Absolutely exhausted from shopping for sundry items she didn’t even need, Lucy James decided that it would be a very good idea to answer the call of her sweet tooth. She checked the money in her purse to make sure she had a few coins kicking about before pushing open the door of Cordial Confections. The sweet odour quickly embraced her and many of the day’s worries subsided, if only for a moment.

For her own part, Eva is not much less exhausted than many of her evening patrons as she turns from the bell’s tinkle. “Hello, welcome!” She calls, her usual mirthful smile spreading across her face as she glances to the new customer. For a moment, she pauses, as if remembering someone who she might have once known. “How can I help you?” she asks as she strides out from behind the counter, her more trim figure accentuated by a rather tight-fitted dress.

At first Lucy doesn’t look up to meet the eyes of the shop’s owner, choosing instead to focus all of her attention on the sweeties. Pursing her lips and gliding a deft finger over several of the shiny packages she singles out a lovely reddish parcel advertising something minty flavoured. “I’ll take this please,” she says, counting out the appropriate amount and passing the two over to the woman. “Hang about!” she says, dropping her change and wagging a finger at the shop owner. “Do I know you?”

Eva takes the small packages and strides back behind the counter, keeping her eye on Lucy the whole time. “I was just thinking the same thing.” For a moment, Eva doesn’t ring up the parcels of sweets, instead looking at the woman before her. Then, inspiration seems to dawn over her face. “/Lucy/?” she asks quietly, her jaw dropping as she gets a bit excited. “Lucy James?”

“At your service,” Lucy smiles, “and you would be Eva Wexler! Oh imagine that!” Lucy grins widely and shakes her head in disbelief. It had been years since she had seen her old friend and she was somewhat amazed that she recognised her! Considering how much she had changed since school she was even more surprised that Eva had remembered her.

“Oh my goodness, you are /joking/! I haven’t seen you since –” She pauses to think. “Since I left Hogwarts! You’ve grown up nicely, I must say! What are you doing? How have you /been/? Oh, do you remember that boy… that one boy, oh what was his name? I went with him fora little while.” Eva seems so excited and flustered as she waves her hands around. “Fancy meeting you again after all these years! Do you remember my cousin Maura? She was a Gryffindor in your year. She works here with me; makes all the sweets — I’m rubbish at it. Can you imagine?” Eva pauses and glances around, before looking back to Lucy in sheer awe and shock.

Lucy broke out laughing, “No, you’re right, we’ve not seen each other since Hogwarts! And don’t even ask me about your boyfriends, there were too many to name! And thank you for the compliment, I must say you’ve not done too bad yourself! I’m sure the boys are crawling all over you just like always, and as it should be!” Oh this was exciting, the day had not treated Lucy overly well and this was just the best thing to happen to her in months. “I do remember Maura! How is she doing!”

“Maura is well,” Eva comments with a broad grin, just beaming. “Oh, I suppose I do have boys around, but more girls.” Being intentionally vague, Eva only waits a moment before adding. “I’ve only just had my second son earlier this year.” She pauses and shakes her head with a sigh. “Eight children,” she comments. “Never expected to have children this young, let alone eight! I’ve married Tom Fallon – I doubt you remember him, probably; he was in Gryffindor, a seventh year in my first, so I’m Eva Fallon now rather than Wexler. It’s just all happening so fast.” She shakes her head. “And of course, I own this fine establishment. Good god, I never would have thought to look you up! Tell me, who are you seeing? Any exciting tales to share?” Eva leans her elbows on the counter with a rather excited grin.

As Eva recounts her life up until now Lucy can’t help but let a smile crawl across her face. This was never what she would have expected from her friend of so many years ago. Back then they were such terrors, two young women that no one would ever picture settled down with a family, but then here she was, married off with eight kids! Lucy searches her mind for some gossip to give in return but nothing she can think of even matches what she’s just heard. “I’m amazed, Eva,” she says, shaking her head, “I could never have done that. Eight! I don’t think I could pump out one! So as you can probably tell from that I have yet to settle down. I’ve had a few prospects, but no one I would call The One. If only one even exists for me.” She giggles and offers her friend one of the sweets she has just purchased.

Eva lets out a giggle at this and shakes her head. “No, thanks,” the woman replies with a laugh. “I have far too many, as it is.” She winks at this and breathes deeply. “I never would have expected to have even one, either, but then I found I was pregnant after seeing Arnauld — he’s the man who used to run the Hog’s Head, you remember? — well, I saw him for a while, and then I found I was pregnant. And then I started seeing Tom and this other man, Thorin, and to tell the truth, I’m not certain which of them is Charlotte’s father, but it doesn’t matter, because before I was pregnant with Arnold, Tommy and I got married. I love him, I really do,” Eva tells her comrade from so many years ago. “I’m just bored, which I’m sure you can understand. I seem to be more flirtatious with the men who come in, and it’s really quite fun. I’m sure I could introduce you to a few of them, see if you like them any!” The woman beams and sighs. “Enjoy it as much as you can. Settling down can wait.”

