Lechance

Delilah was sitting out front of her studio, people watching. Well that and sketching. People. And buildings. LeChance really was very pretty, in more ways than one.

She'd already filled a few pages with quick charcoal studies, and she had a small charcoal thumbprint smudge on her cheek. There was a couple of hours to kill before her next client, a sitting for a family with a new baby, and so Delilah was relaxing. She sat back in her garden lounger and dropped the hardback drawing book to her lap. She snuggled down happily under the lambswool throw she'd brought out with her, and reached for the cup of hot chocolate on the small table next to her.

When she saw someone crossing the road nearby she called out to them, "Good afternoon!"

Ben flopped down on his back in the grass at the side of the swings at the playground in the north of town. He stretched his arms out side and shut his eyes, letting the cool breeze from the river wash over him.

He was so very much playing hooky.

The wedding itself had been very simple and the reception was as well. Theo's family had arrived, both parents, three sibs and their spouses and eight children. Theo's nephews and nieces were happily romping with Michel and introducing him to all sorts of new diversions. Theo's mother had been quiet as she usually was, but had immediately accepted Michel as one of her own grandchildren and approved of Julian. Theo's father was slightly more effusive in his greeting and expressing his joy as this widening of their family circle. Theo was slightly worried Julian would be overwhelmed.

At the moment, the children were playing in the grass as the adults ate at picnic tables that had been decorated with flowers. Theo's mother and sibs had forbid him or Julian from helping prepare the food, which had led to some slight fussing on Theo's part, but everything had turned out just fine.

Under the table, Julian's hand was held in his as he turned to beam at his new husband happily. "What are you thinking?" He leaned in and whispered.