Annie's party started on time, and to our surprise she arrived on time too. Eight on the button. Anyone would have thought that she had figured it out, or that she knew all along...

I corner her in the bathroom an hour or so after she arrives.
"Who told you?"

"What? Nobody told me! It was a total surprise!"
She couldn't even pretend to be shocked when she walked in here so I don't know how she expects me to believe that.

"Annie, really?"

"I swear Iz, nobody gave the game away."
She does her best to hold it in, but I can see that she's practically bursting at the seams to tell me the truth.
"But you know what? Maybe Adam should empty his pockets before he puts his dirty clothes in the hamper in future, if he had, I might not have found any of the receipts that gave the whole thing away."

I'm skeptical to say the least.
"Well I know that's a lie because you don't do his laundry Annie."

"No, but I do search through it to see what he's planning for my birthday!"

There we go.

"You're terrible." I chuckle along with her. "Poor Adam, he worked so hard."

"How about you and I keep the fact that I knew our little secret then. Anyway, there was still one big surprise. You're here! Look at you go Iz."

"My best friend has a birthday party, albeit not a surprise one, and my nephew arrives into the world over the same weekend, where else was I going to be?"

"Well, valid reasons or not, I'm so happy you came, and Will, but he's here plenty so mostly you."

"Me too. I think I could visit more often now after being here this weekend. Actually I told Will to tell Alex and Elenor that I'd be coming to their wedding with him at the end of the summer too."

"Wow Izzy, that's so great! I bet Will was excited?"

"He was, it was really nice. We've honestly had such a great time, and Will has been so sweet and attentive too, he always is though I guess."

"Yack!", Annie puts a finger into her mouth pretending to throw up. "I don't want to hear how attentive my brother is with you thank you very much."

"Oh grow up." I roll my eyes at her as she adds a coat of lipgloss to her pout.

"No but seriously, please don't ever feel the need to discuss your sex life with me. I know we're close, but we will never be that close."

"Hey! All you talk about is what you and Adam get up to."

"Adam isn't your brother!"

"Fine!" I let out a laugh at her silliness. "Okay, let's get back out there... before I describe what your brother did to me over that very sink when we finished decorating a few hours ago."

She looks down, realisation dawning on her. "Ew Izzy, that's so gross!"
I'm out the door to the party before she has a chance to hit me, but I walk right into the path of Will and his mom. Annie is footsteps behind me, thankfully she stops short of repeating what I said in the bathroom in-front of Cheryl.

"Izzy, it's so great to see you! I was just asking Will where you were hiding."

"Cheryl, I can't believe you only got in a few hours ago! You look amazing."
She leans in and gives me a kiss on my cheek, leaving her lipstick stain behind.

"Ugh, I had to get ready in the airport bathroom! Can you believe it? A three hour delay, so typical."

"Well it's good to see you, and you look fantastic. The hotel is nice right?"
She's is staying at the same hotel as Will and I for the weekend, we'll have breakfast together tomorrow before Will and I head home.

"It is. Actually I tried to get a room next to you guys, but they said those were already booked."

Will raises his eyebrows at me from behind his mom, we're thinking the same thing. Thank god.

"So Cheryl, what happened Bruce? Adam said he couldn't come because he hurt his ankle or something?"

"Oh, such a silly man, come sit with me Izzy, I'll tell you all about it."

I stay with Cheryl for a good hour, maybe more. Listening to her tell me all about Bruce slipping and breaking his ankle on the porch steps after some rain. I hear all about his trip to the hospital in painful detail, right down to a minute by minute playback of what the doctor said.
It absolutely could have been a three minute story but I won't take the fact that Cheryl likes to talk to me for granted.
She's a sweet woman, chatty, but sweet.

Eventually Will comes along, insisting that we get at least one dance together while we're here.
As we sway there together on the dance floor I can't help but notice that he's a little tipsy already.

"I thought I was going to be the light weight tonight.", I tease.

"It's not even funny, Adam keeps buying me shots and making me feel guilty if I don't drink them."

"Well, he did throw this big party for your sister right?"

"Yes, and he took over things at the bar for me when we left. Actually I should really be the one buying him drinks shouldn't I?"

"You rich people just hate to put your hand into your pocket."

"God, when will it end?"

I act like I'm thinking it over before answering.
"Maybe when you're poor."

"I should never have told you that it was annoying."

"Exactly, but you did so it means I get to use it against you forever. Sorry, those are just the rules."

"Whose rules?"

"Ours."

Will smiles softly, agreeing with me.
"Ours."

I stretch up to kiss him, tasting whatever concoction of alcohol that Adam plied him with.
"Come on, let's get you a normal drink. No more shots, I can practically hear you vomit already."

"What was that I heard about no shots?"
Adam makes me jump as he creeps up behind me, another two shot glasses in his hand.

