Closed I'm slipping under.....

Julie Bennett-Drage

Julie Bennett-Drage

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OOC First Name
Julie ^_^
Retirement has been good to Julie. Working day to day in the hospital in Churchill, Manitoba, was wearing on her muggle body and making the decision to retire was the best one she made. Today marked 10 years since leaving the hospital and it was a beautiful day. She spent some time back volunteering today, as she did once to twice a week, showing people around the building and guiding them where they needed to go. On the way home, she felt a bit more tired than normal, so she swing past her favorite coffee shop and picked up her favorite drink to give her a bit of an afternoon boost.

Julie realized how late in the afternoon it was getting to be and realized Tristan, her loving husband, would soon be home from whatever trouble he was getting into today. It was strange how the pair fell in love so many years ago and went from being neighbors to being lovers and finally a married couple with just over thirty years together as husband and wife. Putting on her favorite Ed Sheeran playlist, she grooved to the smooth rhythms that were filling the house with sound. Dinner was in progress and the lasagna and garlic bread in the oven was making the house smell like an Italian restaurant.

Once the food was in the oven and the mess cleared up, Julie set the timer for when she needed to add the bread to the oven and walked to the living room. Yawning as she sat down, she decided to take a short nap while dinner baked. "Switch to Louis Capaldi playlist," Julie said, changing up the music before she stretched out on the sofa and curled up on her left side, pulling the fleece blanket she got from Christian and his family for her last birthday up to her shoulders. She quickly fell asleep.

Julie's breathing slowed as she slept, her heart slowing down as her body relaxed. Soon, both slowed down to a halt and Julie slipped into the void of the world beyond as her favorite song played.

"For now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug

I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved........"
 
Being back in Churchill was lovely. Tristan loved the crisp November chill, the longer cover of darkness, and the billions of stars lighting up the night. Most of all, he loved being with Julie. Three decades of marriage, though not without their trials, had been good to the two of them. If someone had told Tristan, as a young, hotheaded, and foolish wizard fresh out of school, that he would spend thirty years of his only marriage with a Muggle, he would have laughed and then probably cursed them into the ground for good measure.

Commitment and stability had put Tristan’s life on a more positive trajectory. Life was slower, to be sure, but he didn’t mind. There was no need to look over his shoulder. And he was healing, not hurting people.

While he and Julie were mostly retired, Tristan had a handful of magical clients he would see for minor healing needs. The wizarding community here was small but close. Today, he had been out on a call. A local witch had forgotten to wear earmuffs when repotting a mandrake.

Tristan apparated to the front step, opening the door with a quiet Alohomora. The song of a Muggle musician Julie loved trailed into his ears. The smell of garlic, basil, and cheese wafted from the kitchen. Tristan had hated garlic for most of his life, growing up with bland cuisines, but Julie had miraculously turned him around on the spice. And bettered him in so many other ways.

Suddenly, apart from the music, Tristan noticed a loud beeping. He entered the kitchen and noticed the timer. An annoying, but useful nonmagical invention. He reached to turn the timer off. Perhaps Julie had gotten distracted. “Sweetie, the beeper’s gone off. Do you want me to do something with the food?” No response.

Never much of a cook, he left the thawing garlic bread on top of the counter and the stove untouched. He didn’t want to screw something up.

Tristan hummed along to the music, even though he couldn’t sing the words. He banished his jacket to the closet with a flourish of his wand and kicked off his boots. Then he stepped into the living room.

There was Julie, curled up on the sofa. She had always been a heavy sleeper. Smiling, he bent down to give her a kiss on the forehead. Her skin was still warm, but ice raced up Tristan’s spine. He knew instinctively that something was wrong.

“Julie,” he said, in a whisper. He went through the motions even though she was beyond his reach. His tools and knowledge of healing were moot.

Tristan gathered Julie into his arms, a tidal wave of helplessness, anger, and grief washing over him. She was his wife, the mother of his children, his longest love. He did not want to lose her. But magic or no magic, she was gone. He cradled her and wept.
 
The last few days had been a whirlwind of chaos and emotion. Unlike Estrella’s slow decline, Julie’s death was sudden and unexpected. Christian still couldn’t believe it, though he had seen her set to rest with his own eyes. He had hauled Sefina and Teuila across the globe for the memorial service. After all, aside from his mother-in-law, Julie was the only maternal figure he had left.

