Everyone quieted down and moved to the tables. Ginny, Ysabel and Patrick brought the last of the food out and set it on the sideboard.
“Luc and Meg get to go first. After that, it doesn’t matter,” said Ginny. “However, anyone pushing or shoving will be smacked with a rolled up newspaper!”
Everyone laughed. However, they knew Ginny far too well to piss her off. In a few minutes, everyone was seated at the table with plates of food. Luc and Sandy were filling people’s glasses with wine or handing out beer per request. When everyone had a glass of something, Sandy stood up.
“As the oldest member of the family, it is perhaps my duty to say a few words,” he started. Laughter cascaded up and down the table along with a few silly remarks. “In all honesty, we never thought that this day would come. Luc settled down, finally owning up to his responsibilities, and making an honest woman of Meg here,” he continued. “However, the important part is that we are family. We’ve had our ups and downs lately. Luc scared the shit out of us all, not only by dating, but by trying to shred a bear while still driving.” He paused for the laughter to settle down. “Now before the food gets too cold and Ginny whips out that rolled up newspaper she fondles constantly, I’d like to toast Luc and Meg and their newly minted relationship,” Sandy finished saying as he raised his glass.
“To Luc and Meg,” rang around the room.
“Enjoy the feast,” said Ginny as Sandy sat down.
Dinner conversations flew across the table. Laughter with Luc at the butt of the jokes was the common topic, and at one point, the sheep that the cubs had given Luc was brought out as a centerpiece. Soon there was very little food left and Ginny and Ysabel started to clear the table of the main dishes in order to serve dessert. Not only was there the lovely cake, but coffee, sweet liquors and champagne. Patrick helped open the bottles and when everyone had a glass, they stood and toasted the couple again.
Luc smiled and took a sip of his champagne and then stood to help cut the cake. Meg in her warped way had insisted that the top of the cake have a howling wolf. After cutting a slice, each fed the other a piece and managed not to smear half of it across their faces.
“Ah Luc, you’re suppose to cover her in frosting and then lick it off,” teased Kevin.
“No! She’s suppose to drop a piece down his…” started Peter who got thumped by Ginny who was handing out cake.
“Oh you bunch are just sad that we actually cooked the roast,” teased Meg. Laughter broke out across the room. She was relaxed for the first time all evening and feeling very good. The party was going so well.
“Now, although it isn’t tradition, I have a present for the couple,” said Ginny. She retrieved the box that Patrick had picked up from Andrew. She set the box down in front of Meg, for her to open it.
Meg looked from Ginny to Luc. Luc shrugged his shoulders and gestured for Meg to open it. Meg undid the ribbon, tore the tape tab and opened the box. Nestled in tissue paper was a thin silver rod. Puzzled, she lifted it out and as she did so, Meg realized it was the top bar of a scroll. Hanging from the bar was a piece of silk with Luc and Meg’s name on it and today’s date. From the bottom hung another bar covered with stylized wolf prints and and foot prints giving the impression that they were walking side by side. Meg held it up for everyone to see and tried very hard to hold back the tears she felt forming.
“Oh, Ginny. It’s so…” Meg was lost for words and hugged Ginny. Meg then turned to Andrew and blew him a kiss. “Thank you too. It’s beautiful,” she said.
George then stood up. “The pups sent a present. They knew they couldn’t come, but deputized me to bring it to you,” he said. He handed over a bag colored by the little ones with wolves and a tent on the side.
Luc took the bag and opened it up. First there was a bag of peanut butter cookies shaped like dog bones. Then there was a bag of Hershey’s Kisses with a label that read ‘For Aunty Meg’. That brought a giggle from the room. Last but not least was a rolled up newspaper tied with gold ribbon. Everyone laughed when they saw that. “Thank the pups for me George,” said Luc amidst the laughter. George nodded.
With that, everyone settled down to cake and drinks. Ysabel and George started clearing the table of dirty items and Ginny worked on the dishes. Patrick brought in the last tray of stuff and motioned for Ysabel and George to leave him alone with Ginny for a moment.
“Ginny, can I give you a hand?” he asked pointing to the dishes.
“Well, you can dry them in a minute,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll do that. Plus, I wanted to ask one other thing,” he said standing just behind her.
“What?” she asked trying to blow a curl of hair out of her eyes.
Patrick pulled the pouch out of his pocket, and removed the chain. He stepped forward and as he brought the chain down in front of her eyes, he asked “Would you be my mate?”
Ginny dropped the plate she had in her hand and just stared. Before Patrick could question the silence, she whipped around and hugged him soppy soapy hands and all.
“I take it that is a yes?” he asked as he wrapped his hands around her.
“YES!” she hollered loud enough for most of the dinner part to hear and come rushing into the kitchen to see what was happening. They arrived in time to see a rather crumpled Patrick clasp the delicate chain around Ginny’s neck.
“You realize that doing this today doesn’t get you out of holding your own party,” teased Meg.
“Oh shush!” said Ginny smiling through the tears of joy. Everyone laughed. The bunch moved back out into the main area and another round of toasts went up for Ginny and Patrick.