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Happy to be Home
Author: Ella
Date: 03-04-12 09:54
"Something smells good," Ella announced as she walked into the kitchen on Christmas Eve morning.
Her dad was at the stove, fixing pancakes in one frying pan and bacon in another. She kissed him on the cheek and then reached for a glass from one of the cupboards. A pitcher of pumpkin juice stood on the island counter.
She poured herself a glass and asked, "What are we doing today?"
"What do you want to do?" Dunstan Harville asked.
Both were acutely aware that this was the first Christmas without his two ex-wives. Rosemary had died six months ago. Ella wished her mum could be there with them, but she tried not to dwell on that thought too much. She didn't want to feel sad on Christmas.
Delilah had actually had the gall to send her ex-husband a Christmas card with a photo of herself and the baby Dunstan had thought was his. The baby had skin the color of mocha and a beautiful smile. His name was Devin Harville.
Ella had seen the card under a stack of mail. She still couldn't believe Delilah had given her baby the Harville name, but even she couldn't deny that Devin was a cute baby. And it certainly wasn't his fault that his mother was a lying, cheating bitch.
"Why don't we go for a walk later?" Ella suggested. "It's kind of pretty outside."
"There might be enough snow to make a snowman. You used to always like making them when you were little."
"I remember," Ella said, smiling, "but I always complained that my mittens were wet and my fingers were cold."
"I remember that too. So, we'll go for a walk. Make a snowman, maybe. What about lunch?"
"After being out in the cold, I think we should have something warm, like soup or stew. And then we can have something light for supper…"
"…and Christmas sweets," Dunstan added. He had a real sweet-tooth.
Ella laughed. "Yes, lots of gingerbread and chocolate."
Tomorrow would be much like today, just the two of them, enjoying Christmas. They planned on exchanging gifts in the morning after breakfast. The Christmas tree Dunstan had set up was small, but it was quite plump and laden with lots of ornaments. Underneath were several packages, some from Ella to her dad, and some vice versa.
Ella had opened one of her gifts already, the one from her Secret Santa, Basil Wynbourne. She didn't know Basil, other than through Quidditch, but she did have the impression that he didn't like too many people and that the feeling was mostly mutual. She doubted he'd given her gift much thought, but she really liked it. The bottle was very unique, and the perfume smelled lovely. Ella planned on wearing it to a party at the Yao family's home on Boxing Day.
She'd told her dad about her relatively new relationship with Francis. To her surprise, he hadn't given her a lecture. Ella had pictured a conversation similar to the one she'd gotten about Zane, even though Francis and Zane were totally different sorts of people. Dunstan really liked Francis and was happy to see Ella with somebody her own age who also appeared to be a very good influence on her.
"Hungry?" he asked, adding the last of the finished pancakes to a plate.
"Very," Ella said. She pulled two plates from the cabinet and sat down on one of the barstools at the island. Dunstan put a couple of pancakes and a few strips of bacon onto her plate and then served himself.
She took a sip of her pumpkin juice and then tucked in, feeling quite happy to be at home with her dad for Christmas.
Big Day
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 03-04-12 10:39
Molly Weasley reaches to pat again at Ginny's hair. Ginny stops her mum by grabbing her hand, saying as patiently as she can, "Mum, stop fussing."
Molly sniffles lightly, "I know, I just can't seem to help myself. My baby's getting married."
"Yes, but think of it this way: Harry is at last going to officially be a member of the family."
Molly sniffles even more, dabbing at her eyes with a lacy handkerchief.
"Why are you more upset, Mum?" Ginny asks, slipping an arm around Molly's shoulders.
"Because Harry's going to legally be part of this family. I've tried to be a mother to him over the years but at the same time couldn't help but wonder if I was out of place."
"Harry's LOVED having you mother him and having Dad be a father figure. He will love you all the more now that you're his mum-in-law."
"You think so?"
"I know so. Is everyone here?"
"Just about. A few have yet to arrive but there's still time before we're due out."
Both women move to look out the bedroom window at the marquee below. There are heating charms in place, a necessity on this chilly Christmas Eve. Harry and Ginny have kept things small for the wedding but later today more people will arrive for a larger reception.
