Casey nodded agreeably.  Some place quiet sounded fantastic by him.  A place not too far out of the way.  Maybe a house with a yard.  He let the thought of settling down, getting a dog, and having a couple of kids run through his brain.  The implications of<i>that</i>carried were enough to shut down the line of thought abruptly.  He shook his head, and his mirth faded quietly at the mention of his father.  A momentary flash of sorrow flitted across his face, before he'd assumed a stony neutrality.  He wasn't very good at hiding what hurt, but there was too much riding on the night to color it with the grief he was carrying.<br/><br/>He studied his hands, trying to compose himself well enough that he could trust his voice.  "It's a curse,"  He admitted, somewhat surprised that his voice remained as calm as it had.  His throat felt tight.  "From long ago.  The wording's tricky, but he certainly won't live out the next three months.  He could be gone tomorrow."  He made himself smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.  "He has my oath.  He knows I'll do what it takes for the house.  For my brother, and for myself.  While I think he might like to see the wedding, I suspect he'd rather it got done right than rushed.  So..."<br/><br/>The wizard's chest rose as he took in a deep breath for a sigh.  "If we can do it right in a week, all the better.  But if we can't, then..."  He trailed off.  He took solace in his steak for a few bites, trying to occupy his mind as well as his mouth for a moment.  When he could swallow again, both the steak and the emotions, he went on.<br/><br/>"Thank you, Evelyn.  I'll be honest, I hadn't expected this sort of compassion for a Murphy.  That was a disservice to you.  You do your house proud."  He dabbed at his lips with a napkin.<br/><br/>"I think I've had my fill.  Do you want to grab that bottle and come with me for a walk?"  He nodded to the wine she'd ordered.  "Hand in hand, like proper modern lovers?"  The wry twist was back, and while there was still a melancholy in his eye, the smile was sincere.