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.
“Gee, So much going on, that I don’t think I’ve spoken publicly like this since I was mated,” teased Sandy. “Congratulations Patrick and Ginny. And heaven help you when she gets grumpy, because we all know she’s the boss.”
Patrick stood up with his arm wrapped around Ginny. “Thank you for the welcome to the family, the pack. I must admit that it has been a whirlwind romance. I never thought I’d find another mate. However, I must thank the instigators of this little plot, Cal, Kevin, Peter and Luc. Oh, and the bear that precipitated the crisis in the first place. For without that, I never would have visited my cousin, nor found a mate that is almost the perfect match,” he finished.
“Hey there!” started Ginny as if to start to disagree with his assessment.
“I’d like to point out before my dear sweet mate here chimes in on our joy, that according to George, I have managed to do what none of the rest of you have ever accomplished. I rendered her speechless, and got her to buy a new dress,” he said with a smile.
Ginny blushed as the room broke out in laughter. She smiled, made a curtsy and then turned to Patrick and stuck out her tongue. More laughter erupted. Luc topped off everyone’s glass and another round of toasts went up before people settled back to chatting and snacking on cake, cookies and other treats.
“Where did you find the time to get this?” Ginny asked Patrick as she sat in his lap.
“That day you stormed off to find a dress. Andrew and I had a lovely chat and I got this,” he said leaving out most of the details.
“You know we were lovers,” she said quietly.
“Yes, and he still loves you. I think he always will. However, he also understands that he is not the one for you,” Patrick said.
Ginny nodded. “I love him too, but not as a mate. This is his work isn’t it?”
“Yes. He made it for you,” Patrick said as he looked around for Andrew. “Perhaps you should thank him personally.”
“Yes,” said Ginny as she got up. She walked over to Andrew and tapped his elbow to get his attention.