Ben confirmed he just need to gather things together in his overnight bag and put his shoes on, then apologised that he hadn’t made as much effort as Marcie, which she dismissed offhand. She followed him through to the bedroom to collect her own bag, deciding to dig out a lacey white shawl of delicate crochet at the last moment too. As Ben admiringly watched her drape it across her bare shoulders, she teasingly checked that he had something to wear as pyjamas so that he wouldn’t embarrass himself when they tucked themselves up on Sofie and Geoff’s sofa-bed. Then, after a final check that they’d turned all the lights off, Marcie went to the fridge to pick up the bottle of wine they’d bought especially while Ben put his shoes on, before they finally stepped out of the front door. Ben confirmed he’d drive as they walked the short distance to Marcie’s sparklingly clean car under the light clearing sky of early evening, and it was barely any time at all before they were pulling into their friends’ suburban street.

Once they’d been buzzed in at the flats’ front door and made their way up the utilitarian communal stairs, it was Geoff who opened the front door to them and ushered them inside. He was dressed in a loose white shirt himself now rather than the tough old rugby top he’d worn earlier, though his white gold chain was still visible under its open collar. He enthusiastically wished Ben happy birthday again, wrapping him in a firm bear hug after greeting Marcie, following her lead to kiss her on both cheeks, carefully and a little stiffly, as he took the offered bottle of wine from her. Ben thought he’d noticed a waft of alcohol on Geoff’s breath and wondered at that as he thanked Geoff again for the cheeky birthday card. Then Ben and Marcie followed Geoff into the flat’s kitchen, after dropping their bags in the hallway, where they caught Sofie just lifting a great casserole pot back into the oven, its rich savoury smell making Ben’s mouth water with anticipation.

She gave a sort of squeal of excitement as she saw them and cast her oven gloves aside, quickly apologising for being tied up with the dinner and explaining that she’d thought to put the bread in the oven when she heard them ring the bell. As she spoke, she opened her arms to Marcie, who went forwards to embrace her and kiss her cheeks in an uninhibited way. Then she turned to Ben, wishing him happy birthday as she raised her arms to him too, shaking out the baggy sleeves of the seventies retro blouse that she was wearing as she did so. Ben cautiously put his hands to her shoulders and thought to kiss her cheek, but she caught him by surprise as she playfully grabbed his ears to plant her lips quickly but firmly on his.

“You must tell me all that you have been up to today, birthday boy,” she said teasingly as she released him, “Geoff told me about your huge big trunk of wood which you swung into Marcie’s backyard this morning. It sounds like a thrill, but your gorgeous girlfriend knows I must hear all the details!”

“Maybe Marcie had better say then,” Ben responded cautiously, catching the smirk that the two women were sharing. But he also thought to politely ask, “But what have you two been up to today, since we saw Geoff?”

Sofie made a scoffing noise as she said that they’d been to look at potential wedding reception venues, turning to the cupboard to get some glasses out, and then Geoff explained that he’d let himself get a bit carried away. “Sofe was driving, you see, but it seems it’s a thing that some of these places do, to give you samples of the drinks they’d serve, to soften you up for a quick reservation and down payment I suppose. In this one place down by the river I wound up having more than a few little tasters of their wines, ales and whiskies which they wanted to show off, ‘From our cellar, just to give you an idea of what we could serve for your special day.’ It’s a cruelly tempting trick that some of the not so special venues use.”

Ben laughed with Geoff as he shook his head ruefully, then before he could catch himself, blurted out, “I guess we’ll soon find that out for ourselves now.”

Sofie spun around at this hint, obviously immediately guessing at what Ben had let slip. Putting the glasses she held down firmly on the kitchen top, she asked, “What’s this? Have you two got some news to tell us?”