Will can't even stand to look at the glass never mind drink it. He shakes his head at the idea.
"I can't, I don't know how you're doing it Adam, I'm not having that, no way, I actually want to remember some of this party!"

Adam pushes the glass into my hand.
"Looks like you're taking one for the team here then Izzy."

"Oh no, not me sorry, here, why don't you have both."

He steps back from me, refusing to take it back.
"You mean you're going to come to my party, and refuse the drinks I buy you?"

"I thought this was Annie's party?"

"Your letting the truth get in the way of things here Izzy, go with me on this."

"Okay, okay, here."
I knock the drink back, it burns my throat the entire way down. I don't know what it was but I know I never want it again.
"Good god! What was that? It's disgusting!"

"No idea, I just asked the bartender for whatever was strongest. Enjoy kids!"
Adam spins off in another direction entirely, if his current state is anything to go by, he's about to have a very short night.

Will and I spend most of the night dancing, talking to people and explicitly avoiding any more shots.
All the same, I'm sure I've drank at least a full bottle of wine at this point and it has absolutely gone to my head. I didn't really notice it until I tripped over thin air on my way to talk to Annie.

"Know the one that's one too many Izzy!"

"Very funny! Tell your boyfriend that! Actually, where is he?"

Annie points to a little couch in the corner beside the bathrooms. Adam lays across it, fast asleep.

"Oh my. Well, at least he had fun! Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Oh my god Izzy, I'm having the best time. I know that I knew it was happening but it's just so nice having all the people I love in the same room!"

"Awh I'm so glad, you truly deserve it Annie. You work so hard, and on top of that you do so much for everybody too. It's nice to see you get to enjoy yourself."
I dump my body into the chair beside her, I'm not even sure how late it is now but I feel myself losing steam.

Annie leans into me a little, trying to whisper even though she doesn't need to with how loud the music is.
"A little bird tells me you have a big date next week."

"Awh really? Isn't it so cute that he's talking about it."

"I thought so too until you ruined the wholesome view I had with your revelation in the bathroom. I'll have to bleach my mind to get rid of that!"

"Would it help if I said I was just kidding?"

"I know that would be a lie, so no."

We giggle and chat together for another little bit before Annie decides to go see if she can wake Adam up and make him dance with her. She's wasting her time if you ask me, but away she goes anyway.

"Hey you!" I feel those calloused hands touch my bare back and I shiver. I love that his touch still draws a reaction from me.
"Saw you sitting alone and wanted to check on you."

"That's sweet, I'm alright though, I was just talking to Annie."

"She having fun?"

"She's having a ball! She's over there trying to wake Adam up!"

"Told him that was gonna' happen..."

"Right, and I'm sure you played no hand in any more of the drinks he had either!"

"Me? Never."
A little smirk creeps over his face as he watches Annie shake Adam awake.

He slowly starts blinking his eyes as he stares out at the dance floor. I know that look, he's max an hour away from needing to go to bed.

"Should I call us a cab now or wait a while?"

"You know me too well Iz."

"We're like an old married couple at this point,
and it's only just began."

"I happen to like it that way."

"Me too."

Will rounds the little table and slides himself right in beside me.
"Would you want to do that?"

"Do what?"

"Be an old married couple...with me?"

"I thought we just agreed on that?"

I'm not sure which one of us is confused until he runs his hand down his face in some form of frustration, so it must be me.

"I'm asking if you'd want us to get married sometime Izzy...you really don't make asking a hard question easy."

"Why is it a hard question, you're not asking me right now are you?"

"At my sister's birthday party? No! She'd kill me! I just want to know what you think about it, that's all."

"Where did this idea come from?"
I'm kind of caught off guard here. Sometimes Will is like an open book for me and other times he totally surprises me.

"Well actually, if I'm telling the truth here Iz, I think about asking you everyday. Literally, Every. Single. Day.
I think about how I'd ask you, where I'd ask you, what I'd say, all of it. But the one thing I never know is if you'd even say yes. I know it had such a shadow over things for you before...I know it isn't what you wanted."

"Will..."

He must take the look on my face to mean something else entirely because he quickly tries to banish the idea before I get more than a word out.
"No, look Iz I get it, if it's not for you that's okay.
It's too soon to even really be talking about it anyway, I knew it would freak you out. I think I just needed to know that I should stop wondering, that's all."

"Okay whoa, hold on a second, let me say something here."
He stares back at me, a painfully sad look in his eyes that makes my chest want to cave in.
"Remember the drive to Erie? And you stopped the rental truck in the middle of the road and blocked traffic?"

His brow knits together in confusion.
"Why are you bring up those ducks again Isobel?"

"Yes! The ducks. They're a vital to this I promise, just let me finish okay?"

"Okay..."

