“No problem,” Albert said. “Just try not to take too long. It’s not that I’m in a hurry, but the situation no longer allows us to delay.”
“I know,” Wilhelmina lowered her hand and finally asked, “What do you think about this marriage?”
Albert laughed softly, his features slightly blurred in the backlight. Wilhelmina sensed his smile had a hint of bitterness.
“My father and mother were in a political marriage, but they deeply loved each other. My father once told me: If you believe in marriage and make it part of your life, you will find peace and happiness.”
Wilhelmina pondered this, saying nothing.
Albert gazed at her sincerely and said, “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“It’s obvious that the way I proposed completely destroyed the romantic dreams of a young girl’s heart about love and marriage.”
“So that was a proposal?”
“…Yes,” he said.
“That must be one of the worst proposals in history,” Wilhelmina scoffed, turning to walk away.
Albert stood watching her light skirt disappear behind the bushes. He walked to where she had stood, picked the pink rose she had touched, and brought it to his nose. A breeze passed, intensifying the rose’s fragrance. Dusk settled, enveloping the earth in warm yellow light.
Wilhelmina stepped on the soft grass, walking towards the pond.
The birch forest and flowers were quiet and full of tenderness. The pond’s edge was overgrown with grass and reeds almost as tall as she was. Parting the reeds revealed a white marble pavilion on the opposite bank, with scattered stones buried by weeds and a golden broom growing at the base.
Kains sat at the base, hugging his legs and poking the water with a reed.
Wilhelmina avoided the stones and climbed onto the base.
“Hey, buddy,” she smiled warmly, “It’s dinnertime.”
Kains sat with his back to her, silent.
“I brought sandwiches, the pickled ham flavor you like.”
“I’m not hungry,” he said glumly.
“I also brought beer.”
Kains turned and she handed him a can.
He opened it and took a gulp.
Wilhelmina sat next to him and tossed a sandwich into his lap. “Don’t drink on an empty stomach.”