The wedding is a mix of traditional and new. Ginny's dress is a wintery pale ice blue. Hermione's and Luna's dresses are a rich Christmas red with some of the same ice blue, a color combination Ginny wouldn't have thought meshed together well until she saw it. Miranda's, Larkin's, and Victoire's dresses are the icy blue of Ginny's dress with red embellishments and ribbons. Ginny's bouquet is made up of poinsettias that seem a perfect match to the red of the dresses. There is a lot of greenery of the season as part of the decor, that deep dark Christmas green associated with this time of year.
Ginny's opted to have the wedding procession with the flower girls and bridesmaids proceeding her rather than the custom sometimes seen where the bridemaids, and sometimes the flower girls and ring bearers, come after.
Picking a flower girls and ring bearers took a little thought. She'd only been going to have Larkin and Miranda but with Victoire being two and a half, she'd worried about hurting her niece's feelings. Ava and Dominique are infants. So, Ginny's got three flower girls. After debating who to have as ring bearer, Harry and she decided to have two, Schuyler and Artie. Seth, Gideon, and Georgie have participated in other weddings. Fabian and Frederick are only two. Deciding all this is one of the few times Ginny has been glad Harry does not have siblings or close cousins with children. As far as they know Adriana has no children and Dudley and his wife Mai don't yet but are hoping to be pregnant soon.
After the wedding of family and close friends, there's a sit down luncheon. It's nothing fancy and the food is on the lighter side, something to tide everyone over until the large reception. There will be a greater selection and variety of food then, cake of course, and music with dancing.
Harry and Ginny will spend tomorrow, Christmas Day, with the family then tomorrow night leave on honeymoon.
There's a tap on the bedroom door followed by Hermione stepping halfway in. "Everyone's here. Time to seat the mother of the bride."
Molly sniffles again, dabbing at her eyes. "I'd best go then."
"Right behind you, Mum."
They walk out to the marquee. Ginny staying back, out of sight for the moment, as Molly is escorted to her seat. Looking both proud and emotional, Arthur extends his arm to his only daughter as they wait for their turn to join the processional down the aisle.
(Alexander) Memories
Author: Mildred
Date: 03-04-12 12:46
In his cell, Alexander Campbell read Minerva McGonagall's letter one more time. By now he knew almost every green word written in the perfect handwriting of the head of the Gryffindor house. She wrote to Alexander telling him Mildred was ill and not in condition to leave the castle. Therefore she would have to spend Christmas at Hogwarts and so she would not visit him. McGonagall had even included a report from Madam Pomfrey, the school healer, about Mildred's state and that spared Alexander to write a desperate letter back to Hogwarts inquiring about his daughter's health.
He wished he could be there with his daughter now, kiss her forehead and adjust the sheets of her bed. When was the last time he did so? Alexander couldn't even tell.
He had asked (or perhaps even begged) the warden to travel to Hogwarts so he could see his daughter. But of course such request was denied and the warden even asked if he had lost his mind. He put away Professor McGonagall's letter and picked the one he was writing to Mildred. He wished he could give her a Christmas present. Sarah would always make sure there was gift from him to their daughter. But Sarah was dead now. The warden also didn't allow Alexander to go to his wife's funeral. In the end he thought it would be better this way. There would be no people whispering and gossiping about his presence there and what he had done to be in prison while he was saying farewell to his wife. Alexander knew the first thing he would do when he get out of Azkaban after hugging his daughter would be visiting Sarah's grave.
Sometimes Alexander still couldn't believe she was gone. Many were the times he pictured his life going back to what it was before his crime but now that vision changed because his wife wouldn't be there. Only Mildred. And she was all that mattered now.
Alexander wasn't pleased with the fact that his mother in law was the one with Mildred's custody. Regina Howard had never liked him and the feeling was mutual. She rejoiced when he went to Azkaban and tried to convince Sarah this was the best time for her to ask for the divorce. Since then Sarah had stop speaking to her and Regina did not even bother to show up at Mildred's birthday like she used to. And now this was the woman who was taking care of his daughter. At least Mildred would be at Hogwarts most of the time and Alexander knew Dumbledore would keep an eye on her.
