“SOMETHING SMELLS WONDERFUL,” Oren said as we made our way down the stairs and toward the kitchen.

“I have your coffee poured, and the calzones are almost ready,” Silvia said.

“Silvia,” I said, taking in the counter filled with sweets. “You always outdo yourself.”

She grinned. “I like having people around again. This place was too quiet for too long.”

A squeal came from the way of the corridor to the pool house.

We all laughed. “It’s not too quiet now.” I nodded toward the hallway. “I’m guessing Angelina is already awake?”

“That girl’s been up for hours. It’s taking every bit of her parents’ persuasion to stop her from opening the presents or passing them out. Lennox told her she could as soon as everyone was there.”

“Just imagine what it will be like when there are two of them,” I said.

“Oh, Lordy, Miss Adelaide,” Jane said, coming from the direction of the excitement. “I think I’m getting too old for this.”

“Nonsense, Jane,” Oren said. “You’re young at heart where it counts.”

Silvia carried a tray of coffee mugs toward the pool house. “Most everyone is already there. Come on and enjoy the fun.”

Oren reached for a tray filled with delicious-looking pastries. “I’ll take this out there. If you’ll bring my coffee?” he asked with a kiss to my cheek.

My lips rose. “We’ll be right there.”

Jane shook her head. “This, all of this, is a dream come true. I always prayed that one day I’d see you and Miss Alex happy, really and truly happy.” Tears filled her eyes. “It’s a blessing.”

I knew exactly what she meant as small lines formed near my eyes, my cheeks rose, and my voice became lyrical. “It is. I mean, look outside.”

We both turned toward the window. The scene beyond the glass was of a winter wonderland. Familiar shrubbery had been transformed into glistening white mounds and the pool and lawn were all one snow-covered plain.

“Look at us,” I said. “Two fine Georgia women in the middle of a frozen tundra with smiles on our faces. Who would have ever predicted?”

“Me,” Jane said. “I didn’t know how, but like I said, I prayed. I believed.”

I reached for her hand. “Thank you for praying. I never thought it would happen. I never imagined…”

“Can’t never give up hope,” she said, her shoulders growing straighter. “Nope.”

A scene from years ago came back to mind. A glass filled with small white pills and the decision to wash them down with fine Montague Private Label. I lowered my chin. “I almost did. I was mighty close to giving up.” I swallowed and looked into Jane’s beautiful brown eyes. “I never properly thanked you for what you did that night.”

“That’s not true, Miss Adelaide. I’m thanked every day. I’m thanked every time I see you smile. Everyday Miss Alex has her momma and Miss Angi has her grandmother. My heart is full of thanks.”

“I hope you know how much we love you. You’re our family.”

“Oh, I know. You’re mine too.”

I laughed. “Oren always says that family is family. No matter what.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I reached again for my cup and Oren’s, but before picking them up I turned to Jane. “Before we go out there, I have a question that I’ve been meaning to ask. Whatever happened to those pills?”

“Why? You don’t need them.”

“No,” I agreed. I’d been clean for over four years. “I’ve just been curious. Angelina visits the manor. Soon we’ll have little Dominic. I wouldn’t want them or anyone else to find them.”

“Not a thing to worry about, Miss Adelaide. I wouldn’t let those pills hurt you. I’d never let them hurt those babies. Besides, I got rid of them about four years ago. They’re gone now.”

My stomach twisted as I digested her meaning. “Four years?”

Jane reached for my arm. “That’s all over now. Ain’t nothing to think about.”

“Jane?”

“Ma’am, they go much better with Cognac than they do wine.”

“B-but Suzy?”

Jane shook her head and straightened her neck. Her usual smile flattened into a straight line. “No, ma’am. That woman wasn’t living in your house, not as long as I had breath in these lungs. No, ma’am.”

I stared for a moment into the mugs of coffee still sitting on the counter, unsure what to say. There were too many things, too many memories, scenes where despite what I’d claimed, Jane had known the truth. She’d seen. She’d listened. Taking a deep breath, I reached out, laid my hand on hers and lifted my gaze.