By way of answer, Marcie gave a coy grin as she shyly raised her left hand to display the ring Ben had given her that afternoon. Sofie’s reaction was instantaneous as she let out a much louder squeal of delight, raising her arms again to envelope both Marcie and Ben this time, pulling both in towards her for a kind of group hug. “Congratulations!” she cried in excitement, “You are so good together, truly, I am super glad you saw it. We can celebrate together now, make a foursome when we share our vows! Not like polygamy, being a polyamorous foursome,” she hastily clarified, laughing at the idea, “I just mean we can share the ceremony and the party afterwards if we want.”

“Thank you,” Marcie said, squeezing Sofie tight to both her and Ben as she kissed her on the cheek once again. Ben could tell she was happily at ease with being so close to Sofie and Geoff, emotionally as well as physically, as she went on, “That’s very generous of you, but we don’t need to rush at anything. I’m only just getting used to the idea of being engaged, of having a fiancé! Ben caught me completely by surprise in the dunes on Holy Island this afternoon.”

“I imagine he did!” Sofie said with another laugh, still holding them both tightly to her slim body.

Geoff had stepped forwards to put his arms around Ben and Marcie’s shoulder’s too, encircling them as he said, in a low voice to Ben specifically it seemed, “Aye, congratulations matey. I always knew you’d find the right one in the end. You worked out she’s a keeper quicker than I did with Sofe. Nice one.”

Geoff pulled away first, then Sofie stepped back too once she’d said “congratulations” again and given them both another pair of wet kisses on their cheeks. As she shook her shoulders, she sighed and put her hand to her eye, making Ben realise that she’d actually cried a little at their news, then she sniffed and said, “Oh, look at me, getting all wet! It is all very exciting! I was going to ask you both if you wanted a gin and tonic, but I think now we should drink Champagne. I am sorry we have none.”

“A gin and tonic would be lovely, thank you,” Marcie said, laying her hand on Sofie’s arm as if to set her mind at ease. “We had a bit of fizzy wine on the beach for our picnic, actually, but we spilt some of it, and there were another couple there, well sort-of couple, a pair of old bikers from Berwick who saw Ben propose and wanted to congratulate us.”

“I want you to tell me all about it,” Sofie said eagerly, “But drinks first.” She confirmed that Ben was happy with a gin and tonic too, saying that she would join them. She was sceptical when Geoff said he’d have a weak one too, but he promised her he’d take it slowly.

As she got them ready with ice and lemon, Marcie started explaining some of the details of their picnic in the dunes, mentioning that after they’d eaten their sandwiches and had “a little cuddle”, Ben had got them both to stand up so that he could go down on one knee. Sofie took Marcie’s hand to have a close look at the ring as Marcie explained that she’d been totally caught by surprise and made a bit of a scene. She described it as, “Proper waterworks, with a bubbling nose and everything. It’s a wonder Ben didn’t change his mind on the spot!”

As he reached out to affectionately take Marcie’s hand, Ben reassured her, as well as Sofie and Geoff, that there was no way that would have happened. He explained that he was absolutely sure that they were doing the right thing, and that they’d spoken about it before anyway, so perhaps it wasn’t as big a surprise as all that.

Sofie had passed the drinks around as they’d been speaking, and now she raised her glass to say congratulations once again, which Geoff echoed. They clinked their glasses together as Marcie and Ben thanked them, then they all enthusiastically said cheers as they each took a sip. As his mouthful slipped nicely down his throat, Ben judged that Sofie had mixed them a strong one, but he just remarked that it tasted good.

Then Sophie got them to take their drinks through to the living room as she asked Marcie especially about the couple who’d seen them then. It seemed she wanted to confirm they were genuine strangers and innocent bystanders, but she also asked perceptively whether they’d been lurking for a while and had seen the two of them have their little cuddle. As they slumped into the pair of sofas, covered by dark blanket throws and arranged around Geoff’s new flatscreen television, Marcie described more of what had happened whilst remaining vague about the details. Geoff knelt down to fiddle with the hi-fi’s fancy multi-disc CD player, quietly starting the shuffled music with Radiohead’s familiar Paranoid Android, as she explained that the biker couple had given them a kind of Viking blessing while they’d shared a sip of wine. However Ben thought he could tell by Sofie’s knowing smile that she suspected there was more to the story, and guessed that she may ply Marcie for further details later. Marcie meanwhile was diverting the narrative away from the more intimate and embarrassing finer points by explaining that the woman they’d met was a genuine Heathen celebrant, who’d invoked the Norse gods in her blessing, and had also in fact offered to officiate at their marriage ceremony.