Not while ago he had received the visit of Mr. Northman, the family lawyer. He told Alexander he went to Hogwarts to read to Mildred her mother's will. Alexander asked Mr. Northman about his daughter the lawyer assured her she seemed fine. He then mentioned Helen and he asked if Alexander might know where she was. Helen Howard was Sarah's younger sister. She was a clever witch who was not afraid to say her opinion out loud. He knew she would take good care of Mildred- assuming she would be willing to do so. Alexander hasn't seen Helen in years and only Merlin knew what kind of witch she had become. However he was sure she would be a better guardian for Mildred than Regina. He actually knew that Helen didn't give along with her mother.
Alexander picked up his quill and continued to write his letter to Mildred. He wanted to write about how much he wanted to spend Christmas with her, bake Christmas' cookies with her and open the presents together the next morning. But that would only let his daughter sad. And so he just wrote about the time she was very little and was ill and she did everything she could not to drink her medicinal potion. She didn't have a wand back then but somehow the flask with the medicine exploded. Alexander's shirt got stained and Sarah could not help but to laugh instead of getting mad. He also wrote about the Christmas Mildred got her miniature broomstick. In the end of the letter he said he owed her a Christmas gift and that he would make sure to compensate her the next Christmas they spent together. Once the letter was done he inserted into a brown envelope. But then before sealing it he had an idea. Alexander opened the drawer of the desk where he kept his few personal belongings. One of them was a photograph of a past Christmas. Mildred was about 3 years old and she was on Sarah's lap. Alexander stood behind them and the three of them where smiling to the camera. He inserted the picture inside the envelope and once it was sealed he called a guard.
The man was grumpy because he had to spend the Christmas Eve at work and at first he refused Alexander's request to owl the letter.
"Please it's for my daughter. She's ill…" Eventually the guard felt some compassion and accepted the envelop saying that he would owl the letter once his round was over.
A Little Nervous
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 03-04-12 13:48
Before the wedding, Harry had greeted some of the arriving guests and chatting, trying not to think about being nervous, which of course just made him nervous. He has no reason to be nervous. The Weasleys have always liked and accepted him, with the exception of that brief period when Percy was being an arse and believing certain lies about Harry. He's long been made to feel as if he's a member of the family. Why would actually becoming one have him jittery? Harry now knows for sure that Ginny is THE ONE. He can't imagine life without her so why does making it official scare the bejeezus out of him? Makes no sense.
He's found that talking with the guests and others in the wedding party helps to keep his mind from dwelling on standing at the alter looking as if he's having a bug-eyed anxiety attack. At least Sirius is being more civil with him these days. Harry doesn't want to think how depressing today might have been for him if his godfather was still so angry with him that he'd pass on attending the wedding. He'd been going to ask Ginny if they should consider asking Mira and James to be part of the wedding party but then Mira solved the problem for him. She'd informed Harry that she would have her own basket and it would be for passing out whatever got thrown and that James would be helping her. He took that to mean the rice or bird seed or confetti, whichever one Ginny wanted, which turned out to be bird seed. Mira is in a dress similar to that of the three flower girls', a specially decorated basket filled with sachets of bird seed. She's walking around telling people what her job is but isn't letting them have the bird seed just yet, telling them, "It's for later."
James, meanwhile, is too busy playing with some of the other boys, to notice or care. None of them are overly happy at constantly being told not to get dirty.
Of the three blood relations Harry knows he has, all are here. Adriana looks as beautiful as ever. He wishes they were closer but maybe that's just going to take more time. Dudley and he aren't the best of friends but they are now friends and his cousin has become a much better man now that Mai is in his life. Harry had sent an invitation to Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, thinking it best to ask them and be rebuffed or ignored than to not ask them and have them hurt they didn't have the chance to rebuff or ignore him. To his surprise, Aunt Petunia came with Dudley and Mai and even brought a gift. No apology or excuse was made for Vernon's absence but given their history and Vernon Dursley's aversion to even the hint of the existence of the Wizardind World, none was needed. It's just good that so far, according to Dudley, Uncle Vernon's treated Mai with respect, decency, and courtesy. Maybe that's because Dudley laid down the law to his parents, particularly to his father. They treat Mai, the mother of their future grandchildren well, or Dudley cuts them off.
Ron is Harry's best man and Sirius is the other groomsman. When he'd asked Sirius, Harry hadn't been sure the invitation would be accepted and was going to content himself with the fact that Sirius had already said his family and he would attend the wedding. He'd been prepared for the rejection and would have asked Neville Longbottom as the other groomsman. Neville is here as a regular guest, along with his own fiancée Hannah Abbott, a very nice girl who'd been in their same year at Hogwarts but was in Hufflepuff.
