"Always a pleasure," Ossie beams, dipping his head into a shallow bow. The gardens, the cottage, both are behind him as they always are; the foreign flowers wilted with the changing of the season. As much as he'd have liked some of them to stay around. He leads Phil up the path to the cottage door, trotting ahead to open it for him.

"May I take your coat? You can leave your shoes by the door as well if you'd like- have you eaten? I was considering brunch, would you care for brunch? Or something less substantial?"