***
As I put the basket into the back of my car, the headlights of another appeared from around the curve in the road. I recognized it as one of Papa’s cars, then saw Fiona in the passenger seat. Li was driving.
They came to a stop near us. Fiona bounded from the car. “Theo and Louisa, you’re not leaving, are you?”
“No, we’re about to head down now,” I said.
“Oh, I’m so glad.” Fiona clapped her hands much the same way she had as a child. She was still so young. Too young to be joining this group of merrymakers. All the more reason to stay.
“Louisa, are you having a nice night?” Fiona asked it in her melodic voice. “I’m happy to see you out, but I know it must be a hard time for you.”
“You’re sweet, Fiona,” Louisa said. “But being out tonight with Theo and the rest of you is just what I need.”
Carrying a lantern in one hand and his guitar case in the other, Li joined us. Long-legged and slim, he had an elegance about him that hinted at the artistry of his soul. His dark skin and shiny hair glowed in the light.
“Theo. Louisa,” Li said. “Nice to see you.”
“I never thanked you both for the music at Father’s funeral,” Louisa said. “You touched my soul.”
“It was our pleasure,” Fiona said.
“Yes, very much so,” Li said.
We all walked down the dirt path that led along the bank of the river until we reached another clearing. The bonfire was already lit. Everyone sat around the fire either on rocks or logs brought to the pit long ago. Fiona and Li sat together on one of the longer logs. I guided Louisa over to sit between Cymbeline and me.
Sitting appropriately distant, Emma shared a log with Viktor. Isak and Nora sat similarly on a large rock.
Chatter was quick and lively. Isak had seen a moose in the woods near their property earlier that day and described him to the rest of us. Viktor expressed dismay that he hadn’t seen him, then Isak teased him that even if he’d been around, he probably wouldn’t have spotted him. “Now that you’ve gotten all citified.”
Viktor tossed a stick at him. “I’ve been educated, not citified.”
“All I know is you look like one of those New York types in your suit,” Isak said.
“You look very handsome in your suit,” Fiona said. “We’re all proud of you. Don’t listen to your brother.”
“Thank you, Fiona,” Viktor said. “My brother’s jealous because I don’t have a fine layer of flour coating on my hair like he does.”
“Speaking of my fine baking,” Isak said as he reached into a bag at his feet. “I’ve brought my latest experiment with sticky buns. Who wants one?”
“Me please,” Cymbeline said.
Isak placed one in her outstretched hand, then passed the bag to Viktor. When he offered the bag to me, I declined, too full from dinner. Anyway, I didn’t want to be sticky in case Louisa let me hold her hand later.
Emma and Neil accepted a bun, but Fiona declined, saying she would have a bite of Cymbeline’s. “Lizzie’s fried chicken filled me up.”
Li declined, not wanting to risk getting anything on his guitar.
“None for me either,” Louisa said when I offered the bag to her.
“Good Lord above,” Viktor said as he held a half-eaten bun in the air. “These are better than the last batch.”
“Thank you. Too kind.” Isak grinned. “What do you think, Nora?”
He caught her just as she was taking a second bite. She pointed to her full mouth.
“I’ll ask her later,” Isak said, laughing.
“What made you decide to become a baker?” Emma asked.