Candy was climbing the tree, her heart pounding, and the sun was pleasantly warm on her cheeks.
"I love him!" sang something inside her heart, and some happy expectation hid inside.
Having reached the highest twig, miss White sat on it with her legs hanging down and pressed her cheek against the trunk.
If the girl could see how she looked to others, she would be surprised how lovingly she was staring at Neil's small figure down there. He was kicking stones, as usual, walking back and forth impatiently.
Her lips formed an unintended smile:
"What a temper!"
She started to like everything in him - his moves, his shoulders, his ironic raising of the eyebrows, his smile, his walk, his look…
"Father Tree, I think I'm in love…" Candy whispered, pressing closer to the tree, as though it was a living being. "Oh, please, Father Tree, let everything be all right!"
Fear scratched her heart like a cold needle. Will everything be all right? Will they stay together? After all, his family hates her…
Doctor Leonard got her troubled when he spoke about marriage. Neil hadn't said anything about that yet. And for some reason Candy was now upset about it…
If they could only run away from the world to a place where they could be together, just the two of them! Everything would be so much easier and clearer.
But it was only a dream. She had to find a way to get along with his family, and he had to get on well with Annie and Archie… And what about mister Albert? She still hadn't replied to him.
"Oh, Father Tree… Do you remember how I used to climb you when I was little? Everything was so simple back then. And now…"
Candy hugged the trunk once again.
"Please, Father Tree! Let everything be all right!"
Then the girl started to descend.
…Neil had already paced the path several times, when he looked up once again. There she is, coming down! The white bloomers are getting closer, so defenceless against the experienced hand of a man!
Her body, her scent, her hair, her eyes and her lips were getting closer…
After all, sooner or later, she would be his anyway, so why not now?
The ground was warm, the grass was soft, he could spread his jacket on the ground, and they would be perfectly comfortable.
That would be so natural - to make her his own right here, right now, where the world seemed to have frozen and focused in a happy tranquility, with the sun shining and no one around…
Passion had completely clouded his mind, he could not think of anything else but their bodies joining together as one. He could not wait any longer! He'd rather die or disappear than wait for another moment.
Candy was almost on the ground, he could see her red cheeks, he could almost hear her ragged breathing, as though after the night of love…
Neil reached out and caught the girl to help her descend, and she fell into his arms like a mellow fruit.
Legan kissed her at once, he could not wait any longer. His arms held her closer, and every time he kissed Candy, he put even more passion that was burning him from the inside.
His hands moved lower, but this time Candy didn't get scared - on the contrary, the eager sensation in her stomach exulted and roused to his touch. She twined her arms around his neck, plunging her fingers into his hair.
The girl closed her eyes, having completely surrendered to her feelings, responding to his kisses and getting new, more passionate and exciting ones…
"Candy! Candy is here!"
The young people started back from each other, as if they had been electrocuted. Trying their best to catch their breath, tidy their hair and readjust the clothes, they saw them…
"Little bastards!" Neil screamed in his mind, looking at the figures of little people. Yes, it was them. The kids of Pony's Home.
He thought we would just die of his desire. God damn them!
"Sally! John! Kelly!" Candy cried joyfully, rushing towards the kids and getting down to her knees to hug every one of them.
Little brats surrounded his beloved girlfriend like ants, and Neil could hear some indistinct whoops.
"How is Miss Pony? How is Sister Lane? I'm fine! Do you still pee in your bed? How is Mina?"
Finally, Legan lost his patience and came closer. Everyone looked back at him and hushed up, examining him.
"Who is this man?" the smallest kid asked. "Your husband?"
Candy became as red as her dress. Neil said nothing and just smiled broadly. The kids from her Home, so she's the one to explain everything to them!
"Husband… why husband?" she began to babble. "He is… just…"
"You were kissing!" the kid delivered his judgment, pointing at Neil with a convicting gesture. "And we know that adults kiss only when they are husband and wife!"
"Or bride and groom!" added a girl with pigtails that were adorned with red ribbons.
The kids stared at Candy again.
"Bride and groom. Yes, we are bride and groom," she murmured, helplessly looking around in search of support.
Neil smiled even wider. Those words were so pleasant to hear.
Then he finally came to rescue her. Having suggested that the kids should see Candy to her Mothers, he said he would drive up to Pony's Home right after them.
"Candy's a bride! Candy's a bride!" screamed the little executioners, pulling their elder friend's arms towards Pony's Home…