"They're okay, I guess," Toni said, turning her attention back to the meadow.

"What's wrong?"

"I suppose now you want to know all about my family"

"Only if you want to tell me."

Shaking her head, Toni laughed. "When has that ever stopped you?"

When Laura didn't answer, Toni turned and found green eyes smiling back at her, and as much as she tried, Toni couldn't help but return the look. "I'll never in my life understand how you can get me to talk about things that I really don't want to talk about," she said. "It truly is aggravating."

"I prefer to think of it as a gift," Laura said, her cheeks turning rosy as she tried to suppress a laugh.

Fumbling in her pocket for her cigarettes, Toni said, "There really isn't that much to talk about, actually. My parents were rather well-off, so I grew up with the proverbial silver spoon in my mouth. We lived in Surrey in a pretentious Tudor home surrounded by acres of gardens, tennis courts and stables, and my education was very formal and very expensive. It was the ideal life, until I came home from university to tell them I was gay."

"I take it that didn't go so well?"

"My father was shocked. My mother was mortified and my sister...my sister was appalled. It wasn't long after that when my dad pulled me aside to inform me that I was to keep my depravity to myself and never bring the subject up again. My mother turned to drink, trying to drown her shame in vodka and my sister decided she'd shag anything in trousers just to prove she wasn't like me. Three people who I thought I knew, and I loved with all my heart, turned into strangers.

"I went back to college, naively thinking they'd change or adapt or at least try to understand, but that didn't happen. I'm not even sure if it was intentional or just a knee-jerk reaction, but the next time I went home, it felt like I wasn't welcome there any longer. The staff smiled and said good morning, showing me more common courtesy than my own family, all of whom seemed to have disappeared behind their bedroom doors. I sat alone in a dining room large enough for twenty eating my breakfast and trying not to cry. They were my family and I loved them, but what they wanted from me, I couldn't give them. I couldn't take back the truth. So, the next morning I left without even saying goodbye, and they never called to ask why. I went through the rest of my years at school like an orphan. They never called or sent a letter...not even a birthday card, but as they say, life goes on, and I had a good one until it all went to shit...and they still didn't call. During my remand, the trial, the prisons...they never once tried to contact me. Toward the end of my second year in Thornbridge, my father died from an aneurysm, and if it hadn't been for Krista seeing it in the newspaper, I'd never have known."

"I'm so sorry," Laura said placing her hand on Toni's knee. "I don't know what else to say."

"Well, that's a first." Stubbing out her cigarette, Toni stood and offered her hand to Laura. "How about we continue our walk and talk about something else? This is a great day, and I don't want to ruin it. Okay?"

Taking Toni's hand, Laura got up and gestured toward the meadow. "Lead the way."

"I don't know where I'm going."

Squeezing Toni's hand, Laura said, "That's okay. Together we'll find our way."

Eleanor arrived home late in the afternoon and immediately informed Laura and Toni she was taking them out to dinner. After suggesting they wear the new clothes they had bought for each other in Stirling, as the two women disappeared up the stairs, Eleanor sauntered to her room. Repairing her makeup in front of the bathroom mirror, she began to snicker.

While Toni seemed to prefer casual clothes for herself, when her assignment had been to buy something for Laura, casual seemed to be the last thing on her mind. Surprising Eleanor, she had skipped over simple cardigans and strode past shelves filled with cashmeres until she ended up amongst racks filled with silk blouses. Pushing aside the whites and the beiges, Toni stopped at the reds, and carefully inspecting each, she finally held up one to get Eleanor's opinion. Delighted by the blouse Toni had chosen, Eleanor promptly led her to the register. There was no reason to look any longer.

After touching up her makeup, Eleanor returned to the kitchen to make some tea while she was waiting for Toni and Laura, but before the water had a chance to boil, she heard someone come down the stairs. Turning as Toni walked in, Eleanor said, "Oh my, don't you look lovely."

The compliment bringing more than a hint of red to her face, Toni ran her hands down the sleeves of the top Laura bought for her. Made of soft jersey, the gathered knit hugged her torso like a glove, flattering every curve along the way, and the diagonally crossed neckline plunged lower than anything Toni had worn in years. Smoky blue in color, it complemented Toni's straight-legged black trousers and knee-high polished boots perfectly.

"Thanks, but can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course, dear."

"There's a tag in the back that's bothering me, but I don't have any scissors."

"No worries," Eleanor said, pulling a pair from a drawer. "Turn around and let me take care of that."

Toni turned, and Eleanor busied herself cutting off the manufacturer's label, hesitating for a split-second when a few of Toni's scars came into view. Her eyes clouded over with tears, but blinking them away, Eleanor finished the task at hand and patted Toni on the shoulder. "There you go, dear. All gone."

"Thanks," Toni said, rubbing her neck.

"Can I make an observation?" Eleanor asked as she returned the scissors to the drawer.

"Sure."

