Niyol woke the next morning, unsure of where he was for a few seconds before last night came rushing back to him. He glanced at Margery who was sleeping soundly on his chest, and his heart tightened. Guilt washed over him in waves. He liked Margery. He liked her a lot, and he had taken advantage of her the night before. God only knew how she would react this morning when she woke up in his arms. As the thought crossed his mind, Margery stirred against his chest, and her eyes blinked open.

She looked up at him with a shy smile. “Hi,” she whispered.

“Hi,” he said, unable to stifle the grin that spread over his face, but it quickly dissolved, and he sat up to begin dressing.

Margery frowned, unsure of what to say. Last night was amazing for her, but she sensed something was wrong with Niyol. Had she imagined the intense connection between them? Did she like him more than he liked her? What if she had just been a casual distraction for him? The thoughts ran through her mind one after the other before she shut them all down, clearing her mind and turning to search for her clothes. She wouldn’t let her own insecurities get the better of her, not before they had a chance to talk about things.

“I’m going to go wash up,” Margery murmured, glancing over her shoulder to find Niyol still facing away from her.

He nodded without turning around. “I’ll see you downstairs for breakfast, then.” Now fully dressed, he slipped out of her room and into the hall.

She frowned after him before gathering her clothes and padding to the bathroom. She would talk to Niyol about last night, but first, she needed a hot shower and some coffee.

Margery found Niyol downstairs with everyone else, but he avoided her gaze. After breakfast, she meant to catch him alone, but Rose took her aside.

“How are you feeling this morning?” Rose asked as she led the other woman back into the kitchen, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

“I have a headache,” Margery replied. “That brew is seriously strong, Rose. You should warn people.”

Rose tsked and swatted Margery’s arm. “That is not what I meant.”

“I know what you meant, but it’s none of your business, is it?”

“Someone is a little testy this morning,” Rose muttered.

“Fine,” Margery sighed, sitting at the kitchen table. “Yes, Niyol and I made love, and yes, it was amazing, but then, this morning, he acted strange. I don’t know what to do.”

Before Rose could answer, Jill walked in looking peakish.

“Jill?” Margery asked. “Are you okay?”

“Just feeling a little under the weather. You know, morning sickness and all.”

“You’re still having morning sickness?” Margery asked.

“Yes,” Jill replied, then stopped and looked at Margery’s concerned face. “But that’s normal, right? All the books say some women can have it during the whole pregnancy.”

“That’s true,” Margery agreed, keeping her own misgivings to herself. Nausea could follow an expectant mom the whole pregnancy, but combined with Jill’s other symptoms of exhaustion and lethargy, it was a little more concerning. “I’d still talk to your doctor about it,” Margery added. “He might have something he can do for it.”

Jill nodded and smiled. “Thanks, Margery. I feel better knowing I can talk to you about this stuff since you’ve been through it.”

Margery glanced at Rose to see if Jill’s words had upset her, but she just smiled reassuringly at her friend. Returning Rose’s smile, Margery looked back to Jill. “Well, you can call me anytime you need me. I’m always available. And stop by the diner next time you’re in town, and I’ll whip you up whatever you’re craving.”

“Thanks,” Jill said, giving her a hug. “I’ll stop by this week.”

The three of them sat and talked for a little longer. Jill asked Margery the famous love personality questions Rose was teaching her, and Margery answered them, not wanting to be a spoilsport. After she finished with the questions, she excused herself to go find Niyol and catch a ride home now that the snow had let up some. Jill and Rose both hugged her goodbye and watched her leave the room.

“Well?” Rose asked Jill.

“I’m guessing you already know the answer since you’re her best friend?”

Rose nodded.

“Well, according to the answers she gave, Margery needs someone strong, someone steady. She’s a bit insecure, so she needs someone who can understand and help her with that by reassuring her of their love. Someone honorable and kind.”

Rose beamed at her. “You hit the nail right on the head with that one.”

Jill turned toward the door through which Margery had just left with a thoughtful look on her face.