Sofie was intrigued, and began asking about whether Marcie hadn’t imagined getting married in a Catholic church. The way that she spoke, it seemed to Ben almost as if she’d assumed they would now be organising a joint ceremony and she was trying to find an arrangement that would suit both couples’ expectations. But she seemed to catch herself and pull back from that discussion almost immediately, saying, “I am sorry. You said that you are just getting used to the idea, and that is right. We can all take time and talk about this in weeks and months to come, together only if you want.”

Marcie reassured her that it would be fun to plan things together, and, with a glance at Ben on the sofa next to her, added that they could think seriously about having a double wedding, saying that it could be a really lovely thing to do if all of them were sure about it. Ben took her hand and squeezed it in a supportive way as he echoed Marcie’s view, saying that it might add to the spectacle for all their guests if they saw them tie two knots at once.

From his relaxed slump on the sofa next to Sofie, cuddling his slim fiancé to his chest with a heavy arm around her shoulder, Geoff remarked that it sounded as if Ben was talking about it as if it were a sailing trick, or something from his new climbing hobby. Ben agreed, thinking aloud that it maybe was a bit like tying into a rope with your belay partner, checking each other’s knots and loops to make sure you were safe and secure for the risks and slips ahead.

Ben checked whether Sofie knew that he’d run into the firefighter called Cai again, then explained that he’d invited Ben out to see how he took to rock climbing. Ben repeated the thought that he’d shared with Marcie when he’d taken Cai up on his offer. He wondered if the big active man had perhaps felt sympathy for Ben after the fire, maybe even thinking, “There but for the grace of God go I,” when he’d seen Ben’s ruined tree climbing equipment and heard about his loss of livelihood.

He went on to also explain that Marcie had actually given him some new climbing shoes as a birthday present that morning, so that he could start trying some more serious pitches with Cai and his climbing buddies the next time they were out. That prompted Sofie to ask with a provocatively sly smile if he’d liked the other birthday present that Marcie had given him. Ben felt his cheeks warm as his mind speculated as to what she meant, guessing that she wasn’t referring to the toy pirate.

Then Marcie confirmed, “She knows about the dress, Ben. I don’t know how it came up, about how men sometimes like a woman in uniform. It was probably a bit like Geoff’s joke, ‘The boys are only after one thing,’ though you know us girls are pretty keen on it too. Anyway, when I said how poorly made the so-called sexy dress-up costumes in shops were, she became very enthusiastic about helping me to make my own. It was Sofie who gave me the pattern, helping me to pick out the fabric too, and even to size panels up against me with a tape measure. She gave me some tips for Shona’s sewing machine when I got stuck and called her in a panic too. So I guess you’ve actually got Sofie as much as me to thank for the dress I showed you this morning.”

Ben was sure that he was blushing now as he met Sofie’s eye and said sincerely, “Well, thank you, Sofie. It was a big surprise, and I enjoyed it very much. I’m glad Marcie wore it, I mean. She was amazing in it,” he blundered on, becoming more and more embarrassed as he went on.

“Good,” Sofie said with a cheekily knowing smile, “It sounds like a big success, like you two both had a nice big surprise today. It is no wonder that you all had such very big smiles when I saw you come into the kitchen!”

“What’s this?” Geoff asked blearily in confusion, “You helped Marcie make her dress? It’s very nice. The style suits you. The shawl is nice too, and I really like your boots.”

Ben glanced at Marcie, and thought he saw her cheeks colouring too, but Sofie came to their rescue in a way by saying, “Not that one, it is another dress that is just for Ben to see. Like my special red one with the holes and the strings for you to loosen. You know which I mean?”