"You're quite a lovely woman, and I was wondering why you never seem to wear any makeup. I mean, you don't need to. Lots of women don't, but with those cheekbones of yours and that black hair, a bit of highlighting would be simply marvelous."

"I...I used to wear some," Toni said, a quick frown crossing her face. "To tell you the truth, I almost bought some the other day, but things got a bit hectic, and I didn't want to bother you or Laura with it."

"It wouldn't have been a bother."

Hanging her head, Toni said softly, "I feel stupid having to ask for help all the time."

"From what I've observed these past few days, Toni, you are anything but stupid. It takes a special person-a strong person-to know their limitations, and from what Laura's told me, you've made great strides in the past several months. Rome wasn't built in a day, young lady, and you need to remember that!"

Warmed by her words, Toni looked up. "I'll try."

Thinking for a moment, Eleanor reached over and took Toni's hand. "Come with me. I've got an idea."

Following the woman through the house, a minute later Toni was standing in Eleanor's bedroom while the woman rummaged through a cabinet. Pulling out a small wicker basket, she handed it to Toni. "I've got a friend who sells cosmetics, and she's forever giving me free samples. Why don't you take a look in there, and I'll go make us some tea?"

Before Toni had a chance to answer, Eleanor kissed her on the cheek, and as she walked from the room, she said, "And take your time, dear. If there's one thing you're probably well aware of living with my daughter, it's that Laura always runs late."

Standing in front of the cheval glass in the corner of her room, Laura gazed at her reflection as she fastened the last button of her new top. The blouse wasn't what she had expected, and it was more than Laura could have hoped for. The red silk shimmered in the light, and strategically placed darts snugged the fabric just enough to make a difference, making a simple blouse anything but. Feminine, soft and definitely sexy, the front dipped low, held closed by three oversized brass buttons, and the long sleeves were loose and flowing. Thankful that she had brought along a skirt, she pulled up the zip, fastened the gold buckle of her belt and then smiled at the result. Zipping up her black boots, Laura glanced once more in the mirror before heading downstairs.

As if all three women in the house were on the same schedule, Toni walked into the lounge just as Laura was coming down the stairs and Eleanor was exiting the kitchen, and simultaneously, their forward momentum stopped. Seeing Toni's jaw drop open, Eleanor glanced at her daughter, and her chest swelled with pride. Laura looked absolutely stunning.

Her black skirt was simple and straight, but the slit up the side which allowed Laura a bit more freedom, also allowed a bit more skin to show. One quick glance in Toni's direction confirmed what Eleanor already knew. Between the crimson blouse and the occasional flash of thigh, her daughter had captured all of Toni's attention, and Toni had captured Eleanor's. She didn't mean to stare, but once she looked at Toni she couldn't look away, and while the pride she felt wasn't that of a mother...it was damn close.

In Eleanor's jumble of cosmetic and hair care samples, Toni had discovered all that was required to transform her natural beauty into something so much more. Her brown eyes were now defined with black eyeliner and her lashes, enhanced by mascara, appeared almost twice as long as before. She had accentuated her cheekbones with blush, and with the help of some gel, she had slicked back her hair until it was shining and sculpted.

Believing that Laura was more beautiful than any woman had the right to be, Toni could not take her eyes off her as she descended the stairs, but when something deep within Toni stirred, something she believed had died years before, reality came rushing back. Squeezing her eyes shut, she silently admonished herself for the pang of awareness between her legs.

A few moments passed before Toni opened her eyes and by that time Laura was standing directly in front of her. Trying her best to act nonchalant, Toni took a step backward and stuffed her hands in her pockets. After giving Laura a casual once-over, she said, "Nice blouse."

Reality is where things appear as they should, rather than how one might wish them to be, but Laura could not have prepared herself for the reality of this moment. Toni stood before her as she used to be, a confident professor with styled hair, stunning features and a body to die for...and Laura so wanted to die. Her knees felt weak and her stomach fluttered, and never in her life had she been so titillated by the mere appearance of another. The only problem was that while Toni had managed to keep her feelings hidden, Laura's were now more than apparent through the thin red fabric of her top.

Suddenly aware that her body was betraying her, Laura felt her cheeks begin to burn. Quickly turning to get her coat, she said, "Thanks. You don't look half-bad yourself."

Chapter Twenty-Three.

"Bloody weather," Eleanor said, staring at the black clouds through the window.

"I'm sorry," Laura said, closing her suitcase. "But you've got to work, and this storm isn't supposed to let up until Saturday. I just think it's safer if we get on the road now, before it gets too bad."

"You should have flown."

"That wasn't possible. Not with Toni."

Staring at her daughter for a moment, Eleanor said, "You've changed."

"Have I?"

"I can't remember a holiday where you didn't have something scheduled to do every single minute, but you showed up here with no itinerary, and you drove. The old Laura would have considered that a waste of time."

"As long as I'm with Toni, it's hardly a waste, and if I have to drive to Scotland from now on, so be it."

"Speaking of driving to Scotland, should I assume that if you come up for Christmas, you'll be bringing Toni with you?"

