"Do you want to spend the rest of your life with her?"

"And then some."

"Then there's your answer. Stop worrying about your problems. Stop stressing over flawlessness, and just be happy that you've found what so many of us are looking for, and most likely may never find."

"What's that?"

"Your soulmate."

She straightened her blazer for the fourth time and ran her fingers through her hair for the third. The bell over the door announced the next customer, and perking up, she quickly smiled toward the sound, and then sighed at the sight of strangers coming into the pub. Silently admonishing herself for her adolescent anxiousness, Eleanor took another sip of her wine and tried to relax. It didn't work.

It had been over thirty years since she had visited this pub, but it was the first place that came to mind when she made the phone call. Years before, it had been their regular stop. A place to unwind and catch up with friends, they'd spend evenings surrounded by the comfort of familiar neon, laughing and drinking the night away before returning to the warmth of their home...and their bed.

As Eleanor remembered youthful nights filled with passion that wouldn't end until dawn she felt a hint of awareness settle between her legs, and with a snort, she shook her head. She was as hopelessly in love now as she had been over three decades before, and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.

"Hiya, Ellie."

She breathed in deeply before lifting her eyes to meet his, and instantly their smiles grew wide. For a few seconds, neither could look away, until finally, Eleanor found her voice. "Hello, William. I'm glad you could make it."

"The apocalypse couldn't keep me away," he said, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her cheek. "You're looking as beautiful as ever."

"And you're still telling tall tales," she said, gesturing for him to sit.

Sliding into the booth, he motioned for the waitress, and after ordering a drink, he looked at the woman sitting across from him. It didn't matter that the auburn tresses which once had reached her waist in shimmering waves had been replaced by a short, layered bob, or that a few more laugh lines had been added by the passage of time. As far as Bill MacLeod was concerned, Eleanor was still the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

His thoughts were interrupted when the waitress returned with his Scotch, and after quickly taking a sip, he said, "I was really glad you suggested this, Ellie."

"Oh?"

"Yes, actually...um...I was thinking about calling you."

"Is that so?"

"I know we see each other at Nancy's occasionally, but there's always so much going on over there. It's hard to have a conversation when all those children are running about."

"Yes, they do get quite noisy at times, don't they?"

"Was Laura like that?"

Smiling, Eleanor took a sip of wine. "Children make noise, Bill. It's a fact of life, and Laura made her fair share when she was that age. She'd have tantrums when she didn't get her way and scream her head off when a balloon I told her to hold on to was let go, but it's just something you learn to deal with."

"I never did."

"You never tried."

Bill's mood turned somber. Staring at the drink in his hand, almost a minute passed before he brought it to his lips to take a sip. Setting the glass on the table, he lifted his eyes to meet Eleanor's. "I should have."

Eleanor cocked her head to the side and looked more closely at the man who used to share her bed. His sandy hair was still as wavy as ever, and his skin was just as tan, but the emerald of his eyes seemed somehow brighter. And in that green of greens, Eleanor thought she saw a hint of something she never thought she'd see again.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"I mean your health. You're not dying of some dreaded disease, are you?"

Bill laughed heartily. "No, still as healthy as ever, I'm afraid, except for the occasional twinge in my back. Why do you ask?"

"Because I think you just admitted that you regret walking away from us."

"I do," he said, hanging his head. "I should have been there for you both...taken care of you."

"You did your part."

"Paying for Laura's education is not what I'm talking about."

"You paid for a hell of a lot more than that, and we both know it. How that girl ever believed I could afford all those gifts is beyond me, and when you had that car delivered on her eighteenth birthday, I almost died."

"Yeah, but it's still just money, Ellie. I should have been there to teach her how to ride a bike. I should have been there when she skinned her knees and...and when she started dating. I should have been the one standing at the door, threatening every boy who walked inside."

Refusing to allow her amusement to show, Eleanor said, "Yes, well I don't think you need to worry about that any longer."

"No, I suppose not," Bill said. Emptying what remained in his glass, he motioned for the waitress to bring another round.

Between the wine and the proximity of William MacLeod, the pub seemed much warmer than when she had first walked inside. Removing her blazer, Eleanor placed it aside. "That's actually the reason I called you. Something has happened, and I think you need to know-"

"Happened? Has something happened to Laura? Is she all right?"

"Relax, William, she's fine. Actually, she's more than fine."

"More than fine?"

"She's in love...and engaged."

