artha was out on the veranda again, looking down the road toward the village. All afternoon at least one of us had been out there watching for our guests, waiting for our anniversary celebration to begin.
"Do you see anyone yet?" I called.
"No," she said. "Not yet...."
I looked around the room hoping I'd find something left undone that I could work on, so I wouldn't have to sit and worry about the possibility of Duane's having forgotten us. But everything was ready. The extra chairs were out and the furniture all dusted, and Martha's cakes and cookies arranged on the table.
I couldn't sit still. Not today. I got up out of the chair and joined her on the veranda.
"I wonder what their surprise is...." she said. "Didn't John give you any hint at all?"
"No," I said. "But whatever it is, it can't be half as wonderful as ours."
She reached for my hand. "Lewis," she whispered. "I can hardly believe it, can you?"
"No," I said. "But it's true. We're really going."
I put my arm around her, and she rested her head against me.