Ben tried to suppress the images that spontaneously arose of Sofie in some kind of erotic lace-up outfit, looking so much skinnier than Marcie, as indecent gaps in the red material revealed intimate parts of her body. However, he couldn’t help his imagination spontaneously conjuring up an indecent vision of her, curled up on the sofa in a short skin-tight PVC tube that barely covered her narrow hips and flat chest, even though a more rational part of his mind doubted whether such a thing could be made on a home sewing machine. But Ben saw that it was now Geoff’s turn to look embarrassed as understanding dawned on him. The big man withdrew his arm from Sophie’s shoulder to cradle his drink and mutter, “Yes, I know the one, I understand now. Sorry, I can see now why that kind of dress may not be suitable for wearing out, to come across town for a meal with friends.”

Sofie put her own glass down quickly to pull her knees up and wriggle around on the sofa, giving Geoff a comforting hug and maybe a teasing tickle as she dug her hands under his armpits, saying, “Have we embarrassed you now, my honey bear? And anyway, maybe it is not so bad for the girls to wear sexy clothes with good friends. Also the dress that Marcie sewed is not so naughty, just a white pinafore, easy to make, at least easier than this blouse as an example, I hope. You found a special watch like a nurse has, to measure the heart, is that right Marcie? Was Ben’s heart very fast when it was used?”

Ben guessed that Geoff had now understood exactly what Sofie had helped Marcie to make to help fulfil his own private fantasies by way of a birthday treat, but his friend was studiously avoiding eye contact, looking down at the clinking ice in the glass that he held in both hands. Ben tried thinking of something to say to cover his own embarrassment too, coming out with, “We didn’t actually get the chance to see, the time to try, for Marcie to try using the watch, I mean, to work it like a professional. I think my heart was fine though, and my lungs too.”

Geoff seized what might have seemed like a lifeline to him, to divert the conversation back to safer topics, as he raised his eyes with seemingly genuine concern and asked, “Yes, how are your lungs, matey? You obviously have those little coughs still. Are you going to see the consultant again?”

Ben explained that he didn’t expect a follow-up appointment for six months or so if all went well. He couldn’t remember what he’d already told Geoff, or if Sofie would know the story, so he summarised everything again for them both.

He explained that the consultant had confirmed that his lungs were permanently scarred by the pneumoconiosis, caused by the years of inhaling sawdust. He mentioned this had microscopic particles of irritating silica in it, which grew naturally in the wood of some species especially, blunting his chainsaws. They made sympathetic noises as he explained that lung damage wouldn’t heal, reassuring them that it wouldn’t get worse so long as he avoided the dust and other risky things like smoke. After tests, the specialists had also confirmed that he gave an allergic response to red cedar, and he’d been told this sensitivity might have arisen quite recently from excessive contact. As Ben understood it, that had been a big factor in his first serious asthma attack at the gym, when his damaged lungs would have already been inflamed. He said that it was comforting to know that another serious attack was very unlikely now that he knew what to avoid, and now that he had an inhaler to use at the first sign of tight breathing too.

Geoff and Sofie were both very sympathetic, while Marcie patiently listened to the facts once more, holding his hand in a comforting way. Sofie interrupted him though, glancing to the railway-style clock on the wall as she said that she wanted to hear more, but that the stew and bread were ready. They all eagerly stood up, Marcie leaving her shawl draped on the sofa, ready to follow Sofie to the kitchen. However Geoff insisted that Marcie and Ben take a seat at the little square dining table which was tucked against the living-rooms balcony window whilst he and Sofie got things ready. He suggested they have red wine to go with the meat, rather than the white that Marcie had kindly brought, but he offered beer instead if they wanted it and promised to fill a jug of fresh water for them all.

