Here we go - the end is nigh. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Epilogue

Monday

"Where is she?" said Beth , not for the first time.

"And you didn't see her yesterday?" asked Alec, not for the first time.

"No."

"Maybe she's pulled with one of the wedding guests."

All eyes turned to Dimitri.

"I'll shut up," he said.

Beth breathed deeply.

"She was in a state on Saturday, I'm worried."

Harry walked in.

"Morning."

"How was the weekend, Harry?" asked Alec.

"Wonderful," said Harry and they all clocked the shiny, new, gold ring on his finger.

"We haven't heard from Ruth," Beth pointedly said to him.

"I spoke to her. She'll be here in a few minutes, we'll start without her."

"Without Ruth?" said Tariq.

"Yes, if that's alright with you, Tariq?"

He thought it wise to not answer.

Harry's lack of concern irked Beth, she sat scowling at the table.

Five minutes after they had begun Ruth entered the room.

She sat at the far end of the table from Harry.

He did not pause in his briefing but simply nodded to her. As he spoke his eyes would pass across them and across Ruth, but rather they passed into and through Ruth and they nourished her and only she knew the deep need they filled.

Harry finished what he was saying and with a flourish slid the file along the full length of the table towards her. Her hands clasped down to stop the file and in that moment she sensed Beth freeze.

"Ruth?"

"Yes, Beth," she said turning to her and failing to hide the smile that was living it's own life upon her face.

"Ruth!" And Beth squealed and leapt up to grab hold of Ruth and hug her hard.

Alec was looking at Harry and he too was smiling.

"What?" said Dimitri, "What's going on?"

He looked at Harry.

"Sharp as a tack, hey Dimitri?"

Tariq had got it and he too stepped to Ruth to give her a hug.

"Just tell me what?' said Dimitri again.

Beth grabbed Ruth's hand and waved it at him. Dimitri looked at the same shiny gold ring on Ruth's finger.

"Well, I'll be damned," he said.

"You will be, if that's an example of your observational skills,' chided Harry.

"When did this happen?" asked Tariq

"At my daughter's wedding."

"Your daughter's wedding?" repeated Alec.

"You are a useless bunch," laughed Harry, "what are we going to do with them Ruth?"

"Celebrate. Take them out to dinner, I'd say Harry, your treat."

She smiled and he loved her.