[piosenniel]

‘That’s it, girls! Just set the chicken and the tater salad down in the cool room. I’ll have the older children set it out when they come. And set the water in the big pot on to boil. I’ll throw the corn in later.’ Amaranthas motioned Ruby and Buttercup over to the dish cupboard and had them set plates, mugs, silverware, and napkins out on the tables in the back yard, already draped with cloths. She directed them to set out the salt and pepper shakers, the sugar and honey for tea, and lastly to place the little vases of her own wildflowers on for a little color.

Frodo lad had already set the chairs around. And Rosie and Merry had brought over some pretty lanterns they had found in the attic of Bag End, along with long streamers of pretty cloth they tied onto the bushes and low hung branches of the trees. The lanterns she had gotten one of the taller Bywater boys to hang from thin cords strung between the trees. When it was dark she would have someone light the candles inside to provide some soft twinkly lights for the guests.

Ruby and Buttercup did their jobs quickly and efficiently, explaining to Amaranthas that they couldn’t stay long, as they had a number of other stops to make. Amaranthas shooed them with a smile and a wave off once she heard what they were doing. ‘She’s a sweet girl, but she doesn’t have a lick of sense about those babies! Thank the stars she has us to look out for her!’

Afternoon passed into evening, and Amaranthas had just finished taking off her apron when she heard a loud and enthusiastic knock at her door. She stumped along the wooden floor, cane in hand, and smiling in anticipation, threw open wide the door . . .