Fred comes up just then, interrupting Great Aunt Muriel's monologue on the state of Harry's hair, which though short she still deems as being, "Long like some hippy throwback."
"Everyone's arrived who's on the guest list so we're getting everyone seated. May I escort you to your chair, Aunt Muriel?"
"Which one are you?"
"The red headed one."
"Also so cheeky. Well. Give me your arm."
Fred winks at Harry as he offers the elderly woman his arm. Harry has one of those heart dropping into his stomach moments as he stand there a moment longer. Ron catches his eye and gives a jerk of his head in the direction of where they are suppose to go stand while waiting to move to their positions at the garlanded arch serving under which Ginny and Harry will be married.
He stands with Sirius and Ron, spending the time looking at the faces of the wedding guests and making minute adjustments to the red rose boutonniere on his lapel. Ginny had explained that while her bouquet is mainly poinsettias, that sort of flower would be too large and odd as a boutonniere so that's why the males in the wedding get a single perfect red rosebud. Harry hadn't really cared what sort of boutonniere he wore or if he even had one at all but he'd pretended to because it seemed one of those tiny details Ginny and the other women thought important.
A bright eyed Molly is escorted by one of her sons to a seat of honor. That means it's time. Ron, Sirius, and he move into their positions at the arch and music begins playing for the flower girls, ring bearers, Luna, and Hermione. Next comes the wedding march and as Ginny had not wanted anyone to stand as she makes the walk down the aisle with Arthur, everyone remains seated.
Then there's Ginny and what anxiety Harry had vanishes.
Wrapping Presents
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 03-05-12 18:49
Bronwyn sat in the living room and wrapped presents for tonight's gift exchange with the Dewhurst/Diamond clans and tomorrow's festivities with the Becks. She had taken advantage of the abundance of Christmas sales in many stores, Muggle and wizarding alike, and purchased generously for everyone. She even had some things picked out for her friends, whom she hoped to see sometime over the holidays. She had Toby had tossed around the idea of hosting a New Year's Eve party at their place, but with the 31st of December being only a week away now, they felt like they'd missed their window to properly plan any sort of soiree and to notify guests in a timely manner. Maybe next year they'd be more organized.
Toby, who had done very little in the way of shopping or helping to wrap gifts, sat in his easy chair and drank a beer. A holiday Quidditch match was on the WWN and held Toby's attention. Periodically, he screamed out exclamations, good or bad. Bronwyn was starting to find him a bit distraction, though it certainly didn't help that he was still in his sleepwear, which consisted solely of a pair of silk pants.
He became aware that she was studying his abdominal muscles and flexed them. She blinked and raised her eyes to his face.
"Stop that," she said.
"Stop what?" he asked. He started flexing his pectorals and biceps.
"I'm trying to meet a deadline here and all you can do is… that," Bronwyn exclaimed, eyeing all of his musculature.
"Do what?" he innocently asked, "And you knew Christmas Even was today. I don't know why you had to wait until the last minute to start wrapping everything. I also don't know why you bought so much stuff. Do we really know so many people? Is our family really that big?"
"Well, with all the illegitimate children turning up, I would say so," Bronwyn commented. "And anyway, your immediate family isn't exactly small."
Toby shrugged. "Still, it seems like there are more gifts there than there are people to buy gifts for."
"What's wrong with buying somebody more than one gift?"
"Nothing, if the person you bought more than one gift for is me."
Bronwyn reached for a decorative pillow on the couch and threw it at him. He had just enough time to block his beer from getting hit by the stuffing-filled projectile. He was grinning.
"Maybe I didn't get you anything."
Toby had already found four gifts under their Christmas tree with his name on them.
"They're just empty boxes," Bronwyn said quickly, reading his mind.
"Suuuuure."
"You could at least help me, or put on a shirt or something."
He started flexing his muscles again.
Bronwyn glared at him, though she couldn't help but like what she saw. "I'm going to ask Desi to show me some auror moves tonight so that I can exert some control over you."
"Oooh, you can beat me into submission."
"Shut up."
"What? I think it's a great idea."
"Go back to your game, Toby."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Bronwyn rolled her eyes and turned away from her husband so that he couldn't see her smile. She got back to work, wrapping presents, knowing she had very little time left until they were due over at her parents' house.
