"And you think proposing will change that?"

"Well, it would definitely show her that I mean business," Laura said with a laugh. "I just don't know how else to convince her. One day, she seems secure and talks about children and forever, and the next, she won't even help me pick out a new set of towels."

"Quite multi-faceted, our Toni."

"Tell me about it," Laura said with a snort.

Abby's professional thoughts about Toni blended with her personal ones, and the result brightened her face. "Do you want to know what I think?"

"Yes."

"I think if you love her, then go for it. Go with your gut instinct, Laura. If there is anyone who knows Toni, it's you."

"But will she think I'm moving too fast? I know we've only been lovers for just over a month, but we've known each other for almost a year, and I honestly can't imagine ever being with anyone else. I just can't."

"Laura, have you forgotten about my parents? They got married less than five months after they met, and a few weeks ago, they celebrated their thirty-fifth anniversary. There's no time limit on falling in love. It just happens, and as to what Toni may think, yes, it's possible she could feel you're moving a bit fast, but from where I'm sitting, you're doing this for all the right reasons. You're not suggesting that this is a quick fix for what ails her. You're showing her that you're committed to your relationship."

Laura perked up in her seat. "Thanks, that's what I needed to hear."

"Now I have a question."

"Okay?"

"I've never shopped for an engagement ring before, so do you want some company?"

"I need your finger."

"I love it when you talk dirty."

"Behave. I'm being serious."

"So am I."

Grinning, Laura motioned toward the gift she was wrapping. "I need you to put your finger in the middle, so I can finish tying this ribbon."

Reaching over, Toni placed her index finger on the intersecting strands of red. "And here I was getting my hopes up."

"Your hopes will be answered later if we get all these presents wrapped tonight."

Looking at the piles of bags and boxes of toys stacked in the lounge, Toni said, "I don't know if I have that much energy."

"That'll be the day."

Smiling, Toni glanced back to the instructions in her hand. Squinting as she read the tiny printing for the third time, she let out a sigh and put them aside. "Girls or boys?"

"What?" Laura asked, looking up from her wrapping.

"Do you want girls or boys?"

"I just want them to be healthy. As for their sex, I'll leave that up to God."

"And the sperm bank."

"Yeah, I suppose."

"Will that be okay for you? I mean, not knowing the father."

"I didn't know mine, and I turned out all right."

"That's different."

"Not really. He never had anything to do with how I was raised. He wasn't there to teach me right from wrong, or to look both ways before I crossed a street. Everything I am, I owe to my mother."

"Except your DNA."

"I'll give you that, but from what I've read, we'll know almost as much about the father of our children as my mother did about my father, except for his name, of course."

"So, you've been reading, have you?"

"Just a little," Laura said quietly. "Do you mind?"

"Of course not. You need to know all the facts before committing yourself to this relationship. Weighing your options is smart."

Frowning, Laura pushed aside the package, got to her feet and headed to the stairs. "I'll be right back," she called out, running up the steps. "Pour us some wine. Will you?"

Although confused by Laura's quick exit, Toni did as asked and when she returned to the lounge a few minutes later, she found Laura sitting cross-legged in the middle of the sofa. Handing her a glass, Toni settled into her corner, but as she went to retrieve the toy instructions, Laura pulled them from her hand and tossed them aside.

"What's wrong? I thought my job was to assemble and yours was to wrap."

"Wrapping can wait."

"Oh, no it can't," Toni said, grabbing for the directions. "I have hopes, Laura, and you've made it perfectly clear that they won't be answered until all these gifts are tied up in pretty ribbons."

"I have hopes, too."

"I know. That's why I want to finish."

"I'm not talking about that."

"No?"

"No," Laura said as she handed Toni a box wrapped in gold foil.

"What's this?"

"Open it and find out."

"I thought tonight's goal was to wrap not unwrap."

"It was, but now it's not."

"Can I ask why?"

"Did you like those towels the other day?"

"Excuse me?"

"When we were shopping...those orange towels I said I liked. Did you like them?"

"What's that got to do with wrapping presents?"

"Toni, stop talking about the bloody presents and answer the question."

"But I don't understand-"

"Jesus Christ! Will you please just-"

"Okay. Okay. No, actually I didn't like them. Satisfied?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just did."

"No, I mean when we were in the store. I asked your opinion, and you said whatever I liked was fine. If you didn't like them, why didn't you just tell me?"

"I know that you want to include me on decisions, Laura, but this is your house."

Pursing her lips, Laura let out a slow breath as she stared back at Toni. "Open the present."

"Isn't it a Christmas present?" Toni asked, once again returning her gaze to the gift in her hands.

"No, it's not."

"But it's wrapped in foil."

"Do you see a candy cane or a reindeer on it?"

Glancing at the gold wrapping, Toni said, "Well, no, but since Christmas is just around the corner, I thought-"

"Do us both a favor. Stop thinking and open the box."

"It looks like clothes," Toni said, shaking the package.

"You're seriously trying my patience."

"I don't mean to."

"Then open the bloody box!"

Letting out an exaggerated sigh, Toni accepted defeat and began pulling away the ribbon and bow. Slowly removing the gold paper, she lifted the cover and pushed aside the tissue paper. Toni's eyes flashed to Laura and then back to the contents of the box, her eyebrows drawing together as she shook her head. "I...I don't understand."

"Look underneath."

For a second, Toni just stared at the stack of estate agent brochures before finally lifting them out. Moving aside a layer of tissue paper underneath, when she saw a rolled-up piece of paper held closed by a diamond ring, her mouth dropped open.

Reaching over, Laura pulled out the scroll, and removing the ring, she handed Toni the paper. "Read this."

"But-"

"Read it, Toni. Please."

Waiting while Toni opened the scroll, when Laura saw her begin to scan the words, she filled in the blanks. "It's an agreement I signed earlier this week with an estate agent."

"But...but why? You love this house."

"It's just a house, Toni, but I don't want a house. I want a home...and I want you." Opening her hand to display the emerald-cut diamond in a band of gold, Laura said, "And I want you 'til death do us part." When Laura saw Toni's eyes fill with tears, she cupped the woman's chin and looked her in the eye. "I love you, Toni, and I don't ever want you to doubt that. With everything you've been through, I know that words may not be enough for you, so I hope this is. Marry me, Toni. Marry me and give me a reason to smile...for the rest of my life."

Blinking back her tears, Toni said, "Are you sure this is what you want? It could take years of therapy, Laura, and even then, there aren't any guarantees-"

"I don't need guarantees, Toni. I need you...for better or for worse."

"It could be more worse than better."

"Sweetheart, there's nothing you can say that's going to change my mind. Now stop trying to give me an out...and give me an answer."

Looking into Laura's eyes, Toni grinned. "You're quite the pushy one, aren't you?"

"You have no idea."

"So, if I know what's good for me, I'd best say yes."

"Is that your answer?"

Pausing for a moment, Toni smiled wide. "Yes, I think it is."

If Toni thought about changing her mind, she had about a nanosecond to do it, because as soon as she said yes, Laura slipped the ring on her finger. Gazing at the diamond, Toni said with a leer, "Does this mean I get to unwrap something else now?"

"You're incorrigible."

"No...I'm just in love."

Chapter Thirty-Nine.