The Court of Divorce
James had never been one to be flustered by a customer, after Lily and he got divorced he never thought about trying again. Shaking off thoughts of the man in his cafe he parked at the middle school, he was a bit early and it was awhile before the bell rang for school to be out. Lily was supposed to pick Harry and his friends up today so he could set up the party that was taking place later today at his shop for Harry.
The sound of his car door opening disturbed his thoughts, turning James smiled. “Hey Pete, you’re out early today? Harry been good during school?”. Peter slid into his car with a laugh, “Harry has been as good as you had been during middle school James Potter, I wouldn’t go ringing on your son.”.
James and Peter had always gotten along well, childhood friends before Remus had moved to their town and they had snatched him up before anyone else could. Peter slapped James shoulder and with a wink, “Well I have to go make sure no one loses an eye on the way to the bus.” And with that he was gone.
Soon after that he had Harry, Ron, and Hermione piling into his car, “Hey kiddos, we are gonna be head back to the house first before heading to the café.” Their murmurs of acknowledgment was all he required before he drove off.
Within a hour and a half they were sitting outside the café, well James was, the kids had gone inside at his request. Lily was going to be here, even after two years his heart still hurt when he was around her. James sighed, resting his head on top of the steering wheel try to gather some strength to just make it through Harry’s birthday. A bit later James made his way inside with his presents for Harry finding Remus to have set up all the decorations inside.
”Is it really that hard for you?”
James snapped his head up from where he was setting down the gifts, “What?.
”James i know you heard me and I know you understand my question, you where never that dumb.” Remus look concerned. He was sat in one of the chairs across from the bar with his arms crossed facial expression furrowed.
James flickers his eyes away from Remus, chewing on his lip he quips, “What are you talking about.”.
”You have always been the sun James, bright, shiny, and ever since you and Lily got divorced it’s like a piece of that sun was replaced with something darker, dimmer, not you.”
James hard work to pull himself together in the car unravels, he takes his glasses off to wipe his eyes. Remus is about to stand, “Remus can we talk about something else, it’s Harry’s birthday and I don’t want to be all worked up in front of him. It’s his day, it’s unfair to expect him to be okay with that or deal with me taking his day to be upset.” James smiles, “Plus I’d rather not cry in front of my security cameras, feels quite awkward.”
”I just would like to talk about it sometime, or get you to talk with someone.” He stops to think, “I mean, even if it’s a therapist, mine is great.”
”Remus I promise we will talk later, I just want to drop it for now.” James turns to the bar, “Are the kids outside?”
”Yes they are”
”Good”, James walks into the back to let it out.