Sunday April 19 – 11:30 am
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Roarke didn't especially like cooking, but there was something relaxing about preparing the Easter meal that almost made it enjoyable. It could be the idea that having her mother nearby meant she wouldn't make so many mistakes. Or it possibly was the fact that her family would all be together for the afternoon, something that hadn't happened since Christmas. Now that they were almost all grown and out of the home, this would become a much more important ritual of bringing them together. Not to mention the fact that keeping busy would keep her mind off of Liam...and how much she wanted to see him and apologize.
Drat it. But it isn't my fault. He should apologize to me.
She was currently in charge of whipping the potatoes. When she was a child this task had been one of her least favorites. It was boring and her arm grew tired from the pressure. But now, as an adult, a simple swish and flick of her wand was all it took to get the masher to work on it's own.
He father came into the room and wrapped his arms around her mother's waist. "Katie-love, everything smells divine!" He kissed her neck affectionately.
"Thank you, but don't think you're getting out of helping." She twisted around to face him and held up a knife. "The vegetables need chopping."
"Ah, but may I kiss the cook first?"
Roarke rolled her eyes and turned away as her mother and father continued their flirtations and kissing. Watching her parents snog wasn't exactly the most comfortable thing. There were few whispers and a giggle before they broke apart with a typically soft look and then glanced at Roarke.
"Firecracker," her father said between kisses. "Why don't you go and tell Annie she needs to help, too. You're mother and I can manage for a while down here." He kissed Katie again.
"You know, you two should get a room," Roarke teased, as she exited the kitchen.
"And what's wrong with a man kissing his wife in the kitchen of their own home?" Remus asked.
Roarke didn't respond since she knew her parents were back to the kissing again. They were always very affectionate. Public displays never seemed to bother them. It never really bothered Roarke either. Her parents were very happy together – they belonged together. They had that special something that few people in the world found.
She wondered if she would ever find that.
She wondered what Liam was doing today.
She headed up the steps to her sister's room, hearing the music coming from behind the closed door. She knocked lightly. "Annie, can I come in?"
The music was turned down and the door opened. "What's up?"
"You've been summoned to the kitchen. You know the rules. No one eats for free."
Annie went back to her radio and turned off the wireless. "So long as I don't have potato duty. I hate that."
"Don't worry. I already did them," Roarke answered in a long suffering voice.
Annie looked at Roarke with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Why would you think something is wrong?"
Annie shrugged. "I'm not certain; it is just that you honestly don't seem very happy lately."
"It's probably because I'm hungry - and the kitchen staff is up here primping still"
Annie rolled her eyes at her sister. "Honestly—try to show a little sisterly concern and what do you get? I just meant that you haven't been yourself for the past few days now."
Roarke forced a smile. "I'm just...it's nothing."
"Nothing usually means something."
Roarke smiled at her. "Really, Annie, I'm ok."
"Now hang on," Annie said, planting her hand on her waist. "If the wand was in the other hand, you wouldn't let me leave this room until I told you what was up. So spill it, Sis."
"It's really nothing to get worried about."
"Is it...something you're working on? One of your battles against the Ministry?"
"Not really."
Annie sat down on her bed, thinking. "Well, it certainly isn't school. Is it a job you're considering taking?"
"Well, I do have a few possibilities I'm looking into, but nothing's certain yet."
"Oh, what kind of possibilities?" Annie said with a touch of excitement.
"It's nothing major – I mean, I haven't really decided on a career. This is just something to do while I figure things out."
"Fine then…what?"
"I have an interview on Tuesday with Mr. Buckelbolt at Quality Quidditch Supplies."
Annie's eyes went wide. "Wonderful! Simply Brill!! Oh, Roarke, that's perfect for you!"
She shrugged. "Well, like I said, this isn't a big career move – just a way to pay the rent." She grinned. "Not to mention I would get a discount I could use to get a really lovely broom!"