Ben confirmed that wine would be great, knocking back what was left of his gin and tonic, which the melted ice made refreshingly watery, and Marcie agreed, passing her own empty glass over to Geoff when he offered to take them through. Marcie and Ben both said how delicious everything smelt as Sofie brought through first the fresh loaf, which she told them was a little like soda bread, and then the great pot of stew. She explained it was based on a recipe from the Brandenberg region, with green beans as well as lamb, but that it was really just an easy one-pot meal that anything could go into. Ben looked furtively towards Marcie as Sofie mentioned the stew’s main ingredient, and she caught his eye, raising her dark eyebrow and smirking. Then she laughed aloud as she happily admitted that she and Ben had just been saying earlier that morning what a delicious meaty treat lamb was.

Once they’d settled down and raised their glasses of wine that Geoff had filled to say cheers again, Sofie picked up their previous conversation, asking about the treatment that Ben was getting for his lungs whilst serving up their bowlfuls of stew. Ben thanked her for his generous dishful of food, commenting on how appetising it seemed as he realised just how hungry he was, then he explained that there was no cure, but he had an inhaler to use regularly, a different one to his emergency puffer, which gave his lungs a dose of steroids twice a day. He said that he’d been very glad to hear from the consultant that the new exercise regime that he’d started was exactly the right thing to do. There had been a special phrase for it, ‘pulmonary rehabilitation,’ but to Ben’s simplified view this had just been about steady cardio exercise for endurance and stamina, rather than something like more specialised training for strength or physiotherapy.

Geoff said he sympathised with that, whilst admitting he was doing less strength training himself these days, but he also said that he guessed Ben was doing far less physically demanding work in his new job. Sophie wanted to hear all about that too, so Ben explained his new part-time arrangement with the landscape gardening practice. He mentioned that the options would have been quite limited for him if he were to have remained with the Armstrong Trust, perhaps with office administration of works to support his old boss Harry, which he thought was not very appealing, so they had very helpfully set him up with one of their long-standing contractors. He felt he’d been lucky to be taken in by his new boss, Kirsty. He was quite in awe of everything that she knew about plants, but she seemed grateful to him for being able to do the steady physical work that she was finding harder, with the aches and pains she’d said that she was more prone to since turning fifty. Ben even shared his more fanciful speculation that in the longer term she might even imagine him as someone to take over the whole business when she retired.

Sofie teased Marcie about getting jealous of Kirsty, getting sweaty with her fiancé in all weathers. However Marcie obviously knew Ben’s real feelings about his new mentor well, as she was quick to reassure him of his suitability to learn from Kirsty. She also pointed out that Ben would be starting his horticultural course soon, so he would get a lot more confident in his knowledge of plant-lore through that. She knew his worries well though, as she assuaged his anxieties about that once again by promising to help him, “With all the book stuff.” Ben thanked her again for slyly arranging university library membership for him too, repeating his feelings about the help this would be for their hosts’ benefit. Marcie also remarked that Ben was considering taking his studies and practice forwards into genuine landscape design in the longer term, saying that Ben was spending more time with his sketchbook and richly playful designs.

Ben dismissed his talent in that area though, admitting that the ideas he put down there were really just doodles for mind mapping. He mentioned that he’d also wondered how the climbing might develop in the longer term though, and whether he could become a certified instructor for kids, and adults wanting to learn too - given that there was so much cross-over with his old tree safety on the ropes, with the harnesses, anchor points and so on. He summarised by saying that his future options really were wide open, with lots of exciting potential paths to explore.

Despite this wool-gathering, Sofie picked up on Marcie’s remark about helping Ben with his studies, then she asked her to tell her more about her own news from the university, once she’d prompted Geoff to top up their glasses. Marcie thanked Geoff for the wine as she took a sip, complimenting Sofie on the delicious food once again too, then began trying to make sense of the narrative for how her own work was settling down.

