Tuscany Trip

Brian waited for Khaat and rode back with her. He stopped her partway back when they were by themselves and pulled his house along hers. He leaned over, motioning her to come closer. She leaned towards him, and he kissed her slowly, affectionately.

It took her breath away. She hadn't been kissed like that ever in her life. Not ever. "Does that feel like I plan on leaving you? Ever?" he asked very very softly.

"No," she replied, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair and brush it out of his face. "No, it does not. Thank you. "

"Your life did not end because your marriage did. Your life has just begun, Khaat."

"I am believing that more and more every minute you're with me," she smiled.

"Then, I might just have to stay forever," he said confidently.

"That would be fine by me," Khaat said. They rode back to the barn together, finding Jack and Jess long ahead of them.

Brian and Khata laughed. They turned their horses into the stablemaster, and Brian handed the stablemaster several large bills and a slip of paper. The stablemaster looked at the paper and the money that he had been given.

"That will more than suffice, Mr. Quinn. We will have it delivered. Thank you very much. It was a pleasure serving you and your wife and your friends," the stablemaster smiled.

"Thank you," Brian said, "It was all perfect. Beyond our expectations. "

"That is high praise coming from you. Thank you, Sir."

He took them to the Murano glass factory. The factory gave a tour and then showed them an art gallery where some of their best and most valuable pieces of glass were shown. Khaat had watched her mother blow glass and make stained glass pieces for years, and she loved watching a real artisan doing glass blowing. It fascinated her.

One in the Murano store, Khaat found a lot of gifts for Christmas for people that she loved, and she was pleased that she had found one of a kind original gifts that she felt that her friendss and damily would really love. In fact, she bought so many pieces that a clerk followed her, taking her order as they went through the store.

Brian just smiled, watching her. She made her Murano glass purchases as easily and professionally as she ran St. Mungos. Khaat was a woman with many facets, he decided. Sometimes she was comfortable "letting her hair down", and then there were other moments where she sacrificed all that for efficiency. And as much as he knew she was having a good time, she was very professional and practical now too.

Khaat went over to where Jess was looking. It was a beautiful little ballerina figurine. "Oh, Jess," she smiled, "Its beautiful. You really ought to buy it. It's not expensive. Well, not for Murano, anyway. It would be a good memory for you. I can have Daddy make you an enchanted bell jar that you can put her in so that she doesn't break. It's a simple matter of a spell on an ordinary bell jar. He'd be happy to do it for you."

Brian had found a couple of special pieces that he had managed to buy for Khaat while she was massively preoccupied with the pieces she was buying for others for Christmas gifts. She wasn't buying things for herself. Brian knew exactly what her tastes were, and he bought a few pieces, especially a couple of sentimental pieces to remind her of her first trip to Venice. He managed to purchase them and order them to be sent to him without Khaat's knowledge.

One of the things he loved the most was a handblown, red glass rose. It had an emerald green glass stem and leaf. It had been designed as an art piece. Brian felt like he had to have it for her. He didn't care whether it was a few pence or every pence he owned. He negotiated down a worthwhile price on it and bought it without her knowledge. That, he decided, was going to be a very special gift.

"Well, it doesn't matter where he creates the jars except that he needs to know how large a jar you need," Khaat said. "You'll be able to put the figurine under the jar yourself. However, your children will not be able to remove the lid from the jar. The other thing he can do is to draw an age line around the jars so that the kids cannot get to them, period. IF he does that, it would be much eaiser to do once you get the glassware home."

She looked at Brian who was looking at some lighting fixtures. Khaat could see them in the living room at the house. She slid up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist and kissed his shoulder. "See something you like?" she asked softly.

"No," he replied, folding his hands over hers, "Its standing behind me."

"Oh, you!" she laughed. "I meant the lights."

"Oh. Those. Yeah. I was thinking about adding those to the living room. Actually, I saw some things that gave me ideas for lighting that I'd like your mother to make for us."

"You know she will," Khaat said. "But buy the ones here that you like."

"Oh, maybe. Just a pair."

"At each end of the sofa, right?" she asked.

"Yeah," he laughed at how well she knew him. "Ok. I'll add it to our order. Your mother does have to talk to those two cats of yours before we bring them in. No eating my feathers on my Native American art, and no breaking the Italian glass."

"She'll tell them," Khaat laughed. "And, I know, no clawing the leather furniture either."

"Definitely not," he laughed. "Oh, by the way, We need to soon wrap up because I have a wonderful dinner planned for us. Reservations. We'll need to change."

"Oh, that's right. You said we needed a cocktail dress, right?"

"I don't," he said dryly.

"I meant ME," she poked him playfully.

"Yes, please," he laughed, taking her hand and kissing it. The clerk with them made a remark in Italian. Khaat didn't pick up on it entirely but she could see Brian agree with a smile. The clerk took their order and walked away to go total it up, taking Brian's muggle credit card with him

"What did he say?" Khaat asked.

"He said he could tell we were newlyweds and that we were in love. He said it was always nice to see," Brian replied. She smiled, contented.

"Thanks," Khaat smiled, "Its nice not to feel alone anymore. And I want to see that little black dress. That's always the perfect accessory to any woman's wardrobe.

Brian took them all back to the hotel back to their suites. Khaat showered and slipped on a robe. She began to rifle through her closet to see what she might have that interested her to wear for the evening, while Brian showered.

She was hoping he would wear the very light tan colored suit. It was such a pale tan it was almost a cream color. It had been one he didn't wear much, but Khaat liked how he looked in it. It suited his light brown hair and his tanned skin.

Khaat chose a white shimmery cocktail dress with a pink and blue print to it, and tall, clear stilettos. She liked this dress a lot. She just hoped Brian liked it. She kept her accessories and make up and hair simple so that the emphasis was on the dress.