Another cold December had arrived. So much had happened since the warm summer months. June had brought happiness and sadness. July had ushered in hot days and even hotter nights. The anticipated trip to the mountains had finally happened with some very honest and candid campfire conversations. Noelle didn't even move back in to her house until the end of the month. Leonardo felt a certain emptiness in his home and in his heart when she moved back to her house. August brought Mia's birthday and a party along the river banks at her border home that ended with a bang. Edward got a job promotion in September and celebrated with none other than Leonardo, Sothe and Nolan. Sothe won seven straight hands of poker that night and plenty of gold coins. October's leaves turned brilliant hues and with the change came a major change in Noelle's bank account. She came into an immense sum of money due to four years of back pay plus interest from sewing uniforms for the Bengion army that the country owed her. It was so much in fact that she and Leonardo could rub shoulders with Nevassa's elite inner circle…they never did. No one knew about the inheritance except Leonardo, Edward and Mia. November roared in with a major snow storm stranding Mia at Edward's house for over a week…darn the bad luck. Edward had a lot of firsts to share with Leonardo. December was here and the winter dinner at Sothe and Micaiah's had come around again.
Edward licked his lips. "We've had this ale before."
"We have?" Leonardo asked sniffing the pumpkin spice ale.
"Yeah, yeah. I remember this flavor. I think we've had it here before. Hey, you want to split some stuffed mushrooms? I'm starving!" Edward said.
"I'd love to. You know what, you should have come over the other night. Noelle made Portobello mushroom caps stuffed with crabmeat, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. You missed it, we played cards and she popped out a delicious white wine." Leonardo said.
"I know! I should have come over but I was exhausted from work. The wine probably would have helped me relax." Edward said. "So, the winter dinner is in a week. Are we going to make loaves of bread again like we did last year?"
"We sure are." Leonardo said.
"What do you think the news is Micaiah has to tell us?" Edward asked.
"She's going to tell us she's pregnant, I just know it. She and Sothe have been married for two years and you know how Micaiah loves to make herself the center of attention at the dinner." Leonardo said.
"Do you really think that's what she and Sothe are going to announce?" Edward asked wide eyed.
"Definitely." Leonardo said finishing the ale in front of him.
"I can't imagine Sothe being a father…that's like…Nolan being a father. I guess we'll find out next week. So, I can't believe it's nearly been a year that you and Noelle have been together." Edward said. Leonardo smiled.
"I know. God…this time last year I was terrified to even ask her to this stupid thing…I never dreamed…well that we'd be where we are now."
"Oh you dreamed it…before you two ever got together you know you dreamed of that woman a thousand times…and everything you'd do to her and for her." Edward said laughing.
"Yeah…you're right…you're right. And I can't believe that you're still with a woman I thought you didn't stand a chance with. I really didn't think it would work so well for you Edward." Leonardo smiled.
"This year, I promise me and Mia won't get so wasted. I still think about how you took care of us that miserable New Year's Day." Edward said. Leonardo shook his head.
"I'd do just about anything for you Edward. For the record, after I got done taking care of you two, that day was the best nap I've ever had in my life."
"You only say that because you had Noelle's body wound around yours." Edward said.
"Of course that's why I say that. And the week Mia was snowed in with you wasn't the best week of your life because you spent it with your clothes on." Leonardo said laughing at Edward. Edward laughed with him. The stuffed mushrooms had arrived to the table.
"How long have we been coming to this place?" Edward asked.
"Ever since we wondered if we'd ever fall in love. Ever since the war ended and we wondered what it would be like to actually go on a date." Leonardo answered him.
"Yeah, which I did but you never did. Why not?" Edward asked. Leonardo shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know…I guess I never wanted to date any of the women I met…until I met Noelle." Leonardo said.
"How did you meet her anyway?" Edward asked not really knowing the full story.
