"Oh, sorry...just thinking about something."

"Should I ask?"

With a snort, Toni shook her head. "Not unless you want to be confused."

"Hey, you two, Dorothy and Bernard just pulled up," Eleanor called from the back door.

"We're coming," Bill said, tapping what remained of the tobacco in his pipe into an empty planter. Offering his hand to Toni, he said, "Come on, time to greet the family."

Taking the last drag of her cigarette, Toni flicked it into the planter and took his hand. "I've got nothing to fear, right?"

"That depends," Bill said, looking her in the eye as she stood up.

"On what?"

"On whether they brought Myles or left him at home."

By the time Bill and Toni reached the front hall, Laura was busy hanging up Dorothy's coat while Eleanor carried bags filled with gifts into the lounge.

"Merry Christmas, Dot," Bill said, giving his niece a kiss on the cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Bill," she said, returning his affection. "Merry Christmas, Toni."

"Hi," Toni said, and then running her fingers through her hair, she sighed. "Um...I mean, Merry Christmas."

Sensing the woman's nervousness, Dorothy held out her hand and smiled. "With all that went on the other day, I don't believe we were ever properly introduced. Dorothy Montgomery-Smythe."

Pausing for only a moment, Toni shook the woman's hand. "Toni Vaughn."

Suddenly, the front door banged open and a little boy with curly red hair ran inside. Two steps behind was Bernard, and offering everyone a very quick "Merry Christmas," he continued to chase his son into the lounge.

"I'm afraid that's Myles," Dorothy said with a snicker as she picked up the infant carrier by her leg. "And this is Neville."

"And I'm going to snatch him away from you right now, if that's all right," Eleanor said returning to the group gathered by the door.

"Be my guest, Eleanor, but I warn you, he may be wet."

"I'll take my chances," she said, taking the carrier from Dorothy's hand. "We'll be in the lounge if you need us."

"Right, well, he's playing with my phone, so that should keep him quiet for a few minutes," Bernard said, coming back into the front hall. Placing his coat in Laura's outstretched hand, he smiled at Toni. "And how are you doing today?"

"I'm okay."

"Any problems breathing? Any coughing?"

"No, I feel fine."

Cocking his head to the side, he glanced at Laura for a moment, and when she nodded, he let out a breath. "Well, that's good to hear. You're a very lucky woman, Toni."

"Yes, I am," Toni said, taking a step in his direction. "I...I didn't get a chance to thank you for all you did the other day. I'm still a bit fuzzy on what actually happened, but Laura tells me you're one of the reasons I'm standing here today." Holding out her hand, Toni said, "And I just wanted to say thank you."

Bernard's face brightened to almost a blinding intensity as he took her hand. "You are very welcome, Toni. Very, very welcome." As the handshake ended, he noticed the bandage peeking out from under the sleeve of her shirt, and ever so gently, he touched the gauze. "I'd like to take a look at that today, if you don't mind."

"Stop being so grabby, Bernard. We have all day for that," Dorothy said with a wave of her hand. "I don't know about either of you, but I could use a cup of coffee. Kitchen's through here, isn't it?" Not waiting for an answer, she sashayed past everyone and disappeared through the doorway.

Smiling at his wife's overt attempt at haughtiness, Bernard shook his head. "I'd better go check on Myles."

"I think I'll join you," Bill chimed in as he headed into the lounge. "The way these two are talking, I seriously need to start getting used to being around children."

"Laura, could you come here for a moment?" Eleanor called from the lounge.

"Sure," Laura said. Stopping at Toni's side, she touched her hand. "You going to be okay if I leave you alone?"

"I'm fine. Go see what your mum wants. I'm going to get some more coffee."

"All right, sweetheart. Call me if you need me."

Dorothy was just filling a cup when Toni came into the kitchen, and offering it to Toni, she said, "I'm sorry about Bernard going all doctor on you. He truly does mean well. As a matter of fact, between you and me, ever since the other night he's been a changed man."

"How so?" Toni asked, taking the coffee.

"It's been a long time since he's actually had to practice medicine, but after what happened the other day...well, let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if before too long he turns in his executive office for a white coat and a stethoscope."

For the first time, Toni noticed Dorothy's appearance. Clothes designed by men with hyphenated names had been replaced by a casual dark green sweater over straight-legged jeans. Her red hair, that two days earlier had been piled high atop her head, was now hanging down her back in a ponytail, and instead of a dozen bracelets of gold jangling on her wrist, only one small gold chain could be seen.

"How come I think that you're okay with that?" Toni asked.

"Probably, because I am," she said, taking a sip of coffee. "Don't get me wrong. I always enjoyed going to all the conferences and parties, but after the other day, I started thinking about a few things. I've decided that being a good mother is more important than being on the cover of society magazines. I have no idea what made Ron the way he is, but I'm going to make sure that my boys grow up knowing right from wrong. I have no doubt that poor Myles is going to have a problem learning that he no longer rules the household, but I think I have enough time to correct the mistakes I've made with him."

"Is he really that-"

Toni was interrupted by the three-year-old boy racing through the kitchen. Circling the center island, he ran between her legs and then his mother's, all the while giggling and laughing as he held his father's mobile in his hand.

"Myles, give me back my phone," Bernard demanded, running into the kitchen.

"I thought you said he could play with it," Dorothy said, watching with amusement as her son darted past his father and ran through the house.

