Chapter 12: Her Master's Wedding, Part 12, The Reception

The meal is magnificent.

Despite the earlier 'sauce debacle', the chef has conjured up an excellent replacement which complements the chicken very well indeed. I run the flavour over my tongue, swishing it around, trying to identify all the ingredients...

Garlic... Tarragon... Black pepper...

But there's something...

Wonder if she'd share the recipe?

Probably not....

But I'm trying to distract myself. When I wrote my speech, I knew what I wanted to say, and I meant it with all my heart....

You chose to do this....

Every part of it....

How can I let my friend down now? The friend who has stood side by side with me for years. The friend who has never let me down. Or, when we let each other down, we helped each other stand again, together.

The meal is done. Waiters pass between the guests, filling flutes. I glance sidelong at the pair. They are indeed the very image of the 'Happy Couple'. Laughing and joking, he handsome, she so beautiful....

Together....