"Remember when we cleaned my closets out shortly after the war ended? Well, those boxes of clothes we packed up were going to get thrown out later that night and my neighbor suggested that I give everything to Noelle Bradford. And of course, I was thinking….who? That's when my neighbor told me Noelle Bradford was a seamstress in town and could always use scrap fabric. He gave me her address, told me she did great work, and when I showed up to give her all those clothes to use as scarp fabric I became infatuated with her and only her." Edward laughed.
"See, I just remember you coming by my house clinging to her business card like it was a solid gold bar telling me that you had met the most beautiful woman you'd ever met in your life and that you were going to see if she wanted to go out with you…and you never did it! Because you were terrified she would say no." Edward said.
"Well, Edward you might be right…but if you remember you never asked Laura to go out with you." Leonardo reminded him as their waiter brought them both another pumpkin spice ale.
"I've never told you why I didn't ask her because I promised her I wouldn't…but that was well over a year ago." Edward said. Leonardo watched him curiously. Edward took a deep breath. "I never asked her because one night when you were away on a recruiting mission I ran into her in town. So, I asked her what she was doing and she was on her way to get groceries for the orphan's meals at the church. We ended up grabbing something to eat and of course she never has any more than one drink so she was sober when she told me this…I was still thinking about asking her out sometime but out of nowhere she asked about you…like as in if you were seeing anyone. She told me how she thought you were so great and so kind. I never asked her because I knew she had a thing for you and she wouldn't say yes to me."
"I never knew that, never suspected that, never….nothing…which is strange because I usually pick up on those things." Leonardo thought a moment. "That really surprises me…we're great friends and we have been for a while, but….that just surprises me."
"You know what I think? I think she was just swept away…just like you sweep every other woman without even trying. I think deep down she knew all along that you're too...I don't know what the word is...you're just too…you're out of Laura's league." Edward said. Leonardo laughed.
"Well, there's something I've not told you too…I um…before I came here to meet you I made the first down payment on Noelle's engagement ring." Leonardo said and he got the reaction he wanted. Edward sitting there about to take a bite of the stuffed mushrooms but instead staring mouth agape and his eyes about to pop out of his head.
"You did…you did WHAT!? Leonardo! You didn't even TALK to me about getting married and now here you are telling me you made a down payment on a ring!? What the hell!?" Edward said flipping out. Leonardo laughed at him.
"I wanted it to be a surprise…so…surprise!" Leonardo said.
"I can't believe this…I just…I can't…believe. Wait, Noelle came in to plenty of money why did you have to put a down payment on it?" Edward asked.
"Edward that is Noelle's money how lame would it be if I bought her ring with HER money." Leonardo said.
"But it seems like it's as much your money as hers. I mean god she lets you spend it on whatever you want!" Edward said confused.
"It's her money…not mine. The ring will be paid for in eleven months. It's beautiful. I'll take you to see it tomorrow.
"It's going to make Micaiah's ring look like something from the aftermarket leftovers isn't it? Then Sothe is going to get all crazy on you!" Edward paused. Their lives were changing in this wonderful post-war world. For a moment Edward panicked and wondered if he were going to lose Leonardo…but that would never, ever, ever happen. Marriage changes some things, but never this.
"You know, I want to get married at the coast…I wanted to go there with her long ago but that didn't happen now did it? We all should go to the coast and make a big trip out of it." Leonardo said. Edward laughed and shook his head.
"You're the only guy I know that would actually plan this far ahead. Why Leonardo!? Why must you always have a plan for everything!" Edward asked. Leonardo smiled.
"The same reason you never have a plan for anything and rush recklessly into things without thinking twice!" Leonardo reminded him. Edward raised his glass.
"Here's to keeping up that tradition. You do the thinking…I'll do the impulsive things!" Edward clanged his glass into Leonardo's
"Edward…thanks. You know, for not screaming across this entire tavern." Leonardo said.
"No, no. Thank YOU….Leonardo…for doing it all first and letting me learn from you. It's always been that way and it always will be." Edward said.
And that's what friends are for.