She explained that after the crisis with Richard, her second tutor from the library had weighed in with a huge amount of encouragement and support, leaning on her colleagues in the School of Computing more heavily to do so, Marcie suspected. That meant she’d not needed to find a brand new supervisor at all, which had been a great relief. She observed that Angela, an academic information scientist on the library staff, seemed to have grown with confidence as she’d stepped up to become Marcie’s sole PhD supervisor. She’d supported Marcie as she’d briefly toyed with the idea of diverting her ontology programming into the natural sciences, picking up on all that botanical classification that Ben knew. But she’d also reassured Marcie that she probably had enough material for her thesis already, persuading her that there was no need for more content from further primary research. Marcie laughed bitterly as she admitted that she shouldn’t have been so naive, but it was becoming clear that Richard had been deliberately playing down the progress she’d made, presumably so that she’d feel dependent on him for longer.

Sofie sympathised and said that Richard’s brutal fall from grace, which Marcie must have already told her about in detail, was so richly deserved. Then when Sofie asked to hear more details about her specific next steps, Marcie confirmed that she wasn’t boring them, before going on to explain more about where she was in the PhD process.

She said that her diversion into investigating the taxonomies from biology would still add a bit of context, but she was now planning to put the basics of her methodology down into her overdue milestone progress review, along with a summary of her previous extensive survey of the relevant academic literature. She felt confident that a successful review was achievable before the summer conference season, describing how it would represent a mini-thesis in its own right, which could even be assessed to award an MPhil if she got no further. She admitted that when she was at her most hopeful, thanks to Angela’s reassurance, she felt that once the formality of the review had been signed off, she might actually be getting straight into the genuine write-up of her final thesis. She concluded by admitting that she might even be able to get a properly paid academic’s job at the university while she finished, before the final assessment and award of her doctorate.

That prompted Sofie to ask how much lower Ben’s salary was now, perhaps with a careless innocence of the traditional British coyness about money, whilst she also encouraged Ben and Geoff especially to take second helpings from the casserole pot. Ben laughed as he admitted his income had taken a massive knock, trusting Geoff and Sofie to these potentially shameful details about his finances. As he helped himself to more stew, he pointed out that if their circumstances were different, he might even be eligible for disability benefits, following what would be called an industrial injury.

But then he went on to explain that the Trust had given him a generous redundancy payment, on top of the compensation pay-out that would be coming. He mentioned that Marcie’s lawyer friend had advised him to accept the figure for the pay-out that the Trust’s own lawyers had passed on, explaining that it had probably been inflated as, “A goodwill gesture,” following the issue of the fire. Ben described how Roland had told them that the Trust would likely be battling with their insurers to cover the costs of a workplace injury claim, but they must have dug into their own funds to come up with such a generous amount. Roland had also said that he would support Ben if he wanted to take it all the way to the courts, but his advice as a professional and, he hoped, as a friend to the new couple was that Ben should simply accept the settlement. Ben explained that it would still take a while for the lump sum to come through, just as it seemed it would for his own insurance for all that he’d lost in the fire. He admitted he still hadn’t gotten used to the idea that the money would really be there soon. He knew that some would go towards the horticulture course, as he felt it should for his professional retraining, but he and Marcie had also talked about paying off a big chunk of their mortgage when it finally arrived.

Geoff remarked that he might need some help from a professional for that too, as he knew people who used personal financial advisors and thought they got good returns from them, though he laughed as he confessed, “Not that myself and Sofe need them!”

Ben silently noted that his friend had made no hint of any concern or suspicion at Ben’s implication that he’d be sharing his own large windfall with a woman who’d been a stranger to him just a few months ago. But then Geoff did become serious as he asked to hear the latest about the investigation into the fire, as he was keen to hear the news, if Ben didn’t mind talking about it.

Sofie tutted, saying, “We want our guests to have an evening filled with pleasure.” She emphasised the point by encouraging Ben to take the last of the stew if he could manage it, also saying there was no need to rake over possible recent trauma. Ben gratefully accepted yet more food, and also said that he was happy to talk about the fire, if Geoff and Sofie were genuinely interested. But then Marcie offered to take up that particular story as she accepted the last of the wine from Geoff, to let Ben carry on with his heroic eating.