Christian owed a lot to Julie. She had raised him to be kind, gentle, and patient. Certainly, she encouraged the good in him to blossom and thrive, more so than his father. Merlin knew Christian had the potential for so much darkness, and Julie had brought out the light. Julie had raised him as her son without question.

Christian felt awful for not pulling Tilly from school. As she was just finishing up her first term at Hogwarts New Zealand, the timing was poor. He knew she would be devastated by her grandmother’s death.

For the sake of Julie’s Muggle family and friends, a nonmagical service started early in the day. Even though he had been raised by Julie and now had Muggle in-laws, Christian became more at-ease as the evening progressed and the Muggles filed out. Witches, wizards, and the handful of Muggles in-the-know had stayed behind. There were now floating candles and a display of moving pictures (of the magical kind.) Beautiful flowers and plants filled the house. Vines with soft pink blossoms twined up the stairwell and over the walls. Christian thought Julie would have liked it.

He noticed his eldest niece, off by herself, tending a pot of giant white lilies. “What a gorgeous job with the greenery, Olivia.” He meant it.
 
Teuila was very sorry to hear of the new death in the family. Julie had taken a liking to Teuila when she and Christian had first started dating, and the feeling was mutual. Teuila was sad for Tristan, who had lost a partner, for Christian, who had lost a stepmother, and for her daughters, who had lost a grandmother. Her youngest, still on the way, would never get to meet her. Really, everyone in attendance today had lost Julie.

Teuila noticed Sefina in the corner of the room, holding Lily’s hand tightly. The five-year-old was loudly accosting Sumner about something- he was already deep in his cups. Teuila decided not to intervene.

Teuila herself was preoccupied in conversation. A short and stout witch, one of Julie and Tristan’s neighbors, was describing her recent encounter with a mandrake. She was holding a hand over one ear and hollering.

“That nice boy, he fixed up my hearing as best he could. Unfortunate thing, this. His wife was a lovely lady, even for a Muggle.”

Teuila cringed inwardly at the witch’s use of the word Muggle, thinking of Julie and her parents. She simultaneously tried not to laugh at the witch calling Tristan a boy. That said, Teuila maintained her smile and tried to steer the conversation elsewhere.

@Lily Drage
 
Olivia had been crying silently to herself for the last few days. She wasn’t one to liberally share her emotions, although they were beating her up inside. Olivia memorialized Julie the best way she knew how- with life. She’d done the same for her mother.

The witch found it easiest to busy her hands and separate herself from the throng of people. There were enough boisterous personalities in the family to keep the celebration lively. She had just noticed the lilies were a bit droopy and had set to fixing them when she heard a voice.

Olivia looked up to her uncle and smiled weakly. “Thanks, Christian.” And then her eyes brimmed with tears, although she tried to squeeze them back.
 
Lydia had just about had it with death. She carried her anger and her sadness openly. She’d sobbed into the broad shoulders of her brothers, her sister, and many other family members in this room. Lydia had just pulled away from her Uncle Erik when she decided she needed a hard drink. She said a quiet “hello” to Sumner, Lily, and Sefina before plopping down on the sofa.

Without another word, Lydia reached for a shot glass and a bottle of aquavit. She poured the liquor to the brim, sloshing it over the sides a little, and then knocked it back. She gripped the glass tightly.

Before she knew what she was doing, she pulled her arm back and threw the empty glass. It vaulted from her hand and shattered against the wall. “Damn it.” Quite unlike her usual self, she let the pieces lie.

@Lily Drage
 
Lily Drage sat in the corner of the room with her husband, Sumner, holding hands with the small but mighty Sefina. It was so adorable how she was trying to get up in Sumner's face about something or another. They were paying attention to the small one, but not really. As she looked around the room at her family and the friends that had gathered there, she couldn't help but start to well up with tears again. Ever since Tristan called to let them know Julie had passed away, her emotions were barely in check.

When she and Sumner just started to become a couple, Julie had been so amazing and supportive. She loved her like a mother. Really, she was the closest thing Lily had to a mom since hers kicked her to the curb when she found out she was a witch.

Lily smiled a hello as Lydia sat down and joined the small group. She was happy some of the little kids were able to make it and it was always great to see Estrella's kids, even though it made her miss her friend so much more. She watched as the younger did a shot and then smashed the shot glass into the ceiling with a yell. "Feel better after that?" she asked with a small from, knowing she would love to join in the drinking that was happening around her if not for the little surprise growing in her belly.
 
