Hearing the concern in Krista's voice, Toni said, "Yes, Kris. I'm very much okay."

"I'm so happy for you," Kris blurted, finally allowing her exuberance to show.

"Thanks."

"And I'm assuming Laura's okay, too? I mean, you were her first, weren't you?"

"Yes, I was, and she's fine. Actually, she's amazing."

Unable to resist, Krista leaned over and leered. "Exactly how amazing?"

"It took you all of what, two minutes to go there?" Toni said, laughing.

"I was pacing myself," Krista quipped.

Smiling at her friend for a moment, Toni reached across the table and took Krista's hand. Running her thumb over her knuckles, she brought her eyes up to meet Krista's. "Thank you."

"I didn't do anything."

"If it wasn't for you insisting that Laura buy more apples, this may never have happened."

"She told you about that?"

"Yeah, the other night."

"You're not mad, are you?"

"Of course not, but I can't figure out why you thought she could help me?"

"I didn't know if she could or she couldn't, Toni, but after two years of seeing you show almost no emotion, when you got so bloody angry over that stupid apple, I figured what the hell. You were already so far gone I didn't think I had anything to lose, so I took a chance."

"I'm really glad you did."

"So am I."

Behind the walls and windows and doors of Laura's house, Toni had become who she once was. Swaggering and mischievous, her confidence level soared in the privacy of their home, but when morning rolled around, and it was time to go to work, reality always returned. After kissing Laura good-bye on Tuesday morning, Toni climbed into her old Jeep and drove to Calloway, easily returning to the routine that had enabled her to survive for so long.

Knowing Laura had meetings scheduled throughout the week, Toni didn't visit her office that afternoon. Instead, she sat alone in her classroom eating a sandwich and reading a book until she heard the sound of heels tapping their way down the corridor. Without looking up, Toni said, "You'd best have brought me an apple."

The sound of a low, sexy chuckle brought a smile to Toni's face, and it grew even larger when Laura placed an apple on the corner of the desk.

"I thought you had a lunch appointment?" Toni asked as she reached out and touched Laura's hand.

"I did. That's why I'm here."

Something in the tone of Laura's voice made Toni's smile disappear. "What's wrong?"

"Actually, nothing. Well, not really," Laura said, sitting on the corner of the desk.

"What do you mean, not really?"

"It seems our benefactors are quite impressed with our success rate."

"Yeah?"

"Apparently, out of all the rehabilitation programs out there, our repeat offender numbers are the lowest, and they're attributing our success to our teaching program...and to our staff."

"Why do I think I'm not going to like what you're about to say?"

Laura didn't have to say a word because the look on her face told Toni all she needed to know. As if the past several months had never happened, Toni straightened in her chair. Placing her hands palm down on the desk, she whispered, "Please don't do this to me, Laura."

"I tried everything I could, sweetheart," Laura said softly, kneeling by Toni's side. "But they want to meet our teachers and monitor some classes."

"You can't let them do that. You can't let them in here."

"Toni, it's because of them that Calloway exists. The government funds aren't enough, and if they like what they see, they're talking about opening another school."

"So I'm going to be on display like an animal in a fucking zoo?"

"It's not just you. They want to meet all the teachers and sit in on some classes. They'll only be here a few days-"

"Then I'll take a holiday. I have the leave time."

Laura placed her hand on Toni's knee. "Unfortunately, that's not going to work."

"Why not? I have plenty of leave. You know I have plenty of leave!"

"I know you do, sweetheart, and trust me, when they told me what they wanted to do, that was the first thing I thought of, but it simply won't work. You know how we ask all the students to rate the classes after the term is over?"

"Yeah...so?"

"Well, those forms are forwarded to the Department of Education and Skills, and copies are also sent to our sponsors, and it seems that your name kept coming up. Apparently, your students think you're a great teacher," Laura said with a weak smile. "So you see, even though they want to meet the entire staff, they especially want to meet you."

Allowing the words to sink in, Toni slouched in her chair. "Fuck!"

"Toni, you need to calm down."

