I wanted this chapter to be longer. I'm trying to get back into a writing grove.
Wonderful chapter 38
The Edge of Something Normal
For a few more months things went smoothly in the Snape household. Both Toby and Ele were working. As far as Eileen 'knew' Toby hadn't been drinking or messing around with any other substances. That just meant Tobias had been more cleaver and didn't bring his business home. Working down at the river port made it easy to find contacts that would supply him and he had people willing to buy at a profit to him. So far, he had kept his illegal activities to a few pounds of marijuana at a time. He was about to change that. Someone who used to deal with Stone wanted to get back at the other hooligan for a transaction he felt had not gone his way. Barnes knew that Snape was not fond of Stone. When Barnes came to Toby with his offer, Toby was wary.
"I don't know about this." Toby balked before taking a drag on the joint they had been sharing. "How do I know what you're offering isn't junk."
Barnes protested, "I only sell top quality." Snape still looked unconvinced. "Don't you want to get back at Stone?"
"Sure I do. Only problem is, he can get back at me too."
"You can make enough on this deal to get out of here."
Toby thought about that possibility. Would Eileen let him move them away from Spinner's End? If he tried to get away from her and their son she'd find him. He didn't want to imagine the witch's revenge; she had gotten her wand back. Money was always good in Toby's mind. The amount that Barnes was talking about was quite a lure.
"I'll think on it."
Before Tobias drove off to finish his legal job, Barnes told him, "You better think fast, or I'll get someone else."
When he was finished work for the day Toby didn't need to walk home. Between his and Eileen's job, they had save enough for a junk car. He drove it to work mornings and she drove it to work late afternoons. Tobias hurried home being in a good mood that day. The time they got to spend together was short. That probably kept them arguing less. On arrival Toby found Ele teaching Severus a bit of magic. Tobias had not forbidden it, as if he could. He still didn't like the idea of a gigantic flower running around his living room.
"Shrink her back Sev," Eileen told her son. "Then give me the wand."
A disappointed Severus shrunk Agri back to her normal size and handed over the wand. It had become the norm that when Tobias got home the family had their lunch together before Eileen had to leave for her job at the Serpent's Tongue. In the middle of the meal Toby inquired, "If we had enough money, would you quit working at the pub, and stay home in the evenings?"
"We don't have enough," was her response.
"But if we did?" He asked before cramming a oversized piece of roast beef into his mouth.
"IF we did, it would be nice to spend more time with you and Sev." This statement made their boy's ears perk up. If his mother was home more often, he'd learn more magic. Ele wasn't so naive as to not suspect something was up. "Why do you ask?"
"Knowing that, I might work harder and earn more money, so you don't have to work." Truth be told, if Toby went along with Barnes' plan it would be so HE wouldn't have to work. He wanted to go back to when he and Eileen had nothing but good times.
When lunch was done, Ele began to clear up. Toby had other ideas. "Let the boy take care of that."
"Toby, he's still little." Eileen was more worried that Severus would drop something sending Toby into a tirade before she went to work.
"Not too little to help his Mum out." Eileen didn't see Toby give Sev his 'you best do what I want' look. "Right boy?"
The boy got the hint. "Right," Sev answered with a shaky voice. "I've got it Mum."
He took the plates out of Ele's hands and headed for the sink. There was a moment where he wobbled, but he managed to get them in without breaking any. Seeing that her son had things under control didn't stop Ele from wiping down the table. When her hand swept close to him, Toby playfully grabbed her wrist. He pulled her over to him, sitting her on his lap.
"How about a little pudding before you go?" Tobias whispered into her ear. Eileen giggled.
Whispering hadn't kept Severus from hearing what his father had said. The boy knew it wasn't cake or pie that Toby was talking about. He knew something went on upstairs in their room when they were alone, but he wasn't sure what. He was too young to understand what went on between adults or the word for what they did. Severus knew his father was what other kids called 'horny,' whatever that was. This meant he wouldn't see his mother until she said goodbye for work.
A part of the boy wanted to smash one of the plates on the floor as his parents slipped off to go upstairs. He didn't like being left alone. He knew if he broke something, his mother would come rushing back. The problem was, his father would come rushing back as well. On the whole Severus thought it best not to break something. He'd save that ploy for a time when it would work better. He didn't want to get Toby mad this time of year. In a few days it would be Christmas, and two weeks later his birthday. This year looked like he might get a real Christmas, and a real birthday. 'Mum promised,' he thought to himself as he finished his chore. Unlike Sev's Dad, Sev's Mum kept her promises, when she made them.
tbc