Not asking for permission first, Christian reached for Olivia and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. This was made a bit complicated by the fact that his niece was taller and wider than him, but he managed.

“I miss her, too,” Christian said. He meant both of them, the two women they had lost in the span of a year, but Julie’s death was more raw and biting.

Christian looked up to survey the room. Many had come out to celebrate the life of their friend and loved one. Erik was in the process of rescuing Teuila from foolish Phyllis, the good-natured but perplexing neighbor. Christian could see his father at the fringes, wearing black from head to toe, engaged in a deep conversation with Eliza.

Then there was the crash of glass. Christian snorted. “And there’s the first broken item of the night.” It wouldn’t be the last.
 
Lydia looked up at Lily. Her great-aunt, in a roundabout way, but also one of her mother’s best friends. The Drage family was tangled, to say the least. “Hell yes,” Lydia replied with a smirk. She did feel somewhat better.

Waving her wand at the broken glass, Lydia used the Repairing Charm to mend it. As much as she wanted to leave it on the ground, there were too many young kids about. She could smash the glass as many times over as she wanted. Magic was a beautiful thing.

Lydia refilled her glass with aquavit and poured another for Lily. She handed over the cardamom-scented liquor and waited to take a shot with her.

@Lily Drage
 
Erik had both of his arms around Evan and Elijah, pulling them in tight. The two were both in tears, understandably so. Julie's loss weighed heavily on the entire house. But like Eliza, Evan and Elijah were Julie’s biological children; Erik knew that was a special bond that he couldn’t share. Julie had treated Erik like her own, despite the fact he had a mother before, and an unknown mother before that. Erik did his best to look forward. Backward was only confusion and hurt.

As Evan and Elijah were approached by other family members and friends, Erik tore away. He saw Teuila, desperately in need of an escape from the neighbor. Grinning, he approached his sister-in-law and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Phyllis! Heard about the mandrake. Don’t forget those earmuffs next time.” Erik leaned in and gave the frumpy old witch a kiss on the cheek. “How am I doing? Oh, we’re all having a rough time of it.” Erik stood back and said, “I’m very sorry, Phyllis, but I have to steal Teuila here. Family thing. You understand.”

Erik steered Teuila away from Phyllis, through the thick crowd of people, until the desperately chatty witch was no longer in sight. “Even if she was deaf, and she will be, at this rate,” Erik laughed, “she would still talk you into an early grave.”

Erik then realized that he’d selected a poor choice of words, but he couldn’t take it back. He knew Julie would agree with him. And forgive him.
 
Tristan’s existence was a blur. It was a miracle he’d slept at all over the past few days. Even so, he felt delirious and downcast. He appreciated the outpouring of support and the presence of family and friends. However, the constant stream of conversation overwhelmed him. Now that the evening was winding down, he moved away from the center of activity and found a spot where he could grieve more privately.

There were only a few Muggles left over- those few in the know. That included Eliza. Guilt weighed heavily on Tristan. He was a Healer, but in the end, that didn’t make a difference for Julie.

Tristan stood in front of Eliza; the eldest of their ragtag band of children. Eliza was like Julie in many ways: fierce, independent, and compassionate. The similarities, while intriguing in the past, only hurt.

“I am sorry I could not save her,” Tristan said, quietly. He had failed so many people in his life and now he’d done the same to his wife. Even though he knew Julie would smack him upside the head for thinking that way. Wizard or not, there was nothing he could have done to stop the hand of nature.

@Eliza Bennett
 
Lily couldn't help but smile at her niece getting all excited over smashing and fixing a shot glass. In times like this, it really was the little things that made life tolerable. She was glad that Lydia repaired the glittering shards quickly before the little ones had the chance to get into things.

When the glass was held out to her, Lily was a bit surprised. It wasn't unusual for Lydia and Lily to drink together, but the news of their latest baby had not been announced quite yet, and it hurt her heart to know Julie was not going to be sharing in their joy.

"I'm afraid you are on your own with those tonight. I need to be able to get this big lunk to bed at some point," pointing at her husband, who in Drage tradition was larger than the average wizard. She hoped that would satisfy her niece, but knew they may have to make an announcement before the night is over.
 
