The afternoon was rapidly turning into evening but nobody wanted to go home. Blankets and lanterns were taken out of car trunks. Camilla pulled out guitar much to everyone's surprise and now as the sun was setting everyone was sat around the lanterns and flashlights having a sing-a-long.

Jackson took Erica's arm and led her away from the merriment.

He walked her to a secluded spot by the boat house and they sat down together on the decking, the strains of 'Bingo was his name-o' their musical backdrop.

"Have you had a good day?" Jackson asked.

"It's been a perfect day." said Erica with a smile, but then it faltered. "It's been… everything I should have dreamed of."

"Hey don't go there. This is the new you. The 'you' that is moving forward."

"Yes it is." said Erica straightening up.

"And we are moving forward together." said Jackson softly, taking her hand.

Erica gave him a million dollar smile.

"Yes we are."

"And because of that…" began Jackson.

Still holding her hand, he reached into his pocket as he got down on one knee in front of Erica.

"…Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Erica was speechless as he pulled out a ring box. He opened it to reveal the beautiful diamond engagement ring he had presented her with twice before.

"I can't." gasped Erica.

"What?" asked Jackson faltering; that was not the answer he had been expecting.

"I'm sorry." said Erica. "I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But the second I put that ring on my finger something goes wrong and I don't want that to happen. "

Erica stroked Jackson's cheek.

"I really don't want that to happen."

Jackson smiled.

"What if I brought you a different ring?"

"The ring doesn't matter." said Erica, "And I've been married enough times to know that. All that matters is you and me and our family."

"Then I shall take that as a not yet." said Jackson as he put the ring back in his pocket and sat back down beside her, slipping his arm around her shoulder as they looked out over the lake.

Erica leaned back into his arms. The singing and laughing drifting down from the hill behind them

"Don't you feel it?" sighed Erica "Right now, this is all that matters."

…

It took them a moment to realise the singing had stopped and voices were calling their names.

Kendal walked down to meet them, Ian fast asleep in her arms.

"So this is where you sneaked off to." she said "We wanted to say thank you for a wonderful day but the kids are beat, we really need to get them home to bed."

Erica kissed her daughters cheek.

"Thank you, I'm so glad you came."

"Same time next year?" said Jack taking the sleeping Ian from her arms

They walked together to the pool of lantern light to say their farewells and goodnights.

The first new annual Montgomery Family Picnic had turned out to be a surprising success.

…