"Engaged?" William said as his whole face spread into a smile. "When did this happen?"

"A few days ago."

"Wait. Why are you telling me this? I know Laura doesn't think of me as her father, but I would have thought that this kind of announcement...well, that...that she'd-"

"She doesn't know I'm telling you."

William's smile faded as his eyebrows became one. "Ellie, what's going on? What's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong, William, but I fear that Laura may need more than just me in her corner in the coming days, and I'm hoping that you love our daughter as much as I think you do."

"It seems I love her more every day," he said quietly.

Reaching across the table, Eleanor touched his hand, praying that the fair-minded man who had divorced her so many years before was still the man sitting across from her.

"William, our Laura is in love...with a woman."

Chapter Forty.

"How did this happen?"

"It happened like it always does. Two people meet, fall in love-"

"But a woman?"

"Yes, a woman."

"Have you met her?"

"Of course I have."

Leaning back into the booth, Bill MacLeod picked up his Scotch and drank it down. Raking his fingers through his hair, he waited until the burn of the alcohol subsided before asking, "And you're all right with this?"

"Yes, actually, I am."

"A lot of parents wouldn't be."

"Does that include you?"

Hanging his head, Bill stared at the table top. "All I've ever wanted was for Laura to be happy, but-"

"William, she is happy."

"But a woman?"

"Since when did you become a homophobe?"

Bill jerked up his head. "I am no such thing!"

"Could have surprised me."

"Jesus Christ, Ellie, this is a lot to take in. You of all people know I've never been prejudiced against gays or anyone else. If Laura is...well, if she's gay, then so be it, but I need a bloody minute to wrap my head around it. All right?"

"I'll give you all the time you need," Eleanor said. Picking up her glass, she took a sip and waited.

A few minutes passed, and as Eleanor was about to order another glass of Chardonnay, Bill broke the silence. "And she's truly happy?"

"William, she positively glows when she's with Toni."

"Toni? That's her name?"

"Yes. Toni Vaughn."

Thinking for a moment, Bill said, "That's a strong name. A good name."

Smiling, Eleanor squeezed his hand. "I know there's a lot of water under the blasted bridge where you and Laura are concerned, but I do hope that one day our daughter realizes how much you love her."

"I doubt she'll ever give me that much time, Ellie, but as long as she's happy, I'm happy. If she needs someone else in her corner, you can count me in."

"Good," she said. Noticing that the noise level in the pub was continuing to rise as afternoon patrons ordered up their lager, Eleanor glanced at her watch. "William, do you have any plans for dinner?"

"No. Why?"

"Well, there's more I need to tell you, but this place is getting a little too loud. I thought we might grab a bite somewhere, if that's okay with you?"

"I'd love to," William said as he got to his feet. Holding out his hand, as their fingers meshed, he said, "Lead the way."

"I think I need a bigger car."

Placing the last bag of gifts in the back seat, Toni shut the door and walked around to stand with Laura at the rear of the car. Looking at the overfilled boot, she shook her head. "I think you need to learn how to pack less."

After giving Toni the evil eye, Laura turned back to the pile of suitcases. Grabbing a bag, she said, "I suppose I should just repack a few of these."

"Oh, no you don't. You start doing that, and we'll never get out of here. Now, stand back and let me see what I can do."

Standing off to the side, Laura watched as Toni shoved the cases right and left, and with a heavy push, she slammed the lid of the boot.

Smiling at her accomplishment, Toni looked over at Laura. "I recommend we don't open this until Scotland or the bloody thing will projectile vomit all over the motorway."

Playfully slapping Toni's arm, Laura set the alarm on the car and then followed her partner back into the house. Catching up with Toni in the kitchen, they both read over the list on the counter. Crossing off a few more items, Toni said, "Okay, we need to water the plants, turn down the heat, check all the doors and windows, grab the coffee flask, and then we should be good to go."

"Okay, I'll check upstairs. You do down," Laura said, running up the stairs.

Quickly roaming from room to room, Toni did as asked, and satisfied that everything was locked and bolted, she trotted up the stairs, almost colliding with Laura as she exited the bedroom.

"Oh, sorry. You forget something?" Laura asked.

"Yes, I did," Toni answered, pulling Laura into her arms. Lowering her face, Toni kissed Laura full on the lips.

Coming up for air after a few minutes later, Laura asked, "What was that for?"

"Consider it a bookmark."