Today was the day she had been dreading forever. Laying her mother to rest was the very last thing she ever wanted to do. Julie was her only blood relative, full blood relative, that she had in the world. Her father passed when she was extremely young, so young she doesn't even remember him. Julie was great about sharing stories and kept lots of pictures and keepsakes, but it didn't make up for the fact that the man was gone. And now her mother was too. Inwardly she chided herself about being so selfish. Her mother had lived a long and very happy life. Once Tristan came into their world, nothing had ever been the same and it really was, for lack of a better word, amazing. Julie and Tristan were the most unusual match, but the most perfect match around. Eliza was able to learn what true love looked like from their long marriage and still strived for that in her own relationships. She would not settle for less than butterflies, as her mom always encouraged her. If you don't feel the butterflies, keep looking. Your person is out there somewhere, Julie would tell her.

Eliza watched as her stepfather made his way towards her through the room of well wishers. It was amazing her her still to see faces she hadn't in such a long time. Her Aunt Daisy and Uncle Lief along with their kids, and her Aunt Brunhilde sat chatting around the table. Her cousin Luke was playing with the little ones like he always did, and was just as much of a kid as ever despite being in his 40s now. Eliza looked up at her stepfather stopped in front of her. He was far taller than the average man, but among his family, he was not unusual. Even the women were crazy tall. He appologized yet again for not saving her mother. He kept apologizing to her since the day Julie passed. There was nothing anyone could have done. It was her time.

"Dad, stop. You have to stop blaming yourself for this. Mom would hate hearing you talk like that. Magic can't stop the progress of time unfortunately." She reached out and touched his arm. "No matter what, you have us kids. And the grandkids."
 
“Thank. You.” Teuila said through gritted teeth as Erik led her away from Phyllis the droning nightmare. Throughout their long friendship, Teuila and Erik had saved each other from many hairy situations. They had met in Thunderbird House at Ilvermorny and grew close in Potions class. Erik had introduced Teuila to Christian later on, and that was that.

Teuila looked around for Sefina- she’d disappeared from sight, but Teuila wasn’t overly worried. There were plenty of family about; someone always had half an eye on the little ones.

At first, Teuila meant to give her condolences to Erik, but then she reminded herself he didn’t care to be sentimental. It was too depressing for him. Quite unlike Christian, who wore his feelings openly. Erik would take Julie’s celebration of life quite seriously, with an emphasis on life.

Teuila decided to encourage it. After all, everyone grieved in their own way. She gestured towards Tristan and Eliza with her chin. “Your dad and sister clearly need a stiff drink.” It was a statement, not a suggestion.
 
Lydia raised an eyebrow at her great aunt. “On my own? If you say so.” With a smirk, Lydia tossed back her glass. Hesitating, she added, “To Grandma Julie.” She then chased down her shot with the one she’d offered Lily. At this rate, Lydia would be putting Sumner to shame soon. She leaned back against the sofa, balancing the two glasses in her palm.

Even though several guests had filed out, it seemed like her grandparents' house was filling up more as the evening went on. It was amazing how the family had grown, even more so since Lydia was a child. Lily and Sumner had certainly helped that along- with, eight, no, nine- children now. A few years ago, when Lydia had invited a friend (and former love interest) to a similar gathering, the witch had been beyond overwhelmed. She said she had no idea how Lydia could tolerate this chaos and still be sane. Really, it was just the way it was, and Lydia didn’t mind. Especially during a time when they all needed support.
 
Erik glanced over at his dad and Eliza. His sister-in-law was right: both of them looked downright gloomy. He knew this was a funeral, but Julie had been very clear she didn’t want anyone moping about in the event she passed away.

“Good eye,” Erik said, grinning at Teuila. He pushed through the thick crowd, with Teuila close behind. “Make way!” he said, beaming, greeting, and waving at people as he parted them, “Sorry! It’s urgent. Coming through!”

Erik walked straight into the living room, nodding at his uncle, aunt, and niece, but he was all business. “No time to talk. We have an emergency!” He poured a double shot of firewhiskey and then a single shot of gigglewater. Erik dodged Sefina just as she was about to latch onto him. He adored his fiery little niece, but he couldn’t be sidetracked right now.