Margery found Niyol in the sitting room, studying the crackling flames in the fireplace.

“Niyol,” she said gently.

He turned to look at her.

She felt her face heat. “Could you take me home?”

He nodded and stood, leading her outside to his car. Margery followed him and tried not to fidget too much as he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road that led into town. The snow had fallen all night long, leaving a blanket of pure white as far as she could see. The pearly covering of snow and ice only enhanced the landscape’s usual beauty. It looked like a fairytale ice kingdom had descended upon them while they slept.

“I’m sorry if I took advantage of you last night,” Niyol said, startling Margery out of her musings and making her jump.

“What?”

“I’m sorry if—” Niyol began, but Margery cut him off.

“No, I heard what you said. I’m just confused about why you said it. Niyol, I’m a big girl, and I make my own decisions. A couple of Rose’s drinks doesn’t change that. I don’t regret what happened between us last night, and I’m sorry if you do.”

He was silent for a little while. “I don’t regret last night,” he whispered, his voice so low she had to lean closer to hear him.

“Well, that’s good, then,” Margery said, not sure what was wrong and too afraid to ask.

“Would you maybe… want to get together again?” Niyol asked after another few minutes of silence. “I mean for an actual date,” he added quickly.

“I’d like that,” Margery answered with a grin. “When were you thinking?”

“Monday?” Niyol replied. “Around noon?”

“Sounds good,” Margery agreed. “Ainsley doesn’t come back until Monday after school, so I have the whole day free. Come to think of it, she’s supposed to spend the night with my mother on Monday. Ainsley has a part in her school’s Thanksgiving pageant, and my mother is making her costume. So, if the date runs long, it won’t be a big deal.”

“Maybe we can have dinner afterward, then?”

“That would be great,” Margery said. “It would be nice having someone else do the cooking for once.”

Niyol chuckled. Last night, as he had watched Margery help Rose cook, he had thought something very similar. “What is Ainsley’s part in the pageant, by the way?”

“Oh, um.” Margery shifted uncomfortably. “She’s the Native American tribe’s princess.”

“Native American tribes don’t have princesses,” Niyol said, his voice teasing.

“Well, I know that,” Margery hastily explained. “Her official part is ‘Chieftain’s Daughter,’ but to Ainsley, that means princess.”

Niyol tried not to smile at Margery’s discomfort. He didn’t take offense at any of this, but the opportunity to tease her was just too much to pass up.

“She’s been obsessed with Pocahontas for years,” Margery rushed to explain, taking his silence for offense. “Ever since she saw that movie that depicted her as a princess. So blame the movie, not me.”

Niyol burst out laughing. “I don’t blame you,” he chuckled. “Ainsley sounds cute.”

Margery narrowed her eyes. “Well, if you think it’s so funny, then you can teach her about her part in the pageant and make sure she’s well informed about Native Americans and their culture.”

Niyol stopped laughing. “Are you serious?”

“Who better to teach her than you?” Margery said. “Why? Do you not like kids? She won’t bite you… I don’t think.”

“It’s not that,” Niyol said, grinning. “I hadn’t realized you wanted to introduce us.”

“Oh.” Margery hadn’t thought about that, but now that he mentioned it, she wondered why she felt okay with it. It seemed natural to introduce him to her daughter. True, she hadn’t known Niyol long, but he was Rose’s family, and she had known Rose all her life.

“If it’s too soon, I understand,” Niyol continued. “We’ve only known each other a few days, and I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

“I knew Mitchell for years, and look how that ended,” Margery answered, making her decision. “You’re a much better man than Mitchell ever was. We don’t have to tell her everything about our relationship, but you live here now, and Ainsley is close with Rose, so you will see her a lot. It’s natural to introduce you two.”

Niyol seemed to relax a little. He gave her a smile and reached over to squeeze her hand. “Well, I’d love to teach Ainsley about Native American culture, although I know more about Diné culture specifically than about the Wampanoag tribe depicted in the Thanksgiving story. Still, maybe I can help her with her part in the pageant.”

