"What were the tears about earlier?" May finally asks cautiously.
"The tears…were because…I never thought…I'd see you again…let alone have the opportunity to have a relationship with you. This moment was very emotional for me. I'd never hoped the way I did tonight. I hadn't forgiven myself and so I thought you'd never forgive me." Leo sighs as he finishes speaking.
"I'm glad you told me the truth. I didn't think I'd forgiven you either, until I saw you again. My emotions simply overwhelmed me and I was a young girl again. I couldn't have stayed angry at you even if I'd wanted to, which I didn't. You are the love of my life and my anger has softened over the years to nostalgia." May says as they arrive at the back pond and she leans over the surface to feed the fish. May sits down on the edge of the pond and pulls her shoes and stockings off and slips her feet beneath the surface of the cool water. The summer night is warm and humid and they'd been walking for so long that they are both sticky.
Leo sits next to her and drops his feet into the pond frightening the fish. He must have taken his shoes and socks off when May had her back turned to him. "We should take the kids to the lake tomorrow; it's so warm."
"If they're still speaking to us tomorrow." May giggles nervously. She realizes that her son and daughter won't be happy with her decision to remarry. May only hopes her grandchildren will be happy.
"Do you think someone won't talk to you because you're getting married? Why would you agree to marry me if you knew that certain people would be upset with you?" Leo asks incredulously.
"My son and daughter won't be happy with my choice. This is none of their business; it's my choice, not theirs. I said yes because I love you and I'm not willing to lose you again." May says as she scoots over and leans her head on Leo's shoulder.
Leo smiles at May. He picks up his shoes and walks across the grass in his bare feet and he flops into the hammock. "Come and join me," he says as he stretches out.
May turns and smiles at Leo before she dries her feet on the hem of her dress, picks up her shoes, and walks slowly towards him. May climbs carefully into the hammock and cuddles into Leo's arms. "Are you staying the night?" May asks as she hold Leo's hand.
"If you want me to. Are you okay with me staying over? Your reputation isn't going to be destroyed is it?" Leo asks as he takes her hairpins out and strokes her hair.
"If I haven't destroyed my reputation on my own this certainly won't do anything. I would never have asked if I thought it was wrong to ask you to stay over. Besides, we're engaged now." May says as she runs her fingers through Leo's beautiful salt and pepper hair and places one hand on his chest.