"Of course. Hold on," Laura said, opening the dresser. Handing Toni a T-shirt, she said, "This should fit. I'll get your things and start a load of laundry, so you'll have something of your own to wear by tonight. Okay?"

"Sure," Toni said flatly, refusing to look in Laura's direction.

"I'll be downstairs if you need me, and I put some fresh towels by the sink in case you want to get cleaned up."

"Thanks."

At the door, Laura turned. "Toni?"

"Yeah?"

"There's nothing that I can say or do to take away those scars, but please believe me when I tell you that they don't matter to me. They don't define the woman I've come to know, and even though I know you're angry with me, that doesn't change how I feel about you, and it never will. You may have lost some friends because of this, but I'm here to stay. I can't promise that I still won't want answers to questions, but I'll wait until you're ready to talk. I'm not going anywhere, so if ever you need a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold, I'll be there. I promise."

After fixing a pot of coffee, Laura filled a large mug and took a few sips before heading to Toni's room. Deciding the best place to start would be with the books, she grabbed an empty box and began filling it, glancing at each title as she packed them away, and a few minutes later all the books Toni had arranged by author the night before were once again in cartons stacked near the door. Looking at the pile from Thornbridge, Laura decided rubbish bags were in order, but when she went to the kitchen to fetch a few, she stopped when she saw Toni sitting on the stairs, looking forlorn and emotional.

"Are you okay?" Laura asked softly.

Slowly, Toni shook her head. "I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of never being the person you want me to be."

"Oh, Toni," Laura said, sitting down beside her. "All I want you to be is yourself, with all the faults and quirks that come from being human. If you want to cry, then cry, and if you want to laugh, I'll laugh with you, and if you want to be angry for what those bastards did to you, then be angry, Toni, because you have a right to be! What they did was wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong, but you'll never get past it if you don't let it out."

Toni stared at the floor as if she didn't hear a word that had been said, and with a sigh, Laura got up to walk away, but before she took a second step, Toni grabbed her hand. At first, Laura did nothing, but when she felt Toni tighten her grasp, Laura turned and saw tears rolling down Toni's face. Returning to the step, Laura put her arm around Toni to offer comfort, and the floodgates opened. Unabashedly, Toni buried her face in Laura's shoulder, gasping for air in between loud, ragged sobs.

After the tears had stopped, Laura jogged up the stairs, returning a minute later with a box of tissues in one hand, and a crumpled one in the other. Sitting down beside Toni, Laura handed her the box, and in unison they blew their noses, the impromptu concerto causing both to snicker under their breath.

"Feeling better?" Laura asked quietly, pulling another tissue from the box.

"I can't ever remember crying this much. Sorry."

"There's absolutely nothing to apologize for, Toni."

"Not even the fact that I told you to go to hell earlier?"

"No, I'll even let that slide...this time," Laura said lightly.

"I could use a drink," Toni said matter-of-factly.

"We have Scotch, wine or beer. What's your pleasure?"

"Beer would be good."

"Be right back."

Leaning against the stairs, Toni closed her eyes, hardly moving a muscle until she felt Laura return to her side.

"Here you go," Laura said, handing her a bottle.

In silence, they sat hip to hip and sipped their beer until the bottles were empty, and without asking, Laura returned to the kitchen and retrieved two more.

"How far did you get?" Toni asked as Laura sat back down.

"Whatcha mean?"

"With the packing in my room."

"Oh, I got the books boxed up, and I was coming out for some bin liners when I saw you on the step."

"Bin liners?"

"For the stuff from Thornbridge."

"Oh, right."

"Was there anything in there you wanted to keep?"

"There are a few pictures in my old wallet I'd like, but the rest can go."

"Okay. You'll have to help me with your clothes. I don't know what's old and what's not."

"Can you bring them out here?"

"Absolutely."

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course."

"Can we light some candles, scented ones, and maybe let them burn in there for a while?"

Laura leaned against Toni's shoulder and said, "I'll burn dozens if that's what you want."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Taking a swig of beer, Toni said quietly, "So what now?"

"Well, I'm going to go get some more bin liners and finish what I started, and you can work on finishing that beer."

"I feel like I should help you, but I don't know how."

Seeing the exhaustion in Toni's eyes, Laura said, "Actually, you can help by going back upstairs and lying down for a while. There's nothing you can do right now, and I don't think you need to see any of that stuff again, even if it's just me taking it to the rubbish bins, right?"

"I'd rather not."

"Good, then go lie down. I'll call you when I get things sorted, and then we'll go through your clothes."

"I still have no idea why you're doing all of this."

Without giving it a second thought, Laura leaned over and placed a light kiss on Toni's cheek. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't."

Between filling rubbish sacks and carrying Toni's clothes to the lounge, it was nearly four o'clock before Laura opened another bottle of beer and headed up the stairs. The bedroom door was open and when she walked inside and saw Toni sprawled across the bed, a small grin appeared on her face. About to turn and leave, she heard her mumble, "I'm not asleep."

"Great imitation," Laura said, chuckling to herself.

"What time is it?"

"Just after four. I was thinking about ordering some pizza, and then afterward we can sort out your clothes."

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Toni yawned. "That works for me. Just let me get cleaned up and I'll be down."

"See you in a bit."

