LONDON CALLING

"Yeah, just some rough sketches. Thanks, but I haven't come up with anything I really like yet," he told her. "I should make a batch of the espresso cake and the olive oil cake and have them test them to be sure its what they want. The last thing I want is for them to get to their wedding reception and decide the cake is nasty tasting."

"I think its strange that, not only did they book you for it so soon, but why are they using muggle means at all? I don't understand any of it. There isn't anything that those machines can tell you that Robert can't tell you, and more. And sooner. And with a lot less invasiveness. One thing I know Khaat never had to do was to drink 47 glasses of water right before an appointment and then hope she didn't pee herself. There wasn't one ounce of that sort of distress for her or for Abbey. Khaat's delivery was rough because her first husband was a first rate asshole. Hopefully, you and I won't have that issue." He cast her an amused smile.

He watched her get into bed, and he heard Andrew come upstairs and go into his room and shut the door.

"I love the skylight," he said. "It might be just about my favorite thing in the whole house. As much as I love that new nightgown of yours, though, I wish you'd turn out the light, and leave that nightgown on the floor."

"Okay," he said, half asleep. He heard her, and he tried to make a mental note to remember what she'd said when he woke up. "Ask Andrew to send up coffee, please? I gotta bake cakes. And, Ru, whoever is doing the supply list, I need 3 20 pound buckets of fondant--white, ivory, and chocolate. 5 pound buckets of each of the colored fondants they have too. Could be up to 15 different colors in stock. Bag of cake flour--it'll come in a 50 lb. bag, orange flower water, elderflower water. It'll all be expensive. Put that on my personal account, but I need it here today. Tomorrow at the latest. Got all that?" He slipped back somewhat into sleep, being now only about a 1/4 awake and 3/4 asleep. The smell of fresh coffee wafted up the stairs and caught what little of him was still alert. "I smell coffee," he mumbled, dozing off again.

Andrew had indeed turned on the coffee and the tea. He poured himself a cup of coffee, and he sat down to slip on a pair of canvas deck shoes, deciding to go out and water the garden before Angus woke.

"Good girl," he said, nodding off entirely.

"You didn't disturb me," Andrew smiled. "I think I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow. Even if I had heard you, you two certainly couldn't be as loud as the next door neighbors I had when I rented my very first apartment in New York. They were both screamers. God. Nice people during the day, but I ended up having to move because I became seriously sleep deprived. I was doing some agent training at the time, and we had to learn not only how to drive a muggle car but how to be skilled enough at it to be able to do high speed defensive driving. One day at the track, I was so sleep deprived I fell asleep at high speed and rolled the car I was in. That ended up being my first meeting with Nigel as he was putting me back together. And it was what ultimately changed me from being an active agent, like Marcus, or a rehab man like I'm doing now. So I suppose, in a strange way, I owe those old noisy neighbors some thanks.

"Angus is awake? I didn't think he would be awake quite yet, so thanks for sending up his coffee to him. I'll go check in with him as soon as I'm done here. The strawberries and raspberries are overloaded. I might have to see if Angus knows how to to make some preserves. It would be a shame to let them go bad. Need any berries for breakfast?"

"I'm glad he's gone back to sleep for a bit. He's really doing exceptionally well with his recovery. Nigel says he's months ahead of schedule. Maybe the extra sleep and the high nutrition diet is helping. I know a man who had a similar injury and he's been at his recovery now for almost 18 months. And that guy is just now starting to get his magic back at all. I can't honestly say I understand why Angus's abilities are coming back this quick. Angus's injuries are every bit as extensive as this other fellow's but he's snapping back amazingly fast. Maybe its Nigel and Robert working together. I don't know, but, if the two cases are to be compared, Angus is lightyears ahead of this other guy.

"Angus mentioned to me wanting to apparate over to Robert's. He said something about a special spot on Robert's farm that was Robert's brother's favorite spot. I didn't know Robert had a farm of his own. I guess I thought he just always lived here with Brian and Khaat. Angus said this particular spot is one of the prettiest spots he knows, and he says Edward is thinking of that spot over at Robert's as the place for the wedding. I hope Angus knows how to get there because I haven't a clue. Angus said he was hoping to get a little inspiration from that spot. We could be in trouble if he leaves me to navigate to someplace I've never been." He laughed.

"I'll pick some strawberries for you. I think I could get a couple of pints without any problem at all. Do you want me to send them over for breakfast?"

"Okay. Will do. You'll have them in no time," he smiled.

Angus slept another twenty minutes and woke up and got his coffee before it got entirely cold. In that span of time, Andrew had picked three pints of fresh strawberries for Ruby and had sent them over to the kitchen. Then he had gone in, washed his hands, fed Pip, and caught three crickets Pip had set loose in the house.

Andrew helped Angus refresh and shave and dress and he brought him downstairs and gave him fresh coffee. Angus was just about to read the morning copy of the Daily Prophet when an owl brought a letter. Andrew gave it to Angus. It was a pink envelope that looked like a pink brocade print. It smelled of perfume, and it was addressed to Angus in a neat script. Angus believed it looked like it had been penned with a quill or a fountain pen, not a muggle ballpoint pen. He didn't know anyone that would go to all this trouble for a letter. He opened the letter and was surprised to see it was from Suzanne.

"Dear Mr. Donohue," it read, "I have considered your words tonight. You were quite eloquent. I must admit, I have never met anyone like you. I thought men of your character were for outdated romance novels. And, so, after much thought, I have written to appeal to you.

"My youngest sons, Sam and Victor are all I have left. I must admit that Ruby and Jessie are lost to me. I would like to establish some sort of visitation with my sons, and I am hoping you and I could make some sort of amicable compromise to accomplish such a thing.

"Life has not been kind to our family, thanks to Reginald. I don't expect you to understand my position, so I won't explain it. Sometimes, though, one's options are few and far between.

"If you are the man I think you are, I expect you and Ruby to bear me grandchildren, and I want to know them. I know there is no grandmother for them in the Donohue family. They have the right to get to know me, and I, them.

"I think we should talk soon--without Tom. I expect to hear from you soon.

"Suzanne"

Angus sat for a moment, not sure what to think. It sounded like she was offering an olive branch, and he didn't get the feeling that Suzanne had done that very often in her life. Nor was he sure what Ruby was going to think. He put the letter in his pocket.

"Andrew," Angus called. "Let's go to Robert's farm."

"How do we get there?"

"I have a portkey. I don't use it much now because I know the way, but we can use it today. Let's go so we can get back. I wont be more than just maybe 30 minutes or so."

"Well, okay. If you say so," Andrew shrugged.