn't surprised to see Lizzie back from her errands and back in the kitchen.


"All the containers on the bottom shelf of the back wall of the walk in," Lizzie motioned to the freezer as she tossed some vegetables in her saute pan. "The ones on the bottom all go. Do you think you'll manage it?"

Jim walked to the freezer and opened it he saw the containers and shrank them placing them into there own bags then handed them to Steven who picked his two bags along with one bag of shoes while Jim took the other bag and two of the ice cream.

"Marcus ready" both called out at the same time and chuckled. " okay were ready to head back when you are, ow can we have some cheese cake to go too , please " Jim asked Lizzie with a smile " yours is so good." he stood waiting as Steven chuckled.

"looks like Im gonna lose my bet on how long it would take you to get cheese cake." Steven said looking at Marcus.

Lizzie handed them a box with two fresh cheesecakes. "I know you lot. You can't order here without a cheesecake. The top box is a lemon cheesecake, and the bottom is the regular cheesecake. Tell Khaat she'll like the lemon. It's very similar to what she ate when she was pregnant with Abbey."

"I think we're ready, then," Marcus said, picking up his share of the ice cream. "Hopefully our order isn't going to get any bigger? I'd like to get back."

"That's because for you to be out without her, you feel like you're going against your orders," Lizzie said, accurately pinpointing the source of Marcus's discomfort. "Or is it that you think she'll slip out from you while you're gone?"

"No," he laughed. "You know, she hasn't even tried that with me."

"Oh, I wouldn't hold my breath on that, my boy," she said. "She gets away from everyone sooner or later."

"She can try," Marcus said. "I don't lose my clients that easily. Are we ready? We don't need two dozen tamtruming toddlers if we come back with melted ice cream."

Jim managed to hold the cheese cakes and shrink them to fit in one of the bags , he smiled "haha yeah she does and oh can I have a box of Roberts special tea as well." He asked and placed down several coins to pay for them for himself. " what?" He sked seeing the look Jack gave him. "I like them for after tea it has a subtle aroma." He told him and Jack chuckled.

"You have some weird tastes " Jack said moving with them as he listened to Marcus talk " I agree don't need that " He said and chuckled again. He shifted the bags as they walked.

"Let's get home, then," he said. He headed home, handed the ice cream to the house elves, and then took the shoes upstairs to Khaat's room.


"You look long enough," she frowned. "Everything alright?"


"Fine," he said. "Lizzie asked us to pick up an ice cream order.  Angus bought plenty to get us from now til Christmas, I think."


"Oh, you have no idea how much ice cream this place goes through."


"Apparently, I don't," he said. "And apparently I don't know how fast you wear out stilettos either."


"Wait, didn't Evelyn like shoes when you were living with her?"


"Evelyn likes everything I can't afford," he said dryly. "Come get some sun while the days are still warm. In a month or so, it will be too cold to sit out without a jacket." 


She picked up a book and went outside but Marcus had other plans. "You've given up every kind of conditioning. I don't know why Brian's not on you for that."


"I can't do much," she sighed.


"That's not true," he said, flicking his wand at her shoes to change them into sneakers. "Let's go for a walk. It would do you good, and you don't need your arm for that."

Li sat on the grass his knees bent under him and his eyes apearing to be closed as he listened to the world around him as he meditated he heard the soft foot falls of a female and the heavier ones of a man walking. "It is good to see you out of the house, Khaat" he said softly as he opened his eyes and stod in one fluid motion. It was then he bows low to her respectfully.

Standing up he looked to Marcus and nodded his head. "There is a cold chill coming off the mountains, it should cool the air around the house this evening." He said his arms behind his back as he stood facing them.