In no time, Erik reached his father and stepsister, forcing the drinks into their hands. For his father, the firewhisky, and for Eliza, the gigglewater. “Teuila thought you could use these.” He glanced over at his friend and grinned. Erik wouldn’t let them say no to the pick-me-up.

@Eliza Bennett
 
Lily smirked at Lydia as she did the two shots one after another. She was going to give Sumner a challenge tonight with drinking, unless he kept sipping the large pint mug he was drinking from. He was brooding and silent, nodding acknowledgement from time to time, but mostly just sat and sipped his drink. Julie's death was hard on him. Really hard. She was his sister in law, but truly was more like a mother to him. He was trying to be strong for the young ones, but Lily could tell he was hurting bad.

Erik flitted by quickly and grabbed shots on his way to Tristan and Eliza. That was going to be trouble soon, but they were the pair that needed the release the most of anyone gathered in this room. Lily leaned back in the chair she was sitting in and curled a bit to the left, facing her husband. It wasn't a pose that would raise anyone's suspicion outside of Sumner knowing that was one of her positions that relieved nausea. Her left leg tucked up under her right, and she looked to anyone like she was simply tired and worn from the emotional day. "Sefina, sweetie, would you be so kind as to grab your auntie some crackers or cookies from the table over there? And grab one for you too," she said softly to the young one holding her hand still. She winked at her, hoping she would run and grab something to munch before Lily needed to run and make a deposit someplace else.
 
Tristan squeezed his eyes shut. “You’re right, she would.” All the same, it didn’t keep him from feeling useless. Julie might have been a Muggle, but the year was 2051. Between magic and the medical advances of the mid-century, she could have lived much longer. If only he’d caught her in time.

Eliza reminded Tristan so much of Julie, it hurt. The way she spoke, the way she carried herself. While he knew Eliza spoke the truth, the wizard had trouble reconciling this with his own insecurities. He perceived the world in black and white.

And now his eldest son shoved a glass of firewhisky at him. Erik the boisterous. Any attempts to stamp some restraint and tact into the boy had backfired horribly on Tristan, and he’d given up over a decade ago. “Thanks, son.” Tristan wrapped a hand around the glass, but held it to his chest.
 
Eliza knew by the look on Tristan's face her words made an impact, but he still would blame himself until the day he died for not being there. They all would blame themselves from here on in one way or another. She was nowhere close to the house that day and she still kicked herself for not finding some way to stop over and say hi to her mom. If she had, maybe this would not be the kind of family dinner they would be having tonight.

As she was about to open her mouth, her brother was shoving a shot glass in her face. She simply sighed and knowing better than to take Erik at face value, she asked "What is it?" knowing wizard drinks packed a different type of punch than muggle liquor.
 
Josh entered the house, knowing his way around after years of visiting his best friend and his wife. The loss of Julie hit him hard. Over the years, she was no longer just Tristan's muggle wife to him, but the closest female in his life. He had never married, or ever really came close, but Julie was always there to answer questions for him and to be that female voice of reason he needed. She not only calmed and centered her husband, but this wild child as well. He was finally arriving after having taken his son, Blake, back to the train station. It was tradition for them to take the muggle train from the closest full wizarding community so they didn't raise any suspicion. There were a mix of muggle and magical people living here in Churchill, but they had enough trouble in their pasts, they liked to play things very safe when they were unable to apparate directly to the house.

Scanning the room, he looked for Tristan. His jacket pocket had a few items that he knew would make the night much easier for the pair of them. He saw the lug was with Eliza and Erik, the two eldest children now that Estrella had passed away. John was the girls godfather and it still stung that he couldn't help find a way to save her. Josh didn't want to break up the father and kids quite yet, so he looked for the others he reguarded as family. Lily and Sumner Drage. Lily was like a daughter to him, in fact, almost was. In school she and Blake were a couple for the longest time and they spent every holiday and school vacation him in California. Their breakup was horrible on both sides and was unlike anything he had seen in school. The crazy thing was that Lily and Sumner married not even six months later and remain happily so to this day. The three had made peace over the years and now we're able to be friendly with each other. Blake had never married but had held some long term relationships over the years.

"Hey sweetie. How have things been around here since the muggles left? Anyone smashing things up yet?" he asked Lily, leaning over the back of her chair and kissing the top of her head. He then nodded at Sumner before giving a knowing glance at Lydia who was holding two shot glasses.
 
