The Splintered Dreams

"Don't look so surprised," Khaat laughed. "Rob's cooking can get to me anytime. I don't care what he cooks. Just so he does it. I cook really well too, but its always better if someone else does it, I think. I really would like to see if that ice cream shoppe has any pistachio. Daddy won't care. If we time it right, he might just about be ready to leave when we get back. That should reduce your boredom. You realize you have successfully kept me away from my desk for an additional day, don't you? Daddy is going to like you a lot--just for that alone. He likes anybody that can get me to compromise." She laughed.

"This way," she said, pointing to the left, the opposite way from Gringotts. "About a block and a half, on the other side of the street. Not far. I sure wish you were up to running. I really need to exercise again. On the other hand, though, these stilletto heels I'm wearing are not so good for running any distance at all. I can do it if my life depends on it, but it really isn't easy or pleasant either one. Be glad that you men aren't expected to wear high heels that are this tall just for the sake of appearances. I do it for work, but I sure am more comfortable in my suede boots and my jeans and my suede jacket. You have no idea how much alike we really are, Cordell. Its almost spooky." She smiled as they walked down Diagon Alley together. "Now, I'm getting the ice cream. That's my treat. I'm the one with the craving--or rather, Abbey is. Somehow Rob has decided, from the moment he found out we were having a daughter, that her name would be Abbey. I like it. He already has this almost telepathic bond with her, and I'm only 3 months into this thing. It gets a bit weird for me to think what she's going to be like after she's born. "

"Thank you," she said softly. She loved how much of a gentleman he was. She hadn't actually been here in years. She scanned the menu quickly, only really interested if they had pistachio. And she found it! One of the last items on their flavors board. "One scoop of pistachio please," Khaat ordered, "In a glitter cone. Walker, you have to try the glitter cones. They're excellent. I haven't had one in years. But I'm splurging today."

She watched the server scoop up a heaping scoopful of pistachio ice cream and press it firmly into a chocolate cone that had shimmering, multicolored glitter that looked like little sparkles of dancing light. He drew forth a pink and white striped paper napkin and handed it to her with the ice cream cone. Khaat laid down enough sickles to pay for her and Walker's, both. Khaat thanked the clerk and took a lick off of the scoop of ice cream. It felt like relief to her. She hoped that Abbey would quit bugging her about pistachio ice cream now, but as divine as this tasted, she intended to finish every last drop of ice cream and every last little sparkle of glitter.

"Are you sure you don't want that in a glitter cone, Sir?" the young male clerk asked him. "She's right, you know. They really are the best. And we make them here ourselves. And with Rocky Road ice cream, it's a perfect combination. "

Khaat laughed, watching him handling his dripping ice cream cone. Khaat was managing hers without a problem, but at least Walker was giving her a laugh. He was the only one lately who could make her laugh. And right now, laughter felt like life being given back to her again. Felt like it was something she desperately needed. "Oh, I almost forgot," she said, reaching into her black shoulder bag. "I have something for you." She gave him a gold card, about the size of a muggle credit card. "This is a pass for St. Mungo's gym. You have unlimited access for the entire time you are here in England. The gym never closes, so you can go there whenever you like. " The card had his name on it, specified unlimited access, with unlimited priviledges at the gym, with no expiration date, and it specified that it had been issued and approved by Mrs. Khaat Dent.

"If you ever have a bit of problem with that, let me know right away," she told him.

"I did," she smiled. "A lot. Thank you. And now that the mens shop has your sizes and what you like on file, when you need something, they will just deliver it to the farm, unless you want to pick out a certain color of shirt or something. Do you need other things, like a razor, toiletry items, other personal items? I'd be happy to pick those up for you. I didn't even ask about those things. but my parents have frequent houseguests, so they have a large stock of those things that you can certainly use until you get your bearings a bit better around here. And a wand. I don't remember whether they sent your wand with your or not. If not, Daddy or I would be happy to take you to Ollivander's tomorrow. They really are the only place in the world that I would ever trust to get a good wand. The Ollivander family has been the premier wandmakers in the wizarding world for hundreds of years. They remember every wand they have ever sold and every customer they've ever dealt with, going back almost to their beginnings. It might be nice for you to just go see what kind of a wand it the best for you. Might be interesting."