"It's right here." Jenny held it up. "It must have fallen out of your pocket."
"Thank God!" Jack took the ring from her and handed it to Reverend Snow, who in turn handed it to Leslie.
"With this ring I thee wed," Leslie said, sliding it onto Janet's finger.
"By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," said Reverend Snow. "You may kiss the bride."
Leslie lifted Janet's veil and kissed her lips, and then everyone cheered and threw rice. After that, Janet embraced her family members and said good-bye to them.
"I can't believe my little girl's actually married now!" Tears were in Ruth's eyes as she embraced her daughter.
"You take good care of her," Roland told Leslie as he shook his hand.
"Oh, I will, sir," Leslie promised.
At last it was time to leave for the airport. Janet and Leslie loaded their suitcases into the car's trunk, and then they were off. Janet watched the passing scenery with a growing sense of nostalgia. Her memories since her arrival in California swept through her mind: going to work at the flower shop, living with Chrissy and Eleanor, finding Jack in the bathtub, the departure of Chrissy and arrival of Cindy, the departure of Cindy and arrival of Terri.
Without realizing it, she smiled. "Excited?" asked Leslie.
She nodded. "A little nervous, too."
He squeezed her hand. "Everything will be fine."
A short time later, they were sitting in the airplane, waiting to take off. "I can't believe that, less than a year ago, I didn't even know you, and now you're my husband!" Janet exclaimed.
"I'm no less surprised," Leslie replied. "A year ago today, marriage was the farthest thing from my mind. I was so wrapped up in my career, in wondering if I could make it on the other side of the pond, I'd put everything else on a back burner. I dated some, sure, but it never turned into anything serious."
"I sure hope your parents like me," said Janet.
Leslie chuckled. "I'm sure you've nothing to fear. Mum's already enchanted with you. She told me she can't wait to meet the young woman who finally got her randy lad to settle down."
It occurred to Janet that she knew virtually nothing at all about her new husband's past; that, given his age, it may, in fact, be quite rakish.
"You have nothing to fear, love," Leslie reassured her. "Those days are all over for me. You're the only woman I'll ever want."
"Oh, I wasn't worried about that." Janet's response was fast, perhaps a bit too fast. "I'm just a bit tired. That's all."
"It has been quite a morning." He held her close. "Plenty of time to rest before we reach London, love."
She rested her head on his shoulder, trying to relax. Moments later, he heard her gentle snoring.
They were high over the Atlantic Ocean when they were awakened for the evening meal. Finding herself ravenous, she ate every bite. "So does airplane food suit you, then?" laughed Leslie, who'd eaten most of his as well.
"When I'm this hungry, anything suits me," Janet replied.
Sleep was fitful for her that night. She found trying to doze in a reclining position awkward and uncomfortable, and the movements and noises of the other passengers disturbed her even further.
Early the following morning, she and Leslie were served cereal and yogurt, and soon afterward, the airplane was circling over the thatched roofs of houses. "Wow, I'm really in England now!" she exclaimed.
Leslie laughed.
They soared over a parking lot, and she looked down at the cars. "That's amazing!"
"What is?" asked Leslie.
"All those cars down there with the steering wheels on the other side. I've never seen that before!"
"I have, lots of times." He pinched her cheek, and she giggled.
Leslie's parents, Fred and Margaret, were waiting for them at the airport in London. Fred was partially bald and wore shades. Margaret had short white hair and bright blue eyes and bore a strong resemblance to her son. "Mum, Dad." Leslie hugged each of them in turn. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Janet."
"Hello, dear." Margaret gave Janet a warm, maternal hug. "It's lovely to finally meet you. Leslie has told us so much about you."
"It's good to meet you, too." Janet hugged her back, then hugged Fred. "How's your health doing now?" she asked him.
"I'm fine now. Thanks for asking." As they walked back to the car, Janet noticed that he had a slight limp.
Riding along the highway in the English countryside, Janet marveled at the verdant hillside that was so different from the flat terrain of California. "It's gorgeous!" she breathed.
"It is," Leslie agreed. "It's one of the things about home I miss most when I'm in the States."
At last they arrived at the Bennington home, which was in a middle-class neighborhood in Fulham. It was made of red brick and had a thatched roof and a chimney. It was two stories high and was bordered by a small fence and a neatly trimmed hedge, which enclosed a small front lawn.
"You two must be exhausted from your journey," Margaret said to Janet and Leslie as soon as they were inside. "Why don't you rest up a bit."
As if on cue, Janet yawned, and Leslie chuckled. "Come on, love. I'll show you to the spare bedroom."
They took the suitcases into it, and when Janet saw the fluffy white comforter on the double bed, she couldn't resist lying down on it right away and was asleep within seconds. Leslie got a quilt out of the closet in the hallway and covered her with it.
