59
Early the following evening, Aurelia, Oliver, and their assorted friends—along with Jack, Antonia, and Max—gathered at their meeting spot in Hampstead Heath for their hen and stag parties.
David was practically bouncing in his eagerness to direct the groups to their separate ponds, and to make sure everyone knew where and when they’d be meeting for the post-swim picnic.
What had started as a casual suggestion on her part was now a full-blown event by David’s standards.
He was lugging a huge basket, with James toting not one but two bulging bags of food and drink from his shoulders.
“Didn’t trust us to follow directions and bring everything you demanded, David?” Antonia teased him, toting a bag of her own.
“You, I trust—it’s your sister I had my doubts about,” he said, casting a teasing scowl at Aurelia.
“I wouldn’t dare disobey a direct command,” she said, holding her hands up in surrender, setting the bag of wine bottles she had on her own shoulder jangling against one another.
“I know how to keep the troops in line,” Antonia promised him.
“She’s very good at that,” Max joined in with a laugh.
The children were at the rented flat with their grandfather that night, giving Antonia and Max a chance to enjoy themselves without refereeing the never-ending sibling squabbles.
Everyone pulled into a tighter formation as they arrived at the men’s pond, where the ladies in the group waved the men off before heading for their own pond.
There was, of course, a mixed bathing pond, but David had demanded they separate for their swims to at least maintain a semblance of separate hen and stag dos, even though they’d be back together for their picnic afterward.
Aurelia and her crowd of women set their bags down on the grass near the edge of the pond and peeled off assorted sundresses, shorts, and t-shirts to reveal the suits they’d worn underneath.
Antonia, meanwhile, popped open a bottle of champagne and handed out paper cups for a toast before they all dove or waded in for their swim.
Leading everyone from the ladies’ pond after swimming and rinsing off, Aurelia spotted Oliver sprawled out on a blanket with the others.
His hair was still damp and tousled from where he’d clearly run a towel over it, and she greeted him by mussing it further before dropping next to him on the blanket and tidying it up for him.
David began bossily directing the opening of wine bottles and passing of food, and Aurelia took the opportunity to kiss her fiancé.
“How was your swim?” she asked. “Very manly?”
“Yes, very,” he said mock-seriously. “No splashing or anything of that sort. Strictly laps for us men. How about you?”
“Oh, we wore bathing caps and did water aerobics. Terribly ladylike.”
They kissed again only to stop as a chorus of cheers and whoops sounded, making both of them blush.
“How long is that likely to go on?” he asked her in an undertone.
“At least through the reception,” David declared happily, handing them cups of wine.
Aurelia took one, then put her arm around Oliver and leaned into him as she looked around at everyone.
Antonia was sitting with Jack and talking animatedly with him about something that involved him making large hand gestures.
Aurelia could just make out that he was explaining the new set he was designing.
She turned and spotted Kali and James standing, cups of wine in hand, talking about his plans for David’s next book on historic recipes, with Kali suggesting period-appropriate artwork for the cover.
Louisa and her partner were there, along with a smattering of Aurelia’s and Oliver’s friends from university.
She felt silly, but seeing them all there, together—for her and Oliver—made her a bit misty-eyed.
“You okay?” Oliver asked, seeming to sense her silence was speaking volumes.
“I am,” she said with a firm nod of her head. “Very good, in fact. You?”
“Very, very good,” he said, kissing her again.
Cheering erupted, and Aurelia grabbed a slice of baguette from a pile nearby and tossed it at them, laughing as Jack caught it and took a bite.
An hour later and they were all full, tipsy, and happy. David had made good on his promise to bring edible food, which everyone ohh’d and ahh’d over as they sampled the different dishes he’d made. As people poked at the last bites, halfhearted now that their hunger had been curbed, David stood.
“I have a little something to say,” he said, clearing his throat.
Aurelia cocked an eyebrow. She hadn’t been expecting toasts.
“Let’s hear it, then,” Oliver said.
“It was some work to get these two together, but I managed it.” David held for applause and gave a little bow. “And it was some work to get these two to agree to a pre-wedding night out, but I managed that, too. While the swim and picnic have been lovely, I think we can kick this up another level.”
Aurelia’s whine was drowned out by clapping and whooping.
“It’s only just eight, so there’s plenty of time for all of us to get home, shower off any remaining pond scum, put on our finest, and meet at a spot I’ve already reserved for a night of dancing to a carefully curated playlist of tunes you haven’t heard—likely by choice—since university days.”
“Well done, David!” Antonia called out, waving her cup of wine in salute.
Others cheered and stood, as though ready to head off right then to get ready. Aurelia, meanwhile, had thrown herself down on the blanket in mock protest, only to laugh and sit back up again as David nudged her side with his foot.
“I know you have it in you. And now that I have you fed and thoroughly watered, just try thinking of an excuse.”
She stood and took her time pretending to dust herself off, as though she were debating her answer.
“I suppose I could be persuaded, especially if you’re playing DJ.” Reaching out a hand to help Oliver stand, she added, “What do you say?”
“I say… I guess I’ve got to get up to get down,” he said to groans and knocks about his shoulders as he stood.
Aurelia snorted out a laugh and put her arms around him.
“Alright, David. Well done on all fronts, though you may regret putting dancing on the agenda once you see me on the dancefloor,” Oliver said gamely.
“I’ve heard you’re terrible but enthusiastic, which is good enough for me.”
Oliver looked at Aurelia accusingly and she pulled a face of innocence, as though she hadn’t been the one who’d made that report to David. Oliver just laughed as they all set about packing up and listening in as David explained where and when they were to meet for the next phase of the evening.
“Terrible but enthusiastic?” Oliver asked Aurelia once they were walking back to the Tube station.
“Yes, but it’s the enthusiasm that really matters,” she said decisively. “And on the plus side, from what I can tell, dancing is the only thing you’re terrible at. For example: editing—excellent and enthusiastic. Cooking—excellent and enthusiastic.”
“What about kissing?” he asked, pulling her aside as he checked to confirm none of their friends were in viewing distance now that they’d scattered on their separate ways home.
“Hmm… Extraordinary and enthusiastic,” Aurelia answered before confirming her assessment.