“Now that you are my aunt,” Delmare told the bride, “I have decided to forgive you for leaving us to Mrs. Chatten.”
“That is very gracious of you,” Hera replied. “I appreciate your condescension.”
“And since you no longer need a brother now that you have a husband...”
“I should think not!” interjected Hurtheven.
“...I shall settle”—Delmare sent his Uncle Heven a scowl—“for being your nephew.”
“And,” Felicia announced, “we don’t have topretendthe two of you are wed because you really, truly are!”
“Really, truly,” Hera repeated, with a warm gaze for her husband.
“No need to pretend at all.” Hurtheven slipped his arm around Hera’s waist. “We are a family.”
“We are all,” Penelope added, “a family.”
Annis punctuated this observation with a gurgle and a drool.
“Ugh.” Delmare wrinkled his nose. “Babies are dis-gust-ting.”
“Are not!” Fee said, with great offense.
Annis appeared to agree. She squealed and bared her single tooth at Delmare.
“Coo,” Fee addressed the baby. “I just had my birthday, you know. Youdogive the best presents, Uncle Heven. My favorite present of all is my new aunt...and cousin.” She held out her arms to Annis. “Let’s go play with my dollies.”
Annis approved of this plan with a sharp yelp and a hearty clap.
Hurtheven knelt and gently passed the child to Felicia. Despite being only three feet tall, Fee happily carried the child from the room, with promises of delights to follow.
“Well, Del,” Thaddeus said, “We single men must stick together—else we’ll find ourselves leg shackled, too.”
“Leg-shackled?” Delmare harrumphed. “Is that how one refers to the looks you share with Lady?—”
Thaddeus threw his arm around Delmare’s shoulder and covered his mouth.
Delmare pulled back Thaddeus’s hand. “I was just joking. I know the rules—friends close, secrets closer.”
Hurtheven cleared his throat. “I’ve recently amended my rules. With the right friends, you needn’t have secrets at all.”
“Bah,” Delmare replied.
“How about your adage?” Ash said. “About trouble always coming down to a woman?”
“Hurtheven!” Hera exclaimed.
“Still true.” He winked at his wife. “All the trouble, and most of the solutions as well.”
Thaddeus groaned. “I think it’s time we leave these children to themselves, hey, Del?”
“They’ve beensucha disappointment of late,” Del murmured as they headed out into the garden.
As Alicia embraced Hera, Pen embraced Hurtheven.
“Ask me again if I’m happy,” he said to Penelope.
“Areyou happy?” she asked with a smile.