Wedding Reception
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 03-06-12 06:23
Hermione collapsed into the chair next to Ron and picked up her drink.
"Having fun?" Ron asked, shooting her an amused grin.
"Oh, yes," Hermione answered enthusiastically. She had just come from the dance floor, where a group of wedding guests had just held a dance off. She wasn't sure how she'd placed, but the clear winners had been Fred and George. Those two had the funniest, grooviest moves!
She felt a bit hot and fanned herself with the hand not holding her glass. "You should have participated."
"Nah," Ron said. "It was more fun to watch."
"You could have watched from up close AND taken part. Is dancing really such a horrible thing?"
"I like dancing with you," Ron said.
"Good, because we haven't dance together all afternoon and you owe me one!" She put her glass down and pulled her chair closer to his. "But I need a bit of a rest first."
They watched the other dancers, like Luna who was in her own world, gracefully moving her arms to a beat that didn't quite match that of the music. Mr. Weasley had his bow tie open and spun his happy wife around and around the floor.
The happy couple would be making the "departure" soon, though they weren't going on their honeymoon until tomorrow evening after spending Christmas with the Weasleys.
"I think it's nice that Harry's aunt came," Hermione mused after a while.
"Me too," Ron said, "though it shocked the hell out of me."
"I'm sure it did Harry too, but I can tell that he's really touched that she's here."
Petunia was getting her ear talked off by Ron's great aunt Muriel. She seemed a little tense, being around all these wizards, but she didn't quite look like she wanted to flee the marquee.
Nearby, Adriana was talking to Bill, with Fleur standing possessively next to her husband.
"Harry can claim a big family now," Hermione said, looking away from them and turning to Ron again.
"We were always his family," he said, "and now he has a parchment that proves it."
Hermione smiled. "Did you ever think when we first met on the Hogwarts Express that we would wind up married with Harry as our brother-in-law?"
"Never in a million years. I certainly didn't want anything to do with you."
Hermione playfully slapped his hand. "I'm ready for that dance now, Mr. Weasley.
"As you wish, Mrs. Weasley."
Ron and Hermione got up and went to the dance floor.
At Mariposa's Pre-Party
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 03-06-12 16:11
Mariposa sets a stack of plates on a table, telling Zabrynna, "That dip and crisps that go with it are for the round table in there."
"Then what?"
"Also for that table is the cheese assortment and crackers on the green marble looking platter, the little meatballs and one of those little pewter cups with the fancy toothpicks. Ummmm," Mariposa goes silent thinking about what else is left to set out for the come and go Christmas Eve party AJ and she are giving.
"Napkins, a few plates maybe?"
"Yes, thank you. Is Indigo coming?"
"He said he'd drop by, probably when Travis and Lisi do."
"Are you two exchanging gifts?"
"Indi and me? We're just friends."
"You're seeing him somewhat regularly."
"As friends."
"Does he know that?"
"Yes, of course."
"So what's the deal?"
"There is no deal. We are friends. End of story."
"Is it because of ," Mariposa mouths the name Declan, eyes shifting to a sliding door through which AJ and Declan can be seen.
"Maybe partly. Mostly it's that we don't feel anything towards each other beyond friendship."
"Or you don't, but Indigo does."
"He doesn't."
"You can be a little blind about these things you know."
"I'm not, and don't you dare say I am protesting too much because the only reason I am is that you won't shut up about it."
Mariposa holds her hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Okay. You two only think of each other as friends."
The patio door slides open, AJ and Declan stamping snow off their shoes before coming inside. "Charms are in place to stave off the cold, torches lit, fire going in the fire pit, and tables and chairs set up. What else, honey?"
Zabrynna is not sure if she'll ever become accustomed to having Professor Hodfuffer call her sister honey, sweet as it is.
"I think that's pretty much it. You set up a bar outside?" Mariposa asks.
"Done."
"Then everything is ready for guests other than Declan to start arriving but for you and me to be slightly more presentable."
AJ and Mariposa go to their bedroom to finish getting cleaned up and changed for the party, leaving Zabrynna alone with Declan. "I thought you were seeing your family for Christmas. Are they visiting here?"
"No, Mum's and Dad's. I've been there the last couple of days but popped back here for the party. I love my family but it was nice to have a reason to take a break from them. Is your father coming?"
