Looking up, Laura wiped the tears from her face. "Oh, Mum, you should have seen your face."

Squatting by her daughter's side, Eleanor narrowed her eyes as she tried not to laugh. "I'm going to get you for that if it's the last thing I do."

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself, and you were so...so appalled."

"You called me loose!"

Watching as her daughter dissolved into another fit of giggles, Eleanor waited a few seconds before asking, "You're okay with this then?"

"To tell you the truth, when I first found them I was...well, I was stunned. I mean, finding out that your mother is...is-"

"Getting some?" Eleanor said, humor shining in her eyes.

"Yes!" Laura said, jumping to her feet. "And why didn't you tell me sooner? I thought we didn't have any secrets."

"I wasn't sure how you'd take it, so I thought I'd wait a while. Get past the Christmas rush and all," Eleanor said, opening a box of decorations. Pulling out a length of green garland, she looked around the room. "How about we put this over the windows?"

Puzzled by the rapid change of subject, Laura took the garland, but her curiosity got the best of her before she reached the window. Turning around, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Looking up from a box of decorations, Eleanor said, "What do you mean, dear?"

"Mum, I wasn't born yesterday. Now, come on, out with it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Rubbish," Laura said, tossing the garland on a chair. "You're hiding something. Now, what is it? Is he married?"

"I won't even honor that with an answer, young lady."

"He is a he, isn't he?" Laura asked through a grin.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Eleanor said, smiling back. "I'll leave the fairer sex to you. No offense."

"Okay, so who is he?"

Eleanor gazed at her daughter and quickly resigned herself to the fact Laura wasn't about to give up. Her chin was high. Her eyes were sparkling, and if anyone knew the breadth of Laura's stubborn streak, it was the woman who had raised her. Dogs with bones had nothing on Laura MacLeod. Inhaling slowly, Eleanor said, "It's your father."

"What!"

"It seems that we've decided to give it another go."

"Oh, you've got to be joking."

"No, I'm not."

Placing her hands on her hips, Laura said, "Have you forgotten that he walked out on you thirty years ago?"

"I haven't forgotten anything, Laura. Not one thing."

Sitting on the arm of the couch, Eleanor paused for a moment to get her thoughts in order. "A long time ago you asked me why I never dated. Do you remember?"

"Yes, of course."

"Well, I'm happy to say that it wasn't for the lack of invitations, but none of them held a candle to your father. It's just that simple. Their words weren't as sweet. Their cologne wasn't as familiar, and their touch wasn't his. Laura, I've loved your father for longer than you've been alive...and there's nothing I can do about it. You asked me if I remembered him walking out, and I can tell you the clothes he wore that day. I remember our first date, our first kiss, and when he told me he loved me for the very first time. I remember everything.

"I love him, Laura. I always have and I always will. I know you have ill feelings when it comes to your father, and rightfully so. All I'm asking is that you look at him the same way I look at Toni. He's the one that I want, Laura, so please be happy for me."

Eleanor had just put Laura where she, herself, had stood only a few months earlier. If Laura was to argue the point, to dispute her mother's choice of partner, then Laura would put her own beliefs ahead of her mother's. If she was to accept it, their relationship would remain strong and unwavering. There was no argument.

Going over, Laura knelt by her mother and took her hand. "If he makes you happy, Mum, then I'm happy. Just please don't expect me to call him Dad. Okay?"

"I wouldn't think of it, Laura," Eleanor said, smiling back at her daughter. "I wouldn't think of it."

"You knew?"

"No, not for sure. I just had a feeling."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just told you, I wasn't sure."

"You could have mentioned it."

"What was I supposed to say?" Toni said, walking into the bathroom to brush her teeth. "I think your mother had a good shag today?"

"What!"

Poking her head out, Toni smiled. "When we walked in last night, she had this look in her eye, and it's the same one you get after we've...well, after we've had a good romp, shall I say."

"Oh, I can't believe this," Laura said, throwing herself on the bed. "My mother and...and him."

"He's not that bad, you know."

"I know. It's just...it's just weird. After everything he did, and after all these years, to think of them back together, it's just...so bizarre."

"Yeah, I guess it would be, but they both seem happy."

"That they do," Laura said as she placed her hands under her head. Staring at the ceiling, she thought about the day.

By early afternoon, the eaves of the cottage had been outlined in white icicle lights, and every shrub in the front garden had been draped in netted lighting. Silhouettes of deer wrapped in LED strands stood proudly under a tree, while angels with trumpets lined the driveway leading to the house. Gathering their empty boxes, Toni and Bill had trudged inside, and after being warmed by hot chocolate with just a splash of brandy, and a lunch of finger sandwiches, they joined Laura and her mother to finish what was left.

Having decided that they wouldn't get a tree until Sunday, one corner of the lounge was left untouched, but by late that afternoon the rest of the house was adorned in the colors and scents of the season.

The photographs and mementos lining the tops of the bookcases were rearranged to make room for candles smelling of pine and bayberry, and snow globes displaying tiny villages were placed lovingly alongside framed photographs of family and friends. Tall and stately nutcrackers stood guard on the window sills, and figurines of Santa Claus and angels greeted visitors in every room. The banister was draped in the same green garland as the windows, and white fairy lights were strung over the doorway, awaiting a sprig of mistletoe soon to be purchased.

A nativity scene which had been handed down through the family was placed atop the mantle, and Laura carefully arranged each figure exactly as her mother had shown her years before. Completing the decorations above the hearth, Eleanor placed two cast-iron stocking hangers to the left and right of the manger, but glancing at the stockings in her hand, she turned sad, mumbling that she had forgotten to buy another. Seconds later, her heart overflowed with love when Laura chimed in, "Don't you mean two?"