"I forgot to lock the bloody keypad, and I'm fairly certain he just called someone in Japan!" Bernard said before quickly running after his son.

Both women laughed at the man's predicament, and as Dorothy refilled her coffee cup, Toni walked to the cooker and checked on the soup that had been simmering all morning.

Leaning against the counter, Dorothy studied the woman for a minute. "So, Peggy tells me that you and Laura plan to have children. Yes?"

Looking up, Toni smiled. "Yes, Laura wants children."

"And how about you?"

"I want what Laura wants. I actually never thought about having kids before...um...when I was younger, and honestly, I don't know the first thing about raising a child, but I'm willing to learn."

"Well, I should warn you that when we were growing up, Laura always said she wanted to have a house full of kids. Back then, I think the magic number was six."

Toni raised her eyes to Dorothy's for only a second, but it was enough to make Dorothy erupt into laughter. "Oh, you poor woman."

Tickled by the woman's reaction, Toni said, "Well, between you and me, I'm hoping she'll come to her senses."

"And if she doesn't?"

"Then I guess we'll have six," Toni said without missing a beat. "Whatever Laura wants, whatever I can give her...I will."

"Then how about giving me a kiss?" Laura asked from the doorway.

Instantly, Toni's face split into a grin, and placing the lid back on the soup, she casually strolled over and kissed Laura tenderly on the lips.

Rolling her eyes at the sight of the two women embracing, Dorothy said, "I've accepted the fact that you're gay, Laura, but could you keep the snogging sessions to a minimum until I've had at least another two or three cups of coffee?"

"Thanks for helping me make dessert," Laura said, closing the refrigerator door. "We tried to get everything done yesterday, but we ran out of time."

"No worries," Dorothy said, tidying the counter. "A Christmas without Crannachan just wouldn't be Christmas."

"I totally agree."

"It's a shame Alice won't be here. It's her favorite."

Laura frowned, and after pausing for a moment, she asked, "Dot, how's she doing?"

"She's actually doing okay, all things considered."

"Has she heard from Ron?"

"No, not so much as a peep, and if he does try to contact her, we'll know it."

"Why?"

"Because she had her mobile disconnected, and we've moved her into our guest house. Since our property is gated, Ron would have to go through us to see her...and we won't allow that to happen. She's absolutely terrified of him, Laura, and since she can't even go back to work because he could find her there, this gives her a place to call her own and as much time as she needs to get things sorted without having to worry about money or bills."

"Oh, shit! I never even thought about her job. Dot, if there's anything I can do. If there's anything she needs-"

"Laura, relax. You're acting like you're somehow responsible for this and you're not," Dorothy said, placing her hands on her hips. "We all love Alice and she's not going to want for anything. I guarantee it. It's just going to take some time."

"Yeah, I suppose, but she should be here. I just feel bad that-"

"Trust me, Laura. She's where she wants to be today, and if she found out that you were moping about, she'd feel dreadful. Now please, let's just enjoy the day because that's what Alice would want us to do. All right?"

Thinking for a minute, Laura said, "Okay, but do you think she'd mind if we called her later?"

"I was planning on it," Dorothy said as she picked up her coffee cup. Seeing the dregs that remained, she glanced at her watch and then back at her cousin. "You know, Laura...it's almost noon."

Laura looked at the coffee pot and then at the bottles of wine lined up on the counter. "Red or white?"

"White, I think. It's still early," Dorothy said, pouring what remained of her coffee in the sink.

A few minutes later, with glasses of Chardonnay in hand, they sat at the kitchen table. Sipping her wine, Dorothy watched as Laura's eyes drifted to the woman sitting outside on the patio smoking a cigarette.

"So, when exactly did you decide to take a walk on the wild side?" Dorothy asked, breaking the silence.

"Sorry?"

Pointing out the window, Dorothy said, "I seem to remember that you used to like them a bit more...well, masculine, shall we say."

"Things change, I guess," Laura said with a shrug.

"You go from straight to gay and all you can say is things change?"

"I fell in love with her, Dot. I didn't plan it, it just happened, but I'm happy. Actually, I'm beyond happy."

"I can see that," Dorothy said. Noticing the ring on Laura's finger, she said, "And that's quite a marvelous ring you've got there. Congratulations, by the way. Peggy told me."

"Thanks."

"I hope we'll be invited."

"Of course, but don't expect anything lavish. It's going to be a small wedding."

"You used to want a big one."

"True, but I also used to want a man."

"Good point," Dorothy said, clinking her glass against Laura's before she took a sip. Glancing out the window at the woman sitting on the bench, Dorothy said, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Toni's been through hell, hasn't she?"

"Yeah, she has," Laura said softly.

"Well, you know Bernard knows a lot of doctors-"

"Thanks, but she's already seeing a doctor. My friend, Abby, is a psychologist."

"I was actually talking about plastic surgery. It could help cover up some of those scars on her back." Seeing Laura's eyes widen, Dorothy said, "I saw them the other day. Everyone did."

"Oh, I forgot about that," Laura said, slouching in her chair.

Again, Dorothy's eyes were drawn to Toni. She looked so normal...so intact, like the only weight on her shoulders was from the jacket she wore, but Dorothy had heard the story, and she had seen the scars. A vision of the buckle flashed through her mind, and squeezing her eyes shut for a second, she willed it away. "I can't begin to imagine how she survived that," she said in a whisper.