After using the facilities, Toni splashed water on her face and combed her damp fingers through her hair, trying to make at least a few strands go in the right direction. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she frowned. Although she had changed into one of Laura's T-shirts the night before, the jeans she was wearing, she had worn for over a day. She had never noticed how faded and threadbare they had become, or how baggy in the seat and the leg, and she sighed. She used to care about how she looked, always shopping in the better stores and buying the newest styles. She'd have them tailored to fit her long legs and narrow hips, but she hadn't given it a second thought for years...until now.

Toni felt oddly calm for having such a tormenting night and morning. Her eyes were bloodshot and glassy from the tears she had shed for so many hours, but when she inhaled, her lungs filled easily. She could breathe. Her life was packed away in boxes and rubbish bags, and for the first time in years, breathing came easy. Was this the cleansing Laura had talked about? Was this the start of becoming normal? Would there be a day when she didn't cringe at people or places she didn't know, or recoil from the touch of another human being?

Toni's eyes widened, remembering that she hadn't pulled away from Laura, but rather fell into her arms willingly. And when Laura had hugged her and held her tight, it had felt good, and it had felt right. After her tears had stopped, she had kept her head buried in Laura's shoulder, breathing deep a blend of scents unfamiliar yet wonderful. Strawberry shampoo and vanilla bath oil, perhaps? Or was it simply fabric softener smelling of flowers? And then, there was the perfume. The faintest hint of a fragrance that was feminine and soft, and it had struck Toni at the time that the scent seemed to match the texture of Laura's skin.

With one more glance in the mirror, Toni took a deep breath, flicked off the light and went downstairs, walking into the kitchen just as Laura was hanging up the phone.

"I hope you like pepperoni and sausage."

"That's fine."

"You doing okay?"

"A bit wiped out."

"Understandable," Laura said. "I've got to go pick up dinner. Do you want to come with me? Get out of here for a few?"

Looking at her rumpled clothes, Toni said, "Thanks, but if it's all the same to you, I'll just stay here."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine, Laura."

"Okay, I'll be back in a tick."

After grabbing a beer, Toni went to the lounge, but stopped in the doorway when she saw the disarray caused by a woman on a mission. Laura had boxes stacked in one corner, with trash bags neatly tied shut next to them, and all the clothes that had been hanging in Toni's wardrobe were now draped over chairs around the room. Even the drawers from the dresser were stacked behind the sofa, waiting to be emptied. Walking over to a pile separated from the rest, Toni couldn't help but grin. While Laura had said that she'd need help discerning new clothes from old, all the ones Toni had purchased with Krista several weeks before had been segregated to just one chair.

Taking a sip of beer, she started rummaging through the folded Oxfords and T-shirts, fingering the old fabrics as she decided what to keep, and spying an open bin liner on the floor, she scooped up the lot, save two, and dumped them inside. Trousers and jeans were next and after setting aside a couple of pairs, she tossed the rest in the bag before proceeding to the drawers stacked on the floor. Kneeling, Toni began to root through the socks, bras and knickers, and she felt her cheeks heat. Most of the socks were worn at the heel and had holes in the toes, and her assortment of knickers had loose threads or exposed elastic, but the bras were the worst. The only color she owned was white, but the white had long ago faded to gray. Straps were frayed and hooks were missing, and remembering that most were ill-fitting and loose, with one scoop, all but two were thrown into the bag. Choosing the best of the worst, socks and knickers followed, and other than a few pairs of the softest flannel pajamas known to man and a pair of track pants, the rest of her clothes disappeared behind the black plastic of a rubbish sack.

"It's me," Laura called out, walking in the front door. "Where are you?"

"Lounge."

Coming around the corner, Laura stopped. "You've been busy. I thought we'd tackle it after dinner."

"There wasn't much to do, really. It's all garbage except for that lot," Toni said, pointing to the chair. Inhaling deeply the aroma of pepperoni and cheese rapidly filling the room, she said, "Pizza smells good."

"Yes, it does," Laura said, glancing around at what was left of Toni's belongings. "I was going to suggest we eat in here, but if you'd be more comfortable in the kitchen, that works for me."

Looking around, Toni shrugged. "In here's fine."

Surprised that Toni didn't want to distance herself from the boxes and bags that held Thornbridge memories, Laura said, "You're really okay with this, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Getting rid of your stuff."

"Yeah, I think I am, but it means I'll need to go shopping again, and I'm not very comfortable with that."

"We'll figure something out," Laura said, putting the pizza box on the coffee table. "I'll just grab some plates and napkins. Do you want some wine or are you still nursing that beer?"

Picking up the bottle, Toni quickly chugged it down. "What beer?"

"What are those?" Laura asked, pointing at a small pile of old clothes neatly folded on a chair.

"I figured since we'll be cleaning and painting, I'd keep a few things around so I don't ruin my newer clothes, not that I have a lot of those to ruin."

"Just to let you know, I had candles burning all day and everything's gone in there. All that's left is the bed, dresser and nightstand."

"You didn't have to get rid of the linens."

"Sure I did. That room is going to be yours for as long as you want it, so whatever memories you have while you stay here, I want to be good ones. Besides, I always hated that damned duvet."

"Oh, now I get it. You're using me as an excuse to redecorate!" Toni said, playing her mock outrage to the hilt.

"I'm thinking more along the lines of cheap labor."

"Oi!"

Giggling, Laura relaxed into the sofa, pulling her legs under her as she sipped her wine and gazed at the woman smiling back at her. "You have a nice smile."

Toni blushed slightly as she settled into the other corner of the sofa. "So do you."