Godfrey was worried, and he didn’t like it. Honestly, he was not a worrier by nature, and he wasn’t very good at it for a start. He’d never worried before tests back in school, he never worried before a cricket match, he never worried about closing a deal with an uncertain client. But today he’d left the office early and walked around the Serpentine and had seriously considered popping into the Prince of Wales for a pint. And the reason he was worrying was just that: he’d left the office early. Because there wasn’t any reason to stay there.

It must have been ten days since he’d managed to get anybody interested in Peruvian herbal remedies or self-cleaning bamboo matting or Tuscan toad tongues. Nobody in the magical world seemed to want to invest in anything. He’d been driven to handling a shipment of plastic toys from Taiwan for one of his mates from Marlborough who was setting up half-a-dozen Penny to Pound shops for the Christmas trade.

The thing was, he’d been doing find before he’d got shot. That took him out of circulation for longer than he would have liked, and then when Thomas came, and Mack had to stay in the Hospital all that time, and that meant God had to take time off as well…

The fact was, the months between September and December were supposed to be his busiest time. And he’d missed most of it. And he’d missed too much of the year before that too.

He really should be out trying to scare up some business right now. He glanced at his watch and made a mental note to chase down that friend of Andrew’s who had contacts in Switzerland. If he was going to be flogging Muggle products, he might as well make it something better than rubber duckies.

With a sigh he turned into the alley way that led to the Flat. Mack would have tea on, and the babies Chrissa would want a story before bed-time. Tomorrow. He’d sort it all out tomorrow. Maybe he could have a word with Alice, and see if she had heard any gossip in the Alley that he could turn to profit.

“Hey, babe,”

“Hello, gorgeous.” He tossed his coat over the back of the settee, and walked over to wrap his arms around her. “Had a good day? Chrissa been helping?” He kissed Mack carefully, taking his time, enjoying the touch of her.

“So what’s all this then?” He pointed at the maps and other papers. “Cleaning out your bits and pieces?”

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Not Getting Any Younger