Annie nodded in agreement, but then frowned. "That just…doesn't make sense."
"What do you mean? Of course I'll get a lovely boom!"
"No, I mean…the job sounds great, and I know you'll enjoy it. But…there has to be something else bothering you then."
Roarke shook her head. "No, really. Just forget it. Mum and dad are waiting for us downstairs. We better..."
"Oh no, you don't. I'm going to figure this out. And if mum and dad are alone in the kitchen, then my guess is that they want to be alone." Annie plopped down onto the bed and said, very matter-of-factly, "So, who is he?"
"Who is who?" Roarke asked, knowing her blush had already given her away. She didn't really want to talk about it, especially with her kid sister. "What makes you think it's a guy?"
"Because men are good at upsetting girls. Trust me…I know."
"Griffin's not that bad."
"I don't want to talk about Griffin. I want to know about Mr. Secret Crush!"
"I don't have a secret crush," she said, fiddling with the door handle.
"You're lying! Who is he?"
"Annie," she sighed, giving in. "Don't say anything about it, ok. It really is nothing. There was a chap I fancied, but it just didn't work out. That's all."
"Do I know him?"
"No."
"Was he someone from school?"
"Annie, I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh now, come on! After the endless bits of teasing I have been going through lately from you and Malcolm about Griff, you owe me a little girl talk!"
That made Roarke smile. "You know, Annie, Griffin's coming over here this afternoon."
"I am completely aware of that, and you're trying to change the subject."
"Annie!"
"Roarke!"
"There isn't anything to tell."
"You could start by telling me what he looks like at least." Neither girl budged. "Please? Where did you meet him? I'd even settle for just a name."
Roarke moaned and closed the door behind her. "All right, but not a word of this to mum and dad. I know how they get and it's just not like that."
"So then tell me how it is like."
Roarke bit at her bottom lip. "I met him a while ago. We've only seen each other a few times."
"Is he dishy?"
Roarke smiled. "Annie! People are more than looks, you know."
"He's dishy!"
Roarke played with the hair at the nape of her neck. "Yes. He's good looking."
Annie smiled mischievously. "He's sexy, isn't he?"
"He's...foreign."
"Ohh...where from?"
"Australia."
"Tall, dark, and handsome?"
"No, more like normal height, blond, and tan skin."
Annie's eyes fluttered closed. "Swa -OON."
Roarke laughed. "Annie, it's not like that."
"Why not? Is he already attached?"
"No. But there are...complications. He's...going through some things right now that are difficult."
"Such as?"
"Personal things that I have no right to tell you about. It might be different if there was actually something between us, but as it is… Besides, he called it off."
"He what? Why?"
Roarke sat down next to her sister. "It's a long story. And it would just be too hard, I think. If things had worked out... Annie. It's complicated."
"Is this all I'm going to get? A complicated Australian dish has broken my sister's heart, and you're not even going to give me specifics?"
"He didn't break my heart. Not really. He ended it before we even...well..."
"Yes?" Annie said, looking anxious.
Roarke decided it was time to change the focus of the conversation. "Don't you need to change? Griffin will be here soon."
"Enough about Griffin! I at least should get a name!"
Roarke smiled and looked away.
"Roarke! His name!"
"Liam." She said softly. "But it doesn't matter."
Annie fought back a smile. "Was he a good kisser?"
Roarke's mouth fell open. "I can not believe you are asking me that!"
"Be thankful I didn't ask you if he was good in other ways!"
Roarke was left speechless.
"Roarke? Annie? You up there?" Malcolm's voice called from the bottom of the steps.
"Oh darn. Looks like I won't get a chance to tell you about his rippling pectorals!" Roarke joked as she went to the door. "We'd better get down there,"
"Yeah," Annie agreed as she followed behind. She placed a hand on Roarke's shoulder once the door was open. "Does he really have rippling pectorals?"
Roarke rolled her eyes. "It's called sarcasm, Annie." But yes…from what I've seen, he is QUITE a dish!!
