Closed I’ve Got My Money on Things Going Badly

[Claudia Holland]

When the girls were young, Claudia always worried about Diana the least. She was able to stand up for herself very well, sometimes a little too well, and always seemed to grow up just a bit faster than the others. She had been stubbornly independent from the moment she could walk. Maybe, Claudia reflected, she should have worried a little more. She definitely was now. Claudia had tried her best not to judge Diana's boyfriend, no, husband too much based on his clothes and flippant attitude, but it was now apparent to her he was not the partner she would have hoped for her daughter. Their marriage had been sudden and shocking, as had been the announcement of the pregnancy. Claudia was delighted to have grandchildren, and she loved the twins with a fierceness that had surprised her. But she was also worried about her daughter. Diana had called her up, near tears, asking for her help. Claudia couldn't remember the last time Diana had asked anyone for anything, so she knew it had to be serious. She had rushed over to the house, only to find her daughter alone and overwhelmed, trying to soothe two crying babies and looking like she hadn't slept in days.

Claudia had ushered her off to bed immediately, ignoring her protests. She had taken care of the babies with an efficiency that surprised her, she supposed she had enough practice. Now she was using some spells to make the place look more presentable. She hadn't asked Diana where her son-in-law was, but she had the feeling he hadn't been home much. It didn't impress her in the slightest, and she knew she needed to sit down with Diana and talk to her seriously. She wanted to ask her to stay with her and James for a while, but she knew Diana wouldn't agree to it. She had only asked her to come over as a last resort, Claudia was sure. She flicked her wand and smiled as the dishes started to was themselves, then looked over to Dylan and Dahlia who were peacefully snoozing. They were really adorable, and Dylan especially looked like Diana as a baby. "Let's hope you're less stubborn than your mum." Claudia told them softly, fondly.

 

[Delaney Hollis]

If Delaney had thought he wasn't ready for marriage, it had been nothing on having kids. It was bad enough that Diana had forced him to move out of the Ashes house, but now their shared place together felt like a battle ground of smells and sounds at all hours of the day. Not to mention Diana seemed to blame him, personally, for everything. So what if Delaney snuck away a few times to crash in his own room? He'd more than earnt a break in his eyes and Diana was so busy he was sure she barely noticed he was gone half the time so he wasn't going to feel that guilty about it.

Though maybe guilty enough at least that he did his best to creep in quietly, half considering trying to sneak in through the bedroom window just in case Diana was still in the living room before ultimately deciding against it. He didn't need her jinxing him again under the pretense of thinking he was an intruder.

Closing the door quietly, Delaney froze at the unexpected figure standing near the kitchen, a cowardly thought of trying to sneak back out before she noticed him passing before he straightened up, clearing his throat and straightening his shirt as though it was perfectly normal to find the previous minister of magic (his mother-in-law) in his kitchen. Cool and normal. "Oh. Hey uh. Claudia. How's it going," Delaney said, glancing around the room, noting a distinct reduction in the usual chaos he'd come to associate with the house lately.

 

[Claudia Holland]

Claudia hadn't known if she should expect to see her son-in-law today and wasn't sure if it was a pleasant surprise or not. It was good to see he hadn't completely abandoned her daughter and grandchildren, but poking his head in every once in a while was barely any better than not being around at all. Claudia wiped her hands on a dish towel before turning to him, pointedly not giving him her usual smile. She had been willing to give him a chance, but Delaney hadn't proven to be what she had hoped for Diana. She knew her daughter wasn't perfect, but it wasn't difficult to see she had gotten the short end of the stick in this arrangement. "Hello Delaney. I'm not doing all that good, to be honest." She said as she put down the towel and stepped over to him, a slight frown on her face. "But it's good to see you, I was just thinking it was time to have a talk." She gestured to the kitchen table, completely aware she was offering Delaney a seat in his own home.