Valancy spends her first day alone in a mixture of leisure and activities around her island home. She finds time to work in the garden during the morning then passing the afternoon reading a book while petting Banjo the cat. Her neighbors have boated-over in the evening to inquire on how she is doing and to bring her a basket of wild strawberries. They didn't often have callers in their cabin and Valancy knew that Barney had something to do with their checking-in. The visit was brief yet pleasant and Valancy appreciated their kindness and the opportunity to get to know them herself. Later at night, Valancy sets on the front porch wrapped in Barney's old quilt and drinking a warm cup of tea. She looks up at a pale glowing moon overhead.
Many miles away from home, Barney steps out of a tall city building. He is talking with an elderly man who is dressed in business attire. The man gives a quick wave before he sets-off on his own through the crowd on the sidewalk. Barney looks up at that same pale moon overhead. The honk of an automobile's horn brings his attention back down. He smiles as he notices a prominent jewelry shop across the street called "Aynsleys". He finds a break in the traffic and crosses over in that direction.
Valancy was not surprised when the next afternoon brought another visitor to the lake island cabin that she and Barney had affectionately named The Blue Castle. It was their dearest friend "Roaring" Abel. He had come to announce that he has found a new housekeeper, not one as good as Valancy had once been for him and his ailing daughter but a decent one to stop-in every afternoon when needed none the less. His maid-for-hire was very good at making jam preserves and he wanted to share a couple jars with them. Valancy offered to make him dinner as a trade to which he was much obliged. It was a pleasant afternoon so they dined on the back porch.
"The married life suits ye." Abel observes as he pushes his empty dinner plate aside. "I never would've thought of ye to run off with good old Barney and now he's got himself a missus. I don't guess ya mind my sayin' that?" He scratched at the whiskers on his chin and leaned back in his chair. "I don't guess ya mind my sayin' that I'd never thought of ya as a beauty but your appearance is so much cheerier now. And look at the pretty ankles of her." He complimented as he took out his pipe and lit it.
"I know it as well as anyone. I've learned to accept my appearance but I won't let it stop me from anything now." Valancy poured more tea into his cup before leaning back in her own chair.
"That's a girl. I must say tho', ye keep that husband 'o yours far too busy. I hardly ever get a visit from him, or you for that matter."
"I miss those times... sitting on the back steps of your house, listening to you talk about working your way around the country while Barney talked of his adventures living in the Yukon and working on boats to cross over to England and other far-off places. I envy all of the traveling that you two have done each on your own."
"Yeah, and little Cissy would be dreaming away in the hammock as we talked. That's one thing that I missed in all my traveling that lucky 'ol Barney still has a chance for... and that's family. Marriage, it is a wonderful thing." Abel mused as he drew smoke from his old wooden pipe.
Valancy looks away into the shallow waters by the lakeshore while deep in thought.
"When it's going to last."
Abel looks at her in a puzzled yet concerned way. Valancy becomes eager to change the subject.
"Now that we've finished dinner, how about a game of chess?" She suggests.
"And a good idea at that." Abel answers with cheer.
The very next morning brings yet another visitor although Valancy is almost certain that Barney had nothing to do with this one...