1:00 pm
"I'm starving!"
"You always are!" Annie said to Griffin as they finished setting the table.
"I'm a growing boy."
Malcolm and Roarke finished up charming the napkins into shape. Malcolm mussed Griffin's hair. "A growing idiot boy is more like it!"
Annie and Roarke laughed. Griffin squinted at Malcolm. "You're lucky I'm not allowed to do magic. Professor Malfoy taught us some excellent hexes last term."
"I tremble in terror," Malcolm teased, placing his hand over his heart.
The girls laughed again. Griffin scooped up some butter on his finger and tried to wipe it on Malcolm's face, but missed. Malcolm quickly jumped out of the way as the lump of butter flew through the air and landed on Roarke's sleeve. She shot an angry glance at the both of them.
"Great. Thanks a bunch, you two."
"I know a great cleaning charm that would get it right out," Griffin said. "Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to do magic outside of school."
"Since when do you know anything about cleaning charms, Griffin?" Liz asked as she placed a serving dish on the table and turned to examine Roarke's blouse. "And you two know better. I must say that you grow more like your fathers every day."
She grimaced at Roarke and started dabbing the butter off with a napkin. "I'm afraid this will take more than a napkin."
"Don't bother. It's just us here anyway." Roarke threw a dark look at Griffin and Malcolm for good measure anyway.
A confused expression passed over Malcolm's face as he counted the place settings. "Nine…that's not right. Hey mum!" he called into the kitchen. "You've got one place too many. There are only eight of us."
Katie came from the kitchen with a platter of breads and rolls. "No, we're having one more for dinner this year."
"Oh? Who would this be?" asked Annie?
"A young man your father's been working with lately. He's not able to get home and has no one to celebrate the holiday with. I can't stand the idea of him being all alone today."
Roarke felt a chill go down her spine.
Remus came into the room, followed by Sirius. "Your mother insisted I invite him. He's not my first choice for company, but I think it might actually do him some good."
"What do you mean?" asked Malcolm.
"Remus doesn't get along with him very well," explained Sirius.
"Padfoot, I am trying, you know. He's just…difficult at times."
Roarke felt the color drain from her face.
"Well, when is he going to get here? I'm starving!" complained Griffin.
"I told him one o'clock, but he's usually late."
"How do you know him, Daddy?" Annie asked.
Remus hesitated slightly. "Mr. Williams asked me to help him. I've been working with him for a few months now." The meaning behind the words was clear even if Remus hadn't spoken them exactly. The man that would be joining them was a werewolf.
Roarke felt as if she might fall over. Surely not…Liam wouldn't be coming here. He would have told me.
"Is it that Liam fellow dad met with the other night?" Griffin asked.
Sirius confirmed his son's question, but Roarke wasn't listening anymore. She couldn't think. She couldn't breath. Her heart was pounding in her chest. How would she get though the meal without anyone figuring it out?
Annie had turned slowly to look up at her. "Liam?" she said quietly. Then she turned to her father, who was heading into his study. "Is he from Australia?"
"Yes, he is. How did you know that?"
"Oh, I just over heard you and mum talking about it the other day." That seemed a logical enough explanation for Remus, who disappeared into his office with Sirius. Liz and Katie headed back into the kitchen, leaving the four younger members of the group scattered around the table.
Annie looked back at her sister with an all-knowing expression. "When you said complicated, I had no idea that you meant…"
"Shhhh!!!" Roarke said sternly.
"What's complicated?" Malcolm asked.
"Nothing," Roarke said to her brother. "It's nothing!" she said pointedly to her sister.
Annie pulled her eyes away from Roarke and exchanged a glance with Griffin. Roarke was positive the Annie would spill the beans to him. She couldn't keep a secret from him if she tried! Roarke didn't have time to warn Annie not to say anything because the doorbell interrupted her thoughts.
"Guess who's coming to dinner?" teased Annie.