It was an afternoon filled with laughter and jokes, and as Laura watched and listened, she couldn't help but smile at the happiness she saw in both her parents' eyes.

Laura's thoughts returned to now, and glancing in Toni's direction, she remained quiet as she watched the woman get undressed. Doing her best to finish every meal put in front of her, Toni had finally managed to put on a few pounds. Even though her stomach was still flat and muscled, her hips had become soft and rounded. Secretly wincing at the stark white run-of-the-mill underwear Toni was wearing, Laura said, "We really need to get you some new things."

"What do you mean?" Toni asked, pulling on a pair of pajama bottoms.

"Aren't you the one that said white was boring?"

Smiling at the memory, Toni unfastened her bra, tossing it aside while she rummaged through a drawer for a T-shirt. Glancing in Laura's direction, as soon as she saw the look in her eyes, Toni said, "Don't even think about it."

"Think about what?" Laura asked, keeping her eyes fixed on Toni's naked breasts.

Quickly pulling a dark blue T-shirt over her head, Toni pushed the drawer closed. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"If I'm not mistaken, you did lose the bet," Laura said as she began unbuttoning her pajama top.

"Don't you dare," Toni scolded, striding over to fasten everything Laura had just unfastened. "It's only been two days, and you know how I feel about this. I don't want your mother hearing this bed squeak all night long."

"It won't take all night," Laura said, raising her eyes to meet Toni's. "Not unless you want it to."

Toni sat on the edge of the bed and laced her fingers through Laura's. "Can I just hold you tonight? Just hold you? Things are changing for me, Laura, and every day seems like something else new and wonderful is happening. I worked side-by-side with a man today-a man. I didn't feel the fear I thought I would, and even after he grabbed me-"

"He grabbed you!"

"I fell-"

"You fell!"

Placing her finger on Laura's lips, Toni said, "I slipped off the ladder, but your dad was there to catch me. At first, all I wanted to do was run, but then I saw his face, and my fear...my fear just went away. It was like...it was like taking the deepest breath you can and everything around you, the smells and the sounds, they just get inside of you and you know it's going to be okay."

Emotions began to rise to the surface, and as her eyes filled with tears, Toni said in ragged whisper, "I love you with all my heart, Laura, all of it, but tonight...tonight I just want to hold you in my arms and breathe you in. Can I do that? Will you let me do that...please?"

Laura pulled Toni into her arms. Covering them both with the quilt, she turned off the bedside lamp, and as they held each other close in the darkness...they breathed.

Chapter Forty-Three.

The next morning the women returned to Stirling, and while Eleanor went in search of Christmas stockings and holders, Toni and Laura visited a few of the smaller stores to do a bit of last-minute shopping.

After paying for her purchase of two personalized Christmas stockings, Eleanor walked out of the store and opened her mobile, but before she could press the speed dial button, she heard someone call her name. Turning around, she scanned the crowd, and then saw Nancy and Peggy walking her way.

"Fancy meeting you here," Eleanor said as they approached.

"Of all people, Eleanor, I would have thought you'd have been done with your shopping months ago," Nancy said, leaning in for a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I thought I was, but I forgot a few things," Eleanor said, holding up the bag in her hand. Glancing at her niece, Eleanor's smile grew large at the sight of the woman's very swollen belly. "Hiya, Peggy," she said, pulling her into a hug. "I can't believe you still have four weeks to go!"

"Neither can I," the young woman jokingly moaned, rubbing her enormous baby bump.

"Ell, we were just going to grab a bite to eat. You interested?" Nancy asked, shifting one of her many bags to the other hand.

"Actually, I'm starving. Let me just call Laura to see if she'd like to join us."

"Laura? Laura's here already!" Nancy blurted. "Well, that's a shock. She always seems to be so busy, but I suppose when you don't have a husband and children to care for the world is your oyster, as they say."

Taking a deep breath, Eleanor held it until she smothered every cutting remark that came to mind. Thankfully, they died before she did. Forcing a smile to appear, she said, "Yes, I suppose, but Laura's decided to spend a few weeks up here this year. She actually arrived the other night with her partner."

"Her partner!" Nancy said, taking a half-step backward. "Oh, that's wonderful, Ellie! Maybe this means you'll finally get all those grandbabies you've always wanted."

Accustomed to Nancy's one-track mind, Eleanor glanced at Peggy, who in turn simply shook her head, silently apologizing for her mother's glib remark. Turning back to Nancy, Eleanor's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Let me just call them, shall I? I'm sure Laura can't wait for you to meet Toni."

Standing a short distance away from the entrance to the pub, Laura eyed the woman standing next to her. "You ready for this?"

"Let me just grab another smoke-"

"You've had two!"

Frowning, Toni pocketed the pack of cigarettes. "Sorry, just me being me...again."

"Look, I can call Mum back. Just because we said yes, doesn't mean we can't change our minds," Laura said, touching Toni on the sleeve. "You can meet them another day."

"That's just putting off the inevitable, isn't it?"

"Yes, but if you need a few more days-"

"I guess years aren't an option, huh?"

Taking Toni's hand, Laura gave it a squeeze. "Afraid not, sweetheart, but if you want to skip having lunch with them, that much I can do."

Laura was always doing for Toni. Always waiting, always helping, never pushing, and never putting her wants in front of Toni's, but Laura had wants, too. She had a family inside the pub waiting for her. Eager to see her, to chat and to laugh, but again, she was willing to walk away and all Toni had to do was ask. As Toni gazed back at Laura, everything Abby had taught her disappeared. "Do you love me?"

"More than I can put into words."

"And if I freak out in there?"

"You haven't done that in ages, sweetheart."

Squaring her shoulders, Toni nodded. "Okay. Let's go."