Everyone is gathered around the table. A vast amount of food has been eaten and all that remains are the dregs of a custard jug and the last neglected crumbs from a vast blackberry tart.

Everyone is here. A special occasion made up not of a birthday, or an anniversary, or a festival, but simply of friends getting together to enjoy each other’s company.

All the farmhands, with the wives and girlfriends are here. Mrs Collier, of course, heads the table. But Mr Kalkowski sits to one side of her. Chad’s parents are here too.

And sitting together, under the tabletop, Chad squeezes Jenny’s hand.

He gives a nudge. “Now you think? They’ve all finished eating. I don’t think they’re going to move again for a while with that lot inside them.”

She bites down on her excitement. “Mmmm, yes.”

Chad rises from his seat. “Um, ‘S’cuse me, everyone.”

The chatter dies down, everyone turning curiously towards him.

“Sorry to interrupt you all….”

He is nervous, unused to speaking to so many at once. “…. Since everyone’s here together tonight, I wanted to make an announcement.”

He looks down at Jenny. Her eyes, the green of spring grass as it sways in the breeze, shine up at him, and of a sudden, his nerves evaporate.

“…. Or really, Jenny and I wanted to make an announcement.” Chad’s mother and father exchange a knowing glance. “I…. we wanted to tell you all that I have asked Jenny to marry me, and she has said, Yes.”

The room erupts into clapping and congratulations. Mrs Collier rises smoothly from her seat. “Brett, come down to the cellars with me. I think we’ll bring up some of that gooseberry champagne from last year.”

Mr Bennett gives her hug. Then Mrs Bennett. “Thank you, Jenny. I know you’ll make Chad very happy.”

Nathaniel, with a broad grin, kisses her soundly on the lips. “Congratulations, Jenny. Don’t mind if I kiss the bride-to-be, do you, Chad?”

Diane pats at the bump on her belly. “Won’t be long before you have one of these too then, eh, Jenny?”

and Brett, carrying arm-loads of thick-walled bottles, corked and wired.

and Mrs Bennett are clinking their glasses. Everyone is laughing and joking and

Almost everyone.

Kalkowski sips at his wine, looking thoughtful. Then, seeing

*****

and

“Don’t you normally get those two

different now, isn’t it. Two young people, going to get married. They need to…. get to

His voice

would hardly be the first girl to walk down the aisle, then achieve in seven months

dust with

two of them have been good friends ever since she arrived here.

about this, Eleanor. I’m very fond of Jenny. Of both of them, of course, but particularly of

love each other. They’re never apart. How could it be

not for

she snaps. “Just be happy

*****

“Mr Kalkowski?”

“Yes, Jenny.”

in the Spring, in May. Mr and Mrs Bennett said

old man keeps his voice neutral. “May is indeed

you’re invited of

“But what Jenny?”

I don’t have anyone, a father or a brother or

he doesn’t answer, Jenny sags. “Don’t you want to give me away?

recovers himself, then swallows hard. “Yes, of course, Jenny. It

*****

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