She winked as her cheeks rose. “No need to talk about that anymore, Miss Adelaide. Now, let’s go out there to the pool house and watch little miss open her presents. I’ve been out there. Lord a mighty! Santa definitely made it. I’d say he needed a backup sleigh for all them presents.”

“Remember, he’s magic.”

“Ma’am, magic happens all the time. Sometimes, we just need to help it.”

“Thank you.”

Jane shook her head. “Keep being happy. That’s all I ever wanted.” She nodded toward the mugs. “I can help you with those.”

“No, thank you. I’ve got them,” I said as I picked up Oren’s coffee in one hand and my own mug in the other, and Jane and I began walking together down the corridor. Beyond the windows the sun in the bright blue sky was almost blinding, shining on the snow with new intensity.

“Miss Adelaide,” Jane asked, “Are you and Mr. Demetri going back to Savannah or to London?”

“Savannah, for a while.” I stopped. “He’s there, Oren is… in my house…” I wasn’t sure what I was saying. Maybe I was seeking Jane’s approval.

“Yes, and he makes you happy?”

“Yes, very much.”

“And he’s good to you?”

I nodded, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.

“And you love him?”

“I hope that’s obvious.”

“It is. And because of all that, your house… that’s right where he belongs.”

Swallowing the lump, I said, “Well, I like having him there, filling the manor with new memories. I also love his flat in London, but it’s cold there, even colder than here. Oren and I are working out a pattern that keeps me away from too much snow. Nevertheless, we’re not going anywhere until Dominic arrives.”

“That little baby boy…” Jane shook her head. “…it shouldn’t be long now.”

“Grandma,” Angelina called as we stepped through the doorway into the pool house. “Finally. Now can we open presents?”

“Yes,” the room said together with a collective sigh.

Warmth filled my cheeks as Oren wrapped his arm around my waist. I handed him his mug.

“Your arrival was greatly anticipated,” he whispered.

“I guess it was. I didn’t realize.”

He nodded toward the windows filled with a winter wonderland and winked. “I have a gift for you.”

“You do? What do I need? I have you and the kids. I have Angelina and soon little Dominic…”

Placing our coffee on a nearby table, he reached for a long, slender box, wrapped in beautiful white and gold foil paper.

“Hmm,” I assessed as he handed it to me. “It’s too big for jewelry.”

“If you’re telling me you’ll wear a ring if it’s a present, I can be back in an hour.”

I laughed. “On Christmas?”

“Don’t doubt me. I have connections to some of the best jewelry stores in the city.”

“I’d never doubt your connections.” I shook the box to the sound of rattling. “Is it broken?”

“Perhaps you should open it and find out.”

“Momma,” Alexandria said from near the tree, “what do you have?”

“I don’t know.” I pulled the ribbon and slid my finger under the tape. As the paper bowed backward, I read the box and grinned.

“Battleship?” Alexandria said. “Since when do you play board games?”

Oren smiled, his eyebrows dancing. “Your mother has many secrets.”

Both Lennox’s and Alexandria’s hands flew into the air.

“We don’t need to know more,” Lennox said with a grin as he turned to Angelina. “Now, my little princess, which package do you want to deliver next?”

“This one,” she said, pointing at a small red gift with a green bow.

Lennox read the tag. “That one says it’s to you from me.”

“It does?” She wasted no time ripping the paper and opening the hinged box. “Oh, look, Mommy, it’s a necklace like yours.”

Alexandria smiled and nodded. “It’s just like mine. Your daddy’s kind of overprotective.”

“Does that mean you love us?”

Lennox secured the chain around Angelina’s neck and kissed her forehead. “It means I love you very much.”

“Because we’re your princesses?”

“Yes!”

“But what about my brother?” Her little face scrunched in question. “Will Nic get one too? Boys don’t wear necklaces like this.”

Lennox shrugged, giving Alexandria a smile. “I’m sure Deloris can figure out something. And when you, Miss Angi…” He pointed to her nose. “…are a teenager, we’ll make you a necklace like your mommy’s other one.”

Alexandria laughed and she shook her head. “I don’t know. There might be a few things we’d rather not hear.”