"A little later. He's seeing someone and they had a couple of other parties this evening."
"And ... Is ... Has your mother "
"No," Zabrynna saves Declan from having to finish the question. "I've not seen her or heard from her since the day she got me sacked from Narcissa's. Her parents have cut contact with me as well. No surprise really since that's who instilled in Mum her ideas about appearances and all that."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"I had thought having Grams and Grandad cutting me out would upset me more than it has; but, I've actually been all right about it. Just one less Christmas present I'll be getting but Grams always gave practical things like socks and tights so no big loss there really," Zabrynna gives a slight, if somewhat sad, smile only to immediately perk up. "Mariposa's mum and stepdad are coming. Have you met them yet?"
"No. I'll have to be sure to say hello when they arrive."
"They should be here just any time now. They're staying over for a few days. Paloma is just gorgy. You'll see right away where my sister gets her looks. Cesario is handsome and charming. They've always been very sweet to me."
"I've seen some of the pictures of them Mariposa has around the house. Their last name is Mondragón, right?"
"Correct."
There's knocking at the front door, most likely the first guests (after Declan and Zabrynna) to arrive. "I'll get that. Would you please let Mariposa and AJ know?"
"Of course."
Zabrynna watches Declan turn to walk away, knowing that her earlier reply of, "Partly," to Mariposa was ever so slightly understated.
Getting Flustered
Author: Declan
Date: 03-06-12 20:19
Stepping outside to get another lager, Declan catches sight of Zabrynna in conversation with Indigo and Lisianthus McFusty. He had told her the truth when he said hadn't minding coming back from his parents because he needed a little break from his family. Being totally honest with himself, Declan admits that he also came wanting to see Zabrynna.
Fresh lager in hand, he turns, leaning against the bar, observing the others on the patio, standing in small groups, eating, laughing, having a nice time. Declan's eyes once more land on Zabrynna. There was a time when he didn't think he could ever forgive her for what she did. Not only has he forgiven her, but Declan would like for them to be able to consider themselves friends.
Who's he kidding? Declan's thoughts lately of Zabrynna have not been of the just friends variety. How's that for irony? It's more than a little unsettling but at least she's an adult and no longer his student.
Watching her deep on conversation with Indigo McFusty, He thinks it's for the best she's seeing someone. Indigo's a nice guy. Declan can't stop himself from thinking that nice as Indigo is, he's not right for Zabrynna.
Moving from the bar to allow some others better access to the selection of drinks, Declan makes his way back inside, stopping here and there to talk for a few minutes. He makes his way to the dining table where the largest selection of food is available. He reaches for a plate just in time to hear Nolan Ravensdale saying to Mariposa, "I should invite Indigo to drop by tomorrow afternoon."
"If you want, Dad, but Zabrynna says they're just friends."
Declan's not sure he needed to hear that.
He moves around the table filling his plate, trying not to think about how Zabrynna is not dating Indigo afterall. Returning to the patio to sit while he eats, he realizes he'd forgotten his lager, which he'd set on the table inside while fixing his plate. Leaving his plate he goes back inside, nearly running into Zabrynna as she's coming out.
She holds up a glass. "You forgot your drink."
"Yeah, thanks."
He starts to move from the doorway, but one of the older female guess has walked up behind Zabrynna to come outside halts them both, waggling a finger. "No you don't." She points to a spot above Zabrynna and him. "You two are standing under mistletoe so don't disappoint me."
Declan thinks his cheek probably turn a color that's a close approximation to Zabrynna's hair. Zabrynna is looking down at her feet so he can't read her expression. The lady pushes the sliding door open a bit more to wedge herself next to the two of them, her name coming to Declan. Cynthia Rowley. "Well, be quick about it, people do need to go in and out, you know."
Zabrynna looks up then and mouths, "Sorry," to him before saying, "We should just let Declan get back to eating, Mrs. Rowley."
"Nonsense. Just kiss her already, or you're a modern girl, Zabrynna. You kiss him."
Declan takes his lager from Zabrynna then leans in to give her a quick peck on the cheek. He flashes a smile at Mrs. Rowley and steps away even as the older woman grumbles, "That's not a real kiss."
Moving in the direction of the bar, Declan downs the contents of his glass, gets a refill, and only then, feel extremely flustered, does he return to the table where he'd left his plate.