Letty smiled broadly.
"Oh, Lavinia!" She sighed, "Today you're going to be married!"
"I know," Lavinia smiled, shaking her beautiful long hair fondly.
"How should I start? On the nineteenth of February, 1847..." Letty trailed off, wondering how she would be able to describe the wedding that lay ahead.
"Oh, Letty, don't worry about it," Lavinia hushed, "Just think about today, not the future!"
"Sorry," Letty blushed, staring down at her feet.
"Oh, don't you worry about it," Lavinia smiled, "Anyways, I have to dress myself now. Go and find Harry, won't you?"
"Yes, Lavinia," Letty nodded. She went to find the ten year old.
Letty thought to herself about how far she had come; she was currently a successful business woman, and mainly ran the shop by herself. She had some brief education and steady income for a girl of eighteen. The only thing missing was a lovely young man to come and take her breath away.
She pondered who it would be as she picked up her skirt and called out for Harry; she knew he'd probably be running amuck with his friends, but was still determined to find him.
Maybe, she thought, he's playing with little Victoria. She is five, almost six, now, after all. She knew it was unlikely but just couldn't help hoping.
She caught sight of Harry and called out to him. He ignored her and she felt hurt.
Harry's going away. Mary is. Victoria is. Clem is. And now Lavinia… She found herself weeping. She slunk into the long grass, and cried her eyes out.
"Letty? Letty!" Abner's voice called out.
"Abner," She wailed softly. The twenty year old bumped into her.
"Letty? Letty! Oh- hush, hush." Abner said softly, "What-er is wrong?"
And Letty told him everything. And then it became a routine, even after Lavinia's marriage.
Letty could pour her heart out and Abner would never judge her. He was always there for her. His comforting words, and his warm hugs.
And, eventually, his lips.