The Best is Yet to Come -- June 1994

I walked to Lucy's room and knocked before entering my teenager's bedroom.  I showed her the bags and told my daughter, "Des is going to be staying with us for a couple o fmonths."  I grinned at her and nearly chuckled at Lucy's face.  "Sh'es in the kitchen."  My daughter left her room and I started rearranging to make room for Desdemona.

I heard Desi was here and had to go to the kitchen. She was awesome! I saw her more like a cousin or sister than an aunt. I saw her and ran up to give Desi a hug. "I didn't know you were going to be here!" I said, pulling away to help her make dinner.

I was bombarded and could not help laughing.  "Hey Lu-Lu," I said, using my nickname for her.  "It was a surprise.  I'm staying for the summer and then leaving for an internship."

I could not believe that she got an internship. I knew she had applied at a few different places, though. "Which one did you get?" I questioned. I really hoped it would be the one that was closest to here... which was in Paris.

We started prepping for dinner.  "The one in Romania," I told her.  I kept cutting the chicken and glanced over at her.  I saw some sadness mixed with happiness.  I umped her a little bit with my shoulder.  "But you get to see me for an entire two months," I added, trying to look on the brighter side of things.

I laughed and had to agree. We worked in silence for a little bit. "Well, that's fantastic," I told her. That's the wildlife one right? Not the ones with more domestic animals like horses, dogs, and whatnot." She wanted to work with some sort of animal and I thought that was great. To not worry about species is awesome... it left so many options open to her.

I was so glad that she started smiling again.  Lu-Lu and I had gotten close... really close.  "Yeah... the one where it's really close to that dragon reservation but we'll deal wiht more than just dragons.  I'm excited about unicorns, thestrals.... though I cannot see those."  I put the chicken in the oven.  I sat down at the table and Lu-Lu and I caught up.  We heard the door and I was sure that was probably Chloe coming home.

" Hello?" I said through the house. I had brought some groceries home to make some dinner, " Anybody home?" I asked to the house, that was really the best the to do with a 13 year old and a 15 year old. I walked into the kitchen and saw Des and Lucy. " Hey ladies. you guys are cooking?" I asked with a smile, it was nice coming home from work and that be taken care of.

I grinned at Chloe.  "Hi!  Yeah, I thought that I'd make some dinner since we both know we don't want Remus to," I said, winking at Lucy as my niece giggled.  I was sure that Remus would hear me and have something to say.

I smiled, " Fair enough." I nodded, " Just stick to the oven.." I said as I laughed, it was good to have some laughter here. Perhaps getting will out of his room. He has been taking the loss of Olivia very hard.

"I heard that ladies," I called from Lucy's room.  I finished getting things somewhat organized and walked out and gave Chloe a kiss.  "I'm not a bad cook... I'm just a distracted cook.  I'm a better baker, though... I like my sweets.  But see?  Easily distracted," I said, winking at Lucy who just rolled her eyes.

Laughing, " yes...you are a good baker." I said agreeing with him. " But horribly distracted. " I teased.

I laughed.  "I never trust the food when I hear Daddy made it," I added, grinning at him.

I laughed, " He has made a few successful dishes..." I said trying to remember which one. It was odd it burnt a lot so I had lost track of which ones turned out. He gets distracted when he cooks.

I heard the ding of the timer.  "You know, for distracted cooks, you could always set a timer," I teased, pulling the chicken out of the oven.  It smelled delicious.