"I swear," Podo grumbled. "I'll eat my hat if that boy hasn't proposed by now."

Wendolyn shook her head, smiling. "In time. He only just asked us last night."

He glanced out the window. "It's just a question," he said to himself. "And I'm not the one asking it. Why do I feel so nervous?"

His wife laughed. "Relax, dear. It'll happen when Esben is ready. No sooner, no later."

He grunted in reply and watched the young couple as they strolled together, talking and laughing. After a short time, he went into the kitchen. Wendolyn smiled. She could hear him opening and closing cupboards and shook her head, chuckling. Men, nerves, and proposals never seemed to get along well, whether they were the ones posing the question or not.

After another half-hour, Nia came inside, her cheeks bright and rosy after the walk. At the sound of her light footstep, Podo poked his head out of the kitchen, raising an eyebrow at her.

Nia smiled widely, quizzically. "What is it Father?"

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Did anything happen?"

Nia tilted her head. "Like what?"

Podo let out a grunt of frustration and disappeared again. Nia removed her light shawl, hanging it on the peg by the door, a light in her eyes. After a moment, Podo leaned out of the kitchen again.

"Nothing happened?"

Nia raised an eyebrow. Wendolyn smiled as she observed her daughter, who was smiling wider than she'd seen in a long time. "What do you mean?" Her voice was hiding laughter.

Podo grunted a third time and disappeared.

Nia laughed gaily as she called Podo back in. "I'm joking, Father. Yes! Esben and I are engaged!" She held out her hand, from which a dainty ring glinted.

Podo let out a groan as he emerged once more. "At last. I was beginning to think it would never happen."

After the briefest pause, he crossed the room in three large steps and wrapped Nia in a hug. "We're so proud of you, Nia."

Wendolyn rose from where she sat, smiling broadly as she joined in the hug. "Congratulations, dear."

After a moment, Nia left to convince Esben it was alright for him to come in after her joke to Podo, and the rest of the evening was spent in front of the fire, talking and laughing and celebrating for the new addition to the family.

The ending to this is absolutely terrible, but I can't come up with anything better right now. So this is what you get. xD