"You stopped traffic for that little row of ducks after they walked out onto the road. All the other cars blew their horns and chewed you out but you wouldn't let them stop you. You had to make sure those little guys crossed that road regardless because that's the type of person you are.
You do the right thing no matter who's against you. It's my favourite thing about you.
In fact, the second you got out of that truck, I knew right then and there that I was going to marry you. And I've never once felt any other way about it. So yes, of course I want to be an old married couple with you, I want to be a young married couple and a middle aged one too. I want all of that with you, only you. I'm just sorry that it wasn't obvious."

He smiles back at me, a look of content lighting up his face. I find it hard to swallow that he's spent any amount of time worrying about this. It was never about marriage for me really, it was about who.

He takes my hand in his, squeezing it tightly.
"Alright then, well you just make sure you act surprised three years from now when I do actually ask you."

"Oh wow, three years? Imagine the ring you're going to buy with three years of writing. It's going to be so gigantic! I'll need a wheelbarrow to move it around because it certainly won't fit my finger."

Will presses his lips together, tilting his head down and trying not to laugh.
"I have a finger I'd like to show you right now."

"Well you can't sorry, your mom is coming!"
Cheryl stumbles our way, doing the same eye closing thing that Will is. What is with this family?
"Cheryl, we're leaving soon, do you want to come back with us?"

"That would be great honey. Guess what? I was just talking to a man out front that thought I was Annie at first! It made my whole year!"

"It is kind of weird how much you look alike, you certainly couldn't deny her!"

"And I never would! Isn't that right Will?"
She pats her hand on his face, rubbing his stubble.
"My baby boy. I'm so glad this girl makes you happy. I really like her."

"Okay mom, let's get you back" Will stands, helping me up too. "You should go say bye to Annie first, we'll be over in a minute."
Cheryl shuffles off to do just that, while Will tries to stifle a yawn.
"I think you were right about the old thing Iz."

I reach out and ruffle his hair, there's not a single grey among the jet black strands.
"At least you'll never look old...baby boy."

He stretch's his arm in front of him, letting me lead the way while he mumbles something about warning his mom off giving me that kind of ammunition in future.

I stop once more in-front of him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"How about I never bring it up again if you do something for me?"

"Name it."

"Don't ever keep anything to yourself for that long again. We're a team Will, we always will be. We figure these things out together okay?"

"Deal."
He sneaks a final kiss before we go to say goodbye to Annie and get ourselves off to bed. It's been a long night, but one of the best I've had since we left too.

———————

My head is a little sore after the party last night, I pretty much inhale any and every available item of fried food at breakfast this morning.

Will grabs us all some coffees once we're finished eating, he's surprisingly fresh considering how rough I'm feeling.
"I just spoke to Annie, she said Adam still hasn't woken up yet. Im shocked he didn't spent the night hanging over the toilet."

Cheryl gives Will the kind of glare that could only come from a mother.
"Will! I've barely finished eating."
I guess you never get too old for a scolding.

"Sorry mom... anyway, she said that she's going to come pick you up from here in an hour. Is that enough time for you?"

"Perfect. What do you think Izzy? Should I take her to get a massage or would it be a bad idea?"

"A massage sounds like heaven to me right now Cheryl."

"Why don't you come? Will can spend the day with Adam and you guys can go home a little later."

"That's so kind, but I need to get back, some of our summer exams are starting this week and I've done very little prep work. Thank you though, hopefully next time."

"Well actually I was going to ask you, do you guys think you'll come to visit in the summer?"

I look to Will, overall we have very little summer plans, I'm meeting Carol and Michelle as planned but thats about it.

"We'll see mom, I'd like us to take a few weeks off together before school starts back for Izzy, let me have a look at that and I'll let you know okay?"

"Oh, did you get one of the jobs you applied to Izzy?"

"Not yet, there aren't all that many locally so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I might have to branch out a little bit but that's fine for us."

"I bet there's plenty of positions in Denver."

"Mom..."

"What? I'm just saying! What's keeping you two in Erie after the summer?"

"We like being close to Izzy's family, and to Annie. It works this way."

"Do you guys think you'll ever come back here? To Ardeen? It's a really nice place, I can see why you loved it so much Will."

I notice Wills cheeks flush a little bit, he did love it here. And then he moved away for me. Neither of us have really fallen in love with where we are now either, but still, visiting is one thing, coming back is another.

"We'll find the right place for us Mom, I'm not worried, but we're not coming back here."
I smile along, it's an uncomfortable conversation. Neither Annie or Will ever really gave Cheryl the full back story, just the basics, so I know she means no harm.

Once our bags are packed, we say our goodbyes to Cheryl and get on the road. It's not a long drive, so we'll have plenty of time at home to ourselves in the afternoon too, which is good because I need to get some paperwork ready for next week. I have a packed schedule in the wind down before summer.

I drive us home, playing the music we love and enjoying the sunshine that beats down on us. Even though I'm slightly hungover, and a little tired already, I really can't think of a time that I've ever been happier.