Teuila wished she could partake in the drinking. Even a cold butterbeer, usually too sickly-sweet for her, sounded lovely at this point. She settled instead for a plate mounded with pulled beef, fruit, pickles, and butter tarts. She glanced across the house, noticing Christian and Olivia in quiet conversation. Christian was never, ever at the center of a party, and Teuila thought that made her husband all the more endearing.

Spearing a pickle, Teuila rejoined Erik and grinned at Eliza. “Gigglewater,” Teuila offered, “have a sip. It’s a laugh.”
 
Erik opened his mouth in mock surprise at Eliza. “After all these years,” he gasped, “you don’t trust me?” A little gigglewater never hurt anyone, not even a Muggle. It might make them laugh hysterically, sure, if their tolerance levels were questionable. This house could certainly use more laughter right now. If Erik really wanted to be wild, he could spike the punch with a Laughing Potion.

Erik’s next impulse was to chide his father for hesitating, but ultimately, he decided not to. He’d learned over the years to read his dad’s moods and just how far he could push him at a given movement. Tristan was at a volatile stage, like a cauldron simmering with the wrong proportion of ingredients and ready to either explode or dissolve into sludge.

While Eliza could cook up a solid temper, she was easier to crack. “What Teuila said. Just a little drop of gigglewater.”
 
Lydia raised both of her empty glasses at Josh. The man was often present at Drage get-togethers, as Tristan’s lifelong friend and Estrella’s godfather. When Lydia and her siblings were small, Josh had spoiled the hell out of them. Lydia effectively thought of him as another grandparent. Not that she had many of those to go around.

In the past, Lydia wondered if the adults in their lives overcompensated for them not having a father. Their paternal line stopped at Jaken. Lydia knew she must have a broken branch of family, somewhere out there in the world, but they were hidden away. The most she’d gotten out of her mother was that Jaken Styx was adopted, he’d been murdered, and those who’d shared his surname were in no way related to his children.

Estrella had been wary, fierce, and stubborn: she put the past solidly in its place and cut the connection to her dead husband’s adoptive family. To make things worse, Tristan was just as discouraging and tight-lipped. Lydia was somewhat comforted with the fact that Grandma Julie would have shared more if she knew.

Someday, Lydia meant to ask Josh about her history, since she suspected he knew more than he let on. But tonight was not appropriate. Feeling the alcohol slosh down to her legs and feet, Lydia rose from the couch, balancing quite well despite the three shots in her system. She snatched the bottle of aquavit for herself and slipped out the back door.

Although it had long sleeves, her dark purple dress was inadequate for the freezing November air. Lydia sat on one of the patio chairs. She waved her wand at the fire pit- Incendio soon making the area toasty and warm. The witch refilled both of her glasses, but set them on the side table. She cradled the bottle in her lap and stared into the dancing flames.
 
Eliza looked at her brother, the other half of what their mom dubbed the trouble twins back when they were just small beans. She loved Erik dearly,but knew better than to trust him, especially when he had that look in his eye. He wanted to lighten up the mood. Julie would have loved it. Besides, it was just giggle water and she had had it before.

"Okay. Okay. I will do it for you two this one time," she said, raising her glass. Looking at Tristan, she toasted the air and added, "To mom," before downing the warm liquid. Pushing the glass into Teuila's hands, Eliza released a small hic before busting out in laughter.
 
Lily looked up as Josh leaned on the back of her chair. He was so much like a father to her since her own went the same way as her mom. In the end, she was better off without them. If they were unable to accept her being magical, they never would have accepted her husband and children.

"Only a few broken things so far," she said with a tip of her head towards Lydia, who in turn raised her glasses up. Sefina let go of Lily's hand and headed to the food table set up in the kitchen and brought Lily back a plate with crackers on it, and a big cookie for herself. She gave the plate to the pregnant one and then climbed up on Sumner's lap with her cookie. He didn't complain, but locked eyes with his wife. She knew the young one was exactly what he needed at the moment but would never voice that fact out loud. She could see his eyes were full of pain even through he gave her a quick smile before drinking from his glass again. It didn't matter how long the pair was together, which was now almost 30 years themselves, Lily was more in love with this man than ever.

Lydia took off with a bottle, which was not a good sign, but Lily would have to deal with that later. She was just too tired at the moment and started eating her crackers so hopefully her stomach would settle down.
 
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