“Diné?” Margery asked with a quizzical look.

“Navajo. Diné is our name for ourselves. It means ‘the people.’”

Margery gave him a bashful smile as he pulled into her driveway. “It seems you have some things to teach me, too.”

“I’ll definitely look forward to that,” Niyol said with a wink, jumping out of the SUV and striding around the front of the car before she could respond.

She giggled as he helped her out of the car, pulling her into his arms.  

“Until Monday,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

Margery smiled and nodded, and she walked inside her house with a renewed spring in her step.

On Monday, Niyol woke up hoping to visit with Jill before his date with Margery, but he went downstairs to find her already gone.

“She went to the doctor,” Rose explained, setting a plate of eggs in front of him.

He paused with his fork in midair. “Is everything okay?”

“Margery suggested she talk to her doctor about her nausea. Luke took her before his shift started.”

Niyol frowned. “He left her there alone? I would have gone with her if he had woken me.”

“Calm down,” Rose chuckled. “He’s staying with her for the appointment, and she’s going to drop him off at work afterward.”

“Oh,” Niyol said, his heart rate returning to normal. He should have known Luke wouldn’t leave Jill alone at the doctor. Not when she was both pregnant and ill. Luke worshipped the ground Jill walked on. Any fool could see that.  

Niyol and Rose sat and talked for a while before the back door banged open, and a very grumpy Jill stomped into the kitchen.

“Jill,” Niyol exclaimed, jumping up from his chair. “Is everything okay? Are you okay? What about the baby?”

“Oh, she and the babies are fine,” Rose answered before Jill could. “She’s just upset about the fact that she’s carrying twins.”

“How the hell do you know that?” Jill cried, slumping into a nearby chair as Niyol sat back down.

“Word travels fast, Jill,” Rose answered, winking. “Especially when you list me as an emergency contact and allow your doctors to answer my questions.”

Jill rolled her eyes and scowled. “Yes, I’m having twins. This is unbelievable! The doctor said twins probably run in my family. I had no idea.” She turned her dark gaze on Niyol. “Did you?”

Her father shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well… your mother was a twin, so… yes, I knew.”

Jill and Rose both gaped at him.

“How did I not know this?” Jill cried, throwing her hands in the air.

“I was going to tell you,” Niyol defended.

“What happened to her twin?” Jill asked. “Is she still out there somewhere?”

“She died when they were teenagers,” Niyol answered. “A drunk driver. It’s why your mother had such a hard time with the depression. She never really got over losing her sister.”

“Who would?” Jill muttered. “I can’t believe I didn’t know this.”

Niyol reached over to take her hand. “I’m sorry, Jill. I should have told you sooner.”

“It’s fine.” Jill sighed and squeezed his hand. “Really, it is. I’m tired, so I’m going to go lie down.”

Rose and Niyol watched her leave, frowning after her.

“I haven’t spent enough time with her,” Niyol said guiltily. “She should have known that about her mother. She should know so many more things about her mother. Maybe I should cancel my date with Margery.”

“Nonsense,” Rose snapped, jerking the phone out of his reach although he hadn’t even glanced at it. “Jill said herself that she’s tired and wants to take a nap. Knowing her, she’ll sleep for a few hours, at least. And she isn’t mad at you for not telling her. She’s just tired, uncomfortable, and hormonal. Not to mention, a little shocked about having twins, but she’ll be fine. You don’t need to cancel your date or feel guilty. The two of you just found each other. It will take time for these things to work themselves out. Jill knows that.”

Niyol hesitated.

“Go,” Rose urged him. “Or I’ll bring Jill down here to tell you these things herself. Won’t that be fun?”

Niyol glared at Rose but stood up to leave.

Smiling, Rose busied herself making a cup of herbal tea for Jill. Hopefully, it would relax her enough to fall asleep. Jill needed rest, and Niyol needed to let go of his guilt.

It seems my work is never done, Rose thought to herself.