"I hadn't really thought about it, but yeah, I guess. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking that she's probably not had very many happy Christmas holidays for quite a while, so I thought perhaps if you were coming up, I'd go all-out and make it one she'd remember."

"What do you mean? You always go all-out."

"I haven't had more than a few baubles displayed in years, but you've been too busy to notice," Eleanor said quietly.

"What?"

"It's true. Ever since you moved to London, you've been so wrapped up with your work that you rarely stayed for more than a day or two, and then we'd spend most of it visiting Nancy and her girls. What I'm proposing is that you and Toni spend a few weeks up here at Christmas. That way, I get to know her better, we get to decorate until we drop, and maybe by that time, I'll be able to call her your partner instead of just your friend."

"What makes you so sure she'll...that she feels the same way?"

"They're called eyes, Laura, and I have two very good ones. Now, I know the woman has issues, but I can't believe you still haven't told her how you feel."

"No. No, it's too soon for that," Laura said. "When it concerns Toni, I've learned that going slow is the only option."

"Slow is the only option for what?" Toni asked as she walked in and returned the borrowed books to the shelf.

"For driving in the rain, of course," Eleanor said quickly, picking up Laura's suitcase. "I'll just take this down and fill up your flask."

Watching as Eleanor left the room, Toni said, "I really like your mum."

"Well, she really likes you."

"What's not to like?" Toni said with a shrug.

Grabbing her coat from the bed, Laura strolled over, stopping in front of Toni for only a moment. Allowing her eyes to travel slowly up and down the woman, Laura said in a breath, "Absolutely nothing."

After spending over eight hours driving through a storm that seemed to follow their every move, by the time they reached home, Laura and Toni were rattled and tired. With no garage or overhang to protect them, they ran through the onslaught of Mother Nature, stumbling into the house as if they were connected at the hip.

"Stupid, sodding rain!" Laura said, dropping her bags on the floor. "I'm soaked!"

"That makes two of us," Toni said, vigorously scrubbing her fingers through her wet hair.

"Hey!" Laura shouted when she got hit by the spray. "That's enough of that."

"Oh, sorry," Toni said, trying not to laugh.

Seeing the puddles forming on the floor as they removed their coats, Laura said, "I think we should put these in the kitchen until they're done dripping."

"Um...yeah. Good idea," Toni said, watching as Laura disappeared through the doorway.

Draping her coat over a chair, Laura turned around to take Toni's, but stopped when she noticed that Toni seemed intent on looking anywhere but back at her. Confused, Laura glanced down and quickly discovered the reason. Deciding to make the long ride home as comfortable as possible, she hadn't put on a bra that morning, and the soaked pale pink long-sleeved jersey she was wearing made that crystal clear.

"Oh shit," Laura said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "I'd best go find something else to put on."

"Yeah, you...you do that," Toni mumbled as Laura ran past her. "I think I'm going to take a shower and try to get warmed up. See you later."

Once safely in her room, Toni let out an exaggerated sigh and sat on the edge of the bed, allowing her thoughts to return to a wet jersey and the gorgeous woman wearing it. Twice in as many days, Toni had felt her body react to the sight of Laura's curves, and it was doing her head in. Why didn't she tell Laura about her soaked jersey the second the woman took off her coat instead of waiting until she reached the kitchen? Why did she buy a woman she called a friend a provocative blouse meant for a lover, and why couldn't she get the image of her wearing it out of her head?

Silently scolding herself as her body again betrayed her, Toni walked into the bathroom, turned on the valves and while the water ran from cold to hot, she stripped and dropped her clothes on the floor. Peering into the mirror for only a moment, she held her breath as she turned around and looked over her shoulder at her scarred skin. A few minutes later, Toni stood under the hot spray and allowed it to wash away her tears. She had nothing to offer Laura. She had nothing to offer anyone.

Unpacking the assorted nibbles her mother had given them, Laura looked up to see Toni standing in the doorway, her black hair wet and shiny from her shower. "Hey there."

"Hey yourself," Toni said. Looking at the packages Laura had strewn all over the counter, she asked, "What are you doing?"

"I thought we'd have this stuff for dinner, if that's all right."

"Yeah, it works for me. Anything I can do to help?"

"Well, if you'll open the wine, I'll go and see what I can do about warming up the house."

"I thought it was just me," Toni said, briskly rubbing her hands over her arms.

"No, this place is old and a bit drafty, which is why I keep the fireplace well stocked."

By the time Laura returned, the wine glasses were filled, the last package of cheese had been unwrapped and sliced, and Toni was placing crackers on the tray. Licking her fingers as she looked up, Toni said, "I'm assuming we're eating in the lounge?"

"Well, I don't want the fire to go to waste," Laura said, grabbing the wine and glasses. "You bring the food. I've got the tipple."

A short time later, snuggled into what was rapidly becoming her corner of the sofa, Toni popped the last piece of cheese into her mouth. "I wish I had known about this stuff when we were up there. I would have bought more."