“I can imagine how it would get after so long, I lived with a man for a couple of months and it killed any sense of fun we had before then,” Lucy tells her friend with a sad air, “we had really hit it off as well. I just can’t spend too much time with any one man before I get the urge to run.” This was a problem that had plagued Lucy for quite some time, since Hogwarts in fact, but back then she had just assumed it was an adolescent phase. At least she wasn’t the only one who got easily bored. “It would really be nice to meet your brood some time. Speaking of the Eva brood, how are your brothers?”

“Ah, yes, of course,” Eva replies with a knowing nod. “Well, I’m sure you just haven’t met the right men yet. Maybe if you meet the right one, you’ll be able to settle down a little.” Leaning forward a bit. “Although, between you and me, I think I should rather experience life as much as possible before trying to settle.” She winks and laughs a bit. “You’ll have to come to supper sometime. My children are really very sweet. Tom cares for them while I’m away at work, and then I come home to help as often as I can. Of course, I’m trying to promote the shop more so that it really booms, so I’m out many evenings.” Eva‘s eyes dance with mischeif as if to show that she isn’t being entirely forthcoming about her evening activities, but she hasn’t much time to dwell on this as she hears what Lucy has said about her brothers. “Oh, them! Well, you remember, of course, that my oldest brother got married while I was in… oh, it must have been third or fourth year. He’s got four kids now, and three are at Hogwarts already — can you believe it? Logan’s in the ministry now, doing well, although he’s a bit of a humbug, to tell the truth. Won’t go out with any of the nice ladies I try to set him up with, and keeps to himself mostly. Jared found a job at that knick-knack shop down Ambassador’s Row, and he seems to enjoy it. Gilbert married Tom’s sister Kalika, and they’ve three kids now — all adorable, still small. Freddie — you remember him, of course — he married Henrietta Blume. They’re just too sweet together for words. You remember her, right? Well, they’ve got a few kids now, too. Mum ought to be happy — she’s got plenty of grandchildren to spoil.” Eva chuckles.

Lucy listens intently and smiles to herself, forgetting just how many relatives Eva has. It’s not easy for someone who has come from the smallest family in Britain to be able to remember so many names at once. “I’m glad they’re all doing well,” she says, popping another sweet into her mouth. “And I know what you mean about remaining a free spirit for as long as possible. Still, it must be fun to play the marriage game for a bit. Especially if you actually care about the person, and you know I always had a problem with that aspect of the relationship thing. I felt so sorry for, oh I can’t even remember his name now, but you know, that Ravenclaw boy I went with for a week in our sixth year? The tall one with the glasses?” Before she can finish she finds herself reminiscing and smiling out of fondness. “I wonder what became of him. But yes, Mrs. Fallon, you’ll have to introduce me to any eligible young bachelors around this neck of the woods!”

“Oh, right his name was, um…” Eva pauses and puts a hand to her forehead. “George? Was it George? Boy, he was gone on you, poor kid.” The woman chuckles and stretches her arms above her head briefly. “Are you free tomorrow evening? I’ve an engagement tonight with one Mister Prescott to get some catering details sorted out, but I’m fairly sure Tom and I could entertain you in style tomorrow.” She grins and then glances up at a nearby clock. “Oh /my/!” she breathes, swearing under hear breath. “It’s closing time!” Eva steps out from behind the counter and makes her way forward to the door, waving off some children and then clicking the lock while turning the sign. “Sorry about this, Lucy,” she tells her comrade quietly. “I hadn’t realized how /late/ it had gotten!”

“George! Or was it Bernard?” Lucy ponders for a moment but then returns to the conversation. “Oh that would be wonderful! I would love to see where you’ve got yourself hidden away, I’m sure it’s a gorgeous place.” Just as she is wondering what to wear to the occasion she hears Eva’s concerns and checks her own watch. “Goodness you’re right, it has gotten late. I need to be getting home and getting something started for tea, I have an early morning tomorrow.” The mere thought of going to work made Lucy‘s stomach churn, but go she would and she would try to enjoy it as well. “So it’s a date then!”

“Absolutely!” Eva agrees cheerfully. “Just meet me here, and we’ll head over to my place together,” the woman tells her re-discovered chum. “Sorry to rush you out like this. I expect you can apparate?” she comments quietly, pulling the shades for two of the windows before running back to peek into the back room. “Maura, can you take care of the ledgers? I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten, and I’ve got a meeting with Mister Prescott in twenty minutes!” Eva looks forward. “See you tomorrow, then!” she tells Lucy, covering various bins and putting others away as quickly and neatly as possible.

“I’ll be here! I can’t resist the sweets anyway, I’ll have finished these by the end of the evening,” Lucy smiles and puts the rest of the bag in her handbag. “I’ll bring along something exciting as well, I have some very nice bottles of wine left over from my last birthday.” She adjusts her coat and walks to the door, pushing it open and stopping to say farewell to Eva. “See you tomorrow, have a nice evening!” she calls out to her as she makes her way back into the streets.

Other Interesting Logs:

• A Spontaneous Reunion
• Purely Business
• Were Thine That Special Face
• Women Can Handle Bigger Animals than Quintus
• The Last Sighting of Lindsay Fallon