GARDEN PEACE

Alistair was leaning his forearms on the top railing of the little arched bridge that curved over the narrow part of the mill pond, intently
watching the bubbles a fish was making just under the surface. Ahnna was close at his left side, also looking down.

"There," he said, "did you see him?"

"Him?"

"George. I don't know yet what sort of fish he is, but I've named him George," Alistair smiled. "There! There he is again...the one with thebig dark splotch on his head."

"I see him," Ahnna laughed. "But George? Why George?"

"He's the Father of the Millpond," Alistair grinned, straightening and turning to face her. "At least I've decided that since he's the only fishI tell from the other ones." 

Taking her hand, he walked with her to a bentwood seat on the far side of the pond with a view across it back to the mill house itself.  He kept her hand on his lap as they sat side by side just silently enjoying the day, enjoying each other. She dipped her chin briefly down to her chest then looked up at him, her face blooming like a rose. "I'm happy," she murmured. "For the first time in years I feel completely happy."

He lifted her hand, kissing her knuckles. "You are the most beautiful, the most radiant thing in my garden, Ahnna. I can't begin to tell you what your smile, what the light in your eyes, means to my heart."

Merry, who had been chasing a dragonfly near the edge of the pond, suddenly came running up, putting her paws on Alistair's lap and looking up at him with a drooling grin and adoring eyes. With his free hand he ruffled her fur. "You're beautiful, too," he laughed, then turned his gaze back to Ahnna. "But nowhere near what you are." 

Merry spied another dragonfly and went off in hot pursuit. "Ahnna, I...," Alistair began, then simply leaned toward her, his lips, softly, warmly, taking hers.