"Thanks, Jess," Angus said. "I really did not want random dead people in my head nonstop. I doubt Ruby and I would have had a long standing falling out, but, frankly, sometimes her excessive anxiety drives me bananas. Sometimes I just need a time out from it. If there was a upside to the problem with the meat supplier, it was that it gave me a reason to come over here for awhile. Jack, I expect the new shipment to be here early in the morning. Do take a generous supply to the pack, would you? I would expect that they're soon going to need some random things, like soap, maybe replacement clothing, medical supplies, that sort of thing. If you bring me a list, I'll get it ordered straight away for them. I'm working on a list of that stuff for us anyway, so I can add their things onto our order. Thanks for the pillow and the blanket. I think I could use a quiet night for a change."
After Jess left, Kate came in with a plate of Michael's fish and chips and a can of beer. She set it on the coffee table that was in front of the sofa in Angus's office.
"Come tuck into some supper," she told him, "while its hot and crispy. You know Michael makes great fish and chips. The work can wait til morning. Jack, you should go get a plate for yourself. I left Robert unsupervised at the sideboard where he was piling up his plate with fish and chips. If you want to get any fish for yourself, you should go soon before he gets it all."
"Its the only food that makes him abandon his habit of keeping himself to reasonable portions at mealtime," Angus said.
"You are absolutely right," Kate said. "That's why I try to pack his lunch for him when he goes to work, and he thinks I don't know that about twice a month, he simply throws the brown bag lunch away and orders fish and chips from the Leaky. I'm onto him because he charges them on his account at the Leaky, and I see the bills when they come in."
"Thanks for letting me stay tonight, Kate," Angus said.
"Letting you stay? This is your home," she said. "You can stay anywhere you like on this estate or at the farm. You didn't ask for my two cents, but I'm going to give it to you anyway. To my knowledge, this is the first that Caprice or Diamond either one have been under the weather, and Ruby does tend to get overly anxious."
"She didn't do that until she went on that first mission," Angus sighed. "I'm responsible for that."
"No. You're not. She's been to Jeffrey twice now, so when she picks that anxiety stuff back up again, she's doing that herself. That's on her, not on you. If she wants to be less anxious, she needs to go back to continuing to use the skills he taught her. It's up to her to remind herself about how he taught her to deal with that. Robert told me you did everything just as he taught you, so it wasn't you. But, maybe I can help a little. About five or six years ago, St. Mungos published a guide for new parents with all sorts of information, including how to judge when to call a healer and when to handle things at home, and information on exactly how to handle things at home--the same things Robert taught you. How about I get you a couple copies and you can give one to her and maybe put one on your bookshelf or something?"
"Good idea. I'd appreciate that," he said.
"Okay, I'm going to let you eat. I'll be back in a bit to pick up your plate. Do get some sleep tonight while the house is quiet," she said, leaving.
by 
