As Nia and I slowly pick our way through the crowd, we’re met by no less than ten who offer to purchase our drinks. Nia says yes to two of them, and we end up taking a table at the back with two half-pints of amber cider a piece.

Nia gracefully settles herself on the stool like a queen taking her throne, spreading and smoothing her skirts so they lay just right. I, on the other hand, must use the bar at the bottom to climb up like a child.

Not only did I inherit my mother’s lavender tresses, but I also got her height as well—or lack thereof.

The liquid in Nia’s glass sloshes as she extends it toward me. “To finding a husband.”

I tap my glass against hers. “To finding a good husband.” By the looks of it, neither of us would have any trouble finding a man willing to accept our proposals. The issue will be finding the right man.

The icy cider tickles my throat, tasting faintly of the apple juice I used to drink as a child.

Two men share the table next to us, oblivious to the world as they smile and stare into each other’s eyes, their hands laced as one.

What must it be like to be so taken with another that you notice nothing else?

I cannot wait to find out.

Will I meet my future husband tonight? Only time will tell.

Nia sips slowly, scanning the crowd as if searching for someone.

Setting down my drink, I lean an elbow on the table. “Is your man here?”

The ribbons in her curls flutter when she shakes her head. “Not yet. But he will be soon.”

“How did the two of you meet?”

“We met here, actually. He was the only one in his group who didn’t offer to buy me a drink.”

“And that made you want him?” Seems a bit odd to me.

“No, his beautiful eyes and pouty lips did that. I decided to give him a chance because of his response when I asked why he didn’t offer.”

I find myself leaning closer, the condensation on my glass slipping down my fingers.

She mirrors my position, resting her forearms on the glossy tabletop. “He told me that he wouldn’t catch my attention by being like all the rest. So, naturally, I asked why he wanted to catch my attention when there were so many other women in the pub. Do you know what he said? He said, ‘I haven’t noticed any of the others since the moment you walked through the door.’ When I tell you I swooned, I mean I damn near fainted.”

The nicest thing a man has said to me was that I looked like I had strong teeth. That was about four years ago, when Father and I took a trip to one of the villages off the mountain.