She explained that the detective on the case had been back in touch with them to give them an update, and to ask a few more questions about the people who Ben knew at the Trust. She recounted how Simon had said that he couldn’t give them the details of the material they were gathering to make the charges and push through the prosecution. However, he could tell them that the two young men who’d initially been taken into custody were just the cat’s paw for a third party. The real instigator of the catastrophic fire was someone who’d desperately wanted to erase the awkward truth about the Trust’s misconduct that had caused Ben’s injury. This individual had evidently paid the boys generously to set the fire, and had even given them tips and materials to make sure they did a thorough job, to help ensure the workshop burnt to the ground, gutting it of everything that was inside, as well as incidentally destroying everything in Ben’s flat.

Sofie was shocked to hear that someone could have been so cold and malicious, when the facts about Ben’s injured lungs were so clear anyway, then she asked if either of them suspected who it might have been that the police had in their sights. Looking at Ben with sensitive concern, Marcie explained that it seemed it wasn’t anyone who knew Ben well. She went on, “DCI Simon just gave us a hint, as it happens. He thought that with the influence of the Armstrong Trust, and public goodwill towards it, they may be able to keep the story out of the press when the trial eventually comes around. But he observed that the membership of the board of directors, or ‘trustees’, is published each year with their annual accounts. So he said if we really wanted to know who the guilty party was, we could just look to see which name had dropped off that list.”

“That’s awful,” Geoff said vehemently, “Some Newcastle big-wig, thinks he’s better than everyone else, just because he’s a toff or he’s made a bit of coin and climbed the greasy pole. Then when something isn’t going his way, when it looks like his cosy gentleman’s charity might get some flack, he uses a couple of dopey minor crims to do his dirty work, to try ruining someone else’s life. Well you’re showing him Ben, Marcie too. You’re making a beautiful happy love, enjoying your new life, while he’s got the plod knocking on his fancy front door, bringing his noncy high-class lifestyle down around his ears.”

Ben was a bit taken aback by his friend’s outburst, but he could only agree as he looked into Marcie’s wide brown eyes and smiled, saying, “Aye, that’s how it is, it seems. We are happy, and this old boy, if this guilty trustee is a man, he’s looking at prison. Simon was clear, arson, with threat to life, is serious - and that’s what he’s up for, even if he didn’t light the match himself. Marcie said that made sense, from her lawyer studies. He’ll probably be worse off than the local charvas, if they’ve been helpful, pleading guilty and testifying. I feel a bit sorry for him, in a way. He must have just panicked, when he heard the Trust had broken health and safety laws. I bet he regrets it now.”

“Don’t be sorry for him,” Sofie said firmly, reaching over to pat Ben’s hand, “It was a very bad thing. This director is an educated man, I think. He knew what he did. But Geoff is right, you are the winners. Yes, you have had the trouble, but now it is behind you. It is like they say, ‘Love saves the day.’ You have joy and hope and strength and big fun together. We hope we all share your happy future, four friends who decide to get married, maybe sharing the celebration at the same time! But now I also have a desert we can also share, if we all have the appetite?”

Geoff laughed as he said, “Well I have, but I know what’s coming - cheesecake and mascarpone cream! And I think Ben’s appetite is just as big as mine, if Marcie’s not worn you out yet today. But we’ve run out of wine! Do people want another bottle, or something sweeter? We’ve got Baileys and Glayva, or the usuals - beer, brandy too, I don’t know what else.”

Marcie perhaps deliberately ignored his crudely suggestive remark as she asked what Glayva was like, whilst also agreeing to some pudding and offering to help clear up. Sophie dismissed her offer to help, but described the whisky liqueur as delicious and dangerously moreish. They agreed they’d all give it go, though Sophie cautioned Geoff to remember he’d already done quite well for drinks with his early start that afternoon. He promised he’d be careful and said he’d fill up their jug of water too as he got up, patting Ben and Marcie on their shoulders before going to get fresh glasses, giving them a weighty squeeze as he said ambiguously, “Well done.”