"How can I be calm? Why couldn't she just tell them to sod off?"

"She can't do that. Those are the people that keep Calloway going, and Laura is smart enough to know that, as you should be."

"So in other words, what I want doesn't matter."

"Oh, now you're sounding like a spoiled brat," Abby said, tossing her notepad to the side. "Just because John gave you certain liberties when you went to work at Calloway doesn't mean you get to run the show, and don't forget that Laura convinced them that a full day of monitoring would be too disruptive. All you have to do is put up with them for an hour."

"That's one hour too many," Toni said as she threw herself on the sofa.

"Are you planning to allow Laura to protect you for your entire life?"

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said. Are your intentions to have Laura keep you safe from harm? To do all the shopping, order your food when you go out and buy you clothes when you need them?"

"No, of course not."

"Then why should you expect her to coddle you now?"

Abby's words sunk in, and with a sigh, Toni rested her head on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. "I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of fucking things up and making Laura look like an idiot."

"And how would you do that?"

"By freaking out in front of the suits."

"You didn't freak out when Laura monitored your class several months ago."

"True, but I doubt that I'll get away with having the class read to themselves for an hour."

"Point taken," Abby said. "So what are you planning to do?"

"I have no idea, but honestly, Abby, I just can't see myself glad-handing those people. I just can't."

Pulling apart the last bits of lettuce for their salad, when Toni heard Laura's "It's me" shouted from the entry, she called out, "You're late. Where've you been?"

Hearing rustling in the hallway, Toni looked up just as Laura walked into the kitchen carrying several bags filled with groceries.

"Sorry. I decided to stop on my way home," she said, placing a few of the bags on the table.

"But I thought we were going to go tonight?"

"Well, since I pass it on the way home, I thought I'd save us the bother of going back out."

"Oh."

Tossing her coat on a chair, Laura walked over and gave Toni a quick kiss. "Hiya. Whatcha making?"

"Salad...to go with spaghetti, if that's all right."

"Sounds good to me," Laura said as she started emptying the bags. "How'd your session go today? Did you tell Abby about the sponsors coming in on Friday?"

"Actually, we talked about it quite a bit."

"And?"

"She told me to stop acting like a spoiled brat."

Whipping around, Laura growled, "She what?"

Amused by Laura's quick temper, Toni walked over and rested her hands on Laura's shoulders. "Darling, as much as I hate to admit it, she's right. I can't keep expecting the world to stay out of my way, or for you to try to protect me from it. It isn't fair."

"I don't try to protect you from it."

"No?" Toni asked, glancing at the pile of groceries on the table. "Then why did you decide to go to the supermarket without me?"

With a sigh, Laura said quietly, "But I don't mind. I really don't."

"I know you don't, and we both know there'll be times when I'll need your help, but this shouldn't be one of them. I won't have you buying all our groceries simply because it's easier on me, and I can't let a few blokes in three-piece suits get in the way of something I love. Laura, I love to teach. I love to see those women learning to read and to write. I have no idea how I'm going to manage it right now, but come Friday, I'm going to teach my fucking class...just like I always do."

"Yeah?"

"Yep," Toni said as she placed a kiss on Laura's cheek. "Now, if I can only figure out how."

Relaxing in the lounge a few hours later, as Toni handed Laura a glass of wine, she said, "Tell me about your family."

"My family?"

"Yeah."

Taking a sip of the Chianti, Laura asked, "Where'd that come from?"

"Two places, actually. First, it'll get my mind off of meeting the suits on Friday and second, Abby suggested it."

"Why?"

"She thought that the more I knew about them, the more familiar they would be, and I might be a tad more relaxed...not so nervous when I meet them."

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Laura said as she sat up and crossed her legs under her. "What do you want to know?"

"Anything. Everything," Toni said with a shrug. "What they look like? What they do for a living? Stuff like that."

"All right. Where do you want me to start?"

"Well, I've met your mum. What about your dad?"

Pausing for a moment, Laura said, "Well, I'm not sure that I can tell you that much about him."

"Laura, he is your father."